USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 40
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 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
Every remigrant may be estimated at 101. sterling a year to Europe, in the common necessaries of life, cloathing, dwelling, &c. There are three millions of people in North-America, deprived of navigation ; supposing one third to remigrate, is ten millions sterling yearly. The British com- mercial capital, instead of being in America, will be employed in Europe, infinitely more to its own advantage, as to the interest of each trading na- tion. The Savings and profits to Europe in general will be immense, by America's total reduction.
After a most mature, deliberate consideration, and divested of every prejudice, I find it to be, the diminution of America is the increase of Europe's common interest ; and that the millions now possessed by America is really, and bona fide, European property ; we should this day have been so many millions richer ; Great-Britain, in particular, having been the greatest dupe to transmarine possessions. The produces, navigation, com- merce, fisheries, and agriculture of America, are the same as European, which must render the two continents opposite in their common interest.
N. N.
P. s. Tobacco will grow in any part of Europe; it did formerly grow in this country. An act of parliament was passed to prohibit the planting of it, in order to give encouragement to the planters in Virginia and Mary- land. The French, Dutch, and Spaniards, for a temporary, transient com- merce, are sacrificing their own, as well as the interest of Europe in general.
BURLINGTON, Dec. 10.
A correspondent informs us, " that the Council of Safety -of this State have committed Lieutenant Jacob Van Bos- kirk, Lieutenant Edward Earle, John Hammel, a surgeon, and John Brown, who has a warrant as commissary from the enemy. They are all subjects of this State, and joined the enemy since such adherence was declared high treason by our Legislature. They were lately taken prisoners on Staten-Island by our militia, under the com-
509
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
mand of Major-General Dickenson-Van Boskirk was an associator, and is supposed to have been prompted to this act of treason by his father, who acts as Colonel under the enemy, and commands a battalion of about 200 banditti, collected in Bergen, who eat King George's beef and pork to very little purpose. Brown is a notorious robber, and was employed as a deputy Commissary under Mr. Dunham ; but on the British troops entering Bruns- wick, joined the enemy, and was one of their prime caterers in stealing cattle and provender. It were wished, that the poor people in the neighborhood of Brunswick, who have been plundered of their substance by Mr. Com- missary Brown, would, before the day of his trial, furnish the Attorney General with an account of what they can depose concerning his robberies."
Tuesday se'nnight, two men were executed at Morris- Town, for attempting to join the enemy on Staten-Island ; and nine others, under sentence of death for the same crime, had their execution respited until the 2d day of January next.
The piece signed Hortentius, is come to hand, and will be inserted in our next.
Kingsbury, near Trenton, Dec. 8, 1777.
SIXTEEN AND FORTY-EIGHT DOLLARS RE- WARD. STOLEN last night, out of the stable of the sub- scriber, a remarkably handsome three quarters blooded well made dark bay MARE, about fourteen hands high, in good order, and with foal, has a small star in her fore- head, and one white hind foot ; trots and canters well. A reward of Sixteen Dollars will be given to the person who takes her up, and delivers her to the owner, at Kingsbury ; and the additional sum of Forty-eight Dol- lars for the thief, if prosecuted to conviction. All reason- able charges will be paid by
WILLIAM BRYANT.
-
510
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
WANTED IMMEDIATELY, In the CHARACTER of an APPRENTICE. A LAD about 14 years of age, who can read, and write a fair hand, and can be well recom- mended for his honesty and sobriety. For further par- ticulars inquire of the printer.
WANTED, AN industrious, steady young woman, to sew and assist in taking care of children. Good wages and constant employ will be given. For further particu- lars inquire of the printer.
A GOOD PRICE AND READY MONEY, is given by the Printer hereof, for CLEAN LINEN RAGS .- New Jersey Gazette, No. 2, December 10, 1777.
