USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the Colonial History of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XX > Part 17
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As the Inhabitants of this Borough, over which we preside, can justly boast their Attachment to his Maj- esty's sacred Person and Government, and have shewn their Promptitude on all Occasions, to exert themselves in Defence and Support of the same. And as this Board hath been honour'd with the Countenance of several of your Excellency's Predecessors, particularly of our late amiable Governor, permit us, Sir, to solicit a share of your Favour and Protection, and to expect the Preser- vation of our just Rights and Privileges granted by Charter.
Your Excellency may depend upon our sincere En- deavours, so far as our Influence may reach, to render your Situation in New-Jersey so easy and agreeable to yourself, as the Circumstances of the Province will per- mit.
That your Excellency may long enjoy the Smiles of your Royal Master, the Love of a People made Happy under your Administration, and the Approbation of the King of Kings, is the fervent Prayer of every Member of this Board.
Signed by Order,
Robert Ogden, Recorder.
Amboy, 16th June, 1578.
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To which His Excellency was pleased to return the following Answer.
GENTLEMEN.
Am much obliged to you for this Testimony of your Duty to the King, and your favour- able Thoughts of me, His Servant. I shall endeavour to shew myself, in some Degree, worthy of the great Confidence His Majesty has reposed in me, and the good Opinion you have conceived of me, by pursuing the best Means I can, to defend this Province by the Powers of War: to cultivate by the Arts of Peace, and to maintain the Rights of Its Inhabitants by an equal Administration of Justice. And I shall be glad of any Occasion that will shew my Regard for the antient Town and Borough of Elizabeth.
FRANCIS BERNARD.
- The New York Mercury, June 26, 1758.
Philadelphia, June 29.
From the Jerseys there is Advice, that a Man and Boy, travelling some publick Road, were attacked by the Sav- ages, when the Man was killed, and the boy shot a noted Indian, named Armstrong, and afterwards escaped.
Notice is hereby given, That the Petitioners of Wood- bury Creek, in the County of Gloucester, and Province of West New Jersey, have Leave to bring in the Bill they pray for the first Monday of the next Sitting of the House of Assembly of said Province, at Burlington, for clearing out of said Creek above the Dam, for keeping the Freshets from overflowing the Meadows above said Dam, and for the maintaining the said Dam and Waterworks. If any
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Persons have any Objections to make they are desired to offer them.
June 5, 1758. -The Pennsylvania Gasette, No. 1540, June 29, 1758.
PRINCETOWN (in New-Jersey) June 23. Yesterday his Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq ; Governor of this Province, attended by a Number of Gentlemen, of this, and the Neighbouring Towns, passed thro' here in his way to Burlington: His Excellency while he stayed in Town, was pleased to accept an Invi- tation from the Trustees of the College, to view the Building and Curiosities: The President attended by the Tutors, in the most respectful Manner received his Excellency at the outward Door, and conducted him immediately into the Hall, to a Seat prepared for him. The Students being all seated in order, arose and ad- dressed his Excellency in a short handsome Latin Ora- tion, delivered by Mr. PHILIP LIVINGSTON, one of the Senior Class: To which his Excellency, after rising up, returned a very Elequent and polite Extempore An- swer in Latin.
The Trustees of the College then presented his Excel- lency with the following Address.
To His Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq; Captain General and Governor in chief in and over his Maj- esty's Province of New-Jersey, and Territories there- on depending in America, Chancellor, and Vice Ad- miral of the same.
We his Majesty's most dutiful and most Loyal Sub- jects, the Trustees of the College of New-Jersey, with the greatest Respect, beg leave to Congratulate your Excellency, on your Appointment and Accession to the Government of this Province.
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And we cannot but esteem it another Instance of the Royal Favour, that his Majesty, always careful and sol- licitous of the Prosperity of this his faithful Subjects, has been pleased to assign the chief Seat of this Govern- ment, to a Gentleman whose Character gives up such high Expectations of his Abilities, and kind Dispositions to promote the most valuable Interests of the People committed to his Charge.
The Reputation of your Excellency has, in your native Country, acquired in the Learned Profession, to which you were bred, affords us more abundant reason of As- surance, that your Excellency is not only thoroughly acquainted with the interesting Connection of the State and the Commonwealth of Letters; but that as you will be engaged in the advancement of the one, you will also be the Patron of the other; and particularly that the Infant, tho' flourishing College of New-Jersey, founded and patronized by your Excellency's worthy Predeces- sor, will be abundantly favoured by, and grow up to maturity under your gentle Influences and kind Protec- tion.
