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 63
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The first mill built in the county was erected in this place many years before the revolution. It was a grist-mill constructed of logs. In olden times an Indian war-path leading to the Minisink settle- ments passed through the SW. part of the village, by what is called the Indian Spring, and through the Indian Field, where flints and other relics are occasionally found. When Washington with his
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army left Morristown for Newburg their route lay through this vii lage. On the road between here and Newton, on the farm of Mr. William English, is the grave of a soldier who died on the march.
In the summer of 1842 there died in this vicinity an eccentric negro man, called Col. Joe, at the advanced age of 113 years. Some thirty or forty years since the colored people were accus- tomed to annually assemble from 40 or 50 miles around, generally on the 4th of July, on the banks of the Delaware, to the number of two or three hundred, and have military parades. The colonel, being a leading man among them, and having served in the French and revolutionary wars, was generally appointed commander ; an office he filled with due military pomp and dignity. In the evening, after the parade, the females would join, and a general dance and frolic close the festivities of the day. The colonel had been a slave, but at the time of his death was free. He was a character of con- siderable notoriety, had an uncommon talent for relating stories, and as his life was one of varied incident, his biography would doubtless furnish an amusing if not instructive chapter.
Andover, 6 miles S. of Newton, contains a store, grist-mill, a Baptist church, and a few dwellings.
, SANDISTON.
The average length of this township is about 7 miles, breadth 6 miles ; bounded NE. by Montague; SE. by Wantage, Frankford, and Newton ; SW. by Walpack, and W. by the Delaware. There are in Sandiston, 9 schools, 279 scholars. Pop. 1209.
The Blue mountain runs through the eastern part; the other portions of the township are generally level and fertile. The two main branches of the Flatkill enter the township on the north, and unite near the southern boundary. Dingman's bridge crosses the Delaware from this township. Peter's Valley in the western part, 14 miles NW. of Newton, is a thriving village, containing a Method- ist church and 15 or 20 dwellings.
STILLWATER.
Stillwater was formed from Hardwick, Warren co., in 1824. It is 7 miles long, with an average width of 5 miles ; bounded NE. by Newton, SE. by Green, SW. by Hardwick, Warren co., and NW. by Walpack. There are in the township, 3 stores, 4 grist-m., and 3 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $32,675; 12 schools, and 300 scholars. Pop. 1476.
The surface is generally hilly, and the Blue mountain runs on the NW. boundary. New Paterson, on Swartwout's Pond, 5 miles W. of Newton, is a small but thriving village which has sprung into existence within a few years. It contains a store, an extensive
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tannery, 2 saw-mills, and about 20 dwellings. Stillwater, 7 miles SW. of Newton, on the Paulinskill, contains 2 stores, a large grist- mill, an academy, a Presbyterian church, and about 20 dwellings.
Swartwout's Pond,* a beautiful sheet of water, near the NE. boundary of the township, is about 3 miles long, and 1 broad. It derives its name from a man by the name of Swartwout, who in the time of the French and Indian war lived close to the northerly edge of the pond, in what is now a rich and beautiful plain, just south of the village of New Paterson. Swartwout was an officer in the British colonial service, and by reason of his active service- against the French and their Indian allies, drew upon himself the vengeance of the latter.
At that time only a few dwellings (log-houses) were to be found in the township of Stillwater ; and perhaps none, exceedingly few at any rate, in Newton, and the other townships of Sussex county, excepting Sandiston or Montague, and even there it was not populous. A few families had recently settled in Stillwater, the Hunt, Harker, and Shafer-possibly a few others in the neighborhood-but almost strictly speaking, this county was a wilder- ness.
One of the Hunt family, and the head of the Harker family, father of Mr. Samuel Harker, who still lives on or near the old homestead, and who is quite a sensible old man, had gained the particular ill-will of the Indians for taking strong ground against them. It appears that a party of Indians from Pennsylvania had determined on capturing these three men, viz : Thomas Hunt, Harker, and Swartwout. They accordingly crossed the Delaware, near where Dingman's bridge now is, and in the evening reached the log-house of Hunt; having travelled about 15 miles on the Jersey side of the river.
They were discovered before they reached the house, soon enough for a young man, Thomas Hunt, and a negro, (the only persons then in the house,) to shut and fasten the door, and secure themselves from immediate capture .- The negro was faithfully occupied in his legitimate calling, of sawing cat- gut before a good cheerful fire, for the edification, probably, of his young companion, and his own amusement, when these prowling sons of the forest disturbed their quietude and silenced the merry strains of the violin, and that, too, most effectually ; for no sooner was Cuffee aware of his danger, than he threw his fiddle into the fire, and awaited in trembling suspense the result of the unwelcome visit.
