USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 20
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
243
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
resentatives freely, without compulsion or undue influence ; and frequently, that is a wise and rational frequency, such as may not be burdensome to the electors, nor allow time to intoxicate with power the elected. And the most perfect period yet devised for elections is once every year. These representatives being the creatures of the people, ever accountable to, and may be displaced and disgraced by them, cannot but intend and aim at the highest interest of the com- munity in all the laws they make: Therefore the laws must be the most disinterested and best. It is true these representatives, however wise and good, are liable to mistake ; and hence may sometimes enact laws, which upon trial, are not for the happiness of the society; but as soon as experience and decent remonstrances and petitions discover the fact, they will immediately rescind or alter the same. If they do not, the people are to reject such legislators as traitors, and elect more faithful and honest in their places. These representatives are also to create magistrates or executors of the laws, and these, allowing for human imperfection, will always be the wisest and best men in the community. Now, can there be greater liberty than in living in such a state, than living in obedience to such laws, and conducting with all respect to such majesty and authority? This is your felicity, my fellow-citizen-You live in the freest government possible-You enjoy the purest, the highest liberty. Wherefore do nothing thro' ignorance, caprice, perverseness or injustice that may stain the beauty, or di- minish the glory of this fabric. Let it be your constant endeavour to comfort and support your honourable representatives in their laborious business, and strengthen the hands of your magistrates, and all in
executive authority. Consider the laws are made by yourselves, the executors of the laws are chosen by and from among yourselves. Both the laws and administration are strictly and intimately your own. Therefore, to be carping at, and abusing with gross epithets such rulers, to be slandering and traducing the magistrates, to be finding fault with and striving to evade the laws, argue understandings too weak, and hearts too wicked for the enjoyment of liberty. Such wretches are like the devils who despised the liberty of heaven, and preferred the chains of eternal darkness : So these chuse the clanking chains of slavery, and prefer the galling yoke of bondage to the fair inheritance of precious freedom. Allow me to entreat you, my fellow- citizens, to beware that none of you be so lost to reason and humanity, as to be found among such a black, such a slavish herd. Recollect an ancient book, which I wish was more read by my countrymen, that paints in the most odious colours, "those presumptious, self-willed and filthy dreaming creatures who despise government, and speak evil of dignities."
II. Indulge me, iny countrymen, while I beseech you not to be- grudge your rulers some small posts of profit, whereby they may do something, in common with others, for the advantage of their families. Remember your representatives and justices serve their country for very inadequate wages, to the no small detriment of their private affairs ; and when there are any places a little lucrative, on whom can they be conferred with equal propriety as on them. And yet I
244
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
have heard some murmuring and grumbling, "that the representatives shared places of profit among themselves, and if there was any lucra- tive post it was sure to be bestowed upon some officer of the state." --- But let subjects be fair and just, while they cry out for justice and impartiality in their rulers. It is not true, by any means, that our representatives monopolize all the profitable posts: and do, for the sake of propriety, allow them who serve the publick for almost nothing, an equal share of those places. One thing I have remarked, that persons who do the least for the publick service, are generally finding the most fault in the chimney-corner with their representatives, their magistrates, the laws and administration. They are begrudging the faithful and generous patriot every place of profit and honour, and waste their time in slandering, reproaching and doing mischief, be- cause that they, mean souls, who never did a noble and disinterested action in their lives, do not receive all preferment and emolument .- Consider, my countrymen, that as our rulers receive by no means a sufficient reward for their service, that as they spend their time and money and serve their country for what is next to nothing, it is but reasonable, proper and fit that they should share more profitable places among them than they do. They are the wisest and best men in the community : This we must acknowledge, or suppose ourselves fools for chusing them. And if they were not our representatives, we would look upon them the proper persons for those honourable posts. Shall we then, because their patriotic zeal disposes them to serve their country to their own private damage, be found begrudging them a few of those places? Yea, let us rather encourage them, by assuring them it is their duty, and it will give pleasure to their constituents, that they should take a larger share of them.
Perhaps some may think the writer of this is a ruler or connected with those in authority. But be assured he is not. I never had any post of honour myself. nor do I ever expect any. I never had any relative or friend in office. either in the old government or the new. I am an old obscure crempt, to whom propriety has left no other way of fanning the precious patriotic fire, but by friendly advice to rulers and ruled, with this feeble though well-intended pen.