We have the Honour to inform your Excellency, that by your Appointment to the Government of this Col- ony, you are also a Member at our Board, and President of the Trustees; that as your Excellency's appearance in that Character at our annual or occasional meetings will evidently do Honour to this Institution, founded on so Catholic a plan, for the Advancement of the common Interests of Religion and Learning; we doubt not, that whenever the more Important affairs of your Govern- ment will admit, we shall be favoured with your Excel- lency's Presence, wise Councils and faithful Determina- tions.
We most earnestly desire, as divine Providence hath
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preserved your Excellency from the Dangers of the Seas, and safely initiated you in your high Office, that indulgent Heaven would make your future Administra- tion comfortable to yourself and abundantly salutary to this People.
Signed by Order, Richard Stockton, CLK.
To which His Excellency was pleased to return the fol- lowing Answer.
Gentlemen,
I am much obliged to you for this kind Address: I shall think it among the Chief of my Duties to protect and encourage all Institutions, calculated for promoting religious Conversation and useful Learning. I must recomend to you, that to the Persons to whom you shall commit the Education of the Youth of this College; you would give in Charge, that they instill into them, a loyal Affection for his Majesty's Person, and Family, and du- tiful Submission to his Government. I shall allways be ready to attend your public Meetings, and to do all things in my power, to prosper this useful Undertak- ing.1
FRANCIS BERNARD.
Custom House, Philadelphia, Entered In. Schooner Swallow, John Bowles from Salem. Outwards. Schooner Adventure, Jacob Aller for Salem.
WHEREAS I the Subscriber, did on or about the begin- ning of the year 1751, give a bond and judgment to Sam- uel Stockton, of Prince Town East Jersey, conditioned for the payment of £ 23, Pennsylvania currency one month after date, which was paid before due, as appears
1 Published also in the New York Mercury, July 3. 1758.
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by the records of the court of common pleas, holden at Philadelphia, and as the said Samuel Stockton never gave me up my obligation but since fraudulently en- deavoured to make me pay it again, by assigning it to James White of this city Tobacconist, who accordingly took out execution, and put it into the hands of the shiriff for execution, but found his mistake before it was executed, I therefore in justice to myself, and to prevent innocent people from being imposed on, caution all man- ner of people from taking any assignment thereof as they will answer the consequence, and I hereby require the said Stockton to transmit me the bond immediately, or I shall proceed against him in such a manner as the law directs.
Given under my hand at Philadelphia, the 27th of June, 1758.
GILES JOHN GRIFFIN.
-The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 812, June 29, 1758.
From Burlington his excellency set out early on the 24th [of June] for Philadelphia, to have a conference with general Forbes and governor Denny concerning the invasion of the Indians. The next morning early his excellency returned to Bristol, where he was attend- ed by several gentlemen of both province. From thence he dispatched two Indians with a message to the Mini- sink, living on the Susquehanna, and another to the Wioming Indians, desiring that some of them would attend the message to the Minisinks. In the evening his excellency went to Trenton, and the next day, being the 26th, returned to Perth-Amboy, in good health, having traveled above 140 miles in very hot weather. On the 30th of June the clergy of the church of Eng-
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land, incumbents in this province, waited upon the gov- ernor with an address.
His excellency our governor (upon the unavoidable necessity of the members attending their harvest) hath been pleased to postpone the sitting of the general as- sembly of this province to Tuesday the 25th of July, when they are summoned to meet at Burlington .- The New American Magazine, [Woodbridge, N. J.], for June, 1758.
New- York, July 3. By Letters from Fort-Edward we learn, That about 12 Days ago, arrived there from Ticon- deroga, 21 Frenchmen, under Colour of a Flag of Truce, in order to require the return of Colonel PETER SCHUY- LER to Canada, agreeable to his Parole, Monsieur Mont- calm having rejected the Proposals that were offered with Regard to his Exchange.
We hear Colonel Schuyler sets out this Day or To- morrow for Albany.
Lately published, and to be sold by H. GAINE. At his Printing-Office, at the Bible and Crown, in Hanover- Square, (Price Is. or 8s. a Dozen)
DILIGENCE IN THE WORK OF GOD, AND, ACTIVITY
DURING LIFE : A SERMON Occasioned by the much-lamented DEATH OF THE REVEREND Mr. AARON BURR, A. M. PRESIDENT of the COLLEGE of NEW-JERSEY
Who died September 24, 1757, In the 43d year of his Age. Delivered in NASSAU-HALL, at a Meeting of the
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TRUSTEES of the COLLEGE Dec. 15, 1757; and published by their Desire.