The Indians finally succeeded in gaining admittance, by threatening to burn down the house and those in it, unless they soon found peaceable en- trance. They proceeded with their captives to Harker's, the elder brother of Hunt, whom they came to take, being away from home attending to his duties as an officer of the colonial troops. There were about a dozen men at this time at Harker's, his own help, and some who had been on a frolic during the day. The Indians, on reconnoitring, thought it imprudent to at- tack them, and went away. They were discovered to have been at the house the following morning, by their tracks in a newly ploughed field, and their number, by the same means, ascertained to be thirteen.
From Harker's they returned towards the Delaware, by a route around the southerly end of the Great Pond, when in five miles they arrived at Swartwout's residence. In this the cunning of the Indians was evinced.
Communicated by Nelson Robinson, Esq. of Newton.
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Meditating Swartwout's destruction when they started, they passed by to commence their depredations further off from their homes first, so as to arouse no antagonists between themselves and the river to cut off their re- treat ; and perhaps the chance of Swartwout's discovering them at an ear- lier hour in the evening, if he had then approached his house, and being thereby enabled to do some serious execution among them, might have been another reason for delaying their plans against him. But having, stealthily and unnoticed, passed through the forests to the extent of their proposed in- cursion, and accomplished their object as far as practicable, they trace their way back, leaving their outrages all behind, and not on ground which they must repass.
Mrs. Swartwout, soon after their approach to the house, without a thought of danger, went out to the milk-house, and was instantly shot down. Swart- wout himself, being thus apprized of his danger, sprang for his loaded rifle and musket successively, and killed two or three and wounded others, before he was captured. After which they conveyed him to a place about one mile NW. of his dwelling, and fastened one end of his entrails to a tree, (the stump of which was shown to me,) and then he was tortured to death, after having been compelled to witness the cruel destruction of a large family of children, except two, a son and a daughter. They beat him, lacerated him, and forced him to wind out his bowels around the tree by walking around it. What devils at revenge !
After this horrid display of savage ferocity the party proceeded on their return. On recrossing the Delaware one of them lost his rifle, which slip- ped from his grasp between the logs of the raft ; and the depth of the water, together with their haste to get out of the white man's reach, obliged them to leave it there, where it must still remain, the only rifle yet known to be in our midst, loaded by one of these warriors of the forest, who, about a cen- tury ago, dealt out ruin and wide-spread desolation among the pioneers of these then untamed wilds.
Hunt and the negro were taken to the French in Canada, whence the negro made his escape shortly after back to this country. Hunt was three years after exchanged for some French captives. He returned here, lived to an advanced age, and related the perils of his boyhood many a time to "knots of listeners, who would gather around him to hear the thrilling ac- count of days gone by. -
He said after his capture he was for a time at a loss to know how to get along with the Indians, but he thought he would try to please them by act- ing as near like them as he could in eating and other respects. This suc- ceeded, and they consequently treated him well. The little son and daugh- ter of the murdered Swartwout were brought up by the Indians. The girl married a chief among them, and the boy, becoming attached to the Indian life, chose to live with them. Upon arriving at manhood, he having learned about his parentage, visited the home of his youth ; but civilization had lost its charms for the adopted child of the woods, and he returned to spend his days with the inhabitants of the forest-an Indian in all, save birth, features, and 'complexion.
VERNON.
The greatest length of this township is 11 m .; breadth 9 m. It is bounded NE. by part of Orange co., N. Y. ; SE. by West Milford,
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Passaic co .; SW. by Hardiston, and W. by Wantage. There are 2 forges, 3 grist-m., 4 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $14,210; 12 schools, 371 scholars. Pop. 2,395.
