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 33
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
ternity of Ephrata Dunkers is believed to be nearly extinct ; and those of the name, in other places, differ but very little, in their customs, &c., from other denominations of Christians.
KINGWOOD.
This township was formed in 1798. It is about 14 miles long, 4 wide, and is bounded NW. by Alexandria and Bethlehem. SE. by Delaware and Raritan. E. by Clinton, and W. by the Delaware river. The township contains 8 stores, 6 grist-m .. 4 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $12,075; 6 schools, 157 scholars. Pop. 2,917. The Laokatong runs centrally through the township. Baptist-town, 9 miles W. of Flemington, contains a store, tavern, several mechan- ics, 2 Baptist churches, and about a dozen dwellings. Quaker- town, 6 miles from Flemington, has a tavern, store, 1 Friends meeting-house, a Methodist church, and about 20 dwellings. Mill- town is a small settlement near the SW. corner of the township. Cherryville is a small flourishing settlement near Quaker-town. Allerton, 4 miles from Flemington, contains a Baptist church, 1 steam saw-m., a store, a chair factory, and a few dwellings.
The tract known as the "Great Swamp" extends into the town- ship. One would suppose from the name that this region was cov- ered with bogs and fens, but it is the dead level of the surface, which at certain seasons retains water, that has given rise to the name. In some places where the land is cleared, the eye may stretch for miles without resting on a solitary hillock. The soil is cold and clayey, and in many places stony; but when limed and well cultivated, yields heavy returns to the husbandman. The population is more dense here than in any other portion of the county of equal extent.
LEBANON.
Lebanon was incorporated in 1798, and reduced in 1841 by the
two societies now lived in open dissension. In relation to this, both the Chronicon and Sangmeister, with a very serious air, tell the following anecdote : Joel, one of Beissel's brethren, went to the meeting of the Conestogoe people, and solemnly stepped in among them ; and, addressing the leader of the congregation, said, " To thee, J. H., these words, through me, from the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, from this day forth, thou shalt no longer go out to preach to others. And on this day it shall appear whether we or you are the congregation of the Lord. If God shall this day do a miracle on my person ; if here in your presence, and before your eyes, I fall down, like a dead man ; and if, by your prayers, I be made to rise up again to life,-then God hath not sent me to you, and you are God's people. But if I do not fall down like a dead man, but go, fresh and hearty, out of that door, then shall ye know that God huth indeed sent me, and that ye are not the people of the Lord. A week ago I told you, in your meeting, that there was a wolf among you : here, (taking one by the arm,) here is the wolf!" Upon this, Joel, turning his back upon them, went out of the door, fresh and hearty. Our authors make no further observation, taking it, probably, for granted that none was needed; and that this might stand for an indubitable proof that Joel was the man, and his people the people .- Hazard's Reg. of Penn., vol. v., p. 333.
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
formation of Clinton from its southern portion. It is about 7 miles long, 5 broad, and is bounded NE. by Washington, Morris co .; SE. by Clinton and Tewksbury, SW. by Bethlehem, and NW. by Mans- field, Warren co. In 1840, previous to the formation of Clinton, its population was 3,848. Its surface is mountainous, the Musco- netcong mountains occupying a great portion of its territory. It is watered by the Musconetcong, South branch of Raritan, and Spruce run. New Hampton, one of the oldest villages in this sec- tion, is pleasantly situated on the south bank of the Musconetcong, at the base of the Musconetcong mountains, about 18 miles N. of Flemington, and contains 2 stores, 2 taverns, several mechanics, and about 18 dwellings. South Hampton. one quarter of a mile from the village, has a blacksmith and a wheelwright's shop. , Near here, on the road to Asbury, is a large and neat Presbyterian church, built of stone, stuccoed and pencilled. Clarksville, on the road from New Hampton to Clinton, 5 miles from the latter, is in a romantic and picturesque dell among the mountains, and contains a store, tavern, a few mechanics' shops, a saw and grist mill, and several dwellings.
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RARITAN.
This township was formed from Amwell in 1838. It is about 7 miles long, 5 wide, and is bounded NW. by Ringwood, SE. by Am- well, NE. by Readington, and SW. by Delaware. The N. portion is mountainous, the S. level, or undulating. The township contains 9 stores, 4 grist-m., 4 saw-m., 1 oil-m .; cap. in manufac. $14.400; 15 schools, 351 scholars. Pop. 2,510.
