USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 42
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Charles Lee.
His Excellency General Washington.
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The Court met by several adjournments till the 12th of August.
The Court having considered the first charge against Major-General Lee, the evidence and his defence, are of opinion that he is guilty of disobedience of orders, in not attacking the enemy on the 28th June, agreeable to re- peated instructions ; being a breach of the latter part of Art. 5, Sec. 2, of the Articles of War.
The Court having considered the second charge against Major-General Lee, the evidence and his defence, are of opinion, he is guilty of misbehaviour before the enemy on the 28th of June, by making an unnecessary, and in some instances, a disorderly retreat, being a breach of the 13th Art. of the 13 Sec. of the Articles of War.
The Court do sentence Major-General Lee to be sus- . pended from any command in the armies of the United States of North America, for the term of twelve months.
Stirling M. G. and President.
The Court adjourned without day.
-The New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, November 23, 1778.
Was left at the house of Matthew Rue, in Manalapon, on the 28th of June last, a Portmantle, containing some clothes .- The owner proving his property, and paying the expence of this advertisement, may have it again.
Middlesex, Nov. 20, 1778.
The Post-riders from Essex county earnestly request their customers, whom they have served to the best of their power, to pay as soon as possible to the persons where their several packets are left, what is still due for the service of one year, which is now near expired. The sum of which is as follows: For those in Essex county, Two Dollars; those left at Brunswick and Quibble-Town, Twelve Shillings; at Princeton, &c. One Dollar for each paper for one year.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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IMPORTED SALT.
To be sold wholesale and retail, by STACY POTTS, in Trenton.
Also dressed BUCKSKINS, and a few pair of BREECHES.
LOST in Trenton, the 18th instant, (November) a gold oval SLEEVE-BUTTON, on which is decyphered the letters J B. Whoever has found, and will return the same to the Printer or subscriber, shall be handsomely rewarded. JOSEPH BLOOMFIELD.1
NOTICE is hereby given that there has been Inquisitions found and returned to the last Court of Common Pleas held for the county of Somerset, in the State of New Jersey, according to the direction of an Act of the General Assembly in that case made and provided, against Wil- liam Burtain, Richard Stockton, Jacobus Voorheese and Daniel Cox: and proclamation was made in open court, that if they, or any person or persons in their behalf, who think themselves interested in the premises, do not appear at the next Court of Common Pleas, and traverse said inquisitions, final judgment will be entered against them.
JACOB BERGEN, Commissioner.
Nov. 14, 1778.
1 Afterward Governor of New Jersey.
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TRENTON, NOVEMBER 25.
Extract of a letter from Elizabeth Town, November 19, 1778.
It is reported, that the American Army is about to go into winter quarters; for this purpose part of it has already crossed the North River, and head-quarters, we are told, will shortly be established at Lord Stirling's Seat,1 at Baskenridge, in this State.
With pleasure we can inform the public, that an act was passed the 20th instant, by the Legislature of this State, entitled, An Act to authorize and impower the Delegates of the State of New Jersey, in Congress, to subscribe and ratify the articles of confederation and per- petual union between the several States.
THE first year of the NEW JERSEY GAZETTE being nearly ended, the Printer proposes, in favour of his Customers, to continue the same to the first day of January next at the present price: and that each subscriber do settle his accounts (which will be sent) to that time with the several Gentlemen to whom the packets are directed, who are desired to receive the money, and transmit it by Post or other safe conveyance.
The present price of the Gazette being much less than that of any Paper printed in the neighbouring States, and moreover having been fixed at a time when measures were taking to establish a limitation of prices, and the general expectation was that it would be adopted and con- tinued, the price of the Gazette from the first of January
1 For an accurate description of Sterling Manor, see "Historic Houses of New Jersey." W. Jay Mills. Page 231.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1778
forward will be Two Dollars by the quarter-the money to be paid and transmitted quarterly in the manner above- mentioned.
ISAAC COLLINS.
On Saturday next the 28thi instant WILL BE SOLD at the Vendue Store in Trenton
AN ASSORTMENT OF MERCHANDIZE
Amongst which are
CALICOES, linens, handkerchiefs, needles, pins, locks, scissors &c. HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE amongst which are four feather beds, tables, a desk, apple roasters, cheese toasters, gravy ladles, China dishes Pewter, and a variety of other articles. Also wearing apparel
Francis Witt Jacob Benjamin
N. B. An exceedingly good Riding Chair, with or with- out a young horse for sale. Enquire at said store.
ON SATURDAY THE 5TH OF DECEMBER, next at the Vendue-Store, will be sold, a valuable collection of BOOKS, upon Law, Physick, Divinity and History.
