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 42
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Cranberry is partly in Monroe township. The village is princi- pally built on a single street, and contains 2 Presbyterian churches, 2 academies, 73 dwellings, and about 600 inhabitants. The annexed is a view of the First Presbyterian church and academy, at the southern termination of the village. There is also a neat Presby- terian church and an academy at the other end of the town. For- merly a Presbyterian church stood in the graveyard, but it was
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taken down many years since. A Baptist church, in olden times, stood in the village. The society now worship at Hightstown. Cranberry is one of the oldest places in this part of the state. It was settled about the year 1697, by Josiah Prickett, butcher, of
View of the Presbyterian Church and Academy, Cranberry.
Burlington. The following year he sold out to John Harrison of Flushing, Long Island. About 50 years since there were only 15 houses here, eight on the south and seven on the north side of Cran- berry brook. Just previous to the battle of Monmouth, the Ameri- can army passed through this place.
It was in the vicinity of Cranberry that David Brainerd, the pious and devoted missionary, labored for a while among the Indi- ans. Mr. Brainerd at first preached to the Indians in the woods, between Stockbridge and Albany, but without much apparent suc- cess. He then turned his attention to the Indians at the forks of the Delaware, and at Crossweeksung and Cranberry, where his la- bors were attended with remarkable success. "His life and diary among the Indians," says an eminent English divine, " exhibits a perfect pattern of the qualities which should distinguish the in- structor of rude and barbarous tribes ; the most invincible patience and self-denial, the profoundest humility, exquisite prudence, inde- fatigable industry, and such a devotedness to God, or rather such an absorption of the whole soul in zeal for the divine glory and salvation of men, as is scarcely paralleled since the age of the apostles." The following extracts from Brainerd's journal will show the effects which followed his preaching.
(Aug. 8th, 1744.) In the afternoon I preached to the Indians; their number was now about sixty-five persons, men, women, and children. I discoursed from Luke xiv 16-23, and was favored with uncommon freedom.
There was much concern among them while I was discoursing publicly ; but afterward, when I spoke to one and another more particularly, whom I perceived under concern, the power of God seemed to descend upon the assembly "like a rushing mighty wind," and with an astonishing energy bore down all before it.
I stood amazed at the influence that seized the audience almost universally, and could compare it to nothing more aptly than a mighty torrent, that bears down and sweeps be- fore it whatever is in its way. Almost all persons, of all ages, were bowed downed together
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and scarce one was able to withstand the shock of the surprising operation. Old men and women, who had been drunken wretches for many years, and some little children, not more than six or seven years of age, appeared in distress for their souls, as well as persons of middle age. And it was apparent these children were not merely frightened with seeing the general concern, but were made sensible of their danger, the badness of their hearts, and their misery without Christ. The most stubborn hearts were now obliged to bow. A principal man among the Indians, who before thought his state good, because he knew more than the generality of the Indians, and who with great confidence the day before told me " he had been a Christian more than ten years," was now brought under solemn concern for his soul, and wept bitterly. Another man, considerable in years, who had been a murderer, a powwaw, and a notorious drunkard, was likewise brought now to cry for mercy with many tears, and to complain much that he could be no more concerned when he saw his danger so great.
There were almost universally praying and crying for mercy in every part of the house, and many out of doors, and numbers could neither go nor stand ; their concern was so great, each for himself, that none seemed to take any notice of those about them, but each prayed for themselves ; and were, to their own apprehension, as much retired as if every one had been by himself in a desert, or, rather, they thought nothing about any but themselves, and so were every one praying apart, although all together.
It seemed to me there was an exact fulfilment of that prophecy, Zech. xii. 10, 12, for there was now " A great mourning, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon ;"-and each seemed to " mourn apart." Methought this had a near resemblance to the day of God's power, mentioned Josh. x. 14, for I must say, I never saw any day like it in all re- spects ; it was a day wherein the Lord did much destroy the kingdom of darkness among this people.
This concern was most rational and just: those who had been awakened any con- siderable time, complained especially of the badness of their hearts; those newly awakened, of the badness of their lives and actions; and all were afraid of the anger of God ; and of everlasting misery as the desert of their sins. Some of the white people, who came out of curiosity to "hear what this babbler would say" to the poor ignorant Indians, were much awakened, and appeared to be wounded with a view of their perish- ing state.
