USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 11
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
1 In the State of Delaware.
119
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
Montresor, a celebrated engineer in the British service, was taken in one of the above vessels, and has since been permitted to go to Philadelphia on parole.
WHEREAS the Honorable the Congress have resolved that all accounts of money, provisions, and other neces- saries, which have been supplied to prisoners that have been taken by the United States since the commencement of the war, until the first day of March instant, should be transmitted as speedily as possible to the Commis- sioners of Claims at the Board of Treasury: And that the respective States sustain the losses that may arise from detaining such accounts longer than the fifteenth day of April next. Therefore the Committee of the Council and Assembly of this State appointed to adjust and settle the said accounts, do hereby request all persons within this State who have any such demands or ac- counts (not heretofore transmitted to Congress) to pro- duce the same properly authenticated to the said Com- mittee at Trenton on or before the first day of April next; and that those who do not prefer their accounts by that time may expect to sustain the losses that arise from such delay.
Trenton, March 17, 1778.
By order of the Committee, SILAS CONDIT, Chairman.1
WHEREAS there are several deserters from the Jersey brigade who have not repaired to camp within the time limited by His Excellency General Washington's Procla- mation : And whereas there are many soldiers, who, although regularly enlisted, have never joined their regi- ments; I am authorised to declare to all such, that if they will forthwith repair to their respective corps, or deliver themselves up to any officer of the brigade, they shall receive a free and ample pardon. But on the other
1 For a sketch of Silas Condit see New Jersey Archives, 2d Series, Vol. I., p. 372.
120
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
hand such obstinate offenders as shall refuse to accept this last offer of mercy, and surrender themselves before the 15th day of April next, may, when apprehended, de- pend upon receiving the severest punishment.
That none may flatter themselves any longer with the hopes of continuing unnoticed in secret and distant parts of the state, I do likewise declare, that the most effectual measures will be taken to detect all such, and for con- veying them to their respective regiments.
Given at Trenton this 13th day of March 1778.
Wy. MAXWELL, B. G.1
TO BE SOLD,
THE HOUSE wherein the Widow STILLE now lives in at Trenton : It has been a tavern for many years, and is well calculated for that business. Any person wanting to purchase, may apply to the subscriber near Spotswood.
March 9, 1778. JOHN JOHNSTON.
TO BE SOLD,
A strong, healthy NEGRO WENCH, twenty-five years old, with a female child two years old. For terms of sale apply to the subscriber, living near Trenton New Ferry, Pennsylvania.
March 14, 1778. THOMAS HARVEY.
SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD.
Deserted from the first New-Jersey regiment, a certain John Barlow, about five feet eight or nine inches high, well set, and about twenty-seven years of age. Also a
1 For a sketch of William Maxwell see New Jersey Archives, 2d Series, Vol. I., p. 5.
121
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
certain Hugh Welsh, about five feet seven or eight inches high, of a dark complexion, and has a down look. Who- ever takes up the said deserters, and delivers them to the subscriber, or to any officer of said regiment, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, or Eight Dol- lars for either, paid by
JOS. JAY, Lieut.
For the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
Mr. COLLINS,
OF all the ebullitions of disappointed malice, I never mnet with a more outrageous instance than General Tryon's answer to General Parson's letter. Could I pos- sibly conceive myself accountable (says this self-justify- ing incendiary) to any revolted subjects of the King of Great-Britain, &c. Is there any insinuation in General Parson's letter to warrant such a piece of incivility ? Is my giving a man who is reported to have directed the most horrid barbarities, an opportunity to disavow them, before I retaliate upon bare report, assuming a right of making him accountable ? Had General Parsons made no such request, but proceed upon the report as true, and had it afterwards proved false, would not General Tryon have made it a matter of complaint that he built upon common fame, when it was in his power to have obtained a disavowal of the charge? But let me tell this waspish Gentleman, that for inhumanity every man is accountable to every man. Inhumanity is declaring war against all mankind, in which every individual of the species is concerned as man, abstracted from all other considera- tions. It cannot therefore be palliated by considering the man in this or that situation, because it is the violation of rights due to him as man, in any situation. But why this extreme indignation against revolted subjects? Doth this dependant on court-favour think every revolt, con-
122
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1778
sidered as such, a proper object of his wrath ? Is he de- termined to kick the shins of every Portugese Gentleman he meets, because the Duke of Braganza revolted from Spain? Or is it a matter of indifference with him, whether a revolt be with or without foundation ? Has he forgot that himself belongs to a nation which revolted from King James, before he had perpetrated a thousandth part of the cruelties and murders that have been com- mitted by King George? And that upon the justice of that revolt is built all the right which King George has to the British throne ?