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.
LAST night the house of the subscriber, living in Dover township, Monmouth county, was robbed by some persons unknown, of the followling articles, viz., one piece of red- dish brown homespun worsted stuff, one ditto worsted and wool, one ditto fine brown linen, a homespun new great coat of a light blue colour, with some leather and sundry other articles; Also between 30 and £.40 in hard money,
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and near £.1000 in Continental Money. Whoever appre- hends the robbers so that they may be convicted, and the goods and money recovered, shall have the above reward, and for the robbers only One Hundred Dollars, and reason- able charges paid by
Nov. 18, 1778.
BENJAMIN JOHNSON.
To Be Sold, for no Fault.
A Handsome pair of grey GELDINGS, with or with- out a phaeton, a negro wench, with her child of two years old, a waggon, and two milch Cows .. Enquire of printer.
JOHN RAMSAY,
At Bottle-Hill, 4 miles from Morris-Town, INTENDING soon to remove to Philadelphia, will dispose of the place where he now lives, with 18, 25 or 40 acres. There is on the place a great variety of fruit, a barn, stable, and other out-houses; a good well at the kitchen-door, a toler- able-garden, &c. The purchaser by paying one half or a third of the value, may have what time it best suits to pay the balance.
Also a strong healthy NEGRO FELLOW, about 23 years old, brought up to the blacksmith and farming business ; a good horse, a few barrels copperas, and some excellent old Geneva in hogsheads.
ON Wednesday, the 9th day of December next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, will be sold to the highest bidder. at the house of Rensalaer Williams, Esq, in Trenton, the Library Books, late the property of Daniel Coxe; a cata- logue of which is as follows, viz.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1778
COOK's reports, 6 vol Law of executions,
Lex testament,
Rastal's entries,
Clift's. entries,
Brigman's conveyances
Infant's lawyer,
Role's reports,
Law of mortgages,
Reports in the time of Holt,
Cases in equity,
Law of evidence,
Dargen's memoirs,
Law of errors,
Shepard on deeds,
Gilbert's devisees,
Hubbard's reports.
Gilbert's evidence,
Seville's reports,
Gilbert's ejectments,
Buller's trials,
Crown's circuit companion,
Compleat attorney's practice, 2 vol.
Historical law tracts,
Barn's notes, 2 vol
World displayed, 20 vol.
Pope's works, 10 vol.
Holden's paraphase,
Fitzherbert's natura brevium,
Fool of quality, 2 vol.
History of New-Jersey,
Pattoon's navigation,
Brown's estimates, 2 vol,
Modus intrandi, 2 vol.
Instructor clericalis
Clark's vade mecum, New medical French grammar,
Practical register in chancery,
Barnardiston's reports, 2 vol.
Burrow's reports, 2 vol
Andrew's reports,
Strange's reports, 2 vol, Wilson's reports
Lord Raymond's reports, 2 vol
Coymin's digest, 5 vols
Vina's works, 19 vol
Blackstone's commentaries, 4. vol.
Collections of trials,
Universal history, 19 vol.
Wood's institutes
Jacob's law dictionary,
Salkeld's reports,
Modern entries, 2 vol
Hawkin's pleas of the crown,'
Bacon's abridgment, 5 vol. Lilly's register, 2 vol.
Lutwick's reports, Keble's reports, 3 vol.
Crook's reports, 3 vol.
Modern reports, 10 vol. Shaw's Justice, 2 vol.
Prussian laws, 2 vol.
Readings upon the statute law, 5 vol.
Modern conveyance, 3 vo. Attorney's pocket companion,
Jacob's conveyancer, 3 vol
Pocket conveyance, Swift's works, 14. vol
Smollet's history of England, 13 vol Robertson's history of Scotland, 2 vol.
Hume's history of England, 7 vol. Attorney's practice at King's Bench,
Ditto, at Common Pleas,
Young's works, 3 vol
Nature displayed, 4 vol
Guther's Cicero, 3. vol.
Harrison's chancery, Principals of natural law,
Charron on wisdom,
Lock's essay, 2 vol. Analisis of the laws, Cato's letters, Pollnitz's memoirs, Wingot's maxims,
Smollet's constitution,
History of New-York, Duhamel's husbandry, Cicero's Cato Major,
Latin dictionary, &c &c,
Coore's institutes, 3 vol.
