USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 31
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August 24, 1778.
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DESERTED,
From the First New-Jersey Regiment,
A certain Theophilus Cummins, about 21 years of age, five feet six inches high, supposed to be near New-German- town .- Also a certain William Erwin, about 17 years of age, and about the same height as Cummins, of said regi- ment. Whoever secures either of the above, and delivers them to any continental officer, or confines them in any gaol and gives notice thereof, shall receive Twenty Dollars for each, and One Shilling per mile to camp, paid by me JOHN V. ANGLIN, Capt. Aug. 28.
New-Jersey, WHEREAS inquisitions have been found
Middlesex, ss. against the following persons, who have either joined the army of the King of Great-Britain, or have otherwise offended against the form of their alle- giance to this State, viz. Reune Runyan, Thomas Walker, Jacob Boice, Randolph Drake, Peter Holtom, William Terrill, Peter Vroom, Benjamin Dunn, John Vroom, Jere- miah Hempsted, Richard Lennox, Nicholas Munday, James Richmond, David Lennox, Benjamin Drake, John Willson, Joseph Thorn, Richard Merrill, Jolin Auten, Ebenezer Foster, David Kent, Jonathan Clawson, Edward V. Dongan, Philip Gach, Alexander Watson, Thomas Stephen, William Blane, Robert Fitz-Randolphı, Nathaniel Harned, Benjamin Alward, John Ford, John Harned, William Smith, Dennis Combs, Elizeas Potter, Joseph Munday, John Dove, Hopewell Munday, Elizeas Barron, John Heard, Samuel Moore, David Alstone, Thomas Elston, David Jaquish, William Godbier and Nathaniel Munday, late of the county of Middlesex, and Philip French, late of the county of Somerset; which inquisitions have been returned at the late Court of Common-Pleas
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held at New-Brunswick, in and for the said county of Middlesex, and proclamation made in open Court ac- cording to law for the said offenders, or any person on their behalf, to appear and traverse the said inquisitions. NOTICE is hereby given to the said offenders, that if they do not appear, or any person in their behalf, or whoever shall think himself interested in the premises, at the next Court of Common-Pleas to be held at New-Brunswick, in and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Tuesday in October next, to traverse and put in the security required by law, that then the said inquisitions will be taken to be true, and final judgment will be entered thereon.
WILLIAM MANNING, 1 Commission-
EBENEZER FORD, ers.
Middlesex county, August 15, 1778.
New-Jersey, WHEREAS inquisitions have been found
Middlesex, ss. against the following persons, who have either joined the army of the King of Great-Britain, or have otherwise offended against the form of their alle- giance to this State, viz. Barnardus Lagrange, Frederick Wiser, Jacob Wiser, jun. James Collins, Andrew Norwood, John Pack, William Hall, Nathaniel Mundroe, Richard Davis, John Brown, Duncan M'Carty, Matthew Sleght, James Richmond, John Richmond, John Duychinck, Peter Barbine, Alexander Watson, Robert Grames, John Van Norden, jun. Oliver Delancey, of New-York, but who has estate in Middlesex county, Andrew Mersereau, John Perrine, jun. Samuel Smith, John Cook, Robert Martin, Stephen Skinner, Oliver Barbine, Robert Richard Crowe, Andrew Barbine, Samuel Warne, David Gosling, Robert Campbell, Cortland Skinner, and Philip French, of Somerset, but who has estate in Middlesex; which inquisitions have been returned at the last Court of Com- mon-Pleas held at New-Brunswick, in and for the said county of Middlesex, and proclamation made in open Court according to law for the said offenders, or any per-
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son on their behalf, to appear and traverse the said inqui- sitions. NOTICE is hereby given to the said offenders, that if they do not appear, or any person in their behalf, or whoever shall think himself interested in the premises, at the next Court of Common-Pleas to be held at New- Brunswick, in and for the county of Middlesex, on the second Tuesday in October next, to traverse and put in the security required by law, that then the said inquisi- tions will be taken to be true, and final judgment will be entered thereon.
JOHN LLOYD, 1 Commis- WILLIAM SCUDDER, - sioners.
Middlesex county, August 15, 1778.
To be sold at publick vendue at Chestnut Neck, Little Egg-harbour, on Tuesday, the 8th inst. September, the following VESSELS, with their tackle, apparel, &c. com- plete, viz.
