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 41
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Baptist Church .- This church was erected in 1810. Its first pastor was the Rev. James McLaughlin, who was succeeded by the Rev. John Johnson, in 1818. The Rev. G. S. Webbs was installed in 1821.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1811, and continued under the ministration of circuit preachers until 1819, since which time it has been successively under the pastoral care of the Rev. James Smith, Rev. Daniel Moore, Rev. Charles Pitman, Rev. Joseph Rushing, Rev. Samuel Doughty, Rev. Isaac Winner, Rev. George C. Cookman, and Rev. Pharaoh Ogden. On the 19th of June, 1835, their church, which was constructed of brick, was blown down by a tornado : a new one, built of wood, has since been erected. A Protestant Methodist, a Catholic, and an African church, have been erected within a few years.
The Hon. JAMES SCHUREMAN Was a prominent man in this vicinity in the war of the revolution. In the early part of the war he grad- uated at Queen's college. On a certain occasion the militia were called out to go against the enemy. Their captain made a speech, urging them to volunteer; but not one complied. Schureman, then in the ranks, stepped out, and after volunteering himself, addressed them so eloquently that a company was immediately formed, which went to Long Island, and was engaged in the battle there. In the course of the war Schureman and George Thomson were taken prisoners by a party of British horse, at what is now Bergen's mills, on Lawrence brook, 3 miles south of New Bruns- wick. They were confined a short time in the guard-house in this city, which stood near the Nelson mansion, where they were sup- plied with food by Mrs. Van Deusen. From thence they were car-
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ried to New York, and imprisoned in the sugar-house. Philip Kis- sack, a tory, pitying their suffering condition, furnished them with money, with which they purchased food, and kept themselves from starving. They bribed the guard to give them the privilege of the yard; and one night, having supplied them with liquor in which there was a quantity of laudanum, they dug through the wall and escaped to the upper part of the city, near where the old prison stood. There they got on board a small fishing-boat, and with a single oar paddled across the Hudson to Powles Hook, and from thence proceeded to Morristown, where they joined the American army. Schureman, in 1789, was elected a member of congress, in which station he served four years ; then he was appointed to the United States senate, and still later became mayor of New Bruns- wick.
WILLIAM PATERSON, governor of New Jersey, one of the most tal- ented men whose names appear in the annals of the state, was a resident of New Brunswick. "He graduated at Princeton, in 1763. He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitu- tion of the United States. He was a senator from New Jersey in the first congress. He was governor of New Jersey in 1790. He was afterward a judge of the United States supreme court. He died in 1806."
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When the British had possession of New Brunswick, the head- quarters of their commander, General Howe, was at the mansion in Bernard-st., now the residence of Abraham S. Nelson, Esq. Among the officers quartered upon the inhabitants was a sergeant named M'Nally, who resided with Mrs. William Van Deusen, the . mother of Staats Van Deusen, Esq. This officer having used abusive language towards this lady, she made complaint to the general, who immediately sent for M'Nally, sternly reprimanded him, and threatened, if he heard of any more like conduct from him, he should be sent home in irons.
The enemy frequently sent out foraging parties into the country, between whom and the inhabitants there was much skirmishing. For the defence of the place they erected three forts, simply em- bankments of sand. Two of them were on the hill in rear of Rutgers' college, the remains of one of which are still to be seen. The third was on the land of Wm. Van Deusen, Esq., just south of New-street.
The following is the British account of the evacuation of New Brunswick by their troops, in June, 1777, with the events of a few days previous, as given in an extract from a letter by Sir William Howe to Lord George Germain, which was published in the Lon- don Gazette.
Having established a corps sufficient for the defence of Amboy, the army assembled at Brunswick on the 12th of June. The enemy's principal force being encamped on the
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mountain above Quibbletown, with a corps of 2,000 men at Princeton, it was thought ad- visable to make a movement in two columns from Brunswick on the 14th, in the morn- ing, leaving Brigadier-general Matthew, with 2,000 men, to guard that post. The first division, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, advanced to Hillsborough, and the second to Middlebush, under the command of Lieutenant-general De Heister, with the view of drawing on an action if the enemy should remove from the mountain towards the Delaware ; but on finding their intention to keep a position which it would not have been prudent to attack, I determined without loss of time to pursue the principal objects of the campaign by withdrawing the army from Jersey ; and in consequence of this de- termination returned to the camp at Brunswick on the 19th, and marched from thence to Amboy on the 22d, intending to cross to Staten Island, from whence the embarkation was to take place.