By CALEB SMITH, A. M. -The New York Mercury, July 3, 1758.
PERTH-AMBOY, June 23.
Wednesday last his Excellency our Governor set out from this City attended by most of the principal Inhabi- tants in order to go to Burlington, by Way of Brunswick and Trenton: At his Arrival at New-Brunswick, he was received by the Mayor and Corporation of that . Borough; and the following Address presented to him, viz.
To His Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq ; Captain General, and Governor in Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Nova Cæsarca, or New Jersey, and Territories depending thercon in America, and Vice Admiral in the samc &c.
The humble ADDRESS of the Corporation of New Brunswick.
May it please your Excellency
We the Mayor, Recorder, Alder- men, and Common Council, of the City of New-Bruns- wick, beg Leave, heartily to congratulate your Excel- lency, upon your safe Arrival into this Government: And, at the same Time to acknowledge the just Sense of His Majesty's unwearied Care for the Protection of this, as well as His other American Colonies, though at so great a Distance from His Royal Person. We esteem it an Instance of His Majesty's Goodness to this Province. in appointing a Person of your Excellency's Abilities. to the Government thereof.
And, we assure you, Sir, we will contribute every
+
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Thing in our Power, towards rendering your Excel- !ency's Administration, easy and agreeable.
New Brunswick Ja. Hude, Mayor. June 21, 1758
His Excellency's Answer.
Gentlemen,
I heartily thank you for this Instance of your Duty to His Majesty, and your Approbation of my being appointed His Servant. I shall use my utmost Endeav- ours ·to deserve the good Opinion you have entertained of me, by pursuing the best Means I can, to render my Service most acceptable to the Province, and more es- pecially to the City of Brunswick.
Francis Bernard.
BURLINGTON, June 24.
On Thursday Evening last arrived here from Amboy, by the Way of Trenton, his Excellency Francis Bernard, Esq; our new Governor. His Excellency was received at this antient Seat of Government with great Demon- strations of Joy, and having received the Compliments of Numbers of Gentlemen of Distinction, the Evening was concluded with Bonfires, Illuminations, ringing of Bells, &c. On Friday Morning the Corporation of this City waited on his Excellency with the following Ad- dress.
To his Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq; Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New Jersey, and Territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral in the same, &c. The humble Address of the Corporation of the City of Burlington.
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May it please your Excellency,
We the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Common- alty of the City of Burlington, pleased with this Oppor- tunity of congratulating your Excellency, embrace it to acknowledge our Gratitude to His Majesty for the Ap- pointment of a Gentleman to preside over us, from whose Knowledge in the Law, Justice and Candour, we have the happy Prospect of having our religious and civil Privileges continued to us, during his Administra- tion, which we sincerely desire may be long and easy.
We give your Excellency a hearty Welcome to this City, and should be glad the Situation and Conveniences may prove sufficient to invite your Residence among 11S
JAMES KINSEY,1 Recorder.
To which the Governor was pleased to return the following answer.
Gentlemen,
I am very much obliged to you for this Testi- mony of your Loyalty to His Majesty, and your Appro- bation of His having appointed me to preside over this Province; my Duty, as well as my Inclination, will make me careful to preserve your religious and civil Lib- erties; wherever I shall find it necessary to reside for the present, I shall, by due Attendance at the two usual Seats of Government, contrive to make the publick Business as convenient to the whole Province as well as can be; and I shall, with a particular Regard, be atten- tive to the Interests of this Corporation.
Francis Bernard.
1 James Kinsey was a member of the Assembly, 1772-74; a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1774-75; and Chief Justice of New Jersey, 1789-1803. A sketch of him is given in Elmer's Reminiscences (N. J. Hist. Soc. Colls., VII.), 275. For some account of his ancestry, see N. J. 'Archives, XII., 636-8, note.
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After which the Rev. Mr. Campbell,1 Rector of St. Mary's, in Behalf of the Vestry, presented the follow- ing Address.
To his Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq ; Captain General and Governor in Chief, over His Majesty's Pro- vince of New Jersey, &c.
The Address of the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry Men of St. Mary's Church, in Burlington. May it please your Excellency.
