USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the Colonial History of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XXIV > Part 48
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1. Resolved, Nem. Con. That his Majesty's subjects inhabiting this province, are, from the strongest motives of duty, fidelity, and gratitude, inviolably attached to his royal person and government, and have ever shewn, and we doubt not ever will, their utmost readiness and alacrity in acceding to the constitutional requisitions of the crown, as they have been from time to time, made to this colony.
2. Resolved, Nem. Con. That his Majesty's liege subjects in this colony are entituled to all the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the Kingdom of Great-Britain.
3. Resolved, Nem. Con. That it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of Englishmen, that no taxes be im- posed on them but with their own consent given personally, or by their representatives.
4. Resolved, Nem. Con. That the people of this colony are not, and from their remote situations cannot be represented in the parliament of Great- Britain, and if the principle of taxing the colonies without their own consent should be adopted, the people here would be subjected to the taxation of two legislatures; a grievance unprecedented, and not to be thought of without the greatest anxiety.
5. Resolved, Nem. Con. That the only representatives of the people of this colony are persons chosen by themselves, and that no taxes ever have
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been, or can be imposed on them, agreeable to the constitution of this pro- vince, granted and confirmed by his Majesty's most gracious predecessors, but by their own legislature.
6. Resolved, Nem. Con. That all supplies being free gifts, for the people of Great-Britain to grant to his majesty the property of this colony without their consent and being represented would be unreasonable, and render use- less legislation in this colony in the most essential point.
7. Resolved, Nem. Con. That the profits of trade arising from this colony centering in Great Britain, eventually contribute to the supplies granted there to the crown.
8. Resolved, Nem. Con. That the giving unlimited power to any subject or subjects to impose what taxes they please in the colonies, under the mode of regulating the prices of stamped vellum, parchment and paper, appears to us unconstitutional, contrary to the rights of the subject, and apparently dangerous in its consequences.
9. Resolved Nem. Con. That any incumbrances which, in effect restrains the liberty of the press in America, is an infringement upon the subjects' liberty.
10. Resolved, Nem. Con. That the extension of the powers of the court of admiralty within this province, beyond its antient limit, is a violent inno- vation of the rights of trials by jury, a right which this house, upon the principles of their British ancestors, hold most dear and invaluable.
11. Resolved, Nem. Con. That as the tranquility of this colony hath been interrupted through fear of the dreadful consequences of the Stamp Act, that therefore the officers of the government who go on in their offices for the good and peace of the province in the accustomed manner, while things are in their present unsettled situation, will, in the opinion of this house, be intituled to the countenance of the legislature, and it is recommended to our constituents to use what endeavours lie in their power to preserve the peace, quiet, harmony, and good order of the government, that no heats, disorders or animosities may, in the least, obstruct the united endeavours that are now strongly engaged for the repealing the act above mentioned and other acts affecting the trade of the colonies. 1
Published by order of the House,
RICHARD SMITH, Clerk.
Ordered, That Mr. Fisher and Mr. John Lawrence do wait upon his Ex- cellency, and in answer to his message relating to the fire at Montreal, acquaint him, that the house having met at this time upon particular and very important business, think it necessary to defer the consideration of that matter till the usual time of doing business. That the House thank his
1 The second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth of the foregoing resolu- tions are identical with those similarly numbered, adopted by the Stamp Act Congress on October 19, 1765. The seventh resolution is identical with the tenth of the latter body.
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Excellency for giving them this opportunity, and having gone thro' what was immediately necessary, desire he will be pleased to dismiss them.
By order of the house.
RICHARD SMITH, Clerk.
30th of Nov.
A message from his Excellency by Mr. Secretary Read. ·Mr. Speaker.
His Excellency is in the council chamber, and requires the immediate attendance of the house."
Whereupon Mr. Speaker left the chair, and with the house went to wait upon his Excellency, who was pleased to make the following speech, and then prorogued the house to the 3Ist of December next, then to meet at Perth- Amboy.
Gentlemen of the Assembly.
T HE concern I have for the welfare of this province, as well as a sense of my duty to the crown, will not permit me to pass over in silence the late unprecedented, irregular and unconstitutional meeting of a number of your members at Amboy. No part of my conduct since my resi- dence among you, could, I am sure, have given the least reason to imagine, that I would any ways obstruct the channel of communication between the good people of this province and their sovereign The having recourse there- fore to such an expedient was the more inexcusable, as it was entirely un- necessary. It besides gave a sanction to the villainous reports which some of the principal officers of a neighbouring proprietary government had indus- triously propagated with regard to me, and might, at such a juncture, have occasioned the most dangerous consequences to myself and family. I am far, however, from thinking that any of the gentlemen who were concerned in promoting the late convention, intended me any prejudice by the meeting ; but a moments reflection n ust have convinced them there was danger of its having that tendency.