For the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
Mr. PRINTER
SHOULD the report of General Burgoyne's having in- fringed the capitulation, between Major General Gates and himself, prove to be true, our superiors will doubtless take proper care to prevent his reaping any benefit from it ; and should he be detained as a prisoner for his in- fraction of any of the articles, I would humbly propose to exchange him in such manner, as will at the same time flatter his vanity, and redound to the greatest emolument of America. To evince the reasonableness of my proposal, I would observe that by the same parity of reason, that a General is exchanged for a General, a Colonel for a Colonel, and so on with respect to other officers of equal rank, we ought to have for one and the same Gentleman, who shall happen to hold both those offices, both a General and a Colonel. This will appear evident from the consideration that those exchanges are never regulated by viewing the persons exchanged in the light of men, but as officers ; since otherwise a Colonel
511
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
might as well be exchanged for a Serjeant, as for an offi- cer of his own rank; a Serjeant being undoubtedly equally a man, and as the case sometimes happens, more of a man too. One prisoner, therefore, having twenty different offices, ought to redeem from captivity twenty prisoners aggregately holding the same offices ; or such greater or less number as shall, with respect to rank, be equal to his twenty offices. This being admitted, I think General Burgoyne is the most profitable prisoner we could have taken, having more offices, or (what amounts to the same thing in Old England) more titles, than any gen- tleman on this side the Ganges. And as his impetuous Excellency certainly meant to avail himself of his titles, by their pompous display in his proclamation, had he proved conqueror, it is but reasonable that we should avail ourselves of them now he is conquered ; and till I meet with a better project for that purpose, I persuade myself that the following proposal will appropriate them to a much better use, than they were ever applied to before.
The exchange I propose is as follows :
I. For John Burgoyne, Esq.
Some worthy Justice of the Peace, magnanimously stolen out of his bed, or taken from his farm by a band of ruffians in the uniform of British soldiers, and now probably perishing with hunger and cold in a loathsome gaol in New-York.1
II. For John Burgoyne, Lieutenant-General of his Maj- esty's armies in America.
Two Majors General.
III. For John Burgoyne, Colonel of the Queen's regiment of light dragoons.
As the British troops naturally prize everything in
1 Query : Joseph Hedden, junior, of Newark, who was thus captured and impris- ·oned.
·
.
512
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
proportion as it partakes of royalty, and undervalue whatever originates from a republican government, I sup- pose a Colonel of her Majesty's own regiment will procure at least three Continental Colonels of horse.
IV. For John Burgoyne, Governor of Fort William in North-Britain.
Here I would demand one Governor of one of the United States, as his multitulary Excellence is Governor of a fort ; and two more, as that fort is in North-Britain, which his Brittanic Majesty may be presumed to value in that proportion ; but considering that the said fort is called William, which may excite in his Majesty's mind the rebellious idea of liberty, I deduct one upon that account, and rather than puzzle the cartel with any per- plexity, I am content with two Governor's.
V. For John Burgoyne, one of the Representatives of Great- Britain.
The first Member of Congress who may fall into the enemy's hands.
VI. For John Burgoyne, Commander of a fleet employed in an expedition from Canada.
The Admiral of our navy.
VII. For John Burgoyne, Commander of an army employed in an expedition from Canada.
One Commander in Chief in any of our departments. VIII. For John Burgoyne, &c. &c. &c.
Some connoisseur in hieroglyphics imagine that these three et cateras are emblematical of three certain occult qualities in the General, which he never intends to exhibit in more legible characters, viz. prudence, modesty, and humanity. Others suppose that they stand for King of America ; and that had he proved successful, he would have fallen upon General Howe, and afterwards have set up for himself. Be this as it may, (which it however be- hooves a certain Gentleman on the other side of the water
513
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
seriously to consider) I insist upon it, that as all dark and cabalistical characters are suspicious, these incog- noscible enigmas may portend much more than is gen- erally apprehended. At all events, General Burgoyne has availed himself of their importance, and I doubt not they excited as much terror in his proclamation, as any of his more luminous titles. As his person therefore is, by the capture, become the property of Congress, all his titles, (which some suppose to constitute his very essence) whether more splendid or opake, latent or visible, are be- come, ipso facto, the lawful goods and chattels of the Continent, and ought not to be restored without a con- sideration equivalent. If we should happen to over-rate them, it is his own fault, it being in his power to ascertain their intrinsic value ; and it is a rule in law, that when a man is possessed of evidence to disprove what is alleged against him, and he refuses to produce it, the presumption raised against him is to be taken for granted. Certain it is, that these three et cetæras must stand for three some- things, and as these three somethings must, at least, be equal to three somethings without rank or title, I had some thoughts of setting them down for three privates ; but then as they are three somethings in General Bur- goyne, which must be of twice the value of three anythings in any three privates, I shall only double them, and de- mand in exchange for these three problematical, enig- matical, hieroglyphical, mystic, necromantic, cabalistical and portentious et cæteras, six privates.