Greenville, on the SE. boundary of Raritan, on the road from Lambertville to Somerville, is a new and flourishing little village, containing a tavern, store, a few mechanics, about a dozen dwell- ings, and a neat Presbyterian church, lately erected. Flemington, the seat of justice for Hunterdon county, is 23 miles N. of Trenton, 26 from New Brunswick, and 25 from Easton, Pa. It is pleasant- ly situated in the central part of the township, on an undulating plain, a mile S. of a high eminence, from which there is a fine pros- pect of the village and adjacent country. Flemington is principal- ly built on a single street, on which are many handsome dwellings, and the general appearance of the place is thriving and cheerful. There are here 2 newspaper printing-offices, several stores and mechanic shops, 4 hotels, the county buildings, 1 Methodist, 1 Bap- tist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Episcopal church, about 70 dwellings, and 600 inhabitants.
The annexed is a view of the county buildings, centrally situated on the W. side of the main street. The courthouse is a large stone structure, rough cast, with Grecian front and Ionic columns. Its internal arrangements are convenient, and the court-room large. The basement is used for a prison, and the small brick structure on
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HUNTERDON COUNTY
the right contains the county clerk's and surrogate's offices. In the court-room hangs the portrait of Thomas Potts Johnson, Esq. The following notice of this gentleman was written for this work by the Rev. Mr. Studdiford, of Lambertville.
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View of the County Buildings at Flemington.
THOMAS P. JOHNSON .- Among the distinguished men who have adorned the New Jer- sey bar within the last fifty years, few in their day were held in higher repute for their eloquence and extensive legal knowledge, and especially for intellectual vigor and versa- tility of talent, than the individual whose name stands at the head of this article. He was born about the year 1761. His parents were Friends. His father, William Johnson, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country about the middle of the last century. He married Ruth Potts, of Trenton, a sister of Stacy Potts, long known as a respectable citizen of that place. Thomas was their second child. When he was quite small, the family removed to Charleston, S. C., where his father established a flourishing boarding- school, and gained much repute by his lectures on various branches of Natural Philoso- phy. His fondness for such studies seemed to have been inherited by the son, who, even in his later years, continued to turn his attention to them. The father died at the south after a residence of some years. His mother, with five children, returned to her native state, and, with the aid of her brother, opened a store in Trenton. There Thomas was placed an apprentice to a carpenter* and joiner. After following this business some time, he was compelled, by a rupture of a blood-vessel in the lungs, to abandon it. He then engaged in teaching youth, first in this county, afterwards in Bucks co., Pa., and then in Philadelphia. For this business, he had rare qualifications. Few men had such powers of communication : few could so simplify truth, and throw an interest around it to captivate the youthful mind. Of this, he gave a striking proof in his later years ; when he would amuse himself in instructing his grandchildren, creating a fondness for knowledge, and, with happy facility, developing their mental powers.
While in Philadelphia, a mercantile house took him in partnership, and sent him to Richmond, Va., where the firm opened a large store. There he became well acquainted with the late Chief-justice Marshall, and often had the privilege of listening to the first
* The annexed anecdote was communicated to the compilers of this volume by a resi- dent of Trenton. At one of the neighboring courts a dispute arose between Johnson and his opponent, respecting a point of law, during which, the latter remarked in a taunting, derisive manner, " that he was not to be taught law by a carpenter !" " May it please your honors," replied Mr. J., " the gentleman has been pleased to allude to my having been a carpenter : true, I was a carpenter,-I am proud of it,-so was the reputed fa- ther of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; and I could yet, give me a block of wood, a mallet, and a chisel, hew out something that would very much resemble that gentle. man's head ; true, I could not put in brains, but it would have more manners !"