It is probable that the temper of the people at the time, might have inade a meeting of their representatives necessary. But I believe there is not a man among them the least acquainted with the nature of government, who can think it was proper to violate the principles of the constitution on the occasion. Nothing but extreme necessity can ever justify such a measure. Every breach of the constitution, whether it proceeds from the crowd or the people, is, in its effects, equally destructive to the rights of both. It is the duty therefore of those who are intrusted with the government to be equally careful in guarding against encroachments from the one as the other. You must be sensible that you have now the happiness of having a prince on the throne, who would not himself infringe any of the just privileges of his peo- ple nor suffer it knowingly to be done by any of his servants. The ties o1
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gratitude and justice, if there was no other consideration, should then have induced you to lrave avoided every invasion of his just prerogatives.
I was in hopes that, at your present meeting, you would have thought it your duty, and indeed for your credit as a house of representatives, either to have disapproved the conduct of your members who attended the convention at Amboy, or have made some apology for so illegal a procedure. This expectation prevented my saying anything to you on the subject at the open- ing of thre sessions, but, to my great surprise, I now find that you have not thought proper to do either the one or the other.
However popular, gentlemen, you may think this extraordinary behaviour may prove with your constituents, it is my opinion that the sober discreet part of them will very soon condemn it, and the more considerate among the people will do the same when they have time to reflect, and to consider cooly their own interest. It is the remark of a very great man, "That it is a most infallible symptom of the dangerous state of liberty, when the chief men of a free country shew a greater regard to popularity than to their own judgment." And numerous are the instances in history which evince the justness of this ob- servation.
I can with truth, gentlemen, declare, that it gives me great pain to be under a necessity of finding fault with any part of your conduct. It has, however, in this instance, been so particular, that I should tlrink myself unjustifiable both to his majesty and the people, were I not to signify my disapprobation of it. And this you may be assured I should have done by an immediate dissolution of your house, but that such is the critical situa- tion of affairs at this time, as to render it highly improper for the province to be without the full powers of legislature.
Tlrus have I, gentlemen, spoke my mind freely to you, as I would wish you to do to me, if I slrould, by any unconstitutional act of mine, give you the like occasion. I have only to add, that I have the fullest confidence in thre affections of the people of this province, which I shall not fail to culti- vate by a faithful discharge of my duty to the crown, and a constant care of their rights and liberties. I trust you will do me the justice, in your respective counties, to make these my good intentions rightly understood ; and that you will use your utmost endeavours to calm and heal all animosi- ties and divisions, to support the authority of government, and to preserve the peace and good order of the province.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN.
[A writ is issued out for the election of a member for Essex, in the room of Robert Ogden, Esq; who has re- signed. ]
New-Jersey, the 2d of December, 1765.
"With Pleasure the Public are informed, that there is
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now a great Prospect of Business proceeding in this Prov- ince as heretofore. Bonds on unstamped Paper, being daily taken in the Prerogative-Office, on issuing Marriage Licenses."
T T O be sold by way of PUBLIC VENDUE, on Thurs- day the 19th Day of December, at the Dwelling- House of JOHN WEST, in Elizabeth-Town, New-Jersey, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon. All the personal Estate of the said JOHN WEST; consisting of feather beds, bedding, household goods, a horse and chair, and four Negroes; the whole being delivered to us the Subscribers, for the use of all the creditors of the said JOHN WEST.
ROBERT OGDEN Elias Dayton Assignees.
N. B. All the creditors of the said JOHN WEST, are desired to attend at the above place the day before the sale, in order to fix terms of said sale.
New-Jersey, URSUANT to an Somerset County, Dec. 3, 1765 } ss. P order of Ben- jamin Thomson, and Philip Van Horne, Esqrs. two of the judges of the inferior court of common pleas, held at Millstone, in the County of Somerset, aforesaid, upon the petition of Joseph Stilwell, and John Hulst, insolvent debtors, and the majority of their creditors, Notice is hereby given to the creditors of Joseph Stilwell and John Hulst, two insolvent debtors aforesaid, that they be and appear at the Court-House at Millstone, aforesaid, on the first Tuesday in January next, at two of the clock in the afternoon of the same day, to shew cause, if any they have, why an assignment of the said debtor's estates, shall not be made, and the said debtors discharged, pursuant to an Act of the General Assembly of the province afore- said, in such case lately made and provided .- The New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, December 12, 1765.
