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 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
JASPER, thought to have been the youngest son, entered early into the English army. He was extremely prepossessing in his appearance, and Mr. Dunlap says, " one of the few pic- tures by Reynolds in this country is of Jasper Farmar in his youth," in whose possession he does not state. He married the eldest daughter of Cortlandt Skinner, elsewhere noticed, and had several children, one of whom, a daughter, who became the wife of a Mr. Murphy of Nova Scotia, left several children; she and one son perishing by shipwreck on the coast of Long Island in 1850. After the death of her husband Mrs. Farmar became the wife of her husband's brother, as above stated.
There were several daughters in the Farmar family.
One married Effingham Lawrence, commander of a mer- chant vessel out of New York, and afterwards a successful merchant in London. They had three sons, William Effing- ham, Effingham, and Edward Billop, and one daughter, Cath- erine Mary, who in 1816 married Sir John T. Jones, Bart., of Cranmer Hall, Norfolkshire, England, Aid to the Duke of Wellington.
7
98
THE CITIZENS.
Another became the wife of a Captain Davis, who also resided in London.
A third, Rachel, married Peter Goelet of New York, and left two sons. After her death, Mr. Goelet married another sister.
The youngest, Sarah, who was celebrated for her beauty, married Dr. Alexander Ross of New Brunswick (originally from Jamaica); but the physician could not cure himself, and died ; his widow having a liking for the profession, removed to New York and married a Dr. Howard of the British army, and left children.
The names of Farmar and Billop are no longer familiar words in the vicinity where once they were heard, and as "the stranger parts the flaunting weeds" from the neglected spot where
THE GRAVES OF THE HOUSEHOLD
were made, with no stones nor monuments (save of two con- nections) to perpetuate their "name and generation," and marks the aspect of all things around what was their temporal habitation, thoughts sad, though perchance instructive, are aroused ; but "there may be," in the language of Dickens, " people in the world at this instant, far away from here, whose good actions and good thoughts are the deeds in which those dead may be best remembered."
99
THE CITIZENS.
ELIAS BLAND.
MERCY, daughter of Thomas Hart, one of the twenty-four proprietaries, married Walter Benthal,-subsequently, also a proprietor,-and their daughter, Priscilla, became the second wife of John Bland, goldsmith (son of Elias Bland, carpen- ter), who had, by a former marriage, two sons, ELIAS and JOHN, the former of whom is presumed to have been the gentleman several times mentioned in these pages, as living at the southern termination of High street, opposite the Long-ferry tavern.
He has been described to the writer as an eccentric indi- vidual, who came to this country-called probably by a landed interest derived from his mother-in-law-leaving his wife be- hind him.
His establishment was an exceedingly comfortable one, and with no other inmates than his servants, he resided in Amboy several years. Tradition represents him as having been very fond of children, doing all in his power to induce them to visit him, by making them presents, and giving them enter- tainments at his house.
It is probable he returned to England, as the name of Elias Bland, banker, of London, is met with in connection with the affairs of Amboy, in 1771 ; subsequent to which time nothing is known of him. A memorial of his taste for pictures -a copy of Earl's engraving of " Elijah Raising the Widow's son," by Rembrandt-is in my possession. There was a wharf before his house, and a ferry thence across the Raritan, which went by his name.
THE SKINNER FAMILY.
Among the most influential families of the ancient capital, were the SKINNERS, descendants of the Reverend WILLIAM SKINNER, the first rector of St. Peter's Church. This gentle- man was a MacGregor, and among those of that clan proscribed after the rebellion of 1715, having taken an active part in the restoratory struggles of the Stuart family. He had received a superior education at one of the first literary institu-
100
THE CITIZENS.
tions in England (thought to have been Oxford University), and possessed mental endowments of a sterling character. Obliged to leave Scotland after the battle of Preston Pans, in which he was wounded, and prevented from bearing the name of his clan, he assumed that of a friend in Edinburgh, from whom he received favor and protection.