A FRENCH DOGGER, CALLED THE RISING SUN, burthen about 100 tons - with a cargo of SALT in casks.
THE BRIG, CALLED THE GOVERNOR HENRY, burthen about 110 tons - with 110 hogsheads of TOBACCO.
THE BRIG NANCY, BURTHEN 130 TONS.
AND THE SLOOP WILLIAM, BURTHEN 75 TONS - with a cargo of TOBACCO. - - Cash to be paid on the delivery of the vessels - and an inventory of each to be seen on the day of sale.
JOHN STOKES, Marshal.
September 2.
-New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 39, Sept. 2, 1778.
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TO THE PUBLIC
A STAGE WAGGON will set out on Monday morning from Peter Well's, at the Landing at Big Egg-harbour and to go to the Forks of Little Egg harbour, and from thence to Samuel Cooper's Ferry on Tuesday evening: On Thurs- day morning to set out from Samuel Cooper's Ferry, and to go to the Forks of Little Egg harbour, and from thence to Peter Well's at the Landing at Big Egg-harbour on Friday evening. Those Ladies and Gentlemen who please to favour me with their commands, may depend on their being executed with fidelity and dispatch, by
Their much obliged humble servant, SAMUEL MARRYOTT.1 -The Pennsylvania Packet, September 3, 1778.
To Be Sold,
By way of Public Vendue, on Monday the 14th instant, at the Forks of Little Egg-harbour and Chestnut Neck, in the state of New-Jersey.
A Very valuable CARGO of the ship VENUS, (bound from London to New-York, lately captured and brought in there by Capt. David Stevens) consisting of fine and coarse broadcloaths, fine and coarse linens, calicoes, chintzes, lawns and cambricks, silks and sattins, silk and thread stockings, mens and womens shoes, a great variety of medicines and books, hard ware, beef, pork, butter, cheese and porter, in short, the greatest variety of all kinds of Merchandize, too tedious to be inserted.
The Vendue to begin at Ten o'clock in the forenoon, and continue from day to day until the whole is sold. At- tendance will be given and conditions made known by
JOHN STOKES, Marshal.
1 This is the beginning of direct and certain transportation over land between Camden and the "shore" in the vicinity of Atlantic City.
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A very large quantity of loaf sugar and green tea. To be SOLD by Public Vendue.
At May's Landing on Great Egg-harbour, on Friday the eleventh instant, at Ten o'clock in the morning, The prize sloop LUCY, with her tackle, apparel and furniture as per inventory. Also 30 or 40 hogsheads of best Eng- lish Island Rum, the remainder of the cargo of the prize sloop LARK, by
JOHN STOKES, Marshal. -The Pennsylvania Packet, September 5, 1778.
Philadelphia, August 18. On Thursday last, before the Hon. Thomas McKean, Esq; chief justice for this state, Elias Boudinot, Esq.1 delegate in congress for the state of New Jersey, appeared among others, an attorney, or council, for John Roberts,2 an infamous tory, now con- fined in the gaol of this county, on a charge of high treason. The question argued was, Whether said John Roberts may be admitted to bail? This leads to another question, How far it is consistent with the dignity of con- gress for a delegate representing one of the Thirteen United States, actually attending his duty in congress, to appear as attorney or council in favour of notoriously dis- affected persons ?
New-York, September 7. On the 20th ult. Capt. Sib- bles, in the Tryon Letter of Marque, sunk a small Rebel Privateer belonging to Egg-Harbour, called the Glory of America, William Williams, Master; the Crew were
1 For sketch of Elias Boudinot see New Jersey Archives, 2d Series, Vol. I., p. 528.
2 John Roberts was a Philadelphian. Joining the Royal forces during Howe's occupation of the city (1777-78), he suffered death as a penalty for his adherence to the cause of the Crown. After sentence of death was imposed, several hundred of Roberts' fellow-townsmen presented memorials to Council, praying for respite or pardon. According to an account written by Isaac Ogden, the Loyalist, Roberts' wife and ten children went to Congress and supplicated mercy. Upon the gallows Roberts exhorted his children to remember the principles for which their father had died and to adhere to them while they had breath. In 1779 his estate was confiscated ; but in 1792 his property was restored to his widow.
