USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the Colonial History of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XX > Part 18
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"Three of our Jersey Men went over the River to plow, near the Fort at Pequase, when a Party of Indi- ans fell upon them, and murdered and scalp't them. This was the 14th Instant." -- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 813, July, 6 1758.
His excellency governor Bernard, hath sent up or- ders to the officers upon the frontiers, to restrain the soldiers from leaving their quarters, and straggling into the woods to hunt and shoot, as the same is certainly a dangerous,and pernicious practice; for on Friday last one William Ward was shot and scalped, as he was hunt- ing within half a mile of No. 3. in the county of Sussex; and the same day about noon, a house was burnt on the opposite side of the river: The Indians shouted and fired several guns whilst it was burning.
A few days ago, a man and boy travelling along the public road in the said county of Sussex, were attack'd by the Indians: The man was shot dead; and the boy fled, and was pursued, but finding one of the Indians had the heels of him, he had presence of mind enough, as his last refuge, to turn and fire upon the Indian, and saw him drop: The other Indians still pursued, and the boy perceiving that his gun so retarded his flight, that he must be taken, broke it to pieces against a rock, that it might not fall into the enemys hands, and made his
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escape from them: He then alarmed the people, who immediately went out upon the scout with guns and dogs, and coming to the place where the boy shot the Indian, they found a great deal of blood, but not the body: They searched very diligently about the woods, when at last one of the dogs open'd, and going to see what was the matter, they found him barking at a great heap of brush, and turning it aside, they there found the Indian buried, with his cloaths and toma- hawk; upon which they scalped him, and brought away the things they found buried with him. On Thursday the 16th of June, Justice Decker of the county of Sus- sex, and one Herring, brought the said Indian's scalp and Tomahawk to this city of Perth-Amboy. This sav- age proves to be the notorious bloody villain, well known by the name of captain Armstrong, a noted ringleader of the Delawares, who, with 3 other Indians, was concerned with Benjamin Springer, (lately executed in Morris county) in the murder of Anthony Swartwout, his wife, and children .- The New American Magazine [Woodbridge, N. J.], for June, 1758.
Custom-House, Philadelphia, Entred In. Schooner Resolution, Peter Shores from Piscataway.
Cleared. Schooner Adventure, Jacob Allen to Sa- lem.
Philadelphia, 3d July 1758. To Be LETT For A TERM OF YEARS,
A Plantation generally known by the name of the great island, lying and being within about half a mile of the boroug of Bristol, in the county of bucks, and ex- actly opposite to Burlington. The island itself contains
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about two hundred acres of land, about one of which is bank madow and will be in the fall almost wholly in fine timothy, clover, and blue grass very well cleared, the other hundred acres on the island is pretty levell upland, about fifty-five acres of which is cleared, and fitt for clover fields, 20 acres of which is already put into clover and the rest may easily be made by fothering on it, there is also about 40 acres more upland belonging to the plantation, which lyes just at the end of the bank, which is now almost all cleared, and will be plowed this sum- mer, there is a very good farm house on it, with a barn and stables, and a very neat milkhouse and granary, with a large garden and young orchard. Any person inclin- able to rent the aforesaid plantation, may know the terms by applying to William M'Ilvaine, merchant in Philadelphia, near the corner of walnut street in front street.
Philadelphia, July 4th.
-The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 813, July 6, 1758.
Custom- House, Philadelphia, Entered In. Schooner Anna, William Bartlett, from Salem. Sloop Abigail, Peter Grover, from Salem .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 814, July 13, 1758.
Mr. BRADFORD,
Your inserting the following Account in your Next, will oblige, A Friend of Yours. New Brunswick, July 10th, 1758.
Thursday last in the Afternoon died here, of a sud- den Indisposition, supposed to be occasioned by the
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Intense heat, the Honourable WILLIAM AYNESLEY, 1 Esq; late Chief-Justice of this Province. His LADY had been arrived only a Month from England, when they were thus fatally Parted.
