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 21
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CALDWELL.
Caldwell was formed from Newark and Acquackanonck, in 1798. It is about 7 miles long, with an average width of 4 miles ; bounded N. by Acquackanonck and Manchester, Passaic co., and Pequannock, Morris co .; E. by Bloomfield, S. by Orange and Livings- ton, and W. by Hanover and Pequannock, Morris co. The Passaic river forms its W. and N. boundary ; the First and Second Moun- tains are in the eastern part, and the remainder of the township is generally hilly. There are 4 stores, 1 fulling, 3 grist, and 10 saw-m., 1 woollen and 1 cotton fac. ; cap. in manufac. $36,715 ; 1 acad., 22 students, 7 schools, 310 scholars. Pop. 2,184.
The village of Caldwell, 10 miles NW. of Newark, contains
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158
ESSEX COUNTY.
several stores, a Presbyterian church, and about 30 dwellings. Vernon, about 2 miles from Caldwell, contains 1 store, a Methodist church, and about 20 dwellings. Fairfield is a rich agricultural vicinity in the northern part of the township, where there is a Dutch Reformed church. Franklin, about a mile W. of Caldwell. contains about 12 dwellings.
CLINTON.
Clinton was formed from Newark, Elizabethtown, and Orange, in 1834. It has an average length of about 4, with a breadth of about 2} miles ; bounded N. by Orange and Newark, E. by New- ark, S. by Union, and W. by Springfield. It has 4 stores, 2 grist- m. ; cap. in manufac. $6,500 ; 3 schools, 137 scholars. Pop. 1,976. The soil is generally fertile, producing abundant crops of Indian corn and grass. Great quantities of fruit of different kinds are raised in this section.
Camptown, 32 miles SW. from Newark, is a flourishing village, containing 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Free church, several stores, and about 40 or 50 dwellings. During the Revolutionary . war, the American army encamped here for some time, from which circumstance the place derives its name.
ELIZABETH.
Elizabeth is one of the oldest townships in the state. It received its name from Lady Elizabeth Carteret, the wife and executrix of Sir George Carteret. The original area of the township has been much reduced. It is bounded N. by Newark, E. by Newark bay, W. by Union, and S. by Rahway and Staten Island sound. The soil is fertile, and is composed of red-shale, clay, loam, and marsh. Large quantities of grass are cut, on the marsh, for manure. There are in the township 22 stores, 3 potteries, 2 printing-offices, a grist, saw, and oil mill ; cap. in manufac. $297,250. There are 3 acad- emies, 150 students, 10 schools, 393 scholars. Pop. 4,184.
Elizabethport lies on Staten Island sound, 2 miles from Elizabeth- town, and 12 from New York, with which there is a daily steam- boat communication. It is a new and thriving place, and, being the commencement of the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, it will ultimately be a place of considerable importance. There are now here several manufacturing establishments, a church, and about 100 dwellings.
The village of Elizabethtown is situated 4 miles from Newark, on Elizabethtown creek, 21 miles from its entrance into Staten Island sound. The New Jersey railroad, and the Elizabethtown
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--
EEE
View in the central part of Elizabethtown.
· d Somerville railroad, pass through it. It contains a courthouse. & jail, a bank, an insurance-office, 4 churches, (1 Methodist, 2 Pres- byterian, and 1 Episcopal,) 3 or 4 academies, upward of 400 dwell- ing-houses, and about 2,500 inhabitants. In the annexed engrav- ing, the spire of the Presbyterian church is seen nearly in the cen- tral part, with the courthouse by its side, on the south ; the spires of the Episcopal and second Presbyterian churches are seen on the right. The " Borough of Elizabeth" received its act of incorpora- tion in the thirteenth year of the reign of George II., Feb. 8th, 1739. All the essential features of this ancient charter (which is similar to that of cities) are retained to the present day.