I should, were I in more authority, burn every Com- mittee-man's house within my reach. Well said, General. ignipotent and primitial imp of Vesuvius! What pity it is that this little salamander is so unreasonably re- stricted in the exertions of his burning faculties ! Surely had his master a due sense of his peculiar genius for reducing houses and barns to ashes, he would doubtless grant him an exclusive right to commit arson and con- stitute him (Vaughn's late merit notwithstanding) Con- flagrator General of all America. Did ever any creature in human shape before this son of combustion publickly lament his want of power to consume houses by fire ? But you are to know gentle reader, that this descendant of Vulcan, (not I presume by Venus the fair, but by Erinnys the fury) deems these agents the wicked instru- ments of the continued calamities of this country. But pray, Sir, who appointed, and who continues these Com- mittee-men ? Have they assumed their office; or were they elected by the people ? or would the people continue them in office, unless they acted agreeable to their senti- ments ? Are these tremendous Committee-men stronger than the whole community, and able to exercise an usurped authority contrary to the inclinations of the publick; and that too with this terrific son of ignition at the head of the male-contents. In what numberless ab- surdities has the ridiculous rant of this angry man in-
123
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
volved him? These same Committee-men, who at other times are an insignificant rabble, are now magnified into such a mountain of terror, that General Tryon is willing to give twenty silver dollars for every acting Committee- man who shall be delivered up to the King's troops. What an ambitious mortal this, to aspire after such a plurality of offices ! Not content with being Conflagrator General, he now sets up for Universal Kidnapper, and is to save the nation from perdition by bribing a man's domesticks to deliver him up, whose place, when de- livered up, would be instantly filled with another; the nation remaining exposed to the same perdition; and five dollars out of pocket by his nonsensical bargain. Doubt- less this Gentleman had better bestow his silver dollars (and if he has any gold ones, they will not be mis-applied in the way I propose) to repair the damages sustained by the poor inhabitants of North-Carolina (when it was his duty to protect them) by the peculation of a set of villains of his appointment. But before the end of the next campaign (take courage noble General, and keep your purse in your pocket) these same Committee-men will be torn to pieces by their own countrymen, whom they have forcibly dragged into opposition against their lawful Sovereign, and compelled them to change their happy constitution for paper, rags, anarchy, and distress. Very lavish of your money indeed, good Master Tryon, to offer twenty dollars for a man who will so shortly be torn to pieces, without any expence of yours. I begin to suspect from such unnatural liberality, that this limb of Mount Ætna intends to score the whole reckoning to King George, which would rather be unconscionable, con- sidering that he has already been dragged into so many idle bargains of this kind, that his troops in Philadelphia, instead of fingering any silver dollars, are ready to jump at the very sight of our paper and rags. And whatever we have changed the constitution to, (with which we are perfectly content, or we should not so vigorously defend)
124
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
I know full well, Major-General Firebrand, what we have changed it from, (and judge you whether that be prefer- able to paper and rags) it is, in plain English, from tyranny, corruption, villany and vassalage; to which, Sir, you are eternally welcome at one half of your premium for kidnapping a Committee-man. But by what kind of force did the Committee-men drag their country- men into the opposition? It must certainly have been by the force of magic, and the Devil and Doctor Faustus must have helped them pull with all their might and main. For did you ever see, good Master Combustion, one man at one end of a rope, and one thousand at the other, and the first able to trag away the latter ? Surely if these Committee-men are so incredibly strong, it will require a couple of regiments to hold a single prisoner ; and then instead of twenty silver dollars, each of these giants may cost the nation twenty thousand. Nor can I see how General Tryon can save this expence, unless he grasp at another office, and turns burner of men as well as burner of houses .. But in sober earnest, his charging the firing of New-York upon the inhabitants, whose in- terest it was to save it, is such a complication of cruelty and falsehood, as is rather to be detested in silence than capable of being expressed in words.
