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 2
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Under date of September 21st, Lawrie was directed what disposition to make of the houses erected for the proprietaries, and also to take the proper steps to effect the erection of a house for the governor. They say : "That it may appear how greatly desirous the Proprietors are of the expediting the work of building this town, they do unanimously consent and agree that there be a house built for the Governor, at the pub- lic charge, and, in pursuance thereof, do hereby order and im- power you to set out such a portion of land, in such convenient place, as you shall think most convenient, to build the said house thereon ; and to enclose so much ground as may be ne- cessary and moderately useful, for garden, orchard, and other accommodations for a Governor." 12
On the 2d March, 1684, Lawrie, after examining the pro- vince for several days, thus wrote to the proprietaries : " At last I pitched upon a place, where a Ship of three hundred Tun may ride safely within a plank length of the shoar at low water, and Joyning thereto is a piece of marsh ground, about twelve pearch broad and twenty pearch long ; and high land on each side like our keyes by London Bridge :13 This may be easie cut quite round, for small Vessels to come to the Key, and
11 E. Jersey Prop. Records, A. p. 365. Grants and Concess., p. 175.
12 Original MS. order in Author's pos- session.
13 Known as "the Cove "-of late
years, the property of the Lehigh Coal
Co. Rudyard wrote also: "About it are several coves, where with small Costs may lay up Vessels as in a docke, besides great Ships of any burthen may all ryde before the town, land-locked against all winds."
8
THE SETTLEMENT.
lie safe. Round this island, I set out Lots one acre apiece, viz. four pole at the Key, and forty pole backward ; from thence along the river, near half a mile, I lay'd out the like lots very pleasant for scituation, where they can see the ships coming in the Baye of Sandy Hook for near twenty miles. The Ships may ride along by the Town, as safe as at London .* There is no such place in all England, for Conveniency and plea- sant scituation. There are sixty Lots upon the River, and forty backward between these and the River ; 14 and these backward have a high way one hundred feet broad, where I have laid out a place for a market, with cross Streets from the River to the Market, where the Town houses are to be built."
In the prosecution of his plans, Lawrie does not appear to have had reference to the draft sent out by the proprietaries, or to the lots laid out by Groom ; and his words would convey the idea that he claimed the credit of selecting the site of the town, which was certainly not his work, as we have seen.
He proceeds :- " I laid out four hundred acres to be di- vided in forty-eight parts, viz. thirty-six to each proprietor ; and those who have lots in the Town, I grant them half Lots in this ; to pay for the Lots in the Town twenty pound, or if a half Lot of thirty-six acres forty pound. I laid out four acres to lye untill the Proprietors agree to divide it, as people come over. There are sixteen Lots taken up by the Scottish Proprietors, and eight lots by the Proprietors that are here. There are twenty lots taken up in the Town, by other People. I engage all to build a house of thirty foot long, and eighteen foot broad, and eighteen foot high to the raising, to be fin- ished within a year ;15 To pay for laying out forty shil. a Lot, and four pence per annum Quit Rent : there are several be- gun already to build. I have laid out between forty and fifty Acres for the Governour's house. The highway and wharfe between the Lots and the River are one hundred feet broad, and to leave a row of trees along upon the River before the
14 His meaning probably was, that besides the sixty on one river, the Sound, there were forty back of them, towards the other river, the Raritan.
15 A year afterward, March 7th, 1685,
Charles Gordon wrote: " There is about a dozen or fourteen houses in New Perth. The Governour's house and the Public Court-house are a building."
8
THE SETTLEMENT.
lie safe. Round this island, I set out Lots one acre apiece, viz. four pole at the Key, and forty pole backward ; from thence along the river, near half a mile, I lay'd out the like lots very pleasant for scituation, where they can see the ships coming in the Baye of Sandy Hook for near twenty miles. The Ships may ride along by the Town, as safe as at London .*** There is no such place in all England, for Conveniency and plea- sant scituation. There are sixty Lots upon the River, and forty backward between these and the River ; 14 and these backward have a high way one hundred feet broad, where I have laid out a place for a market, with cross Streets from the River to the Market, where the Town houses are to be built."
* *
In the prosecution of his plans, Lawrie does not appear to have had reference to the draft sent out by the proprietaries, or to the lots laid out by Groom ; and his words would convey the idea that he claimed the credit of selecting the site of the town, which was certainly not his work, as we have seen.
