USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Bayonne > First history of Bayonne, New Jersey > Part 2
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Edsall is credited with being the first settler of Bayonne by George Scott, in a brochure entitled "The Model of the Govern- ment of the Province of East Jersey in America," published in Edinburgh in 1685. Giving a description of the country in 1680, he says :- "To goe back to the South the part of Berghen Neck, that is opposite Statin Island, where is but a narrow passage of water, which ebbs and flows between the said Island and Berghen Point, called Constable's Hook. There is a considerable planta- tion on that side of Constable's Hook, extending in land alone a mile over, from the Bay on the east side of the neck that leads to New York, to that on the west that goes to Hackensack and Snake Hill; the neck running up between both from the South to the North of Hudson River to the outmost extent of their bounds. There belongs to that plantation about 1,200 or 1,500 acres, and its well stockt and improved ; it was settled first by Samuel Edsall in Colonel Nichall's time, and by him sold 3 years ago (1682) for 600 lib. There are other small Plantations along that neck to the east between it and a little village of twenty families called by the Indians 'Penelipe' (meaning 'Pembrepogh'), then further on to another cottage (the Currie Homestead). There are more where Lawrence the Draper lives, a Dutchman ;* there may be 16 or 18 families. The greater part of the inhabitants which are
*This was Lawrens Andriesen, the founder of the Van Buskirk family. He came from Holstein, Denmark, in the summer of 1655. After his emi- gration here, he took the surname of Van Buskirk, the "Van" signifying 'from," and "Bos Kerck" meaning "church in the woods." In 1667 he purchased the tract of land previously granted to Claas Carstensen, the Norman, at Minkakwa, afterward called Greenville. He was prominent in Bergen public affairs, and was a member of the Court. He lived on the New York Bay Shore about where Linden Avenue now is. He died in 1694.
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BAYONNE.
in this Jurisdiction are Dutch, of which some have settled here upwards of 40 years agoe."
From Scott's description one would infer that in 1680 there were about forty families in Pamrapo and Greenville, but this seems to be exaggerated, and twenty families would be nearer the truth .* Pembrepogh had now grown to be quite a settle- ment. These thrifty and pertinacious Dutchmen had already opened up an extensive trade with the Indians. Money was almost unknown, the unit of value being a beaver skin, and the currency being provided by bits of clam and periwinkle shells deftly cut and polished. They traded honorably and gave and received fair values. Yankee tricks were unknown to them. They were slow to form new acquaintances, but were firm in their friendship. On early mornings, probably once a week, it was a common occurrence to see a group of Dutchmen with their sugar- loaf hats and leather breeches, together with their wives in their multiplied petticoats and other paraphernalia, entering skiffs on the New York Bay shore (near the "Bayswater") to convey them to New Amsterdam. There they would spend the day trading their fruit, vegetables, oysters and fish for clothing, beer, tools and the like, and gossiping with their friends. A road, or at least a path, led from this section over to Bergen Town, over which these settlers would travel occasionally for the same purpose that they went to New Amsterdam. Their homes were principally built of logs and stone, with mud filled in the cracks. They were a pretty good-natured lot, and so long as they had a fire to sit by, a pipe to smoke, a bed to sleep on and plenty of clams to eat, they were perfectly satisfied.
One of these Dutchmen was Joost Van der Linde (Van Der- linden), who owned property and lived in Pembrepogh in 1674.
*Scott's brochure was merely a "puff." and is somewhat inaccurate. Edsall sold this property in 1694, instead of in 1682, as Scott states.
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Another of these pioneer settlers was William Douglas (Doeck- less, Douckless), who lived at the same place about this time. He was elected to represent Bergen in the General Assembly of New Jersey in 1680, but was ruled out of that body because of his
I.H. Alexander. 04
Drawn by Edwin H. Alexander.