HORTENTIUS.1
Mr. COLLINS,
I HAD in contemplation to draw a petition to our as- sembly against taxing money at interest, to be presented if any motion should be made for it; but seeing the piece published in your last paper No. 13, against the measure, thinking perhaps it may answer a better purpose to put my objections in your Gazette, that the arguments and
1 Although not directly relating to this State of New Jersey, this here- tofore neglected contribution of Governor Livingston to the Gazette is re- printed as an illustration of his satirical writing.
125
1778]
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
reasons may be seen as well by the represented as repre- sentatives. I have concluded to mention a few objec- tions for your publication not noticed by that writer.
The measure for taxing money at interest has been long thought of by a large number of the inhabitants of New-Jersey, especially by the landed interest in whose favour this new tax was to be levied, as by so much as should be collected in that way, would be taken off or lessen their tax. Let us put the question, who is it that has made so many freeholders in New-Jersey for fifty years past, or ever since the settlement of it, has it not been the usurer? It is certain there is a great number of our able farmers who have made themselves so by hiring money, which if they could not have done, must have become or remained tenants perhaps their whole lives; and how much more useful freeholders are to the community than tenants, common observation teaches us. The proprietor of a plantation improves it, erects good buildings, and becomes a steady useful man to society. The tenant has no interest in erecting buildings or im- proving the lands, only to answer for the present crop, so that instead of a country being improved, in time it will be impoverished by tenants. And when the present gain of putting money to interest is stopped by being taxed or lowered, the usurer will immediately call in his money and lay it out in lands, so that in a few years we shall have treble the number of tenants we now have. This objection would have always stood good; but if we take a view of the present times, what advantage has the farmer or freeholder of the usurer ? Have not the farmers estates doubled in value, and bonds sunk in proportion ? Can a man's estate, being all in bonds of two thousand pounds, be now looked upon worth as much as one thou- sand pounds was to him three years ago? And in whose favour is this mighty charge? Is it not in the free- holders, the landed men who have heretofore hired money, made great profit by it, and grumbled because their bonds
126
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1778
were not taxed in the hands of the possessor? I know a landed man who always hired comfortable sums of money, and by that means kept from selling any part of his estate, has very lately sold a plantation for upwards of one thousand pounds, which if he had advertised for sale for half the money from 1765 to 75 would not have met with a purchaser; and this is the way the farmers who are in debt in general through New-Jersey are selling and paying off their debts where they have not moveables to sell and answer their obligations. Won't every reasonable person plainly see and say that the estates which are increasing in value can and ought to pay the taxes ? To tax persons for the money they have at in- terest is really adding to their ruin, and helping and easing those very persons who have made such great gain out of them as has been mentioned.
A. B.
Hunterdon County, March 2, 1778.
-New-Jersey Gazette, No. 16, Mar. 18, 1778.
Philadelphia.
Sunday evening William Hamet, an intrepid young man, who had suffered much by the rebel plunderers, and desirous of serving his country by securing its enemies, hearing that there were two rebel officers at Benjamin Vanleer's in Jersey, passed over the Delaware with four others, with design to take them. On approaching the house, he judiciously placed one of his four companions as centries, at each corner of it, broke open the door, passed up to the room where the two officers lay, and with a fixed bayonet at their breasts, demanded their arms: Upon their denying they had any, he searched for them, and found under their bolster and on a table, two swords and three pistols, which he immediately secured,
127
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
and conducted the gentlemen safe to the Provost in this city.
This is only one among many instances wherein the persecuted refugees now in this city, have shewn the like disinterested regard for their Country and attachment to their Sovereign-Indeed there is not a day but great numbers of them driven by the cruel hands of the most obdurate and merciless tyranny from all that is dear and valuable in life, are flocking to this city. And what will ever do them honor is, they are forming themselves into companies of volunteers, with a determined resolution to have satisfaction for the unprovoked injuries and cruelties they have sustained to aid their Sovereign in suppressing the most groundless and unnatural rebellion, and to restore peace to their unhappy Country .- The Pennsylvania Ledger, March 18, 1778.