Those who had lately obtained relief, were filled with comfort ; they appeared calm, and rejoiced in Christ Jesus ; and some of them took their distressed friends by the hand, telling them of the goodness of Christ, and the comfort that is to be enjoyed in him, and invited them to come and give up their hearts to him. And I could observe some of them, in the most unaffected manner, lifting up their eyes to heaven, as if crying for mercy, while they saw the distress of the poor souls around them.
Aug. 9th. In the afternoon I discoursed to them publicly. There were now present about seventy persons. I opened and applied the parable of the sower, and was enabled to discourse with much plainness. There were many tears among them while I was dis- coursing, but no considerable cry : yet some were much affected with a few words spoken from Matt. xi. 29, with which I concluded. But while I was discoursing near night to two or three of the awakened persons, a divine influence seemed to attend what was spoken, which caused the persons to cry out in anguish of soul, although I spoke not a word of terror : but, on the contrary, set before them the fulness of Christ's merits, and his willingness to save all that came to him.
The cry of these was heard by others, who, though scattered before, immediately gathered round. I then proceeded in the same strain of gospel invitation, till they were all melted into tears and cries, except two or three; and seemed in the greatest distress to find and secure an interest in the great Redeemer. Some who had but little more than a ruffle made in their passions the day before, seemed now to be deeply affected, and the concern in general appeared near as prevalent as the day before. There was indeed a very great mourning among them, and yet every one seemed to mourn apart. For so great was their concern, that almost every one was praying and crying for himself, as if none had been near. Guttummaukalummeh guttummaukalummeh, i. e. " Have mercy upon me, have mercy upon me!" was the common cry.
It was very affecting to see the poor Indians, who the other day were yelling in their idolatrous feasts, now crying te God with such importunity, for an interest in his dear Son !
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MONROE.
Monroe was formed from South Amboy in 1838. It is about 8 miles long, 6 wide, and is bounded NE. by South Amboy ; SE. by Freehold, Monmouth co .; SW. by East Windsor, Mercer co., and NW. by North and South Brunswick. The surface is generally level, soil sandy, and in some parts covered with pine and oak. The Camden and Amboy railroad passes through the township. There are 8 stores, 1 paper factory, 4 grist-m., 18 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $109,900 ; 1 academy, 8 schools, 285 scholars. Pop. 2.453.
Spotswood, on the line of the railroad, 10 miles from South Am- boy, is supposed to have received its name from John Johnson, of Spotswood in Scotland, who early settled in the vicinity. There are in the village 3 stores, a grist and a saw mill, 2 churches, and 52 dwellings. The Episcopal church has long been established. The Reformed Dutch church was organized August 5th, 1821, and the Rev. John M'Clure, its first clergyman, was settled in the fall of 1822 ; left in the autumn of 1824. Rev. Henry L. Rice was settled September 24, 1825 ; left September 10th, 1834. Rev. John C. Van Liew was his successor, and left in January, 1842, when he was succeeded by its present pastor, the Rev. William R. S. Betts. Snuff and cigars are extensively manufactured in this village.
William Lyon, a continental soldier, died in this township in 1841. He served through- out the war of the revolution, and was in most of the actions in which the Jersey troops were engaged. About the time of the battle of Trenton, as he was marching with his feet bare and bloody, over the frozen ground, he took from a clothes-line, near a dwelling, a pair of stockings. The lady of the house came out to reproach him for the act. He answered her by simply pointing to his lacerated feet. Further argument was unneces- sary. She went back in tears. Washington saw him, and tapping him on the shoulder, said, " My brave boy, you deserve a better fate." " Ah !" replied the heroic soldier, " there is no danger of my feet freezing as long as the blood runs."
PISCATAWAY.
This township was incorporated in 1798. It is about 8 miles long, 6 broad, bounded N. by Westfield, Essex co .; E. by Wood- bridge ; S. by Raritan river, and westerly by Franklin, Bridgewater, and Warren, Somerset co. The township is supposed to have de- rived its name from Piscataqua, in Maine, a place from which some of the first settlers emigrated to this place, which at the first was called New Piscataqua. A ridge of high land runs quite across it east and west, dividing it into nearly equal parts, from which the land slopes in a gentle declivity north and south. The soil is most- ly red shale, which in some sections is covered with loam and gravel. The land is fertile, and agriculture is in a high state of progressive improvement. Pop. 2,828. There are in the township 7 stores, 5 grist-m., 3 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $30,850 ; 8 schools, 222 scholars.
