USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XII > Part 36
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and who was deeply interested in behalf of the rioters who were at war with the Pro- prietors of East Jersey. It is not clear just who this Michael Vreeland was. There were several of the name living near Wesel (the neighborhood lying along the west bank of the Passaic river, between Paterson and Clifton), among them Michael Enoch Vreeland (son of Enoch), and Michael Vreeland, who owned the tract of land in the city of Paterson, between Broadway and Willis street, and fronting on the Passaic river. Neither of these men used the English language much or readily in keeping ac- counts or in other business writings. This suggests the thought that possibly this able communication was penned by the schoolmaster of the neighborhood-James Billington, who would be more apt to be familiar with the history of Oliver Cromwell and his arms than a plain Jersey Dutch farmer. The letter given later, with its coarse assumption that Vreeland used the English language only in a mutilated form, may be regarded as evidence that his contemporaries did not give him credit for the ability to write such a communication as that given above.
1 Brainerd.
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A GOOD School-Master for Children, that can teach Reading, Writing and Cyphering, is wanted at Rari- ton about 6 Miles above Bound Brook : Any Person properly qualified, may meet with good Encouragement by apply to
John Broughton.1 -The New York Gazette, Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, March 23, 1747.
To be Sold or Lett,
A Stone house in Trenton that Joseph Peace lived in, with good large stores under the said house, and an acre of land; it being situate in a very publick place, and near the mill, makes it very convenient for a store or shopkeeper. Any person inclining to pur- chase or rent said house and lot, may apply to Thomas Potts in Mansfield, Burlington county ; or to David Wright of Hanover, in said county ; or John Allen, jun. of Trenton .- The Pennsylvania Gazette, March 24, 1746-7 ..
Mr. Parker,
Please to insert the following Letter in Answer to one from Mr. Miles, a Gentleman in the Army near Albany, published in your Paper of February 16, last, and you will oblige, Yours &c.
Mr. Alexander Miles,
Have had an Opportunity of perusing a Letter I to your Friend at Brunswick, in which, with great Freedom, you censure the Conduct of the As- sembly of New-Jersey, and the Commissioners by
1 The following was added in the Number for May 11:
N. B. He must be a Person that has no family.
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them appointed, for laying out 16.0001. chearfully struck by an Act of that honourable House, for pro- moting the Canada Expedition ; and particularly complain loudly of the Neglect of your Commis- sioners, for not supplying the Necessaries, promised at your Embarkation. I wish you had mentioned what those Necessaries were. I have never heard of any Deficiency, but in the Articles of Cheese and Bacon, a sufficient Quantity of the first of which could not be provided at that Season of the Year ; where- fore a more copious Supply in other Articles, in lieu of those, was thought by some of your Officers to be more beneficial to you. The Observation as to Soldiers Complaints, is indeed, generally (tho' not always) true, and I believe, will prove so in the pres- ent Case. The Commissioners might possibly be de- ceived in some Things ; yet it must be allowed, that they were very industrious in providing for you ; and I dare venture (from my Knowledge of the Men) to say, they will appear to have been exactly honest in expending the publick Money: I presume there- fore, they will desire that a strict Enquiry be made into their Conduct; that the Approbation of the House of the Assembly may convince the Inhabi- tants of New-Jersey, that they have faithfully dis- charged the Trust reposed in them. When that En- quiry shall be made, let the Persons who can charge any of the Commissioners with acting a dishonest Part, appear to make it evident, and I am assured Justice will be done to the Province.
That the Characters of Men who handle the publick Money are almost universally aspersed,
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whether there be just Grounds or not, frequent Ex- amples testify. 'Tis easy to throw Dirt from behind the Curtain ; but that you may understand the Affair, I take the Freedom to state it truly.