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
lawyers in the " Old Dominion." This, probably, led to his turning his thoughts to the bar. After a few years, the loss of his store and goods by fire, cansed him to return to the scenes of his youthful days. He took up his residence at Princeton, and there mar- ried a daughter of Robert Stockton. Esq., and entered his name as a student of law in the office of the Hon. Richard Stockton. In due time he was admitted to the bar, and licensed first as an attorney, and then as a counsellor. Subsequently, he was raised to the rank of a serjeant at law. His career at the bar was brilliant; whether arguing points of law, or spreading a case before a jury, he was always heard with fixed atten- tion and lively interest. So lucid was he in arranging and expressing his thoughts ; he knew so well how to seize hold of strong points in a case, and when he pleased to touch the chords of feeling, that he seldom failed of producing an impression. He was no empty declaimer. His style of thought and expression was simple and natural. Not only at the bar, but in the social intercourse of life, his language was remarkably chaste and pure. Rarely ever would be heard a word misapplied or mispronounced. Persua- sion sat upon his lips. From impaired health, and especially the failure of his eyesight, his attention to professional duties was much interrupted, and eventually he was com- pclled to relinquish practice. Mr. Johnson was no indifferent spectator to the great po litical questions, the contest of which have ever divided wise and good inen of the na tion. With the majority of the New Jersey bar, he belonged to the Washingtonian school, and exerted all his energies in what lie honestly conceived his country's true in- terests. For several years previous to his decease, he resided in the family of his son. in-law, Richard D. Corson, M. D., of New Hope, Bucks co., Pa.
Mr. Johnson possessed an enlarged acquaintance with the principal departments of literature and science ; but experimental philosophy and natural history had been his fa. vorite studies. He was a good anatomist and a superior chemist. He had a natural fondness for mechanical pursuits; and the productions of his skill would not have dis- graced the most experienced artists. While a youth, he made himself master of French, so as to read it with great fluency ; and in after years, his intimacy with several French gentlemen, who had settled in the vicinity of Princeton, enabled him so to perfect his pronunciation, that it could not be distinguished from that of a well-educated French- man, even by natives of that country.
The subject of this notice was distinguished for a high sense of moral principle. and great kindness of heart. For his brethren of the New Jersey bar, he cherished a warm attachment, and they were forward in evincing their high esteem of his worth. A few years before his death, a number of them obtained the services of an artist, and had a full-length portrait of him taken, which is now placed over the judge's chair in the court- room at Flemington. Mr. Johnson entertained a profound regard for the Christian re- ligion. Fully convinced of its truth, he was not backward in expressing his sense of its importance. Seldom could the scoff of infidelity pass unrebuked in his presence. In his latter years, he greatly improved in biblical knowledge. He was much interested in the valuable works of L'Enfant and Beausobre, on the New Testament. He was aecus- tomed to have it often rcad to him by an estimable granddaughter, who died a week be- fore him, and whose death probably hastened his own dissolution, which took place March 12th, 1838.
There are near Flemington two valuable copper mines, the work- ing of which has been suspended on account of the pecuniary pressure of the times. This village derives its name from a Mr. Fleming, who settled here previous to the American revolution. In 1766, a Baptist church was erected, and in 1791 the first court- house within the present limits of the county. Previously the courts were held at Trenton. This building, which was of stone, was destroyed by fire in February, 1828, and the present court- house built at an expense of about $14,000. In 1793, the Presby- terian church, a neat, substantial stone structure, was erected, and the Rev. Thomas Grant was the first settled clergyman. His suc- cessors have been the Rev. Mr. Field, Rev. John F. Clark. and the Rev. Joseph M. Olmstead, the present incumbent. The village at that time contained two churches, a store, and about a dozen dwell-
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
ings. In 1825, the Methodist, and in 1841 the Episcopal church, was erected.
Annexed is an historical sketch of the Baptist church at Flem- ington, furnished by its present pastor, the Rev. Charles Bartolette.
The beginning of any local interest of the Baptists in this place, as nearly as can now be ascertained, is as follows :- In the year 1765, Thomas Lowry and James Eddy gave a piece of land, about half an acre, for a Baptist meeting-house. This lot lies on the northeast corner of the main street, and the New Brunswick and Somerville roads. The house was built in 1766, under the direction of Thomas Lowry, Jamies Eddy, Gershom Lee, Jonathan Higgins, John Jewell. Esq., and others. This was the first Bap- tist meeting-house in Amwell township, which at that time, together with the adjoin- ing township of Kingwood, was a part of Bethlehem ; and latterly, Amwell being divi- ced, now makes the house stand in Raritan.
There being no regularly constituted church, it was called the Baptist meeting of Am- well, and chiefly supplied with preaching by the neighboring ministers. David Sutton, pastor of Kingwood, supplied them some time during the revolutionary war, but he, though a very pious minister, was by Mr. Jewell shut out of the house, because he was thought to be too favorable to the British. About this time the American soldiers used the house as barracks and hospital, the marks of their firearms being visible on the floor not twenty years ago. After this, Nicholas Cox, a minister of considerable talent, then at Kingwood, supplied a part of his time regularly, but in 1790, '91, declared himself a Universalist. This gave a general shock to their interests for some time, and they had very little preaching for four years. Then Mr. J. Ewing, pastor of Hopewell, supplied them ten months. In 1795, G. A. Hunt, pastor of Kingwood, engaged with them for one third of his time. At this period the house was almost in ruins.