New Market, (formerly Quibbletown,) a village of some 15 or 20 houses, is the post-town. Brooklin, Samptown, New Durham,
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Piscataway town, and Raritan Landing, are small villages.in the township. Piscataway town. containing about a dozen dwellings and a church, and situated 3 miles E. from New Brunswick and 1 from Raritan river, was an old Indian village, and was the seat of justice for the counties of Middlesex and Somerset as early as 1683, at which period the courts were held sometimes at this place and sometimes at Woodbridge. Raritan Landing is situated 2 miles above New Brunswick, and contains 25 or 30 dwellings, and seve- ral stores.' There is a bridge across the Raritan at this place.
The earliest authentic history of this township is gathered from the public records, which state " that the large tract on the east side of Raritan river, which comprises the towns of Piscataway, Eliza- beth, &c., was purchased from the Indians in 1663. The purcha- sers were John Bailey, Daniel Denton, Luke Watson, and others, who obtained a patent in 1664 from Gov. Nichols, who acted under the Duke of York." The names of the first settlers on record are, the Gillmans in 1663; the Blackshaws, Drakes, Hands, and Hen- dricks, in 1677 ; the Dotys and Wolfs in 1678 ; the Smalleys, Hulls, and Trotters, in 1679; the Hansworths, Martins, and Higgins, in 1680; the Dunhams, Laflowers, and Fitz Randolphs, in 1681; the Suttons, Brindleys, Bounds, and Fords, in 1682; the Davises and Slaughters, in 1683; the Pregmores, in 1684; the Grubs and Adamses, in 1685 ; the Chandlers and Smiths in 1687 ; the Mortons, Molesons, and McDaniels. in 1689. It is supposed that most of these persons were Baptists. The tradition is, however, that there were but six professed Baptists, viz: Hugh Dunn, who was an exhorter, John Drake, afterward their pastor. Nicholas Bonham, John Smal- ley, Edmond Dunham, afterward minister of the Seventh-day Baptists, and John Fitz Randolph. The above persons were consti- tuted a Baptist church in the spring of 1689, by the assistance of Rev. Thomas Killingsworth, who was then pastor of Middletown and Cohansey churches.
The first preachers in Piscataway were three lay brethren, of the Baptist persuasion, viz : Hugh Dunn, John Drake, and Edmond Dunham, who with three others were consti- tuted a Baptist church as mentioned above, being one of the oldest Baptist churches in the state. John Drake was ordained pastor of this church, and so remained till his death in 1739, when he was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Stelle, a native of New York, and of French extraction ; he died in 1759, and was succeeded by his son, Rev. Isaac Stelle. Mr. Stelle continued pastor till his death in 1781, and was succeeded by Rev. Reune Runyan in 1783, who continued pastor till his death in 1811. Rev. James McLaughlin became the next pastor of this church in 1812, and continued such till 1817. In the fall of 1818, Rev. Daniel Dodge was called to the pastorship, and continued till 1832, and in 1833 was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Daniel D. Lewis.
The Seventh-day Baptist church was formed by 17 persons who seceded from the Piscataway church in 1707, and signed a special covenant, and became a distinct so ciety. Rev. Edmond Dunham was their first pastor ; his son, Rev. Jonathan Dunham, was his successor ; Rev. Nathan Rogers was their next minister. This church, the only one of its denomination in the state for 30 years, is now respectable in numbers and wealth. Its present pastor is Rev. Walter B. Gillette ; a branch from it formed another church in the neighboring village of Plainfield in 1838. The Baptist church at Scotch Plains was formed of members of the Piscataway church in 1747, from which the Second Baptist church in Piscataway, known as the Samptown church, was formed in 1792. Their first pastor was Rev. Jacob Fitz Randolph, who was succeeded by Rev
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Lebbeus Lathrop. Mr. Lathrop was succeeded by their present minister, Rev. E. M. Barker. There is an Episcopal church in the township, which was established at a very early period. Their society is at present rather small and feeble, but through the liber- ality of an individual they have a neat and commodious house of worship. There is a small settlement of persons of the Dutch Reformed persuasion along the Raritan river, north of Raritan Landing, but they have as yet no church in the township. Nine tenths of the population are Baptists in sentiment.
