USA > New Jersey > Historical collections of the state of New Jersey : containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical desciptions of every township in the state. > Part 10
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In person, Somers was rather below the middle stature ; stout in frame, and exceedingly active and muscular. He was mild, amia- ble, and affectionate, both in disposition and deportment; though of singularly chivalrous notions of duty and honor. As a proof of the estimation in which he was held, several small vessels have been called after him; among which is the beautiful little brig "Somers," which recently has been the scene of a thrilling tragedy on the high seas .*
GALLOWAY.
GALLOWAY was incorporated in 1798. It is 16 miles long, and 8 wide, and is bounded NE. by Little Egg Harbor bay and river, separating it from Burlington co., SW. by Egg Harbor town- ship and Hamilton, SE. by the ocean, and NW. by Mullica. Its surface is level and covered with pines. The ocean-side is bor- dered by a marsh several miles in width, in which are numerous arms of the sea, and bays with many small islands. Outside of these is Brigantine Beach, where were formerly works for the manufac- ture of salt from sea-water. Absecombe, in the SE. corner, 13 miles from May's Landing, contains about 30 dwellings. Port Republic is a village of about the same size upon Nacote creek, a branch of the Little Egg Harbor. A considerable business is done here in ship-building. Smithville is a small village 7 miles N. of Abse- combe. There is a Methodist church at each of these places. The
. * The foregoing account of Somers is drawn from an interesting biography by J. Fenni- more Cooper, in Graham's Magazine for October, 1842.
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township contains 7 stores, capital $9,700 ; 1 glass factory, 3 grist- mills, 3 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures, $47,500; 8 schools, 616 scholars. Population, 2,208.
In the American revolution there was a considerable settlement at the forks of Little Egg Harbor river, now gone to decay. It contained about 30 dwellings, inhabited principally by persons en- gaged in "running goods" when Philadelphia was in possession of the British. Little Egg Harbor river was a favorite resort for pri- vateers to land their cargoes for this purpose. At Chestnut Neck some storehouses for the reception of merchandise were burnt by the British. At that time a breastwork was erected there, and the inhabitants to the number of 1,500 collected for its defence. The enemy coming up the river in strong force in barges, compelled them to retreat.
HAMILTON.
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View of the County Buildings, May's Landing.
HAMILTON is about 16 miles long by 11 wide, and is bounded NE. by Galloway, SW. by Cape May county, SE. by Egg Har- bor, and NW. by part of Gloucester county. The Great Egg Harbor river passes through its whole length, draining a wide ex- tent of sandy soil and pine forest. The township contains 8 stores, capital $14,800; 1 furnace, 1 forge, 2 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures, $22,150 ; 6 schools, 916 scholars. Popu- lation, 1,565.
May's Landing, the seat of justice for the county, is on the Great Egg Harbor river, at the head of navigation, 16 miles from the At- lantic ocean, and 73 from Trenton. It is divided into two portions about a quarter of a mile apart. Hamilton, the upper village, is on both sides of the river, over which is a bridge. May's Landing is on the west side of the river, and was first settled. There are
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in the village and vicinity about 70 dwellings. Its inhabitants are principally engaged in ship-building, and in transporting cord-wood and timber to market. The above view shows on the right the courthouse and other county buildings. That on the extreme right is the jail. These are handsome brick edifices, situated on the north bank of the river, about 60 rods east of the bridge. There are two churches in the village ; a Methodist, (formerly occupied by Methodists and Baptists.) and a Presbyterian church lately erected, a handsome brick edifice with a spire, situated near the county buildings, in a grove of venerable forest-trees.
May's Landing was first settled in 1710, by George May, who bought the land on which the village stands. He opened a store and supplied vessels which put in here with wood. His dwelling was standing until about 1830. on the north side of the river, about 10 rods above the mouth of Babcock's creek, near the willow-trees. It was a small gambrel-roofed building, a story and a half high, fronting on the river. After the American revolution Colonel Richard Westcott removed here from the forks of Egg Harbor, and became a large owner. This gentleman died about twenty years since, at the advanced age of 102 years. A Baptist church was built in the village in 1782, in which the clergyman at Tuckahoe, where there was then alsoa church of this denomination, occasionally preached. Catawba, 4 miles SE. of the courthouse, has a Metho- dist church and about 20 dwellings. Weymouth, on the river, 6 miles NW. of the courthouse, contains a Methodist church. a fur- nace, forge, saw and grist mill, and about 40 dwellings. These works belong to the heirs of Samuel Richards, Esq., deceased, and give employment, directly and indirectly, to several hundred men.
