USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the Colonial History of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XXV > Part 7
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"Humanity would teach me to exert myself, and use the utmost of my care, which I purpose to do without any other licence 'till I receive further orders, or see some of you; by all means let some interested person or persons come down immediately on sight hereof, with the bearer; the dead I shall keep till the bearer returns, and not suf- fer to be cramed in the sand. . . I saw them, poor hearts, in the height of their distress, where wind and sea had no pity, but could do no more than regret and sym- pathize with my fellow mortals, while overwhelm'd with calamities in the raging waves."
Yesterday arrived Captain Whitemarsh from Boston, who informs us, that at 4 o'clock P. M. on Sunday last, he saw a ship or snow ashore on Turtle-Gut Bar, 7 miles east of Cape-May; her masts and bowsprit were gone, and nothing but her ensign staff, with a waiff in the en- sign, as a signal of distress, was standing; he could see the surf break over her, but the weather being thick, and the wind blowing hard, he could not venture near enough to learn further particulars: To the leeward of the wreck, at the same time, he saw floating a great quantity of pipe and hogshead staves, a windsor chair, and a trunk, supposed to have come from her. . . . . About two miles from the above vessel, he saw a small vessel, bottom up- wards, which he took to be a pilot boat.
[We suppose the above vessel to be the snow Nancy, Captain Carr.]
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A certain Richard Richards alias Richardson, who came passenger in the ship Ellis, capt. Egdon from Lon- don (lately cast away on Absecom Beach in New-Jersey) did when in England, as likewise since his arrival in this city, put on and assume the dress and appearance of one of the people called Quakers, and so far succeeded as to impose on several humane, benevolent persons in London, for which end he there took, as is supposed, a false affir- mation, and by many notorious falshoods and artful stories prevented his being detected.
These are therefore to inform the public, in order to prevent his imposing on them in future, that the said Richard Richards or Richardson, is a young man about twenty one years of age, remarkably small, smooth tongue'd, and very insinuating address, had on a suit of plain drab coloured cloaths, wears his own hair, and a plain hat. At present he is fled or secrets himself to pre- vent his being taken and brought to justice.
The Sloop Squirrel, Capt. Taylor, from Antigua, for this port, was cast away, in the storm, on Sunday last, near Egg harbour; The People and greatest part of the cargo are saved.
PURSUANT to an order, of Robert Smith and Thomas Rodman, Esqrs; judges of the court of common Pleas, for the county of Burlington, aforesaid, upon the Petition of John Burr, Junior, of said county, with the major part in value of his creditors, Notice is hereby given to all the creditors of the said John Burr, that the second Day of May, next, (being the sixth day of the week) is appointed by the said judges, for the said creditors to meet at the house, of Lambert Barns, in the city of Burlington, at two o'clock, in the afternoon, to shew cause, if any they have, why the said John Burr, should not assigne over,
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all his estates to the use of all his creditors, and be admit- ted to the benefit, of the late act, of assembly, of this prov- ince, of New Jersey, for the relief of insolvent debtors.
TEN POUNDS Reward,
RUN away from the subscribers, living in Mansfield, Burlington county, on the 29th of this inst. in the even- ing, two Irish servant men, who came into this country last Fall, in a ship consigned to Baynton and Wharton: the one named Francis Flood, about 5 feet 7 inches high, well made, fresh coloured, remarkable red hair, tied be- hind, dark eyes : had on when he went away, an old blue sailor's jacket, bound with white, with horn buttons, a red under jacket without sleeves lined with white, good buckskin breeches, yarn stockings, and a pair of strong shoes, lately soaled, with brass buckles in them. The other named James Nayland, about 5 feet 7 inches high, of a pale complexion, smooth faced, has a very flat nose, wide mouth, no beard, light long hair, tied behind, and very knock knee'd : had on when he went away, a light- ish coloured bearskin jacket lined with white flannel, brass buttons, a striped camblet underjacket, good buckskin breeches, white yarn stockings, and a pair of pumps, too large for him; each of them had felt hats about half worn. They took with them a dark coloured broad cloth jacket, an old bearskin great-coat, a pair of check trowsers, and a short musquet mounted with brass. Whoever takes up and secures the said servants, so that their masters may have them again, shall have Five Pounds reward for each, and reasonable charges paid by
MOSES IVINS, and WILLIAM SHREVE.
