USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. IV > Part 25
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THE WELL BRED HORSE
FRANCE,
W ILL cover the ensuing season at the house of Doctor Melanthen Freeman, in Piscataway, at four hard dollars the season, or the exchange at forty for one; or three dollars in the old way .- France was got by the noted horse Wilkes, the property of General Heard; his dam was 34 ths blooded, got by Old Hero, the property of Mr. Smith in Elizabeth Town; which makes him 7-8ths blooded. His colts, added to his own beauty, will recom- mend him as a covering horse equal to any in the state.
N. B. The money to be paid at the stable door, where attendance will be given by
RALPH MARSH.
April 25, 1780.
To be sold at public Vendue,
On the premises, and immediate possession given, on Sat- urday the 29th instant, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon ;
A Small plantation in the township of Bedminster, and county of Somerset, containing 30 acres, a quarter of a mile from Lamington meeting-house, four from the White-house, and five from Pluck'emin. There is on said farm a good framed house, with four fire places, a cellar under it, and a well of water before the
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door; also a framed barn, a small orchard of apple, peach, cherry, and pear trees, some meadow, the rest good plough land. Any person desirous of viewing the same before the day of sale, may apply to the subscriber on the prem- ises, who will inform them of the conditions of sale.
SUSANNAH LEAKE.
Lamington, April 25, 1780.
A LL persons indebted to the estate of Samuel Franklin Parker, of Woodbridge, in the county of Middlesex, deceased, on bond, bill or book-debt, are requested to make immediate payment; and all those who have any demands against said estate, are requested to bring their accounts, properly attested, to have them settled.
ELIAS WINNS, Executor.
To be sold, on Monday the 8th day of May next, at the house of Col. Samuel Crow, in Woodbridge, where Ebenezer Ford lately lived, by the subscribers, Commissioners of forfeited estates, in the county of Middlesex, the following houses and lots of land ;
A House and lot of land in Amboy, late of John Smith; a house and lot, late of Thomas Skinner ; a house and lot, late of Philip Kearney, jun. the third part of a large house and lot, late of Stephen Skin- ner; one lot of salt meadow, late of Stephen Skinner, lying in Woodbridge; one lot of salt meadow, late of Alexander Watson, in Woodbridge; one house and lot of land, late of David Gosling, in Amboy; a house and two lots of land, late of Isaac Bonnel, in Amboy ; a house and lot of land, late of Michael Kearney, in Amboy; a farm, late of Francis Kearney, near Amboy; a house and lot of land, late of John Thomson, boatman, in Amboy; a lot of land, late of William Wright, in Woodbridge; a lot of land adjoining said Wright's, late of Stephen Skinner; a
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house and lot of land in Woodbridge, late of Freemar Smith ; a house and lot of land, late of Benjamin Marsh ; a lot of land on the Sandhills, late of Nathaniel Harned, in Woodbridge; and the house and lands late of Peter, Andrew, and Oliver Barberie, in Amboy and elsewhere. The vendue will be continued by adjournments from day to day 'till all are sold. Attendance will be given, and conditions be made known by
WILLIAM MANNING, EBENEZER FORD, } Commissioners.
N. B. The vendue to begin at 1 o'clock in the after- noon of said day.
Middlesex, April 25, 1780.
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
TRAYED or stolen from the continental yard, on Saturday the 15th inst. a likely bay roan horse, about 14 hands high, black mane and tail, about seven years old, middling gay when first mounted, a small star in his forehead, some part of his mane grows on the . left side, he paces, trots, and gallops; his travelling gait is generally a trot. I dont recollect he had any perceive- ble brand. Whoever secures the horse, shall have one hun- dred and fifty dollars reward, and fifty dollars for the thief, and reasonable charges. The person who takes them up must apply at Col. Biddle's forage office, in the main army, for
WM. LAWRENCE.
Morris Town, April 25, 1780.
Do be sold at public vendue, on Saturday the 29th inst. at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a good set of BLACKSMITH'S TOOLS, for cash, by
FREDERICK KING.
Morris Town, April 18, 1780.
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YOUNG GRANBY,
W ILL cover the ensuing season at Col. Dunham's, Morris Town, for three hundred continental dol- lars, or six hard dollars, the season, the money to be paid when the mares are taken away.