Lilly's. entries,
Law of executors, Trials per Pais,
Returna brevium,
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Besides a variety of others on Law, History and Divinity ; with a number of Pamphlets, &c &c.
JARED SEXTON, Commis- NATHANIEL HUNT, sioners.
PETER BRUNNER,
N. B. Also at the same time and place will begin the sale of a variety of valuable HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, late the property of John Barns. November 23d, 1778.
A COACH.
With HARNESS compleat, for two horses, very little worse for wear, to be SOLD at a reasonable price. Enquire of Mrs. Gertruyda Rutgers, at New Ark in New-Jersey.
THE inhabitants of Sussex county, that have any de- mands against the late Quarter Master General's depart- ment, are directed by the Honourable Major General Mifflin, to apply to me for payment .- They are therefore requested to apply at my office, in Easton, or to Captain William Stephens, A. D. Q. M. at Newtown, in Sussex county.
ROBERT L. HOOPER, jun. D. Q. M. G. Easton, Nov. 14th, 1778.
NOTICE is hereby given that the subscribers, two of the Commissioners for the county of Middlesex, in the state of New-Jersey, will meet at the house of Daniel Lott, in Cranberry, on Thursday the 17th of December next en- suing to settle and pay (as far as may be in their power) all persons that have any just demands against the estates formerly Andrew Mercereau, John Perine, David Gosling, Samuel Smith, Robert Martin, Robert R. Crow, Samuel Warren, Stephen Skinner, Barnardus Legrange, Freder- ick Wiser, John Brown, James Collins. And all persons
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having demands as aforesaid, are desired then and there to appear with their respective accounts, vouchers and evi- dences.
Commis- sioners. Nov. 17, 1778.
JOHN LLOYD, 1 WM. SCUDDER. $
United States Lottery Tickets, For the Second Class,1
Are to be sold by William Gamble, Esq. in Bordentown. -New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 51, November 25, 1778. .
TO BE SOLD.
A Very valuable Farm and Mill in Amwell township, Hunterdon county, West New Jersey : The land is very good in quality, and contains about 340 acres, with a proper proportion of woodland and meadow, an extra- ordinary good orchard of apple and other fruit trees. The house is a genteel spacious brick house, the dimensions 50 feet by 36, four rooms on a floor, and two stories high, with kitchens, barn, and other out houses, the situation extremely healthy and pleasant, commanding a very ex- tensive prospect of the adjacent country. The mill house is of stone, 40 feet by 60, supplied by a large plentiful stream of water, being the south branch of Raritan river, and lies in the midst of a great wheat country. Enquire of Edward Shippen, jun. in Fourth-street Philadelphia .- The Pennsylvania Packet, November 26, 1778.
1 The United States Lottery was one among the many financial mistakes of the continental congress. Established on November 1st, 1776, the plan devised contemplated the issue of one hundred thousand tickets, to be drawn in four classes. It was proposed to raise $5,000,000 in the form of a four per cent. loan. Managers and State agents were appointed. Purchasers of tickets were few in number, and the first drawing, scheduled for March 1st, 1777, was postponed from time to time. Many purchasers of tickets in New Jersey and other states met with large losses.
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With pleasure we can inform the public, that an act was passed the twentieth instant, by the legislature of this state, entitled "An act to authorize and empower the dele- gates of the state of New Jersey, in congress, to subscribe and ratify the articles of confederation and perpetual union between the several states.1-The Pennsylvania Eve- ning Post, November 27, 1778.
1 The delegates from the State of New Jersey signed the Articles of Confederation upon the 26th of November, 1778. Ten states had adopted the Articles before New Jersey had taken action.
The matter of consent had been discussed in the General Assembly and Council. In the minutes of the former body, under date of June 15th, 1778, is an "Opinion" which defines the position of the legislature relative to the formal beginning of national unity.
It is stated in the "Opinion" that among the qualifications necessary for delegates to Congress no mention was made of any "Oath, Test or Declara- tion" being required, other than that taken to uphold the state govern- ments. To this New Jersey desired the addition of some "Test" binding ' the delegate in his allegiance to the United States, which, "collectively con- sidered, have Interests as well as each particular state." It was further observed that the delegates from New Jersey "assent to no Vote or Pro- ceeding which may violate the general Consideration."