N. B. Said James Nayland stole a pass from Israel Bunton, which was signed by magistrates of Burlington
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and Philadelphia to Maryland; and stole several things from his said master William Shreve.1
All masters of vessels are forbid to carry them off, at their peril .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1218, April 10, 1766.
LETTERS remaining in the Post-Office, Philadelphia. B. Thomas Benny, Elizabeth Bates, Greenwich Town- ship. H. John Hasset, Alexander Hamilton, John Hat- ton, West Jersey.
NEW-YORK, April 7
Last Week a Sloop from Egg Harbour, brought up to Town, a small Bundle of stamped Paper, that had been found in the Wreck of the Ship Ellis, lately cast away on her Voyage from London for Philadelphia, at Absecom Beach, as mentioned in a former Paper: As soon as it was known, they were seized by the Sons of Liberty, and purified at the Coffee-house last Friday, before a Thou- sand Spectators.
On the First Instant, the Body of a Man was found murdered, at a small Distance from the Post Road, in Piscataway, New-Jersey, about three Miles from New- Brunswick. By some Papers found about him, it is thought his Name was Stanley, tho' it is said he was called Fisher, had been begging about the Country, and was seen a few Days before he was found, in Company with two other Men, who had the Appearance of Sailors, and were going to Philadelphia; and that at a Tavern he had shewn some Money which it is conjectured brought him to his deplorable End. The Marks of Violence were con- spicuous on him, and the Coroner's Jury brought in their Verdict, wilful Murder by Persons unknown.
1 The same advertisement appears in the New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, April 17, 1766, No. 1215, where the name of the second servant is given as Nallon, instead of Nayland.
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Trenton, April 7, 1766.
The Members of the TRENTON LIBRARY COMPANY are desired to meet at the House of Isaac Yard, in Trenton, on the 14th Day of this instant April, at Two o'Clock in the Afternoon, to choose a Treasurer and Directors, and make their Sixteenth Annual Payment, agreeable to their Articles. And as it is expected the Company will order the Shares of the Delinquents to be disposed of, the Mem- bers are requested generally to attend.
Per Order, STACY POTTS, Secretary.
West New-Jersey, April 1, 1766.
The Horse SWAN Covers Mares this Season. He is a jet black, with one white Foot, a small Star, and a Snip, full fifteen Hands high, an exceeding gay, bold Carriaged Horse, a fine Trotter, and swift Pacer, full half blooded, and very handsome. The Price Twenty Shillings the Season each Mare, to be paid to the Subscriber, living in Wood's Town, Salem County.
JECHONIAS WOOD
RUN away from Benjamin Hegeman, of Somerset County, in New Jersey, the 25th of March last, an Irish Servant Man, named James M'Grady, of a short Stature, fair Complexion, and has brown curled Hair; Had on when he went away, a light brown Jacket, the Sleeves of another Cloth, an old homespun Linen Shirt, Leather Breeches, made of Sheepskin, blue Yarn Stockings, has near three Years to serve, and has been Servant before in Pennsylvania, near Lancaster. Whoever takes up said Servant and brings him to his said Master, shall receive Fifty Shillings Reward; if secured in any Goal, and No- tice given thereof to his said Master, shall have Thirty Shillings Reward, paid by
BENJAMIN HEGEMAN.
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New Jersey, Sussex County, ss.
PURSUANT to an Order of the Honourable Frederick Smith and John Berrien, Esquires, Justices of the Su- preme Court of the Province of New-Jersey, upon the Petition of Robert Patterson, an insolvent Debtor, and the Major Part in Value of his Creditors, Notice is hereby given, by the said Petitioners, to all the Creditors of the said Robert Patterson, to shew Cause, if any they have, before the Justices aforesaid, at the Dwelling-house of Lambert Barnes, Innholder at Burlington, on Wednesday, the 14th Day of May next (being the Time and Place appointed by the Justices for that Purpose) why an As- signment of the Estate of the said Robert Patterson should not be made to such Persons as shall be appointed, for the Use of all the Creditors of the said Robert Patter- son, pursuant to the said Petition, and the said Robert Patterson be discharged from all his Debts, according to an Act of the Governor, Council, and General Assembly, passed in the Fifth Year of the Reign of his present Maj- esty, George the Third, intituled "An Act for the Relief of insolvent Debtors."-The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1946, April 10, 1766.
Hunterdon, ss. Trenton, March 2, 1766.