He proceeds :- " I laid out four hundred acres to be di- vided in forty-eight parts, viz. thirty-six to each proprietor ; and those who have lots in the Town, I grant them half Lots in this ; to pay for the Lots in the Town twenty pound, or if a half Lot of thirty-six acres forty pound. I laid out four acres to lye untill the Proprietors agree to divide it, as people come over. There are sixteen Lots taken up by the Scottish Proprietors, and eight lots by the Proprietors that are here. There are twenty lots taken up in the Town, by other People. I engage all to build a house of thirty foot long, and eighteen foot broad, and eighteen foot high to the raising, to be fin- ished within a year ;15 To pay for laying out forty shil. a Lot, and four pence per annum Quit Rent : there are several be- gun already to build. I have laid out between forty and fifty Acres for the Governour's house. The highway and wharfe between the Lots and the River are one hundred feet broad, and to leave a row of trees along upon the River before the
14 His meaning probably was, that besides the sixty on one river, the Sound, there were forty back of them, towards the other river, the Raritan.
15 A year afterward, March 7th, 1685,
Charles Gordon wrote : "There is about a dozen or fourteen houses in New Perth. The Governour's house and the Public Court-house are a building."
MAP OF
James Reed
Thomas Gordon 25 Nos 1699
PERTH AMBOY
SHOWING THE MANNER IN WHICH IT
Peter Sommans 17 Feb 1685 16 Acres
J Jalmstuney 21 May 1690 66Acres'
WAW Del!
P Sonmans
Gawen Lawrie 15 Mar 1685
E. Camerun 24-May (6.70 Sikeres
It is probable that some of the names entro- duced are those of persons who purchased From the original grantees.
20 Acres
To Wood bridge
. 17 June 1701
"A Hanniton 2 Jan. 1687
Wa Haige 30 Sept 1686
John Jolmstone
Sandy Port
SP20 Acres
R. Burnet 24 May 1690 25 Acres
6 June 1701
Maish
Augustine Gordon 24 May 1690
RAR
, Proprietors :
Corn Field,
Scotch Proprietors 48 Arres __
Wh Pemm . 16 May 1693 25 Acres
Wood Lands
Maryla
Gov" Robert Barclay 24 Dec. 1686 25 Acres
Tho." Barker 10 July 1688 1244 Acres
. Scotch"
Thomas Hart 25 JJune 1687
Governor's Land Perfumning to the House 26 Acres
3) Acres
+ 20 More
Corn Pasture Land & Orchard
And". Hamilton Dec. 20 1700 .
SCALE @ CHS TO AN INCH
Bety# Clark 10 April 1688 18 Acres .
Walter Benthal 10 May 1688 12'4 Acres
Clement Plumstead
10 3ey 1688
T Cooper
12 4 Acres
The Buildings represented are located from an old Copy of the map about
mentioned in the possession of Cont .
Place
modore I Kearly. The names approach
Rob Barclay
Thomas to don
24 May 16,90
4 Aug, 1693
10 Acres
P Antes .
1 Thomas Gordon
John Brown
Originally
2 James Emoll
D. Falconer
Jolm
Matthews
Tohu Mollesm
WYR Frost
John Reid
Jay Dundas
9 J ťochburn
Jolm Jaluisfon
JA
Marsh
1
1
Thị Vane
Bob Brickman
W Dockwra
And Johnson
John Campbell
Thunmpstar9
Brookburu
Bowe
Propm ??
Propre
Propri
G Willockal
Ar Stimson
33. P.Muhr
4 A Callom?
Viscount 17 Feb 1692 Pfelford :
5 J.Barclay
6 T.Armou' .
12 Atres
6 J. Hamlion
Jolin Pofork
T bordoni
28 2+1 1692 SANS
Roh' Fullerton
G Willocks !
Originally
J. CemntpheB 3. Nov 1687
lunes Fal of Perth
to them in some instances differ from thave given in the records as the owneral of the lots, as follows.
VER
+ Willocks
Bem Guttin
Hohl Gordon
John Colloy Jr
wm Dockwra 10 May 1688 27 Acres
Tlus Warne 10 May 1668 16 Agres
R
Tho Rudyard 25 Mar 1687 ZA Et Arres
Swamp
On settling the boundary line between Wood bridge jand Amboy the land between these lines was found to be in the former Township
124 Arres
10 Muy 1688
ITAN
with Wie Docksia
APres
Thos Map is based upon um old one on purchinent. in the office of the Surveyor General of the East- ern Durou , enbilled"AMap of Perth Amboy unkant New Jersey Containing 1100 Acres Subtract JO for Waste Ground. Remamuler 1070 Arirs" pre - owned to have been drawn after the original survey in 1884 - coul such additions have been made as the records of the Eastern Proprie- torres authorize . for which the Author is indebted to M' Frances W Bendy of Amboy.
was origmally laid out and located
To Piscataway i
Geo Willocks
25 Acres
Peter Watson
25 Acres
Peter Sonmans 27 April 1688 46 Arres.