Their circumstances becoming more auspicious, the house was repaired, and in June, 1798, there were fifteen persons constituted into a regular Baptist church, called the Baptist church of Amwell. They now elected their deacons, their clerk, and a board of trustees. In 1804, they called James McLaughlin as their minister, in conjunction with Kingwood. He left in 1809. In 1810, they called Dr. D. Sweeney, who only stayed six months. On the first of February, 1812, they called their present pastor, Charles Bartolette, and on the first of April ensuing, he brought his family from the county of Philadelphia to Flemington. The house was again repaired and painted. The number of communicants at this time, and for several years, was about 70; but after this they began to increase, and in 1817, built the meeting-house on Sandy Ridge, of stone, 30 feet. by 40, two stories. In 1818, they set off 14 members, who were constituted into a regu- lar Baptist church. This was the second in Amwell. They have since set off several members, who now form the church at Weart's Corners, in Amwell. They have set off and assisted in forming several other churches in the adjoining neighborhoods. A course of prosperity attending them for several years, and their house being often repaired, it was found too small, and unfit to enlarge. In 1836, the present handsome edifice was built. The number of communicants for several years past ranges at about 300.
In the progress of the village, three persons have been hung for murder. The first was in July, 1794. His name was James Va- nata, a white man, about 30 years of age. He lived in Alexan- dria, and having a dispute with a neighbor, with whom he had long been at enmity, shot and buried him in a forest. The next was Brom, a slave belonging to Mr. Philip Case, who in a quarrel with a fellow slave, killed him in his master's kitchen with a tram- mel. He was hung Nov. 11, 1803. Both of these executions took place in the upper part of Flemington, near the Redding mansion. The last execution was Nov. 28, 1828, in a field about 40 rods W. of the village, on the N. side of the road to Centre Bridge. It was that of James Bunn, a colored boy, aged about 14, who in Hope- well beat to death an old lady named Beaks, with an ox-yoke, be- cause she refused to lend him a gun.
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
Sometime in the war of the revolution a detachment of the American army encamped on Gray's hill, near the village, and Washington had his head-quarters at the residence of a Col. Stew- art, then a commissary. At the close of the year 1778, when the British were in Trenton, a detachment of 500 troops were drawn off, to march up through Ringoes to Flemington, for the purpose of plunder. They proceeded as far as Pennington, when, fearing dif- ficulty from some part of Washington's army, they halted, and sent forward as an advance-guard about 20 light-horsemen, under the command of cornet Geary, which proceeded to Flemington, where they destroyed a few firearms in a storehouse. This build- ing, now standing near the centre of the village, then belonged to Col. Thomas Lowry, but is now the property of Hugh Capner, Esq. Having placed upon it the king's seal, they returned the same day.
This advance-guard had passed through Ringoes early in the morning. The few male inhabitants then at their homes, aroused by a militia captain named John Schenck, collected all the fire- arms they possessed, with the powder and ball, amounting only to a few rounds, and taking to the woods a little N. of the village, awaited the return of the enemy. As they were coming back, no doubt with the intention of giving information to the army that the way was clear, the Americans poured in a fire upon them, each man taking to a tree, or running from tree to tree, and their cap- tain shouting at the top of his voice, as though at the head of a large army. The cornet, who, its said, was of a noble family in England-" a brave fellow," to use the expression of those engaged against him-formed his men in the road and returned the fire. But a few shots were exchanged, when he fell from his horse mor- tally wounded. His men, panic-stricken, abruptly wheeled and re- treated back towards Flemington, their cornet's horse keeping com- pany. On passing a man named Housel, they forced him to pilot them across the country to the road leading to New Brunswick, and made speed back to the lines, without (as they were very hun- gry) performing any other feat than robbing some children they met, on their road to school, of their dinner. The detachment of 500 awaiting their return at Pennington, soon hearing the report that the woods were full of rebels, hastened back to Trenton. Thus this well-timed ambuscade saved this part of the county from being overrun by the British troops.