III. There are three sorts of people among us. my fellow citizens, that should be observed with a watchful eye, and with great caution elected to, or honoured with, any places of trust or profit. The first is the torics, who have always been inimical, and evidently with the English plunderers in heart and affection, not only those who have fled their country and openly joined the enemy ; but also the baser sort, (if possible) who have stayed at home, and have no other attachment to their country but the slender obligation of a state-oath, which they took against the grain, merely to save their property .- The second sort are those who took, what was called, protection, when the enemy invaded our State; especially those who were not in the enemy's hands, but went from a distance to surrender, like unprincipled villains, their plighted faith their honour, their amor patria. or the love of their country, and to crave protection and sell themselves and posterity for slaves. These are a company of such weak. timid.
-
245
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
covetous, selfish, cowardly, unprincipled and every way mean spirited wretches, that they are absolutely unfit to be trusted with any place in government. They will surely sell their country and their honour in the day of trial, when they judge it will subserve their interest .- The third sort are those who have refused commissions under the state. They apprehended, if they accepted commissions, they would hereby render themselves obnoxious to the enemy ; therefore, come of justice and their country what would, they determined to act in the line of personal safety.
Many of all these classes I know will be ambitious of and thirsting after commissions, when peace is established ; yet not a man of them ever ought to have it in his power to refuse or embrace the honours of his county again. They have evidenced themselves too much of the poltroon species to be trusted.
IV. Ever remember the brave, the faithful and active friends of the country ; those who dared openly to espouse its cause in the worst of times ; who nobly abandoned their houses, forsook their families and their all, and rushed into the field of danger, and gloriously re- pelled the foe. These are men that have been tried ; they have proved themselves friends to their country ;- in them we may safely and fully confide. Wherefore, let us ever aim to reward those men with respect and honour. As they have done great honour to their country, let their country ever honour them with legislative and executive power. AN ELECTOR.
TRENTON, JUNE 10.
His Excellency the Governor has appointed the Supreme Court of this State to be held for the future at Hills- borough (commonly called Millstone) in Somerset county, of the usual Terms.
His Excellency has been pleased to appoint the Hon. JOHN IMLAY, Esq. Judge of the Court of Admiralty for this State.
Extract of a letter from camp at the Valley Forge, dated June 5, 1778.
"The last accounts from Philadelphia are, that the trans- ports with the baggage have fallen down the river-that they have begun to destroy some of their out-works-that they have broken off the trunnions of the heavy cannon which are not put on board-and that the whole army is ordered to be in readiness to march at a minute's warning."
/
246
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
Extract of another letter from the same place,1 dated June 6, 1778.
"I have just returned from the enemy's lines, where I learnt that they were actually destroying their works- that all the ships, except the Vigilant and four transport ships, and as many smaller vessels, were fell down-that the eight remaining were ordered to drop down as last night-that a number of boats mounted on carriages, and a body of sailors to attend them, were at Cooper's ferry, which boats were to transport the enemy across the creeks in Jersey, in case the bridges should be taken up or de- stroyed .- The prisoners in Philadelphia will be exchanged in a few days, when the enemy will probably move off immediately .- They have knock'd the trunnions off the iron cannon in the city, and drove the broken pieces in the muzzles."
From good authority we learn that the enemy have, during a fortnight past, impressed a great number of waggons and horses, belonging to the farmers near their lines in Pennsylvania, for the purpose of conveying part of their baggage through this state to New-York, to which place a movement is daily expected.
Extract of a letter from Elizabeth-Town, June 6.
"Last night Capt. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph of Wood- bridge, with a party of 15 volunteers, landed on Staten- Island, surprized and made prisoners 13 of the militia of the island who were on guard ; also Col. Christopher Billop Farmer, Lieut. Daniel Winants, and one more not on duty ; without firing a musket, or any accident happening to him or his party. It ought to be mentioned in commen-
1 Valley Forge.
247
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
dation of this worthy officer and his brave followers, that altho' the law of retaliation would have justified their marking their route with devastation and ruin, they were careful not to do the least injury to any peaceable In- habitant-But O ye destructive, butchering, British mon- sters, beware ! --- we are not obliged to delay retaliation any longer ! - - - therefore, as you value the safety of your friends on the island, do not set such another example as that at Middletown, for the consequences may be fatal to the tories on the island, in spite of all your efforts to protect them !"
