USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > Greenwich > Historical sketches of Greenwich in old Cohansey > Part 2
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Two fairs were held yearly in the town of Greenwich, in April and October. These fairs were continued until 1765 when a law was enacted, that fairs in the town of Green- wich ha i been found inconvienient and un- neccessary. It is said there had been an in- crease of regular retail stores whose propri- etors desired patronage.
Nearly all of the first settlers of Greenwich were Friends or Quakers. Soon after 1700 new settlers arrived in increasing numbers and settled in the limits of Cumberland County. The first roads that were laid out followed the Indian paths.
At the last grand council of the Apos, Colados and a smaller tribe the Wallas gathered from the river to the shore; the old men and warriors came and invoking the aid of the great spirit sat in council. For days and days the council lasted. The future comfort of the tribes and their fondness for their favorite home Washalla held long and fearful contest in their savage breast. News- wego arose from among his sorrowing friends
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and pointing to the trail near which the council fire burned, said "This trail so plain- ly marked shall some day guide the pale face from the hills to the sea. We will find a resting place near the setting sun." The prophecy of the old chief was soon verified. The kings highway was upon that trail while the state was yet a province. The king Mahowskey, considered Washalla hiis home by the sea an earthly Paradise. The south- ern peninsula with its many miles of un- broken forest, the Atlantic on one side and the Delaware on the other, intersected with numerous streams teeming with fish; the forest abounding with game and the soil easily cultivated by their crude tools supplied to them their every want. Nature sang for them her sweetest hymns.
There were well known clans that crossed the state. Many of the Pennsylvania clans made annual visits to the Seashore. Their chief object was to procure fish, oysters and clams, drying them for winter food and partly for making and getting money. The celebrated wampum consisted of beads made Out of the shells of the large clam found abundantly on the coast.
James Daniels a minister among the friends, whose Father settled in the forks of Slow Creek near the place now called Canton it Salem Co. in1690, When he was about five years old, learned the Indian language and
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says in his memoirs: "The white people were very few, and the natives a multitude, but a sober, grave and temperate people and used no manner of oath in their speech, but as the country grew older the people grew worse, and had corrupted the natives in their morals, teaching them bad words and the excessive use of strong drink." Columbus describes the innocent happiness of these people. He says, "They were no wild savages, but very gentle and courteous, without stealing, with- out killing." History scarcely records an instance when hospitality was not extended by the red men of the forest to our first ex- plorers.
A few of the descendants of the original inhabitants lingered within the county until after the Revolutionary War, earning their substance principally by making baskets.
CHAPTER VI.
The Presbyterian Church stands in the old village, just a few rods south of the bridge, and the old burial ground just across the street, the stream forming its western boun- dary. The early settlers built their houses of worship near a stream, so those who attended the services could procure water for themselves and horses.
This church was so near our homes that in the fading summer twilight we would sit on my cousin's doorstep and watch the congre- gation gather, and listen to the worshippers as they sang their evening song of praise.
It is believed the society of the church was formed as early as 1700. Jeremiah Bacon deeded to Henry Joice and Thomas Maskell a lot of land in trust as a gift for the Presbyter- ian church and congregation as early as the month of April 1717.
The Gibbon brothers gave six acres of land for a parsonage. The deed bears the date of January 13, 1729-30, and was from Nicholas and Leonard Gibbon to Josialı Fithian, Thomas Maskell and Noah Miller. The first building was wooden, but was superceded by one of brick which was not finished until 1751, although occupied for worship several years before completion. It was 44 feet in
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length by 34 in breadth. When completed it was said to have been the largest and most imposing edifice in the counties of Salem, Cum- berland, or in South Jersey. Cumberland coun- ty was set off from the county of Salem and erected into a new county, by an act of Assein- bly passed January 19th, 1747-8. "The Duke of Cumberland who had not long before gained the victory of Culloden, and thereby established the house of Hanover permanently on the throne of Great Britain, was the great hero of the day, and the new county was named after him."
