USA > New Jersey > Historical and genealogical miscellany : early settlers of New Jersey and their descendants, Vol. III > Part 26
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Dec. 8. It still blew very hard from the northwest, so that we could not go up the Raritan Kill; we had to remain through the day and resolved to send the savage, Hans, overland to the Newesingh [Neversink] savages, who were camping three leagues up the Kill. It was done directly. We sent him off immediately, with verbal orders to inform the sachems of the Newesinghs and Raritans that we were laying with the yachts before the Kill, and that we desired them to come down to us at once to speak with them. We directed Hans also to tell the sachems that if some English should come there, or were there already and wished to purchase from thein some land, they must not sell the same to the English, for they bad not asked the Dutch sachen.s at the Manhatans, and had stealthily gene here, and if the sachems of the Newesinghs wished to th sone land, they should come here to us and we would then speak together. Hans left diredly at sunrise to tell this to the savages, while we remained before the Kill.
December o. At about 6 o'clock in the morning we saw the English vessel come down the KM, where upon we raised auchet immediately and called to hall them. This done on are the with them, vaiapare !
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GROVER OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
whence they came, the skipper. Stoffel Elswart, answered: ' Down the Kill." I pon our question what they had done there, he said: "I carried the English there." I told them that way und coming and contrary to the laws of the country to proceed in this manner and that they would be punished. Thereupon William Golden [Goulding] called out: " "Tis well, 'tis well." In the boat were Cherles Morgens [Charles Morgan], Jan Bon !John Bownel, Jeems Hobbart |James Hubbard], William Goldert [William Goulding]. Randel Huist Randell Huet]. Derrick Stout [Richard Stout), Jems [James; Grover, Jan Kotman [fohr Ruckman', Sim Spyser [Samuel Spicer], Tomas Wittock [Thomas Whitlock]. Sergeant Gyblircks (Richard Gibbons). from Oyster Bay a man named Kreupelhos, one from Vlissingen (Flushing', two from Jamyche [Jamaical, and some others we did not know. about twenty altogether. At about three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, Hans, the savage, whom we had sent on the 8th to the Newesinghs sache ms, camping some way up the Raritan kill, came back and brought with him six or seven savages, who told us the English had come to them the day before Hans, the savage, had arrived, and had given them some wine, two strings of black and one of white wampum asking whether they were willing to sell some of their lands to them. Meanwhile Hans, the savage arrived, and nothing came of it, so that the English left again.
Dec. ro. We left the Raritan Kill again, and two savages came with us, who knew the country towards the Newesinghs. We went down the bay, came to the mouth of the Kill which enipties into the sea between Rensselaer's Hook and the Sandpoint [Sandy Hook], and found there Stoffel Eiswaert with his sloop and all the Englishmen aground in the Kill. We could not enter the Kill with our sloop and landed in a boat. We . went along the strand towards them, and when we came near we saw them standing under arms. The Sehout Carles Morgen and Jan Bon [Charles Morgan and John Bowne] came without arms towards us. Jack asked them what business they had there, to which they answered: "They had come to tra le." We told them: "Why are you come in such numbers if you only come to trade?" and they replied: "The savages are rascals. and cannot be trusted, therefore come we in such numbers." We then said we had been informed they had come out to buy land from the savages, to which they replied: "We only go to look at it." Said we again. "They should not undertake to buy any land from the savages, as it has mostly been bought by the Dutch already." John Bon [ Bowne] answered me: " Under what government do you consider us to be?" I said "that they stood under the jurisdiction of the State's General and under the Honorable Director-General and Council here," to which he replied: "Why may we not go out to look for land just as well as you do?" I answered: "They must not undertake to buy land from the savages unless they had proper permission from the Direc- tor-General and Council." Jan Bon said then: "It is well," and Stoffel Elswaert called out: "I told them the same before that they should not do it." Govert Lockermans told them: "You are a pack of traitors, for you act against the laws of your country." They said the King's patent covered the whole of America, and Lockermans answered: "From whom have you your patents?" and they answered: "From the Manhatans." Lockermans replied: "Why then do you act against the States?" To which Carles Morgen said: "Take notice of it." The English had with them a savage who was from the Newesinghs, and had taken part in the murder at Mespath Kill, so our savages whom we had on board of our sloop, and who had come with us, told us. His name is Suckkurus, and he lives beyond the Newesinghs Kill, on the land called Remsingh. We then left the English and went along on the west side of the strand up the Kill for about one hour, where the land is very mountainous, but, as the savage said, on the other side of it the land was level and good and much of it, there was much old corn land and some savage corn plantations which Jacques Cortelyou had visited and inspected formerly. We then went across the mountains again, and came back about 3 o'clock. We saw that Stoffel Elswaert, with his sloop and the Englishmen, had gone into the Kill, and we remained before it over night.