Upon quitting the camp at Brunswick, the enemy brought a few troops forward with two or three pieces of cannon, which they fired at the utmost range without the least ex- ecution or any return from us. They also pushed some battalions into the woods to harass the rear, where Lord Cornwallis commanded, who soon dispersed them with the loss of only two men killed and thirteen wounded : the enemy having nine killed and about thirty wounded.
The necessary preparations being finished for crossing the troops to Staten Island, intel- ligence was received that the enemy had moved down from the mountain and taken post at Quibbletown, intending, as it was given out, to attack the rear of the army removing from Amboy ; that two corps had also advanced to their left,-one of 3,000 men and 8 pieces of cannon, under the command of Lord Stirling, Generals Maxwell and Conway, the last said to be a captain in the French service ;- the other corps consisted of about 700 men, with only one piece of cannon.
In this situation of the enemy, it was judged advisable to make a movement that might lead on to an attack, which was done the 26th, in the morning, in two columns ; the right, under the command of Lord Cornwallis and Major-general Grant, Brigadiers Matthew and Leslie, and Col. Donop, took the route by Woodbridge, towards Scotch Plains. The left column, where I was with Major-general Sterne, Vaughan, and Grey, and Brigadiers Cleveland and Agnew, marched by Metuchin meeting-house to join the rear of the right column, in the road from thence to Scotch Plains, intending to have ta- ken separate routes, about two miles after the junction, in order to have attacked the enemy's left flank at Quibbletown. Four battalions were detached in the morning, with six pieces of cannon, to take post at Bonhamtown.
The right column having fallen in with the aforementioned corps of 700 men soon af- ter passing Woodbridge, gave the alarm, by the firing that ensued, to their main army at Quibbletown, which retired to the mountain with the utmost precipitation. The small corps was closely pushed by the light troops, and with difficulty got off their piece of cannon.
Lord Cornwallis, soon after he was upon the road leading to Scotch Plains from Me- tuchin meeting-house, came up with the corps commanded by Lord Stirling, whom he found advantageously posted in a country covered with wood, and his artillery well dis- posed. The king's troops, vying with each other upon this occasion, pressed forward to such close action, that the enemy, though inclined to resist, could not long maintain their ground against so great impetuosity, but were dispersed on all sides, leaving 3 pieces of brass ordnance, 3 captains and 60 men killed, and upwards of 200 officers and men wounded and taken.
His lordship had 5 men killed and 30 wounded. Capt. Finch, of the light company of the guards, was the only officer who suffered, and to my great concern, the wound proving mortal, he died the 29th of June, at Amboy.
The troops engaged in this action were the Ist light-infantry, Ist British grenadiers, Ist, 2d, and 3d Hessian grenadiers, 1st battalion of guards, Hessian chasseurs, and the Queen's rangers. I take the liberty of particularizing these corps, as Lord Cornwallis, in his report to me, so highly extols their merit and ardor upon this attack. One piece of cannon was taken by the guards, the other two by Col. Mingerode's battalion of Hes- sian grenadiers.
The enemy was pursued as far as Westfield with little effect, the day proving so in- tensely hot that the soldiers could with difficulty continue their march thither ; in the mean time it gave opportunity for those flying to escape by skulking in the thick woods, until night favored their retreat to the mountain.
The army lay that night at Westfield, returned the next day to Rahway, and the day following to Amboy. On the 30th, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the troops began to cross over to Staten Island; and the rear-guard, under the command of Lord Corn- wallis, passed at 2 in the afternoon, without the least appearance of an enemy.
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The embarkation of the troops is proceeding with the utmost dispatch, and I sha. have the honor of sending your lordship further information as soon as the troops are landed at the place of their destination.
