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 9
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Among the charges brought against Sonmans, as judge, was his prohibiting Quakers from sitting as jurors, which he endeavored to prove was proper. The acts which had been passed for relieving them from some of their legal disabilities, allowing affirmations instead of oaths, &c., did not admit them to the privileges of jurymen, or to any office or place of profit,-and although, in the instructions to the governor, he was authorized to waive these disabilities, in view of the small number of qualified persons that might be in the prov- ince on the first settlement of the government, yet, he argued, as there were at that time a sufficient number able to fill such offices, the Quakers should be passed over.
The prejudice continuing-and especially with reference to the act of the Assembly relative to the affirmations of the Quakers-doubts of its validity and force generally prevailing, -Governor Hunter, in 1716, officially, in a proclamation, an- swered the arguments advanced against their eligibility to office, &c., judging it necessary, he said, " for the satisfac- tion of the minds of the scrupulous, and stopping the mouths of the clamorous and seditious, until a more effectual method may be pursued, if necessity so require, to set the matter in so 'clear a light that the half-sighted may see, and the half- witted be convinced of the unreasonableness and absurdity of that objection. The rest can see and understand without any help." And he shows conclusively that the admission of the Quakers to all the rights and privileges of other citizens was clearly in conformity with the instructions of the crown and the laws of the colony.38 Failing to vindicate his character, Sonmans was obliged at last to leave the province. Whither he removed is uncertain, but probably to Philadelphia. In December, 1712, Governor Hunter informed the board of trade that he was then in Pennsylvania, where he " printed and dispersed his libels against the government." He died in March, 1734, and from the following obituary notice- here inserted as embodying the testimony of a friend in his behalf,-it appears that his remains were deposited in Eliza-
38 Votes and State Papers, Vol. I.
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bethtown. It is from the Philadelphia Weekly Mercury, of April 11th, 1734, and given as an extract from a private let- ter, dated Elizabethtown, April 1st.
" On Saturday, 29th of March, was here inter'd the Body of Peter Sonmans, Esqr., Chief Proprietor of East New Jersey.39 He was Son to Arents Sonman, late one of the States of Holland, which Government, after having finished his Study at Leyden, he quitted and came to Eng- land, where he had the Honour to hold some considerable offices under his late Majesty, King William, 1705; Coming a second Time into this Country, where he had so considerable an Interest, He was appointed of her late Majesty's Hon. Council, Agent to the Proprietors, Surveyor Gen- eral, General Receiver of the Quit Rents, and Ranger of the Forests, as well as Sea coasts. He was, in two succeeding Elections, Chose Repre- sentative for the County of Bargain, in which Station he manifested him- self a true Patriarch to his Country. He was justly esteemed for his Charity and Clemency, his sincerity in Friendship, Patience in oppres- sions, and undaunted Spirit in Dangers, manifested his first Merit of the Motto of his Arms-Patientia est Fide. In Augustis interpridus, much more could be said, but for Brevity Sake is omitted."
Mr. Sonmans was married twice-his second wife being Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Nevill, of Stafford, Eng- land, and a sister of Judge Nevill, of Amboy, whom he mar- ried October 17th, 1723. He left her his sole heiress and execu- trix, although he had a son-Peter,-a practising physician in Philadelphia. Mr. Sonmans appears to have been one of those fortunate personages who enjoy contentions, and would rather attain their end by some tortuous course, abounding in difficulties to be overcome, than by a straightforward pro- cedure, requiring some concessions and accommodation to circumstances. The same amount of energy, exhibited by him in his various conflicts with all parties, directed in other channels, might have made him a prominent benefactor to the people of the province.
Mrs. Sonmans dying in December, 1735, the settlement of the estate devolved upon her brother, who came to Amer- ica for the purpose, giving him for years much labor and anxiety. The son set up a claim for a portion of the proper- ty, and in 1745 Mr. Nevill obtained a release of all his pre- tensions. In 1747, writing to his friend, Mr. Alexander, he says : "I have made a peaceful end with the Jews, and
39 There was no authority for applying to him the title of Chief Proprietor.
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heartily wish it had been done some years ago. Had my un- happy brother Sonmans labored for peace and good neighbor- hood so much as I do, I should not have had these difficul- ties to struggle with." 40
It is thought the son died shortly after the settlement with Mr. Nevill, but whether he left descendants is not known.
