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 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
AMWELL.
This township was incorporated in 1798. It is 12 miles long, extending across the southern line of the county, and is about 13 miles wide ; bounded NW. by Delaware and Raritan, SE. by Hope- well, Mercer co .; W. by the Delaware river, and E. by Hillsbo- rough, Somerset co. Pop. 3,071. The Sourland or Rock mountain extends along its SE. boundary. The soil of the northern portion is fertile ; there are in the township 10 stores, 1 grist-m., 6 saw-m., I
الله وسجق
241
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
oil-m., 1 flouring-m., 1 fulling-m. ; cap. in manufac. $40,950; 11 schools, 331 scholars. Pop. 3,071.
In the olden times rattlesnakes were numerous in this vicinity. Smith in his history says-" One Robins, in Amwell, at a spot on his own plantation, had upwards of ninety rattlesnakes killed in each of three springs successively. The parties performing it barked young chestnut-trees of the size of their own legs and tied them on; and thus accoutred, they effected their business without much dan- ger ; but the snakes frequently bit the bark."
View of Lambertville from New Hope, Penn.
Lambertville is the most populous and flourishing village in Hunterdon co. It is on the Delaware river, opposite New Hope, Penn., 12 miles from Flemington and 16 from Trenton, and con- tains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, 7 mercan- tile stores, 16 mechanic shops, 2 brick-yards, 2 large grist and 3 saw-m., 4 lime-kilns, 2 iron foundries, an academy, 10 or 12 store- houses, and a population of nearly 1,000. The village is beautifully situated on a narrow plain, bounded on the E. by a range of hills. The town is built on eight streets, four parallel and four at right angles to the river. The feeder of the Delaware and Raritan canal passes through the village, and is navigable for sloops and schoon- ers. On it is a water-power of 18 feet fall, which, from the adap- tation of the sites for factories, and the facilities for getting to the New York and Philadelphia markets, renders it a favorable situa- tion for manufacturing and other business. A considerable business is done on the feeder. About a dozen of canal boats are owned here, and steamboats and boats for the canal are built in the village. A fine covered bridge connects this place with New Hope, Pennsylvania, which is nearly as populous as Lambertville. Through that village runs the Pennsylvania canal, connecting with the coal region of that state.
Lambertville is on the site of Coryel's Ferry, a noted place in the
31
7
242
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
war of the revolution. In 1732, Emanuel Coryel, who was of French descent, removed from Somerset co., purchased here a large tract of land, built a hut, and established a ferry. A stone tavern shortly after built by him is now occupied as a dwelling. It is about 20 rods below the bridge where the ferry then was. In 174S. he sold to Job Wharford a small piece of land on what is now the W. side of Main-st., about 120 feet from the corner of York-st., on which the purchaser erected a tavern, and Coryel closed the one at . the ferry. In 1797 there were but four dwellings here, occupied then by Joseph Lambert, George Hoppock, George Tanner, George Coryel, &c. It wasthen called Georgetown, which name it retained until the late war, when a post-office was established, and it was named Lambertville, from its first postmaster, John Lambert, Esq. The Presbyterian church was built in 1817, the Baptist in 1825, and the Methodist in 1838.
In the disastrous retreat of the American army through New Jersey, just previous to the victory at Trenton, a portion of the troops crossed at Coryel's ferry. Cornwallis attempted to seize some of the boats which they had used, but being well guarded by Lord Stirling, his efforts proved abortive. Some time in the war a portion of the American army were here under Washington, who had his head-quarters in the dwelling of Richard Holcomb, a stone mansion now standing about a quarter of a mile N. of the village centre, and occupied by his son, John Holcomb, Esq. General Greene's head-quarters were in the dwelling of George Coryel, now down.
Just below Lambertville, on the Delaware, are Wells' Falls, where the river descends about 14 feet in three fourths of a mile. The passage of rafts at this place is an interesting sight. They shoot down with great velocity, and as the stream is filled with rock, it requires the utmost care and skill in the raftsmen to avoid foun- dering.
