USA > New Jersey > Extracts from American newspapers relating to New Jersey > Part 37
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William Lawrence Blair was a son of the Rev. John Blair, who was at one time the Vice-President of the College of New Jersey, and acting President. He studied law after his graduation, and removed to Ken- tucky, where he is supposed to have died.
Mathias Burnet, a native of Bottle Hill (now Madison), N. J., studied theology with Dr. Witherspoon, and was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church at Jamaica, Long Island, by the Presbytery of New York, April, 1775. Here he exercised his ministry during the whole of the Revolutionary war. He left Jamaica in 1785, and was settled over a Congregational church in Norwalk, Connecticut, in which year he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Yale. He con- tinued in Norwalk until his death, which occurred June 30, 1806.
William Channing became a distinguished lawyer at Newport. R. 1., and was at one time United States District Attorney for that State. He was the father of William Ellery Channing the elder. He died in 1793.
John Davenport was a son of the Rev. James Davenport, of Southold, Long Island. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Suffolk, June 4, 1775, and served the Congregation in Southold, Long Island, for two years. On the 12th of August, 1795, he was settled at Deerfield, New Jersey, but resigned in 1805 on account of failing health. He died July 13. 1821.
John Rodgers Davies. a son of President Samuel Davies, of Princeton, studied law and practiced in Sussex county, Virginia. He died in 1836.
Peter Dewitt studied theology under the Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston, and was licensed as a preacher by the General Meeting of Ministers and Elders of the Reformed Dutch Church, in 1778. From 1787 to 1798 he was pastor of the Reformed Dutch churches of Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck Flats and Upper Red Hook, New York, and from 1799 to 1809 he was pastor of the churches of Ponds and Wyckoff, Bergen county, New Jer- sey. He died in 1809.
John Henry represented Maryland in the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1781, and again from 1784 to 1787. In 1789 he was elected to the first Senate of the United States under the Constitution. In 1797
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Mr. Caleb Cooper, a Bachelor of King's College, New- York, was admitted Ad Eundem. The Degree of Master of Arts, was conferred upon Twenty-one Gentlemen, Alumni of this College; and also John Hancock, Esq; and Mr. Thomas Brattle, who having been graduated Masters in Harvard and in Yale Colleges, were compli- mented by Admission Ad Eundem. A Degree, Honoris Causa, was also conferred upon William Hyslop, Esq; The College was pleased to compliment John Dickinson, Esq; and Joseph Galloway, Esq; of Philadelphia, with a Doctorship of Lazes.
he resigned his seat in the Senate to accept the office of Governor of Maryland. He died December 28, 1820.
Thomas Melville was the son of Allan Melville, a merchant of Boston, and was himself a merchant there. He took an active part in the Rev- olutionary war, and was Naval Officer of the Port of Boston, 1789-1829. He died in 1832.
Samuel Niles, a brother of Nathaniel Niles, of the class of 1766, was born at Braintree, Mass., December 14, 1743. He studied theology with Dr. Bellamy, and was licensed to preach, November 7, 1770. He was pastor of a church at Abington, Mass., 1771-1811. He died January 16, 1814.
Samuel Stanhope Smith, a son of the Rev. Robert Smith, a distin- guished clergyman of the Presbyterian church, was born in Lancaster county, Pa .. March 16, 1750. After graduating from Princeton College. in 1769, he returned to his father's house, assisting him in a school, and giving special attention to belles-lettres and moral and intellectual philosophy. In 1770 he was appointed tutor at Princeton, where he re- mained three years. In 1773 he was licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle, Del., and went as a missionary to Virginia, where he soon be- came a universal favorite. In order to keep him in Virginia, funds were collected, and Hampden Sidney College was founded, of which he became President. In 1779 he was invited to the chair of moral phil- osophy at Princeton, which he accepted. On arriving at Princeton, he found the affairs of the College in a deplorable condition, occasioned by the war, and the occupation of Dr. Witherspoon in the higher affairs of the nation. Mainly by the energy, wisdom and self-devotion of Dr. Smith, the College was speedily reorganized, and its usual exercises re- sumed. In 1794 Dr. Witherspoon died, and Dr. Smith succeeded him in the Presidential chair. His reputation as a pulpit orator at this time was very great. Visitors from Philadelphia and New York were ac- customed to go to Princeton to hear his baccalaureate discourses, which were always of the highest order. In 1802, when the institution was at the full-tide of its prosperity, the College edifice was destroyed by fire. with the libraries, furniture, etc. Dr. Smith assumed the labor of col- lecting money to rebuild; and he was successful in raising, during the year, about $100,000 from the Southern States, and much more from other parts of the Union. In 1812, through repeated strokes of palsy. he became too much enfeebled to discharge the duties of his office, and at the Commencement he sent in to the Trustees his resignation. He died August 21. 1819, in the seventieth year of his age. He was a vol- uminous and able writer.