THE WILLOCKS FAMILY.
JAMES WILLOCKS, " Doctor of Medicine in Kennay, Scot- land," became possessed of a proprietary right to East Jersey in 1683, but died soon after, and his property was inherited by GEORGE WILLOCKS his brother. This gentleman arrived in the province with two servants in 1684, and after remain- ing here for some years, during which no particular mention of him or of his pursuits is made in the early records, he re- turned to England ; and in 1697 was appointed attorney for his brother proprietaries to collect the quit-rents due to them from the settlers which the disturbed state of the province had caused to accumulate. In furtherance of this arrangement he sailed from England about April, 1698, in the " Despatch, William Fidler, master," and arrived safely at Amboy. On board of this vessel, was a cargo on account of the proprie- taries of the value of £500 sterling, with the procurement and disposition of which, it is thought, Mr. Willocks had been also intrusted.41
Soon after his arrival in the province he was appointed " Chief Ranger,"-an office with the duties of which I am unacquainted, but which seems, from its title, to have been
40 Full evidence of the disinterested- ness of Judge Nevill is afforded by the fact that, although the heir-at-law of his sister, and, therefore, rightfully en- titled to all she had derived from her husband, yet, on his arrival in East Jersey, he entered into articles of agreement with his brother, John Nevill, and Peter Sonmans, jr., to the effect that, so soon as the debts of the estate were paid, an equal division should be made of all the property among the three.
41 The proprietaries directed the gov-
ernor to examine the invoices, &c., to see if the goods delivered on shore at Amboy, were bona fide of the value specified in the text. I do not advance this as a proof of a want of confidence in Mr. Willocks, but taken in connec- tion with the fact that Charles Gordon, then in Scotland, in August, 1687, au- thorized his brother, Thomas, of Am- boy, to " call George Willocks to ac- count for all his intromissions as his attorney," it must be allowed to bear somewhat that character. See E. J. Records, Liber B. p. 303.
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well suited to his roving disposition, as evinced in his repeated change of residence. He was also appointed one of the Com- missioners for the Court of Small Causes.
It appears that he established himself first at Amboy, but soon afterward removed into Monmouth County, and took up his abode at a place then called Rudyard, settled and named by Deputy-governor Rudyard ; and his residence there led to a matrimonial connection. In consequence of a refusal on the part of the persons named in the will of the Deputy-governor to serve as his executors, Mr. Willocks became one of the ad- ministrators of the estate ; a circumstance which brought him into intimate connection with all the family, and Margaret, one of the daughters, having lost her husband, Samuel Win- der,40 was living, a widow, in the vicinity of Mr. Willocks' new abode. It would be assuming too much, to say, from the records, that she was the attraction that drew him to Mon- mouth, but in a very few months, early in 1699, he became the husband of the widow.
In 1701, Mr. Willocks again made Amboy his place of residence, being appointed, in March, Deputy-surveyor of the Province under John Reid. How long he exercised the duties of this office is not known, but the next year he is repre- sented as living in Richmond County, N. Y., (Staten Island) :- is styled "of Amboy," again in 1703, " of Eliza- bethtown" in 1711, and " of Philadelphia " in 1724.
With the exception of an appointment, March 1720, as one of the Commissioners for settling the boundary between the Province and New York, the offices which have been named were all Mr. Willocks filled, and they were not of sufficient importance to base upon them any estimate of character ; but tradition has not coupled his name with any special com- mendations. Letters which have come under my inspection, indicate considerable business talent, a sufficient cause for his selection to fill the various stations to which he was appointed.
40 See East Jersey, under the Pro- prietaries, p. 125. Samuel Winder's mother (Sarah), previous to her mar- riage with his father, was the widow of
John Palmer. Samuel had three bro- thers, James, Thomas and Charles, the last two dying without issue.
6
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His time appears to have been employed principally in attend- ing to his large landed estate, having become deeply inter- ested in the soil of East Jersey, and this may have occasioned those repeated changes of residence which have been noticed. In 1719 he held the exclusive right of the ferries from Perth Amboy to Staten Island and South Amboy.
