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 31
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S. E. VIEW OF JERSEY CITY, FROM NEW YORK.
The above shows the appearance of Jersey City, as seen from near the Battery, in New York. The works of the Jersey City Glass Co. are seen on the left; the Car House of the New Jersey Railroad is seen on the right.
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HUDSON COUNTY.
To avoid the danger of retreating up the narrow neck of land which has already been described, some boats had been brought, in the course of the night, to Dow's Ferry, on the Hackensack, not far from Powles Hook. The officer who guarded them was direct- ed to remain until the arrival of the troops engaged in the expedition, which, it was un- derstood, would happen before day. The light having made its appearance without any intelligence from Maj. Lee, the officer having charge of the boats conjectured that the attack had been postponed ; and, to avoid discovery, retired with them to Newark. The head of the retreating column soon afterward reached the ferry; and, fatigued as they were by the toilsome march of the preceding night, were compelled to pass as rapidly as possible up the narrow neck of land, between the two rivers, to the new bridge. A horseman was dispatched, with this information, to Lord Stirling, and the line of march was resumed.
About nine in the preceding evening, Maj. Buskirk had been detached up the North river, with a considerable part of the garrison of Powles Hook, and some other troops, for the purpose of falling in with the American party, supposed to be foraging about the English Neighborhood.
On receiving intelligence of the disappointment respecting the boats, Lord Stirling took the precaution to detach Col. Ball, with 200 fresh men, to meet Lee, and cover his retreat. Just after Ball had passed, Buskirk entered the main road, and fired on his rear. Taking it for granted that this was only the advanced corps of a large detach- ment, sent to intercept the party retreating from Powles Hook, Ball made a circuit to avoid the enemy ; and Buskirk, finding a detachment he had not expected, took the same measure to secure his own retreat. The two parties, narrowly missing each other, re- turned to their respective points of departure ; and Lee reached the new bridge without interruption.
This critical enterprise reflected much honor on the partisan with whom it originated, and by whom it was conducted. Gen. Washington announced it to the army, in his orders, with much approbation ; and congress bestowed upon it a degree of applause more adapted to the talent displayed in performing the service than to its magnitude.
It was at this place that the intrepid Champe, in his pretended desertion from the American army, while being hotly pursued, at the peril of his life, from near Tappan, by a party of Lee's legion, of which he was the sergeant-major, embarked on board of a British barge, and escaped to New York, for the purpose of getting Arnold, by stratagem, into the power of Washington; and thus save the life of the unfortunate Andre. For a full and thrilling narration of this event, the reader is referred to Lee's Southern Campaigns.
NORTH BERGEN.
North Bergen was formed, in 1842, from that part of Bergen N. of the New Jersey railroad. It is 6 miles long, and from 2 to 4 wide. It is bounded N. by Hackensack and Lodi, (Bergen co .. ) E. by Hudson river and Van Vorst, S. by Bergen, and W. by Passaic river, separating it from Harrison. The Palisades enter the town- ship on the north. Much of its surface is marsh; elsewhere the soil is generally very fertile, and produces large quantities of vege- tables for the New York market.
North Bergen is a scattered settlement, on the summit of the ridge north of the New Jersey railroad, 2 miles west of Jersey City, containing about 60 dwellings. Secaucus is an island, or more properly a strip of firm land, surrounded by a marsh, in the NW. part of the township. There is at that place a Baptist church.
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HUDSON COUNTY.
New Durham, 4 miles north of Hoboken, on the Hackensack turn- pike, has 1 Reformed Dutch and 1 Baptist church, and about 50 dwellings. West Hoboken is a recent settlement, handsomely laid out on the brow of an eminence, about 2 miles from Hoboken landing. Hoboken, supposed anciently to be called Hoebuck, lies on the Hudson, 1 mile from New York, with which constant com- munication is had by ferry-boats. It contains an Episcopal church, and from 50 to 70 dwellings. The pleasant and shady retreats, delightfully situated at this place, on the banks of the river, have long made it a favorite resort.
Duelling-Ground and Hamilton's Monument.
A short distance above Weehawken, and about three miles above Hoboken, overhung by the Palisades, on the bank of the Hudson, is the spot famous as the " duelling-ground." Here several have paid the forfeit of their lives to a custom at which humanity shudders, and which all laws, divine and human, condemn. Here it was that Gen. Alexander Hamilton fell in a duel with Col. Aaron Burr, Vice- President of the United States, July 11th, 1804; an event at which a nation mourned. A monument was erected to the memory of Hamilton on the spot where he fell, by a society in New York, of which the annexed view, taken many years since, by J. C. Ward, Esq., is a representation. The monument was destroyed by the hand of violence, and the pieces carried off as relics. The piece bearing the inscription was found in a low groggery in New York, where it had been pawned for liquor. It is now in possession of a gentleman residing in the vicinity.