Elihu Thayer was born in Massachusetts. After leaving college, he engaged for some time in teaching. Subsequently he was licensed as a preacher, and supplied a church in Newburyport, Mass. On the 18th of December, 1776, he was ordained as pastor over the Congregational church in Kingston, New Hampshire. In 1801 he was elected President of the New Hampshire Missionary Society. He died April 3, 1812.
David Zubley was a lawyer in Georgia and was a Representative in the Provincial Congress of that State. He probably left the Colonies early in the Revolution.
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The Entertainment of the Day, was very agreeably opened and closed with vocal Music, performed in three Parts, by the Students.
After an Anthem in the Morning, Mr. Smith pro- nounced a salutatory Latin Oration. This was followed by a Latin Dissertation, delivered by Mr. Burnet, upon this Thesis. Multa Vitia sibi mutuo repugnant, nec simul con- sistere possunt, ut Avaritia & Profusio, &c. Nulla vero Virtus injuriam patitur ab altera, sed potius omnis Virtus, ab omni virtute, corroboratur, illustiratur, &c. angetur; ut Justitia a Miserecordia, Magnanimitas a Manfuctu- dine. To this succeeded an English Dispute upon the fol- lowing Thesis. Material Substance really exists without the Mind. Mr. MacDougal, who first spoke, denied the Proposition; which was vindicated by Mr. Zubly; and his Vindication was considered and opposed by Mr. Da- vies. The next in Order was a Latin Syllogistic Debate, in which Mr. Blair maintained,-Magnitudinem, Distan- tiam & Figuram esse proprie, non Objecta Visus, sed tan- tum Tactus. Messrs. Brevard and Dewitt, were his oppo- nents. An English Oration on ŒECONOMY, pronounced with applauded Elocution by Mr. Wilcox, was the next Entertainment. After which. the Morning Exercises were concluded by an Anthem.
In the Afternoon, the Exercise being introduced with Music, Mr. Channing pronounced an English Oration upon Oratory. After this, Mr. Niles endeavoured to shew, That Ridicule was not the Test of Truth. His Ar- guments were considered by Mr. Beatty, who attempted to evince the contrary. Mr. Davenport replied to his Ob- jections, and supported the Thesis. Next followed an English Dialogue, on the State of political Affairs, and pronounced between Messrs. Linn, M'Dougal, and Mel- vill. And then the Master's Oration, on the Advancement
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of Science in America, was delivered by Mr. Smith. After conferring the Degrees, Mr. Henry pronounced an Eng- lish valedictory Oration elegantly composed, and patheti- cally delivered; which, with Vocal Music, concluded the Exercises of the Commencement. The Performances of the young Gentlemen, gave universal Pleasure to a crowded Audience.
We hear the Commissioners for settling the Division Line between New-York and New-Jersey, broke up on Saturday last, after giving Judgment where the Line should run, but we [are] told it was so much to the Dissatisfaction of both Parties, that they intend to appeal Home to his Majesty and Council .- The New York Ga- sette or Weekly Post Boy, No. 1397, October 9, 1769.
New-York, October 12. On Tuesday last at Powlas Hook Races, four Horses started for £. 50 Purse, (the best two of three Heats of 3 Miles each. ) which was won by Mr. ANTHONY RUTGER's, (junr) Horse Luggs. Mr. MORRIS HAZARD'S Horse Partner, had the Misfortune in the last Heat to run over a Dog, which occasioned him to fall and throw his Rider, ( who was much hurt) otherwise it was doubtful which of the two would have won, Partner having won the second Heat .- Extraordinary Supplement to The New York Journal or General Advertiser, No. 1397, October 12, 1769.