DUTCH ON PEMBREPOGH SHORE.
being a Roman Catholic. Gerrit Gerritse (Garretson van Wag- enen), an Associate Justice of the Court of Bergen, also lived in Pembrepogh about this time (1681), with his family. On March 17, 1696, Cornelius Jansen (Vreeland) purchased of William Douglas land at Pembrepogh, on which he afterwards lived.
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Other early settlers of Bergen, Pavonia, Pamrapo and Bergen Neck were :- Van Voorst, Jansen (Vreeland), Andriessen (Van Buskirk), Tomassen (Van Riper), Cornelissen (Van Horn), Van Niewkircke (Newkirk), Harmense, Claesen (Garrabrant), Brinck- erhoef (Brinkerhoff), Van Schuyler (Schuyler), Planck, Sip, Gautier, Deidrick (Cadmus), Jacobse (Van Winkle).
The descendants of some of the above mentioned persons, no doubt, many readers know ; some can probably claim relation. A great majority of these settlers were emigrants from Holland or descendants of persons who had emigrated from that country and settled on Manhattan Island, Long Island and Staten Island. The rest were English, French, German and Scandanavian.
The recapture of New York by the Dutch in 1673, and the final surrender to the English the following year, affected this territory very little.
At this time "the law provided that whenever an estray (cat- tle, etc.) came upon one's premises, it was a duty to record a description of the same with the Town Clerk, to enable the owner to recover his property." This law was observed for over one hundred years. Here are specimens of such recorded notices ; dates are missing :-
"A stray Muel at the House of Garret Van Derhoof, Being a Dark Brown Couller Marked on the left shoulder with the Let- ters N. A."
"A Red Bull with a Wite Streek on the Buttok with no mark, at the House of Moses Van Amen at Bergen Point. The Creator will be two years old this Spring."
An entry from a fragment of the old town book of Bergen :-
"Pieter Boskerck syn merk Een half maentie onder uyt het slinken oor."
About this time a charter was granted to the town of Bergen. The charter granted that the "keeping of a Free School for the
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HISTORY OF
Education of Youth," and "that in Religious Concerns and the way of Worshipping God, there is liberty of conscience Granted to all Persons in Generall."
The following agreement, made in 1682, will give the reader an idea of the manner of education offered in those days :-
"Agreed with Mrs. Baker that she shall learne my daughter Ellinor to read and sew, and make all manner of needle worke, for one whole yeare from the day of the date hereof, being the 12th day of November, 1682, and in the meane while the s'd Mrs. Baker, during the said terme, shall not put her, my s'd daughter, to any manner of house worke, but to keepe her to her needle worke, and for true performance hereof I am to give the s'd Mrs. Baker a heaffer of her first calfe, at the time of the Expiration."
Few incidents appear in the history of this section of impor- tance between this period and the Revolutionary War, a whole century. Charles Winfield describes the people as "quiet, domes- tic, unambitious, passing along through life adhering to truth, honesty and fair dealing, cultivating their farms and rearing their families in the fear of God and the doctrines of the old church of their Fathers."
The following advertisement appeared in the "Weekly Jour- nal" in January, 1735. :-
"Teeth drawn and old broken Stumps taken out very safely and with much ease, by James Mills, who was instructed in that art by the late James Reading, deceased, so fam'd for drawing of teeth. He is to be spoke with at his shop in the house of the De- cesed near the Old Slip Market" (New York).
This William Mills was considered the most skillful dentist in these parts, and was patronized frequently by inhabitants of Bergen Neck.
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BAYONNE.
CENSUS OF BERGEN COUNTY IN 1737 .*
Whites.
Slaves and Other Negroes.
Males, above 16.
939
Males, above 16. 256
Females, above 16.
822 Females, above 16.
203
Males, under 16.
820 Males, under 16.
187
Females, under 16.
708 Females, under 16. I60
Total whites.
3,289 Total slaves
806
Total population, 4,095.
*Gordon's Gazeteer and History of New Jersey.
