Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century, Part 13

Author: Sherman, Andrew Magoun, 1844-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : Howard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 576


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century > Part 13


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31


The enactment of the law, in the year 1767, requiring duties on glass, paper, painters' colors and tea, coupled with the persistent claim of the British Parliament of the inherent right to tax the American colonies, led to the formation of non-importation associations. With the exception of a duty of three pence per pound on tea, the act of the year 1767 was revoked; but, inasmuch as the people were not contending against the amount of


I45


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


taxes imposed, but against the principle of "taxation without representation," the concession was far from satisfactory. The story of the tea shipped to New York and Philadelphia, being sent back by the same vessel that brought it; of that shipped to Charleston, S. C., being stored in damp cellars, where it spoiled, and par- ticularly of that shipped to Boston, being thrown over- board-342 chests was the quantity; of the passage of the "Boston port bill," as a punishment to Bostonians, and the sympathetic contributions of necessaries to their sufferings, on the part of sister colonies ; of Lexington and Concord and Machias Bay, and other intervening events-these are too familiar to require more than casual mention in this story of Morristown's first cen- tury. Such casual mention of the causes of the Revolu- tion as has been made, seemed to be necessary, as a most fitting prelude to the relation of the important part borne by Morristown, New Jersey, in the seven-years' war for American independence.


At the commencement of the Revolution, the village of Morristown contained not far from 250 inhabitants. From this it will be seen that during the sixty-five years since its settlement, its growth had been slow. But in this regard it was no exception to other towns in the colony-Newark, for example. This latter town was settled nearly half a century before Morristown, and yet, when the Revolution began, the town's population was but about 1,000. It would not be difficult to dis- cover the causes of the slow growth of these, and other portions of New Jersey during the period mentioned.


I46


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


Outside of the village of Morristown was a some- what populous farming district. The village itself was chiefly grouped about what has been known as the Green ; but as regards its area, as well also as its ap- pearance, the Green of Revolutionary days was very different from the Green of the year 1905. The Morris- town Green of the present day contains about two and a half acres of land, and is finely graded, and laid out in excellent paved walks. During the season of vegetation it is carpeted with a handsome green lawn, which is kept clean and well mown. When the Revolution com- menced, what had for many years been called, some- times "the Green," sometimes "the meeting-house land," and sometimes "the parsonage land," each term having reference to the same tract of land, contained many acres. It extended at one time as far southeast as the present Pine street, as far north as Spring street, and perhaps farther, and as far southwest as Maple avenue, or even beyond. We leave our read- ers to judge of the appearance of a portion of the Green of the period under consideration, from the map which appears in this volume. It is true this map was made, under Washington's supervision, in the year 1777, while the Continental army was encamped the first time in Morristown; but the map is nevertheless an accurate representation, so far as it is possible for a map to be a representation of such a tract of land, of the Green and of the buildings around it, as they ap- peared at the commencement of the Revolution. The irregular contour of the central portion of the Green,


I47


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


as it appeared in Revolutionary days, cannot escape the reader's notice. The road running through it from the head of the road coming up the hill from the east (now Morris street), and passing into the Jockey Hol- low road on the west (now Washington street), will also be noticed. Not only irregularity of shape marked the Green as to its contour, but its surface was also irregular. As late as about the year 1840, there was a deep depression near the centre of the tract, resembling, in form, an upturned bowl; and the writer has been informed by a gentleman now nearly eighty-five years of age, that the latter, when a boy, had seen seven feet of water in this bowl, and in this body of water he had many times taken a bath.