WOODBRIDGE.
The extreme length of this township, E. and W., is about 10 miles ; breadth, N. and S., 9 miles. It is bounded N. by Rahway and Westfield, Essex co. ; E. by Staten Island sound ; SE. by Perth Amboy ; S. by Raritan river, and W. by Piscataway. The surface is level, and the soil fertile, and very productive in grass. The New Jersey railroad passes through the NW. portion of the town- ship. There are in the township 1 cotton-m., 1 academy, 43 students, 16 schools, 491 scholars. Pop. 4,821.
View in Woodbridge.
Matouchin, Uniontown, and Bonhamtown, the two first of which are on the line of the railroad, contain respectively a few dwell- ings. At Matouchin there is a Presbyterian church. The large and flourishing village of Rahway is on the N. boundary, partly in Essex county. Woodbridge was first settled by emigrants from England, who came over with Gov. Carteret in 1665. It occupied for many years a prominent place among the early settlements in East Jersey. "In 1668, the lands were portioned out to the differ- ent associates, and on June 1st, 1669, a charter was granted them which created a township, to consist of not less than sixty families, out of the tract, which was said to be six miles square."
The annexed is a view in the village of Woodbridge, which is 9 miles NE. of New Brunswick. On the left is seen the academy ; on the right the Presbyterian church, and in the distance Trinity church. There are also in the village, a Methodist church, 2 tav- erns, 4 stores, a grist and a saw m., an extensive pottery, and 50
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dwellings. The Presbyterian society was organized in 1707, and three churches have stood on the site of the present one. The Episcopal church has been organized more than a century, and the Methodist church within a few years. In the American revolution the Rev. Dr. Azel Roe, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was taken prisoner by the British in the night from the dwelling now occupied as the parsonage, and carried to Staten Island.
The annexed extracts from ancient newspapers relate to events which occurred in this vicinity in the war of the revolution :
Extract of a letter from an officer at Camp, dated Bonhamtown, April 15, 1777 .- A detachment under the command of Capt. Alexander Paterson, of the Pennsylvania 12th regiment, commanded by Col. Cook, attacked the piquet guard of the enemy at two o'clock this morning, about 400 yards from Bonhamtown, and after a short but obstinate engagement, the whole of the guard, 25 in number, were either killed or taken prisoners. Lieut. Frazier, of the 71st regiment, was killed on the spot. The enemy, though advan- tageously posted, did not attempt to support their guard, but retired with precipitation to their works. Our officers and soldiers behaved with the greatest coolness and courage on this occasion. Their conduct would do honor to the best-disciplined troops. We had Lieutenants M'Alharton and Reily, of Col. Cook's regiment, wounded, but not mor- tally.
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Extract from a letter dated Matouchin, April 22, 1777 .- The night before last a party of 16 men of 'Col. Cook's regiment, under the command of Lieut. M'Cabe, attacked a piquet guard at Bonhamtown, drove it in, killed one man, and wounded two, who were left on the field. The enemy were soon reinforced ; but our party kept up their fire, maintained their ground until daybreak, and then made a regular retreat. Last night another party, under the command of Lieut. Lodge, attacked the same piquet ; but the sentries being doubled, Lieut. M'Cabe was obliged to reinforce, which we soon accom- plished, and then we drove them,-with some small loss, it is thought, on their side. Our party sustained no damage, and, with only 32 men, we kept their troops in Bonham- town under arms all night.
Post, near Bonhamtown, May 11, 1777 .- I have the pleasure to inform you that yes- terday part of Gen. Stevens' division attacked the Royal Highlanders and six companies of light-infantry. It was a bold enterprise,-they being posted within two miles of Bonhamtown, and about the same distance from Brunswick. The action continued about an hour and a half. The continental troops behaved well, drove in the piquets at Bonhamtown, attacked and drove the Highlanders out of a wood they had taken pos- session of, near to Piscataqua town. The enemy were reinforced, but were again com- pelled to give way. They were reinforced a second time, when, upon due consideration of our situation with respect to the enemy's different posts, (of Brunswick, Raritan Land- ing, and Bonhamtown,) it was judged advisable to retire. The retreat was made in ex- cellent order, and our loss is inconsiderable. I congratulate you on this advantage ob- tained over the enemy's best troops. The Highlanders, obstinately brave, were too proud to surrender,-which cost many of them dear.