As William Skinner, he left England for Holland, in com- pany with Lord Belmerino, and subsequently, by way of Bar- badoes, or Antigua, came to Philadelphia, where he had, or made, a friend in a Mr. Logan,-one of the family of so much notoriety in the annals of Pennsylvania,-with whom he found a home ; probably in the capacity of tutor, as it is under- stood the sons of that gentleman received from him in- struction in the languages, which he was well qualified to im- part. 63
Mr. Skinner probably pursued theological studies while re- siding in Philadelphia ; for after a few years he returned to Eng- land, and received ordination from Robinson, Bishop of London. While there (in 1721) he was appointed missionary to Perth Amboy, from the "Society for Propagating the Gospel in For- eign Parts," and entered upon his labors in September, 1723. The following year he was called to the rectorship of St. Peter's Church, and for thirty-five years continued to dis- charge his duties faithfully and acceptably, occasionally offici- ating in the neighboring towns ; death putting an end to his earthly career in 1758, in the 71st year of his age. His re- mains were deposited in the rear of the Church, but the pre- cise spot not having been marked by any monument, is now unknown.
Mr. Skinner is said to have been exceedingly kind-hearted, generous and hospitable; and-almost a necessary consequence from the possession of these virtues-very regardless of money; living unostentatiously himself, in order that his resources might be greater for his charities ; fully complying with the
63 He had other pupils also, for the Rev. Mr. Talbot who arrived with Mr. Skinner at Philadelphia in 1722, advocating the establishment of a free
school or college at Burlington, says, " several of Mr. Skinner's scholars at Philadelphia are fit for the Academy."
101
THE CITIZENS.
directions to all their missionaries by the society, in whose service were his first ministerial labors ; "that as they be frugal in opposition to luxury, so they avoid all appearance of covetousness, and recommend themselves according to their abilities by the prudent exercise of liberality and charity." 64
He was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Christopher Billop, of Staten Island, and the widow of the Rev. Mr. Brook, one of the society's missionaries, whose inde- fatigable labors in New Jersey are elsewhere alluded to.65 His second wife was Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Stephanus Van Cortlandt of New York.66 His children, all by this lady, were-one daughter, Gertrude, who became the wife of James Parker, and was the mother of the present elders of that fam- ily ;- and four sons, 1 Cortlandt, 2 Stephen, 3 William, and 4 John-who will be noticed in succession.
CORTLANDT, the eldest son of the Rev. William Skinner, was educated for the bar, studying the profession in the office of David Ogden, an old and distinguished practitioner at New- ark, at which place he also, for some time, was established after his admission to practice.
In 1652 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Kearny of Amboy, and shortly after, if not before, took up his resi- dence permanently in the place of his birth. Although not of studious habits, he became eminent in his profession, his natural abilities being good, and his oratorical powers consider-
64 See Rules and Regulations of the society for the government of the mis- sionaries and schoolmasters.
In July, 1749, when 62 years of age, he thus wrote to the secretary of the society. The extract shows some of the privations and trials which encom- passed the early missionaries to New Jersey :
"Now is my time of trial. In this extraordinary dry and hot summer, hitherto, since Whitsuntide, I have gone, and to the end of October, must go, to South River every Sunday. In doing which I must cross a river al- most two miles broad, and that done, ride twelve miles in the sand, equally scorching with those of Arabia, and not a house by the way, excepting one by a saw-mill, and that good for no thing.
"This is hard service at the present time of day with me, for I am old, and also much worn out. * My lot has been hard, for I have these twenty- seven years had the most laborious, and least profitable mission to the so-
ciety, * * * and it is too late to sue for a separation." See Chapter on Religious Denominations, and the notices of Piscataway, in Chapter XI. for a more particular account of Mr. Skinner's services. His letters contain abundant proof of his effi- ciency and of his self-denying labors.
65 See Chapter on Religious Deno- minations.
66 For genealogical table of the Van Cortlandt family, see Bolton's West- chester.
102
THE CITIZENS.
ably above mediocrity. He was soon appointed the King's Attorney-General for the province, and continued to hold that office until the Revolution put an end to the authority whence it was derived. In 1761 he was elected to the Provin- cial Assembly from his native city, in the place of Andrew Smyth, deceased, and continued thereafter to be a prominent member of that body while it existed : in 1765 (Nov. 28th) re- ceiving a convincing proof of the esteem and confidence of his associates in their choice of him to be Speaker.