The following extracts from the New Jersey State Gazette. pub- lished at Trenton in the war of the revolution, relate to incidents off .this coast.
March 31, 1779 .- In the late snow.storm, the transport ship Mermaid, of White- haven, England, with troops from Halifax, bound to New York, was driven on shore and bilged at Egg Harbor. After being in this miserable situation from five o'clock on Mon- day morning until noon on Tuesday, a boat caine off to their relief, and saved only 42 souls out of 187. Perished-Capt. Snowball, Lieut. Snodgrass, 112 sergeants, drum- mers, and privates, 13 women, 11 sailors, and 7 children ; total, 145. Sared-5 ser- geants, 25 privates, 7 sailors, and 5 officers ; total, 42.
Sept. 11, 1782 .- Last week Capt. Douglas with some of the militia of Gloucester co., attacked "a refugee boat at Egg Harbor, with 18 refugees on board, of whom 14 were shot or drowned ; the others made their escape.
Dec. 18, 1782 .- Capt. Jackson, of the Greyhound, on the evening of Sunday, last weck, with much address captured, within the Hook, the schooner Dolphin, and sloop Diamond, bound from New York to Halifax, and brought thein both into Egg Harbor. These vessels were both condemned to the claimants, and the amount of sales amounted to £10,500.
Aug. 25, 1779 .- By a sailor from Egg Harbor, we are informed, that on Wednesday last, the schooner Mars, Capt. Taylor, fell in with a vessel mounting 14 guns, which he boarded and took. She proved to be a packet from Falmouth to New York. Capt. Taylor took the mail and prisoners, 45 in number ; but on Saturday last, fell in with a Best of 23 sail, under convoy of a large ship and frigate, when the latter gave chase to the packet and retook her. Capt. Taylor got safe into Egg Harbor.
The annexed account of a naval exploit of a minor character.
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performed off this coast in the late war, was communicated by a resident of May's Landing.
In the latter part of 1813, as several small coasters were sailing around Cape May, from the Delaware river, bound for Egg Harbor, they came in contact with a British armed schooner, lying at anchor off the Cape. She put chase, fired upon, and took the schooner New Jersey, from May's Landing, which was manned by the master, Capt. Burton, and 2 hands. Having placed on board as prize-master a young midshipman, with three men, (two Englishmen and an Irishman,) she ordered the sloop to follow her, and continued the pursuit of the other vessels. As they neared Egg Harbor, the ap- proach of night compelled her to desist front the chase, and she then put about for the Cape. The sloop followed, but made little headway, the young midshipman in com- mand being an indifferent seaman. He at length placed the sailing of the vessel under the directions of Capt. Burton, directing him to steer for the Cape. He designedly steered the vessel so that no headway was made. Morning dawned and found them off the mouth of Great Egg Harbor. Burton feigned ignorance of the place. Shortly af- ter, a man was sent aloft to look out : the prize-master and one of his men went below to examine the charts, leaving the three Americans and one of the enemy on deck. Bur- ton availed himself of the opportunity. He and his two men secured the one on deck, fastened the two in the cabin, and having thus made them all prisoners, in an hour, with a fair wind, brought his vessel to anchor off Somers Point, within a short distance of home. The prize-master, after a short confinement in prison, was exchanged. The two Englishmen hired out in the vicinity, and the Irishman enlisted on board a gunboat and fought valiantly for the stripes and stars.
MULLICA
MULLICA, the NW. township of the county, was formed in 1838, from Galloway. It is about 13 miles long, 8 wide, and is bounded NE. by Burlington county, SW. by Hamilton, SE. by Gallo- way, and NW. by Gloucester county. Surface level, and covered by a pine forest. Gloucester, Pleasant Mills, and Hammonton, are settlements. Gloucester is in the SE. part, on a branch of the Little Egg Harbor or Mullicus river, where there is a furnace giving em- ployment to about 100 men, a grist m., saw m., and about 25 dwellings. The iron works, now the property of John Richards, Esq., were founded in 1813, previous to which there was no settlement. Pleasant Mills, on Atsion river, a branch of the Mullicus, contains an extensive cotton factory, a Methodist church, and about 30 dwellings. Hammonton is the name of a locality in the W. part of the township, where there are glass works and a few dwellings. The township contains 10 stores, cap. $16,900 ; 1 furnace, 3 grist m., 7 saw m., cap. in manufac. $19,300 ; 5 schools, 296 scholars. Population 1,056.