On Wednesday, the 4th Instant, the CORPORATION, lately erected in the Provinces of New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, "for the Relief of the Widows and Chil- "dren of Clergymen in the Communion of the Church of "England in America" consisting of the Episcopal Clergy, and several of the principal Gentlemen of the Laity, of the Provinces aforesaid, convened at BURLINGTON; where,
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having prepared some Articles relative to their Institu- tion, and presented an Address of Thanks to his Excel- lency Governor FRANKLIN, which he received and an- swered, in a very obliging Manner, they adjourned to this City [Philadelphia ], in order to have a Majority of Mem- bers, to settle their Plan, &c. And on Tuesday last, at II o'Clock, the Corporation proceeded to CHRIST CHURCH, where an excellent, catholic and truly pathetic Discourse, adapted to the Occasion, was delivered by the Rev. Dr. SMITH, Provost of the College of Philadelphia, before a polite and attentive Auditory. - - - After the Service a generous Collection was made at the Church Door, for the Benefit of the Institution.
The Corporation then waited, in a Body, upon his Honour the Governor of this Province, with an Address of Thanks for the Readiness and Chearfulness with which, upon their first Application, he had granted them a Char- ter: To which Address his Honour was pleased to re- turn a kind Answer, and to favour them with his Com- pany at Dinner : - After which, several fundamen- tal Laws and Constitutions, for the well-ordering and managing the Affairs of the Corporation, were framed and settled, 38 Members being present.
The Fall Fair at Princetown will be held on Wed- nesday and Thursday next, being the 18th and 19th In- stant .- The Pennsylvania Gasette, No. 2129, October 12, 1769.
Tuesday, September 26. The Grammar School, kept in Nassau-Hall, was publicly examined. Several of the Trustees of the College, and a number of other gentlemen were present. The exercises were introduced by Master David Witherspoon, with a salutatory latin oration. This was followed by an English Oration, delivered by Master
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James Beckman. The Members of the School, were then examined on those authors they had read the preceding year. After which Master John Witherspoon delivered a latin valedictory Oration, and Master William Beckman concluded the whole with one in English. The Exercises were conducted with great decorum. The Gentlemen who were pleased to favour the School with their attendance, expressed their approbation of the rapid improvement, and accurate knowledge of the youth, in the highest terms. -The Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1401, October 12, 1769.
BURLINGTON (NEW-JERSEY) October 19.
The following are all the Circumstances we have been able to collect, relative to the inhuman Murder committed last Friday Morning, at the Lake, about 25 miles from Gloucester, in the Jersies. About 4 o'Clock in the Morn- ing, the Man (a Person in good Circumstances) got out of Bed, and went up Stairs to a Negro Wench, and in- quired after some Leading Lines, telling her that he in- tended to have a Butcher that Day in the House; he then went down Stairs, and shot his Wife with some Buckshot, which not immediately killing her, the Wound being in the Shoulder, he beat her Brains out with the But End of the Musket. The Report of the Musket alarmed the Negro Wench, who directly sprang out of a Window, one Story high, rushed into the Room, where she saw her Mis- tress wallowing in her Blood; she forced the Musket out of her Master's Hands, and ran to the first Neighbour's House, seven Miles distant, whom she informed of this dreadful Affair. When they came to the House, they found the Woman lying as the Negro had left her, and tracing a Track of Blood into the Barn, they found the Man hanging .- The unfortunate Wife had prepared a Quantity of Butter, two Bucks, &c. to bring to the next
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Market at Philadelphia, and had managed a Dairy of 40 Cows .- Jealousy, we hear, was the Occasion of this fatal Affair. The Man bore the Character of being very desperate, and had twice before attempted to shoot his Wife.
TO BE SOLD, at private sale, five hundred acres of land, situate on Alloway's Creek, about ten miles from Salem, in West New Jersey. There are above 200 acres of up- land, a large quantity of woodland, at one end may be made near 100 acres of meadow, and at the other end about 100 acres of salt marsh. For further particulars inquire of Jost Miller, in Mannington Township.
WHEREAS LILLEYAN, the Wife of John Walker, of Alloway's Creek, in the county of Salem, West Jersey, hath sundry times left me, her said husband, and threat- ens to run me in debt; these are therefore, to forewarn all persons from trusting her on my account, for I will pay no debts of her contracting after the date hereof, given under my hand, this 16th day of October, 1769.
JOHN WALKER.
Trenton, in the Western Division of New-Jersey.
THERE is now in my custody a Negro, who calls him- self PETER, upwards of forty years of age, about 5 feet 7 inches high; he was taken up in a seafaring dress, with a white hat, red lining, yellow loop and button, who says he is a slave to John Christian, of Bridgetown, Barbados, who was shipped, by said master, on board the brig Peggy, William Jenkins, Master, bound to Philadelphia, who with two other servants, ran away, when the said brig was bound to Barbados again.