Mount Airy, Rocktown, Snidertown, and Clover Hill, contain each a few dwellings. At the first is a Presbyterian, and at the last a Dutch Reformed church. The village of Ringoes, in a delightful valley, 6 miles S. of Flemington, contains about 20 dwellings, and near it is a Presbyterian church. It derives its name from John, Ringo, who about 1720 settled in this place, then a wilderness. He built a log cabin, where he was obliged to entertain travellers, there being no house near, and he at a point where the paths crossed, along which travellers occasionally passed from some settlements in Pennsylvania to the eastern part of Jersey. After a while this became a noted resting-place for travellers, and the public house known as "Ringo's Old Tavern," was, according to tradition, kept by John Ringo, his son, and grandson, for about 70 years. About the year 1840, this old tavern, upon the sign of which was a por- trait of Washington, and, in large letters, "Ringo's Old Tavern," was destroyed by fire. The first proprietor and his descendants lie buried in a small yard near the village, their graves marked with
L
الدوحة
243
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
initial letters, and surrounded by a rude stone wall. The family name is now believed to be extinct, though some of the descend- ants on the female side are living. It is only retained in the name of the village. Ringoes is also the name of the post-office, and the only one so named in the world. Near the village was erected the first Presbyterian church in the county. The time is not exactly known, but it was more than a century since.
BETHLEHEM.
This township was incorporated in 1793. It is about 8 miles long, 7 broad ; bounded NWV. by Franklin, Mansfield, and Green- wich, Warren co .; SE. by Kingwood, SW. by Alexandria, and NE. by Lebanon and Clinton. The Musconetcong mountains run across the N. part of the township. There are several small ham- lets, but no villages entirely within its limits. Clinton is partly on its SE. corner, and Bloomsbury on the angle of Alexandria and Beth'ehem. Hunter'on co . and Greenwich, Warren co. The town- ship contains 5 stores, 5 grist-m., 3 saw-m., I oil-m .: cap. in manu- fac. $7,725; 6 : chools, 106 scholars. Pop. 2,370.
.
Northern View of Bloomsbury.
Bloomsbury is a thriving village, in the delightful valley of the Musconetcong river, 18 miles from Flemington, 16 from Belvidere, 49 from Trenton, and 6 from Easton, Pa. There are here 2 stores, 1 tavern, several mechanic shops, an oil-m., weaving-shop, a large .
merchant-mill, a cotton factory, a Methodist church, and 35 dwell- ings. The annexed view, taken on the N. bank of the Musconet- cong, shows the principal part of the village, which lies on the Hunterdon side of the stream. The large building seen on the left, near the stone bridge, is the merchant-mill of Green and Runkles, and on the right the cotton factory belonging to that firm. The building with a cupola, in the background, is the Methodist
三
244
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
church ; and at the distance of a mile the Musconetcong moun- tains are seen, rising to the height of several hundred feet. From their summit a splendid view is had to the N., the eye stretching over a great extent of country, diversified with mountains, hills, and valleys ; and comprehending within its range several pic- turesque villages, and the borough of Easton, Pa.
Bordering on this and Alexandria township, are the table-lands called " The Barrens," occupying an area of nearly 50 square miles. The soil is a mixture of clay, sand, and gravel, filled with smooth pebbles. This tract was formerly little cultivated ; but since lime was introduced as a manure, it has been ascertained that the soil may be made very productive, and suffers no more from drought than the alluvial bottoms. A considerable portion of it is covered exclusively with chestnut-trees, owned by the farmers on the lowlands, and kept by them as nurseries, from whence to obtain fencing-timber. When the chestnut is cut off, a new growth immediately sprouts out around the stumps, and in 25 or 30 years is large enough to cut again. Tradition asserts that the In- dians used to burn over the barrens to supply themselves with game, immense numbers of which there sought a covert.
CLINTON.
Clinton was formed from Lebanon, in 1841. It is 8 miles long, 5 wide ; and is bounded N. by Lebanon, S. by Readington, E. by Tewksbury and Readington, and W. by Bethlehem and Kingwood. The S. branch of Rariton river runs for several miles on the W. boundary, and crosses the NW. corner. Pop. 2.373. Lebanon is on the Easton and New Brunswick turnpike ; and contains a tavern, a store, several mechanic shops, a Reformed Dutch church, and about a dozen dwellings.
