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 59
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features of his face, his deep-set and piercing eye, and his lofty and expand- ed brow, indicated a marked character. His voice, though not highly cul- tivated, possessed great compass and power, and seemed especially adapted to give expression to the impassioned earnestness which formed one of the most striking features of his oratory. His method of argument possessed the same direct and forcible character which marked his appearance and manner. His conceptions were always clear and distinct ; he saw his sub- jects under a strong light, and he seldom failed to place them in the same light before others. The clearness of his mental vision, and the sincerity and depth of his convictions, manifested by the distinct statement and lucid order of his arguments, and aided by the simple earnestness of his manner, gave him always great power over his audience, and placed him in the highest rank of our public speakers. He possessed that warm and suscep- tible temperament, which is the natural soil of strong passions, but he was capable beyond most men of exercising self-control under the most trying circumstances. The following incident directed his attention, early in life, to the importance of subduing the temper and holding it under subjection to the decisions of reason. When about eleven years of age his mother struck him for some impropriety of conduct ; he became enraged, and left his home with the intention never to return. He had not proceeded far before he be- gan to reflect upon the rashness and wickedness of his conduct, and, seating himself by the way-side, he wept long and bitterly, and rose up to return home, beg his mother's forgiveness, and promise her that his temper should never again become his master. How well he kept this way-side vow they can testify who saw him amid the trying scenes of heated political warfare, and under the still more trying inflictions of private wrong and injury. Ifis warmth of manner, even when he was most impassioned, seemed to be no more than the fitting expression of what was due to the subject or the occa- sion. He carried with him the air of a sincere and earnest man, with a mind devoted to great objects, and endowed with uncommon power to dis- cern right ends, and the best methods of attaining them. His reputation is a rich, an invaluable legacy to his native state ; her citizens will benefit themselves by remembering him who in his life-time was known as New Jersey's " favorite son."
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BRIDGEWATER.
Bridgewater is bounded N. by Bedminster and Bernard, NE. by Warren, SE. by Piscataway, Middlesex county, S. by Raritan river, separating it from Franklin and Hillsborough, and SW. by Read- ington, Hunterdon co; greatest length 13, breadth 11 miles; sur- face on the NE. mountainous, soil fertile. There are in the town- ship 16 stores, 3 woollen fac., 5 tanneries, 5 grist-m., 2 saw-m ; cap. in manufac. $69,050. Pop. 3,983.
Somerville, the county-seat, is pleasantly situated in the valley of the Raritan, about a mile N. of that stream, on the New Brunswick and Easton turnpike, 10 miles from the former, and 28 NE. of Tren- ton. This village is principally built on a single street, running in an easterly direction. The annexed view was taken on the line of the railroad, near the depot, and shows the prominent public build-
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ings. On the extreme right, the building with a cupola is the court- house ; the one next with a spire is the First Reformed Dutch church, both of which structures are brick. The Methodist church is seen in the background immediately to the left of the large pri-
Southern View in Somerville.
vate dwelling, near the centre of the engraving; and the 2d Re- formed Dutch church is shown on the extreme left. There are also here an academy, the county jail, 2 newspaper printing-offices, 3 hotels, 9 mercantile stores, several mechanical and manufacturing establishments, and about 1,500 inhabitants. The village is flour- ishing, handsomely built, and bears evidence of refinement and taste. The railroad from Elizabeth Port to the Delaware river has been constructed as far as this place, a distance of 24 miles, and is much travelled in the summer by visitors to the Schooley's mountain · spring.
In 1840, a very liberal charter for a company was granted by the legislature, for the purpose of bringing into use the water-power of the Raritan, at a spot situated near Somerville. The company was incorporated under the name of "The Somerville Water Power Company," with a capital of $200,000, and a right to increase it one half. The company have now so far accomplished their enter- prise as to be prepared for leasing water-rights. A canal or race- way has been completed, and the water let in and ready for use. A village plot has been laid out, and several mills already erected. "From the liberal inducements offered by the company, the amount of water-power, and its favorable situation for market, this spot may become at no distant period a thriving manufacturing village. The Hon. Garret D. Wall is its President.