The greater portion of the township is covered with the Wawa- yanda, Wallkill, and Pochunk mountains, on the summits of which are several small lakes. They are very lofty, and contain abun- dance of iron-ore. The township is well watered by numerous streams, of which the Wallkill flows on its western boundary. Near the south part of Vernon commences the marshy tract, known as "the drowned lands of the Wallkill ;" so called from being an- nually submerged by freshets. The valley of this stream is nar- row, until it crosses into the state of New York, where the marsh extends five miles in width, through which the river flows, with a scarcely perceptible current. No successful effort has been made to wholly drain this tract. Wherever it has been done, it discloses a soil of rich vegetable mould. The following is part of a pub- lished article on the mineralogical character of this region, by Dr. Samuel Fowler, a scientific gentleman of this vicinity :
Perhaps in no quarter of the globe is there so much found to interest the mineralogist as in the white crystalline calcareous valley, commencing at Mounts Adam and Eve, in the county of Orange and state of New York, about three miles from the line of the state of New Jersey; and continuing thence through Vernon, Hamburg, Franklin, Sterling, Sparta, and Byram, a distance of about 25 miles, in the county of Sussex, N. J. This limestone is highly crystalline, containing no organic remains; and is the great imbedding matrix of all the curious and interesting minerals found in this valley. When burned, it produces lime of a superior quality. A considerable quantity of this stone is burned into lime, near Hamburg; and, when carted to the towns below, as Paterson, Newark, &c., is sold for $1 per bushel. It is principally used in masonry- for whitewashing, cornice-work, and wall of a fine, hard finish ; and is considered supe- rior to the best Rhode Island lime. Some varieties, particularly the granular, furnish a beautiful marble. It is often white, with a slight tinge of yellow, resembling the Parian marble, from the island of Paros ; at other times clouded black, sometimes veined black, and at other times arborescent.
Hamburg is a flourishing manufacturing village, on the south boundary of the township, 13 miles NE. of Newton. It contains 1 forge, 1 blast-furnace, 2 large grist-m., 2 saw-m., 4 stores, an academy, a Baptist church, and about 40 dwellings. Vernon is beautifully situated, between the Pochunk and Wawayanda moun- tains, in the northern part of the township. It contains 2 stores, 1 grist and 1 saw m., 3 blacksmiths, 3 wagon-makers, 1 tannery, a few dwellings, and a Methodist church. The surrounding coun- try is peopled with thriving agriculturists; and, from the village, an extensive and beautiful prospect is had, to the north, of the ad- joining county of Orange.
WALPACK.
This township has an average length of 8 miles, with a width of 3 miles. It is bounded NE. by Sandiston, SE. by Stillwater, SW. by Pahaquarry, (Warren co.,) and NW. by the Delaware. 61
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There are in the township 2 grist, 2 saw m. ; cap. in manufac. $10,075; 4 schools, 120 scholars. Pop. 728.
The Blue mountain covers a large part of the eastern portion ; between this and the Delaware the soil is fertile, and productive in wheat. The Flatkill runs centrally through the township, and empties into the Delaware, at the southern boundary. Van Camp's brook, which takes its rise from a pond, on the summit of the Blue mountain, courses through the southern part. Flatbrookville is a small village at the junction of the Flatkill with the Delaware, 18 miles west of Newton. It contains a store, a grist and saw m. and about 20 dwellings.
WANTAGE.
Wantage is 11 miles long, and about 7 broad. It is bounded N. by part of Orange co., (New York,) E. by Vernon, S. by Hardis- ton and Frankford, and W. by Montague. The Wallkill river, which runs on the eastern boundary, and its branches, water the township. The township contains 11 stores, 10 grist, 8 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $73,925; 22 schools, 573 scholars. Pop. 3,908. There are also in Wantage nine churches-3 Presbyterian, 3 Baptist, 1 Congregational, 1 Methodist, and 1 Unitarian. On the Clove creek there are, within a distance of less than 5 miles, 4 valuable mill-establishments; at each of which there is a grist- m., plaster-m., and saw-m. There are also a fulling-m., carding- fac., and clover-m., at the lower establishment, which is near the village of Deckertown.
The following description of this township was communicatec for this work by a gentleman now residing there.
