USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the Colonial History of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XXV > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
504
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
For the Year 1768 CONTAINING.
·
I2. Hour of the Moon's Rising or Setting Southing, and High-Water, at New-York, Elizabeth- Town Point.
19. Facing December. Corrected Account of the New- Jersey Courts.
26. List of the Council and Assembly, of New-Jersey.
27. A complete Table of the Post Roads throughout his Majesty's American Dominions, with the Postage to each Place, and the Distances summed up; also most of the public Roads in all other Parts of the said Dominions. -- The New York Journal or General Advertiser, No. 1301, December 10, 1767.
PHILADELPHIA, December IO.
We hear from Princetown, that Yesterday Se'nnight, as the New-York Stage Waggon was crossing Waters's Ferry at Staten Island, the Flat having a Sail set, and the Wind and Tide being against each other, the Sea raised the Side of the Flat, so that the Wind took her Bottom, and overset her, by which Accident Mrs. Morris, Wife to Mr. Morris, the Player, with her Maid Servant, were drowned; the other Passengers, together with the Driver and Boatman, were, with great Difficulty, saved. Two Horses were also lost.
Last Week was brought to Town from New-Jersey, a live Hog, which weighed upwards of 850 Pounds, thought to be the largest ever raised in America.
To be LETT
And entered upon immediately, nearly opposite the Meeting-House, in the City of Burlington, West-Jersey,
505
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1767]
A COMMODIOUS new House, with a large Shop, neatly fitted up, suitable for any Business. For further Partic- ulars, enquire of ANNE HUME, who has for sale, at her House in York-street, Burlington, a Variety of China, Glass, Delph and Stone Ware; also Powder, Shot, Ozen- brigs, Checks, Linens, and various other Articles .- The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2033, December 10, 1767.
WAS committed to the goal of Burlington, a certain Negroe man, who says he belongs to William Coursey, near Queen's Town, in Queen Ann's county, Maryland; said Negroe is about 32 years of age, says his name is Jack Hamman; had on, when committed, a white woolen coat, with broad metal buttons, and a jacket of the same, and as he has been here some time in confinement, this is to give his master or mistress notice to come, pay char- ges and take him away, otherwise he will be sold out for the same by
EPHRAIM PHILLIPS, Goaler. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2033, December 10, 1767.
Messieurs HALL and SELLERS,
GENTLEMEN,
I am convinced both of your Impartiality and best Care and Endeavours to afford the utmost Satisfaction to the Public; and I doubt not you will readily insert the follow- ing, by which that respectable Body will not only have an Opportunity of judging for themselves, but also may be enabled thereby to distinguish, with Justice and Propriety, the Person to whom the real Merit of that Ingenuity hon- estly belongs: Applause may then follow Judgment. Your Compliance must of Course be an Obligation on the
506
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
Public in general, and you may rely, it will be esteemed a particular One on
Your assured Friend, L. M.
No, you are out abundantly ! Nothing truer, take my Word for that!
HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.
Saturday, August 2, 1766.
THE Hon. Sir Francis Blake Delaval, Knight of the Bath, tried an Experiment with his new invented Phæton, upon Westminster Bridge, by putting his Horses in full Gallop; and in a Moment, by pulling a String, the Horses galloped off, and left the Carriage standing still, to the Surprise of many who saw it The Utility of this Invention is ap- parent, from the untimely Death of Mr. Wilson, who lately lost his Life by the Horses running away with the Carriage.
O that I could have ingeniously decked an American with this Honour!
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2033, December 10, 1767.
New-York, December 17. We are informed that the Rev. Mr. Samuel Blair, having declined the Presidency of the College of New-Jersey, the Trustees met on Wed- nesday the 9th Instant, at Nassau Hall; and unanimously re-elected the Revd. and learned Dr. JOHN WITHER- SPOON, an eminent Divine of the Church of Scotland to that office; on satisfactory Intelligence being received, that the Obstructions which stood in the Way of the Doc- tor's Acceptance, of the Chair when offer'd him last Year, were now removed, and that in Case it was still vacant, and he should be re-elected, he would accept it.
Is now in the PRESS,
At the Printing-Office, opposite the Exchange, and will be publish'd next Week. Price, bound in Marble Paper, 4s. New-York Currency; in Leather, 5s. if letter'd and gilt, 5s. 6d.