During the early stages of the struggle for independence, Mr. Skinner, like many others who in the end became royalists, was strongly opposed to the encroachments of the British Min- istry upon the liberties of the colonies ; and his being chosen speaker, to succeed Robert Ogden,-whose course as a delegate from the province to the New York Congress had so displeased his constituents as to lead to his resignation,-together with his appointment, at the same session, as one of the Committee to correspond with the agent of the colony in England, shows conclusively that he was considered to be a friend to the co- lonial cause at that time.
We are admited, however, into a closer communion with him, on the exciting subjects of the time, by finding the fol- lowing passages, in a letter to Governor Boone, dated October 5th, 1755.
" Every thing here is in the greatest confusion, and the first of Novem- ber dreaded. The laws of trade had ruined the merchants, and drained the colonies of their silver. Little was left after paying the duties, to pay their debts in England. Without money no clothing can be got, and woollens must be had in this climate; great attention was therefore given to manufactures on which considerable advances are made, but the want of wool and manufacturers, are difficulties not easily removed. Discontent was painted in every man's face, and the distress of the people very great, from an amazing scarcity of money, occasioned by the sudden stagnation of trade. At this time (and a more unlucky one could not have been chosen) the Stamp Law and Mutiny Bill found their way through parlia- ment.
" Upon these laws all restraints were broken through, and the papers will abundantly show you the violence and fury of the people. Great pains have been taken by some writers to expose the laws, and show the people that they are deprived of all liberty, and contributed not a little to the out- rages that have been committed. The increased jurisdiction of the Courts of Admiralty, and the restraint on the press by the Stamp Law, have been the subjects and employment of their pens, which they have taken care to dip, if not in gall, yet abundantly in scurrility and abuse, if not in
-
103
THE CITIZENS.
treason. With great difficulty the people have been restrained in this pro- vince, but how long it will be in the power of the magistrates to prevent disorder I know not. As the day approaches on which the Stamp Law is to take effect, fresh causes present themselves to fear great disturbance. * * * * It is hoped that with the new ministers will follow a change of measures, and that the interest of Britain with respect to her colonies will be better understood, and the colonies relieved both from duties and stamps. I wish it may prove so; for if the interest of Britain is adhered to, it will be best advanced by encouraging the colonies in their trade to the West Indies. While that continues, agriculture will be their only employment, and they will not then (as it will not be their interest) think of manufac- tures; but solely attend to the improvement and settlement of lands. Without trade they have no money, and every body knows that all the money they can get will not pay for the necessary clothing from Britain ; consequently they cannot pay taxes. But the wealth flowing from trade will be more for the interest of Britain than all. the taxes that can be im- posed on the colonies. * * * * The protection of the colonies is made the pretence for taxing them. This is assistance indeed. Garrisons may be necessary at Quebec and Montreal, but what occasion is there for garrisons and forts hundreds of miles in the Indian country. These are so far from protecting, that they are the very cause of our Indian wars, and the mon- strous expenses attending them. Before we had these forts we had no wars with the natives, they were our friends, and will be so again when we withdraw the French settlers and our garrisons from their country. Their quarrel with us is, that we will take their lands, and treat them as a conquered people. All we want with them is their trade, which we can never enjoy with any advantage until we remove their jealousy. When this is done we shall live in all the security we have heretofore enjoyed, when a few independent companies were sufficient for the continent. And why cannot we do without so many regiments when every enemy is re- moved at least a thousand miles from our borders ?
" But independence is suggested and made the pretence, more than a fear of Indian inroads. Those who make these suggestions are enemies to their country, and are most likely to put the thought into the heads of the colonists by the very means they take to prevent dependence. Separate governments and an encouragement to agriculture and settlement, will effectually fix it. Taxes and a restraint on the West India trade are most likely to force the colonists into manufactures and put independence into their heads. They are in the high road to it now, and though 'tis true that they have not strength to effect it, but must submit, yet 'tis laying the foun- dation for great trouble and expense to Britain, in keeping that by force which she might easily do without, and alienating a people which she might make her greatest prop and security."