The annexed account is drawn from Coleman's Collections, rela- tive to the death of Hamilton :
Hamilton's political opinions were at variance with those of Burr, and some expres- sions he had dropped, derogatory to the Vice-President, were eagerly embraced by the
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latter as affording sufficient grounds for sending him an insolent note, requiring him to acknowledge or disavow those expressions. General Hamilton refused to do either, and a challenge from Col. Burr was the consequence. Much delay and deliberation on the part of Hamilton was resorted to, but he finally accepted the challenge.
It was near seven in the morning when the boat which carried Gen. Hamilton, his second, Mr. Pendleton, and their surgeon, Dr. Hosack, reached Weahawk. There they found Col. Burr and his second, Mr. Van Ness, who had been employed since their ar- rival, with coats off, in clearing away the bushes, limbs of trees, &c., so as to make a fair opening. 'The parties were soon at their allotted stations : when Mr. Pendleton gave the word, Burr raised his arm slowly, deliberately took aim, and fircd. His ball entered Hamilton's right side ; as soon as the bullet struck him, he raised himself invol- untarily on his toes, turned a little to the left, (at which moment his pistol went off,) and fell upon his face.
Dr. Hosack says : "When called to him, upon his receiving the fatal wound, I found him half-sitting on the ground, supported in the arms of Mr. Pendleton. His counte- nance of death I shall never forget. He had at that instant just strength to say, 'This is a mortal wound, Doctor ;' when he sunk away, and became to all appearance lifeless. I immediately stripped up his clothes, and soon, alas! ascertained that the direction of the ball must have been through some vital part. His pulses were not to be felt ; his respiration was entirely suspended ; and upon my laying my hand upon his heart, and perceiving no motion, then I perceived him irrecoverably gone. I however observed to Mr. Pendleton, that the only chance for his reviving was immediately to get him upon the water. We therefore litted him up, and carried him out of the wood to the margin of the bank, where the bargemen aided us in conveying him into the boat, which imme diately put off. During all this time I could not discover the least symptom of return- ing lite. I now rubbed his face, lips, and temples with spirits of hartshorn, applied it to his neck and breast, and to the wrist and palins of his hands, and endeavored to pour some into his mouth. When we had got, as I should judge, some 50 yards from the shore, some imperfect efforts to breathe were for the first time made manifest; in a few minutes he sighed, and became sensible to the impression of the hartshorn, or the fresh air of the water. He breathed ; his eyes, hardly opened, wandered, without fixing upon any objects ; to our great joy hie at length spoke : ' My vision is indistinct,' were his first words. His pulse became more perceptible; his respiration more regular ; his sight returned. I then examincd the wound, to know if there was any dangerous discharge of blood ; upon slightly pressing his side it gave him pain ; on which I desisted. Soon after, recovering his sight, he happened to cast his eyes upon the case of pistols, and ob- serving the one that lie had in his hand lying on the outside, he said, 'Take care of that pistol ; it. is undischarged and still cocked ; it may go off, and do harm; Pendleton knows (attempting to turn his head toward him) that I did not intend to fire at him.' ' Yes,' said Mr. Pendleton, understanding his wish, ' I have already made Dr. Hosack acquainted with your determination as to that.' He then closed his eyes and remained calm, without any disposition to speak; nor did he say much afterwards, excepting in reply to my questions as to his feclings. He asked me once or twice how I found his pulse ; and lie informed me that his lower extremities had lost all feeling ; manifesting to me that he entertained no hopes that he should long survive. I changed the posture of his limbs, but to no purpose-they had totally lost their sensibility. Perceiving that we approached the shore, he said, 'Let Mrs. Hamilton be immediately sent for-let the event be gradually broken to her; but give her hopes.' Looking up, we saw his friend Mr. Bayard standing on the wharf in great agitation. He had been told by his servant that Gen. Hamilton, Mr. Pendleton, and myself had crossed the river in a boat together, and too well had he conjectured the fatal errand, and foreboded the dreadful result. Per- ceiving, as we came nearer, that Mr. Pendleton and myself only sat up in the stern sheets, he clasped his hands together in the most violent apprehension ; but when I called to him to have a cot prepared, and he at the same moment saw his poor friend lying in the bottom of the boat, he threw up his eyes, and burst into a flood of tears and lamen- tations. Hamilton alone appeared tranquil and composed. We then conveyed him as tenderly as possible up to tlic house. The. distresses of this amiable family were such that, till the first shock was abated, they were scarcely. able to summon fortitude enough to yield sufficient assistance to their dying friend. . During the night he had some imperfect sleep, but the succeeding morning his symptoms were aggravated, attend- ed, however, with a diminution of pain. His mind retained all its usual strength and composure. The great source of his anxiety seemed to be in his sympathy with his half- distracted wife and children. He spoke to me frequently of them. ' My beloved wife
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and children,' were always his expressions. But his fortitude triumphed over his situa- tion, dreadful as it was ; once, indeed, at the sight of his little children, brought to the bedside together, seven in number, his utterance forsook him ; he opened his eyes, gave them one look, and closed them again until they were taken away. As a proof of his extraordinary composure, let me add that he alone could calm the frantic grief of their mother. 'Remember, my Eliza, you are a Christian" were the expressions with which he frequently, with a firin voice, but in a pathetic and impressive manner, addressed her. His words, and the tone in which they were uttered, will never be effaced from my memory. At about two o'clock he expired."