Tradition says the pulpit of the church was hexagonal, made of black walnut, as was also the sounding board, said to have been made in Boston. At first the only pews it contained were those constructed around the walls, each pew being built at the expense of the occu- pant, the area in the building being furnished with benches. The galleries were originally reached by a stairway outside of the building. It stood on the old burial ground, not very far from the entrance, and remained there until one of brick was erected on the opposite side of the street.
The cornerstone of the new church was laid May 7, 1835. The church was built at a cost of about $5,000, and was enlarged to its present dimensions in 1860.
The society formed in 1700 was supplied by Mr. Black. It is not known what year Mr.
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Black left the church. It is stated he moved to Lewes, Delaware, about 1708.
It is probable the pulpit was filled with sup- plies until 1728, when Rev. Ebenezer Gould was installed pastor. He was a native of New England and a graduate of Yale. The next year after Mr. Gould was installed the congregation built a parsonage, where he re- sided. It was burned about the year 1740.
After Mr. Gould came to Greenwich he was married to Annie Brewster, a sister of Frances Brewster, one of the elders of the church, a descendant of Elder Brewster who landed from the Mayflower in December 1620. She died while he was pastor and was buried under the communion table of the church. Mr. Gould resigned the next year after his wife's death. The church was without a pas- tor for six years but was supplied by eminent preachers of the denomination.
The celebrated Whitefield visited "Old Cohansey" about the year 1740, and preached with his accustomed eloquence. The church could not contain the people that had assembled to hear him so he preached to them on the side of the hill northeast of the church, which was then covered with the original forest.
Rev. Andrew Hunter was installed pastor of the church, and the Presbyterian church of Deerfield September 4, 1746. He preached two Sabbaths at Greenwich and every third Sab-
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bath at Deerfield. He served both churches until 1750, when he confined his labors to the Greenwich church. An able scholar and divine, his influence and usefulness was very great. At the close of his ministry the church had never been in a more prosperous state. He fell a victim to dysentery July 28, 1775, and was buried in the middle aisle of the church. He was an ardent friend to the lib- erties of America, and was active in and out of the pulpit to arouse the spirit of liberty against the oppressive measures of British government.
In after years a large tablet was erected to his memory, which bears this inscription: "Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of the Rev. Andrew Hunter, A. M., for thirty years the pastor of this church. He was a judicious divine, zealous preacher, and an eminent example of piety, charity and public spirit. He finished his labors and entered into 'The Joy of his Lord' July the 28th, 1775, aged sixty years.
Upon the side of the tablet there is another inscription, "Here lies the body of Annie Gould, wife of the Rev. Ebenezer Gould, who departed this life July 16th, 1739, aged 36 years. Mi Mento Mori." So the descendant of the Puritan Pilgrim, and the minister who was so influential in enkindling the flame of patriotism in the citizens of Cumberland county-One stone fittingly marks their place of burial.
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My cousin and I delighted in rambling in that old burial ground studying the inscrip- tions and epitaphs, some of them so blackened by time's passing years they were hardly in- telligible.
Our old friend the Doctor was almost a' daily visitor. We often met him and no young admirer of us maidens ever raised his hat at our approach more politely than did he. We were very fond of his society. At one time when the woods south of the old cemetery were ablaze with the Autumn's glory, he repeated some very beautiful lines regarding October to us. He has been known to repeat the entire poem of Scott's "Lady of the Lake."
One evening when my brother was passing the old burial ground as the twilight shadows were deepening, midway between the tab- lets of the Gibbons and Mr. Hunter stood the "Old Doctor" singing that old hymn, "There is a land of pure delight where saints immortal reign." He sang the entire hymn and we knew he was living again with the friends of yore, and though the sod covered the earth- ly forms, by the eye of faith he saw their spirits in the heavenly land. My father said when lie first came to the village to live the Doctor led the church choir and was a very sweet singer.
History records that after the death of Rev. Andrew Hunter the church was without a
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pastor until the year 1782. The Rev. Isaac Keith was for a time a supply. In 1782 the Rev. George Faitoute was installed pastor and remained pastor until 1788. In 1792 a con- gregation was formed in Bridgeton which drew largely for the material for its formation from the Greenwich church.
