USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Perth Amboy > Contributions to the early history of Perth Amboy and adjoining country : with sketches of men and events in New Jersey during the provincial era > Part 10
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"The last week I was at the great Camp, and was entertained by the General very kindly; upon the 14th day of this instant I Left the great Camp, and came to fort Nicholson where my Company is posted, and works Every day as hard as negroes in Clearing of ground, and Building of houses. I stayed but one night there, but was forced to post to Capt. Spicer's com- pany, which is posted at the Little falls, from thence to Fort Ingoldsby, to see what was wanting there, for one half of Capt. Spicer's men are there, and one half of Lucker's, and from thence to the half moon and Sprouls, where the Rest of the men that belong to the Jerseys are posted ; you may think with yourselves what trouble I have to travel from place to place, to see that every body is satisfied, which is almost impossible, for they are always grumbling, do I what I can. *
"I am put to a very great Charge in travelling up and down, and Likewise forced to endure a great deal of hardship, having nothing but the bare ground to Lie on, with a few bushes about me, which is very hard : but I go through it with a great deal of Cheerfulness, and I bless God I have my health, which is a great happiness.
" This Comes in haste By an Express from the Camp to Bring News of the death of Major Shanks, who died yesterday suddenly. This with my hearty Love and Service to you all, wishing you health and happiness, I Remain, Your Most Humble Servant,
" JOHN HARRISON.
"John Reed had like to have been shot by a Mau-
hauk Indian, but it missed his body and took his horse ; he will be at home in a few days, to tell the story himself."
" FORT NICHOLSON, Sept. ye 28th day, 1709.
"SIR :- * ₭ You say I should write to you Every week, which I would gladly do, if you would settle the post office here as well as it is with you ; however, I have not Been Backward in writing, when any opportunity presented. This is my 17th Letter, as will appear By my Copies, and never Received But three, and them never gave me any an- swer to mine. *
* * * You say we have money and honor, pleasure, and abundance of fine things ; I could heartily wish you was But for one week to have the trial ; I cannot choose but have a very fine time of it if you do but Rightly Consider, almost Every day travelling a-foot from one place to another, to stop the mouths of so many people who are always Exclaiming against me for one thing or another, Let me do what I Can. I buy Cattle for them, and drive them from place to place where they are posted, and leave here a fat ox or a fat Cow, and so to another place, for our Jersey men are posted at six several places ; some ten miles, twelve miles, and some twenty miles asunder, and as fast as I can get them Cattle they Eat them up, or let them run away before they kill them, so that my pleasure is no Rest nor Quiet. I wish you or any body else had my post and all the profit I shall get Besides my Lodging in the woods almost every Night without Clothing, for I Cannot Carry my Lodging upon my back with heavy musket. * * * My men are all in good health, But forced to work every day Like horses. New Eng- land men die like Rotten Sheep, and Come from the Camp every day sick, by ten or eleven of a day, in horse litters. Capt. Lucker's men are one half Run away before Ever they felt any hardships. My men-I mean my one particular Company, is posted at Fort Nicholson. We are em-
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ployed about enlarging the fort. * I thought you would have sent me some sugar, lime-juice, and Rum for my own use, as you wrote in your Last Letter you would, to Comfort me with In all my troubles and adversities, Being urgent, and the weather very cold. However it is with you I know not, but this part of the world is the coldest and worst that Ever I saw in all my Life ; but if it was ten times worse I will not Leave it without the General Leaves, but I do believe in fourteen or fifteen days, you will find enough that wish this. Without any Bitterness or Reflec- tions, I conclude with my Love to you and all our friends in Jersey. " Your assured friend and humble servant, "JOHN HARRISON."
"To Capt. Elisha Parker, or Capt. Thomas Far-
mar, at Amboy, in New Jersey."
Mr. Harrison died suddenly in 1724, from hemorrhage of the lungs, leaving a wife (Elizabeth), and one son (Benjamin). From the inventory of his estate he appears to have been in humble circumstances ; but existing documents testify to the. regard for him, entertained by his neighbors, and Colonel. John Parker acted as his executor.
The following memorandum of the expense attending: his funeral and the "going into mourning " of the widow and. son, affords an insight into the customs of that day :
£. S. đ .-
1 doz. Men's Wash Leather Gloves,
1
8 0
1 doz. do. White top't Gloves,
1 10 0.
¿ doz. woman's white Gloves,
1 10
¿ 1b. Cinnamon,
10
¿ 1b. Cloves,
6
0
# 1b. Nutmegs,
6
0
5 y'ds Black Cloth, of about 24s. per yard, or be- tween that and 30s.
