USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 35
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Sugar from fifty-eight shillings to forty-five pounds per hundred. Butchers meat from threepence half-penny to one shilling and threepence per pound. Coffee from eleven pence to eight shillings per pound Salt from two shillings and sixpence to fifteen dollars per bushel. But- ter from tenpence to four shillings per pound. Cheese from sixpence to three shillings per pound. Russia sheeting from two shillings and four pence to at least fif- teen shillings per yard. Wood from twelve shillings to thirty shillings per cord.
I could enumerate many other articles of consumption which bear at least an equal proportion to the above. It must be considered too that my family and self must wear clothes, the price of which, I believe, is not neces- sary to mention.
I shall think myself very happy in the continuance of the favors of my friends at sixty pounds per annum, and assure them of the assiduous and tender attention of their Very respectful friend,
THOMAS POWELL
State of New ?
Jersey, SS. J To ALL whom it may concern.
NOTICE is hereby given that a court of admiralty will be held at the house of Gilbert Barton, at Allentown, in the county of Monmouth, on Saturday the 30th day of August, inst. at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the said day, then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of James Morgan, captain of a company of the militia in the state of New-Jersey (who as well, &c.)
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against the brigantine or vessel called the William and Anne, burthen about one hundred and forty tons, lately commanded by capt. Jacobs, with her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo, and taken as a prize by the said James Morgan near Long Branch, on the sea coast of New-Jersey, to the end and intent that the owner or own- ers of the said brigantine and cargo, or any person con- cerned therein, may appear and shew cause (if any they have) why the same should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the judge
WILLIAM LEVINGSTON, jun. reg. -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, August 16, 1777.
New-York, August 18. Last Thursday evening a Party of the New-Jersey Volunteers, went over to Crane's Ferry, near Elizabeth-Town Point, and brought off three of the Militia, without firing a Gun.
The 9th Inst. Capt. Johnson, of the Ship Mary, mount- ing 14 Guns, sailed from the Hook, for Jamaica, in com- pany with the Sloop Dolphin, Capt. Mason, of 10 Guns. In the Afternoon of the same Day, they were attacked by a Rebel Privateer of 18 Guns, and full of Men. A hot Action ensued, which continued upward of six Glasses, when the Pirate was obliged to sheer off, with consider- able Loss. For want of Ammunition, the Vessels were obliged to return. One Man only on board the Mary was wounded, for whom the Merchants in Town have made liberal Provision, as an Encouragement to Seamen in general to behave spiritedly, in the Defence of Merchant Vessels .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, August 18, 1777.
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Hunterdon County, August 12. TO BE SOLD,
Two elegant full blooded STALLIONS, one called BAJAZET and the other JUNIPER : They are both good bays, and fifteen hands high. Enquire of WILSON HUNT' in Hopewell, or ABRAHAM HUNT, in Trenton. -The Pennsylvania Packet August 19th, 1777.
NOTICE is hereby given, to the creditors of Mr. JOHN LITTLE, of the Township of Galloway, County of Gloucester, and State of New-Jersey, deceased, that they bring in their demands against said estate, properly attested on or before the first day of December next ; and those indebted are requested to settle their accounts as soon as possible with
SARAH LITTLE, Administratrix -The Pennsylvania Packet, August 19th, 1777.
Cranberry, August 22, 1777.
To be SOLD, the CRANBERRY Mills,2 situated in Mid- dlesex county, New-Jersey, on a good stream, within
1 Wilson Hunt was the father of Abraham Hunt. The latter was an eminent mer- chant of Trenton, had for several years been postmaster of the village of Trenton, holding his commissions under the Colonial authorities. Although accused of favoring the Tories, largely due to the fact that Colonel Rall was quartered in Hunt's house Christmas night, 1776, in Trenton, there is little or no evidence to sus- tain the contention. At the time, Abraham Hunt held a commission as Lieutenant- Colonel of militia, disbursed government funds, never claimed British protection, and held the office of postmaster under the federal government for a long time. His wife was Mary Dagworthy, who, during the Revolution, aided the sick and wounded soldiers. Abraham Hunt died at his residence upon the site of the present Masonic Temple, Trenton, on the northwest corner of State and Warren streets, October 21st. 1821, at the age of 81. History of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton, Hall, page 195; The Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Stryker, pages 122, 123 .- F. B. L. 2 Cranbury Mill was erected by Thomas Grubbs about 1737 or 1738, and was the nucleus of the present village, which was early spelled Cranberry. Cranbury-the bury or borough of the Crane-is the present spelling. It is otherwise contended that this place took its name from the cranberry. It is often written "Cranberry" in the early records. Around the mill the village grew, and as late as 1810 con- tained only eighteen houses. The mill, which was the center of the industrial life of the community, was destroyed by fire in 1860, but was soon rebuilt .- History of Union and Middlesex Counties, W. Woodford Clayton, pages 863-870 .- F. B. L.