WAS taken up, the 19th of May, at New-Brunswick, a black GELDING with a star in his forehead, one white hind foot and one white fore foot, branded on his left thigh H S, about 14 hands high, three years old, and trots altogether. He is supposed to be a stolen horse. Any person proving his property and paying charges, may take him away.
JOHN VOORHEES.
June 1, 1778. .
STRAYED Or STOLEN, from the subscriber, on the 16th of this instant, a brown MARE, about thirteen hands and an half high, eight years old, has no artificial mark, but her natural mark is one hind foot of a grey colour, a natural trotter, and her sides are worn with the gears. Whoever takes up the said mare as a stray, or from the thief, shall receive a reasonable reward, besides all charges, from
DANIEL LAMBERT.
Westfield, May 17, 1778.
248
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD.
STOLEN last night, out of the subscriber's pasture, a large sorrel HORSE, about 15 hands high, a natural trotter, but paces a small travel, hind feet white and high up his legs, some white on his fore feet, a white strip down his forehead, 6 years old this summer. Also a dark brown MARE, about 13 hands high, low carriage, a natural pacer, has a large star in her forehead, a small white strip on her nose, abont 5 years old last spring. Whoever takes up said horse and mare, and brings them to the subscriber, shall have Fifteen Dollars for each, and reasonable charges, with Twenty Dollars for securing the thief.
JOHANNA COMPTON. Woodbridge, June 5, 1778.
A RED leather Memorandum Book was lost between Burlington and Trenton, of no value to any body but the owner. Any person who has found the same, and will deliver it to Mr. Isaac Collins, at Trenton, or Major Hoagland, at Bordentown, shall be handsomely rewarded.
STOLEN out of the stable of the subscriber, at Baptist- Town, the night of the 5th inst. (June) a bay STALLION, about 14 hands high, well made, and in good order ; paces, trots and canters, and carries well, with two white feet, one the near hind foot, the other the off fore foot. Who- ever takes up the said horse and thief, so that the man be brought to justice and owner have his horse, shall receive a reward of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, or One Hundred Dollars for the horse only, and all reasonable charges, paid by
WILLIAM M'CONKEY.
June 9, 1778.
TO BE SOLD, wholesale and retail, by the subscriber at Hights-Town, a quantity of fine wool and cotton cards;
249
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
linens ; handkerchiefs of various sorts ; good tea and sugar ; French indigo of the best quality; pins; earthen ware of various kinds; snuff and tobacco; ribbons; men's silk jackets and breeches patterns; women's fans; buttons, mohair, silk and fine threads.
June 9, 1778.
WILLIAM SLOANE.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
STRAYED Or STOLEN from the subscriber, living at South River, a brown pacing MARE, six years old, marked T N on her near shoulder, some white on one of her hind fetlocks. Whoever takes up said mare, so that the owner may have her again, or leaves her with Mr. James Drake, keeper of the ferry in New-Brunswick, shall have the above reward and all reasonable charges, paid by me
WILLIAM HALFPENNY.
May 21, 1778.
TO BE SOLD, an excellent chair HORSE: He is some- thing in years, but the price will be in proportion; he will perform a journey almost equal to any, and is so gentle that a woman or any person may drive him with great safety, that understands guiding a horse.
Also to be sold a likely young NEGRO WENCH, for no fault. Enquire of Benjamin Smith, saddler, in Trenton. June 10, 1778.
ALL persons that have any demands against the estate of Fulkert Vannordstrand, late of Three Mile Run, in the county of Somerset, deceased, are desired to bring them in, that they may be settled; and those indebted are de- sired to make immediate payment to us, of said place,
JACOB WICOFF and ADRIAN VANNORDSTRAND, Executors.
June 2, 1778.
250
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
WANTED immediately, a middle aged Woman, who can be well recommended, to attend children in a small family. Enquire of the Printer hereof.
June 8, 1778.
TO BE SOLD, a FARM, on the road that leads from New- Brunswick to Spottswood, about 4 miles and a half from New-Brunswick, containing about 365 acres ; 95 of it may be made meadow at a little expence, the remainder chiefly wood-land; a good orchard; it is well watered, and has a fine spring at the house. Apply to Mr. John Plum at New-Brunswick, or Mr. Samuel Vanhorne at Chatham. June 8, 1778.