PETER HANKINSON, Goaler. -The Pennsylvania Chronicle, No. 145, October 16- 23, 1769.
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Extract of a Letter from Newbern in North-Carolina, September 24, 1769.
"Since mine to you per Capt. Snow, I have been a great sufferer by a violent hurricane, which began on Thursday the 7th inst. about six o'clock in the evening. The following vessels were drove from their anchors into the woods on high land, viz. Sloop Polly, Jonathan Spinnage, Elizabeth-Town.
To the PUBLIC. The GRAMMAR SCHOOL, At NEW-BRIDGE, HACKINSACK, Is CARRIED ON By FRANCIS BARBER, LATE ASSISTANT To Mr. Voorhees,
In the same approved Manner as formerly, under the Inspection of its first Managers.
CARE and Diligence will be used in forming the Minds of Youth to Virtue and Morality, as well as instructing them in the Languages. Many respectable Families will take in Youths to board, on the most reasonable Terms, to encourage thie said School.
Book-keeping, Merchants Accounts, and Mathematicks,
Are likewise carefully taught in the best and most ap- proved Methods, by TERENCE REILLY, (at stated Hours to those who are prosecuting their Latin and Greek Stud- ies, if required) as well as to others who shall choose to be instructed in those Branches only.
The Subscriber does not in the least doubt but all who shall please to favour him with the Instruction of their Children, will be pleased with their Progress in Learning; for the strictest Attention, Care, and Diligence will be observed in all Respects, by their most obedient humble Servant,
FRANCIS BARBER
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To be sold, a likely young Negro WENCH, fit for Town or Country Business. Enquire of Reuben Runyon, at New-Brunswick.
To be sold at public vendue, at the merchant's coffee- house, in the city of New-York, on Monday the 14th day of November next, at twelve of the clock in the forenoon.
A TRACT of Wood-land situate and being about six miles from the city of New-Brunswick, in the county of Middlesex, and province of East New-Jersey, containing eight hundred and seven acres and a half. The conditions of the sale will be published at the time of the vendue. The land lies upon the Post Road that leads from New- York through New-Jersey to Pennsylvania .- The New York Gazette and Weekly Post Boy, No. 938, October 16, 1769.
To his Excellency WILLIAM FRANKLIN, Esq; Gover- nor in Chief, the Honourable his Majesty's Council, and the Honourable House of Representatives of the Colony of New-Jersey, in General Assembly to sit at Burlington, the 10th Octo. 1769.
Y OUR Petitioners are deeply affected with a sense of the deplorable state of this county and province in general, arising, as we apprehend, partly from the excessive scarcity of money and decay of trade : But chiefly from the multiplicity of Law Suits, mostly for debt, which like an overflowing stream have deluged the land, and ruined hundreds of families, for- merly in easy circumstances, and swept away their livings and estates; and yet threatens destruction and desolation to many more in every part of the province. Government and Law, your petitioners know are absolutely necessary
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to our existence, as a society, yet we apprehend the wel- fare and prosperity of the common wealth and of individ- uals, depends upon the easy distribution of justice, agree- able to law; and this again depends much, if not alto- gether upon the capacities, honour, integrity, and love of justice in lawyers. But were all attorneys or practitioners of law, possessed of those amiable virtues, as some indeed are, that will not be concerned in matters without cause, or bring actions, but with great caution and not with greediness, we should hardly hear of so many lamentable complaints of actions, brought both with, and without foundation, attended with extraordinary and amazing cost, often amounting to double, and sometimes more than treble the debt. Neither should we behold with concern in causes at issue, such procrastinations of trials for two, or three years and upwards, in which, perhaps the attor- nies on both sides have not disagreed.
Your petitioners beg leave further to observe, that be- fore the late act of 7. Geo. III. It is notorious certioraries, were become extremely numerous, tending to the obstruc- tion of justice in small causes at issue before justices of the peace, by which means many have suffered and even lost their just demands : Since that restrant, lawyers have found out another expedient, and that is, to bring writs of replevin to restore goods and chattels to defendants, that were taken in execution on justices' warrants legally is- sued.
Your petitioners doubt not, but those writs are writs of right, for goods unlawfully detained or arbitrarily dis- trained for rent or otherwise. But, with submission we conceive not for goods under execution or judgments for- mally and lawfully obtained, which in our apprehension looks more like perverting of justice, than to advance or maintain it; what can this therefore proceed from? we
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suppose, not from ignorance, but from merely mercenary motives, to raise bills of cost at any rate, no matter how.