To another correspondent he wrote :-
" Winter with us, you know, is a season when the farmer has little to do. Snow enables him to travel cheap and with expedition. The times will furnish him conversation, and disorder, I fear, will be the production of this winter's meetings. Nothing can prevent it but a repeal of the laws that occasioned it, in which Britain is more interested than her colo- nies. Temporary distress is all the colonies can fear ; a very short time will enable them to clothe themselves, and they can live well without any West Indian produce or that of any other country. When necessity has made them accomplish these two points, the consequences are not to be thought of without horror."
104
THE CITIZENS.
The sentiments thus expressed to his private correspondents were also conveyed, but in a formal manner, in his official let- ters to the Colonial Agent at this time ; and all his influence, which was very considerable, was exerted to bring about a res- toration of the harmonious relations which had previously existed between the mother country and her American depen- dencies.
Such continued to be his position until the first blood was shed at Lexington, and the more decided measures of the colo- nists prompted thereby caused a marked distinction to be drawn between the friends and the, so-considered, enemies of the country. From Mr. Skinner's official relations to the gov- ernment it was to be presumed that his conduct would be scanned with a watchful eye and his words studiously criticised, and subsequent events proved that it was no ill-founded foreboding that led his wife to write to him-he being then at Burlington-on receiving the news of the engagement at Lex- ington ; "I could not help being alarmed. God protect and defend you." 67
It is not surprising that Mr. Skinner should have found it difficult to discern in the acts of the provincials any thing con- firmatory of their repeated expressions of abhorrence to inde- pendency which were so frequently uttered; there were many others equally blind; but he appears to have prudently ab- stained from all proceedings calculated to embroil him with those who thought differently from himself upon the great questions.at issue. The only instance discovered of his incur- ring the displeasure of the numerous committees of observation by which he was surrounded, consisted in his being found guilty by the Committee of Morris County, on Sept. 28th, 1775, of having 'spoken disrespectfully of the Continental Congress, reproaching the minute-men, and charging them and the county with protecting a supposed criminal from jus- tice.' To this charge he made such explanations and apolo- gies as were deemed satisfactory by the Committee ; but soon
67 She adds " a letter just received
from * * * * * gives a circumstan- tial detail of the affair, and assures
them that the provincials fired first, and that the troops did not fire till so harassed they could not avoid it."
105
THE CITIZENS.
after he was obliged to seek, in an open avowal of his loyalty and refuge beneath the English flag, that personal safety which he could no longer enjoy within the bounds of New Jersey.
In December a letter of his was intercepted, addressed to his brother, Lieut. Col. William Skinner, in England, which contained the following language :-
* * * I have always fondly, I may say foolishly, hoped that the unnatural dispute now subsisting would have an amicable conclusion. I find myself sadly disappointed. The tea duty began the controversy : it has branched out into divers others, and now the contest is for domin- ion. For the rise of the dispute we are indebted to smugglers; for the present state of it, to the pride, ambition, and interest of those who, ene- mies to the ecclesiastical establishment of their country, have long plotted, and to others who have become of consequence in the struggle. They who began had their interest in view, and feared the ruin of their smug- gling ; here they, I believe, were willing to leave the dispute. The others, with deeper views, keep it up, and, building on the foundation, are at- tempting a superstructure (a republic) that will deluge this country in blood. This is not new. All history, as well as our own, shows great convulsions, rebellions and revolutions, from mad enthusiasm and design- ing men ; and the last spring up like mushrooms. We are now upon the eve, I may say, have actually begun a revolution. The Congress are our King, Lords, and Commons. They have taken Canada, with the consent of its grateful inhabitants; they block up the Royal Army in Boston; they say they have secured the Indians; have appointed an Admiral ; are fitting out a fleet, and are universally obeyed. Is this, or is it not, inde- pendency ? They say it is not ! and we must believe even against our senses. An edict, manifesto, or what you may please to call it, has been issued from the Congress: in which they say, " WE have taken into con- sideration a proclamation issued by the Court of St. James"-meaning the late Royal Proclamation. You will soon see it. I fear bad conse- quences will attend the mistaken people who are so obstinately loyal as to favor the Royal cause. Where or what will be the end I know not. The mistakes of Generals and Admirals, and the strange security in send- ing succors, ammunition, &c., to this country, amazes me, while success here in every mad measure vexes me. The saints say, Heaven is on their side : I rather think the old saying more applicable, "The devil is kind to young beginners." We must have in every war a campaign, at least, of blunders. This may be called so, from the ill-timed march to Lexing- ton to the losing of Canada. Another year may set us right; but not, if we only succor Boston. A few regiments and fleets to different Provinces will set us right; at least bring us to our senses, and support the friends of Government. But I have said enough on this disagreeable subject ; you will know every thing from the papers, though, now Rivington is suppressed, you can hear only one side of the question." 68
This letter was sufficient to condemn him. On the 9th January, 1776, it was laid before Congress, and it was
" Ordered, That a certified copy of the intercepted letter of Mr. Cort- landt Skinner be sent to the Committee of Safety for New Jersey."
