USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century > Part 30
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members, and hence excusable for their little irregu- larities.
Rogers seems, also, in addition to his knowledge of "chymistry," to have been something of a therapeutist, for it is said he compounded pills, and prescribed one to be taken by each member of the company of treas- ure-seekers, said pill to be supplemented by liberal po- tions of "Apple jack," to prevent deleterious effects. These instructions having been dictated by the spirits, the Yankee schoolmaster (retired) should not be held altogether responsible for the effects of his erratic therapeutical practises.
"And thus the whirligig of time brings in his re- venges," is a saying which was strikingly illustrated in the sequel to the operations of the spirits of the year 1788-89 in Morristown. Among the coterie of spirit- guided treasure-seekers was a man well advanced in years. On leaving home for a few days, he so far for- got the sacredness of his promise, as to leave behind his parcel of burned bones. Finding, and out of womanly curiosity breaking open the mysterious par- cel, his wife, on discovering its contents, feared to touch the powder. She, too, was a victim of the sup- erstition of the times, and apprehending that the pow- der was in some way connected with witchcraft, she went at once to her pastor for advice in the matter. Learning, upon his return home, of what had occurred during his absence, the husband, whose name was- but this story is not to divulge names-declared he was ruined. Ruined only in the realm of distorted im-
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agination, and ruined in this sense only until he dis- closed to his wife the secret spirit operations with which he and his neighbors had so long been identi- fied, for she was the Moses who guided him out of the Egypt of darkness. She at once pronounced the whole thing the work of the devil, and declared her intention to make the matter public. Alarmed at the resolution of this good woman, Rogers and his accom- plices pursued their spirit visitations with renewed vigor, and with the performance of freshly conceived tricks to overcome the scruples of the superstitious. These efforts might have succeeded in postponing a little longer, at least, the day of retribution, had not Rogers, having imbibed too freely of Apple jack, made several blunders while conversing one night, as a spirit (the Morristown Ghost) with a resident of the county seat. It was the man's wife, however, who de- tected the inconsistency of spirit conduct which led to Rogers's exposure. Finding next morning where the spirit visitant of the previous night had been, the tracks of a man, the husband followed them to a near- by fence, where he discovered a horse had been tied. The man's eyes were now wide open, and so were those of others. The spell was broken. The bubble had burst. Rogers was arrected, and confined in the jail on the Green. But, protesting his innocence, he was bailed out of jail. He attempted surreptitiously to leave the State. Again he was arrested, this time making a confession.
Such was the enslaving power of credulity that
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many of Rogers's followers remained for no little time steadfast in their delusions. At last, however, the con- fession of the leader resulted in their recovery from the delusion which had so long enchained them. Rogers escaped from the jail and left the State, never to re- turn. Is it possible his now mortified and crestfallen victims connived at his escape and assisted him in his effort to flee the scenes of his "chymical" depreda- tions?
Rogers is said to have realized about $1,500 from his practise, in Morristown and vicinity, by the art of "chymistry." In his operations he had "interested" and successfully duped a brave Revolutionary officer; an esteemed disciple of Blackstone; a Morristown jus- tice of the peace; two local physicians in good practice; a local miller, not of the "Dee" but of the Whippa- nong; a Whippanong resident of substance, and had tried, but in vain, to "interest" two other residents of the latter place, one of them a subsequent member of Congress. A Dover justice of the peace was induced, but reluctantly and "without faith," to join the enter- prise, but it is said he was shrewd enough to come out of it in improved condition, financially. And thus endI eth the story of the "Morristown Ghost," which has been related by the writer, not because of any pleasure experienced on his part, but being a phase of local his- tory, it must needs be told.
Many of the American colonists found themselves in an impoverished condition at the close of the seven years' struggle for national independence. The peo-
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ple of Morris County, however, were in some respects more fortunate than those of other sections of the country, for their fields had not been devastated nor their dwellings destroyed by the enemy. Because of the prompt and energetic utilization of the resources of the county, its growth was rapid in population and in wealth. Nothing contributed more fully to this growth than the iron industry, for the development of which numerous forges were either rebuilt or built anew in various sections of the county. The log cab- ins of pre-Revolutionary and even Revolutionary times were superseded by more comfortable and, in not a few instances, by more pretentious houses. Bet- ter roads were made. The acreage of arable land was much increased and a new impetus given to agricul- tural pursuits. Additional schools were established throughout the county, including at the county seat a school for the fitting of young men for college. Sev- eral newspapers were also established.