Oruunal Township Line
-
THE SOUND
CPlunstrad
Tho tourer W Denthint
GownLawir
That Barker
The" Gordon
F: 6 17 1692 & Willocks.
The" HAlourds Pat. Murdock
Lord N Campbell
Cary Field
1
MAP
OF
PERTH AMBOY
SHOWING THE MANNER IN WHICH IT
wie of the names intro- isons who purchased. antees . 20
Sandy Point
Marsh
M & Corn Field
Proprietors
M30 Acres
Marsh
Scotch
Y. M . M.
Corn Field " .
20 Acres
Col.
AN INCH
16
18 Acressented are located
of the map above Tho possession of Com - 2.5 The names appendet stances differ From
24 Records as the owners ollow's .
is Gordon .
Emott .
G. Willocks
e .
Propri"
ton.
mbel
Gorder
W Pemm
Tho .. Barker J Jolmstone C Plumstead Thos. Cooper W Benthal G.Willocks
Thos Hart NO Miles Forster
lay.
PropriTsi
Proprits
Propri
way .
E. of Perth
1
mold one , on parchment. two7. General of the East- w of Perth Amboy in East PeterDO Aires . Subtract 30 17 Pr. 1010 Acres" pre - 464 after the original I additions have been the Eastern Proprie - the Author is indebted Amboy
was originally laid out and located.
WAW Del.t .
Mar
RARITA
-with W Dockword.
wª Dockwra 10 May 1688 27 Acres Tho $ War 10 May 160
9
THE SETTLEMENT.
houses, for shade and shelter exceeding pleasant." It is to be regretted that this sensible plan was not fully carried out, but, as with the similar scheme of Penn in Philadelphia, although with far less reason, beauty and comfort were made to give way to the sordid consideration of the value of the land or to measures for facilitating the commercial operations . of the place.
"I have agreed," continues Lawrie, "for two houses of like dimensions, to be built for the Proprietors, and also a house for the Governour of sixty-six foot long and eighteen foot broad ; And if the quit rents come in, I intend three or four houses more for the Proprietors.16 I can easily let them. * * After I had finished this work I set the people to work, Scottish and English, about fifty persons, some preparing for building, others on clearing ground to get Corn sowne this spring, then came in a Boat, privately to Elizabethtown."
The quantity of land laid out for the town, governor's house and public highways was estimated at about two hun- dred acres. The map here inserted will explain to the reader the situation of the town and out lots as designated by Law- rie, and also show him who were the earliest owners. One hundred and fifty or two hundred acres of salt marsh, three miles up the Raritan, were at first retained in common to fur- nish grass for the settlers on the point.
In a letter to a friend, dated a few days subsequent to his despatch to the proprietaries, from which the foregoing extracts are taken, Lawrie reiterates his favorable impressions regard- ing the new city. He says : "Where the Town of Perth is now in building, a ship of three hundred Tun may easily ride close to the Shoar, within a plank's length to the houses of the Town; * * * The bank of the River is twenty foot, in some places thirty, and in some forty feet high ; and yet hath
16 " The plot of ground was divided into one hundred and fifty shares, for purchasers to build upon. Four acres were reserved for a market-place, and three for public wharfage-very useful things, if there had been inhabitants, trade and shipping. The town being thus artfully and commodiously laid
out, some Scots began building, especial- ly a house for a governor, which was then as little wanted as the wharf or the market." Oldmixon's Brit. Emp. in America .- More facetious than just, for certainly it was reasonable to pro- vide these conveniencies for a town in- tended for the capital of the province.
10
THE SETTLEMENT.
many conveniencies for landing goods." And in connection with John Barclay and Arthur Forbes, who appear to have been specially delegated to make inquiries and convey infor- mation to the proprietaries, he states that "Among all the towns that are settled here, there is none lyeth so convenient for trade as New Perth, for ships of great burden may come up close to the houses, and may come up any time in the Win- ter. There came a Ship of three hundred tun in there this Winter, in the hardest frost we had, and lay hard by the town, so near that she was tyed to a tree." 17
These letters exhibit plainly the strong interest taken by the writers in the advancement of Amboy, and the proprieta- ries in England aided to the utmost of their power and re- sources the endeavor to bring about the full realization of the hopes and anticipations of their representatives in the province.
