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 29
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Schools and schoolmasters were twice made the subjects of legislation under the proprietary governments. In 1693 the inhabitants of any town, by warrant from any Justice of the Peace, might meet and choose three men to make a rate and establish the salary of a schoolmaster for as long a time as they might think proper ; a majority of the inhabitants to compel the payments of any rates levied and withheld ; the Act setting forth that "the cultivating of learning and good manners tends greatly to the good and benefit of mankind." This act being found inconvenient " by reason of the distance
1 Lord Cornbury's instructions.
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of the neighborhood," in 1695 another one was passed, direct- ing the choice of three men annually in each town, to be authorized to agree with a schoolmaster, and appoint the most convenient place or places where schools should be kept.2
There is no information extant concerning the character of the instruction meted out to the young of Amboy and its vicinity, or of the establishment and continuance of schools until, comparatively, a late period ; but we are warranted, from the high position in society occupied by many of the in- habitants, and their literary attainments, in believing that they were not unmindful of their responsibilities in that respect.
The first intimation of a school which I have discovered is in the minutes of the Vestry of St. Peter's Church, in July, 1765 ; when the Rev. Mr. KcKean, the Rector, informed that body that a school-house was immediately necessary, as the Barracks in which the school was then kept could not be longer had without hiring. The Vestry took the subject into consideration, approved of a plan, directed subscriptions to be obtained, and the immediate construction of the building. It was erected somewhere near the intersection of Rector and Gully (now Gordon) streets, but does not appear to have been used long as a school-house ; no remains of it are now visible.
From the connection in which the above notice appears, it is probable that Mr. McKean taught this school himself ; and this opinion is confirmed by the fact that in 1768 the town was without a teacher, Mr. McKean's death having occurred the October previous.
Most, if not all, of the documents referring to the schools of the place from 1768 to 1775 are in my possession. In April of the former year, a house was hired for the occupancy of a school for seven pounds per annum, by a committee ap- . pointed for the purpose, and in August a school was com- menced by Mr. McNaughton, and continued until May, 1770. Why discontinued does not appear, but "the master" seems
' East Jersey, &c., p. 169,
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to have been in the town for some time thereafter and teaching in the school-house in Rector street. 3
No farther steps appear to have been taken to secure the possession of a good school until August, 1773, when, at a meeting of parents having children, the consideration of the subject was referred to a committee, at the head of which was the Rev. Mr. Preston, who at a subsequent meeting presented a long formal report, in which they express their conviction that a man "proper for a public school in this town should be capable of teaching the Latin, Greek, and English languages grammatically, with the mathematics, ciphering, writing, and other useful branches of literature." A committee was ap- pointed to receive subscriptions at the rate of £4 per annum for every child to be sent, and such additional sums as " the generous might contribute to so laudable a purpose." The sum to be paid the teacher was limited to £100 per annum, and it was deemed advisable to provide a proper house immedi- ately.
It is evident from this report that high anticipations were entertained of the success of the plans proposed. "It is ex- pected," say the Committee, "that upon a proper school being opened many scholars will be sent from other places," and re- gulations were prescribed by which any excess of income from such pupils should be applied to the reduction of the price of tuition-from which it may be gathered that £4 per annum was an extraordinary price in those days.
At a subsequent meeting, attended by the Chief Justice of the Province, the Rev. Mr. Preston, and the most respecta- ble gentlemen of the place, subscriptions were reported to the amount of £144 10s.,4 and committees appointed to perfect the
3 This appears from a letter from the divides the church green from the late Wm. Dunlap. Mr. D. says, "I buildings north of it. When the hour for " school going in " arrived, he used to appear at the door and beckon us to leave sport on the church green and come to the dominion of his strap and ferule." was sent to learn my letters while yet in petticoats to Mrs. Randall, who had a swarm of such manikins about her, in a house in the street leading out to the barracks [Smith street]. From this nursery school I was transferred to 4 The subscribers were : James Par- ler £12; Cortlandt Skinner £12; Ste- phen Skinner £12 10; Elizabeth Goelet £8; Elias Bland £8; Alex. Master MacNaughton, a black-looking Irishman, who had his school in a wooden building near the gully which
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arrangements and secure the erection of a school-house ; but it was never built.5
The fiscal arrangements made, the equally important re- quisite-a teacher-remained to be secured ; but nothing appears to have been done towards it until February, 1774. An advertisement of a gentleman who represented himself as particularly qualified, having appeared in Rivington's paper in New York, Dr. Miles Cooper, President of King's College -the personal friend of many of the gentlemen interested- was written to on the subject. This correspondence furnishes additional evidence of the hopes that had been excited in Amboy as to the character and success of the contemplated school.
