Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III, Part 14

Author: Stryker, William S. (William Scudder), 1838-1900; Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869-1914; Nelson, William, 1847-1914; Scott, Austin, 1848-1922; New Jersey Historical Society
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Trenton, N.J. : J.L. Murphy Pub. Co., printers, [etc.]
Number of Pages: 816


USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III > Part 14


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The apostate talks of my credit being slender and unequal ; another mark of the society he is connected with .- Among the disaffected I am so happy as not to be in credit; I never wish to be. As much as I value the good-will of every one, generally speaking, I desire to be excused from theirs. Their friendship in my estimation is hostility, their praise, disgrace. Such I know, as far as their interest coincides with their inclinations, are delighted with any seeming misfortune which may happen to me, nor is the reason far to seek. Whether the mention of this particular ought to operate in the favour of him who makes it I cheerfully submit, and leave it without further stricture, except totally denying that the assertion will hold with respect to any sound or principled whig. To a few shopkeepers, en- grossers and sharpers, a kind of cattle he is fond of herding with, it may indeed apply ; a greater matter to him, scarce as he is of par- tisans, a trifle to one rich in the public confidence.


This awkward braggadocio has the effrontery to talk big of his birth, education, figure and breeding, partly in direct terms and partly under the colour of discussing mine. I shall say nothing of myself in these respects, both because I am averse from explaining what I might call my own good qualities whether natural or acquired, and because no one is ignorant of any particular whatsoever concerning me. Among my fellow-citizens have I openly led my life ; I have never concealed myself from public view, I have never owl-like shunned the face of day- light, or left my country to seek safer and better times in the interest and service of its enemies. What I wish to remark here is an instance of that unaccountable though common foible, which induces the shallow and weak-minded to value themeselves most upon that in which they have the least semblance of excellence. This Hard-money, amidst all his straining at high figure to cover real fact, and pretend- ing to derive his genealogy from the sun-beams is well known to be descended of as low, obscure, mongrel and motley a mixture as any


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[1779


to be met with. The old man of the family is a mulatto, the mother an Indian ; only one of the race has any tolerable pretensions to white- ness of complexion, and this must be the effect of bastardism or of some wild anomalous lusus naturae, or whim of nature, as the phi- losophers call it, which however has no influence upon his low manners and native stupidity. As to estate and occupation, it can be ascer- tained that he came from the eastern continent to South-America many years ago in straitened circumstances ; there drudged at mining and fishing, and might have acquired a handsome competency had he not sent all he could scrape up to Europe for fineries, to which the family have an unconquerable propensity, and which as well become them as superb trappings would a mill-horse. As to education I know he has had the best opportunities and has travelled much, but what do these avail where they have nothing to work upon but solid dullness. The utmost scope of his learning is to repeat a few historical dates and Latin names without design, sentiment or coherence. Let any judge whether I did not make greater progress in knowledge, classical as well as moral and political, in the course of one year, than he has made in all the centuries of his life. As to travelling it is well known I am not yet come to the proper time of life for improving that ad- vantage, nor were I, could I think of leaving my struggling coun- try till the contest is over. I am not Hard-money, who sculks away traitorously, cowardly and selfishly when his service is most wanted. When the season arrives, and I hope it is not far off, I flatter myself, I shall travel to much more advantage, both to my country and to myself than he has done .- His figure forsooth is an object of much self-complacence. In this and similar cases the publick will determine how far such an extrinsick and accidental quality, were it even possessed in a high degree, ought to weigh in the estimating of worth. I shall only say that having lately happened within ken of him on one of his by-road excursions I had an opportunity of ob- serving, but such a rusty, ola-fashioned, squallid, bizare, lousy object never did I meet with in the traverse of a Bedlam. An old worn-out weatherbeaten, long-bearded miser who had not seen the sun in a twelvemonth, but had been bending, peering and brooding over his rusty bags, could not have exhibited a more out landish caricatura .- As to his breeding I mean to be silent. There is no need of speech. A self-evident proposition can be rendered doubtful but in one way, and that is by setting about to prove it. The uniform tenour of his conduct is at open war with all kind of breeding and politeness. Distrusting himself upon the ground of reasoning, or what he would call so, though I believe he never found the way to logick, he resorts to scripture, in which he appears to be but late-read, otherwise he would have known that this book, out of which he quotes the land of Havilah, and Micah and the Danites, calls him a calf, and applies to him every epithet of a senseless blockhead ; and so he must be, or he would have been silent on this subject, for it is evident enough from what he hints he has a sneaking inclination to bring up again


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the exploded fashion of graven images, and would be highly tickled with homage and adoration. But thanks to the good sense of modern days which has brought him down to the office of a shoe-boy instead of splicing him up into a god.