** One hundred and thirty-five years later, Bayonne's population ex- ceeded this.
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CHAPTER V.
CONSTABLE'S HOOK.
Early Property Owners-Van Buskirk Homestead-First Bank of Constable's Hook-First Cemetery Laid Out-Tombstone Inscriptions ; Names and Dates-Slaves Bought and Sold-Newspaper Extracts-Early Real Estate Speculation-Captain Kidd's Hill and Buried Treasures.
It appears that Samuel Edsall, who settled at Constable's Hook about 1670 (see page -), had a neighbor on the Hook a few years later, who rented part of his property. In 1681 Hans Harmense came from New Utrecht, L. I., to Constable's Hook, with his wife, Willemtie Waernaers, widow of Hasmen of Bercke- loo, and her children, Jannetie, Reymis, Harmen, Jan and William, besides two children by this marriage, Tryntie (aged nine) and Annetie (aged seven) .* He erected a house, the location of which is not certain, but in all probabilities it stood close to the Kills.
In searching through the genealogies of some of the early families, the author finds that Arie, a son of Symon Jacobse (Van Winkle, who came from Middleburgh, Zealand), was born at Constable's Hook about 1691. This would indicate that this family also lived at the Hook about this time, and were neighbors of the Harmense family.
Hans Harmense was elected to the Assembly in 1692. On
*New Jersey Historical Society.
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February 20, 1695-6,* he purchased from Edsall (who had re- moved from Constable's Hook about 1690) nearly five hundred acres of land at Constable's Hook, for £562.10 .**
His daughter, Tryntie, was married to Pieter Van Boskerck, son of Laurens Andriessen Van Boskerck (founder of the Van Buskirk family who lived on the New York Bay shore near present Greenville station). After the marriage, it is supposed that Pieter built the old stone house that still stands on the south- ern slope of Van Buskirk's Point, Constable's Hook, and lived there with his wife. On May 24, 1694, Annetie, another daugh- ter of Hans Harmense, was married to Claas Hartman. She died November 26, 1698, leaving one child, Hartman. Hans Har- mense died in 1700. One-half of the Hook he willed to his daughter Tryntie and the other half became the property of Annetie's son .**
In October, 1736, Pieter's wife died and he buried her in the yard at the rear of the house .**** Through her, he inherited one- half of the Hook, and the other half he purchased. He died in July, 1738, and was buried beside his wife.
The old brown tombstones still stand; the following illus- tration shows them with their inscriptions as they look at the present time.
The house that Peter is said to have erected was originally built previous to 1700, but additions have since been made to the main building. It is the oldest building now standing in Bay- onne, if not in eastern New Jersey. In the old Dutch style, its antiquated architecture is noticeable. A solid foundation of stone masonry rises about five feet above the ground, on which rests a frame and brick superstructure with massive joists and timbers
*New Jersey Archives. First Series, Vol. XXI.
** Winfield's Land Titles.
*** New Jersey Historical Society.
** 'Afterward converted into a cemetery.
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and antique siding of shingles in regular old Dutch colony style. A quaint old fireplace and high mantel, with curious carvings and fancy tile decorations (since removed), alongside of which is an old Spanish closet, have all been features of interest in the interior
Here byes
Body of Terer, Van
Buskerek.Aged yo years Dece Jny
Trijntje wife of Ferer Van Buskerek Aged 65 years Dece Och y
PivsB.k
I.H. Alexander
Drawn by Edwin H. Alexander.