Raritan, March 2, 1778.
TO BE SOLD
SUNDRY NEGROES, consisting of two men, two women, two boys and two girls. The oldest of the men is a miller, a carter and a farmer, and is about fifty years old. The other is a stout, likely fellow, a farmer, and about thirty- five years old; he is father to three of the children, viz. one girl nine years old, one six years, and a boy ten months old, by the oldest wench, who is a good cook and dairy woman. The youngest wench about twenty-seven years old, is an excellent house servant and besides washing and ironing can spin wool and flax, knit, &c. understands the management of a dairy, and making butter and cheese; she is mother to the other boy about eleven years old, and as fine a boy of his age as any in America. The man and wife and three children must not be parted, nor the mother and son; as they have lived
128
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
long in one family together, it would be most agreeable if they could be fixed near each other. They are sold for no fault, the owner only intending to change his plan of life. Whoever the above may suit will please to en- quire of Mr. HENRY WORLY, Inn-keeper at the north branch of Raritan, Somerset County, East, New-Jersey. -The Pennsylvania Packet, March 18, 1778.
New-York, March 23. The Rebel General Wayne, has lately destroyed all the Forrage within many Miles of Philadelphia, on the Jersey Shore, which has obliged a large Body of his Majesty's Forces to go down the River Delaware as far as Reedy Island, to collect a Quantity of Hay, &c. on which Expedition they set out about a Week since .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, March 23, 1778.
FISII-KILL,
March 5. By a gentleman from the eastward we are informed, that the week before last, Colonel Symmes1 of New-Jersey, with four men in a whale boat, crossed over from Guilford to Long-Island: When understanding a number of vessels were cast away on the island, they formed a design to seize some of the goods belonging to one of them, accordingly they five, with fixed bayonets in the dead of night, surprised the house where the freight
1 John Cleves Symmes, born at Riverhead, New York, in 1742. and after an early career as teacher and surveyor, was licensed to practice law. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was a resident of Newton. Sussex county. As a member af the Provincial Congress, he was upon the committee that framed the State Constitution of 1776. and became Colonel of the Third Battalion of Sussex county. From 1777 to 1788 he was an Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court. and in 1784 was a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress. In 1788, appointed Federal Judge in the Northwest Territory, he removed to Cincinnati, and in company with other New Jersey associates, secured control of 250,000 acres of land be- tween the two Miamis. Anne Symmes, his daughter, became the wife of William Henry Harrison, President of the United States. Judge Symmes died in 1814. One of his sons, of the same name, was the author of the singular theory that the earth was hollow and inhabited in its interior.
129
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
of one of the vessels were stored, made the master, mate, three sailors and two tories prisoners, and loaded their whale boat with part of the vessel's cargo; they took 9 gold and 9 silver bound hats, 60 pair of English shoes, a chest of medicine, a box of glass and earthen ware, 24 steel plate cross-cut saws, a barrel of coffee, another of rum, 1 doz. silk handkerchiefs, 1 doz. buckskin gloves, and many other valuable articles and returned safe to Guilford with their prize.
Trenton, March 25.
By accounts from Salem County we learn, that a num- ber of the British troops, supposed to be between fifteen hundred and two thousand, landed last Tuesday at the town of Salem, with whom our militia has had some skirmishes, but with no great loss on either side. Orders are issued for a large reinforcement of the militia to join Col. Ellis in Gloucester County; and Col. Shreve, with his battalion of Continental troops, has crossed the Dela- ware and is on his march to oppose the enemy .- It is reported that the militia of Cumberland have turned out with the most laudable spirit, and it is expected the British rovers will not be able to leave this State without great loss, unless they decamp with the hurry and con- fusion which distinguished their last visit-or rather visitation:
The Supreme Court of this State, and the Court of Common Pleas and General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for Middlesex county, are appointed to be held at New- Brunswick, on the first Tuesday in April next.
Yesterday Major-General LEE1 . passed through Borden- town from New-York, on his way to Philadelphia ; where, it is said, he is likely to be exchanged.