The village of Clinton is in a delightful champaign valley, on the south branch of the Rariton, on the post-road from New Bruns- wick, and 10 miles NE. of Flemington. It was formerly known as Hunt's mills ; so named from an early proprietor of its valuable water-power. Though the surrounding country was early settled, the village has grown to its present size since the establishment of a post-office in 1838. In 1820 there were but three houses in what is now the compact part of the village, viz : the yellow house near the mill, the dwelling owned by Henry N. Cline, Esq., a few rods NE., and a small one now down, which stood on the hill. Besides these there was a tannery in the vicinity, and several mills belong- ing to Mr. Hunt. It now contains 3 mercantile stores, 2 large merchant-mills, with one of which an oil-mill is connected ; 3 pub- lic houses, about 15 mechanic shops of various kinds, a brick-yard, a valuable limestone quarry, 3 churches, 62 dwellings, and 520 in- habitants.
.
The Presbyterian church was erected in 1830; and in 1831 a re-
-
245
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
ligious society was constituted. The first settled minister, the Rev. Alexander Macklin, entered upon the duties of his office in April, 1832, and continued until near the close of 1835. He was succeed- ed by the Rev. Arthur B. Bradford, June, 1835, who remained until October, 1838. The present pastor, the Rev. Albert Williams, was
View of Clinton from Quarry Hill.
called to the pastoral charge in December, 1838. The Episcopal church was built in 1838: its first rector was the Rev. Wm. C. Crane, who was succeeded in 1839 by the present incumbent, the Rev. James Adams. The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1840; and religious services have been regularly maintained by travelling preachers. Two schools have been established in the village : one is a grammar and classical school, founded and taught by the Rev. Albert Williams, and promises a rich advantage for the dissemina- tion of intelligence and literature to the adjacent community. The region contiguous to the village is very fertile. In the valley are immense beds of limestone, which for many years have proved a valuable source of wealth to the proprietors, and a means of fertil- izing a wide district of the surrounding country. About 3 miles N, of the village, in the mountain range, which is a continuation of Schooley's mountain, is an iron mine, which, half a century since, yielded a vast amount of metal for the Union forge and furnace, at the base of the mountain. The ore is still unexhausted ; the working of the mine having been discontinued only on account of the inconvenience of procuring fuel for the manufacturing estab- lishment.
DELAWARE.
This township was formed from the NW. part of Amwell, in 1838. It is about 7 miles long, 6 broad ; and is bounded NW. by
r
246
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
Kingwood, SE. by Amwell, NE. by Raritan, and SW. by the Dela- ware river. There are in the township 7 stores, 6 grist-m., 6 saw- m., 1 oil-m .; cap. in manufac. $12,360; 8 schools, 227 scholars. Pop. 2,305. It is watered by the Alexsockin, Wickhecheoke, and Laokatong creeks, which empty into the Delaware. Sergeants- ville, 6 miles SW. of Flemington, contains a store, tavern, and a few mechanics ; a neat Methodist church, lately erected, of stone, and stuccoed ; and about a dozen dwellings. Head Quarters, 6. miles from Flemington, contains a store, 2 grist-mills, and 8 dwell- ings. Bool's Island, so named from an island in the Delaware, is at the head of the feeder of the Delaware and Raritan canal, and contains a store, tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings. Prallsville, on the Delaware river, 4 miles above Lambertville, contains a store, tavern, a plaster, oil, grist, and saw mill, and a few dwellings. Half a mile below is the Centre Bridge, over the Delaware.
The annexed account of the great freshet in the Delaware river in Jan. 1841, is from the Hunterdon Gazette of that date :
The heavy rain which fell last week, together with the melting of the large quantity of snow and ice upon the ground, caused the streams to swell to a height not known be- fore for many years. The ground, being covered with a crust of ice several inches in thickness, absorbed none of the water upon its surface ; and consequently the whole body was thrown together into the small streams, and thence conducted into the larger ones, causing them to rise to an unprecedented height, and destroy an immense amount of property, in the shape of bridges, buildings of various kinds, lumber, flour, grain, household furniture, &c., &c. More damage to bridges in this county, we believe, was done by the freshet of 1839, in consequence of the greater quantity of ice upon the streams ; but the Delaware river never before made such havoc. We have heard that not a bridge is left standing between Easton and Trenton ; those at Reiglesville, Centre Bridge, New Hope, Taylorsville, and Yardleyville, having all yielded to the resistless power of the flood. The cost of each of the two latter was about $20,000; the New Hope $69,000; the Centre Bridge probably $30,000 or $40,000, and Reiglesville about $20,000. The guard-lock of the feeder, at Boul's island, is torn away. Joleison's tav- ern, a short distance below, is entirely swept away, with the principal part of its con tents. The following letter gives some account of the damage done at and near Lam bertville :
LAMBERTVILLE, January 8, 1841, (Friday Evening.)