THE GRAVES OF PIONEER SETTLERS.
of this old homestead. A secret underground closet is located in a north room of the house. This was used to conceal persons and effects whenever inquisitive visitors approached the place. British troops were quartered in this house during the Revolution. In the little school-room, children were taught their lessons, and
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BAYONNE. 1324630
many an unruly boy has jumped out of the window and fled across the graveyard .*
The old garden adjoined the house on the east. At the time of the Revolution a hardy Box of considerable size grew in front of the house .** There is a story that Mrs. Jonathan Van Bus- kirk buried a pot of gold under its branches to prevent its falling into the hands of unexpected visitors in the way of marauding parties. This lay concealed so long that the lady quite forgot the exact amount thus deposited in this, the First Bank of Con- stable's Hook. Years afterwards, in spading up the garden, a negro brought to the surface a number of golden guineas which had been overlooked when the business of the bank was closed .***
The old dilapidated shed now adjoining the southwest end of the house stood on the shore at that time. This building, it is said, was used for the purpose of selling slaves, who were brought over in ships which anchored off the mouth of the Kills. The writer cannot vouch for this statement, but at any rate slaves were bought and sold nearby. In the "Post Boy" of August 8, 1757, appeared the following advertisement :-
"To Be Sold."
At Van Buskirk's, at Kil Van Kull, a Parcel of likely Negro Slaves, Men, Women, Boys and Girls, just arrived from Guinea in the Sloop "Williams," David Griffiths, Commander, Apply to Rice Williams or the said David Griffiths."
The quaint old colony graveyard in the rear of the house was laid out by Peiter's relatives. Here, some of the pioneer settlers were buried. It was a beautiful little spot in those days, with its
*The Standard Oil Company are now the owners of Van Buskirk's Point. Since writing the above, the old historic homestead has been torn down to make way for immense oil tanks.
** This and another close by grew to be immense trees some five feet in diameter, and remained there until blown down a few years ago.
*** This story appeared in the "Hudosn County Times" of June 13, 1873.
I.H.Alexander_
Drawn by Edwin H. Alexander.
OLD VAN BUSKIRK HOMESTEAD, CONSTABLE'S HOOK, AS IT APPEARED DURING THE REVOLUTION.
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BAYONNE.
green grass and flowers and shady trees. It is now in a dilapi- dated condition. Some of the old tombstones still stand, and the wording is readable; others have been blown down by the storms and are covered with sandy soil. In this cemetery are the ances- tors of the Van Buskirks, Latourettes, Vreelands, Garrabrants, Zabriskies, La Granges, Cadmuses and others.
Following are the inscriptions on the stones over the re- mains of some of the very early inhabitants :-
Here lies the Body of Johannas La Grange who deceased May the 6th A. D. 1748 In the 84th Year of his Age.
Here Lies ye Body of Melye, wife of John Lagrange who Died February ye ( ?* ) 1754 Aged about 40 years.
To the Memory of . William Brambos who died the 18th of March 1797 Aged 66 Years 6 Months & 8 Days.
*Date invisible.
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HISTORY OF
To the Memory of Eleanor the Wife of Edward Nicoll who died October 7th 1802 aged 58 Years.
"Here Lyes a Blooming Youth who lived in Love and died in Truth."
In Memory of Elias Burger he died at Bergen Point on the 28th Oct. 1826 Aged 61 years.
Others bear the following names and dates of death :-
Jacobus V. Boskerk, January 1, 1767; James Van Buskirk, January 6, 1774; Angle Brambos, September 15, 1798; Catherine Garrabrants, July 5, 1805 ; Catherine Van Boskerck, November 2, 1819 ; Eliza Cubberly, August 9, 1819 ; Cornelius Simonson, April II, 1839; Elizabeth Miller, June 3, 1839; Sarah Anderson, De- cember II, 1839.
It might be of interest to quote here an item which appeared in the "Weekly Post Boy" of December II, 1752, as follows :-
March 25 was the beginning of the new year, according to the old style. In 1752 the present style of beginning the year January I was adopted.
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BAYONNE.
"Last Saturday a whale forty-five feet long ran ashore at Van Buskirk's Point (a part of Constable's Hook) at the en- trance of the Kills from the Bay; which, being discovered by people from Staten Island, a number of them went off and killed him, and may now be seen at Mr. John Watson's at the ferry house on Staten Island."