To all whom it may concern :
New-Jersey, ss. Notice is hereby given, that a Court of Admiralty will be held at the house of Gilbert Barton, in Allentown, on Monday the thirteenth day of July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to try the truth of the facts alleged in the bills of Joseph Wade (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Duck, and the sloop or vessel called the Betsy-of Zephaniah Stillman (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Bachelor-of Peter Anderson (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Hazard -of Abraham Boys (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Sally-of Timothy Shaler (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Dispatch, and the brigantine or vessel called the Industry-and of John Brooks (who as well, &c.) against the sloop or vessel called the Canaster; with their respective tackle, apparel, furniture and cargoes: To the end and intent that the owner or owners of the said vessels respectively, or any person or persons concerned therein, may appear and shew cause, if any they have, why the said vessels and their
251
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
respective cargoes should not be condemned according to the prayer of the said bills.
By order of the Judge, BOWES REED, Pro. Reg. June 6, 1778.
CAME to my plantation where Isaac Furman now lives, near New-Brunswick, a black HORSE, about thirteen and a half hands high, branded on the shoulder P B, and on the near thigh I C; and has a short switch tail. The owner, by proving his property, and paying charges, may have him again.
June 4th, 1778.
A NEGRO MAN to be sold at Pitts-Town. He has been bred to plantation work; is short, thick, strong and healthy, about 30 years old, and able to do as much work as most men. The price is Six Hundred Dollars.
MOORE FURMAN.
June 8, 1778.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
STRAYED out of a pasture at Mount-Holly last night, a dark coloured HORSE, about 14 hands and a half high, six years old, paces mostly, is high couraged and very gay when mounted, is new shod before and his hind shoes new set, has a swelling in the upper joint of his right hind leg, his hind feet white, his mane braded and the ends tied with white thread, has some scars of a saddle bile on the left side of his back. Any person that delivers said horse to the subscriber, or to any officer in General Maxwell's brigade, so that the owner gets him, shall be paid the above reward; and if taken up at any distance, be allowed reasonable expences.
JOHN CONWAY, Major 4th Jer. Regt. Mount-Holly, June 5, 1778.
252
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
THIRTY DOLLARS REWARD.
1
STRAYED Or STOLEN, out of the stable of Mr. Samuel Henry, in Trenton, in the month of September last, a four year old bay MARE, fourteen hands high; she has a small star intermixed with bay hairs, hollow buttocks, is a natural pacer and of high spirit. Any person on de- livering the thief and mare (if stolen) to the above Mr. Samuel Henry, or to the subscriber at Pitts-Town, shall have the above reward; or for the mare only, Eight Dol- lars, and all reasonable charges.
Trenton, June 9th, 1778.
JAMES HANNA.
CAME to Henry Mershon's, in Maidenhead, Hunterdon County, about the first of May, a small brown HORSE, about thirteen hands high, is a natural pacer, has a low carriage with his head, his mane cut on the near side. The owner is desired to prove his property, pay charges, and take him away.
June 10, 1778.
WANTED immediately, a journeyman TAYLOR that under- stands the business, and of a good character. Such a one will meet with good encouragement, by applying to the Widow Hazard's, inn-keeper, at the sign of the Unicorn, in New-Brunswick.
June 6, 1778.
IF Thomas Williams, who was inlisted in the Delaware Regiment, and taken by the English at the battle of Brandywine, and since followed weaving at John Van- horn's; by coming there may see his wife, Hannah Wil- liams. She desires that all persons who see this advertise- ment, and do know him, be kind enough to give him information.
June 10, 1778.
-New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 28, June 10, 1778.
253
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
New-York, June 15. The Rebels were down at East- Chester last Week, and carried off Prisoner from thence, Mr. Isaac Butler, they also made an Attempt on the Picquet Guard on Staten-Island last Tuesday Night, but were beat off, the Particulars of which are as follow, viz.