In the year 1791 a new and more commodious meet- ing-house was completed by the Presbyterians. A picture of this meeting-house may be seen in this vol- ume. It will be noticed that there was in this struc- ture of 1791 but a single front entrance. A few years later, a large window was substituted for this central entrance; and two entrances, one on either side of the window, were made; as may be seen in other extant pictures of the building. It is through the courtesy of Harriet A. Freeman, a life-long resident of Morris- town, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church,
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that we are able to offer to our readers this interesting picture of the old First Church edifice.
From the text: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Rev. Tim- othy Johnes, D. D., preached, in the year 1793 his half century sermon to a great congregation.
"In 1791, (the words of Rev. Rufus S. Green, D. D., appear- ing in 'History of Morris County,' are here quoted) he fractured his thigh bone by a fall, which confined him for months to his bed, and made him a cripple for the remainder of his life. After more than a year's confinement he was able to attend public worship. Aided by one or two of his elders he reached the desk, where, seated on a high cushioned chair, he would occasionally address the people. In this condition he preached in 1793 his half-century sermon to a crowded as- sembly, who came from all quarters to hear it. * *
In the delivery of that discourse he manifested unusual ani- mation, and in the closing prayer he seemed to breathe out his whole soul in fervent petition for the peace, prosperity and salvation of his people. The service was closed by singing the 7Ist Psalm-'God of my childhood and my youth,' etc. In reading the first verse, said an eye-witness, 'his voice began to falter and became tremulous. He proceeded with much emotion, while the tears trickled over his venerable cheeks, and before he could utter the last line his voice seemed to die away amidst the sobs and tears of the whole assembly.'
"Seldom did he address his people after this. In the follow- ing winter, as he was riding to church on Sabbath morning, his sleigh was upset a short distance from his house, which broke his other thigh bone. He was carried to his home, and never left it till he was removed by the hands of others to the grave yard. He died September 15th, 1794, in the 78th year
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of his age, the 52nd of his pastorate and 54th of his minis- try.
"His tombstone bears the following inscription: 'As a Chris- tion few ever discovered more piety-as a minister few labored longer, more zealously or more successfully than did this min- ister of Jesus Christ.'
"During his pastorate of over half a century he received into the church 600 members and 572 half-way members, officiated at 2,827 baptisms, and 948 marriages, and disciplined 170 mem- bers."
From a manual of the First Presbyterian Church of Mor- ristown, prepared by the Rev. Albert Barnes, D. D., in the year 1828, the following tribute to the Rev. Timothy Johnes, D. D., is quoted : "Few men have ever been more successful as min- isters of the gospel than Dr. Johnes. To have been the instru- ment of founding a large and flourishing church; to have been regarded as its affectionate father and guide; to have estab- lished the ordinances of the gospel, and formed the people to respect its institutions ; to have produced that outward order and morality and love of good institutions now observable in this congregation, was itself worthy of the toils of his life. In being permitted to regard himself as, under God, the origina- tor of habits and good institutions which are to run into com- ing generations, he could not but look upon his toils as amply recompensed.
But he was permitted also to see higher fruit of the labor of his ministry. It pleased a gracious God, not only to grant a gradual increase of the church, but also at two different times to visit the congregation with a special revival of religion. The first occurred in 1764. * The second revival com- menced in 1774. In 1790 there was another season of unusual excitement on the subject of religion. *
In "History of Morris County," the Rev. Dr. Green further says : "Rev. Aaron C. Collins was settled January 6th, 1791, as colleague pastor of Dr. Johnes. He was dismissed after a brief and unpleasant pastorate, September 2d, 1793.