We the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry Men, of St. Mary's Church, in Burlington, beg Leave to con- gratulate you on your safe Arrival among us, and Ac- cession to the Government of this Province; the tender and paternal Care His most sacred Majesty has been graciously pleased to extend to His Subjects on this
1 The Rev. Colin Campbell was the tenth child of Colin Campbell, of Earnhill, Scotland, where he was born, Nov. 15, 1707. As a boy he at- tended school at Aberdeen and Inverness. He was appointed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts to the mis- sion at St. Mary's, Burlington, where he arrived May 10, 1738, and was well received by the congregation. Although at first very bitter against the Friends ("What is the effect of Quakerism now in Pennsylvania but a nursery of Jesuits," he wrote in 1742), he soon became reconciled to them, and in 1763 was able to report that he had lived among his peo- ple "these twenty five years in the greatest love harmony peace & quietness studying my own business and continuing in the esteem of our Quaker Neighbours." Two years later he declared: "We of this Province live peaceably with one another; as I do myself and congre- gations with all Dissenters whatsoever." Writing December 26, 1765, he says: "J have little or nothing by way of support from my Congre- gation; and a large Family of 6 Young Children to maintain, cloath & educate." He eked out the stipend allowed him by the Venerable Society, by teaching. In 1744 he advertised that he "proposed to teach young Men the classick Authors," and offered to board two or three boys at his house. His ministrations during his twenty-eight years of service were attended by a large increase in the several congregations under his care, and he seems to have gained the esteem of the entire community. He died Saturday, August 9, 1766. at Burlington, after a short illness, and was buried in St. Mary's Church, which he had served so long and faithfully. The Rev. Dr. William Smith, of Phila- delphia, who preached the funeral sermon, said of him: "He endeav- oured to be (what you will all allow he was) a Man of strict and severe Honesty; faithful in the Discharge of every Trust, and particularly of his most sacred Trust, a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus. He was a Lover of Peace, and rather willing to bear any tolerable Wrong than ruffle the Serenity of his own Temper." His widow survived so late as 1796. They had nine children-four sons and five daughters. Mary Anne, one of the daughters, was born July 2, 1743. The oldest son, Colin, was a lawyer; he married, December 26, 1781, Abigail Mumford Seabury, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Seabury, in New York. He died July 10, 1796, leaving a widow, two daughters and a son. John Campbell married Mary (born October, 1739), daughter of George Eyre, of Burlington, and had three children .- Hill's Church at Burlington, passim; N. J. Archires, XII., 229; N. Y. Marriage Licenses.
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Continent, in protecting them from the ambitious At- tempts of His Enemies, justly demand of us the most grateful Acknowledgments, and the strongest Re- turns of Loyalty that a dutiful and affectionate People can make to the best of Princes and hope, from the ex- cellent Character we have received of you, your Admin- istration will be as happy for this Province, as we, in our Stations, shall endeavour to make it easy and comfort- able to you. Religion is the chief Thing in our Esteem. and must have the first Place in our Address, as civil Affairs will succeed the better when religious are first secured, countenanced and protected; therefore, as Members of the established Church of England, we have great Reason to hope your Excellency's Protec- tion and good Offices will, on every Occasion, be kindly extended to us.
Signed by Order of the Vestry,
ABRAHAM HEWLINGS, Church-Warden.
Burlington
June 23, 1758
To which his Excellency was pleased to answer. Gentlemen,
I heartily thank you for giving me these As- surances of your grateful Sense of the Duty you owe to His Majesty, and the favourable Sentiments you have entertained of me His Servant. I am sensible how much the Success of our civil Undertakings will depend upon the due Performance of our Religious Duties, I shall therefore use all Means in my Power to maintain the Cause of Religion in general, as I am, in an especial Manner, ordered by my Royal Master, to protect and support the Church of England in particular.
Francis Bernard.
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After which his Excellency, attended by the Corpo- ration, the Officers of Government, and many other Persons of Eminence, proceeded to the large Meeting- house in this City, where his Excellency's Commis- sions of Governor and Vice-Admiral of New-Jersey were opened. His Excellency then proceeded to the House of Mr. Shaw; where an excellent Dinner was provided by the Corporation. His Excellency has had twelve Children, four of which, together with his Lady, he brought over with him; four remain in England, and four are dead.
Philadelphia, July 1, 1758.
Whereas Elizabeth Burtonstand, alias Ashton, the Wife of Benjamin Ashton, of Gloucester County, in the Province of West New Jersey, Weaver, hath lately eloped from me her said Husband, without any Manner of Provocation: Now in order to prevent her the said Elizabeth contracting Debts in my Name. I give this publick Notice, that I will not pay any Debts whatso- ever, which she shall or may, after the Date hereof, con- tract. Given under my Hand, this first Day of July, 1758.