WEYMOUTH.
WEYMOUTH was incorporated in 1798 It is 9 miles long, 7 broad, and is bounded N. E. by Great Egg Harbor river, separating it from Egg Harbor and part of Hamilton, S. and W. by Tuckahoe river, dividing it from Cape May and Cumberland counties. The portion of the township bordering Tuckahoe and Great Egg Harbor river is mostly marsh ; the remaining portion generally covered with pine forest. On Stevens' creek, a branch of the last named
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river, 5 miles south of May's Landing, are Estell's glass works, employing about 80 men ; a Methodist church, a grist and saw mill, and a few buildings. The village of Tuckahoe is on both sides of the Tuckahoe river, partly in this and partly in Cape May co. The township contains 8 stores, capital $16,000; 1 forge, 1 grist-mill, 6 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures $14,000 ; 6 schools, 336 scholars. Population, 1,158.
BERGEN COUNTY.
BERGEN COUNTY was bounded, by the act of 1709, as follows : " That on the eastern division the county shall begin at Constable's Hook, and so run up along the bay and Hudson river to the parti- tion point between New Jersey and the province of New York, and along that line between the provinces, and the division line of the eastern and western divisions of this province, to Pequanock river ; thence by such river and the Passaic river to the sound; thence by the sound to Constable's Hook, where it began." These original bounds have been much reduced by the formation of Pas- saic co., in 1837, and Hudson co., in 1840. It is now bounded N. by Rockland co., (New York,) E. by Hudson river, S. by Passaic and Hudson counties, and W. by Passaic co. It is 19 miles long, E. and W. ; breadth on the E. line 14, and on the W. 9 miles. The surface of the central part is generally level or undulating. On the W. it is mountainous, and on the E. the lofty trap-ridge, known as the "Palisades," extends the whole width of the county, border- ing on Hudson river. The soil, particularly in the valleys, is fer- tile, and productive in early summer vegetables, apples, straw- berries, &c., which find a market in the city of New York. The inhabitants are of Dutch origin : many still speak that language, preserving much of their primitive simplicity of manners. In the valleys of the Hackensack and Saddle rivers, and on the adjacent hills, are many small and beautiful farms, with neat cottages, in the Dutch style, painted white, surrounded by shrubbery; the whole presenting an air of rural content and thrift. The county is divided into the following 7 townships, all of which, excepting Lodi and Washington, were incorporated in 1798:
Franklin, Harrington, New Barbadoes, Washington,
Hackensack, Lodi,
Saddle River.
The population of the county, in 1840, was 13,250.
FRANKLIN.
This township measures across it, N. and S., 10 miles, and the same E. and W. It is bounded N. by Rockland co., (New York,) E. by Washington and New Barbadoes, S. by Saddle River and
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Manchester, Passaic co., and W. by Pompton, Passaic co. The Saddle river courses on its E. boundary and the Ramapo through its western portion. The surface is undulating, and on the W. mountainous. The soil is well-cultivated and productive. In 1840, the products of the dairies were valued at $19,800, being more than double that of any other township in the county ; the products of the orchard, $15,547. There were raised 24,003 bushels of oats, 18,750 bushels of rye, and 18,652 of Indian corn. There were 5 paper-mills, and 6 cotton manufactories-in the latter of which was invested a capital of $22,810, and the value of the cotton cloth made $30,812; 15 grist-mills, 25 saw-mills; capital in manufactures, $40,633; 13 schools, 462 scholars. Population, 4.010. Paramus, Hohokus, New Prospect, and Hopper's, are localities in the township ; the first of which, 7 miles NW. of Hackensack, contains a Reformed Dutch church, and a few dwellings. The re- mainder are manufacturing vicinities.
Wampum, or Indian money, is to the present day made in this county, and sold to the Indian traders of the far west. It has been manufactured, by the females in this region, from very early times for the Indians; and as every thing connected with this interesting race is destined, at no distant period, to exist only in history, we annex a description of the manufacture.