By the sixth and ninth articles the regulation of trade was committed to the separate jurisdictions of the states, involving, said New Jersey, "many Difficulties and Embarrassments and attended with Injustice to some States in the Union." In the opinion of the committee "the sole and exclusive Power of regulating the Trade of the United States with foreign Nations ought to be clearly vested in the Congress, and that the Revenue arising from all Duties and Customs imposed thereon" should be devoted to the establishment of a navy for the protection of trade and defense of the coast, "and to such other publick and general Purposes as to the Con- gress shall seem proper and for the common Benefit of the States. This Principle appears to us to be just, and it may be added that a great Se- curity will by this Means be derived to the Union from the Establishment of a Common and Mutual Interest."
Against the establishment of a standing army, sustained by congress in time of peace, New Jersey earnestly protested, being "totally abhorrent from the Ideas and Principles of this State." It was also recommended that "Quotas for Supplies and aids to be furnished by the several States in Support of the general Treasury" should be "struck once at least in every five years and oftener if Circumstances will allow."
In recommending that the "Boundaries and Limits of each State ought to be fully and finally fixed and made known," New Jersey sounded a note of warning. By a strange combination of circumstances it was in Novem- ber-December, 1781, that there assembled in Trenton a congressional court which determined the dispute of long standing between Connecticut and Pennsylvania concerning the ownership of the northern third of that com- monwealth, and put an end to the contentions of the Connecticut claimants, which had since 1775 disturbed the settlement of the Wyoming Valley.
"It was ever the constant Expectation of this State," said the "Opinion," "that the Benefits derived from a successful Contest were to be general and
·
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New-York, November 30. General Washington's Head- Quarters, about 20 Days ago, was at Pauling's Purchase, in Dutchess County, and we hear his Army was cantoned as far as Hartford Eastward; and West, to Short-Hills, in Morris County, New-Jersey.
Last Thursday Captain - spoke with two Privateers from Egg-Harbour, but both belonging to Salem, in New England; one of them was a Schooner of 4 Guns, called Prat, Master, the other the Sloop Hornet, Stevens, of 6 Guns: They had retaken a Prize Sloop belonging to the Privateer Sloop Harlequin, from this Port, and the last mentioned Privateer was she that took the ship Venus from London .- New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, November 30, 1778.
proportionate, and that the Property of the common Enemy, falling in consequence of a prosperous Issue of the War, would belong to the United States and be appropriated to their use." The jurisdiction over the vacant and unpatented lands, known as crown lands, should be vested in the states whose charters or determined limits embrace those lands ; but all real property existing in the "crown of Great Britain" should belong "to the Congress in Trust for the Use and Benefit of the United States. They have fought and bled for it in Proportion to their respective Abilities, and therefor the Reward ought not to be predelictionally distributed." Such a course would leave some states-and here came New Jersey's special pleading-sunk under an enormous debt, while others could replace their expenditures from the hard earnings of the whole confederacy.
The ninth article of the articles of confederation provided that requisi- tions for state militia be proportioned to the number of white inhabitants in each commonwealth. In the argument upon this proposition the New Jersey legislature took a most decided stand. Quoting from the Declara- tion of Independence the clause that "All Men are created equal," and that they are endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness," the "Opinion" argues the consequence that all inhabi- tants "be the Colour of their Complexion what it may be," are bound to promote the interests of society according to their respective abilities. While it may be improper for persons of a particular color to bear arms in the defence of the nation, the refusal of personal liberty being justified by necessity or expediency, yet the proportion of military force should be fixed according to the whole number of inhabitants. from whatever class they may be raised. In a state where all are white such a commonwealth ob- tains an undue advantage over a state of mixed population. In order to equalize the quota of state troops called to war a census should be taken every five years.
To this "Opinion" both houses unanimously concurred. See "New Jersey as a Colony and as a State," Vol. II.
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From the LONDON GAZETTE Extraordinary, Monday, August 24, 1778.
Whitehall, August 24, 1778.
The following letter from Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath, to Lord George Germaine, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, was received on Saturday night by Col Patterson, who arrived in the Grantham Packet, from New-York.
New-York, July 5, 1778.