So that, according to my plan, we ought to detain for this ideal Conqueror of the North, now a real prisoner in the East, till we have got in exchange for him, one Es- quire, two Majors General, three Colonels of light horse, two Governors, one Member of Congress, the Admiral of our navy, one Commander in Chief in a separate depart- ment, and six privates ; which is probably more than
33
-
514
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
this extraordinary hero would fetch in any part of Great- Britain, were he exposed at public auction for a day and a year. All which is humbly submitted to the consider- ation of the Honourable the Congress, and His Excellency General Washington.
Yours, &c. HORTENTIUS.1
Princeton Dec. 8, 1777.
(Extract from London letter of Sept. 1, 1777.)
The Hessian General declared in the Council held in Jersey, upon the expediency of attacking Washington, that " 100,000 men were not equal to it."
BURLINGTON, Dec. 17.
His Excellency WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, Esq. Governor of this State, has appointed a Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol-Delivery to be held in the county of Monmouth, on the 20th day of January next.
As several acts of petty larceny have been lately com- mitted in this city, we may inform the publick, that the gentlemen in authority are determined to take effectual measures to discover and bring the perpetrators thereof to condign punishment.
We hear from good authority, that this day se'nnight the enemy entirely demolished and evacuated Billings fort ; and that since our people left Red Bank, several of the enemy's vessels have been lost on the chevaux de frize, one of which is said to be a 36 gun frigate.
The day before yesterday, about twenty British sailors were taken prisoners at or near Cooper's ferry opposite Philadelphia, by a party of Jersey militia.
"The Council of Safety," says a correspondent, " has comitted six of the inhabitants of Bergen, who were ap- prehended on their return from New-York, where they
1 Governor William Livingston.
515
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
had traded with the enemy, and whither the degenerate sons of that county, make it a common practice to carry refreshments to the British troops .- As this infamous commerce, and even the going into the enemy's lines without permission, is declared by one of our acts felony without benefit of clergy ; it is to be hoped that govern- ment will make terrible examples of some of those mis- creants, to prevent the like criminal and felonious inter- course for the future."
Friday last the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of this State adjourned, to meet at Trenton on the second Wednesday in February next .- At the last session the following Acts were passed, viz.
1. An act to procure certain articles of cloathing for the use of the New-Jersey regiments on the Continental establishment.
2. A supplemental act to an act, entitled, an act for recovering the arrearages of the ten thousand pounds tax, and for other purposes therein mentioned.
3. An act for the support of government of the State of New-Jersey, to commence the 14th of October, 1777, and to end the 2d Tuesday in October 1778, &c.
4. An act to procure the return of the election of a sheriff for the county of Monmouth.
5. An act to revive and continue several courts of jus- tice in this State, and to confirm the proceedings of the inferior court of Common Pleas, and court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the county of Hunterdon.
6. An act to continue and amend an act, intitled, an act for constituting a Council of Safety.
7. An act for regulating and limiting the price of sun- dry articles of produce, manufacture, and trade, and to prevent forestalling, regrating and engrossing.
8. A supplementary act to an act, intitled, an act to explain and amend an act, intitled, an act for the better regulating the militia, and the supplemental act thereto.
516
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
9. An act to impower the treasurer to pay out a certain sum of money in his hands, for the purpose of exchanging ragged and torn bills, to other purposes.
10. An act to exempt a number of men from actual service in the militia, to be employed in manufacturing of salt and iron, within the State of New-Jersey.
11. An act for defraying sundry incidental charges.
Sugar, Shoemakers Tools, Halters, Plough-Lines, Bed- Lacings, Gun Flints and Buck Shot, with a general assort- ment of Fishing Tackle ; also Heels and Lasts, Sold by EDWARD POLE, opposite the Lower Market, Burlington.
Burlington, December 17, 1777.
THE subscriber begs leave to inform the publick, that as he has declined keeping a tavern in this city, he would be glad to exchange habitations with any person having a convenient dwelling, either in town or country who may incline to take his berth, and who will undertake to keep good entertainment for man and horse.
Archibald McElroy.
December 17, 1777.
NINETY DOLLARS REWARD.