The wampum is made from the thick and blue part of sea-clam- shells. The process is simple, but requires a skill only attained by long practice. The intense hardness and brittleness of the material render it impossible to produce the article by machinery alone. It is done by wearing or grinding the shell. The first process is to split off the thin part with a light sharp hammer. Then it is clamped in the sawed crevice of a slender stick, held in both hands, and ground smooth on a grindstone, until formed into an eight- sided figure, of about an inch in length and nearly half an inch in diameter; when it is ready for boring. The shell then is inserted into another piece of wood, sawed similarly to the above, but fasten- ed firmly to a bench of the size of a common stand. One part of the wood projects over the bench, at the end of which hangs a weight, causing the sawed orifice to close firmly upon the shell in- serted on its under side, and to hold it firmly, as in a vice, ready for drilling. The drill is made from an untempered handsaw. The operator grinds the drill to a proper shape, and tempers it in the flame of a candle. A rude ring, with a groove on its circum- ference, is put on it ; around which the operator, (seated in front of the fastened shell.) curls the string of a common hand-bow. The boring commences, by nicely adjusting the point of the drill to the centre of the shell ; while the other end is braced against a steel plate, on the breast of the operator. About every other sweep of the bow, the drill is dexterously drawn out, cleaned of the shelly particles by the thumb and finger, above which drops of water from a vessel fall down and cool the drill; which is still kept re- volving, by the use of the bow with the other hand, the same as
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though it were in the shell. This operation of boring is the most difficult of all, the peculiar motion of the drill rendering it hard for the breast ; yet it is performed with a rapidity and grace inter- esting to witness. Peculiar care is observed, lest the shell burst from heat caused by friction. When bored half way, the wampum is reversed, and the same operation repeated. The next process is the finishing. A wire, about twelve inches long, is fastened at one" end to a bench. Under and parallel to the wire is a grindstone, fluted on its circumference, hung a little out of the centre, so as to be turned by a treadle moved with the foot. The left hand grasps the end of the wire, on which are strung the wampum, and, as it were, wraps the beads around the fluted or hollow circumference of the grindstone. While the grindstone is revolving, the beads are held down on to it, and turned round by a flat piece of wood held in the right hand, and by the grinding soon become round and smooth. They are then strung on hempen strings, about a foot in length. From five to ten strings are a day's work for a female. They are sold to the country merchants for twelve and a half cents a string, always command cash, and constitute the support of many poor and worthy families.
HACKENSACK.
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This township is 10 miles long, with a width varying from 3 to 5 miles. It is bounded N. by Harrington, E. by Hudson river, S. by part of Hudson co., and W. by Lodi and New Barbadoes. On the E. the Palisades skirt along the Hudson. The W. part is gen- erally level, and contains much meadow-land in the valleys of Hackensack river and English creek. The raising of garden vegetables for the New York market furnishes support for many of the inhabitants. The value in 1840 was $11,726; being more than double that of any other township in the county. There are 4 bridges over the Hackensack, in the township,-one near the vil- lage of Hackensack, and at New Milford, at Old Bridge, and at New Bridge. These three, with Schraalenberg, Closter, and Mount Clinton, contain each a few dwellings. English Neighborhood is a thickly settled vicinity, in the south part, 5 miles from Hoboken, where there is a Reformed Dutch and a Christ-ian church. The township contains 5 stores, 9 grist m., 6 saw m. ; cap. in manufac. 8300 ; 6 schools, 281 scholars. Population, 2,631.
The Palisade rocks, with their bold and rugged fronts, commence a short distance above the city of New York, and form the western bank of the Hudson to Tappan, a distance of twenty miles. Re- markable for their picturesque and sublime appearance, they are justly considered among the most interesting objects of natural scenery in America. In some places they rise almost perpendicu- larly from the shore, to the height of five or six hundred feet, and form for miles a solid wall of dark frowning rock, impressing the
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Palisades. Hudson River.
stranger, as he sails along their base, with the aspect of nature in her sterner forms. The summit is slightly undulating table-land, averaging in width about two miles, and generally covered with wood. From thence the mountain gently descends to the west, and is cleared and cultivated, with many neat farm-houses at its base. Still further on, is seen the Hackensack quietly coursing through a beautiful fertile valley; and in the perspective, the blue outlines of distant hills in the interior of the state.
Fort Lee is a small village on the Hudson, 5 miles SE. of Hackensack, and 9 above New York. It consists of about 30 dwellings, irregularly grouped in a nook at the foot of the Pali- sades. It derives its name from the fort built in the war of the rev- olution, on the summit of the rocks, about 300 feet above the river, overlooking the village. Traces of the ruins of the fortress still exist, and until within a short time some of the stone huts used by the soldiers were standing. They were small, low, rude structures, only large enough for one or two men. In digging the cellar for the hotel, a few years since, swords, bullets, bayonets, and other military relics were found. The site of the fort is overgrown with low trees.