As it was not to be expected that New- Jersey could furnish 500 Arms, Recourse was had to Philadelphia and New-York, and at the former the Commissioners of the Western Division (not a Commissioner) with Caution purchased 300 conditionally, they were to be proved with a double Charge of Powder, and two sizeable Balls rammed down, and that they were so proved, a Cloud of Witnesses can testify. These Guns, with what might be procured at New-York, were not tho't sufficient to compleat the Number or- dered : Therefore several (if not all) the Military Officers were desired to purchase what good Fire- Arms they could meet with ; and as many as were bought by them were received by the Commissioners. A Scarcity of Arms on such an Emergency was to be expected, and really was so great, that the Commis- missioner of Pennsylvania, tho' a Gentleman of great Industry and very general Acquaintance, was obliged publickly to advertise his Intention of purchasing Arms for supplying 300 Men only in that Province ; and his Excellency Governor Clinton, when he con- sented to receive Capt. Hart's Company into the York Pay, (if I am rightly informed) desired they might be furnished with Arms, and promis'd Pay for them ; from which it appears, that Arms were with great Difficulty procured even in those trading Cities. Cutlasses were enquired after with so little Success, that the Commissioners were put under a
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Necessity of agreeing with Workmen to make them, whose want of Skill in tempering them, occasions some to stand bent; yet these are far preferable to the Sale-Cutlasses, with which most of the Forces are furnished. Your Coats were of blue Cloth and Breeches of red Halfthicks ; the last of which was re- presented by your Officers as worth nothing, tho' every Man acquainted with it must know it to be the most durable Wear we have from Europe; and your Commissioners have desired your Colonel to supply each Man with a Pair of Buckskin Breeches, that there may be no Colour of Complaint on that Score. The Assembly having conceived so high an Opinion of the Abilities of your Officers, that they would not suffer themselves to doubt that the Captains would (as it was natural to suppose) take care that their own Men should be supplied with every thing that was ordered, and that (as they were not obliged to do it) they would receive nothing unfit for Service ; they therefore would not appoint a Commissary, but ordered the Stores to be delivered to the Captains, and made them accountable for every Thing which should remain, after the Service was over. Had these Gentlemen been as judicious and careful as the Assembly expected they would be, bad Guns and tainted Beef could not have been imposed upon them, altho' the Commissioners should injudiciously have bought such. If these Things had been discovered at Amboy, the Articles not fit for Use might have been returned to the Persons from whom they were purchased. The Guns from Philadelphia got wet in the Transportation, which occasioned their
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Stocks to swell, and the Wood pressing on the Spring, the Locks would not play; this occasioned a great Clamour against them : They were subjected to the Inspection of the Gun- smiths at Brunswick and Amboy, the Charge of which was paid by the Vendor, and the Philadelphia Gunsmiths were ordered by the West- Jersey Commissioners to attend at Amboy, and they brought up with them a Number of Guns to exchange for those which should be refused. The Captains then appointed Persons out of each Company to assist their Serjeants to choose Guns for their Com- panies, and they had Liberty to reject what they thought proper ; and the whole, if disapproved of, might then have been returned. Therefore the Com- missioners may be said truely to have bought them with the Approbation of the Military Officers : His Honour the President, who doubtless took his In- formation in that Respect from the Gentlemen com- manding the Troops, is pleased to acquaint the As- sembly at their next Meeting, " That the Things pro- vided, [by the Commissioners] are of the best Kind." The Philadelphia Guns thus proved, inspected and delivered to the Officers, fell short of 300, the Re- mainder were Cuba Pieces, Queen Ann's, and other extraordinary Pieces, purchased at a great Price ; yet by the Representation of the Albany Gunsmiths, made some Months after they were delivered into the Hands of your careless Brethern, it appears, that of the 500 Arms, 320 were entirely useless, 180 might, at so much Expence each, be made to serve. How
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this could happen without very bad Usage, I leave the unprejudiced to judge .-
Mr. Miles, I am sorry that you should represent a Zeal for your Country's Good, as the only Thing that prevents your Deserting the Service, and forget that you are bound by Oath to remain in it. This gives me some Ground to suspect your Principles : How- ever, as the Writing this Letter may justly entitle you to Favour, I would advise you to procure your Discharge, return to the Country whose Wounds affect you so deeply, persuade your Neighbours that you are really the Patriot you would have us think you, and at the New Choice you advise them to pe- tition for, get yourself elected a Representative, and commence the Palinurus of the State, call these Commissioners toa severe Account ; for, tho' you seem to have Talents for a Politician, you can never hope to arrive at the Dignity of a Field Marshal ; when in four Months you have not been able to learn, that bursting not breaking, on the Discharge of a Piece, is the Term of Art.
I am your Friend.
From my Farm, 4 Miles above PROBUS. Trenton, March 6. 1746-7.
-The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post-Boy, April 6, 1747.
Philadelphia April 9. 1747.
Run away from Thomas Tindall of Trenton, a Negro man, named Sam, about 26 years of age, talks very good English, and is of a middle stature : Had on when he went away, a reddish brown coat, a light coloured cloth jacket, a pair of buckskin breeches,
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and a pair of linnen ones, a good beaver hat, and an old one, two oznabrigs shirts, one check ditto, a pair of yarn stockings, two pair of worsted ditto, a pair of strong shoes, and a pair of pumps. He was sold by Dr. Cadwallader to the said Tindall. Whoever takes up and secures said Negro, so that his master may have him again, shall have Three-pounds reward, paid by THOMAS TINDALL. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 9, 1747.