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twelve miles of water carriage to New-York, and fifteen to Philadelphia, is an excellent stand for country work, well situated, and in good order for merchants work, having two pair of stones, one pair of which is very good for making flour ; has four new bolting cloths, and all the bolts work by water. The lot where on the mills stand, consists of about three acres and a half of the best meadow in the county, on which are erected, besides the mills, a comfortable dwelling house, convenient shop for a cooper, and a still and a malt house which are not quite finished. The terms will be moderate, and the premises may be immediately rented for the purchase money.
Apply to JOHN and JOSEPH POTTS -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, August 23, 1777.
We hear from Princeton in New Jersey, that the atten- tion of the public in that state is strongly drawn to the execution of a law for confiscating and selling the estates of Tories who had openly taken part with the enemy. These paricides had a day assigned to them within which they had room for repentance. This day is now past, all who persisted in their guilt, are treated according to the tenor of the statute in the Eastern counties. These sales are soon to be holden in the Western parts of the state. -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, August 23, 1777.
New-York, August 25. Last Tuesday Evening, Col. Dungan and Major Drummond,1 of the 3d Battalion of the New-Jersey Volunteers, with about 60 men, set out from Staten-Island for New-Jersey, marched about 27 Miles into the Interior Parts of that Province, and brought off 14 Prisoners, 62 Head of Cattle, 9 Horses,
1 See page 251.
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upwards of 20 Stand of Arms, and destroyed some Pow- der and Shot, Salt, Rum, &c. &c. The Colonel on his Return marched to Amboy, and during the time the Cattle, Horses, &c. were passing the Ferry to Staten-Is- land, he kept two Pickets at the first mentioned Place, with several out Centries, to watch the Motions of the Enemy. The Rebel Light Horse under the Command of Dr. Barnet,1 of Elizabeth-Town, made their Appearance on the Heights near Amboy, but upon discovering the Jersey Volunteers so well posted, thought proper to keep at a Distance, and to their great Mortification beheld Col. Dungan with all his Men safe at Staten-Island, with their Prisoners and Cattle.
About Sunrise last Friday Morning, a large Body of the Rebels, supposed about 1500, landed in three Divi- sions on the West and North Sides of Staten-Island, under the Command of Lord Stirling, Mr. 'Sullivan, and a French Officer : They marched to Decker's Ferry, where they burnt about 35 Tons of Hay, routed Part of Col. Barton's Battalion quartered there, and took him Prisoner : but Brigadier General Campbell, (Commander
1 Dr. William Barnet was born in 1728, probably in Elizabethtown, of which he was a resident in 1759. He was surgeon of the party which captured the " Blue Moun- tain Valley," January 22d, 1776. Upon February 3d, 1776, he was commissioned Major of Colonel Williamson's regiment light horse. He also served as a volun- teer surgeon, but was not commissioned. On account of his patriotism, Dr. Barnet suffered greatly by the plundering incursions of the enemy from Staten Island, as in February, 1780. Dr. Beck, in his history of American medicine, credits "Dr. Barnet, of New Jersey," with establishing hospitals in different parts of the country "for the purpose of carrying patients" through the process of inoculation. Dr. Barnet died December 1st, 1790, in his sixty-third year. Oliver Barnet, his brother, born in 1743, was also a physician, practicing at New Germantown, Hunterdon county, where he died in 1809. He was surgeon of the Fourth :Hunterdon Regi- ment, February 14th, 1776, and was Associate Justice in Westfield upon the occasion of the trial of the murderer of the Rev. James Caldwell, of Elizabeth. Dr. William M. Barnet, son of Dr. William Barnet, was also a surgeon in the Revolution, acting with the First Battalion, First and Second Establishments. The name is often con- founded with that of Dr. William Burnet, also a distinguished physician of Eliza- bethtown and Newark, who was surgeon in charge of the military hospitals in this part of the country during the Revolution .- History of Medicine in New Jersey, Ste- phen Wickes, pages 134-138 ; Blane's Medical History of Hunterdon County ; Hatfield's Elizabeth, 423, 484 ; William Burnet, M.D., by Joseph P. Bradley ; Our Home (Somer- ville), 122, 123 .- F. B. L.