6 0 0
Lining and trimming,
2 5
0
A crape hat band,
6
0
1 pair men's black leather gloves,
3 0
5 y'ds black Shalloon
1 0
0
24} y'ds of Lutestring, not exceeding 8s. per yd.
9 16 0
52 y'ds Crape, for a hood and scarf,
1 4
9
1 pair black leather women's gloves,
3
0
1 pair black men's stockings,
12
0
1 pair black women's do.
9
0
1 black handkerchief,
6
0
£27 14 9
It is presumed the accompanying ingredient for the cinna -. mon, cloves, and nutmegs, was furnished from the cellars of the deceased.
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In his will, Mr. Harrison mentioned three sisters ; Anne, the wife of Richard Allison ; Mary, the wife of Samuel Moore ; and Sarah ; and three brothers, William, Henry, and Ed- ward-the last already dead-and desired to be buried by the grave of his daughter.
In 1722, there was an innkeeper in Amboy named Wil- liam Harrison, who was probably one of these brothers.
THE KEARNY FAMILY.
In 1716, MICHAEL KEARNY, then residing in Monmouth County, purchased a lot of ground in Perth Amboy, on the hill south of St. Peter's Church, and soon after removed thither.
He was originally from Ireland, and his first wife came with him from that country, but died in Philadelphia.50 Be- fore coming to Amboy, he had married Sarah, daughter of Lewis Morris, afterwards governor of the province. She died at Morrisania, having, so tradition says, foretold the day of her death some time before.
Mr. Kearny had not been long a resident here before various offices were bestowed upon him-among others were the Secretaryship of the province-the office of Surrogate (Oct. 24th, 1720), the'Clerkship of the Assembly (Dec. 16th, 1720), and of the Court of Common Pleas (April 23d, 1731).51 He was yet living in July, 1738, but more than this has not been learned respecting him personally.
For many years before the Revolution the mansion house of the family, standing on the lot which has been mentioned,52 was occupied by his eldest son, and only child by his first wife.
50 Her mother's name was Elizabeth Brittain.
51 He was succeeded by Jeremiah unbar, in Oct., 1734.
62 It wasadvertised in March, 1735-6, as "the property of the late Governor Hunter." Philip Kearny, however, then lived in it, and probably bought it at that time. When Gov. Hunter ob- tained possession of it is uncertain, but probably on his accession to the gov-
ernment. The well upon the pre- mises was dug in 1732. Michael Kearny describes it July 22d, 1738, when recommending it for the resi- dence of Gov. Morris, that it had the "best conveniences of any house in town, besides a good stable for three or four horses, and there is a good cel- lar big enough to hold all his liquors, with lock and key to it."-Ruther- furd MSS.
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PHILIP KEARNY : he was eminent as a lawyer, and died July 25th, 1775, "universally lamented." He had filled several public stations, been member of the Assembly, &c. He was twice married. His first wife was Lady Barney Dex- ter, whose maiden name was Ravaud. His professional ser- vices being required by the lady, then in Philadelphia, the consequent intercourse that arose between them changed the client into the wife, and the lawyer into the possessor of the property he was employed to protect.
They had two sons and two daughters ; Philip, Elizabeth, Susannah, and Ravaud. Becoming a widower, Mr. Kearny subsequently married Isabella, a daughter of Robert Lettice Hooper, of Trenton, Chief Justice of the province, by whom he had issue : Sarah, Michael, Francis, Joanna, and Isabella. Of these children the following information has been ob- tained :
PHILIP resided in the house in late years occupied by the Hon. James Parker. He removed to Newark, and left children whose descendants are living in New York. General Kearny, late of the U. S. army, was his grandson.
ELIZABETH became the wife of Cortlandt Skinner, as is elsewhere stated. SUSANNAH married Richard Stevens, elsewhere noticed.
RAVAUD was educated for a lawyer, and inherited the law library of his father.53 He lived at one time near South River, and also at Morris- don, Monmouth County. He married Ann, daughter of James Hude, of whom many of the present generation cherish a pleasing recollection, from having witnessed that suavity of manners, and that mild, amiable, Christian deportment, which in old age she retained to a remarkable degree. Mr. Kearny died Sept. 3d, 1806, aged 68, and she remained a witness to the change of times and circumstances, until April 3d, 1828, when at the advanced age of ninety, she followed him to the grave. Their remains moulder in the soil of St. Peter's cemetery. Their chil- dren were :
Philip, who went to sea, and died early in life,
James Hude, who died in 1811, leaving a widow and two daugh- ters, yet living at Amboy, Ann Hude, married to the Rev. Alex- ander Jones, D.D., and Gertrude Parker, married to Dr. Charles McKnight Smith, and having issue.