The writer has been asked how the First Presbyte- rian Church, of Morristown, came into the possession of the large and extensive tracts of land which it once owned. The present opportunity is improved in the attempt to answer this very natural query, by saying that, some time prior to the year 1740, Jonathan Linds- ley and Benjamin Hathaway gave to the church a piece of land for a parsonage and burying ground; suitable reference has already been made to this timely gift. On this tract of land the original house of worship was erected, about the year 1740. A few years later Joseph Prudden deeded to the church a larger tract of land, including what is now the Green. In the year 1773 the church purchased of Shadrach Hathaway a large tract of land, which may have been situated at a con- siderable distance from the meeting-house. Again, in


I48


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


the year 1774, the church made a second purchase of land of Charles Howell. This was situated on the southwest side of the Green, between the present Mar- ket and Bank streets, and extended down nearly, if not quite, to the present Maple avenue. This purchase was made for the purpose of enlarging the parade ground, or of having a suitable parade ground, since the tract of land now known as the Green was not, in consequence of its shape and the irregularity of its sur- face, suitable for that purpose. This last purchase seems to have been made in anticipation of the neces- sity of organizing and training men for participation in impending war. The large tracts of land once owned by the First Presbyterian Church were gradually sold off in lots, until its possession consisted of the burying ground, the land ocupied by the house of worship and the parsonage, and the two and a half acres contained in what is now known as the Green.


Of some of the more important buildings grouped around the Green at the commencement of the Revolu- tion, we shall have occasion to speak at a later stage of our story. For the present, however, let us turn for a few moments to the consideration of the stirring local incidents and scenes immediately preceding the com- mencement of the seven years' struggle for indepen- dence.


Among the members of the New Jersey House of Assembly, of the year 1772, from Morris County, were Jacob Ford and William Winds, the former a resident of Morristown; both of whom had freely imbibed the


149


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


spirit of protest against the encroachments of Great Britain upon the rights and liberties of the American colonies.


At the session of the House of Assembly, held on the eighth day of February, in the year 1774, a standing committee of nine members was appointed, and desig- nated as the Committee of Correspondence. This com- mittee was instructed to inform the House of Assembly of the other twelve colonies of their appointment.


To Essex County, New Jersey, must be accorded the honor of having held the first popular meeting on behalf of the movement of protest against the tyranny of the mother country, already inaugurated in some of the progressive colonies. This meeting was held in Newark, on the eleventh day of June, in the year 1774, when resolutions were adopted requesting the other counties of the province to hold similar meetings, at which county committees should be appointed to meet in a State convention, to elect delegates to a general convention, or congress. The call for the meeting of this general congress had already been isued, and Sep- tember 5, of the year 1774, was the date fixed upon, and Philadelphia the place of meeting. The object of this general congress was the formulation of a general plan of union among the thirteen colonies. To such a plan, when it should be adopted, the inhabitants of Essex County, at the meeting of June II, pledged their support and adherence. All honor to the brave stand taken by those patriotic Newarkers !


The ripeness of the people of New Jersey for the


150


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


movement of united action against the tyrannous policy of Great Britain toward the American colonies, was unmistakably evidenced by the fact of the prompt and general response to the request to send delegates to the Provincial Congress. Morris County's response was given on the twenty-seventh day of June in the year 1774, when a popular meeting was held in Morristown, in the courthouse on the Green; this was the one-story structure erected in the year 1770. The chairman of this initial meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Morris County, was Jacob Ford. The resolutions adopted breathed a spirit of wisdom seldom surpassed in the deliberations of popular gatherings. Of these resolutions, too lengthy for complete reproduction here, only a resume can be given. Expressions of loyalty to the King of Great Britain were given. Willingness to be governed by British laws, so far as such obedi- ence was consistent with constitutional liberty, was also expressed, and so was the opinion as to the unwis- dom of the acts of the British Parliament, imposing revenue taxes upon the colonies. The resolutions also expressed sympathy with Boston in her sufferings in consequence of unjust restrictions upon her commerce. In them there were also expressions of confidence in the efficacy of unanimity and firmness, on the part of the colonies, for the preservation of their rights and liber- ties; of confidence also in the efficacy of reliance upon home productions as a means to the end above men- tioned; of readiness to join with other counties of the New Jersey Province in the endeavor to form a


15I


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


General Congress of the thirteen colonies ; of opinion as to the propriety of contributing to the relief of Bos- ton; of purpose to adhere faithfully to the regulations and restrictions deemed expedient by the General Con- gress, and opinion as to the expediency of unity of action on the part of the New Jersey county commit- tees in Provincial Congress assembled, in the appoint- ment of deputies to the General Congress of the follow- ing September.