An Eulogium of him to those that had the happiness of his Acquaintance, would be impertinent-His vir- tues were too conspicuous to escape the Notice of the slightest Observer-But a Character so well support- ed in the important Pose he filled, and in every branch of social Life, certainly claim a public Tribute-His ready discernments of the Merits of a cause, the wise Regulations he was about to introduce in the Courts, over which he presided, his earnestness in Expediting, and his Justice in determining Suits, all which he shewed even in his short Administration, were too sufficient Testimonies of his Knowledge in the Law, and his capacity for Executing the high Trust committed in him .-
As a Man, he appeared to be a perfect lover of the human Race; Friendly, Affable, and good Natured; a
1 Very little is known of Chief Justice William Aynsley. William Smith, the historian of New York, who hesitated not to say what he thought, without always giving his authorities therefor, asserts: "New Jersey had been mortified by the arrival of one Ainsley, who was raised to be chief justice from the low station of treasurer to a turn- pike in the north of Ireland"-which is improbable .- History of New York, 1830, Vol. II., 347. He was said to have been recommended to the Earl of Halifax by Lord Ravensworth .- Ib., 348, note. His appointment was ordered by the King in Council, Feb. 16, 1757 .- N. J. Archives, IX., 232; XVII., 136; N. J. Hist. Soc. Coll., V., 338-9. He seems to have been very deliberate about coming to America to enter upon his new duties, for it was not until the March Term, 1758, that he took his seat on the bench of the Supreme Court. He went on Circuit in May .- N. J. Ar- chives, IX., 214, 217, 232. On May 22, 1758, the Governor signed a warrant "To William Aynsley Esqr Chief Justice of the Province of New Jersey for Holding of Four Courts of Oyer & Terminer and General Goal Delivery in the following Counties Vizt In the County of Cum- berland on the 21st day of April Last In the County of Salem on the 25th day of the same Month In the County of Hunterdon on the 2d Instant And for the County of Gloucester on the 16th day of this In- stant £40."-N. J. Archives, XVII., 172. His death at New Brunswick, on July 6, 1758, after so short a sojourn in New Jersey, was a shock to the community. Gov. Bernard wrote that his sudden demise "was occasioned by his drinking milk and water when he was Very hot on Wednesday last & he died the next day."-N. J. Archives, IX., 124. His widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Aynsley, was appointed administratrix of his estate, July 11, 1758 .- E. J. Wills, F, 531. On August 12, 1758, the Gov- ernor signed a warrant: "To Mrs. Elizabeth Aynsley Widow of the Honble William Aynsley Esqr late Chief Justice of this Province de- ceased for Services done by the late Chief Justice, £70 .- N. J. Archives, XVII., 199.
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Temper universally Serene, and Unruffled, and a certain Complacency ever dwelling on his Countenance, shewed a Mind of ease, at the same Time that it secured the Affection of every Beholder .- In his Family, he was loved, respected, and happy: Proofs of his amiable Con- duct there .- In short his good sense and agreeable Conversation was such as rendered him the delight of all his Acquaintance .- For he was not only Loved, but Esteemed.
But in another point of View, he shone still with a brighter Lustre .- Religion ever influenced his Mind; his Morals were unblamable; and Christ, his Doctrines, and Institutions, he was never ashamed to Confess before Men, such was his Life .- His Death no doubt was Similar, and Crowned with the just Consequence .---- His worthy and much afflicted Relict, his Friends, and New-Jersey, indeed, feel the loss, but he the Gain.
Weep, mortals weep, the worthy Aynesley's gone ! If human woes, and cares, affect alone. But if thoughts, superior far, take place, Let joy and gladness smile in ev'ry face.
PHILARETES.
- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 815, July 20, 1758.
[Halifax] Wednesday the 28th, Arrived his Maj- esty's Ship the Vanguard, of 70 Guns, from England, but last from off Sandy-Hook, with 2 Vessels under her Convoy; this is the 43d King's Ship on the present Ex- pedition.