Dr. Cooper's first letter was not received until March, and its tenor was unsatisfactory, as no proper person could be ob- tained, for, says the Doctor, "he who advertised himself in Rivington's paper said too much, in my opinion, to be worth much. Indeed, according to his own estimation, he was a greater man than either Newton, Boyle or Locke." Puffing, therefore, is not a plant of modern growth. In June, however, the Doctor heard of Mr. Thomas Johnston, an Englishman who had " studied some time at Oxford," and whom he found to be a scholar ; he therefore recommended him to the gentle- men of Amboy, for, although nearly a year had elapsed, their school had not yet commenced.
Mr. Johnston entered upon his duties in July, for £60 per annum, New York currency. The school was kept in the court-house, and was open from 6 to 8, from 10 to 12, and from 3 till 6-upon the principle, it is presumed, of getting "a day's work" out of the teacher, and to enable the scholars to
Watson £7; John Johnston £7; Ste- phen Johnston £7; John Smyth £6; Thomas Skinner £6; Samuel Dunlap £6; John Preston £6; Lewis Antill £5; Jonathan Deare £4; Gertrude Barberrie £4; Philip Kearny, jr. £4 ; Wm. Burnet €4; Thomas Stephens €4; Henry Cuyler £4 ; Ravaud Kearny £4; Thomas Lyell £4; Saml. Sargant £4; Michael Kearny £1 10;
John Barberrie £1 10; Wm. Terrill £1 10; Frederick Smyth £4. Those in italics, not anticipating the events of coming time, subscribing for five years.
5 £63 10 were obtained as follows : J. Parker £15; C. Skinner £12; E. Bland £12; S. Skinner £12 10; J. Smyth £6; Thos. Stephens £2; Lewis Antill £2; Wm. Terrill £2.
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make up for lost time.6 The subscription list of the school falling off, Mr. Johnston remained only a few months, and was succeeded by a man with one hand, named Carrick, who had been his assistant. He kept his school on Tower-hill, and it is thought continued to teach until the revolution overturned all customary pursuits and employments.
This narrative of events connected with the schools of Perth Amboy during this period has been given thus particularly, from its exemplifying the imperfections attendant upon the education of those youths whose parents were not in circum- stances that would allow of their being sent abroad ; and if such was the state of education in the capital of the province, the seat of government and residence of most of the officers, what must it have been in the towns of less note ?
The Revolution over, matters remained very much in the same state ; several of the missionaries and pastors of St. Peter's Church added to their limited incomes by teaching, but until a few years past every school established existed only for a short time, and the attendants were so constantly subjected to changes in teachers, changes in books, and changes in dis- cipline, that it was almost impossible to acquire any great degree of proficiency.
Under an improved system of State education, and through several private enterprises successfully carried out, a marked change for the better has been wrought in late years.
COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.
The founders of Perth Amboy regarding its situation as highly advantageous for commercial purposes, thought them- selves warranted in anticipating a rapid increase in its busi- ness and population, from an extension to it of the privileges
6 The list of the children who a'- tended this school is now before me. Their destinies, how various ! the lives of many how checkered ! Among them appears the name of Wm. Dun- lap, who (the last survivor but one, that one Cortlandt Skinner of Belfast, Ireland) died September, 1839. Dur-
ing his last illness this list was read to him, and as the name of each remem- bered schoolmate met the old man's ear, his countenance brightened, and the infirmities of age seemed for the time forgotten in the vivid recollec- tions of the scenes and companions of his youth.