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WHEREAS Lydia, the Wife of Daniel Van Etten, of Sandy Township, Sussex County, New-Jersey, has not behaved to her said Husband as she ought to have done : He therefore hereby gives Notice to all Persons, not to credit her on his Account, as he is determined to pay no Debts of her contracting, after the Date hereof.
October 19, 1765 DANIEL VAN ETTEN.
Salem, in New-Jersey, November 26, 1765.
A NUMBER of the Inhabitants of this County being in- formed, that Mr. John Hatton, of Salem, wanted to be employed as a Distributor of Stamps, they assembled here, being the Day of Quarter Sessions, and, after some Consideration about the Affair, four of them were de- puted to go and wait on that Gentleman, in order to know the Truth of the Report, when he very readily signed the following Declaration, viz.
I Do solemnly declare, that I, nor any Person for me, shall not act as Stamp Master, or Distributor of Stamps, nor attempt to carry that Law into Execution in this Province, until it shall be, or appear to be, the Desire of the People generally, by their and your calling upon me publickly to execute the said Act. This Declaration, Gentlemen, I do freely and voluntarily make, and will strictly abide by.
JOHN HATTON.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1929, December 12, 1765.
WENT away from Joseph Sharp of Salem County, West Jersey, the 10th Day of November last, a Negroe Man, named Sambo, under Pretence to get a Master; he is a thick, short Fellow, limps with his Right Knee, and one of his Buttocks bigger than the other, about 40 Years of Age, talks much, and cannot count above 15; if you ask him how much 10 and 5 is, he can't tell such Ques-
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tion; he has had many Masters, and lived at Mount- Holly, when the Furnace went, with Mr. Bard; it is thought that he will endeavour to get to Philadelphia, or is gone to New York. Whoever takes up the said Negroe, and secures him in any Goal, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds Reward; if taken in this County, or Cumberland, Forty Shillings, paid by JOSEPH SHARP.
LONDON. It is with pleasure we can assure the public, that from a late settled correspondence from New-Jersey to England, the exorbitant price of pickled sturgeon, and other curable fish, from that quarter of the world, will be reduced in town more than cent, per cent .- The Pennsyl- vania Gazette, No. 1930, December 19, 1765.
The following Account of the Number of Whites and Blacks supposed capable of bearing Arms in the Colonies, is thought to be pretty just.
Nova-Scotia, and the Northern Isles, which have cost the Crown more than all the Settlement of the other
Colonies,
10.000
Canada and Labradore,
30.000
Massachusetts-Bay,
70.000
New-Hampshire,
20.000
Colony of Rhode-Island,
15.000
Connecticut,
45.000
New-York,
25.000
New-Jersey,
20.000
Pennsylvania and Lower Counties,
100.000
Maryland and Virginia,
180.000
North-Carolina,
30.000
South Carolina,
45.000
Georgia and the Florida's,
10.000
The West-India Islands,
200.000
Total, 800.000
-- The New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, De- cember 19, 1765.
44
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LONDON.
Oct. I. The Society for propagating the gospel in for- eign parts, have been pleased to appoint the Rev. Nathan- iel Evans, M. A. of Philadelphia, their missionary for the county of Gloucester, in New-Jersey, North America .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1203, December 26, 1765.
Perth-Amboy, October 24th, 1765.
New-Jersey. B Y virtue of several writs of fieri facias, to me directed, issued out of the county court of Middlesex, against the goods and chattels lands and tenements of Whitehead Leonard, at the suit of Moore Furman, and others, I have taken and seized a tract of land in the fourth ward of Perth-Amboy; con- taining, by estimation, 750 acres, 100 acres of which is good meadow, and more may easily be made, the whole within a mile of a good landing, and within 6 miles of Amboy-ferry, and has on it plenty of good oak and pine wood; there is also a good dam where there was a saw- mill, and also a good house and barn, of and belonging to the said Whitehead Leonard. Now these are to give notice that the said land and tenements, taken as afore- said, will be exposed to sale, at public vendue, on Mon- day the 30th day of Dec. next, at the house of the widow Lott, near the premises; the said vendue to begin at 12 o'clock of the same day, at which time and place the terms and conditions of sale will be declared and made known, by me
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff.