NEW-YORK, July 17.
We just now hear a large Prize Ship entered the Hook on Saturday last; but we have had no Winds to bring her up since.
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To be SOLD
The Seat of Joseph Warrell,1 Esq; late deceased, well
1 Joseph Warrell was recommended, December 18, 1732, by Governor William Cosby, for a seat in the Council of New Jersey. "He was so well recommended to me by Lord Malpas, before I left England. that there is little more for me to say in his behalf that since my acquaint- ance with him his behaviour has in every particular confirmed the character given by his Lordship, and one that I can answer for."- N. J. Archives, V., 324; N. Y. Col. Docs., V., 939-40. This appointment was not made, but he received the office of Attorney General of New Jer- sey, which was probably more to his liking, August 28, 1733 .- Book AAA of Commissions. The Lords of Trade again. Aug. 28 and Sept. 5, 1735, recommended Warrell's appointment to the Council in place of James Alexander, he 'having been reported as "every way qualified to serve His Majesty in that station."-N. J. Archives, V., 410; N. Y. Col. Docs., VI., 35-36. He was actually appointed, it seems, but apparently did not care enough for the unremunerative honor to go to the expense of taking out the warrant, which elicited an expression of annoyance from the authorities a year later .- N. J. Archives, XI., 441; V., 454. On December 17, 1733, the Council of New York wrote to the Duke of New- castle that Lewis Morris had sent to represent him, "Joseph Warrell, Esq., a gentleman of the law and of very fair character."-N. Y. Col. Docs., V., 981. He and William Cosby, of Amboy, and a number of oth- ers, petitioned the New York authorities, July 13, 1734, for 20,000 acres of land in the Mohawk country, and on October 4, 1734, a tract of 22,000 acres was surveyed to them, known as "Cosby's Manor," in Herkimer and Oneida Counties .- Cal. N. Y. Land Papers, 210, 212, 1003. No record has been found of his origin, nor of his admission to the New Jersey bar, but in 1737 he was residing at Trenton .- N. J. Archives, XI., 518. He was appointed, August 13, 1746, one of the quorum Justices of the Peace for Middlesex County .- Ib., XIV., 464. In 1751 he was living at Bellville. near Trenton, and stated that he had lived there many years, and consequently could give a good character of Samuel Tucker, his neigh- bor, having known him since Tucker was a boy .- Ib., VII., 613. He asked leave to resign, July 5, 1754, in order "to make his declining part of life comfortable." "The long Fatigue of upwards of twenty Years Service without any just Imputation of Failure in my Duty under the Disadvantage of too small a Support from the Assembly (& no likely hood of its increase) will plead for the Reasonableness of my Request to Your Excellency for a Quietus at my age."-Ib., VIII., Part I., 293. As an officer of the Crown the Assembly was naturally averse to in- creasing his compensation, which stood at the not extravagant figure of £30 a year, payable quarterly. Besides, he prosecuted the pleas in the various counties, as far as practicable, for which he was paid the usual fees. His resignation was promptly accepted by Governor Bel- cher, and Courtlandt Skinner, whom he had recommended as his suc- cessor, was appointed ten days later. Joseph Warrell died in the sum- mer of 1758. Nevertheless, when George III. ascended the throne, a warrant was ordered, by the King in Council, for continuing in office the appointees of the late King, including Joseph Warrell as Attorney General. This warrant was dated, appropriately enough, March 17 (St. Patrick's day), 1761. The fact had been overlooked that Skinner was still in the office, which he retained until the Revolution. Mr. Warrell's wife was of the Bradshaw family, in England. He left two children:
1. Joseph, who was manager of a lottery for the Trenton English and Grammar School, in 1753; was licensed as an attorney, May 13, 1758; was Clerk of the Circuits, 1765-8, and died at Trenton, March 6. 1775. His tombstone, in the First Presbyterian churchyard, is thus inscribed:
"In the Memory of Joseph Warrell, Esq., who departed this life March 6th, 1775; aged 56 years. This stone is erected, not from pomp, or pageantry, but from true affection.