The village of Somerville is of modern date. In the American. revolution a tavern was kept on the site of the Somerville House. After the burning of the courthouse at Millstone, Oct., 1779, by the British, this place was made the county-seat, and about the year 1784 a courthouse and jail were built of logs. The former stood about twelve rods east of the present courthouse, and the latter on the site of the lower tavern. There were then but three or four
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dwellings here. In 1798, the present courthouse was erected. Up to 1809 or '10, the place was called Raritan. From that period it has borne its present name, and has rapidly increased from a mere hamlet to a thriving village.
The following facts relating to the early history of this region, and of the oldest church in this vicinity, are derived from a discourse delivered by the Rev. Abraham Messler, July 21, 1832, at the lay- . ing of the corner-stone of the Reformed Dutch church of Raritan.
It is supposed that the first settlements along the Raritan were made between the years 1664 and 1670, a short time after the set- tlement of Elizabethtown, which was the first place settled by the English in East Jersey. These settlers were probably Dutch and · French Protestants or Huguenots, who first emigrated to Long Island, and thence, allured by the beauty and fertility of the valleys of the Raritan and Millstone, to what was then an unbroken wilderness, inhabited by the Naraticongs, a powerful tribe of Indians who principally dwelt on the north side of the Raritan.
The church of Raritan, (supposed to be one of the oldest religious societies in this sec. tion of the state) was organized March 9th, 1690, by the Rev. Mr. Bartholf, who, on the preceding day, preached, administered the sacrament, and baptized three children. These services were held previous to the erection of any place of worship. It is supposed that the first church in this district was built on the rise of ground a little beyond the junc. tion of the North and South branches of the Raritan. That church appears to have been called North Branch in the records, and was for a long time under the same pastor with Raritan and Millstone.
The first house dedicated within the bounds of the present congregation is believed to have been built about the year 1730, or perhaps earlier, on the banks of the Raritan, a short distance below the residence of the late Michael Van Veghten, which was their place of worship for nearly half a century. From its organization until 1720, the church was only occasionally supplied with ministerial services. In the beginning of 1720 the Rev. Theodorus J. Frclinghuysen came from Holland, and it is inferred that the churches of Millstone and North Branch were then in existence, and constituted with this the charge of this pastor.
He is said to have been " a great blessing to the Reformed Dutch church of America. He was an able, evangelical, and eminently successful preacher. He Icft five sons, who were all ministers, and two daughters married to ministers." He continued pastor about twenty-seven years.
In 1747 a call from the congregations of Raritan, North Branch, and Millstone was sent to the classis of Amsterdam for approval on the Rev. John Frelinghuysen, a son of the above. This call was approved, and having been ordained in Holland, he landed in Amcrica in 1750, and assumed the pastoral charge. The ministry of this zealous and gifted man was of short duration. He died in 1753, at the age of 25 years. In October, 1758, the Rev. Jacob R. Hardenburgh, a your, man just finishing his studies, was install- ed over the five congregations of Raritan, North Branch, Millstone, New Shannack, and Bedminster. In this extensive and laborious charge he continued until Oct., 1761, when Millstone and New Shannack called the Rev. John M. Van Harlingen, and Mr. Harden- burgh retained the remainder.
In the year 1779 a British troop of horse, under Col. Simcoe, wantonly burnt the church, leaving the congregation in a state of destitution until 1784, when they united with the frechorders of the county and built the old courthouse. They contributed half the expense, on condition of using it for religious worship.
During the time they were without a place of worship, it is understood that Mr. Har- denburgh preached in what was called the Court Martial House, a small building which stood.on the rise of ground along the turnpike, below the village, and is now called Mt. Pleasant. It was subsequently moved to the spot now (July, 1832) occupied by the house and store of Judge Gaston, and was then used for a court-room and church.
In 1781, Mr. Hardenburgh accepted a call from the churches of Mombaccus and Hur- ley, N. Y., and from thence afterward became President of Rutgers' College, where he
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died in 1792. He was regarded as one of the fathers of the Dutch church in America. July 4, 1784, the Rev. Theodorus Frelinghuysen Romeyn was installed pastor over the churches of Bedminster and Raritan. He preached half the time in Dutch and half in English, which was the beginning of English preaching in these congregations. He died the following year, and was succeeded in the same congregations by the Rev. John Dur- yea. In 1788, the house which was rebuilt in 1832 was erected under the superintend- ence of Andrew Ten Eyck as manager, and Messrs. Rynier Veghte, Abraham Van Nest, Peter D. Vrooin, John Hardenburgh, Robert Bolmer, and Jacobus Winterstein, as a com- mittee. In 1789, the consistory resolved that from henceforth their transactions should be recorded in the English language. All the previous records were in Dutch. In 1798, the Rev. John Duryea removed to the pastoral charge of the church in Fairfield, and the congregation remained without a pastor until 1809, when the Rev. John S. Vreden- burgh became the pastor of the Raritan church alone, and remained until his death in Oct., 1821. From 1826 to Aug. 5th, 1831, Rev. Richard D. Van Kleek was settled over the congregation. In 1832 the Rev. Abraham Messler took the pastoral charge.