Elizabethtown was the third settlement made in the state of New Jersey, and the first by the English. The land on which it stands was purchased from certain Indian chiefs, residing on Staten Island, in 1664, by John Baily, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, of Jamaica, Long Island ; and Gov. Richard Nichols granted a pa- tent for it to John Baker of New York, John Ogden of Northamp- ton, John Baily, and Luke Watson. These, with their associates, are those usually known as the "Elizabethtown Associates." The land purchased by them from the Indians, and patented to them by Nichols, was named the " Elizabethtown Grant." The associates were seventy-four in number ; and their descendants, bearing their names, are very numerous in East Jersey.
The "Elizabethtown Grant" was claimed by another class of people, under a title granted by the Duke of York. The claims of the " Associates," and those of the grantees of the duke, came often into terrible conflict, and gave rise to commotions deeply per- plexing, and greatly injurious to the settlement. Philip Carteret, the first governor of East Jersey, with thirty English settlers, came
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ESSEX COUNTY.
to this town in 1665; which he made the capital of the province, and named it in honor of Lady Elizabeth, the wife of his brother, one of the proprietors of East Jersey. On his arrival here, there were only four log-huts in the town. In partnership with his brother, Sir George Carteret, a little settlement was formed on the bank of the creek, probably on the south side of Water-st., where he built a house for his residence-the first government-house of East Jersey. 1
For many years after the settlement of the province, Elizabeth- town was the largest and most flourishing place in it. Here were all the public offices, and here was the residence of most of the officers of the government. The first general assembly, composed of governor, council, and a house of burgesses, met here in 1668 : and here it met (with few exceptions) up to 1682. In 1686, it met at " Amboy Perth," and subsequently alternated between Amboy and Burlington, occasionally meeting here, until it was perma- nently located at Trenton. There is not a trace of the first public buildings of East Jersey, nor does even tradition point out the place on which they stood .*
The first inhabitants of this town formed a mixed population, made up of emigrants from New England, England, Long Island, and Scotland. It is easily inferred that Puritan influence predomi- nated in the first colonial legislature, as we find some of the chief features of the Puritan code transferred to the statute-book of New Jersey. We infer that, in religious sentiments, the first inhabitants of this town were mainly Presbyterians, or Congregationalists, from the fact that they were mainly from the places above mentioned, and that much of the emigration from England then was caused by the intolerance of the established church.
The First Presbyterian congregation here is the oldest in the town; indeed, it is the oldest in the state organized for the worship of God, in the English language. It dates its existence from 1666 or 1667. When the old church, in which the congregation wor- shipped, was erected, is uncertain. Its ancient and venerable ap- pearance is yet remembered, by many of the old inhabitants. It stood where the First church now stands, and, fired by the torch of a refugee, it was burned on the 25th of Jan., 1780. The present commanding and noble superstructure was commenced immediately on the close of the war of the revolution, and was completed un- . der the ministry of Mr. Austin, in 1791 or 1792. During the revo- lutionary war, this town was greatly harassed by the enemy, and this congregation suffered severely. After their church was burnt, they for some time worshipped in a large storehouse, fitted up for the purpose.
The following, as far as known, are the names of the ministers who have served in this church, down to the present day :
"From a communication by the Rev. Dr. Murray, of Elizabethtown.
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1
ESSEX COUNTY.
161
Settled.
Removed by death or dismission.
Rev John Harriman Melyne.
Oct. 1, 1687.
1704, died.
Jonathan Dickenson
1707 or 1708.
October 7, 1747, died.
Elihu. Spencer, D. D
.(About) 1748
dismissed.
James Caldwell.
Decem., 1761
.Nov'r 24, 1781, died.
William Linn, D. D.
June 14, 1786
.Nov'r 1, 1786, dismissed.
David Austin ...
.Sept. 9, 1788
May
4, 1797, dismissed.
John Giles
.. June 24, 1800.
.Oct'r
7, 1800, dismissed.
¥
Henry Kollock, D. D. .Dec. 10, 1800
Dec'r 21, 1803, dismissed.