"For other thoughts employ the widowed wife; The best of husbands, loved in private life, Bids her with tears to raise this humble stone, That holds his ashes, and expects her own."
2. A daughter, who married Abraham Cottnam, a magistrate of Trenton. She had sons: 1. Warrell Cottnam; 2. George Cottnam, licensed as an attorney, May, 1780.
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known by the name of BELLVILLE, about three Quarters of a Mile from Trenton, in New Jersey, pleasantly sit- uated near the River Delaware, and hath a fine Prospect of the same for some Miles; together with the excellent Gardens, Houses, Stables, Chaisehouses, &c, &c, and Orchards, consisting of the best and finest Sorts of Fruit, as well for the Use of the Table, as for making of Cyder, and is esteemed as good as any made in America. It is the most beautiful and neat Place within many Miles of the same, having every Thing thereunto apper- taining to render it commodious and agreeable for a Gentleman delighting in good Gardens, Meadows and Orchards. Any Person inclining to purchase, may be acquainted with the Terms, by applying to Mr. Andrew Reed, Merchant in Philadelphia, Mr. John Berrien, at Rockyhill, or to Joseph Warrell, Attorney at Law, at Bellville aforesaid, the Executors of the last Will and Testament of the said Joseph Warrell, Esq; deceased, who will give an indispuable Title for the same.
Also to be sold by the said Executors, a fine Planta- tion, of near 300 Acres of Land, within a Quarter of a Mile of the abovementioned Premises, in exceeding good Order, a great Quantity of Meadow, and large Or- chard thereon, extremely well watered, and lies upon the River Delaware, and a publick Road, and hath a patent belonging thereunto, for the keeping a Ferry across the said River.
ANDREW REED, JOHN BERRIEN, JOSEPH WARRELL, Executors.
July 17, 1758.
Whereas there were several Petitions, out of the Coun- ty of Hunterdon, presented to the General Assembly of the Province of New Jersey, at their last sitting at Bur- lington, therein setting forth the great Inconvenience the Petitioners, and many other the Inhabitants of the
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said County labour under, by reason of the Court being held at Trenton, and praying either that the same may be removed to a Place more central, or that the County may be divided; it being then ordered, that the Peti- tioners do give publick Notice in the News Papers, and otherwise, through the said County, that all Parties con- cerned, both for and against the Matters petitioned for, may, if they think proper, have a Hearing before the House of General Assembly, the second Wednesday, of their next Sitting; and whereas the said Assembly stands summoned to meet the 25th Instant at Burling- ton, these are to give all Persons concerned Notice thereof accordingly.
Strayed away out of a Pasture, on Saturday the first Instant, a black Horse, about 14 Hands and an Half high, six Years old, branded on the near Buttock N H. the Hair scratched off in several Places above his Tail, and on the near Side of his Back, also in two Places on the near Side of his Neck, by a Stallion, has been trim- med about his Ears, but pretty much grown again, shod before, paces and trots, was bred near Princetown, and is supposed to be gone that Way. Whoever takes up said Horse, and brings him to the Subscriber in Phila- delphia shall have Fifteen Shillings Reward, if taken within 15 Miles of the City, if further, on this side Tren- ton, Twenty Shillings, and if beyond the River Dela- ware, Thirty Shillings, and reasonable Charges, paid by Samuel Purviance.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1543, July 20, 1758.
A LIST of LETTERS remaining at the Post-Office in Philadelphia.
James Boyd, Sadsbury; Charles Carson, Paxton;
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Thomas Cunningham, Allen's Town; William Camp- bell, Baskin Ridge. Robert Guthrie (2) Hopewell. Aaron Harding, Salem Co .; Joseph Hain, and John Hacket, in Hunterdon Co .; Mary Hand, Cape May. John Imley, Burlington.
