USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > History of Bergen county, New Jersey > Part 48
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Washington became the admiration of the Bourdette family, he having taken up his abode in the old Bourdette homestead. On more than one occasion it is said a son of Peter Bourdette, a youth of sixteen years rowed to the city at midnight and brought papers and intelligence of the anticipated movements of the British army which threatened Fort Washington, and then the illustrious chief would retire to his room and peruse the papers after which he would walk to the Fort and inspect
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through his glass the movements at Fort Washington on the other side of the river.
One night, when the brave youth was approaching the shore after one of his night visits to the city to get the news for the General, and to convey some provisions to her poor friends from his excellent mother, who never forgot the needy, the wind prevented his signal from being heard by the sentinels who guarded the shore, and supposing an enemy to be approaching, a rifle ball cut his oar into two pieces. As he had but one oar left, he managed his boat with it as well as he could, and landed, at great risk of being shot, about a mile down the river, and made his way home on foot. On this occasion, the chief stood by while his mother ripped up the lining of the boy's great coat, and receiving the papers, complimented him warmly for his bravery.
* Dr. Edward H. Dixon in writing of the battle at Fort Lee, and its evacuation by Washington, says:
My grandmother and the children were obliged to flee to the Eng- lish Neighborhood, two miles off. so as to escape the immediate conse- quences of the free plunder that they knew was to come- my grand- father and his son remaining, to collect. if possible, any property that might be spared.
What valuables and money they possessed were buried, and they soon had occasion to summon all their fortitude. Some thousands of Hessians and mercenary soldiers devastated the place. A perfect saturn- alia now commenced. A barrel of whiskey and another of sugar were rolled out of the cellar, and thrown into a rain-water cask standing at one corner of the house, in the court-yard. My good grandmother's dairy room yielded its aid, and a puncheon of milk punch was made, and stirred with a rail. My grandfather begged a British officer to try to preserve at least a single pail of milk for his children's evening meal. Overcome with sympathy at the request, he was too much excited to carry out his benevolent intentions judiciously. Approaching a Hes- sian soldier, who was coming up the cellar steps with a flat vessel of milk (called a "keeler" in dairy phrase) on his head, he struck him slightly on the back with the flat side of his sword. The cowardly creature jumped aside at his officer's frown, the bottom of the old vessel broke, and he became in a moment a personification of plenty- literally flowing with milk. There was a shout of langhter, in which my grand- father was too much of a Frenchman not to join.
When the punch was prepared, my grandfather was impudently requested to drink the King's health by those wretched creatures, the Hessian soldiers. They were using their shoes by way of drinking enps. Several British officers were present, and it is but doing them justice to say that they seemed to sympathize with the inhabitants. One of them immediately stepped up to my grandfather. and advised
*The above sketch is taken from work -now out of print -entitled "Scenes in the Practice of a New York Surgeon" and written by Edward H. Dixon, M. D., who was a grandson of the Mr. Bour- dette above mentioned.
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nim to go through with the formality only, as the soldiers continued to call loudly for him. There were hundreds of soldiers present. He said he feared it would be the cause of personal danger to him if he refused; but he had stern Huguenot blood in him, and replied that if he drank at all, he would say what he pleased. They immediately made way for him to approach the puncheon, and the officers, who well knew his bold- ness, surrounded him completely. Uncovering his head and dipping his hand into the liquor, which he only pretended to drink, he bowed to the name he was about to utter, rather than to the officers, and exclaimed in his clearest tones, throwing a Frenchman's kiss over the mountain where he had that morning taken leave of his beloved and great friend, "The health of General Washington, confusion to King George, and destruction to his hireling Hessians." It was well for him that the officers were attached to him, or he would have been cut to pieces by the infuriated soldiers. Why he was not killed by some of them when the officers were absent, is to me, a wonder, for his fearless utterance was always exasperating.