A Performance, entitled, A COMPANION FOR THE
507
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1767]
YOUNG PEOPLE of NORTH AMERICA; particularly recom- mended to those within the three Provinces of New-York, New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Divided into Chapters, adapted to every intelligent Capacity, and calculated for the Promotion and Furtherance of Christian Decorum among Families; principally designed to excite a laudable and Christian Emulation among young People to pursue the Paths which lead to real Religion: By attempting to discover the BEAUTIES OF A VIRTUOUS LIFE, and re- move all Objections young Persons can have to being early religious.
By AHIMAAZ HARKER
CANDIDATE FOR THE MINISTRY.
This Book is printed on a good Paper and Letter, and contains Three Hundred Pages. In which are considered all the most essential Duties that interest young People, pointing out those Requisites that will render them honest, wise, sociable, and virtuous in Life; and happy at Death. The whole expressed in such a Stile, as the Author hopes will delight the most accomplished Readers, and improve the most indifferent.
The Books will be conveyed into different Parts of the Country, as soon as the Book-binder shall make them ready; so that the Subscribers will be at no Difficulty in getting them.
To be sold at public vendue, on Tuesday the 5th Day of January next, at Ten o'Clock in the Forenoon of the same Day, at the House of William Wright, Innholder, in Perth-Amboy; a Tract of Wood Land, containing about 146 Acres, belonging to the Estate of the late James Neilson, deceased, and lies in the South-Ward of the said City, about a Mile and an Half from the Ferry. The Con- ditions will be made known at Day of Sale .- The New
508
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
York Journal or General Advertiser, No. 1302, December 17, 1767.
For the PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE.
As it has ever been my Study to pass silently through Life, it is doing the utmost Violence to my Nature to ap- pear in this public Manner; and nothing less than the De- fence of my Reputation could have induced me to it.
In the PENNSYLVANIA CHRONICLE of November 16, and in the GAZETTE of November 19, it is inserted, that I have invented a Method of suddenly disengaging the Horses from my Carriage, by pulling a String; which Publication I was totally ignorant of, not having the least Desire to arrogate any Merit on the Occasion - - - on the contrary, I was extremely disgusted, and had I thought it a Matter of Importance enough for public Attention, I should then have declared my Disapprobation of it: But finding that I have been ungenerously accused of a Con- duct which reflects both Knavery and Vanity on my Char- acter, I can no longer be silent. - - - First, I am taxed with being privy to the Publication; Charges which, if true, would very justly render me the Object of Ridicule: But I hope ever to preserve more Honesty, than to put such a Deception on the World; and had the Person who signs I .. M. in the last Gazette, been so genteel as to have fav- oured me with a Line or Message, I should very candidly have given him the Information I now give to the Public. - - - That many Years before Sir Francis Blake Delaval's Experiment was tried, I heard from a Gentleman of Vir- ginia, that such a scheme had been executed in England; and, in the Year, 1760, I had Directions from a Gentleman in Philadelphia to have a Chariot built on that Plan; but could not find a Coach-maker in London who knew any Thing of the Matter - - - this first gave me the Thought;
509
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1767]
and I soon after projected the Plan I lately executed; be- ing confirmed in my Design by the Account I read of the Experiment tried on Westminster Bridge; But I never saw any Thing of the Kind, or even heard a Description of it; and my Method may very probably be as different from Sir Francis's, as his is from that of which the Vir- ginia Gentleman spoke - - - indeed the Thing is of so sim- ple a Nature, and may be effected so many different Ways, that any Person who will give himself the Trouble of. thinking on the Subject, may readily succeed in the At- tempt. - - - I sought no Applause on the Occasion, and Sir Francis Blake Delaval, L. M. - - or any other, is heartily welcome to my Share, if any there is - - - The Safety of my Family was what I had principally in View. But the Satisfaction I reaped from succeeding in my Projection, is considerably abated, by being thus obliged to present a State of the Case to the Public, who I hope will indulge me with a Pardon for this Intrusion.
RICHARD WELLS.
Burlington, Dec. 11, 1767.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2034, December 17, 1767.
TO BE LET,
Two valuable and well situated plantations, being at Nantuxet, in Fairfield township, Cumberland county, and province of West-New-Jersey. - - - The one containing about two hundred acres of land, sixty acres of the upland whereof are cleared, being very good land for corn or any sort of grain, and under good fence; there are about sev- enty acres of wood land, which is very well timbered; the remaining part thereof is excellent good upland, marsh, and salt ditto. There is a dwelling-house on said planta- tion, with other conveniencies for plantation business.