ON Sunday, the 7th instant, the house of Peter Stretch,1 Esq. in the city of Burlington, was broke open, and the
1 Peter Stretch was a member of the Philadelphia family of that name, was the son of Thomas Stretch, first Governor of the Schuylkill Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill, from 1732 to 1765. Peter Stretch was in 1776 and 1778 a signer of the Continental bills of credit, in the latter year serving as a private in one of the light infantry companies of Philadelphia. After the British evacuated the city he was one of those associated "to bring to justice all tories within their knowledge." In November, 1776, Peter Stretch suffered during the plundering of Bordentown by the Hessians, when the store-house of Joseph Borden was robbed. Some of the Stretch plate and glass was peddled about the streets of Bordentown by the privates in the King's regiments. Joseph Stretch, in 1770, married Sarah Howell, his kins- woman, daughter of the wealthy Philadelphia merchant and patriot, Samuel Howell, who, like his son-in-law, was a member of the Schuylkill Fishing Com- pany-the oldest social organization in the world .- Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading, Howell, Yerkes, Watts, Latham and Elkins Families, Joseph Granville Leach, page 159 et seq .- F. B. L.
517
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
following articles taken out of a chest belonging to the subscriber, viz. one hundred and twenty-seven pounds Continental currency, and two eight dollar bills, old Maryland money ; four white Holland shirts, marked W. A. on the right hip; fifteen yards of fine Russia drilling ; two pair of ribb'd worsted stockings, and a number of thread ditto; and a bond for two hundred pounds, in favour of the subscriber. Whoever takes up the thief, so that he may be brought to justice, and secures the cash and goods that the owner may have them again, shall have the above reward, or FIFTY DOL- LARS for the bond, cash, and goods, and all reasonable charges, paid by me
WILLIAM ALLEN. -New Jersey Gazette, No. 3, December 17, 1777.
The Legislature of New-Jersey have laid a fine of fifty pounds the first month, and to be doubled every month after, on those persons who refuse to take up arms and turn out to support their visionary state fabric .- The Pennsylvania Ledger, December 17, 1777.
From Rebel Papers.
Hartford, December 2. By a gentleman who left Head-Quarters at White-Marsh, 12 miles from Philadel- phia, the 20th of November, we have the following intel- ligence, viz.
That Fort Mifflin was evacuated by our people Satur- day the 15th, after having defended it four days; in which time they lost 3 Captains, 1 Lieutenant and about 40 men killed and wounded, and had all their cannon dismounted. On the 19th about 5000 of the enemy landed at Billingsfort, 7 miles below Red-Bank, (a fort formerly in our possession) upon which our people re- treated from fort Mercer 9 miles back to Haddonfield.
518
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
Same day General M'Dougall's division crossed the Dela- ware about 17 miles above the city of Philadelphia ;- the 20th General Green's division crossed the same way, both divisions consisting of about 6000 men in high spirits. Another division with Colonel Proctor's regiment of artil- lery crossed Schuylkill, supposed to take possession of Province-Island, which if executed, will cut off the enemy's supply of provisions. Lord Cornwallis left the city of Philadelphia one o'clock A. M. the 19th, supposed for Billings fort, via Chester. At 9 o'clock the 20th Lord Sterling's division Struck their tents. General Patter- son's, Learned's and Poor's brigades about 9 o'clock the 21st were within 14 miles of Head-Quarters. General Glover's brigade at 12 o'clock were within 20 miles of Delaware, on their way to Trenton.
New-York, December 22. Monday last arrived at Sandy-Hook from England, the Maidstione Frigate, Cap- tain Gardner, with the following Vessels under her Con- voy, viz. The Howe, Atkins ; Friendship, Lumley ; St. Mary's Packet, Pettycrew ; Edward, Lawrence ; Sally, Conpar ; Adventure ; Hannah, Watson ; Cornwallis, Bathurst ; Porcupine, Califf; Endeavour, Hope ; Po- mona, White ; Harriet, Blackburn ; and the Britannia, Ball.
We are told Col. Dayton, of Elizabeth-Town, who had a Regiment in the Rebel Army, either has, or talks of laying down his Commission, tho' he is much importuned to continue in the Service, and was assured he should be raised to the Rank of a General .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, December 22, 1777.
519
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
BY HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, Esq. Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief, in and over the State of New-Jersey, and Territories thereunto belonging, Chancellor and Ordinary in the same.