The following advertisement should be quoted also :-
"Run away some Time in August last, from Abraham Van Buskirk, of Bergen County in New Jersey, a Negro Man named Jack, aged about 25 years, middlsiz'd, and not very black, pretty thick Lips, speaks very slow, and talks both English and Dutch, and 'tis suppos'd he has a false Pass : Had on a grey homespun Linsey Wolsey Coat, red Linsey Wolsey Jacket, a Tow Shirt and a Linnen Shirt, and has two or three Pair of Breeches with him, white Woolen Stockings, and a leather Hat.
"Whoever takes up said Negro, and secures him so that his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds Reward, and all reasonable Charges, paid by
"Abraham Van Buskirk."
-The N. Y. "Gazette" Revived in the "Weekly Post Boy," October 30, 1752.
The Hook was a finely cultivated district, and was owned and occupied by five or six generations of the Van Buskirk family, who had extensive farms there. The place was known as Van Buskirks for a number of years.
"The beauty and convenience of location at one time excited the cupidity of speculators to an effort to make it a site for a large and enterprising city. The New Brighton Company about 1837-8 undertook to reclaim the meadows and make them eligible for building lots. A suburban city was to grow up in a very short time, and in the end to rival in a successful way her metro- politan neighbor across the Bay. The Navy Yard was to be at
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once located on the shores of the Kills, and the stockholders of the company were confident of pocketing fabulous dividends. Large sums of money were expended, but after a brief period the company found their property mortgaged for near $400,000 and all improvements stopped. Litigation followed, and in the end the property was sold for only $70,000 to satisfy the creditors."*
A sea wall of masonry and its accompanying levee extended from the old copper works as far as "Captain Kidd's Hill." A dangerous place, known as "The False Kill," was then removed. The construction of this sea wall stopped the overflow of the meadows at high tide.
Captain Kidd's Hill was named after the celebrated pirate, Captain Kidd. Stories of hidden treasures buried in the hill have been told. In fact, "pots of gold have often been earnestly sought after," and during the construction of the sea wall were reported as found .**
*Quoted from the "Hudson County Times" of June 20, 1873.
** The author has his doubts as to any truth in this tale, which years ago was repeatedly recited to groups of wondering children by some loqua- cious darkey.
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BAYONNE.
CHAPTER VI.
1776-1782.
Bergen Neck During the Revolution-Troops Stationed and Fort De- lancey Erected-Trouble With Tories-Skirmishes Between American and British Troops-Unlawfulness and Murders-Ward's Band-Attacks Upon-Newspaper Extracts-Fort Delancey Evacuated.
Bergen Neck was important territory during the Revolu- tionary War. In the spring of 1776 it was learned that the British were preparing to sail for New York. Lord Sterling, in command of the American forces at Bergen, undertook the de- fense of Bergen and Bergen Neck. He personally examined the ground at Bergen Neck and Paulus Hoeck on March 23, and after a short period works were erected at these places, those on Bergen Neck to prevent invasion from Staten Island. Here Colonel Ford, with a force of about three hundred men, was stationed.
The following order, given in the spring of 1776, is proof that at this time Bergen Point was occupied by portions of the Continental Army :-
"Whereas the Asia having quitted her station, and left the harbour, the navigation between this city and New Jersey, by the Kills, is become quite safe; the troops upon Staten Island and
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Bergen Neck, are to let all boats coming to New York, or return- ing to Jersey, to pass and re-pass without molestation. Given at Head-Quarters in New York, 14th of April, 1776.
"HORATIO GATES, "Adjutant General."