For remedy against those evils and to redress the heavy grievances complained of, your petitioners with great humility and respect would propose, that a reform should be made in the practitioner's fees, lessened if possible, or at least better ascertained; for by the act as it now stands, the gentlemen of the law have too great liberty to swell their bills, which if exorbitant cannot easily be detected; But if that cannot be done as that law is circumstanced, that upon presentation of bills of cost for taxation, they should make oath to this purpose, that the charges in such bill were for services actually done and also necessary to be done in the cause.
That the much beneficial and salutary law for the trial of small causes, by justices of the peace for and under six pounds, may be enlarged to fifteen pounds, That the attor- nies be restrained from bringing writs not warranted by law, or grievous to the subject, That if possible an emis- sion of paper currency may be made to be let out upon loan, on land security, That the county of Middlesex may be eased of its heavy load of taxes, That a revision may be made of former laws, some of which are inutile, others not clear and intelligible to answer their design.
The several matters above mentioned your petitioners humbly conceive justly merit the legislative attention, and calls for speedy redress, which that it may be granted, we. as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.
To John Wetherill and Rune Runyon, Esqrs, Representa- tives in General Assembly, for the County of Middlesex.
WE your constituents, the freeholders of Middlesex county, think it our indispensable duty at this time, and claim it as our indubitable right to instruct you as our
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representatives in the General Assembly, to sit at Burling- ton the Ioth of Octo. 1769.
I. That you exert yourselves by all means in your power to cultivate and strengthen that harmony and union at present happily subsisting with the neighbouring col- onies, in supporting and maintaining our invaluable con- stitutional rights and privileges transmitted to us, against all invasions.
2. That you use utmost endeavours to have all griev- ances redressed, both in the county and province in gen- eral.
3. That you endeavour after better security, as well as œconomy, and an equal distribution of the public money.
4. That you exert all your power and influence, as much as possible, to lessen the number of law suits, espe- cially in actions for debt, lowering the excessive charge upon such actions, and limiting and fixing the same to a certain sum, which it should not exceed. But if this can- not be done, then to endeavour for a law to swear every Attorney to the truth of, and the necessity of the charges in his bill.
5. That you use your utmost endeavours to get the beneficial and salutary law for the trial of small causes, by justices of the peace, enlarged, from six to fifteen pound at least.
6. That you use your interest and influence to obtain a law to suppress all illegal and groundless writs of re- plevin, or otherwise, to vex and obstruct the course of pro- ceedings established by law, on trials by single Magis- trates.
7. That you endeavour after getting all former laws revised, that those which are useless or hurtful may be laid aside, and that other necessary laws may be made
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clear, distinct, and intelligible to the meanest capacity, in which consists their beauty and excellence.
8. That you use your power and interest to get an emission of paper currency, to be let out on land security.
9. That you exert your utmost abilities and influence, to obtain a mitigation of the unreasonable burdens upon this county, on account of the repeated heavy taxes, and perpetual annual expence it labours under, which at pres- ent lies very unequal.
THE Attendance of several of the Proprietors of East New-Jersey, on the Settlement of the Line of Partition between the Provinces of New-York, and New-Jersey, having rendered their Meeting in Council at the stated Time in September impracticable, and the General Interest of the Proprietors requiring a Meeting as soon as con- veniently may be; by the Approbation and at the Request of a Majority of the Members, I do appoint Tuesday the Fourteenth Day of November next, for the Meeting of the said Proprietors in Council, at Perth-Amboy, of which all Persons concerned are desired to take Notice.
JAMES PARKER, President.
Perth-Amboy, Octo. 16th, 1769.
By the HONOURABLE JOHN PENN, Esq; Lieutenant Governor, etc. of the Province of Pennsyl- vania etc.
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS by an Act of General Assembly of this Prov- ince, passed in the third Year of his present Majesty's Reign, entituled "An Act for the Preservation of Fish in the Rivers Delaware, Sasquehanna, and the Lehigh, com-
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monly called The Western Branch of Delaware," it was, among other things enacted, that if any Person or Per- sons whatsoever, after the Publication thereof, should erect, build, or set up, repair or maintain, or should be aiding, assisting, or abetting in erecting, building, setting up, repairing or maintaining any Wear, Rack, Baskets, Fishing Dam, Pound, or other Device whatsoever,
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