This supplanter has impudently invented a story of my setting for my picture in order to hide his own baseness, and destroy the force and effect of truth by cloaking it. I will lay the facts before the publick, the consistency of which will prove the train of the whole transaction. The British Ministry in conjunction with their General in America, were mean enough to make use of the instrumentality of this miscreant and some of his associates clandestinely to take my likeness. They had frequent opportunities of doing this when I was upon duty on the lines. By this means they endeavoured to deceive the people into a belief that I had attached myself to their party, and engaged in their service. Unfortunately at the time they under- took this piece of rudeness and villainy my clothes being worn out in the labours of campaigning, I had a suit made at York-Town in Penn- sylvania, which being not so well executed, they found it level to their abilities.1 This I have laid by and expect shortly to appear in one which will be a touch above their ingenuity.


How often has this sulker secretly traversed our country in order to sow the seeds of bribery, corruption and venality among us, a trade which he learned to high perfection during his residence in Great- Britain ! Who does not remember that the British Commissioners brought him with them as an instrument fitting for their use, when they came to Philadelphia? Here he was a busy servant. And who can have forgot that he was apprehended, formally tried in Congress, condemned on the clearest evidence not only for his own personal treachery, but for endeavouring to circumvent and corrupt others, and would no doubt have been hanged had he not broke gaol and fled?


One thing further I wish to take notice of, that throughout his whole remonstrance he has carefully avoided making pretensions to whig- gism. Two reasons decided him in this case. Weak and unprincipled as he is, he does know it would operate against him to say in direct terms that black is white, and white is black. That one who is known to be a pestilent spiteful tory, and to keep company with none but men of that class, should pretend to be a whig, would be daring be- yond the prudential line. And further he is not yet fully convinced which way the beam will turn, and should we fail through reverse of fortune, he thinks it not amiss to have friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.


I have only once more' to declare that I have not appeared here under a consciousness of any blame whatever. I have fully declared my motive. I am well convinced the gratitude and justice of the United States, in consideration of the essential benefits I have ren- dered them, will not suffer this despicable changeling to tarnish my


1 Referring to a poorly printed issue of paper money which was easily counterfeited.


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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779


reputation and blot out the memory of my services. These are not unknown. They are notorious as they are numerous. I appeal to every person who has had an opportunity of knowing whether I have spent one day in idleness since the contest began; whether I have ever withdrawn myself from any toils or dangers when the interest of my country called me; whether I have not uniformly manifested as much alacrity and attention to duty, in council, in . camp and in the fields of fight, under the severest adversity as in the brightest hours of success. Whether I have not even more. The Congress have seen me tried. The brave and patient soldiery and their worthy General have seen me tried. They have seen my conduct in the day of peril, and in the day of triumph. Let them be my wit- nesses. The character of my accuser, I have submitted. So far as it affects me it is below contempt. It is not mine to prescribe. The publick will do justice. Let that take place and I am satisfied.


CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.


Mr. COLLINS.


HAVING made my defence to the Publick, I have a word or two to say to you. I do not think you have donc altogether handsomely by me. You have sometimes published to the world that things of low and pitiful estimation were to be bartered for me, and, what is worse, in an unworthy proportion. This puts life into the hopes of my enemies, who daily wish and pray for my downfall. And lately when G- L- sent me round the country to look for one of his dogs, a service which I undertook reluctantly, as you might well suppose, and out of mere respect to the high station of him who imposed the command, you were pleased to give a relation of the affair in your paper, which opened all the ways far and near upon me. The dis- affected too improved the occasion to sneer and jibe my awkward situation ; for as you arc a whig they knew the truth of the publi -. cation would not be questioned. Now though my character is, I flatter myself, sufficiently established to set at nought all their efforts to shake it, yet that is no justification of you. Mr. Collins, I am far indeed from believing that these things have been done with design; I attribute them solely to [in]advertence. But as reputation is a tender thing, and an inadvertent wound is not much less painful than an intended one, you will not take it amiss that I suggest the propriety of a little more caution.


CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.


TRENTON, MARCH 24.


We learn that a few days ago a large body of the enemy from New York arrived on Staten Island, where they have collected a number of waggons, &c., as tho' they had a plundering expedition in contemplation. In conse- quence of which a strong detachment from our army, under


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the command of General Muhlenberg, marched from Middle-Brook, in order to counteract any designs the enemy may have in making another descent into this State.


We hear Major-General Arnold hath obtained leave to retire for a-while from the duties of his station, to take charge of his domestic affairs. During his absence the command, it is said, devolves on General Hogan.


Sunday evening last a heavy northwest storm of wind, snow and rain came on, and continued till next morning, when it abated; which has probably done great damage to the enemy's vessels on our coast.


TO COVER,


The ensuing season, at the subscribers, at Maidenhead, in Hunterdon county, the beautiful and high bred HORSE


ARABIAN


Rising nine years old, at Twenty Pounds the season, for ready cash only.


ARABIAN is full blooded, fifteen hands and two inches high, very active, and is a remarkable fine bay, his colts are in general very fine, a few of them may be seen at his stand. Arabian was got by that famous stallion Will- dair, his dam by Babraham, his grandam by Old Sterling, his great grandam by Merry Andrew, out of Laughing Polly. She won the King's Hundred Guineas at Ham- bleton, and was got by Childen, her dam by Cancellor, and own sister to Thunderbolt; her grandam by Lugge, and her great grandam Davill's Old Woodcock.


Willdair was got by Old Cade, the best stallion that ever was got by the famous Godolphin Arabian, out of a daughter of Steady, a very fleet son of the Duke of Devon- shire's flying Childen. This horse, the sire of Arabian, was a few years past purchased of James Delancey, Esq., at a very high price, and shipped back to England at the


12


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particular desire of the greatest breeder in that country, and covered at Forty Guineas the season, his blood being in the highest degree of reputation among the nobility and sportsmen.


Good pasture will be procured for mares that are brought any distance.


MERCER & SCHENK.


WILL COVER,


This season, at George Woodward's and at Mansfield Meeting-house, from the fifth of April, two weeks at a time at each place, the famous HORSE


LEOPARD,


WANTS one sixteenth only of a full blood; was got by Granby, his dam was got by old Bullerock out of a Briton mare; he is fifteen hands and an inch high, and equal for strength and beauty to any imported horse. He will cover at Sixty Dollars the season, and Ninety Dollars to ensure a Foal, and One Dollar to the Groom, the money to be paid when the mares are taken away. Good pasture will be provided for mares at a reasonable rate. Thé said horse is equal to a Leopard for colour.


GEORGE WOODWARD.


ALL persons indebted to the estate of William Crolius, jun., potter, of New York, deceased, by bond, note or book debts, are desired to come and pay them off before the first day of July next, to George Janeway, or John Crolius, at Bound-Brook, or. to Peter Crolius at Trenton, or they will be put in suit against them; and those having any demands against said estate, are desired to bring their accounts properly attested.


George Janeway, 1 Executors.


John Crolius,


Peter Crolius,


1779]


NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS. 179


WHEREAS one Michael Montgomery did on the 18th day of June last, purchase of the subscriber a horse, and was to take the said horse away within one month after the purchase, And as I have not heard from him since, this is to give notice, if said Montgomery is living, or any person in his behalf will come and pay the demands on said horse, and take him away within one month from the date hereof, otherwise I shall expose the said horse to sale in order to pay the demands.


Princeton, March 18.


DANIEL MANNING.