The cornet was buried in the edge of the woods near where he fell. The locality is marked only by a rough unlettered stone at the head, and one at the foot of his grave. The spot where this brave officer was shot, or in the language of many in the vicinity, " the place where the British reg'lar was killed," was long considered haunted ; there strange sights were seen, and dismal noises heard. About 30 years ago a gentleman re- siding about half a mile distant, one evening, sitting with his family, was alarmed at hearing hurried footsteps approaching, when suddenly a man burst into the house. The gentleman seeing he was much frightened, inquired-
" Friend, what's the matter ?"
" Oh !" replied the affrighted man, " I tried to go, but couldn't go. Oh ! there's such a noise down yonder where the reg'lar was killed ; the ground shakes and treinbles so I can't go."
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
The gentleman, amused at his terror, agreed to accompany him to the place. As they approached the mystery was explained to him, by hearing a bull of his neighbor's mak- ing his usual low grum, boo-woo-wooo ! !
" Hark !" exclaimed the affrighted man.
" That," replied liis companion, "is Mr. Q.'s bull."
" That's no bull !" quickly rejoined the other in tones of terror.
" Oh, yes it is," said the gentleman, " listen again."
By this time they reached the little bridge marking the spot, when the latter said,
" Now, if any thing attacks you so you can't go, you must hallo; and if any thing interrupts me so I can't go, I will hallo."
" You must holler quick !" exclaimed the other in a trembling voice, " for I shall go off very fast." And away he ran at full speed.
READINGTON.
This township was incorporated in 1798. It is 10 miles long, 5 wide ; and is bounded N. by Tewksbury, E. by Bedminster and Bridgewater, Somerset co., S. by Raritan, and W. by Clinton and Tewksbury. The township contains 9 stores, 6 grist-m., 2 saw-m., and 1 oil-m .; cap. in manufac. $2,825; 11 schools, 360 scholars. Pop. 2,373. Whitehouse, 11 miles NE. of Flemington, on the Rockaway creek, and the Easton and New Brunswick turnpike, contains 2 taverns, 2 stores, a grist-m., &c. ; an academy, a Re- formed Dutch church, and 11 dwellings. Mechanicsville, 1 mile E. of the above, on the turnpike, has a tavern, a store, a number of mechanic shops, and 15 dwellings. Readington contains a tav- ern, store, mill, 8 dwellings, and a Reformed Dutch church. Cen- treville, 7 miles NE. of Flemington, on the old York road, has a store, tavern, and a few dwellings.
TEWKSBURY.
This township, incorporated in 1798, is about 6 miles long. 5 wide ; bounded N. by Washington, Morris co. ; E. by Bedminster, Somerset co .; S. by Readington ; and W. by Clinton and Lebanon. The northern part is mountainous ; the southern fertile, and well cultivated. It is drained by Rockaway river and its tributaries, and Lamington river, which forms its eastern boundary. There are in the township 9 stores, 4 grist-m., 5 saw-m. ; cap. in manu- fac. $7,450 ; 8 schools, 274 scholars. Pop. 1,944.
New Germantown is in the SE. part of the township, on the road from Somerville to Schooley's mountain, 14 miles NE. from Flemington, and 45 from Trenton. The village is on a slight ac- clivity descending to the N. It is built on several streets, at right- angles to each other. The surrounding country is hilly, and very productive of wheat and corn. Much lime is burnt and used in the vicinity ; and agriculture has, in consequence, much improved within the last 15 years. It contains 4 stores, a tannery, 1 wheelwright, 1 cabinet-maker, 2 blacksmiths, 2 saddlers, 3 shoe- makers, 1 cooper, 2 tailors, an academy, a Methodist and a Luther- an church, and 55 dwellings.
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MERCER COUNTY.
The annexed view was taken from Hyler's hill, a small eminence about 3 of a mile N. of the village. On the right is seen the acad- emy, the building with a spire. The large structure near the cen-
North View of New Germantown.
tre of the engraving is the Evangelical Lutheran church, which is built of stone, and plastered. It was first erected in 1750, and re- built in 1830. The Methodist church, a neat edifice, situated in the central part of the village, was erected about 18 years since. Pot- tersville, on Lamington river, in this township, near the angle of Hunterdon, Morris, and Somerset counties, contains a store, a foun- dry, a grist and fulling m., and 8 or 10 dwellings. There is an ex- tensive quarry of pudding-stone marble, near New Germantown, which admits of a splendid polish ; but the proprietors, instead of using it to "grace the column or capital," burn it into lime, and thereby polish and enrich their fields.
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