The committee for Morris County, appointed at the meeting of June 27, in the year 1774, in the court- house on the Morristown Green, for the purposes above mentioned, was as follows : Jacob Ford, William Winds, Abraham Ogden, William De Hart, Samuel Tuthill, Jonathan Stiles, John Carle, Philip V. Cort- land and Samuel Ogden. These gentlemen represented various portions of the county, in which they were recog- nized as leaders in the affairs of their respective sec- tions.


Only to such members of this committee as were resi- dents of Morristown, can brief allusion here be made. Concerning Jacob Ford, no little has already been said in connection with the account of the settlement and growth of Morristown. There is one fact, however, which deserves mention here; a fact which augments the significance of his appointment to the important committee just mentioned. He was, at the time of his appointment, an old man, and might justly have de- clined to assume the grave and arduous responsibilities placed upon him by his fellow-citizens. Owing to his


I52


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


advanced age, he had for some time been gradually transferring the responsibilities of his private business interests to his son and namesake, the latter of whom was also beginning to occupy his aged father's place in the confidence and affections of the people of Morris- town, and Morris County. But Jacob Ford was too keenly alive to the exigencies of the hour to permit even the growing infirmities of old age to deter him from participating, up to the full measure of his ability, in the revolt against the long series of tyrannous aggressions of the mother country upon the liberties of the Ameri- can colonists. As a man of business, and more espe- cially as an extensive manufacturer of iron, his griev- ance against the policy of the mother country was not alone sentimental, it was decidedly practical, also, since his material interests were seriously involved.


William De Hart was a young Morristown lawyer, at the time of his appointment to the Morris County Committee of Correspondence and Consultation, and he brought to the momentous task assigned him, the vigor and enthusiasm of youth; as well, also, as the legal acumen which could be advantageously utilized in the adjustment of difficulties involving questions of law. He was at the time under consideration, but twen- ty-eight years of age, having been licensed as a coun- selor-at-law only about three years previously. As the opportunity will not again occur to speak further con- cerning this young patriot, it should here be said that subsequently to the stirring meeting held in the old courthouse, on the twenty-seventh day of June of the


153


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


year preceding the opening of the Revolution, William De Hart became a major in the First Battalion, first and second establishments, and later, lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of the Continental Army. Nor should the writer omit mentioning the fact, that two of the sons of Matthias De Hart, M. D., the father of Colonel William De Hart, were slain during the strug- gle for American independence. One of the streets of the Morristown of the year 1905, bears the name of the young resident lawyer of Revolutionary days, who rendered faithful service in the cause of freedom. He died on the sixteenth day of June, in the year 1801, and his remains now lie in the burying grounds of the First Presbyterian Church of the town he assisted in making famous. The other members of this committee of correspondence and consultation, who were residents of Morristown, were Jonathan Stiles, Jr., and Samuel Tuthill. Mr. Stiles was at the time of his appointment one of the county judges. He had previously held the office of sheriff of Morris County. During the Revo- lution he seems to have served as a recruiting officer, and mention is made of his having paid bounties to soldiers.


Samuel Tuthill is by name, no stranger to the readers of our story, nor are they wholly unaware of his public career as a county judge and sheriff. It may be added, however, to what has already been said, that he was a son-in-law of Jacob Ford, Sr., having married on the third day of November, in the year 1751, Sarah Kenny, widow of John Kenny, and daughter of the elder Ford.