John M'Dowell, D. D.
.Dec. 26, 1804.
May -, 1833"
Nicholas Murray, D. D. July 23, 1833.
The College of New Jersey, now one of the most flourishing in the Union, was chartered by John Hamilton, acting governor, in 1746; and was commenced in this town, under the direction of the Rev. Jonathan Dickenson, its first president. An old academy, which stood where the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian church now stands, and which was burned down during the war of the revolution, contained the first recitation-rooms of the first classes ever attached to the College of New Jersey. That college was brought into existence mainly through the influence of Mr. Dickenson ; but he was spared to preside over its interests only one year.
The next oldest congregation in the town is the Episcopal. It was organized in 1704, by the Rev. Mr. Brook, a missionary of the "Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." The found- ations of the church edifice were laid in 1706, since which it has been twice enlarged ; and it is now a neat, though a comparatively small building. Its first rector, Rev. Mr. Brook, died in 1707. In a few years he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Vaughn, who died in 1747, after a ministry in it of thirty-eight years. He was succeed- ed by Rev. Mr. Wood, and he again by Rev. Dr. Chandler, who continued its rector for forty years, and died in 1790. He was suc- ceeded by Mr. Spagg, who died in 1794. Mr. Rayner was elected his successor, who remained here till 1801. He was succeeded by Dr. Beasley, who left the parish in 1803; and was succeeded by Mr. Lilly, who retired in 1805. Dr. Rudd became rector in 1805, and retired in 1826. The Rev. Mr. Pyne was elected in 1826, and re- tired in 1828. Rev. Mr. Noble was elected in 1829, and retired it 1833. The present rector, Rev. R. C. Moore, was settled in 1834.
The Second Presbyterian church was organized in 1819, and its first and present minister is the Rev. Dr. Magie.
The Methodist church was first organized in 1785. The Rev. Thomas Morrell, one of the fathers of the Methodist church in America, preached for many years at Elizabethtown. He was a major in the revolutionary army, and distinguished himself on va- rious occasions. In June, 1786, he began to preach as a local preacher at this place, and in the following year commenced riding as a travelling preacher. He was a man of great energy, and fer- vent piety. He died here in 1838, in the 91st year of his age.
21
Abraham Kettletas
.Sept. 14, 1757
1759, dismissed.
June 1, 1704
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ESSEX COUNTY.
View of the Livingston Mansion, Elizabethtown.
1
The above is a representation of the Mansion House formerly the seat of William Livingston, LL. D., Gov. of New Jersey, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This house, now the residence of John Kean, Esq., is situated about a mile northward of the village. Gov. Livingston was descended from a Scotch Wel Lin ingeton Fac-simile of Gov. Livingston's Signature family which settled in the city of New York, (where he was born, about the year 1723,) and was graduated at Yale College in 1741. He afterwards be- came a distinguished lawyer, and, upon his removal to New Jer- sey, was chosen a member of the first congress in 1774-having previously signalized himself by his writings against the encroach- ments of Britain. When the inhabitants of New Jersey had de- posed Gov. Franklin, and formed a new constitution, in July, 1776, Mr. Livingston was elected their first governor, and continued to be annually re-elected till his death. He was a delegate to the convention which formed the Constitution of the United States. He died at his seat in Elizabethtown, July 25th, 1790. Gov. Liv- ingston was, from his youth, remarkably plain and simple in his dress and manners, and, in the opinion of his Christian friends, sin- cerely pious. Besides his political writings, he was the author of various essays upon miscellaneous topics. His poem, entitled " Philosophic Solitude, or the Choice of a Rural Life," was published in 1747, when he was about 24 years of age. The following lines are extracted from it :
" Let ardent heroes seek renown in arms, Pant after fame, and rush to war's alarms ; To shining palaces let fools resort, And dunces cringe to be esteem'd at court : Mine be the pleasures of a rural life, From noise remote, and ignorant of strife ; Far from the painted belle, and white-gioved bean,
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ESSEX COUNTY.