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taken out and last Wednesday brought in here by his Majestys Ship Maidstone, Capt. Gardner, who was good enough to receive them from on board the Tryon. The Captain of the Privateer and one of his Hands were put on board the Daphne.
Last Saturday Morning a small Boat from Kings Bridge going too near the Jersey Shore at Hoebuck, was fired upon by a Party of Men that lay in Ambush in the Meadows, and 'tis supposed some of the People in the Boat got hurt: The Boat immediately made to the Shore, when the Crew were made Prisoners, and the Boat burnt.
It was confidently asserted in Jersey last Saturday, that General Pigot attacked General Sullivan in his Retreat from Rhode-Island, on which a bloody Battle ensued ; that the latter lost many Men and several Officers of Dis- tinction, but that General Piggots Loss was not known, though General Sullivan kept the Field; that all the Particulars relative to the Action was not received, but that an Express was expected at Elizabeth-Town with an Account last Saturday.
:
The 7th of August two large French Ships and a Snow from Cape Francois, attacked the Sovereign, Capt. Wheatley, and some others of the Fleet, when a smart Engagement ensued, in which three Men on board the Sovereign were wounded, one of which was Capt. Boyd of the Glasgow Brig, who went to assist Captain Wheatley, had his Leg shot off, of which wound he died. The French Snow is brought in here, but the two Ships escaped. Last Friday they were attacked by several Privateers off Egg- Harbour, one of them a Brig.
The same Day 14 Vessels arrived here from London, having left the Downs the 13th of June. One of the Fleet, a Brig called the Recovery, is said to be taken and carried into Egg Harbour.
-New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, September 7, 1778.
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SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD.
STOLEN from the subscriber, living in Northampton Burlington county, a small dun MARE, about twelve years old, with a white main and tail, one of her hind feet white as high as the hoof, and the other part white, some white in her face, paces, her buttock steep, and low carriage; likewise an old saddle and bridle, taken at the same time; supposed to be taken by a Dutchman named LEONARD, (his other name not known) Whoever takes up said mare, saddle and bridle, so that the owner may get them again, shall receive the above reward, and all reasonable charges, and SIXTEEN DOLLARS for the thief, paid by
CHARLES MOLLIS.
N. B. It is supposed the above mare has been taken towards Conococheague.
Salem County, Aug. 27, 1778.
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons within the de- partment of the subscriber, in the state of New-Jersey, that have any demands against him as Pay-master to the Militia, to bring in their accounts properly attested, by . the 21st of September, and they shall be paid. As it is absolutely necessary the public accounts should be settled as soon as possible, it is expected none will exceed the time specified
THOMAS CARPENTER, P. M. -The Pennsylvania Packet, September 8, 1778.
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(See page 395, ante.)
(Continued from our last.)
IN order to assist in pursuit of the knowledge and practice of jus- tice, equity and truth, I beg leave to offer the following observations :
1. That by reason of the opportunities the monied part of the com- munity has to extortionate on the indigent, it becomes the legislature to interpose and regulate the interest.
2. That the lending and borrowing of money to purchase freeholds, is of vast advantage both to individuals and to the community. - By limiting it to the purchase of freeholds, I mean to exclude that of merchants, who entice people to buy many superfluities upon credit, and afterwards not only get bonds or notes, but even make them pay interest for their book debts. This is ruin. to a community, against which the legislature ought to guard as much as possible.
To make the proposition as above stated, evident, let us suppose B borrows from A 10001. and buys with it a farm worth that money. It is confessed the property of that farm properly belongs to A. Also D hires of C a farm worth 10001. Thus far these two are alike. The difference is here, B has the fee-simple, and whatever improvement he makes upon the farm, redounds to his own advantage; which is a manifest incitement to industry, prudence, care and œconomy. The case of D, who hires the farm, is the reverse. All his improvements on the farm redounds to C, who has the title. The natural result is, that farms thus purchased, have been well improved, to their own and the publick's advantage, while those hired have been neglected. Hence has followed the matter of fact which none will presume to deny, that where one man has made an estate by hiring farms in America, five hundred, perhaps a thousand, have made them by borrowing money.