-New York "Gazette and Weekly Mercury," April 15, 1776 .*
The British fleet in command of General Howe arrived and cast anchor off the mouth of the Kill von Kull late in June, and the troops landed on Staten Island. Shortly after their arrival they placed a small guard with two six-pounders on Van Bus- kirk's Point. This was the first landing-place of the British forces in New Jersey. Troops were quartered in and around the Van Buskirk homestead, where plans of attack were made. Great ex- citement was manifest along the Neck. The Tories hastened to take sides with their King, while others did not dare to make known for which side they stood, in fear of being murdered .**
Precautionary measures were being taken by the American troops at this time. General Mercer was ordered on July 4 to place a guard of five hundred men at Bergen Neck, to reinforce the troops there. This post, afterward known as Fort Delancey, was sistuated on a high piece of property between what is now Fifty-first and Fifty-second Streets, about one hundred feet cast of the Speedway, and adjoining the property in rear of 99 West Fifty-first Street.
When Mercer arrived, he found that Ford's force was not sufficient, consequently the Pennsylvania militia and more Jersey troops were sent to reinforce these men. General Mercer also learned that many families at the Point and Hook were in con-
*New Jersey Archives. Second Series, Vol. I.
** There were only fourteen families in the entire length of Bergen Neck who were pronounced patriots.
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BAYONNE.
stant communication with the British force on Staten Island and with their ships at the mouth of the Kill.
In a sworn statement filed at Albany, dated June 29, 1776, there appears :- "There is one Peter Van Buskirk Living at or near the hook or mouth of the Kills in Bargain County who its frequently said has followed trading with the men of war, who Carrys people on Board when Ever Requested, and has a sufficient Craft for that purpose."
This was Peter Van Buskirk, who with his brother Johannis (sons of Andries Van Buskirk of Hook), were suspected of hold- ing intercourse with the enemy. They were tried and acquitted in July, 1776.
General Mercer planned to attack the enemy on Staten Island on the night of July 18. Plan of attack was as follows :---
"Sixth. A party to attempt to surprise the enemy's guard on Buskirk's Point, which is on the southeast corner of Bergen Point ; this party, or guard, does not seem to be large, but it is said they are possessed of two six-pounders. The party that makes the attack must not attempt to go over the causeway or road over the meadow, the cannon being in all probability ap- pointed to command that pass, but should be provided with some boards, and proceed in two or three columns over the meadow, where they will meet with no other obstruction than a small creek or ditch, which they will easily pass with the help of the boards. If this place is carried, a cannonade and bombardment should, as soon as possible, commence on the ships, a great number of which now lie within reach of the place. A cannonade should also com- mence on Bergen Point, opposite the church and Decker's, where it is said about six hundred men are posted ; this cannonade, with round and grape shot, would confuse the troops in forming, and prevent their succoring the guard at Elizabethtown Point, or opposing our party who make their descent near Shutter's
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Island. The cannonade should also be kept up on such parts of the shore of Staten Island where any boats are collected or may assemble. The party for these several matters on Bergen Neck should be about seven hundred men, besides the riflemen."*
This attack was not made, however, for on that evening the weather was very stormy and prevented his forces from crossing the Kill von Kull.
Although other attacks were planned by the militia, none were made. However, the American troops stationed at Bergen Point practiced occasionally on the enemy's fleet, as well as their camp on Staten Island.
The following accounts appeared :-
"New York, July 22, 1776. Yesterday several Discharges of Cannon and Musketry was heard in this City, and by the Appear- ance of a Cloud of Smoak over Bergen Point, it is imagined our People on the Jersey Shore have had a Skirmish with the Enemy, from Staten Island."
"New York, July 25th.
"Our troops stationed on Bergen Point give the Ministerial fleet and army some uneasiness, by firing at the tender, boats, etc. It so galls and provokes them, that they return the fire with great fury, but have not done the least damage to our people. Last Lord's Day a great many shots were heard in this city and Bergen Point. The occasion was this: A barge from the fleet, full of men, landed on the Point, ** but were opposed and driven off with precipitation by our troops ; a smart fire ensued from a tender for a considerable time, without doing any injury." ***
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