1
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and facilities of a Port of Entry. In January, 1683, they re- minded the Deputy Governor that " care is to be taken that goods be not exported to New York or other places, but that all goods are to be brought to Perth as the chief staple ; " 7 and, notwithstanding the opposition which attended their exertions to make the province independent of New York in this re- spect,8 they never remitted them, and, eventually, by order of Council, August 14th, 1687, the Collector of New York was directed to allow vessels bound to New Perth to proceed thither without first entering at his port, which they had pre- viously been obliged to do, provided the Government of East Jersey would allow some persons appointed by the Government or Receiver-General of New York, to receive the customs and imports. 9 This power having been accorded by the govern- ment of East Jersey, Miles Forster was appointed by Governor Dongan, " Collector and Receiver at New Perth," on the 26th November, 1687, and was recognized as such by the Council of the Province on the 30th of the same month.
He was directed to levy similar duties upon Imports and Exports to those levied at New York, which were as follows -- the table showing what were the principal articles of trade at that time :-
ON IMPORTS.
Rum, Brandy and Distilled Spirits
Madeira, Fayal, St. George, Canary, Malaga, Sherry, and all sweet Wines
Red, White and Rhenish Wines -
£1 per hhd.
All other goods from Europe
-
2 per cent. ad val.
All other goods from other ports -
12 per cent. ad val.
ON EXPORTS.
Beavers 9d.
4 Capps - - 9d.
10 Racoons 9d.
3 Dullings 1s. 6d. 4 Fox Skins - 9d. 4 Fishers - 9d.
4 Cats 9d. 6 Minks 9d. 3 Otters - - 1s. 6d.
2 Bears
9d. 4 Wolves -
9d. 24 Muskrats - 9d.
10 Martins 9d. 24 Moose -
9d 24 Deers - 9d.
All other peltry and skins equivalent to Beaver, excepting Ox, Bull and Cow-hides.
On goods sold to the Indians 10 per cent. ad val. upon certain valua- tions. 10
7 Proprietary Records, A, p. 368. 9 MS. order in my possession.
· See East Jersey under the Proprie- tors, pp. 69, 70, 109-111.
10 East Jersey Records, Vol: 4, C. Laws, p. 125.
4d. per gall.
£2 per pipe.
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The intercourse with "New Perth" seems to have been carried on under these regulations for some years, but in 1694 the Assembly of East Jersey, for the better encouragement of its trade, established a custom-house entirely distinct from New York.
The independence thus impliedly asserted, caused the claims of the officers of New York to exercise authority in East Jersey also, to be renewed, and for several years the greatest confusion prevailed from the attempts of the two gov- ernments to enforce obedience to their respective mandates. New York, possessing greater means to support its authority, was generally enabled to prevent any benefits accruing to Amboy from the proprietary arrangements, if nothing more. Vessels were seized and other oppressive measures adopted, not even prevented by the appointment, in November, 1696, by the Commissioners of the Revenue in England, of a sepa- rate Collector for Amboy, in Thomas Coker, who entered upon his duties in April, 1698.11
Coker, however, must have died soon after his arrival, for on the 12th July of the same year, Charles Goodman was ap- pointed Collector, by Edmund Randolph, Surveyor-General of the Customs in America, and he was sworn into office on the 15th. He continued to hold the office until his death in 1701, when (April 21st) John White received the appointment under Queen Anne.
It was not until 1701 that a decision of the Queen's Bench in England, put to rest the dissensions with New York, and fully established the rights of New Jersey. While awaiting this determination, and negotiating for the surrender of the government of the province to the crown, the proprietaries were zealously engaged in upholding their right to have their capi- tal created a Port of Entry.
They stipulated in their first proposition to the Council of Trade in 1699, " That upon the annexation of the government of the province to that of New York, the port of Perth Amboy should be established for entering ships, and importing goods
11 For the particulars of this contro- Jersey under the Proprietors, pp. versy the reader is referred to East 141-146, 222.