The lawless masquerade, and midnight show,- From ladies, lap-dogs, courtiers, garters, stars, Fops, fiddlers, tyrants, emperors, and czars.
Full in the centre of some shady grove, By nature form'd for solitude and love,- On banks array'd with ever-blooming flowers, Near beauteous landscapes, or by roseate bowers,
My neat, but simple mansion would I raise, Unlike the sumptuous domes of modern days, Devoid of pomp, with rural plainness form'd, With savage game and glossy shells adorn'd. * * * * * No trumpets there with martial clangor sound ; No prostrate heroes strew the crimson'd ground; No groves of lances glitter in the air, Nor thundering drums provoke the sanguine war ; But white-robed peace and universal love Smile in the field, and brighten every grove. * * * *
Oft would I wander through the dewy field, Where clustering roses balmy fragrance yield ; Or, in lone grots for contemplation made, Converse with angels and the mighty dead ; For all around unnumber'd spirits fly, Waft on the breeze, or walk the liquid sky ; Inspire the poet with repeated dreams, Who gives his hallow'd muse to sacred themes ; Protect the just, serene their gloomy hours, Becalm their slumbers, and refresh their powers. *
* * *
* *
And when with age thy head is silver'd o'er, And, cold in death, thy bosom beats no more, Thy soul, exulting, shall desert its clay, And mount triumphant to eternal day."
The following extracts from ancient newspapers will throw light on the history of the times :
County of Essex, State of New Jersey.
Personally appeared before me, Isaac Woodruff, one of the judges of the inferior courts for said county, Ephraim Marsh, Jun., of said county, of full age, and, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that some time in February past, he, this deponent, was on Staten Island, in company with Cortlandt Skinner, William Luce, and Philip Van Cort- land, who are all, or have been said to be, officers in the British service ; and that the said Cortlandt Skinner, who is called Gen. Skinner, asked him, the said deponent, if he knew where that d -.... - d old rascal Gov. Livingston was, (meaning the governor of the state of New Jersey ;) and the said Cortlandt Skinner further said unto the s'd deponent, that if he would bring over that old d -.... - d rascal, (meaning the governor aforesaid,) that it would make his fortune forever,-for the minute that he was delivered on Staten Island, he, the said deponent, should receive two thousand guineas, and a pension from the crown of Great Britain during life. The same words were repeated by William Luce and Philip Van Cortland,-who further said, that if he, the said deponent, would take his life, (meaning the life of the governor aforesaid,) it would answer the purpose. The maid deponent further saith, that on the 24th day of May now last past, he was again on Staten Island, and in company with one certain Buskirk, who is said to be a colonel in the British service, who said to the said deponent that he was surprised that he, the said deponent, did not bring off the governor of New Jersey, or take his life,-as that would be the means of putting an end to the rebellion ; and, as soon as either was performed, the person that did it should receive two thousand guineas for their services. And further this deponent saith not.
Sworn before me this 19th of June, 1778. ISAAC WOODRUST.
EPHRAIM MARSH, Jun.
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ESSEX COUNTY.
The following correspondence between Gov. Livingston and Gen. Sir Henry Clinton is in a strain of amusing sarcasm and re- tort :
Gov. Livingston to Gen. Clinton.
ELIZABETHTOWN, March 29th, 1779.
SIR-I beg leave to acquaint you that I am possessed of the most authentic proofs of a general officer under your command having offered a large sum of money to an inhabit- ant of this state to assassinate me, in case he could not take me alive. This, sir, is so repugnant to the character which I have hitherto formed of Sir Henry Clinton, that I think it highly improbable you should either countenance, connive at, or be privy to, a design so sanguinary and disgraceful. Taking it, however, for granted, that you are a gentleman of too much spirit to disown any thing you think proper to abet, I give you this opportunity of disavowing such dark proceedings, if undertaken without your appro- bation,-assuring you, at the same time, that if countenanced by you, your person is more in my power than I have reason to think you imagine. I have the honor to be, with all due respect, your excellency's most humble servant.