Custom-House, Rhode Island, March 6. Entred In, Gibbs from Amboy .- The Boston Weekly Post-Boy, March 9, 1747. No. 642.
Philadelphia, April 16, 1747.
ALL PERSONS indebted to the estate of Isaac Smith, late of Hattonfield, deceas'd, are desired to make speedy payment : And those who have any demands against the said estate, are desired to bring them in, that they may be adjusted.
Elizabeth Smith, Administratrix. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 16, 1747.
Philadelphia, April 16. We hear from the back Parts of the Country, that two Men from the Jerseys, who went by the Names of Maynert Johnson, and William Casway, have been lately, and perhaps are still, travelling, and passing Counterfeit Twelve Shil- ling Bills, dated March 25, 1733, and so badly print- ed and signed, that only such as have not been much used to see Jersey Money, can be deceived by them. The Lines are very crooked, and the Letters and Figures much mishapen and disproportioned, the 25
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Flourishes and Arms very dull, and blindly impressed, and several of the Words scarcely legible -The N. Y. Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, April 20, 1747.
THIS is to inform the Publick, That the Trustees of the Colledge of New-Jersey, have appointed the Rev- erend Mr. Jonathan Dickinson, PRESIDENT of the said Colledge ; which will be opened the fourth Week in May next, at Elizabeth-Town : At which Time and Place, all Persons suitably qualified, may be admitted to an Academic Education .- The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, April 20, 1747.
This Day is published, (And to be sold by the Printer hereof, Price Eleven Pence.)
THE Second Publication of the Council of Proprie- tors, of the Eastern Division of New-Jersey, aated the 25th of March 1747 ; containing a Narrative of the Proceedings of, and with, the Rioters in New-Jersey, since the former Publication of March 25, 1746. To which is annexed, Copies of the Rioters Proposal to the Assembly, to submit their Pretensions to a Tryal at Law, to be carried by Appeal to the King and Coun- cil : Copy of the Proprietors Acceptance of that Pro- posal ; with Copies of sundry other Original Papers, showing that the Rioters and their Committee, have slighted, receded from, and not complied with, their own Proposals aforesaid.
N. B. The whole consists of Eleven Pages, in Folio.
-The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy," April 27, 1747.
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TO BE SOLD.
THE Mill in Elizabeth-Town, near the Bridge, with the bolting Cloths, and other Utensils thereto belong- ing ; and also a House and Lot, convenient for the same. Whoever has a Mind to purchase the aforesaid Mill and Lot, may enquire at the House of William Chetwood near the Premises, and be informed of the Title and Conditions of Sale .- The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, April 27,. 1747.
Mr. Fleet,
April 30. 1747.
Many a dull Thing has the Boston- Gazette hereto- fore retail'd to the Public, in Defence of Whitefield, Tennant, New-Light and the Christian History; but the Productions of last Week far exceed in Stupidity what I could have imagined to find in a Paper re- markable for Pieces of such a Character. Nothing, I think, can excuse the Printers for stuffing their Paper with such Trash, and imposing it on the Pub- lic, but what you have own'd is apt to charm your Eyes, a fair and handsome Title-Page. As for the first Letter, since it seems to be wrote with a very worthy View of reviving Religious Controversies, which for some Time have languished, its Dulness shall so far be pardoned : But for the second, which has no Design in it, that I can find, unless it be to show his Concern, how some of his good Friends may retrieve their shatter'd Condition, it is a Master-Piece in its Kind; dull, stupid, barbarous, ignorant ; with many other Compliments that frequently pass be- tween Writers who love to wrangle, are far beneath its Dignity. Had the Thing been printed exactly as it came from the Author's Hand, it's very probable it
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would have afforded some Amusement from its Un- couthness, (for such a Writer must have a peculiar Faculty at Spelling) as it once happened in the Days of .venerable Old Fanus. Mundungus, of foggy Memory, took it in his Head to become an Author : In his Cell where he prepared the Weed in which your contemplative Men take such Delight, the Itch of scribling came upon him, whether from the Motion of his Engine, which as to the Manner of. its Operation, had some Resemblance to a Printer's Press ; or from the Fumes which rose from the To- bacco, I shan't pretend to determine; but write he did, and sent it to the Press, and the honest Printer sent it into the World just as he receiv'd it, with all its Peculiarities ; so that what by its Dulness would otherwise have disgusted, by its odness afforded a great deal of Diversion. I make no Doubt but C. O's Piece is full as curious in the Original, as the worthy Tobacconist's, and perhaps may owe its Rise to the same Cause, the movement of a Machine, or some sort of Fumes that play'd pretty confusedly round his Brain.