The Remainder of this List to be inserted in our next.
NEW-YORK, July 24.
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman at Lake George, dated July II, 1758.
"On the 5th Instant, at Day-break, the Army em- barked on Lake-George, consisting of about 15000 Men: The 8th, at Day-Light, Orders were given for storming the French Lines before Ticonder- oga, and a Disposition was made accordingly, in the following Order.
On the Left the Rangers; the Center the Battoe- Men; on the Right the Light Infantry, to be at 200 Yards Distance, and more, from the Breast Work, in a Line. In their Rear, were on the Left, the first Bat- talion of the New York Regiment; on their Right six Boston Regiments: These were to support the Regu- lars, consisting of six Regiments (in case they should be forced to retire) and were to be followed by the Con- necticut and Jersey Troops, in the Rear of the Whole. Intervals were left between the Regiments of the cov- ering Parties, to admit the Regulars, who were to at- tack the Breast-Work. The Rangers, by some Mistake, instead of taking Part to the Left, employed them- selves on firing on the Enemy to the Right, so that when the New York Regiment was going to take Post (where they ought according to the Disposition to have been) in the Rear, they were surprized by the Enemy about 200 Yards from their Breast-Works, and drove back by
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the Heat of our People into it. This Regiment had now the whole Fire of the Enemy for near an Hour.
About one, the Attack was made by the Regulars, who were ordered on Pain of Death, not to Fire till they were within the Breast-Work; they advanced with most surprizing Resolution, tho' but few had gained the Post before the Retreat was sounded. The French had for upwards of an hundred Yards beyond the Breast-Work, filled the Ground with large Logs, Stumps, Brush &c. which retarded the advancing of our People, and proved a prodigious Difficulty to them, as they were continu- ally falling down, and destroying that Regularity in the Ranks, which would otherwise have been observed. The Enemy, who were entirely under Cover of a Breast-work six Feet thick, kept an incessant and heavy Fire upon us, from their Swivels and Small-arms, mowing down our brave Officers and Men by Hundreds. Major Proby was killed on the Top of the Trench, as were several other Officers. About Three o'Clock, just as the Regu- lars were retreating, our Regiment, and those on the Left, threw in a very heavy Fire, intending to retire like- wise very soon, and indeed some had already begun to retreat, which it is supposed the Enemy observed; they then hoisted English Colours and clubbed their Arms, shewed themselves on their Breast-work, and beckoned to us, on which the whole advanced briskly but coming within 15 or 20 Yards from the Enemy, they struck their Colours, and threw in upon us a most terrible and heavy Fire, such as we had not yet experienced, which killed Multitudes, and obliged us to retire to recover ourselves from the Disorder we were thrown in. Find- ing it impracticable to force the Trenches, the whole were ordered to retreat; about 5 o'Clock we retired to the strong Grounds, about the Mills. We were then
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ordered to the advanced Post, where our Battoes lay; and on the 9th at break of Day, the whole Army was ordered to reimbark and return to their Encampment this Side the Lake."
The General returned his Thanks to the Regiments for their gallant Behaviour at the Trenches, and we have the Pleasure to find that many of the Regular Offi- cers in their Letters to their Friends here, speak of the Conduct of the Provincials with the highest Applause.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1544, July 27, 1758.
BOSTON.
THE Advices from Albany and Lake George. From June 26, to July 7.