At the end of ten days the British troops had evacuated the place. and were proceeding toward Newark under Cornwallis. Washington had crossed the Passaic on his way to New Brunswick, and my grand- father and his son went in pursuit of the family to bring them back to their ruined household. My mother and the other children were brought over, and they were about being sent supperless to such beds as could be prepared for them out of the torn fragments which the infuriated sol- diery had not entirely destroyed, when my good grandmother appeared. coming down the hill on an old wooden sled, drawn by a beautiful horse, the only living animal they now possessed, driven by a black man. All the cattle and other horses were, of course, carried off by the British troops, and she had, herself, driven this horse to the English Neighbor- hood, when the family fled from the old house with a bag of flour and a few pounds of butter, and secreted him in the cellar of an old deserted house I have often seen. Here he remained for three days, without food or drink, and would have died but for the kindness of a British officer, who was attached to my grandfather, and to whom she communicated the hiding place of her beautiful pet. He kindly went over and fed him and gave him drink, during those three days, when the British had extended themselves from Fort Lee, and were foraging the southern por- tion of the English Neighborhood, where she, of course, could not ven- ture to go.
Hearing their mother below stairs, the children were clamorous for food, for they had not eaten since morning. The poor little creatures were fain to content themselves with a raw turnip till some cakes could be hastily made for them. The wholesome milk and the pet cows- each one having its name and its owner were all gone; and had it not been for the providence of a mother who combined all the affection of the woman with the firmness of a most determined man, they might have well nigh starved to death ; for, as we have already said, there was no
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other house near, and the people for miles were robbed of all their food and cattle.
"Bless God for all his mercies. Here you are, and here are we all together; and here is food, too," said this excellent woman to her hus- band. "I feared your tongue would cost you your life." She little knew how nearly true her anticipations had proved.
My mother, who was but seven years of age, and her sister mounted the old sled, and begged a turnip to appease their hunger. She had found her doll and her pet cat near the wood-pile, and seated herself on a log, perfectly happy, eating her turnip.
"This is hard to bear," said my grandmother; "but God will set prosper our cause, if we follow the counsels of Washington."
"Yes," said her husband; "and they now know my sentiments adding an expletive in French, which his feelings will pardon.
" What's that?" said she. "Some more imprudence, I dare say."
A few days after, my uncle told her the story of the punch and the toast. to which she jocosely replied. looking nevertheless proudly at her husband: "Pity it is your father had not a little Dutch blood in him. These Frenchmen are always half crazy. Thank God, my son, your father was not killed before your eyes."
The family were now in still greater danger than before, for they were entirely unprotected, as the entire American army were west of the Hackensack, and what was worse, the country was continually ravaged by tories and robbers. What money and valuables they possessed were buried, and my grandfather abstracted from time to time only enough to procure bread for his family during the winter. It was useless to pur- chase many cattle, for he could not be sure of preserving them over a single night. The family managed to subsist during this hard winter; but it was necessary for my uncle to visit the city, often at great risk of life, to procure food; and when I last saw him, at ninety years of age, firm and erect. with the voice and will of a lion, his immense features and grey hair adding great dignity to his appearance, I could not but think that the sage was right when he said, "Difficulty is good for man".
An event occurred shortly after the evacuation of Fort Lee, which I have often felt would have graced the page of history, although it never probably occurred to its chief actor that it was worth recording; for he never seemed to think it of much moment. General Knyphausen continued in command of the fort and the division of the army on the northern part of the island of New York. But a few days elapsed after the family had returned, when they were alarmed by the rude midnight summons of a British officer, followed by several soldiers, and a demand that my grandfather should immediately cross the river to the fort. They were all dreadfully alarmed; but the officer assured them he would be permitted to return before day, as General Knyphausen merely required some information, which would insure his safe return. This was equal to an assurance that he would be sent to one of the city prisons, as the
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family knew he would communicate nothing to the enemy, and that he had greatly exasperated the Hessians by the toast. It had now obtained general currency, and every one supposed him a doomed man. My uncle mnost earnestly begged to be permitted to accompany his father, but was not allowed. He was hurried off to the fort, none supposing they would again see him in weeks or months, if ever. On his arrival at the fort, he was immediately introduced to General Knyphausen, who treat- ed him very courteously, offering wine and refreshment.