1 Charles Lee.
9
130
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
Princeton, March 24, 1778.
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL at this place is to be again opened on Monday, the 13th of April. Those who have children to begin the Latin, are desired to be as punctual as possible in having them there at the time.
JOHN WITHERSPOON.
South-Amboy, March 20, 1778.
NOTICE is hereby given that two Negro men lately came over from Staten-Island, and landed at South- Amboy; the one is a sturdy young fellow named JOE, about 26 years of age, and about five feet ten inches high : the other is also a sturdy fellow named JACK, about sixty years of age, and about six feet high; both of them are supposed to belong to persons in this state. The sub- scriber has them in charge, and is in fear that they may by chance get away; and therefore desirous that the owner or owners of said Negroes may speedily apply, prove their property, pay charges, and take them away. JAMES MORGAN, Capt.1
1 Ensign Second Regiment of Middlesex. Captain of the same.
131
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
Somerset County, March 20, 1778.
THE NOTED HORSE
GRAND BAY,
LATE the property of Messrs. Thomas Lowery 1 and Gershom Lee, of full size, is to COVER the ensuing season at Killn-Hall, within two miles of Bound-Brook, where Mr. John Van Horne formerly lived, now in the posses- sion of Mr. Nicholas Perine, of Sixteen Dollars the season ; money to be paid when the mare is taken away. Good pasture may be had for mares at Half a Dollar per week, and good attendance will be given by
JONATHAN DUNN.
Bordentown, March 23, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
BY PUBLIC VENDUE, at the house of the subscriber, on Monday the 30th inst. at 10 o'clock in the forenoon ; sundry sorts of Household Furniture, such as mahogany tables and chairs, looking glasses, kitchen utensils, beds and bedsteds, with many other articles. The conditions will be made known at the time and place by
JOHN IMLAY. -
1 Thomas Lowrey was born in Ireland, 1737, was a leading merchant of Hunterdon county, and, with Gershom Lee, a carpenter of Amwell, and other associates, in 1762, became possessed of a tract of land in and near Flemington. Identified with the Whig cause, Lowrey was a member of the Provincial Congress, and in 1776 was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third Regiment of Militia. He was also a deputy commissary. At the close of the Revolution he removed to Philadelphia, but returned to Hunterdon county, where, in 1791-'92, he represented the county in the House of Assembly. He died suddenly in 1796. His wife, born Esther Mounier, was one of the matrons who welcomed General Washington in Trenton, in 1789, upon the occasion of his tour preliminary to his in- auguration as President of the United States.
·
132
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
TO BE SOLD,
A PLANTATION in Middlesex County, Southward of Amboy, about seven miles from Cranberry, and six miles from Spotswood, containing about Three Hundred and Thirty Acres of Land with good buildings, well watered, well timbered, and a large quantity of meadow, and an excellent out-let. There is also joining said plantation, a House and Lot to be sold, containing about eight acres, consisting of about three acres of meadow, three of plough land, and the remainder good timber, with good frame house and shop, well watered, convenient for any tradesman especially a shoemaker and tanner, and a good stand for a tavern. For farther particulars enquire of William Vanderipe or John Forman both living on the premises.
A CORK CUTTER wanted at Trenton. Enquire of the Printer.
Trenton, March, 1778.
STRAYED OF STOLEN the 20th instant, from the sub- scriber, a large SORREL HORSE, his hind feet white, a blaze in his face, his mane and tail long, about seven years old, paces and trots; was in good order. Whoever takes him up, or secures and returns him, shall have SIX DOLLARS reward and reasonable charges, paid by
JONATHAN RICHIMOND. 1
TO BE LET
A VERY convenient HOUSE and GARDEN, either with or without a large Stable, situate near the subscribers mills, and within two miles of Crosswicks.
WILLIAM LEWIS.
1 Keeper of the "True American Inn," headquarters of General Washing- ton before the second Battle of Trenton. This structure was built in 1760 and destroyed by fire in 1843.
133
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
IF Mr. SAMUEL SCUDDER, who lately resided near Stow- Creek, in Salem county, is living, he may, by applying to either of the subscribers in Essex county, hear of some- thing to his advantage. Any person who will give him the above intelligence will much oblige
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.