The Methodist church was built in 1832. The 2d Reformed Dutch church was dedicated in 1834. Its first pastor was the Rev. Chas. Whitehead. The Rev. Talbot W. Chambers was settled in Dec., 1839.
About two miles SW. of Somerville, on the old York road, stands an antiquated stone mansion over a century old, now the property of Ferdinand Van Derveer, Esq. ; once owned and occupied by the Hon. William Paterson, deceased. He was a friend of Aaron Burr, who, when a student at Princeton, part of the time made his home here, and after graduating, pursued his studies in the old mansion. Here the late venerated Stephen Van Rensselaer of Albany found his accomplished lady, a daughter of Judge Paterson.
In a wild and romantic ravine in the mountains, about four miles from the courthouse, is a noted rock called " Chimney Rock." It is a singular, pyramidal-shaped stone, fifteen or twenty feet high, on the summit of a bold and nearly perpendicular ledge, over a hundred feet in height. Its base is laved by a mountain stream, flowing through the dell,
" With woods o'erhung, and shagged with mossy rocks, Whence, on each hand, the gushing waters play, And down a rough cascade white dashing fall."
At the base of the mountain, two miles N. of Somerville, is the Bridgewater copper-mine, now closed, but once wrought with con- siderable spirit, though unprofitably. "The ore," says Prof. Rogers in his Geological Report, " is usually very rich, being characterized by the large proportion of massive red oxyde which it contains. There has also been found a good deal of native copper, and also the green carbonate and green phosphate, together with a minute quantity of native silver."
The annexed inscriptions are copied from monuments in the graveyard at Somerville :-
Sacred to the memory of GEN. JOHN FRELINGHUYSEN, who died on the 10th day of April, A. D. 1833, in the 58th year of his age. A life of active usefulness and humble piety was distinguished by the affectionate esteem of his fellow-citizens. His native county often bestowed upon him the public tributes of its confidence. Religion was with him a matter of pervading principle. He felt it to be his great business, and whe- ther in the halls of legislation, amid the cares of official duty, or at his own domestic altar, in all his ways he sought to acknowledge GOD, and show forth the praises of his Redeemer. Long will the grateful recollection of his kindness be cherished by the sons
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and daughters of affliction. His heart and hand were always open to their claims. To his bereaved widow and children remain the rich consolations of his exemplary life, and the precious assurance that for him to die was gain.
This monument is erected by the Raritan congregation in memory of their three de- ceased pastors, whose remains are here deposited.
REV. JOHN FRELINGHUYSEN. The first pastor and missionary in this their then wil- derness Zion, departed this life about 1754, aged 25 years : amiable in disposition, pious in character, zealous in the work of his Master, successful in gaining friends and win- ning souls, much beloved, much lamented.
REV. THEODORUS FRELINGHUYSEN ROMEYN. Departed this life in August, 1785, aged 25 years. A short but faithful ministry. Mysterious Providence! that one so useful, so filled with love to God and man, should so early be taken. It is the Lord.
REV. JOHN S. VREDENBURGH, departed this life Oct. 4, 1821, aged 45 years, 6 months, and 13 days. He was prudent, amiable, and devoted to the service of God. He labored successfully in the Gospel ministry 21 years, sowing much seed, and watering it with his tears. His work being finished, the Lord of the harvest came and gathered in many souls which will appear as crowns of his rejoicing in the last day. What I do, thou knowest not now. But thou shalt know hereafter.
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Southern View of Bound Brook.
North Branch and Bound Brook are also villages in this town- ship. The former is situated 4 miles NW. of Somerville, on the road to Easton, and on the north branch of the Raritan. There are there 2 stores, a mill, tannery, several mechanics, about 20 dwellings, and a handsome Reformed Dutch church. As appears from their own records, this religious society was organized as early as 1719. Formerly this church was intimately connected with the one at Somerville. The first record of an election, for elders and deacons, is in 1751. They were John Van Nest, Peter Montfort, elders ; and Abraham Dumont, deacon.