Middlesex Whereas inquisition has been found, and final County. judgment entered in favour of this State, against the following persons, and their real and personal estates are to be sold, to wit: Thomas Leonard, a tract of land containing about 200 acres, part of which is cleared, situate near Deep Run, four and one- half miles from Spotswood, where it will be sold the 23rd of April next. Thomas Hooper, two houses and lots of land near Assanpink Bridge, on the road leading from Princeton to Allentown, to be sold the 24th of April, at Hight's-town. To be sold at the same time and place, a tract of woodland, Oliver Delance's, near Col. Samuel For- man's; likewise his part of the valuable plantation (if ascertained before the day of sale) called Delance and Kyler's tract, near Hight's-town, now in possession of Benjamin Ward. Likewise a small place improved, late the property of Daniel Coxe, near Kingston, where it will be sold the 25th of April .- The vendue to begin each day at ten o'clock, when a more particular description of the places will be given, and as soon as may be, deeds made by JOHN LLOYD, WM. SCUDDER, Commissioners.


WHEREAS inquisition having been found, and final judg- ment entered thereon in favour of the State, against Ed- ward V. Dungan, late of Middlesex county :- Notice is


P


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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779


1


hereby given, that the houses, lands and all the real estate late the property of the said Edward V. Dungan, in the county of Essex, in the State of New Jersey, will be ex- posed to sale at public vendue, on Saturday the first day of May next, at one o'clock of said day, at the house of Samuel Smith, inn-keeper in Elizabeth-Town. Par- ticular descriptions and attendance will be given at the time and place of sale by


JOHN CLAWSON, DANIEL MARSH, Commissioners.


WAS found the day of the battle at Monmouth, the 28th of July, 1778, by one of the company of militia under Capt. Parker, of Col. Frelinghuysen's battalion, and put into Capt. Parker's baggage waggon, a good shirt marked I. L. and a pair of trousers or drawers, inclosed in a knapsack .- Whoever gives the further particulars and proves property, shall have them by applying to me at Baskinridge.


ENSLEY DALGLIS.


TO BE SOLD,


THE saw and grist-mill, both in good repair, where the subscriber now lives, standing on the south branch of Meticunk river, in the township of Shrewsbury, which is a never failing stream, and where boards can be rafted from the mill to where sloops can take them in; with about 440 acres of land, some good for rye and Indian corn ; about 100 acres of which is cedar swamp; Also 60 acres of salt-meadow lying about six miles from said mills. There are on the premises a good convenient frame dwell- ing-house, kitchen, barn and smoke-house, all inclosed with cedar. For terms apply to Tunis Denise, in Free- hold, or to the subscriber, living on the premises.


DENISE DENISE.


N. B. The two emissions called in will be taken in payment.


March 8, 1779.


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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.


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TO BE SOLD,


For good Continental Money of any emission :


A LOT of land situate on Maidenhead road, about one mile from Trenton, containing near 28 acres, all fenced in. On the premises are a small log house, a good spring of water, and about 200 trees of excellent fruit, viz. apples, pears, peaches, plumbs and cherries, and about 7 acres of meadow cleared, and as much more may be made by clear- ing a good piece of swamp. Also a house and lot in Trenton, fronting the Main-Street and Church-Alley, which is a very convenient house with four rooms on a floor, two stories high, and a good cellar under the whole, with a kitchen on the back-side of the house and joined to it by a shed. On the lot is some excellent fruit trees, viz. pears of six or seven sorts, and plumbs of as many, and several sorts of the best cherries and peaches. Any per- son inclining to purchase may be better informed by applying to William Plasket, on the premises.


TO BE SOLD, BY JAMES EMERSON, In TRENTON ;


A QUANTITY of imported SALT, for which the emissions of May 20th, 1777, and April 11th, 1778, will be taken in pay.


TO BE SOLD,


At the subscriber's house in Mansfield, Burlington county ;


A FEW barrels of best TANNERS OIL, extracted from blubber.


CLEAYTON NEWBOLD.


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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779


WANTED, By the subscriber in Trenton :


A GOOD JOURNEYMAN WHEELWRIGHT, to whom con- stant employ and good wages will be given, by


WILLIAM CANNON.


TO BE SOLD,


By public vendue on Monday the 29th of March, at the house of JACOB BENJAMIN, in Trenton :


SUNDRY sorts of household furniture, mens wearing apparel, tea by the chest or smaller quantity, and sundry other articles too tedious to mention. By whom GOODS are taken in for sale.


JACOB BENJAMIN.


SALT WORKS, &c. for SALE:


To be sold by public vendue, on the 30th day of March inst. on the premises, those valuable works known by the name of the Union Salt-Works, on Manasquan river, in the township of Shrewsbury, county of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, together with all the utensils thereunto. belonging.