GEN. SIR HENRY CLINTON.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.
Gen. Clinton's Reply.
NEW YORK, April 10th, 1779.
SIR-As you address me on a grave subject, (no less than life and death, and your own person concerned,) I condescend to answer you ; but must not be troubled with any further correspondence with Mr. Livingston.
Had I a soul capable of harboring so infamous an idea as assassination, you, sir, at least, would have nothing to fear ; for, be assured, I should not blacken myself with so foul a crime to obtain so trifling an end.
Sensible of the power you boast, (of being able to dispose of my life, by means of in- timates of yours, ready to murder at your command,) I can only congratulate you on your amiable connections, and acknowledge myself your most humble servant.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, EsQ., New Jersey.
H. CLINTON.
*
Gov. Livingston, in a somewhat lengthy reply to the above, thus apologizes for answering : " But by the laws of England, sir, (the best of which we intend to adopt, leaving the rest to our old friends of the realm,) he who opens a cause hath the privilege of conclu- ding it." The governor then goes on to state, in a sarcastic man- ner, the wonderful condescension of Sir Henry in deigning to an- swer his epistle. After some further remark in relation to his capability of harboring so infamous an idea as assassination, he says-" How trifling an end soever you may suppose would be ob- tained by my assassination, you certainly thought my capture, not long since, important enough to make me a principal object of what was, in a literal sense, a very dirty expedition." The letter concludes with the following paragraph :
" As to your ' must not be troubled with any further correspondence with Mr. Living. ston,' believe me, sir, that I have not the least passion for interrupting your more useful correspondence with the British ministry,-by which the nation will doubtless be great- ly edified, and which will probably furnish materials for the most authentic history of the present war,-and that you cannot be less ambitious of my correspondence than I am of yours ; because-whatever improvement I might hope to receive from you in the art of war, (and especially in the particular branches of conducting moonlight retreats* and
* In Sir Henry Clinton's account of his retreat at Monmouth, he states that he took advantage of the moonlight, when, in reality, it took place several hours after the moon had set.
101
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L
1
165
ESSEX COUNTY.
planning secret expeditions,*)-I should not expect, from our correspondence, any con- siderable edification or refinement in the epistolary way. I am, therefore, extremely willing to terminate it, by wishing you a safe voyage across the Atlantic, with the sin- gular glory of having attempted to reduce to bondage a people determined to be free and independent."
Extract of a letter from Gen. Washington to congress, dated Head Quarters, Middlebrook, Feb. 26, 1779 :
" Yesterday morning a detachment of the enemy, from Staten Island, made an at- tempt to surprise the post at Elizabeth Town. On receiving information of it, Gen. St. Clair, with the Pennsylvania division, and Gen. Smallwood, with the Maryland division, were put in motion, by different routes, to form a junction at the Scotch Plains, and pro- ceed to reinforce Gen. Maxwell, and act as circumstances should require. Intelligence of the sudden retreat of the enemy occasioned their recall before they had advanced far. The enclosed copy of a letter from Gen. Maxwell, will furnish all the particulars I have received of this fruitless excursion."
Extract of a letter from Brigadier Gen. Maxwell to Gen. Wash- ington, dated Elizabethtown, Feb. 25, 1779 :
SIR-The enemy attempted a surprise this morning. They disembarked about 3 o'clock,-at which time Col. Ogden, officer of the day, obtained information and con- veyed it to me. Their landing was made on our left, as it appeared the most unsuspect- ed part, being a very difficult marslı.
Not knowing their design or numbers, after assembling the troops I marched them to the rear of the town, that they might not turn our left flank or gain our rear. When daylight ensued, we pressed upon the enemy, who were then retiring to their boats. In the pursuit, many of them were killed, and some others fell into our hands.