After his death, a paper was found in his own handwriting, containing his reasons for accepting the challenge-and also confirming his own words, that it was not his in- tention to fire at Col. Burr. He gave his testimony against duelling in the same paper, in these words : " My religious and moral principles are strongly opposed to the practice of duelling. It would ever give me pain to be obliged to shed the blood of a fellow-crea- ture in a private combat forbidden by the laws. My wife and children are extremely dear to me, and my life is of the utmost importance to them, in various views." He also gave unequivocal evidence of his firm reliance on the merits of a Saviour for par- doning mercy, and at his earnest request, the evening before his death, the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered to him. In his interview with the Rev. Dr. Mason, a few hours before his death, he said, " Duelling was always against my principles ; I used every expedient to avoid the interview ; but I have found, for some time past, that my life must be exposed to that man. I went to the field determined not to take his life."
Immediately after his decease, the bells announced that he was no more. Early on the morning of Saturday, the day of his funeral, all the bells were muffled and tolled with little intermission until the procession reached the church, somewhere between one and two o'clock. The ships in the harbor exhibited their colors at half-mast, and min- ute-guns were fired from the forts. The procession consisted of the clergy of all de- nominations-gentlemen of the bar-students at law-strangers-members of the dif- ferent incorporated bodies, together with the citizens-all anxious to testify their sense of Hamilton's worth. The side-walks were crowded with spectators-the windows were filled-and many climbed up into trees, and got upon the tops of houses. Not a smile was visible-scarcely a whisper was heard-all was weeping, mourning, and wo. When the procession reached Trinity Church, Mr. Gouverneur Morris delivered an oration from a stage that had been erected for the purpose in the portico of the church. After the oration, the corpse was carried to the grave, where the funeral service was performed by the Rev. Bishop Moore. The troops, which had formed an extensive hollow square in the church-yard, closed the solemnities with three volleys over the grave.
On opening the will of the deceased, a letter was found addressed by him to Mrs. Hamilton, written on the 4th inst., in which he assured her he had taken all possible measures to avoid the duel, except by acting in a manner which would justly forfeit her esteem-that he had determined not to fire at him-and should certainly fall. He begged her forgiveness for causing her so much pain, and commended her to that God who would never desert her.
The whole nation was now literally in tears. It has in fact been questioned whether the death of Washington excited a more universal gloom. All party feeling was swal- lowed up in grief-all united in the general voice of sorrow, " Our Hamilton is no more !"
The following is from the Albany Centinel of August 29: "On Sunday last, the af- flicted Mrs. Hamilton attended divine service in this city with her three little sons. At the close of a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Nott, the eldest dropped on his face in a fainting-fit. Two gentlemen immediately raised him, and while bearing him out, the afflicted mother, in the agonies of grief and despair, sprang forward towards her apparently lifeless son. The heart-rending scene with which she had recently struggled, called forth all the fine- spun sensibilities of her nature, and seemed to say, that nature must and will be in- dulged in her keenest sorrows. She was overpowered in the conflict, and likewise sunk, uttering such heart-rending groans, as would have melted into sympathy even Burr him- self. Both soon recovered-and while the little son was supported, standing on the steps, yet speechless, the most affecting scene presented itself-a scene which, could it be placed on canvass by the hand of a master, would be in the highest degree interesting and im- pressive. The mother fastened upon her son, with her head reclining on his shoulder- agony strongly painted on her countenance-her long flowing weeds-the majesty of her person-the position of both-and above all, the peculiarity of their trying situation in the recent loss of a husband and father. Who could refrain from invoking on the head of the guilty author of their miseries, those curses he so richly merits ?- the curse of
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living, despised and execrated by the voice of a whole nation-the curse of being held up to the view of future ages-a MONSTER and an ASSASSIN."
