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 67
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Descending, I recrossed the river to the tavern, where I had stayed the preceding night. Buckling on my knapsack, I walked upward through the gap. At the distance of half a mile, the river turns suddenly to the left, and then soon again resumes its former course. In a mile or more, the mountains grow less bold, although still lofty ; and the stream wider, until it expands to its full breadth. Numerous verdant isles now appear, graced with massy trees, whose branches bend as if to kiss the passing waters. The hills recede from the river ; cultivated farms and dwellings present themselves, and the scene changes its wildness to one of enchanting beauty. I walked on for several miles, and was finally rowed in a boat across the river to a neighboring farm-house, where I was to pass the night. The rays of the departing sun gilding the summits of
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the mountains, and the lengthening shadows in the valley and across the waters, told that night was near. While enjoying the prospect, my mind was filled with pleasing retrospections of the few past hours ; and as I sat in that little skiff, gliding over the pla- cid surface of the Delaware, I felt that this had been one of the happiest days of my life.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
SHAWUSKUKHKUNG, (Wilted Grass.)-BARTHOLOMEW S. CALVIN.
In the year 1832 a grant of $2,000 was obtained from the legislature of New Jersey by an aged Indian representing the Delaware tribe. His name was Bartholomew S. Calvin. His appellation among his own people was Shawuskukhkung, or Wilted Grass. He had received his education at Princeton College, and in early life kept a school, both for whites and Indians, at Edge Pillock, where he was often visited by Mr. Samuel Al- linson, author of Allinson's Laws of New Jersey, who considered him an intelligent and worthy man. The following is a brief summary of the nature of the claims on which this grant was founded, and of the Delaware branch of the Lenni Lennappi tribe.
When this country was first visited by Europeans, that part of New Jersey south of the Raritan, was occupied by the Delaware Indians. Their right of ownership was recognised by the English, and large purchases were from time to time made, as the demands of the settlers required. Most of their lands were thus sold prior to the year 1758, when a treaty was held at Crosswicks, at which the whole of their remaining claims were extinguished, except a reservation of the right of fishing in all rivers and bays, and of hunting on all unenclosed grounds. A tract containing 3,000 acres was purchased for them at Edge Pillock in Burlington co., where the scattered remnant of the tribe, amounting only to 60 persons, were settled. They continued here until 1802, when at the invitation of their " Grandson," the Stockbridge tribe, they removed to New Stockbridge, near Oneida lake. Years rolled on until the westward tide of emi- gration had again surrounded them with a white population, whose cupidity rendered their situation very uncomfortable. At length, in conjunction with several other tribes, they purchased of the Menomonie Indians a tract of land near Green Bay, in Michigan Territory, extending a considerable distance on both sides of Fox river. The Delawares and the Stockbridges have here formed a joint settlement, called Statesburgh, and de- pend almost entirely on agricultural pursuits for a subsistence. A missionary and schoolmaster have been sent among them by the Boston Missionary Society, whose la- bors have been blessed, and a number of them have become hopefully pious. Drunken- ness has become rare among them, and a temperance society in 1832 numbered upwards of 100 members.
Of the Delawares, there remained, at the time in question, but about 40 at States- burgh, and these, cherishing a tradition respecting their fishing and hunting rights in New Jersey, delegated B. S. Calvin to obtain from the Legislature compensation for their relinquishment. In presenting his claims, he accompanied them with a petition in his favor, signed by a considerable number of respectable citizens, and the following address written with his own hand, he being then 76 years of age.
ADDRESS
MY BRETHREN,-I am old, and weak, and poor, and therefore a fit representative of my people. You are young, and strong, and rich, and therefore fit representatives of your people. But let me beg you for a moment to lay aside the recollections of your strength and of our weakness, that your minds may be prepared to examine with can- dor the subject of our claims.
Our tradition informs us, and I believe it corresponds with your records, that the right of fishing in all the rivers and bays south of the Raritan, and of hunting in all un- enclosed lands, was never relinquished, but on the contrary was expressly reserved in our last treaty, held at Crosswicks, in 1758.
Having myself been one of the parties to the sale, I believe in 1801, I know that these rights were not sold or parted with.
We now offer to sell these privileges to the state of New Jersey. They were once of great value to us, and we apprehend that neither time nor distance, nor the non-use of our rights, has at all affected them, but that the courts here would consider our claims valid were we to exercise them ourselves, or delegate them to others. It is not, how-
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ever, our wish thus to excite litigation. We consider the state legislature the proper purchaser. and throw ourselves upon its benevolence and magnanimity, trusting that feelings of justice and liberality will induee you to give us what you deem a compen- sation.