Capt. Adam Hyler and Capt. Marriner, the enterprising whale- boat privateers of' New Brunswick, cruised between Egg Harbor - and Staten Island, and annoyed the enemy so much that an armed force was sent to destroy their boats. They, however, built new ones, took several ships, and continued to levy their contributions on the New York fishermen, on the fishing banks. Marriner lived several years after the war, at Harlem. and is remembered as a facetious old gentleman. Hyler died at New Brunswick, in 1782. He was the most successful of the two. The following extracts, giving some of his adventures, evince boldness seldom equalled :
Oct. 7, 1781. On Friday last, Capt. Adam Hyler, from New Brunswick, with one gun- boat and two whale-boats, within a quarter of a mile of the guard-ship at Sandy Hook, attacked five vessels, and after a smart conflict of fifteen minutes carried them. Two of them were armed ; one mounting four six-pounders, and one six swivels and one three- pounder. The hands made their escape, with their long-boats, and took refuge in a small fort, in which were mounted twelve swivel-guns, from which they kept up a con- stant firing ; notwithstanding which he boarded them all, without the loss of a man. On board of one of them was 250 bushels of wheat, and a quantity of cheese, belonging to Capt. Lippencot, bound to New York. He took from them 50 bushels of wheat, a quantity of cheese, several swivels. a number of fusees, one cask of powder, and some dry-goods ; and stripped them of their sails and rigging-not being able to bring the vessels into port, in consequence of a contrary wind and tide. After which, he set all on fire, save one, on board of which was a woman and four small children, which pre- vented her from sharing a similar fate.
Oct. 15, 1781. On the 13th inst., Capt. Adam Hyler, of this place, with one gun-boat and two whale-boats, boarded one sloop and two schooners, which all the hands except two had previously left, and which lay under cover of the lighthouse-fort, at Sandy Hook, and brought them off ; but the sloop being such a dull sailer, and being much an- noyed from a galley lying near Staten Island, she was set on fire, about three miles from the fort. One of the schooners running aground, by accident, was stripped and left ; the other, a remarkably fine, fast-sailing, Virginia-built pilot-boat, mounted with one four. pounder, was brought, with two prisoners, to this place.
Extract of a Letter from New Jersey, June 19, 1782 .- The exertions of the cele- brated water-partisan, Capt. Hyler, have been a considerable annoyance to the wood- shallops, trading-vessels, and plundering parties of the enemy, about Sandy Hook, Long Island, and Staten Island, for several months past. You have heard that his attempt to take an eighteen-gun cutter was crowned with success. It was indeed a bold and hazardous attempt, considering how well provided she was against being boarded. He was, however, compelled to blow her up, after securing his prisoners, and a few articles on board. His surprising a captain of the guard, at the lighthouse, with all his men, a short time ago, was also a handsome affair, and gained him much credit. He has none but picked and tried men : the person who discovers the least symptom of fear or diffi- dence, be he who he will, is immediately turned on shore, and never suffered to enter again. In the next place, they are taught to be particularly expert at the oar, and to row with such silence and dexterity as not to be heard at the smallest distance, even though three or four boats be together, and go at the rate of twelve miles an hour.
Their captures are chiefly made by surprise, or stratagem ; and most of the crews that have hitherto been taken, by these boats, declare they never knew any thing of an enemy being at hand till they saw the pistol or cutlass at their throats.
There was a droll instance of this, some weeks ago. as one of the prisoners, a shrewd, sensible fellow, and late captain of one of the captured vessels, relates it himself. "I was on deck," said he, " with three or four men, in a very pleasant evening, with our sentinel fixed. Our vessel was at anchor, near Sandy Hook, and the Lion man-of-war
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about one quarter of a mile distant. It was calm and clear, and we were all admiring the beautiful and splendid appearance of the full moon, which was then three or four hours above the horizon. While we were thus attentively contemplating the serene lu- minary, we suddenly heard several pistols discharged into the cabin ; and turning around perceived, at our elbows, a number of armed people, fallen as it were from the clouds, who ordered us to ' surrender in a moment, or we were dead men" Upon this we were turned into the hold, and the hatches barred over us. The firing, however, had alarmed the man-of-war, who hailed us, and desired to know what was the matter. As we were not in a situation to answer, at least so far as to be heard, Capt. Hyler was kind enough to do it for us ; telling them, through the speaking-trumpet, that 'all was well !' After which, unfortunately for us, they made no further inquiry."
After the notorious refugee, Lippencot, had barbarously murdered Capt. Huddy, at Sandy Hook, Washington was very anxious to have the murderer secured. He had been demanded from the British general, and his surrender refused. Capt. Hyler was determined to take Lippencot. On inquiry, he found that he resided in a well-known house in Broad-st., New York. Dressed and equipped like a man-of-war press-gang, he left the Kills, with one boat, after dark, and arrived at Whitehall about nine o'clock. Here he left his boat in charge of three men, and then passed to the residence of Lippen- cot, where he inquired for him, and found he was absent, and gone to a cock-pit. Thus failing in his object, he returned to his boat, with his press-gang, and left White- hall ; but finding a sloop, lying at anchor, off the battery, from the West Indies, and laden with rum, he took her, cut her cable, set her sails, and with a northeast wind sailed to Elizabethtown Point ; and before daylight had landed from her and secured 40 hogs- heads of rum. He then burned the sloop, to prevent her recapture.