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there and exporting from thence, without being obliged to enter their ships at any other place ; paying the same or like cus- toms to his Majesty as are, or shall from time to time, be pay- able at New York." In answer to this reasonable request the Lords of Trade replied that it would be "very improper for his Majesty to oblige himself to a compliance with it by any clause in the new charter." 12
In January, 1700, the Proprietaries observe, in reply to this remark of the Lords, that they are " surprised at the dubious answer received," and add among other arguments for the measure, that "the obtaining a port to be continued for ever was their main inducement to consent to a surrender of the government, and therefore they insist that in the new char- ter to be granted them by his Majesty, there be an express clause inserted, whereby Perth Amboy shall be established a port for ever, and that such port shall not be forfeited or taken away for any misdemeanor whatsoever, but only the persons guilty of the misdemeanor shall be account- able for it ;" 13 and again, in August of the following year, they reiterated their demand, and success attended their efforts, but not to the full extent of their wishes.
Although they thus manifested their conviction of the im- portance of foreign commerce to the growth and prosperity of their province, and of their principal town in particular, yet they seem to have erred greatly in judgment as to the mea- sures which would most effectually secure it, both before and after the privileges of a Port were obtained.
Smith in his History of the Province 14 speaks of the plea- sant situation and commodiousness of the harbor, and attri- butes the failure to make it a business place to "a fatality " which attended it ; but what he thus designates may be regarded more as the result than a cause. Mistaken legisla- tion in all probability was the first obstacle in the way of the
12 Smith's N. J., pp. 560, 562.
13 Smith's N. J., p. 564. How simi- lar this reasoning to that used by Jo- siah Quincy, seventy-five years later, in kis observations on the Boston Port Bill : " What is it that the town of
Boston has done ? " asked he, " * punishments that descend indiscrimi- nately on all ought to have the sanc- tion of unerring wisdom and Almighty Power."
14 Page 489.
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commercial prosperity of the province, and ere it could be overcome the current of business set too strong in the direction of New York to be drawn into new channels. Russell in his History of America says, when treating of New Jersey, " as long as this province stands in need of intermediate agents it must remain in the state of languor into which it is plunged. This it is thoroughly sensible of, and all its efforts have for some time been directed to enable it to act for itself." 15
The course of trade would naturally cause such markets as the more populous cities of New York and Philadelphia af- forded the inhabitants of New Jersey, to be early resorted to in preference to the increased risk and uncertainty which must have attended a traffic with those of foreign lands ; but, los- ing sight of the fact that injurious consequences always result from an interference with the regular course of commercial operations of whatever character, the proprietary Government first, and then the law-makers under that which succeeded, in their attempts to make Amboy "the chief staple" and to dispense with "intermediate agents," so materially interfered with the trade of the province, throwing such obstacles in the way of a free intercourse with such places as the interests of the people prompted them to engage in-that they retarded, instead of advancing its prosperity.
Bounties and other facilities to those who should engage in foreign traffic might have effected what they so anxiously desired, but legislation when brought to bear upon the sub- ject was of a prohibitory character, the produce of the province was made to move in certain directions only, and, as a ne- cessary consequence, production was checked by lessening the number of avenues of demand.
As early as 1678, when the condition of the province was so favorable for grazing that a great number of cattle could have been raised at little or no expense, a law was passed prohibiting the transportation out of the province, or sale to any one not residing within it, of all hides or tanned leather ; and the following year the prohibition was extended to Indian
15 Vol. II., pp. 273, 274.
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dressed skins. So in 1694, " for the better encouragement of builders of ships and other vessels, within the province"-as if the whole continent should depend upon the skill of Jersey- men-the exportation of any "timber, planks, boards, oak- bolts, staves, heading, hoops, or hop poles, " was expressly forbidden, excepting to some port "over the broad seas (that is to say) into the Kingdom of England, the West Indies, or to any of the Summer or Wine islands directly, and there to unload the same"-and even to these ports the exportation was incumbered by the requisition of bonds and other vexatious, restrictions. Inspectors were appointed in all the towns to. prevent the infringement of this act, Wm. Frost (November- 26th, 1694) being charged with the duty within the bounds. of Perth Amboy and Piscataway. 16
This Act was necessarily hurtful. By confining the con- sumption of the produce of the forests to the people of the province alone, it took away from the new settlers, one induce- ment, at least, for clearing their lands, and thus operated to retard their cultivation ; and by lessening the demand, the. value of timber must have been also affected to the prejudice of the proprietaries' interests ; but it was by their approval that it became the law of the land. There is no evidence of its having benefited the class of persons for whom it professed to be framed, for it is doubtful if one vessel was built more than would have been without it. At Amboy,-which, being the. chief seat of commerce, should have been benefited by the law if any benefit resulted-we find it probable that no vessel was built until 1702 ; on the 1st December of that year Miles. Forster receiving a town lot "in consideration of his having built the first sloop in Perth Amboy belonging to the province,, and to be navigated hence."