And as we have ever looked up to the leading characters of the United States, (and to the leading characters of this state in particular,) as our fathers, protectors, and friends, . we now look up to you as such, and humbly beg that you will look upon us with that eye of pity, as we have reason to think our poor untutored forefathers looked upon yours, when they first arrived upon our then extensive but uncultivated dominions, and sold them their lands, in many instances, for trifles in comparison as " light as air."
From your humble petitioners, BARTHOLOMEW S. CALVIN, In behalf of himself and his red brethren.
The whole subjeet was referred to a committee, before whom the Hon. Samuel L. South- ard voluntarily and ably advocated the elaims of the Delawares, and at the close of a speech which did him lionor as a man and an orator, he remarked, " That it was a proud fact in the history of New Jersey, that every foot of her soil had been obtained from the Indians by fair and voluntary purchase and transfer, a fact that no other state of the union, not even the land which bears the name of Penn, can boast of"
The committee reported favorably, and the legislature aeted accordingly. The sum he received ($2,000) was indeed not large, yet it was all he solieited ; and considering the nature of the claims, it must be regarded as an aet of beneficence as much as of jus- tice. It was, however, but the erowning aet of a series in which justice and kindness to the Indians have been kept steadily in view. The counsels of Barelay and of Penn, . (the former a governor and the latter a proprietor of the colony,) seemed to have influ- enced their sueeessors, and it is with feelings of honest pride that a Jerseyman may ad- vert to the faet, that the soil of his state is unpolluted by a battle with the Indians, that every acre of it has been fairly purchased, and that claims, deemed by many imaginary, have been listened to with respectful attention.
The following letter of thanks was addressed to the legislature by Calvin, and read before the two houses in joint meeting on the 14th of March. It was received with shouts of acclamation.
TRENTON, Mareh 12, 1832.
" Bartholomew S. Calvin takes this method to return his thanks to both houses of the state legislature, and especially to their committees, for their very respectful attention to, and candid examination of the Indian claims which he was delegated to present.
The final act of official intercourse between the state of New Jersey and the Delaware Indians, who once owned nearly the whole of its territory, has now been consummated, and in a manner which must redound to the honor of this growing state, and, in all prob- ability, to the prolongation of the existence of a wasted, yet grateful people. Upon this parting occasion, I feel it to be an incumbent duty to bear the feeble tribute of my praise to the high-toned justice which, in this instance, and, so far as I am acquainted, in all former times, has aetuated the couneils of this commonwealth in dealing with the abo- riginal inhabitants.
Not a drop of our blood have you spilled in battle-not an acre of our land have you taken but by our consent. These facts speak for themselves, and need no eomment. They place the character of New Jersey in bold relief and bright example to those states within whose territorial limits our brethren still remain. Nothing save benisons can fall upon her from the lips of a Lenni Lenappi.
There may be some who would despise an Indian benediction; but when I return to my people, and make known to them the result of my mission, the ear of the great Sov- ereign of the Universe, which is still open to our ery, will be penetrated with our invoca. tion of blessings upon the generous sons of New Jersey.
To those gentlemen, members of the legislature, and others who have evinced their kindness to me, I cannot refrain from paying the unsolicited tribute of my heart-felt thanks. Unable to return thein any other compensation, I fervently pray that God will have them in His holy keeping-will guide them in safety through the vicissitudes of this life, and ultimately, through the rich mereies of our blessed Redeemer, receive them into the glorious entertaininent of his kingdom above."
It ought not to be omitted that Calvin was educated at Princeton at the expense of the Scotch Missionary Society, and there remained in the pursuit of his studies till the commencement of hostilities between the colonies and the mother country, when he shouldered his musket and marched against the common enemy.
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From sentiments which the compiler* of these notes respecting him has heard him express, he infers that the principles which he cherished in old age would not admit of taking human life in war.
INDIAN NAMES, WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATION.t
Assiscunk Creek, (at Burlington city.)-Muddy or dirty creek.
Alloways Creek, (Salein county.)-So namned from a chief of that name who resided upon it.
Absecumb Bay and tewn, (Burlington county.)-A beach or place of swans, from the number which re- sorted there.
Acquackanunck Village, (Passaic county.)-Where gum blocks were made or procured for pounding corn. Burlington City .- Heckewelder said the Indians called this place Tschichohocki, which means ancient cultivated land, or the oldest planted ground : they said here was built their first town on the river.