The following account of the mine near New Brunswick is from Morse's Gazetteer :
About the years 1748, 1749, 1750, several lumps of virgin copper, from 5 to 30 pounds weight, (in the whole upwards of 200 pounds,) were ploughed up, in a field belonging to Philip French, Esq., within a quarter of a mile of the town. This induced Mr. Elias Boudinot to take a lease of the land, of Mr. French, for 99 years, with a view to search for copper-ore. A company was formed, and about the year 1751 a shaft was com- menced, in the low ground, 300 yards from the river. The spot selected had been marked by a neighbor, who, passing it in the dark, had observed a flame rising from the ground, nearly as large as the body of a man. At about 15 feet, the miners struck a vein of blue stone, about two feet thick, between loose walls of red sandstone, covered with a sheet of pure copper, somewhat thicker than gold-leaf. . The stone was filled with grains of virgin copper, much like copper-filings ; and occasionally lumps of virgin cop- per, of from 5 to 30 pounds, were found in it. The vein was followed about 30 feet, when the accumulation of water exceeded the means of the company to remove it. A stamping-mill was erected, where, by reducing the ore to powder, and washing it, many tons of pure copper were obtained, and exported to England. Sheets of copper, of the thickness of two pennies, and three feet square, have been taken from between the rocks, within four feet of the surface, in several parts of the hill. At about 50 or 60 feet deep, a body of fine solid ore was struck, in the same vein, but between rocks of white flinty spar, which was soon worked out.
The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the graveyard of the Dutch Reformed church :
Here lies the body of J. H. Hardenbergh, D. D., late pastor of this church, who de- parted this life the 30th day of October, 1790, aged 52 years, - months, and - days. He was a zealous preacher of the gospel, and his life and conversation afforded, from his ear- liest days, to all who knew him, a bright example of real piety. He was a steady patriot, and in his public and private conduct he manifested himself to be the enemy of tyranny and oppression, the lover of freedom, and the friend of his country. He has gone to his Lord and Redeemer, in whose atonement he confidently trusted. He is gone to receive the fruits of his faithful labors, and the reward of a well-spent life. Reader, while you lament the loss to society and his friends, go walk in his virtuous footsteps; and when you have finished the work assigned you, you shall rest with him in eternal peace.
This monument is erected to the memory of Dinah Hardenbergh, relict of the Rev
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J. H. Hardenbergh, D. D., S. T. P. Of high attainments here in grace, now resting in glory-died the 26th day of March, 1807, aged 81 years.
Tell how she climb'd the everlasting hills, Surveying all the realms above ; Borne on a strong-wing'd faith, and on The fiery wheels of an immortal love.
Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of the Rev. John Schureman, D. D., professor of pastoral theology, ecclesiastical history, and church government, in the the- ological seminary of the Reformed Dutch church, at New Brunswick ; who, while en- gaged in a course of active and highly useful labors, enjoying the confidence of the churches, and the affections of his brethren, departed this life, May 15th, 1818, in the 40th year of his age.
זכר צדיק לברכה *
The Reverend Mr. Elias Van Bunschoten was born Oct. 26th, 1738, graduated A. B. 1768, licensed to preach 1773, and settled in the ministry first at Shagticoke, afterward at Minisink. He died Jan. 10th, 1815. Established in the truth, and ardent in its de- fence, from his youth to his old age he persevered in a good profession of faith. and in a holy and exemplary life. In the ministry of the gospel he was faithful, and diligently employed his talents in the service of his divine Redeemer. His zeal to promote the in- terests of the church of Christ prompted him to make a very liberal donation to the support of indigent students, and the benefit of the theological college at New Bruns- wick. To perpetuate the memory of this venerable and charitable man, and to express their gratitude, the Right Revd. Genl. SYNOD of the Reformed Dutch church have erect- ed, at the public expense, this MONUMENT.