The village of Bound Brook is on the line of the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, and the New Brunswick and Easton turn- pike, 4 miles east of the county seat. It derives its name from the brook which runs just east of the place, and forms the bounda-
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ry line between Somerset and Middlesex counties. The village is about a mile in length, and the upper part is called Middlebrook. The above view was taken from the residence of Mr. John Staats, on the southern bank of the Delaware and Raritan canal and Raritan river, which last is crossed by a substantial wooden bridge, a few rods to the right of where the drawing was taken. The lower part of the village only is shown. On the right is seen the Presbyterian church, a neat wooden structure. There are here a Presbyterian church, an academy, 10 stores, several mechanics, 2 grist-m., 2 tanneries, 1 apothecary, 1 hay-press, 2 lumber-yards, 2 coal-yards, 4 taverns, 80 dwellings, 90 families, and 566 inhabit- ants. This is a thriving place, and at certain seasons a very large business is done in the purchase of grain, as uncommon facilities are furnished for freighting to New York, either by the canal or railroad.
Bound Brook has been settled over 150 years. It is alluded to in Smith's History, published in 1765, as then being a village. The Presbyterian church has been organized more than a century. The first clergyman was the Rev. Israel Read. At what time he was settled is not known. He died Nov. 28th, 1793. The Rev. David Barclay was ordained Dec. 3d, 1794, and dismissed in April, 1805. The Rev. Selah Strong Wood- hull was ordained Dec:, 1805, and dismissed Nov. 25, 1806. Mr. W. was afterward settled over the Dutch church at Brooklyn, L. I., and was transferred to New Bruns- wick, and became a professor in the Theological Seminary of the Dutch church. The Rev. James Patterson was ordained Aug. 9, 1809, and dismissed Oct. 20, 1813. He went to Philadelphia, and was settled over the First Presbyterian church, Northern Lib- erties, where he died. The Rev. William A. McDowell was ordained April 6, 1814; dismissed the succeeding October ; went to Morristown, and is now secretary of the board of missions of the Presbyterian church. The Rev. John Boggs was installed Jan. 6, 1816 ; dismissed Feb. 5, 1828. The present pastor, the Rev. R. K. Rodgers, was in- stalled in the pastoral office May 5th, 1830. The present church was erected in 1829, the former having been taken down. The old church was built about the year 1760.
In the winter of 1778-79. a portion of the revolutionary army was barracked in this vicinity. The head-quarters of Washing- ton were at Middlebrook. We here make two extracts from Thatcher's Military Journal ; the first relating to the manner of living among the troops, the last giving an account of a military execution.
February. Having continued to live under cover of canvass tents most of the win- ter, we have suffered extremely from exposure to colds and storms. Our soldiers have been employed six or eight weeks in constructing log-huts, which at length are com- pletcd ; and both officers and soldiers are now under comfortable covering for the re- mainder of the winter. Log-houses are constructed with the trunks of trees, cut into various lengthis, according to the size intended ; and are firmly connected by notches cut at their extremities, in the manner of dovetailing. The vacancies between the logs are filled in with plastering, consisting of mud and clay. The roof is formed of similar pieces of timber, and covered with hewn slabs. The chimney, situated at one end of the house, is made of similar but smaller timbers ; and both the inner and the outer side are covered with clay plaster, to defend the wood against the fire. The door and win- dows are formed by sawing away a part of the logs, of a proper size, and niove on wooden hinges. In this manner have our soldiers, without nails, and almost without tools, except the axe and saw, provided for their officers and for themselves convenient and comfortable quarters, with little or no expense to the public. The huts are arranged in straight lines, forming a regular, uniform, compact village. The officers' huts are situated in front of the line, according to their rank-the kitchens in the rear ; and the whole is similar in form to a tent encampment. The ground, for a considerable dis-
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tance, in front of the soldiers' line of huts, is cleared of wood, stumps, and rubbish ; and is every morning swept clean, for the purpose of a parade-ground, and roll-call of the respective regiments. The officers' huts are in general divided into two apartments, and are occupied by three or four officers, who compose one mess. Those for the sol- diers have but one room, and contain ten or twelve men, with their cabins placed one above another, against the walls, and filled with straw, and one blanket for each man. I now occupy a hut with our field-officers, Col. Gibson, Lieut. Col. Brent, and Maj. Meriweather.