It is probable, this dabler in Politicks, is some honest Country Deacon, living far up in the Woods (if he will allow Oaks and Trees to be Wood ; for he dates his Piece from the Oaks AND Trees) and his pious Intention may, in some Measure, atone both for his Ignorance and fondness to appear in Print. He ought, however, to be inform'd that no Man should presume to set up for an Author, till he has learn'd English, and can at least write Common Sense. It is likely he never troubled the World in
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Print till now ; and we may charitably hope, he will take the Caution, and not offend in like Manner hereafter .- The Boston Evening-Post, May 4, 1747. No. 612.
Newport, May 8. Entred in, West from Amboy. -The Boston Weekly Post-Boy, May 11, 1747. No. 651.
From my own House on the Banks of Pisaick, April 28th, 1747.
Mr. Parker,
MY Friend M. Vrelandt, as he calls himself in your Paper No. 217, for all his pretended Patience, uses me very ill, as well in his Animadversions, as in saying, that his House is my Home ; for I have always had a House of my own to put my Head in since I came to New-Jersey : And tho' he may be acquainted with some of the Secrets of the Commissioners ap- pointed by the Assembly to transact the Affairs re- lating to the Levies raised in New-Jersey, for the in- tended Expedition against Canada ; yet notwithstand- ing any thing he knows to the Contrary, tho' Twelve only were appointed, Twenty Four might go Snacks in the Distribution of the £. 1000 of the Country's Money, although not in equal Proportion : or else, why should one Commissioner living at Cape-May, another here another there, &c. &c. and doing noth- ing at all in the Business; be entituled to receive any Part or Proportion of that Money? And as in the Multitude of Commissioners is the greatest Safety, surely Twenty Four can act more prudently than Twelve, as well as Twelve than two, and conse-
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quently the Money be more justly alotted; since it is to be raised from the different Parts where the Members were chosen, as well for making their next Calling an Election sure, as for the Good and Bene- fit of the Freeholders who choose them. With regard to the Guns and Swords, I am fully convinc'd he knows something of them, having sent to Burlington and Philadelphia to enquire of what Mettle they were made; and if they were not Staunch and Trusty, he ought to have made Report thereof accordingly, and not to throw that wicked Slur upon me, by saying, when the Expedition is over, the Forces would be employed to quell the Rioters, and if their Arms were no better than ours, we should stand a good Chance : For I do assure both you and the Publick in a solemn Manner, that I am no more one of the principal Heads, Directors, Aider, Encourager, or Abetter of the Rioters, than M. Vrelandt himself. I cannot help joining in Opin- ion with him, as I hope most Merchants will, with re- gard to the stinking Beef, viz. that it is more reason- able (as the Country is big enough) for that Country to pay for 20 Barrels, than one Man should loose them; especially considering, that in the last Fall there was no Salt to be had at any Rate : As for it's keeping better or worse on the fresh or salt Water, I am not Philosopher enough to determine that Point ; unless it be meant that if it had been in salt Water, it would not have been sent off Stinking by the Commission- ers. What he says with Relation to the Court of Judicature, I cannot agree with him in altogether ; but so far I may be allow'd to say, that Our House
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of Assembly here, is a very august Body, as well as the House of Lords in England; and why may not the greatest Crimes be lay'd by their Peers here without Oath, and Upon their Honour, as well as the Lords and Grandees do the same in England: For any Thing else, I must allow, that if the Laws of Eng- land, as well as this Province, did not make a dis- stinction between Courts and Crimes, and every Englishman was allowed the Privilege of being tryed by God and his Country, that is by 12 honest and lawful Men of such Country, (for God has seemingly left us already) every Highwayman would be try'd by Highwaymen, every Rioter by Rioters, every Felon by Felons, and every Clubman by C-n ; and if that were the Case, in what a doleful Condition would our Country then be : But thanks be to God, our good and salutary Laws are not yet quite broke through, tho' there have been several Attempts to do it. Aye, Aye, Mr. Parker you may take my Word for it, now the Assembly is on meeting, tnis my Resolve, to carry in a Petition to have an Act pass'd to put a Stop to the insolent and enormous Proceedings of these bold and daring Rioters, and use the utmost in my Power to bring them to condign Punishment; and am pretty well assured, that M. Vrelandt himself, and many more of my Friends, will heartily join with me in so doing ; tho' I must confess, that some of these Devils have carry'd them to that Height, that it may be difficult Even for the H-se, or our Com- mittee, to Quell them.