“Εκ δούλε άγαθέ καϊ πισέ.+
Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John H. Livingston, D. D., S. T. P. Born at Poughkeepsie, state of New York, May 30th, 1746; educated for the ministry at the University of Utrecht, in Holland; called to the pastoral office of the Reformed Dutch church, in New York, 1770 ; appointed by the general synod of the Reformed Dutch church in America their professor in didactic and polemic theology, in 1781, and elected to the presidency of Queen's college, New Jersey, in 1810. There, in performance of the duties of his office, and blessed in the enjoyment of mental energy, high reputation, and distinguished usefulness, he suddenly but sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, Jan. 20th, 1825, in the 79th year of his age, the 55th of his ministry, and the 41st of his profes. sional labors. In him, with dignified appearance, extensive erudition, almost unrivalled talents, as a sacred orator and professor, were blended manners polished, candid, and attractive, all ennobled by that entire devotion to his Saviour which became such a servant to yield to such a Master. In token of their gratitude for his services and veneration for his memory, the general synod have ordered this monumental stone to be erected.
To the memory of the Rev. John De Witt, D. D., professor of sacred literature and biblical criticism, in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch church, and of logic and belles-lettres in Rutgers' college, who, after discharging the duties of a Chris- tian pastor, with much zeal and success, during several years at Albany, entered, Sept. 1823, upon his professional labors, which he executed with distinguished ability, and died October 11th, A. D. 1831, aged 41 years and 10 months. This monument is designed to express their high regard for the deceased. Ah ! nimium citus excessit !
To the memory of the Rev. Selah S. Woodhull, D. D., professor of ecclesiastical his- tory, church government and pastoral theology, in the Theological Seminary of the Re- formed Dutch church, and of metaphysics and philosophy of the human mind, in Rutgers' College. For 19 years, he was the acceptable pastor of the Reformed Dutch church in Brooklyn. November 14th, 1825, he entered upon his professional labors, and died the following February, on the 27th day of the month, in the 40th year of his age-respected for his learning, piety, industry, and zeal. His sudden removal from these important sta- tions is deeply lamented .- [ Erected by the general Synod.]
* The memory of the just is blessed. t Well done! good and faithful servant.
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The following inscriptions are from the Episcopal graveyard :
Brigadier Anthony Walton White, who departed this life on the 10th of February, 1803, in the 53d year of his age, rests beneath this monumental stone. He was an affectionate husband, a tender parent, a sincere and generous friend, a zealous and inflexible patriot, and a faithful, active, and gallant officer, in the army of the United States dur- ing the revolutionary war.
In memory of Edward Carroll, M. D., who departed this life 1840, ÆE. 73. Formerly of the island of Jamaica, but for many years a highly respected inhabitant of this town. He was a physician, alike eminent for the Christian graces and virtues that adorned his life, and for the medical skill and science that ranked him high in his profession. The loveliness and purity of his character secured to him the esteem of all, and the friend- ship of many.
" Rich in love And sweet humanity, he was himself, To the degree that he desired, beloved."
SOUTH BRUNSWICK.
South Brunswick is about 8 miles long, 7 broad, and is bounded NE. by North Brunswick; SE. by Monroe; SW. by East and West Windsor, Mercer co .; and NW. by Franklin, Somerset co. The township contains 8 stores, 4 grist-m., 5 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $30,850 ; 12 schools, 360 scholars. Pop. 2,797. In the N. part are some noted sandhills, covering a space of several miles. The vil- lage of Kingston is near the NE. corner of the township, at the inter- section of the Delaware and Raritan canal with the New York and Philadelphia turnpike, and on the line of Somerset co., 3 miles NE. of Princeton. It contains 2 taverns, 4 stores, a grist and saw mill, an academy, a Presbyterian church, and about 35 dwellings. Be- fore the construction of railroads in the state, this was the great thoroughfare between New York and the South. It is stated by Gordon, that forty-nine stages, loaded with about 400 passengers, have halted here at the same time, in front of Withington's inn. Directly opposite this inn stood, in olden times, Vantilburgh's tav- ern, long known as the favorite stopping-place of Washington, and the governors of New Jersey, in passing from the eastern towns to the state capital. It was at this village that Washington, with the American troops, eluded the British, on the day of the battle of Princeton, by filing off to the left at the church, down the narrow road leading to Rocky-hill, while the enemy in pursuit, supposing he had gone to New Brunswick to destroy their winter stores, kept on the main road. Cross-roads contains 2 taverns, 2 stores, and about 15 dwellings. Plainsborough has a store, tavern, a grist-m., and a few dwellings.
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