Dec. r. The wind being southwest we resolved to return to the Manhatans, which we did.
The next year the country passed into the hands of the English, and Governor Richard Nicoll superseded Director Stuyvesant. And among the very first acts of the new Governor was the granting of the following license:
"Upon the request of Wm. Goulding, James Grover and John Browne [Bowne], in behalf of them and their associates, I do hereby authorize them to treat and conclude with the several sachems of the Nevisans or any others concerned, about the purchase of a parcel of land lying and being on the maine, extending from Chawgoraniss, near the mouth of the Raritans River, unto Pontohecke. For the doing whereof this shat be their warrant. Given under my hand at Port James, in New York, on Manhattans Island, the 17th day of October, 1004.
R. NicolIs."
Anticipating this permission, James Hubbard, John Bowne. lohn Tilton, Jr., Richard Stout, Willson Couldling and Samuel Spicer had bought, 25, imo, wong, from the Sachem
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Popomora, and his brother. Mishacoing, for MS fathoms of black and white seawamp down, and So fathoms, additional, in twelve months, 5 coats, i gun, i cloat capp, i shut, re lbs. of tobacco and tanker of wine, lands, at Nevesink, which conveyance the Indians acsnot . ledged in New York, before Governor Nicolls, Apr. 7. 1665, who, the following day, Apr. s. 1665. issued the " Monmouth Patent" to the preceding named individual, with, Richard Gibbons, James Grover, Nathaniel Silvester, William Reape, Walter Clark, Nicholas Davis and Obadiah Holmes added, and James Hubbard omitted. These twelve constituted the Monmouth Patentees, and of this number, seven were of Gravesend.
1666-7, MIch. 21. James Grover sold his farm, in Gravesend. to Thomas Delavall, and removed to Last New Jersey, and was one of the first settlers of Middletown, where, Dec. 30, . 1667, he had a town lot assigned him, in the first division of Middletown lands. The next day he was deputed to "survey the land that is to be laid out into lots," Richard Stout and James Ashton to assist him. One lot in this division was also assigned hin.
In 1668, Grover was Town Clerk, of Middletown, and Dec. 16, of the same year, the town, on the one part, and Grover. on the other, made the following agreement :
«This agreement made with the Overseers of this town and James Grover, concerning the laying out of the meadows, that is: That the said James Grover to lay all the meadows out into lots, between this and the first day of june next, and the said James Grover is to have three sufficient men to go along with his till hus work is fully done, and James Grover is to have for every acre that is laid out one peund of good merchantable blade tobacco: it is to be understood that the meadows that are to be laid out are only soch that the town shall think fit.
Having cattle running at large, Grover recorded his "earmark" Jan. 4, 1669.
Having come into possession of the flour mill, at Middletown, the following agreement was made between the town and him, Dec. 25, 1669, in a legad town meeting, wherein he agreed: 2. To maintain good repair; to grind the corn for the inhabitants of Middletown.
2. To grind the town's before any from other towns if demanded.
3. To grind the town's corn for the twelfth bushel toll.
4. To make as good meal for the town's people as is usually made within the province of within the Government of New York; provided the corn be in good condition to make good meal and having water sufficient.
5. To keep the enlargement of lands granted, and not to dispose of any part or parcel.
6. To be bound, both him and his heirs, for the performance of the above named conditions
In consideration of the performance of the above conditions, the use of thirty acres of upland we by the major vote, [only Jonathan Holmes di-senting], granted to the present possessor of the mill, Ufames Grover], running seventy rods along by the run, and so in breadth up into the woods, together with the quantity of two acres of low ground, lying upon the northward side of the mill pond.
1667 and 1668. He was the first Town Clerk, of Middletown, N. J. 1668. He was one of the founders of the Baptist Church, at Middletown, N. J.
1668, Oct. 28-Nov. 1. He was one of the repudiated Deputies, of Middletown, and Shrews- bury, to the First General Assembly, held at Elizabethtown, N. J.
1673. As a millwright, he was employed by Lord Lovelace, Governor of New York, in the erection of a water mill upon Staten Island.
1673, Aug. 8. [1674] He was chosen, by Middletown, with John Bowne, a Commissioner, to consult upon terms of surrender, with the Dutch, at Fort Orange, who had recently ie- entered the province.