Burlington Island, (partly above the city.)-This was by the natives called Matinicunk, and by this name it was given by the Legislature of West Jersey, in 1622, to the town of Burlington, for the support of a free school. It contains about 320 acres, and, with the fisheries, yields au annual income of from 1,000 to 1,500 dollars.
Blue Mountain, (Warren county, &c.)-Kittaning or Kittanny, as usually written ; but it has been subject to almost as many variations, and even other names, as there are manuscripts or books in which this range is mentioned. The true orthography is Kituteney, meaning the main or chief town. The Minsecs, or more properly called the Minsies, at a very early period retired to the northerly side of this mountain, where they erected their towns on the low lands upon each side of the river, whence the name extended to, and included the mountain. These low lands still retain the name of the Minisink, the peace of seulement. or habitation of the Mensies. In an old survey of the Vancampen tract, made in 1718, this mountain is called Pohoqualin, which signifies the termination of two mountains, with a stream between, as at the Water Gap; and hence also the name of the township of Pahaquarry.
Bloomfield! Village, (Essex county.)-This place was called by the natives Wassessing, crooked place, el- bow-like-from a remarkable crook or bend in Third river.
Crosswicks, (Burlington on the creek, between Burlington and Mercer counties.)-Criswicks village .-- The house of separation. It was a custoni among the Indians to cause their young women at certain pe- riods to separate themselves from the men, and go to a nut made for their reception at some distance, and there to remain a certain number of days, before they were permitted to return One of these places was upon a high bank of the creek where the village now is, and hence the name of the creek.
Egg Harbor Bay, (Atlantic county.)-So named from the number of gulls' eggs which were found there in the salt meadows.
Hoboken, (Hudson county.)-A tobacco-pipe ; frequently used in a symbolic sense to express crookedness, and is here so used in reference to the form of the river store.
Hackensack River, (Hudson county.)-The stream which unites with another in low level ground al- most imperceptibly.
Kinderkamack, (Bergen county.)-There is a tradition, that in a war between the whites and the Indians, the latter were driven and sought refuge in a secret place where they might repose for the night in safety, but the whites, hearing the crowing of a cock early the next morning, and thereby suspecting their place of retreat, came upon them by surprise, and took them prisoners. The Indians, attributing their misfortune to that cause, named the place, Where the cock crowed.
Matchaponiz Creek, (Middlesex county.)-Bad bread ; denoting a poor country, not producing any thing to make good bread.
Manalapan Creek .- This is in contradistinction to the above, denoting good bread, or good country.
Manasquan Rirer, (Monmouth county.)-An enclosure with a house therein ; perhaps a fort or place of defence on this river.
Manahocking Village, (Monmouth county.)-Good corn-land ; the creek received its name from this.
Musconetcong Creek, (Hunterdon and Warren.)-A rapid running stream.
Nacisink Bay, (Mommouth county.)-Fishing place.
Perth Amboy City, (Middlesex county.)-Amboy, from Emboli, hollow in the inside, like a bowl; there being a depression in the ground a little north of the city. Perth was prefixed in honor of the Earl of Perth, (John Drummond,) one of the proprietors of this place.
Piscataway Township, (Middlesex county.)-It is getting dark ; the Indians probably arrived here in the evening, or in foggy weather. The same name occurs in several of the other states.
Passaic Rirer, (Essex county, &c.)-A valley : comparative, in respect to its opposite the Hackensack, which, from its flowing a considerable distance through meadow, is without a valley.
Pompton Village, &-c., (Morris county, &c.)-Crooked-mouthed. This probably refers to the manner in which the Ringwood and Ramapo rivers pass down and discharge themselves iuto the Pompton river near this place.
Pequannock Rirer, (Morris county, &c.)-Dark river.
Ramapo River, (Passaic county.)-So named from the number of round ponds which discharge into it.
Raritan Rirer. (Somerset county, &c.,-Forked river.
Shamong Village .- The place of the large horn.
Suckasunny Village, (Morris county.)-Black or iron stone creek ; from the creek commonly called Black river-abounding in iron ore.
Totawa Falls, (at Paterson.)-To sink or be forced down under water by weight.
Tuckahoe Riner, (between Cape May and Atlantic counties.)-Where deer are shy-difficult to come at. ~Whippany Creek, (Morris county.)-Arrow creek ; where the wood or willow grows, of which arrows were made.