Dr. William Clarkson was installed pastor of both churches in November 1794. He was dismissed upon his own application by the Presbytery in 1801. He was said to be a pop- ular and excellent preacher. In 1804 the Rev. Jonathan Freeman, of Newburgh, N. Y. was unanimously called to be the pastor of the church and congregation, the congrega- tion at Bridgeton concurring in the call of Mr. Freeman. He was installed pastor of both churches in the church at Bridgeton October 16, 1805. After the death of Mr. Freeman in 1822 the pulpits of the churches were supplied by the Presbytery.
Mr. Freeman's successor was the Rev. Sam- uel Lawrence. He was ordained November IO, 1824. It was during his pastorate that the old church building, which had become so dilapidlated, was abandoned and a new church erected across the street. The congregation worshipped in the old church for the last time April 12th, 1835. Mr. Lawrence served the church faithfully for over twenty years; then applied to Presbytery for admission in the spring of 1847. He was followed by the
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Rev. Shepherd K. Kollock. He was installed January 26th 1848. He was a very tal- ented man, and excelled by very few; fail- ing health obliged him to sever his pastoral relation with the church March 11th 1861.
November 4th 1861. Rev. John S. Stewart was unanimously called, and was ordained pastor of the church February 11th, 1862. My cousin and I were occasionally permitted to go in company to listen to the eloquent Dr. Stewart, and began from that time to take much interest in the church that could be seen from our homes.
CHAPTER VII.
About a mile east of Sheppard's Mill, the early Baptist settlers built a church, which is said to be the first organized church in this region, of which there is any authentic record.
History informs us in the year 1683 some Baptists from Tipperary, Ireland, settled in the neighborhood of Cohansey. About this tiine Thomas Killingworth settled not far off. He was a man of much ability; fully qualifi- ed to occupy any position in the colony to which he might be called, a native of Nor- wich, England. He increased the number to nine souls, and probably as many more including the sisters. They tormed a church in the spring of 1690. A wooden building was erected. Its dimensions were 32 by 36 feet and history records had a stove in 1789. In those early times it was so unusual to warm the liouses of worship in any way, that the stove claimed special mention.
The old frame building remained until 1804, when a brick church was erected at Roadstown, to which the congregation re- moved. The Roadstown church still retains the name of "Old Cohansey."
My sister informed us girls that in the
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old burial ground that marks the place where the old church stood, the first white female that was born in "Old Cohansey" was buried. We were much enthused about it, and had a great desire to visit the place, when unexpectedly came an invitation to spend the day with some friends whose farm adjoined the old cemetery. The much an- ticipated day dawned upon us in all the beauties of midsummer, the beams of the morning sun was filling field and meadow and threw an air of sprightliness and gayety over all nature.
Around the old town the bearded grain had fallen before the reaper, and much of it garnered.
The blades and tassels of the green grow- ing corn were waving and rustling in the mellow summer breezes.
In the gardens could be seen a few belated blossoms gracing the stalks of the stately hollyhocks, and a few lingering lillies and roses. As we were driven through the wood- ed way to our friends home, some of the feathered songsters were warbling their sweetest notes for their love mate's ear, and the overhanging trees made cool shadows beneath, where the graceful ferns grew in their mysterious beauty; springing from per- ished leaves and dripping mold.
We had a most enjoyable visit. After dining some one suggested we go to the
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cemetery. In going my cousin and I wan- dered by ourselves as we were apt to do, and soon found the marble slab that told the story; we read the inscription: "In memory of Deborah Swinney who departed this life the 4th day of April, 1760 in the 77th year of her age." She was the first female born in "Old Cohansey." Although there were many other stones of ancient date, soon the conversation of the entire party concentrated upon the one stone. We longed to know her whole history. Born as early as 1684, about 64 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts; born when the dusky tribal people inhabited the forest, and must have been everywhere around and about her. She probably learned their language and their customs, for they were governed by customs instead of laws. If she had no sisters, she probably made the Indian girls her compan- ions, and roamed the forests with them in their wild free life. She must have seen the Indian canoe glide over the waters of "Old Cohansey," perhaps entered the wigwam and saw those savory dishes prepared, sucli as "hominy and succotash" which are strictly Indian in name and preparation. The succo- tash is found on every farmer's table in "Old Cohansey" in the late summer season.