154


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


On the twenty-first day of July, in the year 1774, the New Jersey county committees met at New Brunswick, when five delegates were appointed to the General Con- gress to be held in Philadelphia, in the coming Septem- ber. It is only for the purpose of connecting the Gen- eral Congress, so far as its proceedings are concerned, with the subsequent course of New Jersey, but particu- larly of Morris County and Morristown, in their rela- tion to said proceedings, that anything more than a casual reference is made to the meeting in Philadelphia. Pursuant to call, the General Congress of the American colonies met in Philadelphia, on the fifth day of Sep- tember, in the year 1774. Peyton Randolph, of Vir- ginia, was chosen president of the Congress. Among the delegates were Washington, Patrick Henry and John Adams. We would fain linger in the attempt to speak at length upon the superb personnel of this, one of the most important public gatherings of history; but this would be inconsistent with the main purpose of our story. It can only be said that various resolu- tions were presented, which opened the way, and fur- nished the inspiration, also, for the free and general interchange of views, which followed, upon the grave questions then agitating the minds and hearts of the American colonists. The unanimity of sentiment there manifested amply warranted the resolution recommend- ing the call for a second General Congress, to be held on the tenth day of May of the following year-1775.


Pursuant to a call issued by the Morris County Com- mittee of Correspondence, a second meeting of the


155


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


inhabitants of the county was held in Morristown (and almost certainly in the courthouse on the Green) on the ninth day of January, in the year 1775. The object of this meeting was the indorsement of the action of the General Congress of the preceding September. Of this meeting William Winds was the chairman. The County Committee of Correspondence read the proceedings of the General Congress at Philadelphia, after which they were carefully considered by the people assembled, and unanimously approved. The means and methods of resistance to the tyrannical and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, recommended by the General Con- gress, were declared wise, prudent and constitutional. It was also unanimously resolved to abide strictly by these recommendations.


A vote of thanks was extended to the delegates of the New Jersey province for the faithful manner in which they had looked after the rights and liberties of their constituents, and discharged the important trust reposed in them. The inhabitants of each township in the county, were unanimously recommended by the meet- ing to elect, on the twenty-third day of the current month, a committee of observation, in accordance with the recommendation of the General Congress. The County Committee of Correspondence voluntarily dis- solved itself, to afford their constituents the opportunity of a new choice. The committee, as reappointed, was composed as follows: Jacob Ford, William Winds, Jonathan Stiles, Jacob Drake, Peter Dickerson, Ellis Cook, Samuel Tuthill, Dr. William Hart and Abraham


156


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


Ogden. John Carle and Philip Van Cortland, were for some reason, left off the new committee, and Jacob Drake and Peter Dickerson substituted. This commit- tee was authorized to instruct the Morris County rep- resentatives, in General Assembly convened, to join in the appointment of delegates to the General Con- gress, called to meet in Philadelphia in May following. If such delegates should not be appointed by the Gen- eral Assembly, the several county committees in joint meeting were to make the appointments. ,


James Rivington, a printer in New York, was declared to be, in the judgment of the meeting, an enemy to his country, as indicated by the publication of certain pamphlets, the effect of whose teachings was to encourage submission to the tyrannous policy of the mother country. To make use of a modern term, James Rivington was "boycotted" by the people of Morris County; they would refrain from subscribing for his papers, and by all lawful means discourage oth- ers from doing so. The nails in the timbers of the Old Morris County Jail, driven in thickly to hinder the escape of prisoners by cutting out, doubtless rattled in their holes by reason of the vociferous cheering and other demonstrations of enthusiasm, of the people assembled in the old courthouse on the occasions to which reference has been made. At one public meeting of the patriots of Morris County, held in Morristown, some of Rivington's pamphlets and papers were con- signed to the flames "before the courthouse, with the universal approbation of a numerous concourse of peo-


I57


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


ple." One of his publications, at another meeting, was given a coat of tar and feathers, and the pamphlet in "its gorgeous attire," was nailed firmly to the pillory post on the Green, "there to remain as a monument of the indignation of a free and loyal people against the author and vendor of a publication so evidently tending both to subvert the liberties of America and the consti- tution of the British Empire."


It was at this latter meeting that one of those who joined in the work of applying the coat of tar and feathers to Rivington's publication, wished-and the wish was unanimous-that the author himself were present, that he might be fitted with a similar suit.


Concerning Peter Dickerson, one of the new members added at the above-mentioned meeting, to the Morris County Committee of Correspondence, there is much to be said-most of which, however, will be said at a later stage of our story.