On September 21st, 1683, Lawrie was directed "to remove the Governm' of the Province to Perth Towne with all possi- ble expedition, and that ye Council do sett there, and that ye Courts and quarter sessions be held there for time to come, till further orders, and as soon as may be, that the Assembly do also sett there, and that all such Publique business be brought thither, as may promote ye despatch of building the said Towne, and the trade thereof, to give encouragement to all such as shall come to settle there." 18 This the proprie- taries followed up in December, with an injunction that it was not to be forgotten, that "as soon as can be, weekly markets and fairs, at fit seasons, be appointed."
The ensuing year, finding that the Deputy Governor was dilatory in carrying their wishes into effect respecting the re- moval of the offices of government from Elizabethtown, where he had established himself on his first arrival, they repeated their command in positive terms. " Wee doe Require this one thing Concerning the Court of Common Right, that it be
17 Other extracts from these letters might be given, but as the re-publica- tion of "Scot's Model of the Govern- ment of East New Jersey, in America," by the New Jersey Historical Society, has placed them all entire before the
public, it is unnecessary to multiply quotations from them, further than may be necessary to illustrate particular points in the narrative. 18 Original MS. order in my pos- session.
11
THE SETTLEMENT.
always held att our Towne of Perth, if it be possible, and that all other necessary Courts, as also the assembly (when Called) doe sett there, and particularly the Deputy Governor for the Tyme being doe Inhabit there and Convene his Councill in the sd Towne of Perth "19- showing their determination to make their new town really the capital of the province. They also - took the necessary steps towards procuring for it the rights and privileges of a Port of Entry, rightly judging that to ad- vance its prosperity and facilitate its settlement, the removal of all restrictions upon its commercial intercourse with the other provinces and the mother country was a necessary pre- requisite. 20
Trifling as " every day occurrences " may appear to us as they transpire, after the lapse of years they assume a different character, and frequently prove to have been no unimpor- tant links of that vast chain that binds man to man, under the ever-varying circumstances of life and through successive periods of time ; from their tendency to modify the condition of individuals, and the action of communities, in matters of the greatest magnitude. It is to be regretted, therefore, that there are now no records in existence to throw light upon the incidents and counsels of this earliest era of the city's history. They might, perchance, guide the present generation in their exertions to advance its welfare, by expos- ing the errors committed, or the judgment and foresight ex- ercised by its founders ; and lead to the formation of a clearer conception of its improvement from year to year, during the period under review.
19 E. J. Records, and see Grants and Concess., p. 199.
20 See East Jersey under the Propri- etaries, p. 111, &c.
Le
Chapter II .- The Settlers.
Chiefs, who under their gray stones So long have slept, that fickle Fame Has blotted from her rolls their names."
LITTLE information, comparatively, has come down to us re- specting those enterprising spirits who merit the title prefixed to this chapter, of a character to enable the biographer to en- large upon their individual history. The names of those who held some of the higher stations in society and occasionally a remark in relation to them and others, constitute most of the materials now to be obtained. They were allowed, with few exceptions, to go to their last homes with their virtues or their failings unrecorded, and soon, very soon,
"To whom related, or by whom begot,"'
became a matter of uncertainty and indifference.
The attempt here made to preserve some memorial of a few among the first who peopled this section of the State, is the result of much examination into records and ancient docu- ments, which, to one not imbued with a fondness for such re- searches would have been labor too arduous to be undertaken with so little promise of reward. The notices are as full as as they can be made from existing materials.
THOMAS RUDYARD AND GAWEN LAWRIE.
The first two deputy governors, although residents of Eliza- bethtown, may yet, from the interest taken by them in the establishment of "New Perth," be properly enumerated among the settlers ; but nothing can be added to the infor-
13
THE SETTLERS.
mation given of them in another work.1 On reference to the map, it will be seen that both held land at Amboy, but it is not known that either of them placed any improvements upon their tracts.
SAMUEL GROOM.
This gentleman was one of the twenty-four proprietaries, and is styled "Mariner of Stepney." He was appointed Sur- veyor-general and Receiver-general in 1682, and accompanied Deputy-governor Rudyard to the province the same year. This connection with East Jersey grew probably out of an acquaint- ance with its advantages, acquired while on a voyage to Mary- land in 1676, in a vessel of his own.2
His letter from the province,3 from which some extracts have been given on preceding pages, exhibits his activity, en- ergy, and industrious habits, and describes his pursuits at Amboy.