Deborah Swinney was born about the time Charles II., King of England, died, and lived in the reign of James II., William and Mary,
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Queen Anne, George I. and George II., and died the year George III. commenced his reign. George Washington, then unknown to fame, having recently married Martha Custis, was quietly living at Mt. Vernon, and his diary of 1760 shows how closely he was applying him- self to the management of his splendid estate. Deborah Swinney lived and died in old Colo- nial times before the great struggle of Inde- pendence. She was one of the constituent members of the Seventh Day Baptist church of Shiloh, organized in the year 1737.
A Baptist church stands on the main street of Greenwich, which for many years was con- sidered an outpost of Old Cohansey church of Roadstown. A few persons in the village desired a Baptist church. In December 1843 a subscription toward a meeting house was commenced and in two days $2,000 was pledged toward that object. In the spring of 1844 the house was begun. On the 9th day of October, 1844, the house was dedicated. In 1849 the church was organized with 48 mem- bers. The church has grown wonderfully and at the present time is in a flourishing condi- tion with an enrollment of between two and three hundred members.
CHAPTER VIII.
We learned that before the Revolutionary war there were very few towns in the County. Greenwich was the place of most business up to the beginning of the 19tli century. The stores there contained the largest assortment of goods. The river forming an excellent harbor, vessels traded direct to the West Ind- ies and other places. There was a regular ferry kept up over the river, and much inter- course between Fairfield and Greenwich. In 1767 after John Sheppard came there and occupied the property formerly owned by Mark Reeve, a law was passed establishing the ferry, and in pursuance of its provision he bound himself to keep good and sufficient boats, fit for ferrying travelers and carriages for 999 years, and to keep and amend the roads, and bound his property to keep the agreement.
In 1810, and also in 1820, efforts were made to have a draw bridge built at the expense of the county but was defeated by those living on the river above which caused much rejoicing. For several years a horseboat was in constant use, but as other towns grew, Greenwich lost its relative importance, and the ferry had but little business. So in 1838 Mr. Sheppard, by paying $300, was released from his engage- ment.
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My sister said it was the persistence of the British Government in taxing the English Colonies of North America that brought on the Revolutionary War, and hastened their independence.
They had sent petition after petition to King James to lift the burdens, and allow them to be represented in Parliament. In 1773 all the taxes were repealed, but the duty 011 tea. Our forefathers resolved not to use it, and they would not suffer it to be landed and offered for sale. In order to make that tax more palatable, they had taken off the export duty of 12 per cent from the East India Company and allowed them to bring it to this country upon payment of an import duty of 3 per cent. They hoped by thus cheapening the price of tea 9 per cent, to bribe the Amer- ican to pay the small import duty, and thus acknowledge the right of the British Govern- ment to tax them without their consent. In pursuance of this plan the East India Con- pany sent large quantities of tea to this coun- try. At some places the tea was not permitted to be landed. In December a party disguised as Indians boarded the ships in Boston Harbor, and threw the tea into the waters. About December 12-14, 1774, the brig, Grey- hound, commanded by Capt. Allen, bound for Philadelphia, came sailing into Cohansey river with a quantity of tea, shipped at Rotterdam. He was afraid to proceed to liis place of des-
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tination and landed the tea at Greenwich, where it was stored in the cellar of a house, standing in front of the then open market square. The house was occupied by Dan Bowen.