Susan Ravaud married the Rev. Dr. John R. B. Rodgers, of New York, and left several children, and
Ann Hude, who married Mr. John G. Warren, of New York, and left several children.
SARAH married Major John Skinner, elsewhere noticed.
MICHAEL married a daughter of Judge Lawrence of Burlington, a sister of Capt. James Lawrence, of the "Chesapeake." They resided in the
" He advertised it for sale, February 1782. He then resided at Morrisdon
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"Kearny cottage" (still so called), standing on High street, where the father died, and where the widow afterwards lived for many years, having seven sons-John, Michael, Robert, James, Philip, Francis, and Lawrence, -the latter of whom, a gallant officer in the navy, is yet living : one son, William, died young.
FRANCIS entered the Royal service, was a captain. in the corps of Colonel Beverley Robinson in New York, and in 1782 was a major in Allen's corps of Pennsylvania Royalists. He rose to a lieutenant-colonelcy, and married in Ireland, whither he went after the war.
JOANNA died unmarried : and
ISABELLA became the wife of a Captain Rogers, of the British army, and was not long since living in Ireland.
The children of Michael Kearny (first named), by his second wife, Miss Morris, were :
MICHAEL, who entered the British navy, and died unmarried.
ISABELLA, who never married-
MARY, who became the wife of James Van Horne, SARAH,
ARABELLA EUPHEMIA, who married a Mr. Leonard and had one daugh- ter, successively the wife of a Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. John Jacob Faếch-and
GRAHAM (a daughter), who married the Rev. Samuel Cook, and had several children.54
THE FARMAR FAMILY.
At the west end of Smith street, in a house now occupied by Mr. Andrews, resided, previously to the revolution, the Farmar family; the children of THOMAS FARMAR, who remov- ed to Amboy from Bentley, Richmond County, Staten Island, about 1711. Both parents, at the time referred to, had been some time dead. Soon after his arrival in the province, Mr. Farmar was appointed, October, 1711, Second Judge of the Provincial Supreme Court, and from March, 1728, to Novem- ber, 1729, was the presiding Judge of that Court ; being suc- ceeded by Robert Lettice Hooper, who had also preceded him in the office.55
64 Ann Kearny, widow and Execu- trix of John Kearny of New Bruns- wick, advertised for a settlement of his estate Sept. 29th, 1746; and a Major James Kearny lived near Mid- dletown Point, before and during the Revolution-" a large elegant house," his residence, was burnt down in May, 1772. The relationship, if any, betwen them and the persons mentioned in the text, has not been traced.
55 There were several of the name of Farmar in New York connected with the Amboy family. Samuel, Peter and Jasper are thought to have been broth- ers of Thomas. They were all mer- chants. Peter was taken prisoner in 1759, on his way to Louisburgh and Quebec, by a Privateer, and after some delay was sent to Halifax. His return to the city was publicly announced in the papers in September. Jasper com-
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He represented Middlesex County, in the Assembly, from 1740 to 1743, during Governor Morris's administration, being one of that functionary's supporters in that body. At one time he kept a country store in Amboy, and for some time before his death was insane. He had several children.
ROBERT, who is presumed to have been his eldest son, en- tered the Provincial Military service in 1740, on the fitting out of the expedition against the Spaniards ; raising a com- pany of men which he commanded.56 He embarked in Septem- ber at Burlington, but did not finally sail until the following month. He served in the West Indies in Col. Gooch's regi- ment, and so much to the satisfaction of his superiors that he was ordered, in 1742, by the commanding general, Wentworth, to return to New Jersey, intrusted with the difficult duty of raising recruits. Success seems to have attended his exer- tions, and he was yet in the province in December of that year, but of his subsequent career nothing is known.