BENJAMIN ASHTON.
-The Pennsylvania Gasette, No. 1541, July 6, 1758.
New-York, July 3.
A few Days since, a Flag of Truce (tis said of 30 Men) came into Fort-Edward, from Canada, to demand the Return of the brave Col. Peter Schuyler, of New-Jersey, agreeable to engagement, no Methods having yet been concerted for his Relief or Exchange, (or at least, if there has, by this it appears, it hath been without Ef-
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fect) and the Colonel, we hear, setts out this Week for Albany, in Consequence thereof. It is reported, that the General intends to use his utmost Endeavours to escort both the Colonel and the Truce, safe back to Canada: And that he will detain the Frenchmen for that Purpose, lest their too hasty Return, might occa- sion Mons. Vaudruille, to put himself to too great Trou- ble and Expence, in forming of Ceremonies to receive so great an Escort.
NEW-YORK, July 3.
Extract of a Letter from Capt. Jonathan Hampton, dated Cole's Fort, on the Frontiers of New-Jersey, June 24th, 1758.
"Serjeant Vantuyl, with 9 Soldiers, went in Pursuit of the Indians that murdered the 7 New-York Soldiers at West-falls, the 13th Instant. About 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon, they espied an Indian, when they were about 4 Miles in Pennsylvania; he standing towards a Saw-Mill on Delaware River, about five Miles above this Fort. The Serjeant then consulted his Men and concluded the Indians must be by the River; upon which they went, and soon saw 10 Indians on an Island on the Jersey Side, making a Raft. They then lay'd down their Packs and Hats, crawl'd up the river oppo- site the Island, expecting them over. In this Posture they lay all night. In the Morning, three Indians lay'd on their Guns and Packs to cross, but contrary to all Expectation, rowed the Raft up the River 200 Yards, our Men creeping up as they went up: About Sun-Rise they espied an Indian on their Side the River, coming toward them, but he seeing them, walked back leisurely to his Gun, took it up, and gave the War Whoop, when 14 more rose up; on which a sharp engagement ensued.
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Some of our Men fired on the Raft, when one Indian tumbled into the River. They immediately Tree'd on both Sides, and five Rounds at least was exchanged. We had one Man shot through the Leg, but killed three In- dians on the Land, besides one in the Water: And as the Engagement was by the River Side, they dragged them into the River. The Indians on the Island kept firing all the Time on our Right, but at too great a Dis- tance to fear any Thing. The Indians afterwards fled, and left 4 good Guns, 4 Tomehawks, 3 Spears, 18 Pair of Magasons, 16 Pair of Indian Stockings, 5 Shirts, 12 Blankets, 3 Hats, I laced Coat, 5 Silver Buckles, 10 Belts, 3 Strings of Wampum, 5 Scalping Knives, 4 Scalps just taken, with many Trifles more.
"Yesterday one William Ward, was killed and Scalpt near the Head Quarters, and a House was burnt on Pennsylvania Side, at the same Time.
A LIST of the Killed in Jersey, since May 1757.
May 2. Jacob Van Kamp, and Peter Brink, near the Head Quarters,-Nov. 9. John Doty, and Otho M'Hurin, near the same Place .- Nov. 10 Gideon Westbrook, near Brank's Fort .- Nov. II, John Pressler .- May 15, 1758. Nicholas Cole's 4 Children, and 3 Germans .- May 25, Mary Willing, near Fort- Gardiner .- June 8, Cornelius Westbrook, and Abram Westbrook. In this Surprize an Indian was killed .- June 12. Bastian Contract and Mary Kirkindale: Here an Indian was likewise killed by a Boy. This Indian was named Armstrong, and lived in great friendship with the English People, somewhere near the Neighbour- hood !- On the Boy's setting out to run, after his Companion was killed by his Side, this Indian gave him Chase, and the Boy finding he could not well escape the Hatchet, resolutely turn'd and fac'd him; and having
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his Fire reserv'd on the Indian's near Approach he let fly, and killd him outright. Some few Days after, he was found laid close under a Log, with his two Blan- kets, Tomahawk, Pipe and Tobacco Pouch by his Side; when those that found him, took off his Scalp, and brought it down to Amboy .- June 13. At Urian Westafall's Eight Men .- June 23 William Ward.
"We have now 200 Soldiers on our Frontiers, which keeps the Inhabitants from leaving their Habitations.
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