Perth-Amboy, October 24, 1765. New-Jersey. B Y virtue of several writs of fieri facias,
to me directed, issued out of the supreme court of this province, against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of Thomas Leonard, at the Suit of John Van Dike, and others, I have taken and
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seized two tracts of land, containing about six hundred acres each, and one moiety or undivided half of a tract of land at South River; containing about eleven hundred acres : Also about sixty acres of salt meadow, at the Round-abouts, of and belonging to the said Thomas Leonard. Now these are to give notice, that the said tracts of land, taken as aforesaid, will be exposed to sale, at public vendue, on Tuesday the thirty-first day of De- cember, at the house of the widow Lott, near the Prem- ises. The said vendue to begin at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, at which time and place the terms and conditions of sale will be declared and made known, by me
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff
N. B. If any person or persons have any demands on said lands, either by legacy or mortgage, they are desired to make them known to James Brooks, Sheriff, before the day of sale, who will take it as a great favour.
Perth-Amboy, October 27, 1765. New-Jersey. B Y virtue of a writ of fieri facias, to me directed, will be exposed to sale, at public vendue, on Friday the third day of January next, at twelve o'clock of the same day, at the house of Elijah Dunham, in Perth-Amboy, three lots of land in the city aforesaid, late the property of George Leslie, deceased, seized and taken in execution at the suit of Cortland and Stephen Skinner, Esqrs. administrators of William Skin- ner, deceased.
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff.
Perth-Amboy, October 27, 1765.
New-Jersey. B Y virtue of several writs of fieri facias, to me directed, issued out of the supreme court of this province, against the goods and
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chattels, lands and tenements of James Bennet, at the suit of Peter Remsen, and William Neilson, I have taken and seized a lot of land, containing, by estimation, one hundred and thirteen acres, with a house and barn there- on, and some green grain, lying within two miles of Spotswood, of and belonging to the said James Bennet. Now these are to give notice, that the said land, &c. taken as aforesaid, will be exposed to sale, at public vendue, on Saturday the fourth day of January next, on the prem- ises. The said vendue to begin at twelve o'clock of the same day, at which time and place the terms and condi- tions of sale will be declared and made known, by me
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff.
Perth-Amboy, November 5, 1765.
New-Jersey B Y virtue of a writ of fieri facias, to me directed, issued out of the county court of Middlesex, against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements which were of Samuel Nevill, Esq; deceased, at the suit of Roger Kingland, I have taken and seized a lot of Wood land, situate and lying in the South ward of Perth-Amboy; containing, by estimation, thirty five acres, being about two miles from Amboy ferry: Now these are to give notice, that the said lot of land, taken as aforesaid, will be exposed to sale at public vendue, on Monday the sixth day of January next, at the house of Robert Sproul. The said vendue to begin at twelve o'clock of the same day, at which time and place the terms and conditions of Sale will be declared and made known, by me,
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff.
Perth-Amboy, November 6, 1765.
New-Jersey. B Y virtue of several writs of fieri facias,
to me directed, against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of Samuel Islestine, at the
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suit of Patrick Welch, and others, I have taken and seized a lot of land in the city of Perth-Amboy, on which there is a good stone house and store house, of and belonging to the said Samuel Islestine: Now these are to give notice, that the said house and premises, taken as afore- said, will be exposed to sale, at public vendue, on Tuesday the seventh day of January next, at the house of Charles Rhodes, near the Premises. The said vendue to begin at twelve o'clock of the same day, at which time and place the terms and conditions of sale will be declared and made known, by me.
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff
Perth-Amboy, November 23, 1765.
New-Jersey. B Y virtue of a writ of fieri facias, to me directed, issued out of the supreme court of this province, against the goods and chattels, lands and tenements which were of John Muirhead, de- ceased, at the suit of the executors of Abraham Lynsen, deceased, I have taken and seized a plantation near Cran- berry, containing, by estimation, 440 acres of good land, and has on it a dwelling-house and good barn, and a fine bearing young orchard, convenient to meeting, mill and market, of and belonging to the said John Muirhead, de- ceased: Now these are to give notice, that the said land and premises, taken as aforesaid, will be exposed to sale, at public vendue, on Friday the twenty-fourth day of Jan- uary next, on the premises; the said vendue to begin at twelve o'clock of the same day, at which time and place the terms and conditions of sale will be declared and made known, by me,
JAMES BROOKS, Sheriff. -The New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, De- cember 26, 1765.