THE works consist of a boiling-house, about 90 feet long and 33 feet wide, in which are five copper and four iron pans, the copper weighing upwards of 3000 1b. four of which pans are round, about 6 feet diameter and about 12 inches deep, the other about 13 and a half feet long, 6 feet wide, and 14 inches deep. The iron pans are made of wrought iron plate near a quarter of an inch thick, two- of them are about 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 14 inches. deep; and the other two are each about 16 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 17 inches deep; all of which are fixed in the


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best manner for the business of salt-boiling. Adjoining to the boiling-house is a convenient store-house, capable of containing 800 bushels of salt, and contiguous thereto is a pump-house in which are two pumps almost new, by which the water from the bay is conveyed either imme- diately into the pans, or into a covered cistern holding about 150 hogsheads, at times when the water is saltest, and from thence let into the pans.


The lot of ground whereon these works stand contains about five acres of good land well fenced, on which are also erected a dwelling-house, stables, smoke-house and other buildings, which are very convenient. The dwelling- house was lately erected, being about 35 by 24 feet, two stories high, with a cellar under the whole, and an ex- cellent pump of fresh water at the door. The stables are likewise new, capable of holding about ten tons of hay, a considerable quantity of grain, and sufficient room for sixteen horses.


Will be disposed of with the above premises about 160 acres of land, wooded mostly with oak, about two miles and a half from the works.


At the same time and place will be sold about 20,000 good bricks, two horses, a cow and calf, a good waggon well ironed, a large well built scow, two batteaux in good re- pair, a quantity of old iron, and several small bars of blistered steel; also household goods and kitchen fur- niture, consisting of four feather beds with suitable bed- ding, bedsteads, with many other articles.


The works and buildings are pleasantly situated on the river aforesaid, (which abounds in plenty of fish) about one mile from the main ocean, commanding a fine prospect, and in short these works are allowed by competent judges, who have viewed the different salt works on the shore, to be equal if not superior to any in the state.


And on the 3d day of April next, will also be disposed of at public vendue, a grist-mill and saw-mill situate in Horner's Town, in the township of Upper-Freehold, and


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county aforesaid, on a fine stream of water; together with about 14 acres of land, part whereof good meadow, on which are erected a very commodious dwelling-house, two stories high, a good kitchen, and a convenient store for dry goods adjoining the same; Also a large store-house con- tiguous thereto, suitable for many purposes, a barn, shed and several other buildings, all very handy and con- venient for carrying on business extensively .- The grist- mill consists of one pair of stones and two boulting-mills, in tolerable good repair, capable of doing a great deal of business, having seven feet head and fall, and a constant stream in the dryest seasons, being in a good wheat country amidst a number of wealthy farmers, and a healthy sit- uation. The saw-mill is in good order, well fitted for sawing a large quantity of timber, having the same ad- vantage of the water as the grist-mill. A tumbler dam was erected in the best manner, and well secured with piling at this place last summer, which is sufficient to vent the water in the time of great freshes. These mills are distant from Bordentown about 14 miles, and from the above salt-works about 30 miles, from which a supply of grain may be furnished.


At the same time and place will likewise be disposed of at public sale, seven very good team horses, with suit- able gears, two four-horse waggons well ironed, and sundry other articles. The conditions will be made known, and attendance given in behalf of the proprietors on the days of sale, by


NATHANIEL LEWIS, JOSEPH NEWBOLD, JOHN KAIGHN.


N. B. All persons who have any demands on the Union Salt-Works Company, are desired forthwith to bring them in to the subscribers, that they may be discharged; and those indebted are requested to pay, that all the accounts may be settled.


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Twenty Dollars Reward.


RANAWAY from the subscriber, on Monday the Sth inst. a negro man named TOM; a well set fellow, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high. Had on when he went away, a short bearskin coat, white vest, buckskin breeches, a round hat; he likewise took with him a brown coat lined with brown shalloon, one striped Damascus vest, and sundry other clothes.


Whoever takes up the said negro man, and brings him to his master, in Trenton, or secures him in any gaol so that his master may have him again, shall be entitled to the above reward.


Samuel Henry.




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