I am &c. J. L. -The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, May 18, 1747.
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Philadelphia, May 14. We hear that the Warren Privateer, Capt. Katter, is to sail To morrow or next day on a Month's Cruize, between the Capes of Vir- ginia and the Neversinks, to guard our Trade from the Enemy's Privateers, who have chased several Vessels lately near the Capes, she is fitted out by a Subscription among the Merchants of this City. The Men have Three Pounds Bounty Money, and are to share all Prizes .- The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, May 18, 1747.
To BE SOLD, by Publick Vendue on Tuesday the 18th Day of August next, at the House of Gershom Drake, in Piscataway, two Lots of Land, the first containing about 30 Acres, with a good Dwelling House thereon, and other considerable Improvements ; the other is a small Lot, on which there is two good Dwelling Houses, and a very convenient Store for Merchandiz- ing ; both which Lots lay very near Doctor Merser's Mills, and are very convenient for Trade: the Titles are indisputable .- The New-York Gazette Revived iu the Weekly Post-Boy, May 18, 1747.
London, March 14. The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed his Majesty's Ship the Adventure, Capt. Hammer, to carry over-Popple, Esq ; for his Government at the Bermuda Islands, and Jonathan Belcher, Esq; lately appointed Governor of New Jersey in America, in the room of Lewis Morris, Esq; deceas'd .- The Boston Weekly News Letter,. May 21, 1747. No. 2353.
London, March 26. Yesterday the Gentlemen Proprietors of West New Jersey, gave a handsome
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Entertainment at Pootac's to the Hon Mr. Belcher, his Majesty's Governor of the New Jerseys.
Just published,
(and Sold by Rogers and Fowle in Queen-Street) A LETTER to Mr Jonathan Dickinson, in Defence of Aristocles and Authades, concerning the Sovereignty and Promises of GOD. From Samuel Johnson, D. D.
Just published,
and sold by Rogers and Fowle in Queen-Street, MR. Beach's REPLY to Mr. Dickinson's REMARKS upon a Sermon of his, entitled, Eternal Life GOD's free Gift, &c .- The Boston Evening-Post, May 25, I747. No. 615.
Philadelphia, May 12, 1747.
All persons indebted to the estate of Capt. Richard Downs, late of Cape May, deceas'd, are de- sired to make speedy payment: And those who have any demands against said estate, are desired to pay the same, within Six Months from the date here- of, to
Elisha Hand, and Nathaniel Foster Executors. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 28, 1747.
London, March 28. The Lords of the Admiralty . have appointed his Majesty's Ship the Adventure, Capt. Hammer, to carry over William Popple, Esq ; for his Government at the Bermudian Islands, and Jo- nathan Belcher, Esq ; lately appointed Governor of New-Jersey in America, in the Room of Lewis Morris, Esq; deceas'd .- The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Fune 1, 1747.
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Philadelphia, June 4. 1747.
Whereas Elizabeth, the wife of Daniel Bates, of Waterford township, Gloucester county, hath eloped from her said husband, this is to desire all persons not to trust her on his account, for he will pay no debts of her contracting from the date hereof.
Daniel Bates. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, Fune 4, 1747.
London, March 26. Yesterday the Gentlemen Proprietors of West-New-Jersey, gave a handsome" Entertainment at Pontac's to the Hon. Mr. Belcher, his Majesty's Governor of the New-Jerseys .- The New York Gazette Revived in the Weekly Post Boy, Fune 8, 1747.
RUN away from Andrew Reed of Trenton, the 30th of May last, a likely Negro Man named Isaac, about 30 Years of Age, of a middle Stature, and well set ; he can play upon a Fiddle : Took with him when he went away, a light colour'd Broad Cloth Facket, and a Drugget One about the same Colour, a Pair of Leather Breeches, two Ozenbrigg Shirts, and one fine Linnen One with Ruffels at the Breast ; a Pair of . dark colour'd Yarn Stockings, and a Pair of Shoes half worn : It is supposed he has got more Cloaths with him. Whoever takes out and secures the above Negro Man, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, paid by
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