In the autumn of 1724, Mr. Willocks took passage at Phila- delphia for Europe, but after proceeding down the river as far as Newcastle, he was obliged to return in consequence of some infringement of the Revenue Laws of the Province, by the vessel in which he had embarked.41 The voyage was subse- quently made, however, and it is probable that he resided in London until 1726, when he returned to Amboy, and contin- ued there until his death, in January or February, 1729, after a long and distressing illness. Mrs. Willocks preceded him to the grave, having died in 1722. Of this lady a most favorable account has descended to us : among other good deeds, being the exercise of her influence over her husband to induce the gift of a portion of the land now occupi- ed by St. Peter's Church and Ceme- tery, during her life, and of other property at his WHITNEY & JOCELYN. S.G death ;- including GEORGE WILLOCKS' HOUSE : THE OLD PARSONAGE. his own residence, which for many years thereafter was occupied as the parsonage. It continued to stand, though shorn of some of its dimensions, until 1844, when it was taken down. The accompanying sketch represents its appearance in 1832. In " olden time," as late as 1790, it was three stories high, with a four-sided roof.
41 The letter conveying this infor- mation to his Amboy friends, is in my possession. The Collector, for some reason, refused to seize the vessel, and
the Governor caused it to be done by his special authority, which caused a rupture between those two function- aries in Philadelphia.
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Mr. Willocks expressed great contrition in his will, or rather acknowledged his great sinfulness, which, whatever may have been his life, we may charitably consider indicative of a change in his sentiments and feelings ; particularly as his selection of the Reverend Wm. Skinner, of Amboy, and the Reverend Edward Vaughan, of Elizabethtown, to be his executors, and several donations to churches and charitable purposes, show different associations and dispositions, than under other circum- stances could have been expected. He directed a tract of land in Monmouth County to be sold, and the proceeds divided equally between the churches at Shrewsbury, Burlington and Hopewell ; and also gave one third of the value of 320 acres to the Episcopal Church at Aberdeen, in his native country, then "just erected," -and an equal sum to be distributed among the poor of the parish of Kennay. He desired that a monument of white marble of the " value of £70, more or less," should be procured in Philadelphia, and placed above the re- mains of himself and wife ; but this does not appear to have been done. A vault, now in ruins, in St. Peter's Cemetery, is known by tradition as " Willocks' Vault," and it may be that the amount devised by him for a monument was ex- pended in its construction. Certain it is, save the tablet erected in 1825 to commemorate their liberality to the Church, there is nothing which records the deaths of George and Mar- garet Willocks. 42
Mr. Willocks left no children. The bulk of his property was inherited by a nephew and niece, George Leslie, and Anna, wife of John Ritchie, children of a sister who was yet living in Scotland at the time of his death. Mr. Leslie came to the Prov- ince some years before his uncle's death (was with him in Phila- del-phia in 1724), and resided for a long time after that event at South Amboy, where he died in 1751. A considerable portion of the property inherited by him was sold in 1742 or 1743, under pecuniary necessity ; but at the time of his death he
42 Sec subsequent chapter on Religious Denominations.
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still held, adjoining the ferry at South Amboy, ten or twelve hundred acres of land.43
It was made obligatory on Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie to remove to East Jersey in order to inherit the portion of the estate left to them, and they accordingly did so, bringing with them two daughters, Elizabeth and Magdalen. They experienced some difficulty in obtaining possession of their property, but after a delay of some years succeeded.44 What became of them, or their descendants, is not known ; a miniature like- ness of Mr. Ritchie is in my possession.
THE LYELL FAMILY.
DAVID LYELL, whose name is found among the early pro- prietors of the Province, was a goldsmith by trade ("of St. Mar- tins-in-the-field "), a dependent, tradition says, of a wealthy family in England, named Lorraine, with a daughter or near connection of which he formed an attachment, which proving reciprocal, the lady gave up all for love, and fled with him to a new home in America. He became a proprietor in April, 1697, by the purchase of a forty-eighth part of the Pro- vince from Andrew Hamilton, for which he gave £220 ; and came to New Jersey towards the close of that, or the begin- ning of the eighteenth century.