510
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
The other is a valuable plantation, situated in the town- ship and county aforesaid, being about half a mile distant from the aforesaid plantation, containing about two hun- dred acres of land, eighty acres of the upland thereof are cleared, being under fence, and excellent good land either for corn, grain, or upland meadow; there are about sixty acres of wood land well timbered; the remaining part thereof is very good upland, marsh, and salt ditto, being the best for seeding or mowing in that or the adjacent townships. There are on said plantation two dwelling- houses, with other conveniencies for the plantation busi- ness.
The above plantations have excellent good wells of water before the houses, and likewise good ponds of water in the fields, and have an unlimited right of common. Each plantation has near one hundred apple trees of ex- cellent good fruit, and many peach and pear trees, and dif- ferent sorts of fruit, walnuts, &c. in perfection.
In the creek, whereon the plantations are situated, is great plenty of different sorts of fish, and oysters and wild fowl in the season. The plantations are contiguous to the river Delaware, being as near as the marsh will admit. There are tide creeks that put through each plantation, near to the houses, where there are four or five shallops always attending from said creeks to Philadelphia, when weather will permit. The said plantations are distant from Cumberland Court-house twelve miles, and from Philadel- phia fifty, by land.
The above plantations may be entered on the first day of April next, or sooner, if required. There are on said plantations stock of all sorts to be disposed of, likewise all sorts of utensils for plantation business.
Likewise to be disposed of a servant girl's time, who has about three years and a half to serve, understands
5II
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1767]
country and town business well, and not sold for any fault, it being only inconvenience to keep her, as her mas- ter has left off the plantation business. For further par- ticulars inquire of JOSEPH OGDEN, at the Cross Keys, in Philadelphia, WILLIAM HEWLINGS, Esq; in Burlington, who will shew plans of the land, or of JACOB HEWLINGS, on said plantation, who will shew the premises.
THREE POUNDS REWARD.
STOLE out of the Box of Peter Neil, in Mount-Holly Township, West-New-Jersey, on the 16th Instant, TWEN- TY POUNDS, Part in Silver and Part in Paper Money .- A Woman, who lived in the Neighbourhood, having since absconded, is supposed to have taken it. She goes by the Name of Margaret Burgess, alias Neil, (having a Certifi- cate with her, agreeing with the latter Name.)-She is a small Woman, about 30 Years of Age, pitted with the Small Pox, has long black Hair, and a remarkable Scar upon one of her Arms, near the Elbow; had on a striped red and white silk Gown, pink coloured Petticoat, white Broadcloth Cloak, a whitish Hat with a Ribbon round the Crown, Gauze Cap, black Silk Handkerchief, light blue Stockings, Leather Shoes, Silver plated Buckles with Brass Tongues and Anchors; but as she took sundry Cloaths with her, it is supposed she will alter her Dress; she was seen to cross the Ferry to Philadelphia, and it is thought she is now somewhere in the City. Whoever se- cures said Woman, and Money, so that they may be had again, shall have the above Reward, paid by
PETER NEIL.
-The Pennsylvania Chronicle, No. 50, December 21-28, 1767.
512
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
The PUBLIC
ARE hereby notified, That the Grammar-School, which hath hitherto been taught in Elizabeth-Town, is still con- tinued; and that, for the better Accommodation of the Students, a more commodious Edifice is erected. And in order to instruct Youth in the several Branches of the Mathematicks, both theoretical and practical, without Det- riment to the Students in the Languages, the Masters are now joined by Mr. RICHARD DEVENS, late of New-Jersey College. The School will be frequently visited by Gentle- men of Education in the Town, from whom its Character may be known.
The Terms of Admission are Twenty Shillings En- trance, and Five Pounds light Money per Annum.
Boarding may be had in reputable Families, at Twenty Pounds New-York Currency per Annum .- Supplement to the New York Mercury, No. 842, December 21, 1767.
To be SOLD, by public VENDUE,
On the eleventh day of January next, at the dwelling- house of William Brown, in Woolwich township, in the county of Gloucester, West New-Jersey, at ten of the clock in the forenoon,
SUNDRY horses, cows and young cattle, a pair of fat oxen, hogs and sheep, a large quantity of good hay, rye and indian corn, green rye growing in the ground, a variety of farming utensils, such as carts, plows, harrows, axes, hoes &c. The remainder of the time of two young servant boys and one girl, a wherry with two sails, a large quantity of flax and cyder. Also, a variety of very genteel houshold furniture.