The General soon commenced the conversation by alluding to the trouble my grandfather had already undergone, and made some remarks on the unequal contest. My grandfather replied that when a whole nation were of one mind, and a country as extensive as America, he could scarcely believe it possible to subjugate them without years of sacrifice and expenditure. General Knyphausen smiled, and asked if the recent results showed much determination on the part of the Amer- icans. My grandfather had it on his tongue to refer him to General Rawlings and the northern bastion of the fort, within the enclosure of which they were then sitting: but prudence prevailed and he was silent. General Knyphausen was not a rude man, and made no further effort to prolong the conversation; but drawing from his pocket a heavy purse of gold, he threw it upon the table, and assured my grandfather that he would be pleased to extend to his family, in his present dangerous position on the lines, the aid and protection of a guard, and that he would be happy in return to receive some necessary information about the future movements of the army; that as General Washington had been his guest, he must possess more knowledge of the plan of action than any other person; ending with the assurance that he would be pleased to possess his personal friendship, and in return he would sup- ply his more immediate pecuniary necessities, pointing to the purse. My grandfather felt as though every drop of blood in his body had mounted to his face. He immediately arose, and walking towards the further entrance of the tent, replied: "Permit me. General Knyphausen. to draw this conversation to a close; and excuse me for the remark, that if you insist upon its further continuance, I cannot but feel it will be discreditable to both of us. I have already been too long here; but what could a man, seized at midnight. surrounded by a helpless family do, but yield to superior force ? I am ready to accompany your soldiers to your prison, for I suppose that is to be my fate ?"
" That is not the way, Mr. Bourdette," replied General Knyphan- sen. " I have no such intention. But you are a bold man thus to trifle with your family. I will return you to them for the present, but can- not always promise to be so lenient."
" General Knyphausen," replied my grandfather, " it may save you and my helpless family further trouble should the chance of war again bring General Washington under my roof. if I inform you that I am not advised of his intended movements. They will doubtless be dictated by the emergencies brought about by your superior numbers and appoint-
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.
ments; but I trust in God for my poor country, they will result in good. Good night, General, I am certainly indebted to you for your clemency. and hope you will save yourself and me any future trouble of a character like the present."
"Good night. Mr. Bourdette. You are a bold man, and if your countrymen were all like you, we would have harder duty before us."
My grandfather reached home in safety, and was awaited by the whole family, who had not slept since his departure.
But my pen betrays me, and I must close this tribute to the memory of the past. The family underwent many vicissitudes during the sub- sequent six years of the war.
The old house was rebuilt shortly after the war, and its rooftree a second time became grey with moss whilst it covered the venerable heads of its owners, and they recounted to their grandchildren the scenes they had witnessed, and again made it the abode of comfort and hospitality. Often, as in my schoolboy days. I have sought the old mansion through the forest of Weehawken, and could see the venerable pair seated on the porch, and hear the echo of the woodman's axe and the tinkling of the cow-bell, I have thought, even in my early youth, that a life thus spent, and nearing its close, was far more congenial with nature and true dignity of character. than all the applause of popu larity or the fawning sycophancy of luxury and fashion.
ROBERT ANNETT.
Robert Annett was born in Ireland of French ancestry September 1988. In company of his brother James and sister Mary. he came to this country when eleven years old. After landing he worked for a Quaker family in New York city, and was by them apprenticed to a ship carpenter. Being early thrown upon his own resources he did not stay long as ship carpenter, but became the owner of a small sloop, ( Perry Atger ), carrying freight along the Hudson and was for a time engaged in running a ferry from Hoboken to Christopher Street, New York. with Barnet De Klyn, in 1806, he opened a grocery store in Vessey street, North side, between Greenwich and Washington streets. While running this store old Commodore Vanderbilt would bring from Staten Island in his sloop a load of oysters to the oyster market. The old Commodore after selling his goods would often visit Robert Annett's store and buy his groceries. A strong friendship grew up between the two men and lasted during their lives.
In 1805 Robert Annett married Catharine, daughter of Samuel Moore. From this union were born twelve children, four of these dying in infancy. Those growing up were Mary, James, Stephen, Catharine, Robert, Jr., Alexander, Hannah and George W. Robert Annette moved to Fort Lee in the year 1824 and purchased a plot of ground between the old Fort Lee road and the river, from one - Sloat, he constantly added to this in time owning most of the Bluff property.