* This article was communicated for this work by William J. Allinson, of Burlington.
f Communicated for this work by Thomas Gordon, Esq,, of Trenton.
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NEW COUNTIES AND TOWNSHIPS TO 1852.
CAMDEN COUNTY.
CAMDEN county was formed from the western part of Gloucester county, in 1844. Its average length is about twenty-six, and its breadth about ten miles. It is bounded north-westerly by the Delaware river, casterly by Burlington county, south-easterly by Burlington county, and westerly by Gloucester county. The county is divided into eight town- ships, viz. :
Camden, Waterford,
Union, Washington,
Newton, Gloucester,
Delaware, Winslow.
The history of the several townships will be found under the head of Gloucester county. According to census of 1850, Camden county con- tained 4,090 dwellings, 4,252 families, 731 farms, and 25,422 inhabi- tants.
OCEAN COUNTY.
Ocean county was formed from the south part of Monmouth county, in 1850. Its extreme length, from north to south, is about forty miles, its average breadth about half that distance. It is bounded north by Monmouth county, east by the Atlantic ocean, and westerly by Burling- ton county. The county is divided into six townships, viz. :
Dover, Brick, Plumsted,
Jackson, Stafford,
Union.
The soil is light, level and mostly covered with pines. The popula- tion is sparse, and principally located near the sea coast. According to the census of 1850, they contained 1,758 dwellings, 1,791 families, 379 farms and 10,032 inhabitants.
NEW TOWNSHIPS.
ATLANTIC.
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Atlantic county was formed from Shrewsbury, Freehold and Middle- town, in 1847, bounded north by Middletown, Bariton and Marlboro, west by Freehold and Marlboro, south by Howell, and east by Shrews- bury. It is about six miles in length and breadth. Colt's Neck, (see page 364,) is situated in the central part of the township. Population in 1850, was 1,493.
BELVIDERE.
Belvidere was set off from Oxford in 1844. In 1850, population 1,001. (See page 502.)
BLAIRSTOWN.
Blairstown, formerly the eastern part of Knowlton, was set off in 1844. Its average length is about seven and its breadth about eight miles, bounded north-west by Pahaquarry, west by Knowlton, east by Hardwick and Frelinghuysen, and south by Hope. Population 1,405.
BRANCHBURGH.
Branchburg, formerly the western part of Bridgewater, was set off as a township in 1845. It is nine miles in length, averaging about two and a-half in breadth, bounded north by Bedminster, west by Reading- ton, and east by Bridgewater and Hillsborough. Population 1,137. The village of North Branch is in its township,. (see page 452,) and is connected with Somerville by the railroad.
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BRIDGETON.
Bridgeton, formerly the southern extremity of Deerfield, set off as a township in 1845. Bounded north by Deerfield, south by Fairfield and Millville, and west by Cohansey town and Creek, six miles long and about three in breadth. Population 2,446. ( See page 137.)
COHANSEY.
.Cohansey was set off from Hopewell in 1841. It is but a little over two miles long and about one wide, and is bounded by that township on every side, except on the east where it is bounded by Cohansey Creek separating it from Bridgeton. Part of the village of Bridgeton is within its limits. Population 1,034. (See page 137.)
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EAST AMWELL.
East Amwell, divided from the eastern portion of Amwell in 1846. It is about six miles long and five broad, bounded north-west by Rari- tan, south-west by West Amwell, south by Hopewell in Mercer County, and westerly by Hillsborough, Somerset County. Population 1,330. Ringoes village is on the western border. (See page 242.)
WEST AMWELL.
. West Amwell, formed from the western part of Amwell in 1846. Is about six miles long, averaging about four in breadth. Bounded north by Delaware, west by Delaware river, east by East Amwell, and south by Hopewell in Mercer County. Population 1,173.
FRANKLIN .- (Hunterdon County.)
Franklin was set off from Kingwood, in 1845. It is six miles long and nearly four broad ; bounded north-west by Bethlehem and Alex- andria, south-west by Kingwood, south-east by Raritan, and north-east by Clinton. Population 1,564. Fairview or Quakertown, is situated near the central part of this township. (See page 249.
FRELINGHUYSEN.
Frelinghuysen was set off from Hardwick, in 1848. It is about five · and a half miles long, averaging four and a half wide ; bounded north by Hardwick, south by Independence, west by Blairstown and Hope, and east by Stillwater and Green, in Sussex county. Population . 1,277. Johnsonburg is situated in the central part of this township. (See page 490.)