Here permit me to express my surprize at the amazing ignorance and stupidity of the Equal Taxer, who asserts, that it cannot be the duty of any state, especially these in America, to encourage usurers, If by usurers he only means such as exact unlawful and immoderate interest, I cordially join with him ; but from his reasoning it is mani- fest this is not his meaning. If the Americans, from the beginning of its settlement, by combating the men who live upon their money as useless members of society, had so embarrassed the lending of it that money could not have been borrowed, what would have been the con- sequence? The answer may be readily given - The monied gentlemen would have laid out their money in lands, (as this friend to his country would have it) and thousands of American freeholders, who now live in affluence, and prove the bulwark against English tyranny, would now have been the tenants of some tyrannical lord, bidding up against their neighbours the rents of farms, in order to obtain a bare livlihood for themselves and families, and thereby enable his lordship more effectually to tyrannize over them. Is this what Equal Taxer aims at? With his leave I shall here borrow his exclamation : Kind heaven! deliver my country from such Equal Taxers.
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Let it also be observed, that the opportunity of borrowing money has been, and will be, the means, especially in America, of keeping rents of farms within bounds ; for a tenant, who by œeconomy and in- dustry has gained something while the terms of his lease were moderate, finding that his landlord begins to bear harder upon him, may borrow an additional sum, and purchase a freehold ; so that the landlord cannot here get his tenant in the dilemma of complying with his demand or be ruined. Such attempted oppression then only proves the means of advancing the tenant's and the community's interest ; which would not be the case if money was not to be borrowed.
Hence it appears, that though in point of equity and justice it would be the same, yet in point of policy to our natural advantage and safety, the taxing of both landlord and tenant for the same farm, would be greatly preferable to that of the lender and borrower of money ; because it would have a natural tendency to the purchase of freeholds, to pri- vate and publick emolument.
3. I observe hence, that it is the duty of our legislators to encourage the lending and borrowing of money for the purchase of lands. He that consents to my former observations, cannot deny this. Lending and borrowing are relative terms, inseparable from each other. If no money is to be lent, there can be no borrower ; if there is no borrower, money cannot be lent. The manifold advantages arising from the pur- chase of freeholds in the settlement of this new country, are doubtless very strong incitements to the borrowing of money. Hence it is the duty of the legislature to take care that the borrowing of it be not so embarrassed by opportunities for extortion, or any other way, that the disadvantages of borrowing overbalance the advantages in pur- chasing. It is manifest from the nature of things, that as soon as this becomes the case, such purchases will decrease and stop; also that the lending of it be not so embarrassed, that those who have it may have no inducement to let it to others for use. It is very evident and natural to suppose, that if persons who have the money, see it to be to the safety and emolument of their estates to apply it any other way, they will not let it to interest. And I hope it will be allowed, that men have as good a right to dispose of their money as their other posses- sions. And here it is evident, whatever inducements may be for pur- chase, none can be made if no money is to be hired, save only by the few who have it, and consequently the most profitable improvement of America will cease. Thus it appears to me that the foregoing observa- tion is undeniable.
4. That any law which subjects the money borrowed for the purchase of freeholds to a double tax in proportion to other taxables, is of per- nicious tendency to the State, as well as unjust in its nature. I con- ceive this proposition to be undeniably evident from all what I have before offered.
5. I observe that it is the duty and business of the legislature so to regulate the paying of the tax aforesaid, as may do justice to lender and borrower, and prove an encouragement to both : He that consents to the former propositions, will not presume to deny this. Here, how-
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ever, is the grand point, to wit, How the legislature is to conduct the matter, in order to obtain this valuable end in view! Here I think one important consideration is, to guide in the deliberation. If the circumstances of times and things are such, when the law is about to be passed, as plainly insinuates that the borrower has got so far the advantage of the lender, by the rise of the value of his farm and its income, as to enable him to pay the tax, and then leave him upon such good conditions to his advantage as when he took the money, he ought to pay the tax. If by the fall of the price of lands and its produce, the lender has got the advantage of the borrower as that he may pay the tax, and be then left upon equal terms of advantage with the borrower, he ought to do it ; and when circumstances are such that neither should pay the whole, that then the parts ought to be regulated in proportion to the foregoing rules. Such regulations would leave this matter on its former footing, which has proved, by long experience, of great advantage to individuals and the community.