68 American Doc. Hist., 4th Series, Vol. 4, p. 363.
106 .
THE CITIZENS.
"That orders be sent to Lord Stirling to take with him a sufficient force and immediately apprehend and keep in safe custody the said Cort- landt Skinner of Amboy, till further orders from this Congress."
"That he carry said Cortlandt Skinner before the Committee of Safety of the colony of New Jersey for examination."
" That the said Committee be directed to present his examination to Congress."
A copy of the intercepted letter was received by the Pro- vincial Congress from Lord Stirling on the 5th February, but no action was had by that body upon it until the 2d March, when, in consequence of the " many sentiments and expressions prejudicial to the peace and welfare of the united colonies" which it contained, the Treasurers of the colony were request- ed not to make any farther payments of salary to the Attor ney-general : this being all that the Congress could do, Mr. Skinner having "left the colony."
1
In the office of Mr. Skinner, as students of law, there were, on the breaking out of the Revolution, two young men whose courses throughout the struggle were very dissimilar. One of them, the son of a British officer, the late highly es- teemed and venerable Andrew Bell, of Perth Amboy, from previous education and associations was led to embrace the royal cause with his legal preceptor, went to New York and became one of the Private Secretaries of Sir Henry Clinton.69 The other was Joseph Bloomfield, who espoused the Colonial cause, and subsequently served his native State both in mili- tary and civil stations.70 On the 7th February, Mr. Bloom- field was appointed by the Provincial Congress, a Captain in the third battalion of provincial troops, and the first duty he undertook, or upon which he was sent, is believed to have been the arrest of his former friend and adviser, Mr. Skinner. It is to be hoped that the duty was delegated-not assumed. We will not venture to analyze the feelings with which the house in which he had ever found a home was carefully searched in the hope of securing the convicted loyalist. Fortunately its
6ยบ He was with the English Army in its retreat across New Jersey, prior to the battle of Monmouth, and a Diary kept by him during the retreat will be found in the Proceedings of the New Jersey Hist. Soc., Vol. VI., p. 15.
70 He was Governor of the State from 1801 to 1812, and in the war of that year was a General of the State forces.
%
107
THE CITIZENS.
mistress was absent : but it was, under any circumstances, a trial of no ordinary character to have one who had dwelt be- neath their roof, and been warmly cherished, thus diligently seeking to entrap the object of her highest regard :71 particu- larly as there was no reason for presuming Mr. Skinner to be in Amboy : for having received information of the danger which threatened him he had escaped the day after his letter was intercepted-before measures could be adopted by Lord Stirling to prevent it-and taken refuge on board the " Asia" man-of-war, then lying in the waters of New York. 72
He was, of course, received as an efficient and active auxiliary, and General Howe evinced his regard and consid- eration by appointing him, soon after, a Brigadier-General, with authority to raise five battalions from among the disaffect- ed in New Jersey : but the evils to which they had been sub- jected in common with their neighbors, during the occupancy of the country by the British during the winter of 1776-7, had led them to regard a closer connection with the royal army as a circumstance not specially desirable, and consequently the battalions of Mr. Skinner were not easily filled ; in fact, of 2,500 privates, of which the five regiments were to consist, he succeeded in obtaining only 517.73
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.