He appears to have resided part of his life both in New York (1701-3) and in Monmouth County ; and is styled " of Monmouth " at the time of his death. He had a perma- nent residence, however, in Amboy, his house standing di- rectly upon the shore of the harbor, a short distance north of the Episcopal Church. Under Governor Burnet, from 1719 to 1723 he was a member of the Council. He died in 1726. His wife
43 His widow, Elizabeth, as execu- trix advertised his property at South Amboy, Feb'y 24th, 1752. She says there is upon it " a prospect of a sea- coal mine, some whereof has been tried."
44 I have in my possession a letter from them to the executors, complain- ing that although five years had elaps-
ed since the death of Mr. Willocks, they had not yet been put in possession of their property, and threatening legal proceedings. This letter is dated Sept. 30th, 1734, but subsequently there are documents on record, showing that they were finally successful, and had control of their lands.
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(Sarah) survived him several years, dying November 4th, 1756, aged 86.45 In Mr. Lyell's will, the following children are mentioned : David, Catharine, Fenwick, William, Jane, Robert and Mary, but information respecting them is scanty.
FENWICK died in 1742. From letters in my possession, I am led to form a favorable opinion both of his intelligence and education. He filled the honorable station of Councillor under Governor Burnet, as his father had done before him, and was also appointed one of the Council of Governor Morris, who recommended him in 1739 as Deputy Advocate-general in Ad- miralty for New Jersey, as " a good lawyer, * * * and a person very capa- ble." 46
DAVID held the office of Postmaster at Amboy, receiving it from Gov- ernor Morris, in 1739, but died not long after.
" MISS CATY," and "MISS JANE " are remembered by the aged inhabi- tants of Amboy, as two unmarried ladies, living in the house at the south- east corner of High and Smith streets. They prided themselves much upon their descent, through their mother, from several noble families of Eng- land, and had in their possession, kept with the greatest veneration, a small embroidered pocket-handkerchief-that had come into their posses- sion through the Fenwick family, with whom they were connected - which, they stated, had belonged to, and been spotted with the blood of Charles I., who, on the scaffold, fell a victim to kingly prerogatives, and ill-judged encroachments on the liberties of his subjects.47 Catharine, as her tomb-stone tells us, died some time before her sister Jane, who lived to be 85 years of age.
One of the brothers had a son Thomas, a sea captain, who lived at one time in Willocks' lane. He commanded a Brigantine in the employ of Messrs. Skinner and Kearny, who were engaged in commerce before the revolution; he traded to Madeira and Lisbon, usually making two voyages each year, importing wine, &c., from both places. He had several children. One of his daughters is yet living on Long Island- the widow of James Lent, not long since a member of Congress from New York - and one of his sons (Thomas) removed to North Caro- lina, where he died in 1796.
45 Three hundred acres belonging to David Lyell, " called Middletown Point," together with two houses in Amboy, &c., were advertised for sale by his executors in January, 1730. His widow then resided " at her house, near Capt. Harmanus Rutgers', in New York."
46 Morris Papers, pp. 65-66.
47 This handkerchief remained for several years in possession of the family of Samuel Moore, of Rahway, who administered upon the estate of Jane Lyell, and is now in the posses- sion of Mr. E. B. Thompson, of New York ; having within a few years been noticed in the newspapers at different
times, as an interesting relic of Charles I. I was always disposed to regard its history as somewhat apocryphal, until some degree of confirmation was given to it, by information received from the late Col. Robt. G. Johnson, of Salem ; to the effect that he had in his possession, at one time, an order from Cromwell to Major John Fen- wick, to superintend the execution of the King, which service, if performed, would have given him an opportunity to have secured the handkerchief; - rendering its possession by the Fen- wick family, and its transmission to the Lyells, less improbable.
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THE HARRISONS.
This family seems to have come to the Province from Long Island in 1699 or 1700.
JOHN HARRISON, the senior, it is presumed, established himself either in Monmouth or Middlesex County ; which, is uncertain, as he appears to have repeatedly changed his resi- dence. Another, John, thought to have been a son, settled at Elizabethtown, and subsequently removed to Amboy, and was the individual who joined Thomas Gordon, and others, in their liberal donations to the Episcopal Church, which are elsewhere mentioned. 48
One of the name was a member of the Provincial Assem- bly, as a representative from Middlesex County, from 1703 to 1716, with some intermissions, but whether it was the father or son, has not been determined. In 1723 the latter was a Master in Chancery, but he could not have received an edu- cation, -judging from his letters, -fitting him, properly, for any legal office. In 1709 he was attached to the Northern Army as a Captain of a company, and acted as a Commissary; and several letters, interesting from the details given respecting the troops, the climate, and the condition of the country at that time, presenting a marked contrast to the luxury and convenience that now abound in the same region, are in my possession. They were addressed to Captain Elisha Parker at Amboy, who was charged by the Provincial Government with the duty of supplying the troops on the frontiers, and some extracts from them may be admissible. 49
" ALBANY, ye 10 of August, 1709.