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The first ferry was run from Fort Lee to Spring street by John Degroat. Boat named "Echo" two trips a day. This was in the year 1825. The trip took two and a half hours time. The steamer "Shep- pard Knapp" took the place of the "Echo" in 1829, owned by Joe Coffee. She was replaced by the steamer "Boston" afterwards named "Robert Annett" also run by Coffee, Captain Ike Scott in command. Then the steamer "Frank," Captain Rodger; steamer "Flora," Captain Hanes; then "Thomas E. Hulse," Captain George W. Annett.
BERGEN COUNTY TRACTION COMPANY (TROLLEY) RAILROAD AND RIVER- SIDE AND FORT LEE FERRY.
The trolley which runs through Fort Lee from the ferry to 130th Street, New York, was commenced in March, 1895.
The Riverside and Fort Lee Ferry removed from the old landing at Fort Lee Under-the-Hill to Pleasant Valley April 20th, 1896. On that day the trolley and the ferry, which is its terminus, were opened for public traffic. At that time the road extended only as far as Leonia Heights, but has since been extended to the city of Englewood, and Bogota, on the Hackensack River, and will shortly run into Hackensack with which it is now connected by stage. After leaving the ferry the road runs up the Palisades by means of a switchback, thence along the Palisades along Palisade Avenue to Main Street, Fort Lee, continuing along Main Street to Leonia. The cars and other equipments of the line are of the most approved modern appliances known in trolley con- struction.
The road is owned and operated by Philadelphia people, the resi- dent officials of the company being William N. Barrows, Secretary and Treasurer; E. W. Lawson, Superintendent.
PALISADE RAILROAD.
The construction of this railroad was commenced in the year 1893 and completed and opened for traffic in the early part of 1894. It was first operated as a steam road, but has since been changed to Trolley. At first its northern terminus was at Fort Lee, but now extends to Coytes- ville, and is operated by the North Hudson Railroad Company, its ter- minus being the West Shore ferries at Weehawken, connecting with Hoboken, Jersey City, and the entire system of North Hudson Railroad Company.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
On the 2d of May, 1899, a meeting was held and appropriations made for lighting Fort Lee and Coytesville with electric lights. A con- tract was signed by the Township Committee with the Hackensack Gas and Electric Light Company, and the erection of the poles is now in progress. Everything will be in readiness for lighting by July 20th.
FORT LEE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fort Lee Fire Protection Association, No. 1, was organized as a volunteer fire company July 18, 1888. A handsome fire house was
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erected on the south side of Main street, two stories in height, with engine room down stairs and large meeting room upstairs. September 14, 1898, under an ordinance passed by the Ridgefield Township Com- mittee, this company was accepted as the first company of the Ridge- field Township Fire Department, and is now under township control as regular firemen.
MADONNA CHURCH.
Catholic services were first held at Fort Lee at the residence of Dr. H. Anderson, and in 1859 the present church was erected principally by Dr. Anderson. The pastors who have supplied this church are Fathers Anelli, 1859-62; J. Heyman, 1862; Patrick Corrigan, 1863-66; H. A. Brann, D. D., 1866-67; Patrick Cody, 1867-69; O. J. Smith, 1869-97; G. Spierings, 1870-76; Rev. Daniel, 1876-82; Rev. Dominic, 1882-86; Rev. Hyacinth, 1886-91; J. A. Huygen, July 25, 1891, to the present time.
The membership of the church including Coytesville, Nordhoff. Palisades Park and Undercliff is twelve hundred and sixty-five, men woman and children,
INSTITUTE OF THE HOLY ANGELS.
This institute for young ladies under the Sisters of Notre Dame was chartered by the Legislature in June 1890. The convent was once the residence of the late Dr. Anderson, a well known scientist and philanthropist who desired that his home should one day be converted into an institution of learning. The doctor did not live to see his wishes fulfilled but his plans were carried out in the purchase of his home together with the eleven acres of ground with it, by the Sisters of Notre Dame on the Feast of the Guardian Angel, October 2, 1879. In 1890 a new school building was erected on the north side of the old residence facing Linwood Avenue.
The building is furnished with every accessory for comfort, conve- nience and safety, and in dimensions is one hundred feet long by sixty- five feet in width, and three stories high.