Rapid Rise in the Delaware River-Great Destruction of Property, &c .- This has been a day of general excitement throughout the village and neighborhood, and doubtless will be long remembered. We have just returned from witnessing a scene that no pen can adequately describe. At an early hour this morning, we heard the roaring of the waters, and hastened to the scene of destruction. The river was then filled with floating masses of timber, &c., consisting principally of piles of lumber, logs, and frag- ments of buildings. The river was then rising at a rapid rate, and continued to rise un- til about three o'clock, when it appeared to be on a stand. It is now some five or six feet higher than it was ever known beforc, by the oldest inhabitants. The canal had rapidly filled, in consequence of the river breaking in above this place, and threatened destruction to that part of the town, and to the extensive mills, &c. on the Water-power. The citizens were preparing to leave their houses, when the large waste-weir, opposite Holcomb's basin, about half a mile above the village, by the force of water, gave way ; which seemed providential-else the consequence might have been serious indeed, if the canal had given way in the town. The lumber-yards, storehouses, mills, &c., and other property situated along the river, were in imminent peril throughout the day. About half past ten o'clock, fears began to be entertained for the safety of the New Hope Del- aware bridge ; the river was then nearly up to the bridge. The ice and drift-stuff in- creased, and struck the piers and timbers of the bridge with tremendous force. Large
-
.
247
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
zoal-boats, heavy saw-logs, and cakes of ice were lodging against it, and had forced apart one or two of the piers, on the Jersey side. About Il o'clock we heard the as- tounding cry, from many voices, that Centre Bridge was coming down, as we antici- pated. All eyes were fixed upon two large massive pieces of the bridge, which were seen floating down, a short distance above, by the resistless current, in terrific grandeur. The feelings of the spectators, at that moment, were deep and thrilling, and may be imagined, but cannot be described. One of the pieces struck about midway, with an awful crash ; passed through, and carried away one of the arches of the bridge. The other soon followed, and took with it another arch, on the Jersey side. The Jersey pier soon gave way, and the third arch followed, and lodged a short distance below. Thus one half of this noble structure, which has stood the freshets for nearly thirty years, has been suddenly carried away. The other part, on the Pennsylvania side, still remained when we left, although much shattered.
The destruction of property, along the whole line of the Delaware and Lehigh, we fear, is very great ; and where it is to end, He who holds the winds and rain in the hollow of his hand only can tell. The canal has doubtless sustained much injury. If the river should take a second rise, the consequences may be still more awful. 'To de- scribe the scenes we have witnessed to-day is painful in the extreme. Yours, &c.
Saturday Morning, (7 o'clock.)
I have just time to add, the river fell near two feet last night, and is still going down. Our mills, &c., as far as we have heard, have sustained not the least injury. This is a gratifying evidence of the security and permanency of our Water-power. The milling establishments, so important and beneficial to the whole community, this morning stand " firm as the surge-repelling rocks."
Perilous Situation and Providential Escape .- George B. Fell, of Centre Bridge, was carried away by the freshet, and floated down the river to within about three miles of Trenton, where he was taken up in a batteau. When he passed New Hope bridge, he was upon a loose plank, and was obliged to lie flat upon it, to avoid touching the bridge. Attempts were made in vain to rescue him, at that and various other places. When he had passed under the Yardleyville bridge, and floated a few yards below, the whole structure was precipitated into the stream, just behind him. He continued to float on with the current, gathering pieces of lumber, which he kept together ; forining a sort of raft, by which he was enabled to steer into the still water, where he was taken up in safety.
Mr. Fell had engaged to attend to the receipt of tolls, at Centre Bridge, during a tem- porary absence of the gatekeeper ; and was crossing over the bridge, for that purpose, when it floated off. Fearing danger from the crushing of timbers overhead, and seeing a portion of the roof of the bridge floating near him, he succeeded, by the aid of a plank, in reaching it, and freeing himself from the main body of the bridge. He thus floated down with the bridge, almost dry, suffering but little from cold, until he reached Yard- leyville bridge ; where he struck a pier, and the water splashed upon and wet him, ren- dering his situation more uncomfortable. After his rescue, he immediately proceeded * to Lambertville, where he was received with the most extravagant demonstrations of joy by the citizens, who immediately raised a telegraph, announcing his sale arrival, and fired a cannon, which was responded to from the opposite shore, in the inost clainorous shouts and cheering from the joyous multitude. Mr. Fell, being satisfied that his friends were apprized of his safety, then retired to bed, and took a refreshing sleep ; and we pre- sume crossed the river as soon as safety would permit, and returned to his anxious family.