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of his Majesty's Troops on the Island) and General Skin- ner coming up with the British Troops and Anspachers, the Rebels soon were put to flight, with the Loss of 200 killed and 300 made Prisoners, when the Night facili- tated the Retreat of the Rest of the Party : Our Loss is not more than 50 killed, wounded and Prisoners. Col. Dungan and Major Timpaney, of the new Troops (both brave Officers) are wounded, the former we are told is in a fair Way to recover .- New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, August 25, 1777.
Freehold, Monmouth County, New-Jersey, Aug. 21. TEN DOLLARS REWARD.
DESERTED from Capt. John Burrowe's company, in Col. David Forman's regiment of Continental troops, on the 6th of July last, a certain GEORGE SHADE, about twenty-four years of age, five feet eight inches high ; has light coloured hair and blue eyes, one of his legs thicker than the other occasioned by its being broke : It is sup- posed he is on board one of the vessels of war on Dela- ware river. Whoever will apprehend the said deserter and secure him, so that he may be had again, shall re- ceive the above Reward and all reasonable charges.
JOHN BURROWES, Captain.1 -The Pennsylvania Packet, August 26th, 1777.
Freehold, Monmouth County, New-Jersey, Aug. 21. EIGHT DOLLARS REWARD.
Deserted from Capt. John Burrowes's company, in Col. David Forman's regiment, now stationed at Freehold, a
1 John Burrowes was a signer of the Monmouth County Resolutions of July 19th, 1774, and was a member of the New Brunswick convention, which met two days later. Upon the 3d of June, 1778, John Burrowes was made prisoner in a Tory raid and his property was destroyed. See Old Times in Old Monmouth, Saltar and Beek- man, pages 31, 71, 93, 106, 113 .- F. B. L.
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certain WILLIAM DAVISON, a native of America, aged about twenty-eight years, five feet eight inches high, has sandy hair, blue eyes, sharp nose, red face, a large scar on one of his legs, is much given to drink ; had on when he deserted, a red coat with buff coloured facings, white woolen jacket, buff breeches, (the buttons of his coat and breeches numbered thirty one) and a wool hat cocked up. Whoever apprehends said deserter and brings him to his company, or confines him in any goal so that he may be had again, shall receive the above Reward and all rea- sonable charges.
JOHN BURROWES, Captain. -The Pennsylvania Packet, August 26th, 1777.
Extract of a letter dated Head of Elk, Monday, 11 o'clock A. M.
We have certain intelligence from New-Jersey, that the governor and council of safety of that state have confined James Parker,1 esq; one of his Britannic majesty's
1 James Parker, son of Elisha Parker, of Perth Amboy, was born in 1725. He married Gertrude, daughter of the Rev. Wm. Skinner. He was a member of Governor Frank- lin's Council, 1764-1775, and was one of the most influential men in the Province. He was a large landholder, was in mercantile business in New York and New Jersey, and was prominent in the control of the East Jersey Board of Proprietors for many years. His official associations and his pecuniary interests naturally inclined him to the Royal cause, at the beginning of the Revolution, but there were also strong ties binding him to those who were among the first to take up arms against the King. Under the circumstances, having repeatedly been called upon to swear allegiance to the King, and being unwilling to take an active part in the new strug- gle, he was neutral, and sought to avoid any part in the war by retiring to a country place in Hunterdon county. But the Council of Safety, on July 21st, 1777, ordered him and Walter Rutherfurd to appear before that body and take the oath of alle- giance to the new independent State of New Jersey. They appeared two days later, but refused to take the oaths, and were thereupon held to bail to appear at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for Hunterdon county. When the Court met they again refused to take the oaths before the Court and the Council of Safety ordered (August 15th, 1777) them to be brought before the Governor and Council as persons disaffected to the State. They came before the Council August 2Jth, pursuant to citation, and after being examined it was resolved that they be " confined as persons disaffected to the State, until an Equal number of our subjects captivated by the Enemy be released or other order taken therein." The next day they appeared before the Council and gave bond in £2,000, conditioned to "remain at the Court House in Morris county, or within a mile and a half, until further order be taken therein." The Council agreed, on October 16th, 1777, to release Parker and Rutherfurd from their confinement in exchange for John Fell, Esq., and Wynant Van Zandt captured by the Tories in Bergen county, and confined in New York,
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nominal council of that quondam province, and Walter Rutherford,1 esq ; both gentlemen of very large landed