JOHN, said by Governor Morris to be the youngest son of Thomas Farmar,57 but which he could not have been, followed the example of his elder brother, and, furnished with a letter
manded an Artillery Company in the city, and is therefore generally styled "Captain." On the receipt of the in- telligence of the surrender of Fort Wil- liam Henry, in August, 1757,he gallant- ly set off with his men for the seat of war. He did not, however, get farther than Esopus, having been ordered back to Col. De Lancey. It is probable that he was previously a prisoner-a Cap- tain Farmar of New York being men- tioned as detained at Quebec. He died April 24th, 1758, in the 51st year of his age, after a short illness, and his remains were deposited in Trinity Church. "He was a gentleman," says a newspaper of the day, "remarkable for a noble spirit of patriotism ; no fatigues, difficulties, or dangers, when his country's good required it, could in the least discourage it. The various instances he has given of his uncommon loyalty are too numerous and too deep- ly impressed on the minds of all those that knew him to require a present re- capitulation. His honesty in trade, his affable, humane and generous dispo-
sition, procured him not only the good will and affection of his intimate ac- quaintance, but likewise of all such as had the least knowledge of his charac- ter, which nothing could more suffi- ciently evince than the universal sor- row and dejection displayed by the in- habitants of this city on the news of his death. The second Independent Ar- tillery Company, which he himself raised and commanded, testified their high respect towards him by a volun- tary appearance under arms at his funeral; marching before his corpse to the grave, and performing the military ceremonies with unusual solemnity." [Twelve lines on his death follow this obituary ending,]
" Let this be said, this never be denied,
Farmar beloved lived, lamented died."
56 " He is a vain young man, but to do him justice has been very diligent in getting his company together." So wrote Governor Morris to Adjutant- general Blakeney. See Morris Papers, p. 102 and p. 157.
57 See Morris Papers, p. 148.
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of introduction from Gov. M., sailed for the West Indies in July, 1742, as a volunteer, but nothing is known of him sub- sequently.
CHRISTOPHER, another son, took the name of BILLOP, which was the maiden name of his wife, and with it inherited a large estate on Staten Island, part of which-the southern termina- tion of the island-is yet known as Billop's Point.58 His res- idence, yet standing, although antiquated and neglected in its appearance, is a prominent object in the view of the traveller between New York and Philadelphia by the Camden and Am- boy route. While occupied by him it was surrounded by fruit trees and cultivated grounds, and wore the aspect of gentility and comfort. The dilapidated condition of the house adds not a little to the interest it possesses as a memento of the ante- revolutionary period, and also from its having been the place of conference between the American Commissioners and Lord Howe in 1776.59 Mr. Billop, or, as he was generally called, Colonel Billop-from his holding that rank in the Richmond County Militia, and subsequently in the British army-was a man of courage and energy, of high standing in the province of New York-of the Assembly of which he was a member for some years. On the commencement of hostilities, Mr. Billop warmly engaged on the side of the royalists and aided in rais- ing what was called 'the New Corps,' in which he received a
58 The first of the name of Billop noticed, was Christopher Billop (son of "Christopher Billop, Gent., of Lon- don"), who was commissioned Lieuten- ant of the New York troops in 1674, but was subsequently, for some misconduct, superseded. What became of him is not known, but it is presumed that it was his son, a Capt. Christopher Billop of the British Navy, who married a sister of Judge Thomas Farmar, and ob- tained a patent for one thousand or fifteen hundred acres on Staten Island. A tradition, preserved in the family, makes the patent to have been a gift from the Duke of York for bravery dis- played in a naval engagement in which the vessel he commanded was blown up. Charnock in his Biographie Na- valis mentions a Christopher Billop, who was a Lieutenant in the British
Army in 1671, appointed Captain in 1673, and in 1692 was in command of a ninety gun ship, and the year follow- ing commanded a first-rate. He was living in London unemployed in 1699. As the time of his death was not known, it is not improbable that he was the Capt. Billop who married Miss Farmar. He had two daughters-the youngest of whom married the Rev. Mr. Brook, Missionary in New Jersey, and after his death became the wife of Rev. Wm. Skinner, of Amboy, but died with- out issue-the eldest married her cous- in, Christopher Farmar, noticed in the text, and she being the sole heiress of her father, the estate was left to her husband, on the condition that he should assume the name of Billop.
59 See Newark Daily Advertiser, July 23d, 1851, and John Adams's Diary.
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Colonel's commission. It is thought that his services, which were of an active partisan character, were confined to Staten · Island. Being well known in the eastern section of New Jersey, the possession of his person was frequently attempted to be gained by the spirited "rebels" of the neighborhood, and at last on the 23d June, 1779, he was taken prisoner by a small detachment of continental troops, commanded by Capt. Na- thaniel Fitz-Randolph (or Randall as he was more generally designated) of Woodbridge, the party surprising™him in his own house and bringing him over to New Jersey.
In what place he was first confined is not known, but in November, Col. Billop was sent to the Burlington Jail ;- the sergeant of the guard escorting him, being the bearer of the following mittimus :--
" To the Keeper of the Common Jail for the County of Burlington- Greeting :
" You are hereby commanded to receive into your custody the body of Col. Christopher Billop, prisoner of war, herewith delivered to you, and having put irons on his hands and feet, you are to chain him down to the floor in a close room in the said jail ; and there so detain him, giving him bread and water only for his food, until you receive further orders from me, or the Commissary of Prisoners for the State of New Jersey for the time being. Given under my hand at Elizabethtown this 6th day of November, 1779.