And on the same day will be exposed to sale by public vendue, a plantation, and tract of land, containing 340 acres, situate in the township aforesaid, on the river Del-
513
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1767]
aware, opposite Marcus-Hook, about 24 miles from Phil- adelphia, very convenient for attending that market, on which there is a good dwelling-house, barn and orchard, about 50 acres of cleared upland, 70 acres of as good meadow, and in as good order, as any in the said county, and 40 acres more may be made, being now under good bank; the upland may be easily manured with mud. Also, one third part of Oldman's creek-island, containing 140 acres, lying about half a mile from the above, being a very convenient range for swine. And 4 acres of cedar swamp, full of timber, on the east side of Raccoon-creek, about 3 miles from the above plantation, being all late the personal and real estate of the said William Brown. The condi- tions of sale will be made known, at the time and place aforesaid, by SAMUEL BILES, JOHN HINCHMAN, and SAMUEL BLACKWOOD, Assignees.
To be sold by private sale, 3 two story brick houses, each 14 feet front, situate on the south side of Vine-street, be- tween Front and Second-street, in the city of Philadelphia, which now rent for 501. per annum. Any person inclining to purchase, may know the terms of sale, by applying to any of the above assignees, or to Whitehead Jones, at the upper end of Market-street, in Philadelphia.
N. B. The creditors of the said William Brown are desired to attend, at his dwelling-house in Woolwich afore- said, on the said eleventh day of January next, with their several demands against him, that they may be then set- tled.
STRAYED away, the 9th instant, a light bay horse, about 15 and a half hands high, has a bald face, 4 white feet, was shod all round, about 6 years old, bred in East Jer- sey, near Trenton, and it is supposed will go that way. Whoever takes up said horse, and brings him to the sub-
33
514
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
scriber, living in Southwark, near the city of Philadel- phia, shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS reward, and reason- able charges, paid by
JAMES PENROSE.
Burlington County, New-Jersey, Dec. 20, 1767.
RUN away, last Night, from the Subscriber, a Servant Lad, named JACOB FOSTER, about 18 Years of Age, of a middle Size, with light Hair; had on, and took with him, an English Hat, a Claret coloured Coat, newly mended under the Arms, a light coloured Drugget Ditto, a striped Linen Jacket, a Pair of Leather Breeches, and a Pair of Claret coloured Cloth Ditto, a Pair of black, and a Pair of grey Stockings, and a good Pair of Pumps. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Twenty Shillings Reward, paid by JOB RIDGWAY -The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 2035, December 24, 1767.
The sloop Peggy, Capt. Stewart for this port from New- York, was forced, by the ice, to come to at Marcus-Hook, from whence the Captain came by land to town, and in- forms, that on the 17th inst. about 20 leagues from our Capes, he spoke the brig Charming Sally, Capt. Farrel, from New-York, for this Port, all well; and as he came up the river, near Reedy Island, he saw a brig and a sloop aground, but could not tell who they were .- The Pennsyl- vania Journal, No. 1307, December 24, 1767.
ANECDOTE from SMITH's History of NEW-JERSEY.
FOUR miles from hence, [Burlington] a recluse person who came a stranger has existed alone, near twelve years in a thick wood, through all the extremeties of the seasons,
515
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1767]
under cover of a few leaves, supported by the side of an old log, and put together in the form of a small oven, not high or long enough to stand upright or lie extended; he talks Dutch,1 but unintelligibly, either through design, or from defect in his intellects, 'tis hard to tell which; whence he came or what he is, no body about him can find out; he has no contrivance to keep fire, nor uses any; in very cold weather he lies naked, stops the hole he creeps in and out at with leaves; he mostly keeps in his hut, but sometimes
1 The Pennsylvania Evening Post, of January 31, 1778, announces the death, on the 19th of that month, of this singular character, "Francis Furgler, the hermit," in his 66th year, who had existed alone twenty- five years in a thick wood, about four miles from Burlington, "in a cell made by the side of an old log in the form of a small oven, not high or long enough to stand upright in or lie extended." It was thought he meant by living his secluded life "to do penance for crimes committed in his own country, for he was a man subject to violent pas- sions." From whence he came or who he was nobody could find out, but he appeared to be by his dialect a German, yet he spoke that lan- guage imperfectly, either through design or from a defect in his intel-