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Rev. James Richards, D. D., was settled May Ist, 1795, and dismissed April 26th, 1809. * On the 21st of July, 1794, a call from this church was made and put into his hands, in which he was offered $440 salary in quarterly payments, the use of the parsonage and firewood. This was in due time accepted by him, and on the Ist of May, 1795 he was ordained and installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery of New York. * * In November, 1795, the old church was taken down, vacated and sold in lots. A good part of it was converted into a distillery and cider-mill on Water Street. So great, so it was said, was the attachment of many of the members for it that they could not refrain from using it in its new location. On November 26th, 1795, Mr. Richards preached the first sermon in the new and present (1880) house. The old plan of rating and collecting was now discontinued; and in its place the pews were sold and assessed. The number purchasing or renting pews was 158, and sum paid was $533.35. The expenses for 1797, according to an old mem- orandum, were: Salary, $440; sweeping the church, $15; sex- ton, $15; cake for wood cutters, $19; printing, $2; 'Cyder,' $5.62. Total, 496.62. Cake and cider formed it would appear no inconsiderable part of the sum total of expenses. The minister was promised so much salary, parsonage and fire- wood. The 'wood-frolick,' as it was called, was a great event in the parish. It brought together the greater part of the congregation, the ladies preparing supper at the parsonage, which was heartily enjoyed by those who were busy during the day in bringing together the year's supply of fuel for their minister, which averaged about 40 cords. We find the amounts expended by the parish for these frolics in 1797, as seen above, to be for cake and cider, $24.62; in 1798, bread and beef, $18.94; in 1799, I cwt. of flour and 200 lbs. of beef, $10.83.
The spinning visit was similar in character, though we do not find that it was attended with expense to the parish. By
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this means there were collected together various amounts of linen thread, yard and cloth, proportioned to the 'gude' wife's ability or generosity. The thread was woven into cloth for the use and comfort of the pastor and his family, and as it was not always of the same texture and size it sometimes puzzled the weaver to make the cloth and finish it alike ..
The meagerness of Mr. Richard's salary was a source of great perplexity to him as the expenses of his growing family increased, and finally led to his accepting a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, N. J. During his pastorate of fourteen years he admitted to the Church on examina- tion, 214, and on certificate 29. He baptized 444, and sol- emnized 251 marriages. At the time of his dismission the church numbered 298 members in full communion."
Rev. Reune Runyon, pastor of the Baptist church from 1771 to 1780, was succeeded by Rev. David Luffbury. "The year previous to his settlement, on the 27th of September, 1786, a considerable number of members residing in the neighborhood of School- ey's Mountain were dismissed to form an independent church, which was constituted under the name of Schooley's Mountain Church.
"Rev. David Jayne supplied the church once a month during the year 1791. In August of this year it was voted to join the New York Association, and send delegates to the convention of churches to meet in that city for the purpose of forming said association. From its organization to the present time (1880) the church has been united with the Philadelphia connec- tion.
"Rev. William Vanhorne, was pastor of the Baptist
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church of Morristown, from 1792 to 1807. Mr. Van- horne, however, like his predecesors, supplied the pul- pit only once a month, being during the time the pas- tor of the Scotch Plains church."
To the late Hon. Edmund D. Halsey, lovers of Mor- ristown annals are indebted for the roll of a local mili- tia company organized about the year 1791, which fol- lows :
"A List of Capt. Joseph Halsey's Company Militia .. Morristown, 7 June, 1791.
Capt. Jos. Halsey, Lieut. William Johnes, Ens'n Dan'l Lindsly, Serg'ts, Jesse Cutler, Seth Gregory, Abijah Sher- man, Zenas Lindsly, Corp'ls John Kirkpatrick, Isaac Hath- away, Timothy Fairchild, (Privates), Silas. D. Hayward, William Marsh, Timothy Force, Sims Condict, David Humph- revil, Ebenezer Humphrevil, Samuel Ford, George F. Fenery, Silvanus Tuttle, Josiah Hathaway, Silas Baldwin, Samuel Ayers, Absalom Trowbridge, John Hathaway, David Trow- bridge, Abraham Beers, John (2) Hathaway, Joseph Trow- bridge, John Woodruff, Daniel Mills, Jobe Mills, Jacob Meeker, Isaac Walker, Shadrack Hayward, Timothy Extill, Daniel Coleman, David Mills, Jabez Guiness, Dave D. Budd, Thadeus Mills, James Vance, William Burnet, Matthias Crane, Uzal Pierson, Joseph Coleman, Isaac Woolley, Abraham Rutan, George Oharrow, Trune Goble, William Marshel, Hezekiah Mitchell, David G. Wheeler, Daniel Spenser, John Bollen, Elijah Holleway, Henry Feter, Joshua Gorden, John Mc- Daniels, George Mills, Michael Conner, Silas Hathaway, Ichabod Crane, John Still, George Marsh, Thomas Jean."