During our absence from the town they collected a number of cattle and horses, which, upon our advancing, fell into our hands. They returned by the same difficult and almost inaccessible marsh, or salt meadow. Cols. Dayton, Ogden, and Barber, with select and different detachments, pursued them ; but the quickness of their embarkation, added to the difficulty of the marsh, prevented any other success than capturing one of their boats, with the hands.
Our loss, I think, does not amount to more than three or four men. Major Ogden, who first reconnoitred the enemy, received a sudden wound by a bayonet ; but, it is hoped, not dangerous. The militia assembled, on this occasion, with the utmost alacri- ty, and, with Col. Shrieve, from Newark, having early taken the alarm, marched imme- diately to our support. The enemy's design and expectation, by this movement, was undoubtedly a complete surprise,-in which, I am happy to acquaint your excellency, they were as completely disappointed.
The following letter, dated September 8th, 1776, was addressed by Mr. Cavelier Jouet, of Elizabethtown, to the president of the convention of New Jersey. He was one of those unfortunate per- sons arrested on suspicion of being inimical to the cause of his country. He was ordered by the convention to reside at Basking Ridge, confining himself within a circle of four miles of that place. This letter is written for the purpose of obtaining release, so as to attend to his family, who were residents of Elizabethtown, and liable to suffer from incursions of the enemy :
SIR-I presume to approach you without the ceremony of a formal introduction, by slow advances, in studied phrases, and flattering circumlocutious cant. I am a plain, and, I trust, however misrepresented, an honest man, who has never sought the ruin of his country by insidiously endeavoring to sap the foundation of its liberties so much as attempting to interrupt its peace and quiet under any pretences whatever. As such, I think it needless to trouble you with any complimentary strains, either upon your private
* All of his many secret expeditions were singularly unsuccessful,-evincing a want of generalship.
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character, (which-though I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with you- has reached my ears,) or upon your discharge of the great public trust which has been reposed in you ; nor yet to enter into any labored exculpation of myself from the cruel suspicions which have been so unjustly excited (to use no harsher terms) by the selfish and unfeeling. If my intrusion, sir, for its plainness, should be deemed impertinent, you will, I hope, punish it only by neglect. The occasion of my addressing you is the un- happy situation my poor family are in, at Elizabethtown ; for as to myself, thank God, my afflictions are not yet greater than I can bear. Disagreeable as my state is, my phi- losophy is full equal to my sufferings. Whilst other gentlemen, who have always been suffered to act with more freedom than I dare make use of, were early making retreats for their families, I was cautious and wary of doing it, lest I should be stigmatized with an intention of discouraging the populace by a show of moving,-until, at last, my fam- ily are left in the centre of Elizabeth, subject to every alarm, and destitute of any place of refuge to fly to, and deprived of any assistance from him to whom a weakly wife and an infant family have been accustomed to look up. Mrs. Jouet has already, besides her sufferings in common with others, sustained a very dangerous miscarriage, and is left in so weakly a state, that it is much out of her power to exert herself, in the manner she would otherwise do, to get a place for the family ; and, whilst I am restricted to the circle of four miles, it is not in my power to do any thing for her,-as no accommodations are to be had within that compass. The favor I would therefore request of you, sir, is to grant me your good offices and influence to obtain an enlargement of my parole, by which to afford Mrs. Jouet the needed assistance in procuring a place for our family. I humbly conceive, if my boundaries were extended anywhere above the Short Hills be- tween Elizabeth and Passaic river, along the course of the Long Hill above Turkey, so as not to come lower down than those heights, it would answer all imagined necessary purposes to the country. This would afford some chance of procuring a settlement for my family. For I trust I need not more than hint to you the difficulty of procuring ac- commodations for a family at this juncture. However or in whatever way it may be the pleasure of the convention to grant me an enlargement, and relieve Mrs. Jouet from her difficulties, it will be gratefully received by, sir, your very humble servant,
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