lects. He was found dead in his cell, with a crucifix and a brass fish by his side; and on the 20th he was decently interred in Friends burying place at Mountholly." In 1811 there was published a small volume, 12mo in form, the type-page only 214x338 inches size, and bound in boards, with this title-page: THE HERMIT, | or an account of Francis Adam Joseph Phyle, | a native of Switzerland, | Who lived without the use of fire for upwards | of twenty-two years, in a small cave, in the | midst of a wood, near Mount-Holly, in | Burlington county, New Jersey; and was found | dead therein, in the year 1780. In a series of letters, | from | Batlus Hiltzhimer to Melchoir Miller. Interspersed with some | Observations of the Author, and Senti- | ments of celebrated men. | NEW JERSEY: | Published by John Atkinson | Print- ed by John Bioren, No. 88, Chestnut- | Street, Philadelphia. | 1811. | Pp. 102. A second edition appeared in the same year, with precisely the same title-page, except that the name "Batlus" was corrected to "Baltus," and the imprint was divided thus: "Printed by John Bioren, No. 88, Chestnut-Street, | Philadelphia," and the line "Second Edition." was inserted above "New Jersey" in the imprint. The two editions are identical down to page 60; beginning with that page the second edition has twenty-one lines to the page, instead of twenty, as in the first edi- tion, but the lines are identical, the same type having been used. The first edition ends with Letter VIII, November, 1780, on p. 102. In the second edition this letter ends on p. 99, and there is added a Letter IX, December 25th, 1780, pp. 100-108. The writer states that in the spring of 1756 Francis appeared in the neighborhood of Mt. Holly, wearing the uniform of a French soldier, and totally ignorant of the English language. He had dug out a hole under a large white oak, prostrated by the storm, in a wood belonging to Joseph Burr, on the road to Bur- lington, about four miles from the latter place, and two miles from Mt. Holly. This hole or cave was barely large enough for him to stretch himself in it. Six or eight weeks after he settled here he told Col. Charles Read, through an interpreter, that his name was Francis Adam Joseph Phyle; that he was a native of the Canton of Lucern in Switz- erland, which he had left on account of some disagreeable circum- stances, and went to France; that he came with the French troops to Canada, and soon after, becoming disgusted with the life of a soldier, left them and came to New Jersey. He seemed to be under great dis- tress of mind, occasioned, he said, by a sense of his sins, which ap- peared to overwhelm him, and there was some hint of his having killed an adversary in a duel. He never used fire. and lived entirely on the charity of the neighbors, until his death, in 1778, and nothing more was ever learned of his history than above related.
516
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS
[1767
walks before it, lies on the ground, and cannot be per- suaded to work much, nor obliged without violence to for- sake this habit, which he appears to delight in, and to en- joy full health; when the woods and orchard's affords him no nuts, apples, or other relief as to food, he applies now and then for bread to the neighbourhood, and with this is quite satisfied; he refuses money, but has been fre- quently cloathed by charity; he seems to be upwards of forty years of age; as to person rather under the middle size; calls himself Francis .- The Pennsylvania Chronicle, No. 51, December 28, 1767-January 4, 1768.
New-York, December 28. It is said, that the Merchants of this Town, trading to the West-Indies, are about ap- plying to the Corporation, to pass a BYE-LAW, that no White-Oak Hogshead Staves shall be deemed merchant- able by the Cullers, but such as are 3-4 of an inch thick on the Heart Edge, and four broad, clear of Sap, which we hope will restore the Credit of our Lumber.
Indeed the Thing most likely to hurt its Credit is, the permitting the Stave-Getters from New-Jersey, and other Parts (who have been used to get very ordinary Lumber) to work our good Timber .- The New York Mercury, No. 843, December 28, 1767.
Capt. Kidd informs that the sloop --- -, Captain Splane, of and for this port, sailed from Georgia about three months ago, and it is feared she will never be heard of. Captain Kidd, in soundings off our Capes, spoke Cap- tain Thornton, in a Sloop from Rhode-Island, for Vir- ginia, all well .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1308, De- cember 31, 1767.
INDEX.
INDEX.
A
Abit, James, carpenter, escaped custody, 247.
Abraham, James, deceased, estate of, for sale, 28.
Absecom, 198.
beach, brigantine Nancy for sale as she now lies on, 352; ship Ellis cast away on, 45, 49, 79, 81; wreck of, for sale, 119. creek, 247. inlet, 248.
Accidents :-
cedar battoe went adrift, 255, 274.
died of cold, 252.
Dilkes, James, children of, badly hurt by lightning, 123; , wife of, killed by lightning, 123.
drowned, 45, 49, 50, 64, 79, 90, 263, 310, 364, 365, 394, 428, 435, 436, 494, 502, 504.
fatal fall, 111, 252, 322, 330.
fire, 253; at Woodbridge, 204, 295; at Lyons Farms, 300; at Pilesgrove, 356.
horses struck by lightning, 410.
house struck by lightning, 123. killed by horses running away, 506.
lighthouse struck by lightning, 176.
mill dams carried away. 159. sloop loaded with oysters sprung a leak in New York, 278.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.