YOUNG GRANDBY was got by the noted full blooded imported horse Old Grandby, and out of a Bully Rock mare, equal to any in the state. He is full fifteen hands and an inch high, seven-eighths blooded, a beautiful brown bay, with a star and snip, six years old this grass. Any gentleman who choose to send their mares to Young Granby may depend on the utmost care being taken of them.
PARTNER,
A BEAUTIFUL BAY HORSE,
RISING six years old, fifteen hands and one inch high, the property of JOHN BLANCHARD, will cover mares the ensuing season at said Blanchard's farm in Morris county, Hanover Township, in the State of New-Jersey, about two miles from Chatham, at FORTY SHILLINGS the season, to be paid in any kind of produce in the old way, or price it was at in 1775, or EIGHT HARD DOLLARS in money, or the exchange in Continental money when paid .- PARTNER was got by Old Figure, and his dam General Heard's Britannia, a full sister to True Briton, whose pedigrees and performances are so well known that it is needless to give any further pedigree of Partner; whose size, shapes, beauty, courage, and ac- tivity is allowed by the best judges equal, if not superior, to any horse in the State. Good pasture for mares and care taken of them.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
THE ELEGANT YOUNG HORSE BOLD FORESTER,
I S now in fine order, and will cover the ensuing season at the plantation of Joseph Halsey, about two miles from Springfield, on the road to Westfield, at TWENTY FIVE SHILLINGS in any kind of grain, at the old price; FIVE HARD DOLLARS, or the exchange in Conti- nental money, to be paid by the 1st of July next .- BOLD FORESTER is five years old this grass, sixteen hands high, well set for his height, and is allowed, by good judges, to be as good moving, gay, and handsome a horse as any in the State. This colt is a beautiful sorrel, his hind feet both white, has a star and a snip, was got by Bold Ferester, esteemed the best full blooded horse ever imported to America, out of a thoroughly bred mare; his colts are re- markable for size, beauty, and high courage. All persons that choose to have their mares covered by said horse, shall have a good pasture provided at a reasonable rate, and at- tendance given by Daniel Halsey, Junr.
A Boarding School
W ILL be opened on Monday the 24th instant. Gen- tlemen and ladies choosing to send their children, may have them taught reading and needle-work by FANNY BRYANT, Late from New-York.
For particulars enquire at her house where Col. Dayton formerly lived in Elizabeth Town.
April 18, 1780.
-The New-Jersey Journal, April 26, 1780, Vol. II., Numb. LXIII.
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TO BE SOLD,
About one hundred and fifty acres of GOOD WOOD LAND, in Burlington county, New-Jersey, on Mount- Holly Creek, and very near the town. Enquire of the Printers.
-The Pennsylvania Gazette, April 27, 1780.
For the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
-- "Nos in mare proximum, Gemmas ct lapides aurum, et inutile "Summi mattcriam mali, Mittamus. Hor.
I N all countries where war has been carried on by a subordinate state against the supreme and superintending power in a con- test for liberty, the evils and misfortunes which such inferior states have suffered before they attained their point, have been in- numerable and almost inexpressibly great. In the long war between the seven United Provinces and Spain, the Dutch were often worsted in battle, and the Prince of Orange obliged to leave the country ; which was overrun by an army inured to plunder, and the most cruel and inhuman devastations. The Prince, however, collected his broken troops, recruited them, and, after repeated attempts, at length forced his way again into the provinces, which had been ravaged by the enemy ; the cities were plundered, the fields laid waste, and the in- habitants murdered and destroyed by that inhuman monster the Duke of Alva, who boasted that he had put 18,000 persons to death during his administration.
The Swiss Cantons also obtained their liberty by their courage and conduct in the wars they had with the House of Austria, with whom they fought sixty battles. When I consider these facts, and compare the happy situation of America with the miserable state of those coun- tries in their contentions for liberty, I am sincerely grateful to the all wise disposer of human events for the manifold instances of his pro- tection extended to us.
In the course of the present just and necessary war, the situation of our affairs forced us upon many expedients, in order to our defence, one of which was, as we had no treasure in silver or gold, to strike paper money to defray the expences of the military arrangements.
At that time it would have been imprudent and impolitick to have taxed in order to raise funds for this purpose. I look upon it that it was a master-stroke of policy not to have attempted it; for as the sources of trade were almost dried up, and our commerce greatly interrupted at sea by the enemy's cruizers, the money which lay in
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[1780
the pockets of the people was thought necessary to their affairs; and as the event of the experiment we were about to try was then very uncertain, it was thought best rather to carry on the war by emis- sions of paper than by taxes.