Vpon the Advise of James Grover, John Bowns, Jonathan Holmes, Richard Hart. horne, John Hanse & James Ashton, Inpowered by the Patientees & Associates of the townes of Midltowne & Shrewsberry into the Governo. & Council for Confirmation of Certaine Privi. ledges granted vsto them by Coll. Richard Nichols as by partent vid' his hand & Seale, bearing ware the 8 April, 100%.
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25%
GROVER OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
The Governo' & Councill doe Confirme ynto the said paftentees & associates these pticulers following, being their Rights contayned in the aforsaid Patent I viz'. Imps. that the Said Patientees & associates haue full power licence & authority to dispose of the said Land expressed in the Said Pattent as to them shall seem meet.
2' 'That noe ministeriall power or Clergyman shall bee imposed on any [of] the inhabitants of the said land soe as to inforce any that are Contrary minded to Contribute to their Main- tenance.
315 That all Causes whatsoeuer (Criminally Excepted) shall first have a heering wiin their Cognisance & that noe appealls vnto higher Courts where sentence hath bin passed amongst them vnd" the vallue of 101 bee admitted.
4'> That all Criminalls & apealls abone the vallue of rol wth. are to bee reserved vnto the aforsaid higher Courts shall receive their determination there: Apcalls to his Maiesty not to bee hindred.
515 That for all Comission officers, both Civill & Millitary, the pattentees Associats & free- hold" have liberty to p'sent two psons, for each office, to the Governo' whome they shall think fitt, one of weh. the Governo', is to Comissionate to Execute the said office; And that they have liberty to make peculiar & prudential Lawes & Constitutions amongst themselves accord- ing to the tenure of the said Pattent. Lawes & Constitutions amongst themselves according to the tenure of the said Pattent.
Bergen Jurisdiction in the Province of New Jersey, May 28, 1672.
Signed by the Governo. PH. CARTERETT
JOHN PYRE JOHN BERRY
JOHN BISHOP LAWRENCE ANDROSS
WILLIAM PARDON SAMUELL EDSALL Trenton Deeds, Lib. 3, P. 53.
In addition to his business of a millwright, he conducted an inh:
By Cap" Phillip Carterett Esq" Governor of the prouince of New Jarsey.
These are to permit and Lycence James Grouer of Nauesinck to keep an ordinary or victual- ing howse for the Entertaynment and aComodation of all strangers and passengers With Lodging and provisions, and to retaile all manner of strong drink and liquours to all persons Whatsoeucr Excepting the Indians, Allayes prouided that he keeps good orders in his hows, and not Exceed the rates that are or shall be appointed Vpon all sorts of drink and Liq . that shall be so Vented in Victualling howses by Way of retaile, hereby prohibiting all other pisons to Sell or Vent by Way of retaile any strong drink or Liq" to be drouck or spent W" in their dwelling howses Whout a Lycence first obtayned from me Vpon the penaltie of paying fue pounds Starling to the Use of the publick for their Contempt, this Lycense to Continue for one Whole Yeare from the day of the date hereof, and to be Continued from Veare to Yeare by the Secretary Unless there be Just Cause of Exceptions to the Contrary. Giuen Vnd' my hand and Seale of the prouince the 10th day of July 1667 and in the 19th Yeare of the Raigne of our Soue'n Lord Charles the Second, King of England Scotland france and Ireland defend' of the faith &c.
East Jersey Deeds, Lib. 3, P. II.
1667-8, Feb. 27. James Grover, of "Midleten upon Navesink," subscribed to the "Oat !! of Alegeance."
New Jersey Archives, Vol. I, P. 51. James Grover was also a successful aspirant for military and judicial honors:
1672, June 13. Commission granted to "M". James Grover," to be Lieutenant of a Foot Company, in Middletown.
Trenton Deeds, Lib. 3, P. 42.
By Phillip Carteret Esq' Gouerno" and Comand in Chieffe of the Province of New C'cearea or New Jersey. By vertu of the power and Authority Giuten to mee by the Right honow. Sir George Carteret Kn' and Berget Vice Chamberlaine al li . Maj " household and
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Lord proprietor of the province aboutsaid, I doe hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint you James Grouer to bee Lieutenant of a foot Company Consisting of the Inhabitants of the town of Midleton and the plantations Adjacent Vod' the Command of Cap" John Bound. You are to obserue follow and obey such orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receiuc from mee your Comand' in Chieff and your said Capt" or any other your superiour officer or officers. You are to the best of your knowledge to Instruct and Exercise the souldiers vnd: your Command the vse and practice of theire Armes. You are to take Care that the Military Lawes be duely Executed or the defaults duely p'sented and punished, all Inferiour officers and souldiers are hereby required and Commanded to obey you as theire Lieutenant according to the Military Lawes established, &c.