In July, 1780, Washington. having received information that there were considerable numbers of cattle in Bergen Neck, in reach of the enemy, detached Gen. Wayne to bring them off, and at the same time attack a blockhouse which stood on the Hudson river, in this township, about half a mile below Bull's Ferry and the present line of Bergen co. [See page 75.] It was on the oc- casion of this expedition that Major Andre wrote the poem entitled the " Cow Chace," which was printed by Rivington, printer to his majesty, in New York. It consists of stanzas divided into three cantos. It is said that Andre gave the printer the last canto the day before he left New York, on the enterprise which cost him his life. The poem appeared in the Royal Gazette on the morning of the day he was taken. The following stanzas are selected from it ; the last of which appears somewhat prophetic.
To drive the kine one summer's morn The tanner took his way ; The calf shall rue that is unborn The jumbling of that day.
And Wayne descending steers shall know, And tauntingly deride, And call to mind in every low The tanning of his hide.
Yet Bergen cows still ruminate Unconscious in the stall, What mighty means were used to get And lose them after all.
For many heroes bold and brave, From New Bridge and Tapaan, And those that drink Passaick's wave, And those that eat soupaan ;
And sons of distant Delaware, And still remoter Shannon, And Major Lee with horses rare, And Proctor with his cannon :
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I, under cover of th' attack, Whilst you are all at blows, From English Neighb'rood and Tinack Will drive away the cows.
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At Irvine's nod 'twas fine to see The left prepare to fight, The while the drovers, Wayne and Lee, Drew off upon the right.
Sublime upon his stirrups rose The mighty Lee behind, And drove the terror-smitten cows Like chaff before the wind.
But sudden see the woods above Pour down another corps ; All helter-skelter in a drove, Like that I sung before.
Irvine and terror in the van Came flying all abroad ; And cannon, colors, horse, and man, Ran tumbling to the road.
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In his dismay the frantic priest Began to grow prophetic ; You'd swore, to see his lab'ring breast, He'd taken an emetic.
This solemn prophecy, of course, . Gave all much consolation, Except to Wayne, who lost his horse Upon the great occasion.
His horse that carried all his prog, His military speeches, His cornstalk-whiskey for his grog, Blue stockings and brown breeches.
And now I've closed my epic strain, I tremble as I show it, Lest this same warrior-drover, Wayne, Should ever catch the poet.
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
VAN VORST.
Van Vorst was taken from Bergen in 1841; and named from the Van Vorst family, who are extensive landholders in this section. It has long been settled by the Dutch. Within its limits was the ancient town or settlement known as Ahassimus. It is about 11 miles long, by ¿ a mile wide. It is bounded on the N. by North Bergen, E. by the Hudson river and Jersey City, S. by New York bay, and W. by Bergen and North Bergen. It forms, with Jersey City, an island, cut off from the remaining portion of the county by the Creek of the Woods. The whole of this tract, including Jer- sey City, is laid out in city lots, and is fast being built upon, and ere many years will be densely populated. Van Vorst now con- tains 1 Baptist church, 1 Dutch Reformed church, and a population of about 1,500.
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
HUNTERDON co. was set off from Burlington co., in 1713, and named after Gov. Robert Hunter. Its limits have since been re- duced by the formation of Warren, Sussex, Morris, and Mercer cos. Its extreme length, N. and S., is 31 m. ; width, E. and W., 24 m. It is bounded NW. by Warren co., S. by Mercer co., E. by Somerset and Morris cos., and SW. by the Delaware river. It is somewhat mountainous, though agreeably diversified with hills, table-lands, and broad valleys. Sourland, or Rock mountain, extends along the whole line between this and Mercer co. There is a continuous ridge of hills running from Bool's island, on the Delaware, in a NE. direction, crossing the S. branch of the Raritan at Williamsport, extending nearly across the centre of the county, and terminating in the Kushetunk or Hog mountain, near White House village. The Musconetcong mountains extend from the junction of the Mus- conetcong and Delaware rivers, across the N. tier of townships, to Morris co., branching to the SE. as they approach Lebanon and Tewksbury, into several distinct spurs, known as the Spruce Run hills, Fox hill, &c. These elevations are sources of many never- failing streams, that fertilize the valleys and furnish abundant water-power.