Imitating the example of the Bostonians a company of nearly forty men was organized with the concurrence of the committee of safety of the county of which Jonathan Elmer, the royal sheriff, was an active member, who disguised themselves as Indians, and on the night of December 22nd, 1774, broke into the store house, took out the boxes of tea and burned them in a neighboring field. One of the party, a man named Stacks, tied strings around his pantaloons at his ankles and stuffed them with tea, which he carried home to his family, and ever afterwards was called "Tea Stacks." There was a great stir among the inhabitants on the next day after the occur- ence. Some raved, some condemned, and some tried to reason. Many were glad the tea was destroyed, but almost all disapproved of the manner of destruction. The owner of the tea commenced action of trespass, against such of the disguised Indians as they thought they could identify in the supreme court of the state. Money for the defense was raised by subscription, and eminent counselors were em- ployed in behalf of the defendants. No trial however, took place. The rule for security of costs was repealed at the November term
-
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and in default thereof nonsuits were entered at the April term in 1776. At the May term, security having been filed, the nonsuits were set aside and the actions revived, but they were short-lived. The new constitution of the state adopted in July, having dispersed the royal judges and their places being filled in the succeeding winter with whigs, the action was dropped and no further proceedings took place on either side.
A long time ago the burning of the tea was written in verse by an unknown writer:
"On the wharf I sit and dream,
While the stars throw many a beanı,
A soft and silvery streak
On the stillness of the creek;
And a vessel through the haze
Of the Old Colonial Days,
Like a spectre seems to ride
On the inward flowing tide.
Like a phantom it appears Faintly through the hundred years
That have vanished since its sails
Braved the fierce Atlantic gales.
Are they risen from the graves- Those dark figures clad as braves, Of the dusky tribal hosts, That of old possessed these coasts? Swift they glide from neath the trees The ill-fated stores to seize.
Noiselessly witli whispered jests,
High they lieaped the fragrant chests
GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY 45
Round the gnarled trunk that still Lifts its limbs from yonder hill. And at once a ruddy blaze Skyward leaps and madly plays Snapping, crackling o'er the pyre, Till with patriotic fire, All that costly cargo doomed, Unto ashes is consumed.
Back the ship drifts through the haze And the figures with the blaze, Fade and vanish from the night, And the moon swells clear and bright. First a slender silver line, Then Diana's bow divine; Quarter, half, three-quarters, till All the heavens seem to fill, As the orb's full rounded girth," Like a bubble, quits the earth. Lo! the lights by twos and threes Fade amid the village trees- From the narrow casement fade Till no mortal beams invade With their keen and curious light, The unconquered realms of night."
CHAPTER IX. There are two Quaker meeting houses on the main street of the village.
The Friends meeting was established early in the settlement of the colony. Previous to the erection of the first meeting house, the meeting was held at private houses.
The first meeting house was a log building constructed near the landing in order to accommodate the people on both sides of Cohansey river. It was built upon the lot originally bought by Mark Reeve, who after- wards sold his 16 acres to Joseph Brown; "Joseph Brown selling to Charles Bagley a lot of 50 feet on the street and 55 feet deep, for the only use, service, and purpose of a meeting house and graveyard, for those peo- ple in scorn called Quakers."
In the beginning of the 18th century it increased largely in the number of its members and a substantial brick house was erected. It was what was called an "Indulged meeting," or meeting for worship only, being under the care of the Salem meeting, and continued so until 1770, when this and the meeting at Ailo- ways Creek were united, and formed one monthly meeting to be held alternately at each place.
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GREENWICH, IN OLD COHANSEY . 47
In 1836 there was a great division of the so-called Friends, into two parties, called Orthodox and Hicksites, the latter being strict followers of Elias Hicks. This caused a sep- aration in the society. The few Methodists in "Old Cohansey" had erected a wooden building and located it on the south side of old Mount Gibbon. As the tide of emigra- tion did not increase their numbers a denomi- nation of their faith could not be supported. The building was sold to the Hicksite Quakers and removed to the main village street about a lialf mile south of the Presbyterian church. It consisted of two stories with a stairway on the outside. It was not only used for worship but for school purposes. The school was tauglit by Sallie Owen, a very excellent Quaker lady. She taught the elementary branches, needle work and sampler making. My sisters were among her pupils. In course of time the old building was abandoned, moved across the street and converted into a dwell- ing, and in its place a neat brick structure was erected.
We girls were very much interested and fascinated with that Quaker meeting. Our people greatly admired the "Friends" but knowing we did not understand the real sig- nificance of their service, would not permit us to cross the threshold of the meeting house but a few times a year. The interior was simplicity itself. No painter's brush had
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