6. I observe, in the last place, that it becomes the legislature to regulate this matter between lender and borrower in such a manner as may be most agreeable and advantageous to both, which certainly will prove an encouragement to both, before proved to be necessary and profitable. And thus in forming this plan two things ought to be avoided ; on the one hand, to oblige the borrower to render an account of what he owes; and on the other, the lender of what he has due. The disagreeable nature and bad consequences of the former, I think are such as ever to deter the legislature from attempting it, if pos- sible to be avoided. The reasons are not only the disagreeable feelings it must produce in the mind of an honest and industrious person, who has been obliged to encumber himself, for the present, in order to promote his future advantage, to have a state of his debts laid open to every assessor, and also to every one who may inspect the duplicate in the hands of the collector, but also the grand abuse which ill-disposed neighbours might make of it, to the great damage of himself and family. And as to the latter, although they may be out of the reach of such abuse, yet those among them who are men of honour and tender feelings, will feel disdain rise in their breasts from such injury. Though some persons of a contrary character may be disposed to trifle with this remark, yet if I may be permitted to suppose that men of honour at different times and places may have the same feelings, I appeal, for a corroboration of this remark, to the effect of the attempt which Philip the second made in the United Netherlands. Every one ac- quainted with the history of that nation, knows what was the effect of the laws which that tyrant caused to be made, exacting the tentlı, fiftieth and hundredth penny. One of the grand obections was, that an inquiry was necessary to be made into private estates, to which reference was had in the laws, in order to levy the tax. The then Dutch were men of such feelings, that when the inquiry was attempted to be made, they absolutely refused to submit; and this proved one of the main causes of their general revolt.
Hence remains the only safe, equitable, just and easy way ; and that is the regulation of the interest, which in effect answers all the valuable
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purposes before mentioned, and avoids all inconveniences. To make this evident, let us suppose that B pays 7 per cent. interest; circum- stances change, so that justice requires that A should pay the tax for that sum, which we will suppose to be 1 per cent. Query, what is the difference to the borrower whether he pays the tax and has it deducted from the interest, or whether he pays the interest in full, and has that sum deducted from his tax? or whether instead of 7 he pays 6 per cent? In every case the borrower, who has the improvement of the farm purchased for that money, pays 101. And let the borrower say whether he chose rather to pay 701. interest, and then be obliged to give up this sum to the assessor, and expose his debt to the view of the world, and the lender pay 101. of it, or pay 601. and be free of all the other disagreeable encumbrances? I am sure he would not hesitate a moment.
How far the reasons I have offered on this subject are founded on equity, justice and truth, I leave to the candid publick to judge.
The remarks of the animadverter on the fourth objection of T. W. is a piece of such mean scurrility, as demeans it below the notice of any man of candour ; as for me, I shall regard it no other. I do hon- estly declare, that though I do reap as much benefit from such a law, in proportion to what I am worth, as any man in the State possibly can do, yet I find my mind sensibly affected with the subject of T. W's fourth objection. How can I avoid feeling, when I recollect how many widows and orphans there be, whose deceased guardian has directed by his last will, that his estate should be sold, and his widow and. orphans be maintained out of the income of the amount, which at that time afforded them a comfortable subsistence? The depreciation of the Continental currency, which a set of tory villains have first begun, and a set of extortioners, more abandoned, if possible, than the former, have since encouraged and supported, has since reduced their principal to less than half its first value. And what can they now purchase for the income towards their maintenance? while they get 5 or 6 per cent. they must pay 500 or 600, and many things 800 or 1000 per cent. for the necessaries of life. In the same predicament are many honest friends to their country, who have fled from a tyrannical enemy and left their abodes and employments, in hopes of procuring a livelihood by some money they had out in the country, and some they took along with them, and have taken shelter among us.
These things considered, it is evident that no people among us have been obliged to make a greater sacrifice of property, or, in other words, no property has paid greater taxes than money, in the present glorious struggle for liberty ; for, while the farmer, mechanick and day labourer follows the track of the extortionate trader, the widow, the orphan, the superannuated, and many virtuous refugees, remain confined within bounds. I fear this will open a view, if kind heaven does not prevent, which will make many an innocent bleed to death. I cordially wish that Equal Taxer, who so eagerly pursues the miser, as the useless inember of society, (of which, I am pursuaded, he shall overtake but a small number in this State, in comparison with the extortioner, and even the innocent sufferers I have mentioned) would here do what he
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