NOTICE is hereby given, that William Morris, and William Clayton, Esquires, have assented to the Petition of William Reynolds, an insolvent Debtor, in Trenton Goal, and the Majority in Value of his Creditors, by ap- pointing Friday, the 25th Instant, for the Creditors of the said William Reynolds, to appear at Trenton, at II o'Clock, and shew Cause, if any they have, why the said Debtor shall not be discharged according to Law .- The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1946, April 10, 1766.
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Piscataway, April 1, 1766.
SIR,
I Send you a true Copy of the Petition of the North- American Merchants to the British Parliament, which was inclosed to me by Messieurs Stewart and Campbell. I dare say you will give it to the Public, through the Channel of your Paper, as soon as you can. I am, SIR,
Your most humble Servant,
WM. RUSSELL.
To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled.
The PETITION of the Merchants of London, Trading in North America. Humbly Sheweth,
THAT your Petitioners have long been concerned in carrying on the Trade between this Country and the British Colonies on the Continent of North America.
THAT they have annually exported very large Quantities of British Manufactures, consisting of Woollen Goods of all Kinds, Cottons, Linens, Hard ware, Shoes, Household Furniture, and almost, without Exception, every Species of Goods manufactured in these Kingdoms, beside other Articles imported from abroad, chiefly purchased with our Manufactures, and with the Produce of our colonies : by all which many Thousand Man- ufacturers, Seamen and Labourers, have been employed, to the very great and increasing Benefit of this Nation.
THAT, in return of these Exports, your Petitioners have received from the Colonies, Rice, Indigo, Tobacco, Naval Stores, Oil, Whale Fins, Furs, and lately Pot-Ash, with other Commodities, besides Remittances by Bills of Exchange and Bullion, obtained by the Colonists in Payment for Articles of their Produce not required for the British Market, and there- fore exported to other Places.
THAT from the Nature of this Trade, consisting of British Mannfac- tures exported, and of the Import of raw Materials from America, many of them used in our Manufactures, and all of them tending to lessen our Dependance on neighbouring States, it must be deemed of the highest Importance in the commercial System of this Nation.
THAT this Commerce, so beneficial to the State, and so necessary for the Support of Multitudes, now lies under such Difficulties and Discour- agements, that nothing less than its utter Ruin is apprehended, without immediate Interposition of Parliament.
THAT in Consequence of the Trade between the Colonies and the Mother Country, as established, and as permitted for many Years, and of the Experience which your Petitioners have had of the Readiness of the Americans to make their just Remittances to the utmost of their real Ability, they have been induced to make and venture such large Expor-
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tations of British Manufactures, as to leave the Colonies indebted to the Merchants of Great-Britain in the Sum of several Millions Sterling.
THAT at this time the Colonists, when pressed for Payment, appeal for past Experience in Proof of their Willingness, but declare it is not in their Power at present to make good their Engagements ; alledging that the Taxes and Restrictions laid upon them, and the Extension of the Jurisdiction of Vice Admiralty Courts, established by some late Acts of Parliament, particularly by an Act passed in the 4th Year of his present Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for granting certain Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America ; and by an Act passed in the Fifth Year of his present Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for grant- ing and applying certain Stamp-Duties, and other Duties, in the British Colonies and Plantations in America, with several Regulations and Restraints, which, if founded on Acts of Parliament for defined Purposes, are represented to have been extended in such a Manner as to disturb legal Commerce, and harrass the fair Trader, has so far interrupted the usual and former most fruitful Branches of their Commerce, restrained the Sale of their Produce, thrown the State of the several Provinces into Confusion, and brought on so great a Number of actual Bankruptcies, that the former Opportunities and Means of Remittances and Payments, are utterly lost and taken from them.
THAT your Petitioners are, by these unhappy Events, reduced to the Necessity of applying to this Honourable House, in order to secure them- selves and their Families from impending Ruin-to prevent a Multitude of Manufacturers from becoming a Burden to the Community, or else seeking their Bread in other Countries, to the irretrievable Loss of this Kingdom-to preserve the Strength of this Nation entire, its Commerce flourishing-the Revenues increasing-our Navigation, the Bulwark of the Kingdom, in a State of Growth and Extension, and the Colonies, from Inclination, Duty and Interest, firmly attached to the Mother-Coun- try.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray the Consideration of the Premises, intreating such Relief as to the Wisdom of this Honourable House shall deem expedient. And your Petitioners shall for ever pray.