The following statement concerning the origin of the famous Morris Academy is from "History of Mor- ris County :
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"The Morris Academy was organized November 28th, 1791. This was done by 24 gentlemen, who subscribed each one share of £25 for the purpose. The subscribers were Caleb Rus- sell, Israel Canfield, Daniel Phoenix, Jr., Alexander Car- michael, Gabriel H. Ford, Timothy Johnes, Jr., Moses Estey, Jabez Campfield, William Campfield, (Rev.) Aaron C. Collins, Jonathan Hathaway, John Jacob Faesch, Richard Johnson, John Kinney, Abraham Kinney, Isaac Canfield, George Tucker, David Ford, Nathan Ford, Theodorus Tuthill, John Mills, Joseph Lewis, Jacob Arnold, Chilson Ford.
"The first board of proprietors consisted of Jabez Camp- field, president ; Caleb Russell, first director ; Gabriel H. Ford, second director ; Nathan Ford, third director ; Daniel Phoenix, Jr., treasurer; and Joseph Lewis, clerk. Mr. Campfield re- signed at the expiration of one month, and was succeeded by Mr. Russell.
"The contract for building the academy was let to Caleb Russell for $520. The lot was purchased from the First Presbyterian Church, as appears from the trustees' book: 'At a meeting of the trustees at the house of Caleb Russell, Esq., 5th day of September, 1792, the president, Mr. Lindsley, Mr. Ford, Mr. Mills, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Ogden being met, a deed being made out for one hundred feet of land in front and one hundred and thirty feet deep on the hill opposite the Conners land, agreeable to a vote of the parish requesting the trustees to act discretionary on this affair, the 22nd Feb. 1792- the said deed was then signed, conveying twenty-nine hun- dredths of an acre of land to the proprietors of the intended academy for the sum of thirty pounds Jersey money. Caleb Russell, Esq., gave his obligation for said sum.'
"After the building was completed Caleb Russell, although he was clerk of the county and had a variety of other busi- ness to attend to, consented to take charge of the academy as principal. On the 5th of November, 1792, the school opened, with 35 scholars as follows: Elias Riggs, Stephen Thompson,
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Anthony Day, Henry P. Russell, Henry Axtell, David Bates, Munson Day, Charles Russell, Ezra Halsey, Richard B. Faesch, Jacob Stiles, Jacob Lewis, Timothy J. Lewis, James Wood, Nancy Lewis, Betsey Estey, David Estey, Phoebe, daughter of Jeduthan Day, Sally Conklin, Hannah Hathaway, Eleazer Hathaway, George W. Cook, Thomas Kinney, Henry Mills, David Stites William Beach, John P. Johnes, Alexander Phoenix, Silas Day, Robert M. Russell, Eliza P. Russell, Charles Freeman, Chilion Stiles.
"Mr. Russell continued in full charge of the school until the close of 1795, and in partial charge until August 1797. He graduated in 1770 at Princeton College, and studied law with Judge Robert Morris, of New Brunswick. He was ap- pointed clerk of Morris county four terms of five years each. He died in office June 8, 1805, aged 56 years. Under him the academy took a very high rank, attracting scholars from New York, Philadelphia, Trenton, New Brunswick, Amboy, Charleston, S. C., and many other places. From November 5th 1792 to April 1795, he had a total of 269 scholars. In the eighth volume of the Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society the names of these students, together with those of their parents, are given in full. Among them will be found many who afterward distinguished themselves in Church and State.
"Mr. Russell was assisted by Elias Riggs, Henry Axtell and John Ball, who were among his first pupils, and also by John Woodruff.
"The prices of tuition were: For languages, mathematics and surveying, 25s. per quarter; for French, 30s. and 40S. per quarter; for English studies, 12s., 15s., and 16s. per quarter.
"Mr. Russell was succeeded in August 1797 by Rev. Samuel Whelpley, who continued in charge until 1805."
From the same authority we learn that "the first library in Morris County was established in 1792. On the 21st of
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September of that year II inhabitants of the county seat met at the house of Benjamin Freeman, at Morristown, and 'advised and consulted' upon the propriety of organizing a society which should be called 'The Morris County Society for the Promotion of Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures.'
"Captain Peter Layton (a relic of the Revolution) was chosen chairman, and Colonel Russell, clerk. The constitu- tion presented was rather defective. A committee was ap- pointed to revise it. The meeting then adjourned to meet at Mr. Freeman's house on September 25th, 1792.