The south branch of the Raritan is a noble mill-stream, entering the county in a SW. direction from Morris co., through the German valley. It there forms a crescent, gradually curving to the left, watering seven townships, and then crossing the Somerset line. The Alexsockin, Nechanic, Wickechecoke, Laokatong, Nischisaco- wick, Rockaway, and Spruce rivers, are considerable mill-streams. There is a great variety of soil in the county. The south part,
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
embracing a strip of land about 2 miles wide, along Sourland mountain, is a cold, clayey, rocky soil : between this and the hills extending from Bool's island to Kushetunk, is a beautiful, highly- cultivated, rolling country. The soil is principally red shale, lying generally from one to six feet below the surface. On the summit of this ridge, from Bool's island and next the Delaware, is a broad table-land known as the Great Swamp, covering an area of nearly 50 square miles. Between the Great Swamp and Musconetcong. mountains, and bordering on the Delaware, is another similar tract of red shale, extending over a greater part of Alexandria. East of this, come the valleys of the Capoolen, South Branch, and Round valley, where is the great limestone region of the county. The soil is a rich clayey loam, generally highly-cultivated. Limestone is also found in the German valley and along the Musconetcong. Bordering on Alexandria and Bethlehem, is another table-land, about the same extent as the Great Swamp, called The Barrens. Iron ore abounds among the hills on the north, from which, for- merly, several furnaces and forges were supplied.
Hunterdon co. is divided into 10 townships, viz :-
Alexandria, Bethlehem, Delaware, Lebanon, Readington,
Amwell, Clinton, Kingwood, Raritan, Tewksbury.
The population of the county, in 1840, was 24,797.
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ALEXANDRIA.
This township was incorporated in 1798. It is about 8 m. long, 6 wide ; bounded NW. by Greenwich, Warren co., SE. by King- wood, SW. by the Delaware, and NE. by Bethlehem. There are in the township 10 stores, 6 flouring-m., 4 grist-m., 10 saw-m., 3 oil-m .; cap. in manufac. $139,955 ; 9 schools, 420 scholars. Pop. 3,420.
Milford is in a fertile country, upon the Delaware ; 15 m. NW. of Flemington, and 12 below Easton, Penn. The engraving shows its appearance when approached from the south on the River-road. The Presbyterian church is seen on the right. The Christ-ian church is a substantial stone building in the central part of the village. Thompson's hill, a beautiful, romantic eminence, 200 or 300 feet in height, appears in the background. Milford contains 3 stores, 3 taverns, 12 or 15 mechanic shops, 1 merchant and 2 saw m., 2 churches, and 45 dwellings. There is a fine bridge across the Delaware, built in 1841, at an expense of about $20,000. The lumber trade is carried on extensively in this thriving village. Milford, forty years since, contained a grist and 2 saw m., a black- smith shop, a store, and a few dwellings only. Its original name was Burnt Mills, from some mills destroyed here by fire, at an early day, and later it was called Lowreytown. For thirty-five years past, it has borne its present name. The Christian church was built
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
about fifteen years since, and as females were admitted to partici- pate in the ministry, a Mrs. Roberds, for the first year or two, preached to the congregation. The Presbyterian church was erected in 1835, and the Rev. Mr. Henshaw was the first settled clergyman.
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Southern View of Milford.
Frenchtown, on the Delaware, 4 miles below Milford, has 1 grist- in .. I saw-m., 2 stores, 3 taverns, several mechanic shops and 25 dwellings. At this place is a neat bridge across the Delaware. Little York, 4 miles N. of Milford, is a flourishing village, sprung into existence within a few years. It has an oil-m., and 2 grist-m .. a store, 1 tavern, several mechanics, and about 16 dwellings. Mount Pleasant, 3 miles N. of Milford, is, as its name implies, plea- santly situated upon rising ground, where there is a Presbyterian church, a tavern, store, several mechanics, and about 15 dwell- ings. Everittstown, in a handsome valley on the Nischisakawick creek, 4 miles E. of Milford, is a village of about the same size as the above, and contains a Methodist church. Pittstown, on the SE. corner of the township, contains 2 stores, a tavern, grist-m., and about 12 dwellings.
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