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1765
To be SOLD or LETT for a Term of Years,
A HANDSOME well finished Brick House, two Stories high, four Rooms on each Floor, besides Garrets, a large dry Cellar under the whole House, properly divided; the Rooms above and below Stairs are genteelly papered, a convenient Kitchen adjoining, with Chambers for Ser- vants, situate in King's Street, in Trenton, not far from the Falls of Delaware; the Lot contains about Three Quarters of an Acre, and extends through to Queen- street, on which are placed the Stables. Also several five Acre Lots of Meadow, Orchard, and Pasture Lands, each good of their Kind, near and convenient to the Town; as also a good House, and new large framed Barn, with 17 Acres of excellent Land, 8 Acres of which is Garden Meadow and Orchard; the Remainder good Wood Land, situate in Trenton, and seems well calculated for a Shop- keeper, or Tradesman, &c. The Purchaser may have any reasonable Time given him, for Payment of the Purchase Money, with Interest.
WILLIAM PIDGEON. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1931, December 26, 1765.
INDEX.
INDEX.
A
Abbitt, Burrough, 471. James, broke jail, 470, 471.
Abbot, Benjamin, 517.
Abeel, Michael, forge for sale by, 456. Abell, Daniel, 139.
Abington, Pa., Presbyterian church at, 256. Abraham, runaway negro, 372. Abrahams, Abraham, 62. Accidents :-
anchors lost, 187.
at New Brunswick ferry, 299. death from eating mushrooms, 616.
drowned, 155, 227, 299, 213, 463, 478, 679.
fall, 51. fatal fall, 447.
fatal fall from horse, 257.
fire, 19, 156, 158, 162, 294, 302, 305, 396, 446, 684.
ice broke, 302.
run over by a waggon and killed, 447, 588.
well caved in, 51.
Acquackanonk, 533, 678.
Acquackanung landing, 329.
Acts of Assembly-to complete the New Jersey Regiment, 27; to authorize lottery by St. Mary's church, Burlington, 27; to authorize lottery for Bound Brook bridge, 27; appropriation for complet- ing the Secretary's offices at Burlington and at Perth
Amboy, 28; to authorize damming of Back creek, Gloucester, 28; for contin- uing bridge over Cedar Swamp Creek, 28; for nat- uralizing George Beck, Ja- cob Wigmore and Stephen Sarich, 28; to prevent the incursions of the Indians, 282, 283, 284; for repairing block houses, 282, 283, 284; to raise two hundred men to protect the frontiers, 282, 283, 284; to prevent highway robberies, 284; to suppress fairs in Salem, 332; to au- thorize lottery for road be- tween New York and Phila- delphia, 589. Adams, Christopher, 3.
Samuel, apprentice run away from, 54. Thomas, apprentice, run away, 53. Addams, Stophel, 113.
Adlum, Elizabeth, 628.
Africa, 69. Agar, Edward, negro run away from, 332. Thomas, 97. Agnew, John, 304, 426. Ahehurst, George, 628. Aimes, Capt., 101. Airey, William, New-Jersey post rider, 597.
Airley, William, post rider, 529. Alametunk river, 327.
Albany, Capt. Richard, 303.
Albany, 120, 176, 255, 359, 463, 633, 634; Beaver street Presby- terian church in, 633. Committee of Safety and Cor- respondence, 633. county militia, 633.
Albemarle county. Va., 433. Albertson, Capt., 466.
Alecks, Robert, 304.
Alematunk river, 551.
Alexander, David, 667. James, turnkey, 587. Joseph, 255. Samuel Davies, biographies of Princeton graduates by, 253, 432. Alexandria, 587. new laid out town, 438.
Alford, Benjamin, land for sale by, 544, 545. John, of Boston, deceased, 275.
Alford's neck, 275.
Alison, Hugh, 88. Richard, 503.
Alkin, Thomas, 432.
Allamuchahockin, 268. Allan, Isaac, English by, 87.
valedictory
Allegheny College, 636. Allemingle township, 259. Allen, 183. Isaac, 88, 636.
John, high sheriff, 90; lands of for sale, 325; late sher- iff, 228. Robert, 572. William, 1, 624.
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