IT is his Excellency's order, that every Captain or Commanding Officer in the militia of this State, do forthwith make a return of the number of men in his company, and of their accoutrements and ammunition, to the Colonel or Commanding Officer of the regiment to which he belongs : And that every Colonel or Commanding Officer of any regiment belonging to the brigades of General Heard and Winds, make return of the condition of his regiment to the Brigadier General of the brigade to which he be- longs ; which Brigadiers are, with all convenient speed, to make return of the condition of their respective brigades, to the Commander in Chief of this State ; and that every Colonel or Commanding Officer of a regiment belonging to the brigades of General Forman and Newcomb, make return of the condition of his regiment to the said Commander in Chief.
Given under my hand at Princeton, the thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven.
WIL. LIVINGSTON.
By his Excellency's command, William Livingston, jun. Secy.
Abstract of an act, intitled, An act for regulating and limit- ing the prices of sundry articles of produce, manufacture, and trade ; and to prevent forestalling, regrating, and engrossing.
BE IT ENACTED, &C. That from and after the publication of this act, the rates and prices of the following articles of produce, manufacture, and trade, bought, sold, or exchanged in any part of this State, shall not exceed the sums to them severally annexed, that is to say ;
Salt, of home manufacture, 55 lb. to the bushel, £3 15 0 at the works and 6d. per bushel for every mile of land carriage to the place of sale or, consumption, for profit and carriage. Bloomary bar-iron, sixty shillings per cwt; refined ditto, seventy shillings; pig-metal, twenty shillings; rolling of iron, thirty pounds per ton; open castings, eight pence per lb. Raw hides, seven-pence per lb ; soal leather, three shillings per lb ; upper leather five shillings per lb; men's neat leather shoes, common sort seven- teen shillings and six-pence, and so in proportion ; women's neat leather ditto, common sort fourteen shillings, and so in proportion. Wheat, twelve shillings per bushel; Rye, nine shillings ; Indian corn, seven shillings and six-pence; oats, five shillings; buckwheat, six shillings ;
520
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
wheat flour, thirty-three shillings per cwt. Hay, first crop, best, seven pounds ten shillings per ton ; ditto, second crop, best, six pounds. Pork, nine-pence per lb; beef, eight-pence per lb. Potatoes, four shillings per bushel. Wool, four shillings per lb; flax, two shillings. Cyder spirits, twelve shillings per gallon ; grain spirits, ten shillings per gallon. But- ter, two shillings and six-pence per lb; cheese, one shilling and six-pence.
Farming labour, and wages of mechanics, tradesmen, and handicrafts- men, double what they were in the year 1775.
Sugar, imported or brought into this State, ten per cent. profit to the purchaser from the importer and ten per cent profit for every 100 miles from the first port of delivery, and so on in proportion ; and one and a half per cent. for every five miles carried by land from the first port of de- livery. Molasses, ten per cent. profit, and ten per cent. for every 100 miles, and one penny per gallon for every five miles as above.
Salt, imported or brought into this State, fifteen per cent profit to the purchaser from the importer, and fifteen per cent. profit for every 100 miles, and three-pence per bushel per mile, land carriage, from the first port of delivery.
Every vender of any article, on which allowance is made for carriage, shall previous to his exposing it to sale, produce to a Justice authentic in- voices, bills of parcels, or accounts of purchase, and swear to the truth ; and the Justice shall there upon deliver him a certificate, specifying the prices at which he is intitled to sell .- Penalty for offering to make sale without such certificate, six pounds and the goods or the value of them ; half to the prosecutor and half to the poor, to be recovered before a Justice.
Any person who shall ask, demand, or require a higher price for any article than herein mentioned, [this goes to the whole bill] than the prices limited, shall forfeit six pounds and the goods ; to be recovered and ap- plied as aforesaid.
Any person having more of any of the articles mentioned, than is neces- sary for his family's annual consumption, or for carrying on his trade or occupation, refusing to sell the overplus or a suitable part of the same, to any person in want for family use, or for the use of the army ; the person wanting it may apply to a Justice, who being fully convinced of the want and necessity, shall summon the party to appear, and on refusal to appear, or if on appearing and examination, it shall still appear evident to the Justice that there is such surplus, the Justice shall issue his warrant to a constable (or subaltern military officer if no constable) to take by force, calling as- sistance if necessary, such proportion of the overplus as is wanted, and lodge the money with the Justice ; to be paid to the owner (deducting six- pence for the warrant and five shillings for the constable, &c.) if called for within one month ; if not, to be forfeited to the State.
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.