TO BE SOLD
A Valuable Plantation, situate in Newtown Township, Gloucester County, on a Branch of Newtown Creek, con- taining 112 Acres, 40 of which are cleared, and under good Fence, 14 Acres of good Meadow, and more may be made, the Remainder well timbered; a good Frame House and Kitchen on the Premises. It is very conve- nient to Market, being but 2 Miles from Cooper's Ferry.
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For Terms, enquire of the Subscriber, on the Premises, or of Aaron Oakford, in Philadelphia.
HANNAH HAINES. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1947, April 17, 1766.
WHEREAS James Magee and John Limming, jun. two insolvent Debtors, and the Majority of their Creditors in Value of their Debts, having presented their Petition to John Anderson and Robert Montgomery, two of his Maj- esty's Justices, Judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the county of Monmouth, and also their sched- ule of all the Debts owing and the Debts due, with the goods and chattels of the said Debtors and has qualified to the same: These are therefore to give notice to the creditors of the said James Magee and John Limming, to appear the twenty third day of April next, at the court house in said county, to shew cause, if any they have, why the estate of the said debtors shall not be assigned to per- sons by said petitioners to be appointed to be disposed of for the benefit of their creditors, and that they may be discharged, pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of the province of New-Jersey, made in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord King George the third, entitled, "an act for the Relief of insolvent debtors."
James Magee, John Limming, jun.
The following account, received since our last. NEW JERSEY. Piscataway, April 3, 1766.
ON the first instant the body of a man was discovered laid under leaves and some old wood by a fence, on the side of the great road leading through this place to New-
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Brunswick; upon the Coroner's being sent for, and the body uncovered, it appeared to be the body of one Charles Fisher, who had frequently been seen in the province beg- ging from place to place. His head was broken in a shocking manner, and it appeared that he had been bar- barously murdered eight days before. On the 25th of March in the evening, it appeared by evidence, the de- ceased went into the house kept by Ebenezer Ford, with two men dressed like sailors, one of them tall, the other a short man; the tallest was frequently called Dick by the other : Here they had liquor, and the deceased shewed a good deal of money, and drank freely, as did the tall sailor until checked by the other, saying, "Dick, you know what you have to do to night."
The sailors had on both lightish colour'd jackets, lined with white, the tallest had a sailors cap, the smallest, a hat. From this tavern they proceeded to Ross's, on their · way to New-Brunswick, here they drank freely, and the deceased shewed a considerable quantity of silver, and offered to give silver for a six pound bill : Here the little sailor was called Johnson; and the tallest talking of his writing, took a pen and writ on clean paper, these words, "Evil communications corrupts good manners," and signed his name, Richard Clark. He was observed to have remarkable short fingers; and soon after, about IO o'clock in the night, they went on their way to New- Brunswick. The tall sailor appearing a little flushed with liquor, and the deceased so much in drink, that the tavern keeper told him he thought it was too late for him to go. It appeared that they traveled on about a mile and a half, and there committed the murder, and hid the body as above related; and it is thought the discovery must have been made the next day, had not the great fall of snow the next morning prevented it by covering the ground, so
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as to hide the blood, as it appeared very plain light after on two stones that were certainly made use of in destroy- ing the unhappy man; altho' the villains had also taken the precaution to throw sand from the road on the place where the most blood was; but this would have led to the discovery, had not the snow fallen. At a little distance from the corps, in a field adjoining, were found the de- ceased's wallet, which was known by and sworn to, by the tavern keeper. It appeared to have been rifled, and that the villains had shifted themselves, leaving in the field, one shirt, and sailor's frock, both bloody; two pair of trowsers, one bloody, and two small marling spikes. Their tracts from the deceased to this place were plain, and from thence easterly out of the field; from whence it was judged that they returned immediately with their booty towards New-York, especially as no intelligence can be had of them at any of the ferries to the westward. As this murder is the most barbarous and daring, that has ever been known here, being committed on the public road, in an open place, and clear night, within three hun- dred yards of two farm houses. It is hoped that all per- sons will be industrious in discovering and apprehending them, especially as they are said to be known at New- York, towards which they certainly went after the mur- der. As they are strangers, no further or more particular description can be given, only that the tallest had on at Ross's, a red watch coat; the other a brown one, half worn; their jackets both of a lightish colour, and lined with white .- Supplement to the New York Gazette or Weekly Post Boy, April 17, 1766.