Rudyard having dispossessed Groom of his offices, in conse- quence of some opposition made by him to his wishes respect- ing some tracts of land on the Raritan,4 the proprietaries, when expressing their disapprobation of the proceeding, thus allude to their surveyor-general-" Wee are very sensible of Samuel Groom's Honesty and Fidelity to our Interest, and therefore Cannot but very well Approve of his Proceedings, both in his Care in seeking Out and Discovering the best Land, and surveying it Out for our use, for his Endeavors to Clear it of the Indian Incumbrance, and for his refusing to Comply with the particular Interest of any there, by accommodating them with Lands or others, at their desire, to our General Prejudice, and this wee are willing to be signafied to him in our Name, and wee wish there may a way be found whereby he may still Continue to be Concerned with Us"-and they declared all surveys made by others invalid." The proprietaries had pre- viously shown their confidence in him, by placing in his charge
1 East Jersey under the Proprie- taries, pp. 123, 126, &c. Lawrie's will was dated August 15th, 1687, and let- ters of administration were granted his widow, October 20th. E. J. Records, B, 137.
2 Ibid, p. 200.
3 Ibid, p. 281.
4 Ibid, pp. 99, 116, note.
5 E. J. Records, A 366. Grants and Concess., p. 181.
14
THE SETTLERS.
when he came to the province, a cargo of goods worth seven hundred and fifty pounds, with which to purchase Indian titles. The death of Groom prevented his being reinstated.
His will was dated August 21st, 1682, and he died in the course of the following year, leaving on the stocks, unfinished, the first vessel built in East Jersey. He did not bring his family to the province with him.6
WILLIAM HAIGE.
When Rudyard suspended Groom from his offices of sur- veyor-general and receiver-general, he transferred them to William Haige, who was among the earliest settlers, and apparently a man much respected. The death of Groom hav- ing prevented his reinstatement, Haige continued to perform the duties conferred upon him until the arrival of George Keith, in 1685. In 1686 the proprietaries, "in consequence of the sudden disappoyntment in being so quickly Dispossest of the office of Surveyor-General, and for and in Regard of his Ready complyance with the succession of a new surveyor "-be- stowed upon him five hundred acres of land in Monmouth County. " There was a William Haige in the Council of Pennsylvania, in 1683 and 1684, who frequently asked leave to be absent "about his business," who may have been the same person. The name is not met with in that connection after 1684.
The subject of this notice died about January 1st, 1688. His wife, Mary, who was the daughter of Deputy-governor Lawrie, survived him, but it is not known that he left children.
WILLIAM DOCKWRA.
Gawen Lawrie notices in one of his letters the exertions of " William Dockwra's people," in advancing the prosperity of the town, and he is therefore entitled to a place among the other settlers ; although himself never in the province. He owned several town lots, and the valley of the Millstone River was his property. Dockwra was appointed Receiver-general
6 East Jersey, &c., p. 201.
7 The original grant is in my possession.
.
15
THE SETTLERS.
and Treasurer July 6th, 1688, on the death of Wm. Haige. Previously, on the 27th March, 1686, in consideration of his services, as their Agent in London, the Proprietors gave him a grant of 1,000 acres of land ; and subsequently (April 29th, 1686), evinced their confidence, by authorizing him to sign various documents in their behalf, without consul- tation. On the 27th. November, 1689, he was appointed Secretary and Register to the board of proprietors, performing his duties in the province by deputy, and continued to hold those offices until December 2d, 1702, when he was superseded by Thomas Gordon, having been guilty of some malpractices in issuing unauthorized orders, illegal grants, and other papers.8
When first mentioned in the East Jersey Records (July 20th, 1683), he is styled " Merchant of the parish of St. An- drew Undershaft, London," and he has secured for himself some fame, by having originated the "penny post " in that city.9
" The people " mentioned by Lawrie, were laborers sent over in order to obtain the grants for headlands, in accordance with " the Concessions,"-Dockwra receiving a portion of their earnings. The arrival of between thirty and forty of these laborers is recorded at different times ; besides some on account of the Scottish proprietaries generally. Lawrie says that the Scots had taken a right course in sending over many servants and poor families, to whom they gave stock, and for a number of years they received half of the increase, excepting milk, which the tenant had to himself.10
Dockwra died about 1717, leaving several sons and daugh- ters, but it does not appear that any of them ever came to America.
BENJAMIN CLARKE,
This man is styled " Stationer," and arrived with one son
8 Proprietary Minutes, August, 1701, plained that their interests were and December, 1702, and see Bill in Chancery, Robert Barclay vs. Earl of Stirling, p. 18.
9 This fact is stated by both Smith and Oldmixon, but is more particularly referred to by Macaulay, who says :- " This improvement was as usual, stren- uously resisted. The posters com-
attacked, and tore down the placards in which the scheme was announced to the public .* * * A cry was raised that the penny post was a Popish contriv- ance, &c. The utility of the enterprise was, however, so great and obvious, that all opposition proved fruitless." 10 East Jersey, &c., p. 288.
16
THE SETTLERS.
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