Wantage comprises that portion of the general Kittanny valley which lies betweer. the Pochunk mountain on the east, and the Blue mountain on the west. This part of the great valley just named is not a level surface, but traversed from north to south by several ranges of low hills, with vales of considerable width between. These sub-valleys are drained by two streams, which unite near the Wallkill, and empty into that river These streams run almost exactly in opposite directions, and together form nearly a straight line from north to south through the township. The northern stream flows from a romantic and beautiful pond near the New York state line, and runs south through the exceedingly rich valley, called the Clove, a distance of 6 or 7 miles to the village of Deckertown ; here it meets and unites with the Papakating, (commonly called " The Peper-cotton,") a stream of about equal length and size, but rising southward in the adjoining town of Frankford. This stream runs almost due north until it unites with the Clove creek just described, after which it turns east, and after running about a mile, empties into the Wallkill. The natural scenery of this region is rarely surpassed. The Pochunk on the east is a low oval-shaped mountain, clothed, in many places, with cul- tivated fields to the summit. 'The Blue mountain, on the opposite side of the general valley, is higher and more precipitous. From many points on both these mountains the most lovely prospects of rural scenery appear. From the farm of Joseph Little, Esq., on the top of the Pochunk, is one of the best of these views. From this spot, the eye comprehends at one glance about 75 miles of the length of the Blue mountain. This extensive view stretches north nearly to the Catskill, and south to the Delaware Water Gap. Intermediate of this picturesque margin, is spread out the entire width of the Kittanny valley. This vast landscape is continuously intermingled with woodlands and flourishing fields. Villages and farm-houses are thickly dotted over the whole
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The season when this prospect is most lovely is, when " the fields are white unto har- vest,"-or rather yellow and green, for these are the predominant colors at that delight- ful period. The beholder gazes on the commingled hues-the deep green meadow covering the long and narrow vales, meandered through by the pure and glittering streams that flow slowly and silently between their low and grassy banks. Along the gently sloping hill-sides, and on their suminits, the fields of ripe grain present their hues of waving gold. Again, the numerous flocks of large and glossy cattle are luxuriating in the pastures of deep and blooming clover. All these rich charms of nature are spread out, like a painted canvass, over the entire township. This region is celebrated for the vigorous health and blooming beauty of its young females, which is thought to arise, in some measure, from their pastoral occupation in the employment of the dairy. At the approach of evening, flocks of those beautiful daughters of industry are seen going forth to milk the large droves of cows, so that the romantic lover of classic simplicity might imagine that he was transferred on the backward car of time to the sunny plains of an- cient Mantua.
Southwest View of Deckertown.
The thriving village of Deckertown is situated 13 miles N. of Newton, on the E. bank of the Deep Clove river. The above view was taken near the residence of Matthew H. Cooper, Esq., at the southwestern entrance into the village. The Presbyterian church is seen on the left, and the Deckertown academy on the right. There is a Baptist church near the village, and the village itself contains 4 stores, 1 fulling, 1 clover, 1 saw, and 2 grist mills, a va- riety of mechanic shops, about 50 dwellings, and a population of near 500. Beemersville, 5 miles W. of Deckertown, contains 3 stores, a grist and a saw mill, 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian church, and about 20 dwellings. The Clove is an agricultural vicinity 24 miles N. of Deckertown, where there is a Presbyterian church.
The annexed items, relating principally to this section of country, were furnished by Mr. William Rankin, the principal of the high- school at Deckertown. .
In the latter part of the 17th century, some Huguenots, or French protestants, who had been exiled to Holland, emigrated to America, and passing up the Hudson river, settled at the mouth of the Wallkill river, near the present site of Kingston. In after years, individuals from this settlement, which was composed of French and Hollanders in their explorations, passed down the Mamakating valley to the Delaware river, and form.
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od a settlement at the mouth of the Navisink. About the year 1740, a man by the name of Peter Decker, a Hollander by descent, passed over the Kittanny or Blue mountain, from the Navisink settlement, in pursuit of good land upon which to settle. He descend. ed into the valley, now the town of Wantage, and selecting the place where Deckertown now stands, built a house, probably the first white man's abode in the township. This house stood near the site of the present tavern of Horace Vibbert, Esq. This Peter Decker, the original pioneer of Wantage, was grandfather to the present Bowdewine Decker, Esq., of the Clove, and was the predecessor of almost all the large and respecta. ble connection of people of the same name now in the township. A short time after Decker, two other individuals of the Navisink settlement also crossed the Blue moun- tain in pursuit of tillable land ; these were by the names of Winfield and Courtright. After making diligent search throughout the Wantage valley, they could find, as they sup- posed, but little land fit for cultivation ; exhibiting an instance of the Hollander's error, in judging of the quality of land in a country differing in aspect from his own. It seem- ed these low Dutch people, on first coming to this country, thought no land worth culti- vating but level flats. Winfield selected a spot of about eleven acres on the farm now owned by Thomas I. Ludlum, Esq. This he supposed might be worth clearing for the purpose of growing wheat and corn. Courtright found 5 acres nearer the mountain, which he thoughit might also pay the labor of cultivation. From this time emigrations continued to be made into this valley, and additions to the infant settlement.