The same system was pursued after the surrender of the
16 E. J. Records, East Jersey, &c., pp. 172, 173. In 1701, East Jersey was thought to have exhausted Penn- sylvania of coin to pay for cattle im- ported thence for the supply of Phila- delphia ; and to prevent its continuance, and to encourage the raising of all
kinds of cattle at home, every one . having 40 acres of clear land was to keep 10 sheep, no person was to kill more than half their neat cattle, and none at all were to be sold from 10th June to 6th Sept. Penn. Col. Records . I. p. 22.
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government to Queen Anne. In 1714 the exportation of pipe and hogshead staves to the neighboring provinces was bur- dened with a duty of thirty shillings on every thousand ; and twenty shillings per thousand were to be paid when shipped to any other part of the continent, the reasons given being the " great discouragement to the trade" of the pro- vince such exportation caused, and the destruction of timber which was the result. In 1717, however, this was repealed, being found, as might have been anticipated, "to be pre- judicial to the inhabitants," but in 1743, for fear there " might not be enough left for the necessary use of the Eastern Divi- sion," these duties together with others upon timber gene- rally were revived, and the law continued in force until the Revolution.
The exportation of grain became also the subject of legisla- tive action. In March, 1714, a duty was laid upon wheat ex- ported from the Eastern Division to any of the British colo- nies upon the continent of America. This law coming into existence at the same time with the first, imposing a duty on staves, ran its course and was repealed at the same time ; show- ing that they were regarded as of similar character and pro- ductive of like results.
Its repeal caused much discussion, -- many pamphlets 17 were published pro and con on the subject, and the legislature seems to have been completely at fault as to what measures should be adopted.
Gov. Hunter in 1719 thus plainly addressed the Assembly :
" As for the measures of advancing, or rather for giving a being to trade amongst you, the generality of you have shown such aversion to solid ones, and others such a fondness for imaginary or ruinous ones, that without a virtue and resolution of serving those you represent against their inclination, your endeavors will be to little purpose; but if any thing of that nature fall under deliberation, I cannot think of a better guide, than a just inspection into the trade of other provinces, where it is in a good and flourishing condition. The means by which it became so, can be no mystery ; where it is otherwise, or has decayed, you will find the true cause of such decay conspicuous, and it is but a rational conclusion, that what has formed trade, or that on which it depends, credit, in one place, cannot but be the most proper means either to begin it or preserve it in another.18
17 Among these see "Proposals 18 Smith's N. J. p. 411 note.
for Trade and Commerce in New Jer- sey, &c," in Philadelphia Library.
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Nothing of any consequence seems to have resulted from this expression of the Governor's views.
The re-establishment of the export duty on wheat was again tried in 1725, for a limited period, and on the expiration of the time no attempt was made to revive it, -- and thereafter its transhipment appears to have remained untrammelled with restrictions.
In May, 1740, a Bill was introduced into the Assembly for establishing two Trading Companies or bodies corporate for carrying on a Foreign trade, one of them to be located at Burlington and the other at Amboy. The measure attracted considerable attention, and the Assembly had it printed for the information of their constituents, postponing action upon it until some future period ; but the proper time never arrived. To afford some idea of what the notions of the legislators of those days were in relation to commerce, the following synop- sis of the bill is here introduced.
After providing names and location, for the companies, Commissioners from the Counties of Middlesex, Monmouth, Essex, Somerset and Bergen were empowered to record the names of all such persons as were disposed to become associated with the Amboy company : and similar officials from the coun- ties of Hunterdon Burlington, Gloucester, Salem and Cape May, were to perform the same duty for the Burlington Com- pany ;- the persons so subscribing to give security,-if in lands for double, and if in houses for treble the amount of their re- spective subscriptions.
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