A murder and robbery was lately committed near Min- isink, New-Jersey, on the body and effects of an Oneida Indian, who had come to trade there, supposed, by one Robert Simonds or Seamon, who was taken up and con-
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fined in Sussex goal, but was rescued, and has since fled. Governor Franklin has issued a proclamation, offering a reward of One Hundred dollars for apprehending said Simonds.
The snow Nancy, Walter Kerr, master, mentioned in our last, left Bristol the 17th of January, and King Road the 3d of February following, bound for this port : About the beginning of March they fell in with the sloop Ann, John Jones, master, of and from Rhode Island, bound for Jamaica, but being in great distress, Captain Kerr took said Jones and his people on board the snow, and pro- ceeded on his voyage untill the 5th inst. when he got soundings in 25 fathom water at 6 o'clock in the evening, and by observation had that day he was to the southward of Cape-Hinlopen, and stood a N. N. West course untill 12 o'clock, when he laid the snow too in 15 fathom water. At four o'clock in the morning she struck on Hereford Barr, about seventeen miles to the northward of Cape-May, being carried thither, as is supposed, by a strong current, for the captain and others on board judged they were on the Overfalls in the mouth of our Bay, and endeavoured, by filling the sails, to press her over, but soon found their mistake by feeling the land very near to them. On this some of the people, contrary to the cap- tain's orders, cut away the masts, and others got into the boats, cut the gripes and the sea soon washed them over- board, then cutting or slipping the fasts drove to the shore, where four men landed, viz. . Hutchinson the car- penter, Magnus Sinclair, John Gowens, and John Stans- bury, which were all that were saved out of twenty eight persons, for the wind blowing a violent hard gale by this time, at N. E. and N. E. and by N. no assistance could be given them from the shore, the vessel unfortunately heeled off towards the sea, which broke over her 30 feet high,
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and the distressed people obliged to continue on her deck untill 4 o'clock in the Afternoon, hanging by the quarter deck, rails, and upper gunnel, &c. as she lay on her beam ends; but at low water they made a raft, and, as is sup- posed, all got on it, expecting the tide of flood to drive them on shore, the raft came there well secured; and a hen koop lashed to the upper part, with their cloaths stuffed in it. coming ashore underneath the raft, shewed it had overset, and the people all perished; twelve of their bodies have since been found, and decently buried. The persons drowned by this unfortunate wreck are, Captain Walter Kerr, John Oliver, his mate, . .
. Fortescue, an apprentice, and five others of the ship's crew. John Jones, master, Andrew Mason, mate, John Brown, David Muttony, and Peleg Wood, all of the sloop Ann, taken up at sea. Captain William Willson, his wife and child, Cap- tain John Corser, Mr. Robert Smith (a young lad brother to the Revd. Doctor Smith of this place). The Revd. Mr. Willson, The Revd. Mr. Giles of New-York, Mr. Mott, a tanner of Connecticut, and the master and two mates of a Rhode-Island brig, that was sold in Bristol, names for- got. No letters or papers have been found, and very little of the vessel or cargo saved; upon the whole, the circum- stances of this affair make it one of the most melancholy losses that ever happened on this coast.
The sloop John and Jane, Captain Giles, from Antigua for this port, was drove ashore about twelve miles to the southward of our Capes, in the gale of wind on Sunday the 6th instant; the people, rigging, and all the cargo are saved.
The schooner Phoenix, Captain Gardiner, of and from Boston, who ran ashore on Peck's Beach, near Egg-Har- bour, in a gale of wind on the 9th of March is got off
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without any damage to the vessel, and arrived here last Tuesday.
The Circuit Courts in the Western Division of New- Jersey, will be held as follows :
For the County of Cape May, on Tuesday the 22d of April Instant.
For the County of Cumberland, on Tuesday the 29th Instant.
For the County of Salem, on Thursday the Ist of May next.
For the County of Gloucester, on Tuesday the 6th of May next .- The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1219, April 17, 1766.
STRAED AWAY from Peel Hall, about the 5th of this inst. a dark brown horse, has no white on his feet, his sides chaffed a little with the harness; he was bought at the London Coffee-House about a fortnight ago, and came from Salem. Whoever will bring the said horse to John Lukins, at the sign of the George, shall receive Thirty Shillings for their trouble
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