My Lord,
I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, pur- suant to his Majesty's instructions, I evacuated Phila- delphia on the 18th of June, at three o'clock in the morn- ing, and proceeded to Gloucester Point, without being followed by the enemy. Everything being from thence passed in safety across the Delaware, through the excellent disposition made by the Admiral to secure our passage, the army marched at ten o'clock and reached Haddonfield the same day. A strong corps of the enemy having, upon our approach, abandoned the difficult pass of Mount Holley, the army proceeded without any interruption from them, excepting what was occasioned by their having de- stroyed every bridge on our road. As the country is much intersected with marshy rivulets, the obstructions we met with were frequent, and the excessive heat of the season rendered the labour of repairing the bridges severely felt.
The advanced parties of our light troops arriving un- expectedly at Crosswicks on the 23d, after a trifling skir- mish, prevented the enemy from destroying the bridge over a large creek at that village, and the army passed it the next morning. One column, under the command of his Excellency Lieutenant General Knyphausen, halted near Amely's-town; and as the provision train and heavy artillery were stationed in that division, the other column,
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1778
under Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, took a posi- tion at Allen's-town, which covered the other encampment.
Thus far, my Lord, my march pointed equally towards the Hudson's River and Staten-Island by the Rariton, I was now at the juncture, when it was necessary to decide ultimately what course to pursue. Encumbered as I was by an enormous provision train, &c to which impediment the probability of obstructions and length of my march, obliged me to submit; I was led to wish for a route less liable to obstacles than those above-mentioned.
I had received intelligence that Generals Washington and Lee had passed the Delaware with their army, had assembled a numerous militia from all the neighbouring provinces, and that Gates, with an army from the North- ward was advancing to join them on the Rariton. As I could not hope that, after having always hitherto so studi- ously avoided a general action, General Washington would now give into it against every dictate of policy: I could only suppose that his views were directed against my bag- gage, &c in which part I was indeed vulnerable. This circumstance alone would have tempted me to avoid the difficult passage of the Rariton; but when I reflected that from Sandy Hook I should be able, with more expedition, to carry his Majesty's further orders into execution, I did not hesitate to order the army into the road which leads through Freehold to the Navesink. The approach of the enemy's army being indicated by the frequent appearance of their light troops on our rear, I requested his Excel- lency Lieutenant General Knyphausen to take the baggage of the whole army under the charge of his division, con- sisting of the troops mentioned in the margin .* Under
* 17th Light Dragoons, 2d battalion of Light Infantry, Hessian Yagers, 1st and 2d brigades British, Stern's and Loo's brigades of Hessians, Pennsylvania Loyalists, West- Jersey Volunteers, Maryland Loyalists.
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the head of baggage was comprised, not only all the wheel- carriages of every department, but also the Bat Horses ; A train which, as the country admitted but of one rout for carriages, extend near twelve miles. The indispensible necessity I was under of securing these, is obvious, and the difficulty of doing it, in a most woody country, against an army far superior in numbers, will. I trust be no less so.
I desired Lieutenant General Knyphausen to move at day break on the 28th; and, that I might not press upon him in the first part of the march, in which we had but one route, I did not follow with the other division * till near eight o'clock. Soon after I had marched, reconnoiter- ing parties of the enemy appeared on our left flank. The Queen's Rangers fell in with and dispersed some detach- ments among the woods in the same quarter. Our rear guard having descended from the heights above Freehold, into a plain near three miles in length, and about one mile in breadth; several columns of the enemy appeared like- wise descending into the plain, and about ten o'clock they began to cannonade our rear. Intelligence was at. this moment brought me, that the enemy were discovered marching in force on both our flanks. I was convinced that our baggage was their object; but it being in this juncture engaged in defiles which continued for some miles, no means occurred of parrying the blow, but attack- ing the corps which harrassed our rear, and pressing it so hard as to oblige the detachments to return from our flanks to its assistance.
I had good information that General Washington was up with his whole army, estimated at about 20,000; but as I knew there were two defiles between him and the corps at which I meant to strike. I judged that he could
* 16th Light Dragoons, 1st battalion of British Grena- diers, 2d ditto, 1st battalion of Light Infantry, Hessian Grenadiers, Guards, 3d 4th, 5th brigades British.
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not have passed them with a greater force than what Lord Cornwallis's division was well able to engage; and had I even met his whole army in the passage of those defiles, I had little to apprehend, but his situation might have been critical.
The enemy's cavalry, commanded, it is said, by M. La. Fayette, having approached our reach, they were charged with great spirit by the Queen's Light Dragoons. They did not wait for the shock, but fell back in confusion, upon their own infantry.
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