" CAPT. PARKER,
"Sir :- This Comes to Let you know our wants are great, the weather Cold and Rainy, and we nothing But the Bare ground to Lie on, no tents nor Blankets, which is enough to kill us all, The Indians are Better pro- vided for than we. This is ye first Complaint, which I hope you will speedily take Care of that I may not trouble you any more upon this head. But now Comes another Which this Day I must answer for, Before ye General and
48 See Chapter on Religious Denom- ent from our standards that it was inations.
49 The orthography and grammar of the letters, were both so widely differ-
thought expedient to correct the ex- tracts.
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ye Commissioners of Albany, to give in a true List of all my men, and also a just account of all ye Provision I have for 72 men, which the General has told, that he may Lay ye same Before the Governor of Boston, and also Before the Governor of Connecticut, and ye Governor of Rhode Island, that they may have a true state of all ye Provision that Is Laid in from Every Province with the number of men. I Dare give in no more men than I have so that I may stretch out that Little provision for forty days, for 72, which is all I Can do, and that will not answer, for the General will have provisions for 60 days from this day. You may know what will Be wanting when you know how many men Captain Lucker has, and how many men Comes from West Jersey. I pray you do not let us want. * I pray you to let us have good store of good Bread, for to be sure, Every man will have his full allowance of that, which is a pound a piece. We want Bowls or trays to eat out of, but we have nothing; and as for Scales to weigh our provisions we have none nor Can get none upon any terms. You never see such a Country in your Life as this, for there is nothing to be had but Indian trade. Captain Schuyler is extraordinary kind, and will Let me have any thing he has, he has promised to get me some peas as soon as he can get them thrashed, he will supply me with Blankets, But I am loth to meddle with any until I hear from you. The General Is as kind to me as I Can Wish, for he Comes almost Every day to me to Invite me to Dinner with him, and has sent Mr. Reid and myself Each of us a Barrel of Noble Beer to my Lodgings. * * * The Albany people have great faith in our Jersey Commissioners. I am proffered goods By all the Shop keepers In Albany to Let me have what goods I will, and have fitted all my men out Like gentlemen for the warrants I gave them for the seven pound ten a man. * I would not for any thing, that the Jerseys should Lose the Credit they have, for they desire no other pay than our money Bills of Credit. Sir, a great many things more I could add, but Comply with every thing I have here writ for, and formerly, and you will much oblige, Sir, your most humble Servant,
" JOHN HARRISON.
" Before I had sealed up your Letter I had one from Lieut. Rudyard, who gives me a very sad account of his March to the Camp. How the wagoners pilfer and steal Both Bread and flour, and Every thing that they Can Come at. I have enclosed his Letter, that you may be the Better satisfied. But for God's sake either send me Blankets, or give me orders to buy them, or we shall starve all our men, you do not think what a noise I have every day about my Ears, first ye General, then ye Commission- ers, and the men daily sending for Blankets, for the weather Is three times as Cold here as it is with you. * * Farewell once more.
J. H.
"But before I take my Leave of you Let me Desire of you to send tents for the Officers, or Else we shall be shouted out of the Camp, and not be able to hold up our heads, for the Indian officers are allowed tents. Let us not Be counted the worst of men when we Look as well as the Best of them all - farewell once more."
" ALBANY, y' 19 of Sept., 1709.
" I Received yours Dated the 25 of August, wherein you seem to be sorry I Bought the Blankets, Rum and Bread of Mr. Wandel, which I think you have no Reason for. Consider with yourself what you would do in frost and snow, and nothing but the Cold ground to Lie on, and but poorly Clothed as it was when I Bought the Blankets; you write me to sell them-Could you believe I kept them a day after I Bought them
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when the people were ready to tear me to pieces ; and if every man had four Blankets a piece, it would not be too much. * * *
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