The recommendation of Congress to the several states to make this money legal tender, was just and proper at the time of passing it, because the continental money was at par with silver and gold; but the moment it began to depreciate the resolve should have been quali- fied so far that it should not have affected the honor and mutual faith of parties, pledged to each other in their private contracts, to which the old laws were guarantees: It should have said that every con- tract of a private nature made heretofore, at, and after this time, shall stand on its own nature and principles, and the performance be enforced accordingly. For there is nothing more dangerous to a state than to sanctify by formal acts the breach of the faith of private agreements and contracts. Besides the injustice and cruelty attend- ing such practices, it has a most pernicious effect in destroying the principles and morals of the people, the maintenance of which is the chief design and end of all good gouvernment ; by degrees rooting out every just principle from the minds of men, and of course all liberal and noble thoughts ; it aims a deadly blow at liberty itself.
Even those laws, deriving their force from the law of nature, ought ever to cease to be as soon as they cease to be necessary ; and it is as contrary to the law of nature to enforce laws when the reasons of making them cease, as it is to enact laws for which there is no cause at all, or an ill cause. And to do this, as an eminent writer says, "would be to subject reason to force, and to apply a penalty where "there is no crime."
From this principal then I assert that the tender law ought to be repealed, instantly repealed, that justice may be enforced by the laws, and that wicked and designing men may be prevented in future from drawing advantage to themselves from so iniquitous and unjust a power with which this law invests them.
Before the war, when money was lent on bond or mortgage, it had some kind of standard value when compared with the value of lands, and the necessaries of life; and the honor of the obligor or mort- gagor was tacitly pledged to make this value good: For, "the essence "of right and wrong does not depend upon the words and clauses in- "serted in a code or statute-book, much less upon the conclusions and "explications of lawyers and statesmen, but upon reason and the "nature of things."
The tender law, so inadequate to the purpose of keeping up the credit of the money, so full of injustice and destruction of moral honesty, is nevertheless continued in force, to the terror of many well affected families whose sole dependence, nay existence, is upon the mercy of the debtor. And what is still more insupportable, there are yet many creditors, who if paid in the present money, will be ruined ; or, if not paid, will become bankrupts, from an incapacity to fulfil their contracts and discharge their debts. What is this but putting,
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as it were, a two edged sword in the hands of the debtor against the naked and defenceless creditor. In truth the tender law is, at this time the most iniquitous of all laws. I am informed by a gentleman of the bar it amounts to an annihilation of all debts under an hun- dred pounds, where the debtor refuses payment; for the fees and charges and expences of attendance at court, arising in the course of a suit at law for such sum, (no inconsiderable one, if an old debt) actually swallow up the greater part of it: So that the dreadful havock made of fortune, acquired in a course of honest industry, by the wicked and unjust part of the community is truly deplorable, and demands a speedy and effectual remedy from the legislatures of the several states.
I have heard I confess with horror the language of some inter- ested men, in opposition to the repeal of this law. They alledge that the mischief is nearly at an end, and for this reason 'tis unnecessary .- This mode of reasoning may suit some sort of people, but does not comport with the character of honesty or feeling, which if those per- sons have not, they ought for the honour of humanity to affect .- If there is one man in this state (and there are thousands) who is so unhappy as to be in this dreadful predicament, he has a right to effectual justice in his case.
I have heard of another reason against the repeal of the tender law in a neighbouring state, which if there be any foundation for it, is an indelible blot upon the reputations of some of the members of that legislature : It is, that they will not repeal the act because they have not yet discharged their private debts. I wish and hope this may be ill founded, and that it may be fully shewn by their conduct at the next, sitting. This law has been long since repealed in the minds of all honest men, who will not, who cannot, take advantage of it, and lies open to rogues and knaves only ; which is giving a license to the worst men in the community to destroy the best.
I will now bestow a few words on the new plan of finance lately adopted by Congress.
Two hundred millions of dollars at one for forty falls to the incon- siderable sum of five millions of dollars; I call it inconsiderable, be- cause it is of no consequence when regarded as a national debt upon the thirteen states.
After the taxes for the next twelve-month have been collected, little or none of the present money will remain in circulation, and the new money to be issued upon the credit of the respective states must of necessity preserve its value; because considerable sums will be annually sunk by taxes, which will ever keep down the quantity.