April 16th, 1777 .- From New Jersey we learn, that on or about the 20th ult. a young woman, passing an evacuated house in Woodbridge, saw. through the window, a drunk- en Hessian soldier, who had straggled from his party. There being no men within less than a mile of town, she went home, dressed in man's apparel, and, armed with an old firelock, returned to the house, entered it, and took the Hessian prisoner,-whom she soon stripped of his arms, and was leading him off, when she fell in with the patrole guard of a New Jersey regiment, stationed near Woodbridge, to whom she delivered her prisoner.
June 20, 1782 .- William Clarke, the noted horse-thief, is no more. He was shot, somewhere in the vicinity of Woodbridge, on one of his customary excursions. This man was an early refugee from Jersey, and has taken off, since the fall of 1776, upwards of one hundred valuable horses, from Monmouth, and other counties in the neighborhood of the enemy,-for which he found a ready sale in New York, and on Long Island. He had eluded the strictest vigilance of our guards and scouts for upwards of 5 years, although it is pretty certain that he has passed at least half that time within our lines. He was destroyed at last by a stratagem, said to be as follows : A letter was conveyed
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to him, as if from one of his confidents and accomplices in Sussex, signifying that if he came over at the time therein specified, he would find two excellent horses tied in a cer. tain field, which might be conveyed to Staten Island with very little trouble or risk. He accordingly came, and was instantly shot down by the persons who lay in wait for him.
Trenton, June 7, 1780 .- Thursday evening last a party of about 30 refugees, from New York, landed at Stony Point, on Raritan river, and from thence went to Wood- bridge, where they made Justice Freeman, Mr. Edgar, and six other white persons, and two negroes, prisoners, whom they carried off to New York.
ZEBULON MONTGOMERY PIKE was born at Lamberton, Mercer co., Jan. 5th, 1779. His parents were natives of Woodbridge, where their son spent his youth. His father was an officer in the army of the United States, and Zebulon, having received a cominon school education, entered as a cadet into a company under his father's command. in which he served on the western frontiers. He afterward received a lieutenant's com- mission. In 1805, he was employed with a party of 20 men to explore the Mississippi to its source, while Capts. Lewis and Clarke were sent on a similar expedition up the Missouri. Within two months after his return, he was selected by Gen. Wilkinson for a second perilous journey of hardship and exposure, in exploring the interior of the then called country of Louisiana. After leaving the Osage village, Pike and his men were overtaken by winter, unprovided with any clothing suitable for the season. Their horses died, and for weeks they were obliged to explore their way through the wilderness, car- rying packs of 60 or 70 pounds weight, besides their arms, exposed to the severity of cold, relying solely on the chase for subsistence, and often for two or three days without food. In the course of the expedition, the party visited Santa Fe, and on July Ist, 1807, arrived at Natchitoches. On his return, he received the thanks of the government, and was appointed captain, shortly after, a major, and, in 1810, a colonel of infantry. Dur- ing the intervals of his military duties, he prepared for the press a narrative of his two expeditions, which was published in 1810.
In the beginning of 1813, Col. Pike was appointed a brigadier-general. On the 25th of April, at the head of 1,500 choice troops, he sailed from Sackett's Harbor on an ex- pedition against York, the capital of Upper Canada. On the 27th, the whole force land- ed near York, and were led on by Gen. Pike in person against the British works. They advanced through the woods, and after carrying one battery by assault in the most gal- lant manner, moved on in columns towards the main work. The fire of the enemy was soon silenced by the fire of the American artillery, and a flag of surrender was expected, when a tremendous explosion suddenly took place from the British magazine, which had been previously prepared for this purpose. An immense quantity of large stones were thrown with terrible force in every direction, one of which struck Gen. Pike on the breast, and inflicted a mortal wound. The troops, recovering from their confusion, were instantly formed again ; and as a body of them passed by their wounded general, he said-" Push on, brave fellows, and avenge your general." While the surgeons were car- rying him out of the field, a tumultuous huzza was heard; Pike turned his head, with an anxious look of inquiry : he was told by a sergeant, " The British union-jack is com- ing down, general-the stars are going up !" He heaved a heavy sigh, and smiled. He was then carried on board the commodore's ship, where he lingered for a few hours. Just before he breathed his last, the British standard was brought to him ; he made a sign to have it placed under his head, and expired without a groan.
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