and shortly after admitted the two gentlemen to their parole at Morristown, in order to induce the British to make the proposed exchange, but this proving in- effective, it was ordered, November 17th, 1777, that Parker and Rutherfurd be " forthwith committed to the Common Gaol in Morristown until the Honorable John Fell, Esq. and Wynant Van Zandt are exchanged for them or released from their confinement in New York." Four days later the Council directed the Sheriff of Mor- ris county to confine the two prisoners in " a private room nearest the Court House, for a space of three weeks from the date hereof; and then to execute the precept lately delivered to him for their imprisonment, unless he shall receive orders to the contrary," On December 13th, 1777, the Council agreed, that "In consideration of Mr. Rutherford's & Mr. Parker's indisposition, they be Enlarged from their present Confinement until the 1st day of February next, upon the terms of their obligation of having the District of one Mile from the Court House in Morristown, & that they be then committed to Jail unless the Council of Safety shall order to the contrary." This order was still further modified December 31st, 1777, when it was agreed that they be discharged from their confinement in Morristown and suffered to return to their respective places of abode, " there to continue & within one mile of the same respectively until the first day of February next, & then to be confined in prison until the Hon John Fell Esq. shall be released from his confinement in New York, on condition of liberating the said Walter Rutherford." The two men we e finally released in the following February, upon the release of Mr. Fell. James Parker after this resided in peace on his country place until the close of the war, when he returned to Perth Amboy. He was honored in the community, and throughout the State, as a man of ability and distinguished probity, and died full of years and honors, October 4th, 1797. His wife died February 10th, 1811, aged 71 years. A very full sketch of James Parker may be found in the New York Genelogical and Bio- graphical Record, XXX., 31-36 .- W. N.
1 Walter Rutherfurd, born December 29th, 1723, was the sixth son of Sir John Rutherfurd, of Edgerston, Roxburgshire, Scotland, and Elizabeth Cairncross, his- wife. Sir John was knighted by Queen Anne in 1706. He had twenty-two children, and at one time eighteen of his sons and grandsons were in the army, navy and East Indian service. Walter entered the army when but fifteen years old, and served on ships-of-war off the coasts of America, Spain and Portugal until the spring of 1746. During the next eight years he served in the army as Lieutenant of the Royal Scots. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War of 1756 he was ordered to America, holding the positions of Battalion Paymaster and Judge-Advocate of the army, with the rank of Captain (commissioned December 30th, 1755), and subse- quently as Major of the Sixty-second or Royal American Regiment. After twenty years of active service, he resigned at the close of the successful campaign of 1760. In the meantime-December 21st, 1758-he had married Mrs. Catherine Alexander Parker, widow of Elisha Parker, of Perth Amboy, and daughter of James Alexan- der, one of the most eminent lawyers of the day. Her brother was William Alex- ander, known as Lord Stirling, who served under Washington during the Revolution as Major-General Stirling. After retiring from the army Major Rutherfurd lived on Broadway, New York, and later built a handsome residence on the corner of Broad- way and Vesey street, opposite St. Paul's Church, where the Astor House now stands. He had ample means of his own, and his wife had a large estate in her own right. He and James Parker served on the commission which in 1769 established the northern boundary of New Jersey. In 1775 he received for his military services & patent for five thousand acres of land in Tryon (now Montgomery) county, N. Y. After twenty years of honorable service in the army of his King, which had just. been so generously recognized, it was not easy for Major Rutherfurd to take an active part in the revolution against his sovereign. On the other hand, many of his nearest connections were outspoken in the American cause. Accordingly, he re-
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estates, which they seem determined to secure by such a neutrality of conduct as to stand equally fair with both contending parties in the final result of the conflict ; having evinced their disaffection, or at least want of affection to the present government, by repeatedly refus- ing to take the oaths of abjuration and allegiance pre- scribed by law, as a test to try all suspicious and doubtful characters, and thence become proper objects for the pur- pose. They are to be kept in durance until the honor- able John Fell,' esq ; a real counceilor of that state, and