HOHOKUS.
Hohokus, the northern part of Franklin, Bergen county, was set off in 1849. It is about eight miles long, and six wide, bounded north- east by the New York State line, south by Franklin, east by Wash- ington, and west by Pompton. The Patterson and Ramapo Railroad passes through this township. (See page 72.)
LAMBERTVILLE.
Lambertville, Hunterdon county, was set off from Amwell, in 1849. Population 1,417. For a description of the village, see page 241.
LAFAYETTE.
Lafayette was set off' from Newton and Frankford, in 1845. It is seven miles long, and averages four in breadth, bounded north-west by Frankford, south-west by Newton, and easterly by Hardiston and Sparta. Population 928. The village of Lafayette (see page 477) is in the central part of this township.
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MARLBORO.
Marlboro was set off from Freehold, in 1848. It averages nearly seven miles in length and breadth, and bounded north-west by South Amboy, north-east by Raritan, and south by Manalapan, Freehold and Atlantic. Population 1,554.
MANALAPAN.
Manalapan was set off from Freehold, in 1848. The extreme length of the township is nine miles, and the extreme breadth, five, bounded north-west by Monroe and South Amboy, easterly by Freehold and Marlboro, and south-west by Millstone. Population 1,902. The Mon- mouth battle grounds are within the limits of this township.
MEDFORD.
Medford, the eastern part of Evesham, was set off in 1847. It is thirteen miles long and five broad, bounded north by N. Hampton, west by South Hampton, east by Evesham, south by Washington and Waterford in Camden county. Population 3,022. Medford village is in the central part. (See page 105.)
MILLSTONE.
Millstone was set off from Upper Freehold, in Monmouth county, and Monroe, in Middlesex, in 1844. It averages upwards of six miles in length and breadth, bounded north-west by Monroe and E. Windsor, westerly by Manalapan, and south-west by Jackson and Freehold. Population 1,675.
OCEAN.
Ocean, the eastern part of Shrewsbury, was set off in 1849, It is fourteen miles long and four broad, bounded west by Shrewsbury, south by Howell, and east by the Atlantic Ocean. Population 3,767. Long Branch, a popular watering place, is in the northern part.
PLAINFIELD
Plainfield, formerly the south-west extremity of the township of Westfield, was set off in 1847. Population 2,446. The village of Plainfield is within its limits. (See page 199.)
PLUMSTED.
Plumsted was set off from Jackson, in 1845. It is nine miles long and two broad, bounded north by Upper Freehold, south-east by Dover, and westerly by Hanover, Burlington county. Population 1,613.
ROCKAWAY.
Rockaway was set off from Pequannock and Hanover, in 1844. Its extreme length from north to south is fifteen miles, average breadth upwards of six ; bounded west by West Milford, Passaic county, and Pequannock, south-west by Randolph, and westerly by the Green Pond mountain, dividing it from Jefferson. Population 3,139. The village of Rockaway is in the south part of this township, (See page 397.)
SOUTHAMPTON.
Southampton was set off from Northampton, in 1845. It is thirty miles in length, from north-west to south-east, with average breadth of about four ; bounded north-east by Pemberton, south by Washington, west and north-west by Medford and Northampton. Population 3,545. Vincent-town is in the North part of this township. (See page 118.)
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WESTHAMPTON.
Westhampton was set off from Northampton, in 1850. It is about six miles long and three broad ; bounded north and north-east by Bur- lington and Springfield, south by Northampton and west by Willing- boro. Population 1,507.
WASHINGTON.
Washington, Warren county, was set off from Mansfield, in- 1849. It is five miles long and five broad, bounded north-east by Mansfield, north-west by Oxford, south-east by Franklin and south-west by the Musconetcong, dividing it from Lebanon and Bethlehem in Hunterdon county. Population 1,567. Washington village is situated in the central part. (See page 499.)
WAYNE.
Wayne was set off from Manchester, in 1847. It is seven miles long and upwards of four broad ; bounded north-east by Franklin in Bergen county, west by Pompton river, separating it from Pequannock, in Morris county, and south by Caldwell, in Essex county. Population 1,164. .
UPPER PITTSGROVE.
Upper Pittsgrove was set off from Pittsgrove, in 1846. It is about seven miles long and five broad; bounded north-east by Franklin, Gloucester county, south-east by Pittsgrove, southerly by Deerfield, Cumberland county, and U. Alloways creek, and north-west by Piles- grove. Population 1,657.
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