About One o'clock the Rebels began a heavy Cannonade from their Works at Elizabeth-Town Point, and soon after attempted to land, in a Number of Flat Boats, upon Staten-Island, between the Blazing-Star and Burnt-Island, but finding the Provincial Troops stationed at that Place, were alarmed, and prepared to give them, a proper Re- ception, they returned to the Jersey Shore, and remained quiet till about four o'clock the same morning, when they again made their Appearance in ten Boats, each supposed to contain 100 Men, and attempted to land at the same Place, under Cover of the Fire from their Batteries, and a continued Discharge of Small Arms from the Boats; but they were so vigorously opposed by Gen. Skinner's Brigade, that they were obliged to make a final and dis- graceful Retreat. In the Interim the Corps of Royal Artillery, posted at the Redoubts betwixt Ryerson and Cole's Ferry, were in Motion, and proceeding to the Part of the Island alarmed, by the Road to Decker's-Ferry, with two Six Pounders : The Troops at the different Posts on the Island, were also under Arms, and much disap- pointed, when Orders from Gen. Campbell, to return to their Cantonments, were brought by the Light Horse.
There are now at Cranberry Inlet, in New-Jersey, three Gallies from New-London, of 4 Guns each, that have taken several Vessels, among them a Schooner from Cork with Provisions, and a Vessel from the West-Indies, with Rum and Sugar.
About 11 o'Clock last Saturday Evening a Party of about 20 Rebels, supposed to have come from Amboy, car- ried off from Flatbush, on Long-Island, Major MONCRIEF, and Mr. THEOPHYLACTE BACHE, of this Place.
The same Party attempted to break into the House of
254
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1778
DAVID MATTHEWS, Esq. our Mayor, in order to carry him off likewise; but as they did not get in as fast as they expected, and an old Negro firing a Gun, they thought proper to decamp, taking with them two or three Rebel Officers .- New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, June 15, 1778.
Mr. COLLINS,
I have seen a piece somewhat resembling a mendicant brief, in your last. signed an Elector, who, I cannot help thinking, is either already a Representative or expects to become one at the next election, or at least hopes for the honour and profit of being made a Justice of the Peace .- The hungry zeal the author displays for promotion to places of profit, has caused him to neglect the constitution and even common sense, in the course of his ratiocination .- He says "indulge me, my "countrymen, while I beseech you not to begrudge your rulers some "small posts of profit whereby they may do something in common with "others, for the advantage of their families. Remember your repre- "sentatives and justices serve their country for very inadequate wages; "and when there are any places a little lucrative, on whom can they "be conferred with equal propriety as on them"-He should have said, on themselrcs.
Poor ignorant! Methinks I hear one of those mendicants asking charity through the iron grates of a prison-but what surprizes me is. that the man should dare, in publick, to propose so base and so dan- gerous a thing as that the representatives should monopolize the offices of profit, and so usurp the power of the executive, and by this means throw the legislative and executive into the same hands, which ought ever to be kept distinct-These must be kept separate, or else there is no liberty here.
The gentle reader too is treated with a bit of Latin, which the writer has slipped upon us very cleverly-He says, "let us consider wherein "real liberty consists, and faithfully adhere to it, and pro aris et foeis "contend for it."
Pro aris et focis ! What sad nonsense is this- The real meaning is. Altars and fire-places.
But to inform the author in prose the literal translation of "pro aris et focis" is for our altars and fire-places, which is a metaphorical ex- pression, signifying our religious and civil liberties. But from the manner I cannot help thinking the gentleman, by pro aris et focis, meant sword, gun, and blunderbuss ; which are, to be sure, very good weapons, and I hope will be effectually used by my brave fellow-citizens and countrymen in this best of causes.
A WHIG.
255
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1778]
TRENTON, June 17.
William Marriner, a volunteer, with eleven men, and Lieut. John Schanck, of our militia, went last Saturday evening from Middletown Point to Long-Island, in order to take a few prisoners from Flatbush ; and returned with Major Montcrieffe and Mr. Theophilus Bache, (the wor- shipful Mayor and Tormentor General, David Matthews, Esq. who has inflicted on our prisoners the most unheard- of cruelties, and who was the principal object of the ex- pedition, being unfortunately in the city) with four slaves, and brought them to Princeton, to be delivered to his Excellency the Governor .- Mr. Marriner with his party left Middletown Point on Saturday evening, and returned at six o'clock next morning, having travelled by land and water above fifty miles, and behaved with the greatest bravery and prudence.
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.