The Society of Dunkers have a church (a plain frame building) in the central part of this township, about a mile NE. from Head Quarters. This singular people appear to have had their origin among the Pietists in Germany, in the year 1708. In this year a society was formed, consisting of eight persons, whose spiritual leader was a miller, by the name of Alexander Mack, who rebaptized them, as they considered their infant baptism as unavailing. The word Dunker, by which they are known, is stated to be a corruption of the German Tunker, the signification of which is Dippers, or Baptists by plunging-a title, as usual, given to them
248
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
by others, because the person baptized by them was dipped or plunged three times under water.
The sentiments of the Dunkers having extended among the Pie- tists, they were somewhat persecuted. In the fall of 1719, Peter Becker, with a company of Dunkers, came to Pennsylvania, and settled in Germantown, where their numbers soon increased, and societies were formed in other places. Their principal settlement was at Ephrata, in Lancaster co. The following, descriptive of - the Dunkers at this place, about the year 1750, is probably true with regard to their practices and tenets elsewhere :
" An apartment is appropriated to each person, that their devotion may have no inter- ruption. Females have a portion of the town allotted to them : they have no conimu- nication with the men, except in matters of religion, and what may be necessary in the management of their concerns. If any desire to marry, they leave the Society, and they are entitled to draw out of the public treasury their shares ; but they settle in the vicinity of the Society, and send their children to be educated among their brothers and sisters. Economy and piety are strictly observed. The winter's dress is a long white gown, fastened with a belt around the waist : behind hangs the cap. They wear no hats-a waistcoat, shirt, trousers, and shoes. In summer their garments are made of linen ; in winter, of cloth. The women wear the same as the men, except that instead of trousers they wear petticoats ; and they conceal their faces when they walk out of their houses. The men let their beards grow, and crop their hair. Their number con- sists of about 300 men and women. They live on vegetables, and will not touch animal food; hence they are lean of body, of a pale complexion, and apparently bloodless. Their recreations are connected with their religious duties. They worship four times in twenty-four hours. In lieu of beds, they sleep upon benches, and use a little wooden block for a pillow. Each room is supplied with a couple of these conveniences.
" The President of the Dunkers received a regular education, at Halle, in Germany. He was originally a minister of the Calvinist church ; but, becoming dissatisfied, he left that church, and joined the Dunkers. He was open, affable, familiar, easy of ac- cess, and agrecable in conversation. . My principles, or rather those of my bretliren, are ,as follows, (thus he says :) We retain both sacraments ; adults only are admitted to baptism. We deny original sin. It is inmoral to use violence at any time, but our duty to submit. We think going to law is not according to Christianity, and is expressly for bidden. We observe the Jewish sabbath. We have no regular form of worship. Our discourses treat of the Christian virtues-humility, temperance, chastity, fortitude, &c We believe the dead had the gospel preached to theni by our Saviour, and after his resur rection the souls of the holy preached the gospel to those who had not the Scripture re vealed to them, or who were ignorant of its truth and beauty. We deny eternal punish ment. Those souls who become sensible of God's great goodness and clemency, and acknowledge his lawful authority, and that he is just, wise, and good, without a stain or blemish, and that Christ is the only true Son of God, are received into happiness ; but those who continue obstinate are kept in darkness, until the great day, when light will make all happy.'"
Soon after the Dunkers emigrated to this country, they were divided in sentiment respecting the observance of the sabbath ; some contending it should be on the seventh. others on the first day of the week. In the year 1728, Conrad Beissel wrote a treatise in favor of the seventh-day observance ; and from that time onward, says the Chronicon, (a Dunker publication,) it was kept alike by all the Society. Notwithstanding the peaceable principles of the Dunkers, they have had their troubles, as well as all other denom- inations, in the management of their religious affairs .* The fra-
* From time to time schisms occurred among the Lancaster county Tunkers, and an other distinct society was formed, near the Conestogoe, in opposition to Beissel. The
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.