Given vnd my hand and seale of the Prouince the 15th day of July, Anº 1675. Trenton Decds, Lib. 3, P. 116.
By the honob! Phillip Carteret, Esq', Gouerno' and Commander In Chieff of the Province of East Now Jersey.
By Vertu of the Power and Authority Giuen Vnto mee by the Right lonob! the Lady Clizabeth Carteret. Barones, Sole Executrix to the Right honob; ST George Carteret, Kn' & Baronet late lord proprietor of this prouince, deceased, &c., Doc hereby Constitute and appoint you, Mr. James Grover, to be Lieutenant of a foot Company Consisting of the towne of Midleton and the plantations adjacent, Under the Command of Capt" John Bowne. You are to Obey follow and Observe such orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time Receive from me yor Commander in Chieff and yor said Capta or any other yor Superiour Officer or Officers. You are to the best of yor knowledge to Instruct and Exercise the souldiers Under your Command the Vse and practice of their Arms. You are to take Care that the Military Laws be ducly executed or the defaults duely presented and punished. All Inferiour officers and souldiers are hereby Required and Cori- manded to Obey you as their Lieutenant according to the Military Laws established, &c., &c.
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Giuen Vud' my hand and seale of the Prouince the 4th of July, Ano. 1681.
Trenton Deeds, Lib. 3, p. 170.
The Governor and Proprietors of the Province of East New Jersey.
To all people to whom these prsents doc or may Concerne Whereas wee have had and received certaine information of the Capacity and ability of James Grover of Middictowne in the County of Monmouth Geht. have therefore Constituted and appointed and by these p'sents Do Constitute and appoint the said James Grover Lieutent. of a ffoot Company of Traine bands Consisting of the Inhabitants of Middletowne aforest and of the lymitts or supposed lymitts or boundaryes thereof under the Confiand of Major Jolin Bowne in wich office of Lieutent. hee is to the best of his knowledge to discipline instruct and exercise the Inhabitants and souldiers under his Comand in the use and practice of Armes And in that office to take Care that the Lawes ef this Province relateing to millitary discipline bee duely executed or at least the Defaults Durly p'sented that yo" may see them punished And the said James Grover is also hereby required and Comanded to observe follow and obey all such orders, directions and Instructions as hee shall from tyme to tyme receive from the Governor or Deputy Governor of this province, and the said Major or any other his superior office or officers Comisionated by the Governor or Deputy Governor according to Law And all inferioui officers and souldiers in the aforesd. ffoot Company are hereby required and Comanded to yeild obedience to and observe the said James Grover as their Lieutent.
Given under the seale of the said Province this Third day of december, Anno Di 1683. By order of Councill
THIO: RUDYARD.
Then follows, on the same page, the Commission of Safety Grover, as Ensign of the same company -- same date.
Book C., Commissions, p. 63, Acts of Assembly, Trenton, N. J.
1675, Mch. 13. A commission granted for the County Court, of Middletown and Shrews- bury, at which Capt. John Bound was to be President and Mr. James Grover amd Mr. Joseph Parker were to be his Associates.
By the Governor
Whereas I have a good Opinion of the ability Prudence and Integrity of you MF James Grouer In D.t Management of public affairs, I have thought Att and dee by these placht; Noadmite Constitute .....
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GROVER OF MONMOUTH COUNTY
symint you the said James Grower to be a Justice of the peace for the towne of Midicton and the limits thereof aring Pleasure, Giucing you hereby fule power and Authority to Execute such Laves as are or shall be ale for the Good Government of the sail province to Administ the Out of Meagance to the King and ! ! dity to the Lord proprietor, and all other oaths yppon all Ocasions as the natter and Cause shall Require . 'in yo' said Limits, and to Issue out yor Warrants for the apprehending and secureing of all such persons . shall come under the penalty of the Law Esther for Debt or misdemeanor of What Con.ftion or Quality Whatsoeuer Contrary to the lawes of this Preuince, Willing and Requireing you strictly to discharge yor all office as a Justice of peace Ought to doe. And all p'sons W "in this prouince are hereby strictly Charged and Commanded to take notice hereof and to Respect and Give due obedience to you according to the Law In the p'formance of your office.
Giuen you by Authority Vnd my hand & scale of the Prouince the 13th day of March, Anº 1675, And In the XVIII yeare of his Maj.Us Raigne Charles the Second, &c., &c.
PHILLIP CARTERET Trenton Deeds, Lib. 3, p. 124.
BY PHILLIP CARERET, ESQ", &c., &c.