The Sisters began the erection of the Chapel of the Holy Angels in March, 1894, and on the Feast of Annunciation, 25th of March, 1895, it was dedicated by the Right Reverend W. M. Wigger, Bishop of the Diocese, under whose lordship, also presiding on June 20th, 1899, the twentieth annual commencement of the school was held.
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Rev. Ralph Hoyt held Episcopal services in Fort Lee from 1852 to 1853 in a small church erected at a cost of four hundred dollars, but the church was never organized. Owing to Mr. Hoyt's ill health he aban- doned preaching and since 1880 no services have been held in the church. The house is now used for business purposes.
STONE CHURCH .- (PARKER PLACE.)
This building was erected in 1867 by General Edward Jardine, John G. Cunningham and others at a cost of eight thousand dollars. The
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first trustees were J. G. Brown, J. G. Cunningham and General Edward Jardine.
The church passed through many hands, owned at one time by J. R. Hoadley, of New York, who let it out to all denominations for relig- ious purposes, and it was so used from 1880 to 1889. In February 1899 it was purchased by the "Good Shepherd Mission" of the Episcopal Church, and is now owned and occupied by them, having a good and steadily increasing membership. The pastors from 1889 to date are as follows: Reverends Matthew A. Bailey, Walter M. Sherwood, J. Byron Curtis, M. M. Fothergill, James McCleary, and Charles M. Douglass. From the date of its erection to the present time, Charles Wilson has been sexton.
Reverend B. C. C. Parker came to Fort Lee in the year 1851, and built a home on what is now known as Parker Place. He came originally from Boston, and settled in New York where he preached in the Seaman's Floating Church at Peck's Slip. He made many improvements about his home at Fort Lee, employing a number of men. He died January 3, 1859.
THE CHURCH OF THE PALISADES.
The Church of the Palisades, (Dutch Reformed ), in Coytesville, owes its origin, under God, to the self denying labors of Mrs. Catherine F. Dana, wife of Mr. William B. Dana.
On the 15th day of February, 1863, she organized a Sabbath school at her residence near Englewood, which rapidly increased in members and interest, and soon led to the establishment of a monthly preaching service conducted by the neighboring clergy. A little later, in response to an application made by Mr. Dana to the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church, an appropriation of three hundred dollars was made by said Board, in part payment of the support of a missionary to the people living in the vicinity of Mr. Dana's residence, and the Rev. Dr. Puytren Vermilye was put in charge of the Mission.
On the 22nd of May, 1866, a church was organized by the Classis of Bergen at the house of Mr. Dana; and in September, 1867, the "Church of the Palisades" was incorporated in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
In November, 1867, Mr. Joseph Coyte presented to the church two building lots in the village of Coytesville, and sold to the church a third lot adjoining, for the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. On this site a chapel was erected, and was dedicated to the worship of God on the 14th of October, 1868. A loan of $1000 was made to the church from the Building Fund of the Board of Domestic Missions, which made the erection of the chapel possible.
The connection of the Rev. Mr. Vermilye with the church was severed in January, 1868, and he was immediately succeeded by the Rev. Isaac M. See as Missionary. Mr. See withdrew in 1871, and following him the Rev. J. A. Davis, January 28, 1872; the Rev. Henry Maltice in
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1873, the Rev. F. M. Bogardus in 1879 and the Rev. W. E. Buckelew in May 1888.
In the Spring of 1888 a considerable number of the congregation became disaffected and withdrew from the church, and organized a Congregational Church. Mr. Buckelew's health failed, and he was dismis- sed from his pastoral charge in the early part of 1893, and in May of the same year the Rev. Artemas Dean, D. D., was installed and still remains pastor of the church.
" The Church of the Palisades" has ever been small in numbers, and until May 1894, regularly received large aid from the Board of Domestic Missions. Since that date it has been self supporting. Mr. William B. Dana, though no longer a resident in this neighborhood, has continued to this day to be a princely contributor to the treasury of the church, and without his aid it is difficult to see how the regular worship of the sanctuary could have been maintained. A Christian Endeavor Society organized six years ago, has done good work, and dur- ing two years of its history gave more per capita to the Mission Boards of our order than any other Christian Endeaver Society in New Jersey. Two years ago it raised funds and purchased a free circulating Library numbering over nine hundred volumes, which is kept in the gallery of the church, under the care of the Society.
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