The Flag of Truce lately sent to demand Col. Schuy- ler, Capt. Martin, and others, who had not return'd agreeable to their Parole, not being sent back, caused a second Flag to arrive; but these were also suspected to have Designs greater than they pretended to; and tho' they denominated themselves Serjeants and Corporals, they are known to be no less than a Swiss Colonel, an Engineer, a Captain, and a Lieutenant whose Name is Wolfe; These Gentlemen having requested an Escorte of 150 Men, was answered by the General, that they should have 18000, and himself would march at the head of them, provided they could content themselves a Week or two .- Accordingly General ABERCROMBIE has marched with no less than the Number above-men- tioned; but rather might it be said, that the Fleet has sailed, as the whole went by Water, and set off on the 5th Instant by Sun-rise; the Troops had their Tents struck made up, and with themselves, were on board their Battoes in about a Quarter of an Hour, and in the greatest Order without any Confusion .- They
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form'd themselves in three Grand-Divisions, composed of the following Regiments, viz. As an Advance-Guard went 300 Whaleboats, nine Men in each, commanded by Col. Gage on the Right, Major Rogers on the Left: The Van was of Battoes, 22 Men in each; on the Right, the Regiments of Babcock, Fitch, Wooster and John- son; on the Left, Johnson1 of N. Jersey, Prebble, Glasier and Wm. Williams: The third Division, Doty, Ruggles, &c., on the Right; on the Left, Lyman, Whiting and Bagley: In the Centre, the first and fourth Battalions of Royal Americans, Highlanders, with the rest of the floating Castles with two Pieces of Cannon mounted on each of four-pounders; here also were the Flag of Truce with the French Gentry that came in with it; who with their usual Gasconade said on Embarking 'They were glad to see so many brave Men, but sorry they were not there to receive them !- In the Rear were the Artil- lery, Stores, &c. with the General, brought up by Lieut. Patridge .-- In this Order proceeded down the Lake, consisting of 300 Whaleboats as above and 1000 Bat- toes :- They covered the Lake from Side to Side, which is a Mile and a half over at the upper End; and in the narrower Places, they were obliged to form into Subdivisions to give themselves Room to row, they ex- tended from Front to Rear full seven Miles; and by the Time the Rear had left the Shore three Miles, there was not any of the Lake to be discern'd except that Part that was left behind :- Thus they sailed all in high Spirits, having five Days' Provisions ready dress'd, be- sides raw; and had Orders to land at the Advance- Guard of the French that Evening; which doubtless they did, as the Front of the Army were by Ten o'Clock 15 Miles down the Lake, and the Place appointed for
1 Col. John Johnston, of Perth Amboy.
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Landing is but 35 Miles, which is within two Miles of Ticonderoga-Col. Nichol's Regiment 1S not marched, but are station'd at Saratoga, Half-Moon, Fort Miller, Fort Edward, and Half-way-Brook. Col. Williams of Roxbury is to march to German Flats the 8th; Major Arbuthnot with a Command of 400, marches this Day for Oneiado-Carrying-Place :- Gen- eral Johnson arrived the 6th Inst. at Fort-Edward with about 300 Indians, and is to proceed immediately to the Army: The New Hampshire Men arrived also at that Fort that Day; the same Time 30 of the Tuscararoes arrived at Albany, in their Way to join General Johnson, who it is expected will have 800 Indians with him.
[Our Intelligence, it is imagined, are mistaken in the Number of 18000 going over the Lake: The whole Amount were near 16000] .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 816, July 27, 1758.
Perth-Amboy, July 29. 'Tis certain that at the late unfortunate Attack upon the French Entrenchments near Ticonderoga, Thomas Shaw,1 Esq. Lieutenant Colo- nel of the New-Jersey Regiment, was killed; ten private Men of the said Regiment were also killed, and about forty-four wounded.
Last week Dennis Dwire, a Serjeant in Capt. Skinner's Company, of the New-Jersey Regiment, lately taken at Oswego, was committed to Newark Gaol, for commit- ting a Rape upon the body of Elizabeth the Wife of John Morris, of the Borough of Elizabeth. He fled from Jus- tice, but was pursued by a Warrant of Hue and Cry from Mr. Justice Nevill, was taken in New- York, and deliver'd up to the Sheriff of Essex, in which County the Fact was committed .- The New American Magazine [Wood- bridge, N. J.]. for July, 1758.
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