In the year 1770, a few Baptist families from the New England states settled where Hamburgh now is, and built the first houses there. They were of the names of Marsh, Hart, and Southworth. They selected one of their number, a Mr. Marsh, to be their preacher, and thus laid the foundation of the first Baptist church in the county. In 1777, the Rev. Mr. Nicholas Cox, from Philadelphia, became the preacher in this Bap- tist church. Two houses of public worship had now been erected, one at Hamburgh, and the other at Augusta. In about 1782, the house at Hamburgh was taken down and rebuilt on the site where the present Baptist church stands, near the village of Decker- town. In 1783, the Rev. Mr. Finn became pastor of this church ; in 1785, the Rev. Silas Southworth ; in 1816 the Rev. Mr. Hall; in 1821, the Rev. Mr. Hagan; in 1826, the Rev. Mr. Fletcher ; in 1832, the Rev. Mr. Jackson ; in 1837, the Rev. Mr. Moore; in 1840, the Rev. Mr. Fay ; in 1842, the Rev. Mr. Leach.
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During the French and Indian war, a Mr. Crowell, yet living in this township, being about 88 years old, remembers that, when a child, his father was called out in defence of the settlement against the Indians, who were lurking through this then thinly populated region, for the purpose of massacring helpless and unprotected families. His inother was left alone with some small children ; in the dark night, as they were preparing to go to bed, suddenly the dog broke out with that peculiar and terrific kind of barking which was but too well known by the settlers to be caused by the scent of Indians. This ven- erable old man yet distinctly remembers that moment of thrilling interest, when his mother, ' turning pale as a cloth,' (as he expresses it,) earnestly urged him, a small boy, to run out into the woods and hide, that he might save his life, for she could not escape with her infant children, but must remain in the house and be murdered with them ; but the little boy, refusing to go, clung round his mother's neck in floods of tears, declaring that he would die with her. The Indians, however, through cowardice, or for some other reason, did not approach the house.
During the revolutionary war, there lived near the mouth of the Navisink a Mr. Van Etten. He was a blacksınith, and on a certain day was working in his shop with his black man, who was helping him, when they beheld a party of hostile Indians approach- ing! What was to be done? The negro was not in much danger, for the Indians scarcely ever murdered negroes, but the master ! There was but a moment. The black man urged him to creep up the chimney, which, being an old-fashioned one, was large. In a moment the Indians entered the shop, eagerly looking round for its owner, but pay. ing very little attention to the black. At length, despairing of finding a victim, they commenced investigating the fixtures in the shop. After hammering a while on the an- vil, one of the party caught hold, and began blowing the bellows, starting the smoke and dusk briskly up the chimney. Stop, stop, stop, stop that blaw-mock, (as Pompey and his master called the bellows in Dutch,) expostulated the faithful black, at the same time catching the Indian by the arm. The savage took it all in good part, relinquished his hold on the handle of the bellows, and in a few minutes, with all his party, carelessly left the premises. When the Indians were clear gone, Mr. V. crawled down from his sooty retreat, thanked Pompey for his faithful conduct, and both, well satisfied with the result of the enterprise, set in to finish their day's work.
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At a time when the Indians were known to be prowling through the woods with hos. tile intentions, a settler in the town of Wantage, being in need of provision for his fami- ly, ventured into the forest in pursuit of game with his gun and dog. He unfortunately lost his knowledge of courses, and wandered in the woods, unable to find his way home, till night came on. He crept into a large hollow tree, with his gun and dog. When all were about prepared to go to sleep, the dog became suddenly agitated, and broke forth in violent barking. The man well knew that this unguarded conduct of his fellow-lodger would betray their retreat to all Indians within a mile round. To cut the throat of the dog would be the only effectual barrier to his dangerous indiscretions. But then this would be dishonorable, and not very just ; for, although the barking was ill-timed, he knew it was certainly well meant. So he resorted to expostulations and entreaties with the dog, and to holding his mouth shut. At length all became pretty quiet again. Many anxious hours had now passed away in listening to every rustling motion of the sur- rounding bramble-when suddenly again the dog's every nerve quivered ; and as he ut- tered a loud bark and growl, a most terrific snort of a horse echoed through the gloomy woods. This sent a most thrilling panic through the very souls of the old oak's trem- bling tenants ; for the Indians were known frequently to travel through the forest on horse- back. All was fearful expectation and watchful anxiety, till day-break brought relief by exhibiting several horses feeding at a distance on the natural grass of the woods, and enabling the lost wanderers, during the course of the day, to find their way safely home.
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