At this time, when the continental money is sixty for one, Con- gress resolve to receive it in taxes at forty for one, which is giving an advantage of one-third or half a crown in each dollar. And by a table just framed by Congress, it appears that the strictest general justice is done the holders of certificates for loans of money to the public, nay, an advantage is given them which few private men would allow.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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I shall only mention here one instance of the truth of what I have said ; which is, that it appears from this table that money lent to the public in January last, when the exchange with respect to gold and silver was fifty for one; is valued at 35 30/100 continental for one, hard money, which yields a profit to the lender (not reckoning the fraction ) of eight shillings and six-pence in the pound, or forty-two pounds ten shillings in the value of every hundred pounds hard money placed in the funds at that period; so that the monied man who invested five thousand pounds continental money in gold and silver, could purchase no more with it than one hundred, whilst he who lent it to the public will have the same sum of five thousand pounds continental estimated at one hundred and forty-two pounds ten shillings hard money, and no doubt receive the usual interest for it.
It's true Congress have promised the lenders of money to make the sum good in the terms of the bills; and had a peace taken place about that time, I do not entertain a doubt it would have been done : But the continuance of the war, the arts of the disaffected and inter- ested, added to the inexperience and incapacity of public bodies, and particularly the wretched arrangements of the staff of the army, many of the subordinate parts of which have been filled with the needy, and persons reduced in their fortunes, who have been employed to pur- chase the public supplies upon commission; those have been the efficient causes of the depreciation of the money below what the quan- tity in circulation would naturally have produced. And I have heard some unthinking persons lay the whole blame upon Congress, but tho' no doubt a part of it ought to fall to their share, yet the other causes I have mentioned have been strongly combined with those that have taken their rise from that body.
Let any man of sober reason and candour only take a comparative view of the morals and conduct of the people at this time, and at the commencement of the war-Not only a steady and firm attachment to the glorious cause of freedom, but the most generous and heroick resolution to risque all, prevailed generally throughout the states- Property, and even life itself, were nothing, when opposed to the value of the blessings we were contending for .- But alas! the case is now greatly altered. The allurements of pleasure, and the uni- versal rage for money, have almost bereaved us of our senses ; and nothing but the appearance of the enemy on our borders will quench these passions, and call forth that patriot spirit for which the people of this country have been so remarkably distinguished. It has been a most salutary remedy for evils of this nature in most of the com- monwealths of the ancient and modern world, when torn by civil dis- sentions, emasculated by luxury and ease, and running into a general corruption of manners. Liberty is a most invaluable blessing, with- out which property is of little estimation-for "what right," as a great man asks, "can we have in that which another may take from "us at will, and without our consent?"-It is possible we may again, before the conclusion of the war, be put to the proof: It is therefore
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the interest of every man on this extensive continent within the United States, and who wishes well to his country, to join in every public measure calculated for its safety, as is this plan of Congress.
It may be alledged that these sentiments have taken rise from in- terested motives; I never delivered a public sentiment with a view to my private emolument, and it is certain I have had my full share of the hopes and misfortunes incident to the times.
CREON.
TRENTON, APRIL. 27.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman at Philadelphia, to his friend in this town, April 19, 1780.
"Exchange lowers here ;- money appreciates ;- goods fall. I have the fullest conviction that the resolutions of Congress on the 18th of March ult.1 are right. They will do more good than all that has been attempted hitherto. I am sure if the legislatures do but apprehend them rightly, they will come into the plan. Everything upon the subject will meet with opposers, and I do not say this is unobjec- tionable; but I must beg leave to go so far as to observe I have seen nothing yet which is less liable to exception. It will be greatly beneficial if we give it fair play. It is said to be favourable to the landholders, and unfavourable to the monied interest. For my part I see very little footing for this distinction in America; if there is any, the latter is so very inconsiderable when compared with the former, that I am very positive the former ought, while we deal in generals, to be looked upon as the community. Money also is so very equally distributed, that I believe the landed men have as much as the traders."
Since our last the Maryland Line, under the command of Brigadier-General GIST,2 marched through this town, on their way to the Southward. The troops made a very mar- tial appearance.