tired to his extensive summer estate in Hunterdon county, which he called Edgers- ton, after his father's place in Scotland. John Stevens, his brother-in-law, and James Parker also retired to the same neighborhood, where they hoped they might keep out of the turmoil of the struggle then waging in New Jersey. The capture of Judge John Fell and Wynant Van Zandt by Tories, and their subsequent imprison- ment with barbarous severity, as reported, aroused the indignation of Governor Livingston and the Council of Safety of New Jersey, and they ordered the arrest of Walter Rutherfurd and James Parker and their imprisonment, as hostages for the proper treatment and safe delivery of Messrs. Fell and Van Zandt. The families of Livingston, Rutherfurd and Parker were on the closest terms of friendship, and Mrs. Rutherfurd personally appealed to the Governor for leniency toward her hus- band. The Governor submitted her letter to the Council of Safety, September 22d, 1777, and it was thereupon agreed that Mr. Rutherfurd " be permitted to go home and remain there for ten days, at the expiration of which he must return to his present place of confinement in Morristown." The biographer of the Rutherfurds erroneou ly says that the Governor was inflexible in resisting Mrs. Rutherfurd's ap- peals for kind treatment for her husband. Whatever alienation was occasioned between the Livingston and Rutherfurd families at the time was healed in later years, when Peter Augustus Jay, grandson of the Governor, married Mary Ruther- furd Clarkson, granddaughter of Mr. Rutherfurd. Walter Rutherfurd lived after the war in his Broadway house, New York, where he died January 10th, 1804. His son, John Rutherfurd, born September 20th, 1760, resided near the present Ruther- ford, on the Erie railroad. in Bergen county, New Jersey. He was United States Senator from New Jersey from 1792 to 1798, when he resigned. He died in 1840. The latter's grandson, John Rutherfurd, born in 1810, was one of the benefactors of the New Jersey Historical Society in its early years; he was one of its Vice Presidents, 1865-1871, and President from January, 1871, until his death, November 21st. 1871. He was President of the East Jersey Board of Proprietors for many years .- W. N.
1 John Fell was a merchant in New York as early as 1756. About ten years later he removed to New Jersey, acquiring a considerable farm in the vicinity of Ho- hokus, Bergen county, which he named " Petersfield." He was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the Bergen County Courts, and at the beginning of the Revolution took a most active part in behalf of the American cause. He became especially obnoxious to the Loyalists, whom he was charged with persecuting most vigorously. When captured by a party of Bergen county Tories he was hurried off to New York, and confined in the Provost Jail for some months. On his release he took a no less active part in aiding the American party. He was elected to the Legis- lative Council for several years, and in 1780 was elected to the Continental Congress, serving one year. His son, Peter Fell, although he was lame, was commissioned a Major in the New Jersey troops, also in a New York regiment, and did considerable service. After the war Peter removed up the Hudson river, where he lived some years. His father joined him there, and died on Peter's place .- W. N.
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captain Wynant Van Zandt, a young gentleman of great magnanimity and merit (both kidnapped by the Tories in the county of Bergen, and carried to New York, and there imprisoned) shall be set at liberty. Our corres- pondent farther informs, that the said governor and council of safety have confined a number of other dis- affected inhabitants, chiefly of Bergen county, to be re- leased for an equal number of honest citizens stolen and imprisoned in like manner, being determined for the future thus to retaliate till the enemy shall think proper to discontinue that infamous part of their infamous system.
Extract of a letter from Hanover (East Jersies) dated August 24 "About eleven o'clock last night I returned to this place from an excursion upon Staten island. Thursday, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the division marched from this place, and arrived at Elizabeth town at ten in the evening ; moved down to Halsted's point, where there were boats collected, and at daybreak the division had compleatly crossed. Col. Ogden with his own regiment, col. Dayton's and about 100 militia, crossed at the same time at the Old Blazing Star. Gen- eral Sullivan moved with gen. Deborre's brigade, to attack col. Barton's regiment that lay at the New Star. General Smallwood with his brigade moved in another column to the Dutch church, to attack colonel Buscark's' regiment ; and colonel Ogden marched in another column to attack Allen's, Lawrence's, and Dungan's regiments, that lay about the Old Star. General Smallwood's guide, instead of bringing him in the rear of the regiment, led him in full front of them ; they formed on the east side of the bridge, and the gen. was moving over in a solid column to attack them ; but the enemy, unwilling to be shot at, retreated to their lines in the north east part of
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