"ELISHA BOUDINOT, Com. Pris. New Jersey."
Not long after Col. Billop fell into the hands of the Ameri- cans, the fortune of war had placed his captor, Capt. Fitz- Randolph, in the power of the enemy,60 and it is rather re- markable that they should in consequence have become the
60 He was taken prisoner in Februa- expedition of the British to Connecti- cut Farms and Springfield, in June the same year. ry, 1779, by a party commanded, it is said, by one Smith of Staten Island, but Smith was probably the guide, the His remains were deposited in the Presbyterian Cemetery in his native village, and a simple headstone marks the spot, bearing the following inscrip- tion :- newspapers of the day stating that the party was commanded by Captain Ryerson ; and was exchanged, it is thought, for Captain Jones of the British Army, who was captured for SACRED to the memory of Capt Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, who died July ye 23d A D 1780, in the xxxiii year of his Age. Here lies beneath this Stone repos'd Patriot Merit straitly hous'd His Country call'd he lent an Ear Their battles Fought and rested Here. the purpose by some of Fitz-Randolph's followers at what was known as the " Half-way House," between the New Blazing Star and Ryerson's Ferry, on Staten Island. Previous to his cap- ture (December, 1778,) the Legislature voted Fitz-Randolph a sword. He was exchanged in May, 1780, but died of a wound received at or near Elizabeth- "He was active, bold and intelli- town, in the skirmishes attending the gent," says Mr. Dunlap in a letter to
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sufferers by the retaliatory measures adopted by their friends as the means of effecting a melioration in their respective con- ditions. There can be no doubt of Capt. Fitz-Randolph's having suffered greatly in New York, but the treatment re- ceived from the English by him and other Americans affords but a poor apology for the inhumanity directed to be exhibited towards Col. Billop.
Accompanying the document given above, was the follow- ing letter addressed to the Colonel himself, stating the grounds upon which his treatment was based :-
"Elizabethtown, Nov. 6th, 1779.
"SIR,-Sorry am I that I have been put under the disagreeable neces- sity of a treatment towards your person that will prove so irksome to you ; but retaliation is directed, and it will, I most sincerely hope, be in your power to relieve yourself from the situation by writing to New York, to procure the relaxation of the sufferings of John Leshier and Capt. Na- thaniel Randall. It seems nothing short of retaliation will teach Britons to act like men of humanity.
"I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
"ELISHA BOUDINOT, Com. S. Pris.
" Col. Christopher Billop, "Burlington."
It was not until the 26th December, that Col. Billop was released from his ignominious confinement ; Colonel Hendrick- son of the American army arrived at Burlington at that time, on his parole, for the purpose of effecting an exchange.61 After the war, Col. Billop removed with some of his family to the Province of New Brunswick, where for many years he fill- ed important offices and took an active part in public affairs. In 1823, as a member of the Council, he claimed the Presi- dency of the Government on the death of Governor Smythe, but did not succeed in securing it. He died at St. John in 1827, in his ninetieth year. His wife, Jane, died there in 1802.62 He had five daughters, two of whom married gentle- men of the name of Seaman, whose descendants are numerous in New York and on Staten Island, and the others married
me, " and had a contrast in a brother, Ezekiel, a butcher, who was dull, for- getful and sleepy, remarkable for leav- ing to his horse the guidance of his butcher's cart."
61 Simcoe's Journal, pp. 268 to 285. 62 She is said to have been aged forty- eight. If so, it must have been a sec- ond wife .- Sabine's Royalists.
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distinguished individuals in New Brunswick. One son enter- ed the counting house of an uncle in London, and another was at one time in business in New York, but having joined in the expedition against the Spaniards in South America, under Mi- randa, he suffered death at Porto Cabello with several of his companions.
THOMAS FARMAR, unlike his brother Christopher, was a stanch whig, and joined the colonists in their struggle for liberty. He turned out in the militia with his musket as a private, but it is not known that he was in active service. He married a cousin, the daughter of Samuel Farmar of New York, and after her death the widow of his younger brother. He died August 27th, 1822. A tablet is erected to his me- mory in the walls of St. Peter's Church, Perth Amboy, and his remains moulder in its cemetery. He left no children. In 1782-3 be resided on a farm situated on the Raritan, but removed to New York and engaged in mercantile business. His widow survived until 1849.
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