1 See Sparks. 3: 490, 492; Bancroft, 10: 401; Fiske's American Revo- lution, illustrated ed., 2: 200 et seqq.
2 Mordecai Gist, Captain Baltimore Independent Company, July, 1775, by various promotions rose to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Con- tinental Army, January 9th, 1779. He served to the close of the war, and died July 9th, 1792.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
TO BE SOLD,
By the subscriber, in Somerset county,
A LOT of woodland, containing 24 acres and 9-10ths, laying within one mile of John Sentney's mill, known by the name of the Rock-mill .- Any person may view the lot, and know the terms, by applying to,
DAVID COVENHOVEN. Blaumburgh,1 April 24, 1780.
One Hundred Dollars Reward.
S TRAYED away from the subscriber, living in Maiden- head, on the 14th of this instant, a sorrel MARE with
a white face, long tail, three years old this grass; she hath not yet been broke, and is supposed to be somewhere in the neighbourhood .- Whoever will bring the said mare to her owner, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
THOMAS TOBIN.
Maidenhead, April 25th, 1780.
State of New-Jersey, April 22, 1780. TO BE SOLD,
At publick vendue, at the Forks of Little Egg-Harbour river, on Thursday the 4th of May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the same day, the SLOOP Dispatch or Speedwell; together with her tackle, apparel, and furni- ture. Also sundry merchandize taken in the said sloop, captured by Capt. William Treen, in the schooner Rattle- snake.
By order of his Honor the Judge of the Admiralty.
ZA. ROSSELL, Marshall.
1 Blawenburgh.
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JOSEPH MILNOR,
1
Has for SALE, at his Store in TRENTON, B OHEA and Congo tea; coffee, chocolate, sugar, pepper, indigo; linens, gauzes, chintzes; silk, linen, and cotton handkerchiefs; pins; German and country steel; bar iron and nails; coarse and fine salt; inch and 3-4ths pine and cedar boards; wool cards and white lead.
T THE TRUSTEES of Queens College in New-Jersey, are re- quested to meet at Hillsborough, in the county of Somerset, on Wednesday the 10th day of May next, on business of importance.
April 17, 1780.
By order JACOB R. HARDENBERGH, Clk.
Was taken up and delivered into my custody in the com- mon gaol at Trenton, the 28th day of March last, a new Negro Man that can scarcely speak a word of English, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, says (by an interpreter) that he is a free man, and was on his way to Guinea, calls his name Peter, supposed to be about 22 years old, and making his way to the enemy. His master is desired to prove his property, pay charges, and take him away, or he will be sold on Thursday the 18th day of May next, for the charges, by
JOSH. CORSHON, Sheriff. Trenton, April 5th, 1780.
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THE NOTED HORSE
OLD SCIPIO,
W ILL cover the ensuing season at the Subscriber's farm in Amwell, Hunterdon county, at the South Branch of Raritan, about two miles and a half from Flem- ington, at Two Pounds Five Shillings, in gold or silver, continental at the exchange, ready cash; wheat, rye, In- dian corn, buckwheat or oats will be taken in proportion. Scipio is so well known in this and the adjacent states, as needs no recommendation. Good pasture will be provided for mares, and proper care taken, by me.
April, 13, 1780.
JOHN READING.1
BAY RICHMOND,
W ILL cover at the farm of Mr. Noah Hunt in Hopewell, near Maidenhead, for Four Pounds the season, in gold or silver, to be paid at the stable-door, or in any kind of produce the old way, to be delivered as soon as the season will permit, or the value thereof in continental
1 Captain John Reading (son of John, son of Governor John, son of Colonel John Reading) was born in Hunterdon county, in 1751, and died there November 30th, 1820. In 1776 he was ensign in Captain Thomas Reading's Company ; was promoted second lieutenant in Captain Doughty's Company, third battalion, Second Establishment ; was com- missioned January 1st, 1777, first lieutenant Captain Cox's Company, same battalion. He retired from the army September 26th, 1780 .- Stry- ker's Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolution. In a law suit, in 1788, he is styled "Captain." His will, dated October 20th, 1815, was proved December 18th, 1820. He married, April 7th, 1772, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Hankinson, of Readington; she was born November 27th, 1748; died June 19th, 1817. Captain Reading and his wife are buried in the graveyard of the Amwell Presbyterian Church. They had five children, only one of whom married-Joseph Reading, born August 12th, 1778 ; married Eleanor Grandin, and died October 2d, 1853, having had seven children, six of whom married .- Genealogical and Biographical Memorials of the Reading [and other] Families, by J. Granville Leach. Philadelphia, 1897.
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