Whereas the two townes of Midleton & Shrewsbery are a County and that by Act of Generall .Assembly there Is 2 Courts of Sessions to be helde yearely In the said County Viz the last tuesday In March and the first tuesday In Septembr, Wherefore I have thought fitt and dee by these p'sents Nominate Constitute and appoint you Capt" John Bound to bee president of the said Courts for this prsent yeare and Mr James Grouer and AFF Joseph Parker to be assistants and make a Choram to meet together on the dayes appointed as afore- said, And then to Call before you all person or p'sons against whom Complaint shall be made for Debts or Differences in accounts Vndr the Valew of the said sum of aos, and them to heare and determin according to Equity and Justice and to pass yor finall sentence there Vpon ard the same to putt In Execution accord- ingly, hereby requireing all pisons to Give you the due Respect and Obseruance of a Court Constituted and appointed by Authority, And for yor so Doping this shall be to you and Every of you a sufficient Warrant.
Giuen Vndr my hand and seale of the Prouince this 16 of febr, 16;6, and In the 29th Yeare of his Maj. fre. Raigne Charles ye Second, &c., &c.
Trenton Deeds, Lib. 3, P. 130.
1677, MIch. 12. James Grover and Joseph Parker, Justices of Peace, were commissioned to form part of the County Court of Middletown and Shrewsbury. Capt. John Bound to be Pres- ident, and Richard Gibbons and Jonathan Holmes to be assistants.
Trenton Deeds, Lib. 3, p. 139.
1678, Sept. 3 and 4. James Grover sat, as a Justice of the Peace, at a Court held at Shrews- bury.
THOMAS RUDYARD, one of the proprietors and deputy Governor of the province of East New Jersey.
To Capt. John Bound John Throgmorton James Grover and Peter Tilton Greeting Know yee that I have Assigned and Constituted And in the Kings name and Authority by these p'sents doe Assigne and Constitute you the said Captn John Bound John Throgmorton James Grover and Peeter Tilton joyntely and severally and every of you Justices of the peace to keepe the Kings and Countryes peace winin the Towne of Middleton and the Lymitts precincts and libtyes thereot for and dureing the space of one whole yeare next ensucing the date hereof and in that stacon office and Capacity to doe and Act in all Causes Cases matters and things according to the Coffon Law and the Lawes and Constitucons of this province. Given under my band and Seale of the said province this ffourth day of ffebruary Anno Dm 1682.
THO. RUDYARD Book C., of Commissions, p. 11, Acts of Assembly, Trenton, N. J.
THE GOVERNOR AND PROPRIETORS OF THE PROVINCE OF EAST NEW JERSEY
To all persons to whome these p'sents shall come WHEREAS by Act of General Assembly of this province begun & holden at Elisabeth Towne wthin the said province The first day of this Instant month amongst other things it was Enacted that in every Towne in and throughout this province there should bee one Court held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month for the determination of small causes and cases of debt to the value of forty shillings or under was causes and cases should be heard and determined by three phone sell out a Jury as by the raid Act reference being thereumto bed and best Divers other things prisions Articles and Clauses therein Contained may more fully and at Large appear Now Know Ya det was have Com.
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HISTORICAL MISCELLANY
missionated Constituted and appointed and by these p'sents Doe Comis, donate Constitute and appoirt Jel: Bound John Throgmorton & James Grover the psons and Commissioners Dureing our pleasure to heare in determine the small Causes and Cases aboue menconed with shall or may happen to bee in Midtetowne ....!! the Lymitts libertye and preincts thereof and to Do Act and pforme all and every the powers and Authority . in the Said Act p"cribed of Directed to be Don acted or pformed by the Three psons therein menconed accep ?- ing to the Tenor and effect of the said Act of Assembly And we Doe hereby Constitute and appoint . . .. to bee the Clerke and Messinger of the said Court of Small Causes and to have and receive such ffees and pfitts for the same as the Commissioners abovenamed shall lymitt and appoint.
Given vnder the scale of the said prince att Elizabeth Towne the Light and Twentieth Day of March, Anno Di 1683, Annoq R R. Caroli S'edi Aug. &c. Tricessimo Quinto.
By order of Councill.
Tho. RUDYARD Book C., Commissions, p. 15, Acts of Assembly, Trenton, N. J.
Lands of James Grover, SENIOR.
The first recorded land transaction in which James Grover took part is dated the 24th of August 1674, and is to be found on page 6S of Liber Ist of East Jersey Deeds in the office of the Secretary of State. At that time Matappeas, Tawapung, and Seapeckne, "Chief Sachcins ol Toponemese " sold to John Bowne, Richard Hartshorne and James Grover, of " Middleton In After Cull," "in consideration of sundry species of Trading goods," "a certain tract of land" on the Navesink river.
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