Fort Washington is on the opposite side of the Hudson, about three miles above. When it was taken, Nov. 16, 1776, and the garrison put to the sword, tradition affirms that Washington stood on " Bluff Point," a high eminence just N. of Fort Lee, and with a spyglass witnessing the massacre, appeared greatly agitated, and
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wept. Four days after, the Americans evacuated Fort Lee. The following account is from the " American Crisis," by the author of "Common Sense." .
As I was with the troops at Fort Lee, and marched with them to the edge of Penn- sylvania, I am well acquainted with many circumstances which those who lived at a distance knew a little or nothing of. Our situation there was exceedingly cramped, the place being on a narrow neck of land, between the North river and Hackensack. Our - force was inconsiderable, being not one fourth as great as Howe could bring against us. We had no army at hand to have relieved the garrison, had we shut ourselves up and stood on the defence. Our ammunition, light artillery, and the best part of our stores had been removed, upon the apprehension that Howe would endeavor to penetrate the Jerseys, in which case Fort Lee could be of no use to us, for it must occur to every thinking man, whether in the army or not, that these kind of field forts are only for tem- porary purposes, and last in use no longer than the enemy directs his force against the particular object which such forts are raised to defend.
Such was our situation and condition at Fort Lee on the morning of the 20th of No- vember, when an officer arrived with information that the enemy with two hundred boats had landed about seven or eight miles above. Major Gen. Greene, who commanded the garrison, immediately ordered them under arms, and sent an express to his Excellency Gen. Washington, at the town of Hackensack, distant by the way of the ferry six miles. Our first object was to secure the bridge over the Hackensack, which laid up the river between the enemy and us ; about six miles from us, and three from them. Gen. Washington arrived in about three quarters of an hour, and marched at the head of the troops toward the bridge, at which place I expected we should have a brush. How- ever, they did not choose to dispute it with us, and the greatest part of our troops went over the bridge, the rest over the ferry, except some which passed at a mill on a small creek between the bridge and ferry, and made their way through some marshy ground up to the town of Hackensack, and there passed the river. We brought off as much baggage as the wagons could contain ; the rest was lost. The simple object was to bring off the garrison, and to marchi them on until they could be strengthened by the Pennsylvania or Jersey militia, so as to be enabled to make a stand. We staid four days at Newark, collected in our outposts, with some of the Jersey militia, and marched out twice to meet the enemy on information of their being advancing, though our numbers were greatly inferior to theirs.
A few miles below Fort Lee, at the base of the Palisades, is an- other small village called Bulls Ferry, from a ferry which has ex- isted there for more than half a century. Immediately below the village stood, in the war of the revolution, a small blockhouse, in possession of the enemy. It was unsuccessfully stormed by Gen. Wayne. The account of this event is thus given by Washington.
HEAD QUARTERS, Bergen Co., July 21, 1780.
SIR-Having received information that there were considerable numbers of cattle and trorses in Bergen Neck, within reach of the enemy, and having reason to suspect that they meant shortly to draw all supplies of that kind within their lines, I detached Brig. Gen. Wayne on the 20th, with the first and second Pennsylvania brigades, with four pieces of artillery attached to them, and Col. Moylan's regiment of dragoons, to bring them off. I had it also in contemplation, to attempt at the same time the destruction of a blockhouse erected at Bulls Ferry, which served the purpose of covering the enemy's wood-cutters, and giving security to a body of refugees, by whom it was garrisoned, and who committed depredations upon the well-affected inhabitants for many miles around.
Gen. Wayne having disposed his troops in such a manner as to guard the different landing-places on the Bergen shore, upon which the enemy might throw over troops from York Island to intercept his retreat, and having sent down the cavalry to execute the business of driving off the flock, proceeded with the first, second, and tenth regiments, and the artillery, to the blockhouse, which he surrounded by an abattis and stockade. Hie for some time tried the effect of his field-pieces upon it, but though the fire was kept up for an hour, they were found too light to penetrate the logs of which it was construct- ed. The troops during this time being galled by a constant fire from the loopholes of the house, and seeing no chance of making a breach with cannon, those of the first and sec-
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