With the exception of Hanover Township, there is no record, so far as the writer is aware, of the names of the gentlemen appointed to serve on the township com- mittees of observation, as recommended by the meet- ing of January 9, in the year 1775. It is known, how- ever, that these committees, elected on the twenty-third day of January, in the year last mentioned, were active and alert in the procurement of signatures of inhab- itants of Morris County, who pledged themselves to sustain the Provincial and General Congresses; and the voters for representatives to the Provincial Con- gress to meet in the coming May at Trenton, were to


158


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


consist of those whose signatures were procured. The lines must be tightened.


Pursuant to a call issued by the Morris County Com- mittee of Correspondence a meeting of the inhabitants of the county was held on the first day of May, in the year 1775, in Morristown, and presumably in the court- house. The chairman of this meeting was Jacob Ford, and the clerk William De Hart. In consequence of the sifting process to which allusion has been made, this meeting was composed of the cream of Morris County's inhabitants, so far as loyalty to the growing cause of freedom was concerned. To look in upon the throng of ardent patriots who filled the quaint courthouse of those stirring times, is a privilege which, except in imagination, is denied the present generation. The meager account of the proceedings of the meeting of May I, in the year 1775, which has descended to us, furnishes a brilliant illustration, if the personnel and action of the meeting is the criterion, of the saying of Emerson, that "every great and commanding movement in the annals of the world is the triumph of enthu- siasm."


159


CHAPTER IX


"War is honorable


In those who do their native rights maintain, In those whose swords an iron barrier are Between the lawless spoiler and the weak."


HEN the news of the encounter of the American colonists with the British W regulars on the Lexington Green, and at the Concord bridge, reached New Jersey, the people were at once aroused to the highest pitch of righteous indignation. War be- tween the colonies and the mother country had actually commenced, and the colonists were not slow in recog- nizing the necessity of prompt and energetic action in the work of preparation for the impending struggle. They were soon, as in due time will be seen, to verify the words :


True courage scorns To vent her prowess in a storm of words, And to the valiant action speaks alone.


160


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


Enough is known concerning the proceedings of the public meeting of May I, in the year 1775, to which allusion was made in the preceding chapter, to author- ize the statement that nine delegates were chosen as rep- resentatives of Morris County, in the important work of devising means and methods of preparation for the struggle for liberty which was then inevitable. These delegates were also, in accordance with instructions, to meet in the Provincial Congress, to be held at Tren- ton, on the twenty-third day of May, approaching. William Winds, of Pequannock Township; William De Hart, of Morristown; Silas Condict, of Morris- town; Peter Dickerson, of Morristown; Jacob Drake, of Drakesville; Ellis Cook, of Hanover Township; Jonathan Stiles, of Morristown; David Thompson, of Mendham, and Abraham Kitchel, of Pequannock Township, were the delegates chosen.


The rapid progress made in the movement of revolt against the tyranny of the mother country, and in prep- aration for the impending struggle, may be seen in the fact that these delegates, four of whom were residents of the county seat, were vested, by the people legally assembled, with the power of legislation on behalf of the county of Morris and of the Province of New Jer- sey, also. They were specifically authorized to raise men, money and arms for the defense, primarily, of the county, but also of any portion of the province or the colonies in which their service might in future be re- quired. Power was conferred upon them to devise ways and means for raising, appointing and paying the


16I


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


men and their officers, necessary for defense. Their ac- tion, however, was to be subject to the control and di- rection of the Provincial and General, or Continental, Congresses. In this circumstance we see how clearly the people of Morris County realized the necessity of unanimity of action in the struugle which lay before them. When these delegates should have made pro- visions for the proper defense of the county, they were afterward to meet in the Provincial Congress, already called to assemble at Trenton, on the twenty- third day of May, where, with such other counties as should join with them, they were to levy taxes upon the province as a means of providing for the common defense. These delegates from the various counties of the New Jersey Province were to be vested with legislative authority, and if the exigencies of the hour required it, this authority was to be properly exercised. A still further evidence of the generally recognized need of unanimity of action, may be seen in the explicit understanding that the action of the Provincial Congress should be subject to the control and direction of the General, or Conti- nental, Congress.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.