"One hundred people were present at this meeting. Samuel Tuthill was installed chairman with Colonel Russell again clerk. The constitution was read as revised, and was adopted. From it we take (Art. VIII) the following: 'Upon the appli- cation of any member of the society for a book he shall deliver him one, and at the same time take a promissory note for the same, to be returned in one (I) month from the time, on paying one shilling for every week overtime.' On October 7th, 1793, this was amended and the librarian was only to keep an account of the book taken. Article XI informs us that the dues were one dollar a year, 'to be paid on the first Monday in October of each year,' and that the stock was transferable. Ninety-seven of those present then signed the constitution, and a good portion of these paid several dollars over the dues for the sake of encouragement. The total receipts were $227.
"On October Ist, 1792, the election of officers came off. Samuel Tuthill was elected president; Joseph Lewis, vice- president; Dr. William Campfield, secretary; W. Campfield, librarian; Israel Canfield, treasurer. Six gentlemen were then elected a committee of correspondence.
"It was resolved that the society purchase three books, and a stamp for marking all books. 'They then adjourned.' The next meeting was April Ist, 1795, at which the by-laws were
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read and adopted, from which we learn that the librarian was to be at the library to deliver books on all days, Sundays excepted, 'from 6 A .. M., to 9 P. M.,' and 'that he shall collect all dues in specie.' The society started with 96 volumes. At the end of the year the treasurer reported $35-47 on hand, and an addition of 20 volumes to the library."
The extracts following, unless otherwise stated, are from "History of Morris County":
"On the 24th of May 1797 the first number of the first newspaper of Morristown was issued. Caleb Russell was the prime mover in this enterprise, having purchased a printing press and secured the services of Elijah Cooper, a practical printer, to attend to the details of the business. The name of the paper was the Morris County Gazette, and it was issued by E. Cooper & Co. Cooper remained until November of the same year, when he left, and Mr. Russell continued sole editor. Early in 1798 he invited Jacob Mann, who had learned the printing business of Sheppard Kollock in Eliza- bethtown, to come to Morristown and take charge of the paper. The Morris County Gazette was continued until the 15th of May, 1798, when the name was changed to the Genius of Liberty. This paper was edited by Jacob Mann until May 14th, 1801.
"Morristown has had but few postmasters. The first was Frederick King, commissioned early in 1782 by Postmaster General Ebenezer Hazard. Henry King, his son, succeeded him on the 14th of June, 1792, receiving his commission from Postmaster General Timothy Pickering. He held the office 42 years."
"The first fire association of Morristown was organized July 26th, 1797. Its officers were: Samuel Tuthill, moderator ; Joseph Lewis, clerk; Alexander Carmichael, Caleb Russell, Colonel Benoni Hathaway, Moses Estey, Captain David Ford and Dr. William Campfield, executive committee. How
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efficient this association proved and how long it continued we are unable to state."
"Among the attractions and advantages of Morristown as a place of residence its excellent and abundant water supply is not the least important.
"On November 16th, 1799 a charter of incorporation was granted to the following 'proprietors of the Morris Aqueduct' : John Doughty, Wm. Campfield, James Richards, David Ford, Aaron Pierson, John Halsey, Wm. Johnes, Gabriel H. Ford, Henry King, Caleb Russell, Daniel Phoenix, Jr., Israel Can- field, Benjamin Freeman, David Mills, George O'Hara, Ro- dolphus Kent, Joseph Lewis, Lewis Condict, Abraham Can- field, Samuel Ogden, Elijah Holloway, Edward Mills, Wm. Tuttle, Matthias Crane, Jonathan Dickerson and Daniel Lindsley.
"From an editorial in the Genius of Liberty, November 2Ist, 1799, we condense the following: 'An aqueduct, four miles in length including its various branches, has been laid and completed in this town since the 20th of June last. The fountain is 100 feet above the town, on the north side of a small mountain covered with wood. The pipe has been laid 3 feet under ground, at an expense of between $2,000 and $3,000. The work was executed by Pelatiah Ashley, of West Springfield, Mass.
"This 'fountain' was on the 'Jockey Hollow' road (about one mile from town), where one of the reservoirs is now (1880) situated. The water was conducted from there to the town through brick tile. How many years this was con- tinued we cannot say, but are informed that for many years the aqueduct was a dry one, and Morristown was again left dependent on wells, and so continued until the chartered right was purchased by James Wood, who repaired it and laid chestnut logs of two inches bore as the aqueduct, and had a small distributing 'reservoir'-a wooden cistern, capable of
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