April 20th. Five soldiers were conducted to the gallows, according to their sentence, for the crimes of desertion and robbing the inhabitants. A detachment of troops, and a concourse of people, formed a circle round the gallows ; and the criminals were brought in a cart, sitting on their coffins, and halters about their necks. While in this awful situation, trembling on the verge of eternity, three of them received a pardon from the commander-in-chief, who is always tenderly disposed to spare the lives of his soldiers. They acknowledged the justice of their sentence, and expressed their warmest thankful- ness and gratitude for their merciful pardon. The two others were obliged to submit to their fate. One of them was accompanied to the fatal spot by an affectionate and sym- pathizing brother, which rendered the scene uncommonly distressing, and forced tears of compassion from the eyes of numerous spectators. They repeatedly embraced and kissed each other, with all the fervor of brotherly love, and would not be separated till the executioner was obliged to perform his duty; when, with a flood of tears, and mournful lamentations, they bade each other an eternal adieu-the criminal trembling under the horrors of an untimely and disgraceful death, and the brother overwhelmed with sorrow and anguish for one whom he held most dear
FRANKLIN.
This township is about 14 miles long, with an average breadth of 4 miles, and is bounded NE. by Piscataway, (Middlesex co.,) SE. by North and South Brunswick, (Middlesex co.,) NW. by Bridgewater, W. by Hillsborough, Montgomery, and Princeton, (Mercer co.) The Raritan river runs on its N. and NE. line, and the Millstone river on its western. The Delaware and Raritan canal follows the valleys of those streams, within the township. Its soil is fertile, and surface undulating, excepting in the southern part, which is hilly. There are, within the limits of Franklin, 14 stores, 5 lumber-yards, 2 fulling-m., 2 tanneries, 2 grist, 3 saw m .; cap. in manufac. $78,400 ; Rutgers' college, 1 academy, 11 schools 275 scholars. Pop. 3,878.
The city of New Brunswick is partly in this township, compris- ing all that portion north of Albany-st., embracing the railroad depot, college buildings, &c. Kingston is on its south, and Six Mile Run village on its southeast boundary. Middlebush is a small settlement, in the central part. Griggstown is a small set- tlement in the southwest part, on the line of the Delaware and Raritan canal, where there are about a dozen dwellings. About a quarter of a mile south of it, in a ridge of trap-rock, is the Franklin copper-mine, formerly extensively worked; one of the shafts having been sunk 190 feet. It is now in a dilapidated state.
HILLSBOROUGH.
This township is about 12 m. long, 5 wide ; and is bounded N. by Raritan river, separating it from Bridgewater, S. by Mont-
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gomery, E. by Millstone river, dividing it from Franklin, and W. by Amwell, Hunterdon co. Its soil is fertile, and surface level or un- dulating, excepting on the SW., where the Rock or Nashanic mountain extends over a considerable portion of its territory. There are in Hillsborough 9 stores, 1 tannery, 1 pottery, 1 flouring- m., 6 grist-m., 5 saw-m., 1 oil-m .; cap. in manufac. $22,100; 10 schools, 256 scholars. Pop. 2,863.
Weston, Flaggtown, Blackwells, South Branch, and New Shan- nack, contain respectively a few dwellings, and the latter a Re- formed Dutch church, which has been in existence about a century. Millstone, 6 m. S. of Somerville, is situated on the W. bank of the river of the same name, in the immediate vicinity of the Delaware and Raritan canal. It is a place of considerable business, and large quantities of grain are bought and stored here. There are 4 stores, 3 taverns, several mechanics, 3 storehouses for grain, an extensive lumber-yard, an academy, a Reformed Dutch church, and about 45 dwellings. The church, built in 1828 on the site of a for- mer one, is a handsome edifice of wood. painted white, with a spire, and partially surrounded by a grove of towering Lombardy poplars. Millstone was early settled, and it is supposed that the church was founded as early as 1720. It was, with that of North Branch and Raritan, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Theodorus J. Fre linghuysen. The oldest record existing of an election for elders and deacons, is for the year 1751 : they were Simon Van Arsdale, L. Dorlant, John Wyckoff, elders; Isaac Van Nuyse, Jacob Van Arsdalen, and William Williamson.
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