USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 55
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 55
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"I do not find that Pinkerton's Alley contained any honses other than those on the several corners. Aaron D. Woodruff, nearly twenty years afterwards and for the term of twenty-four years, held the office of at- torney-general of the State. He lived on Third Street next to Mr. Tin- dall's. The Rev. Dr. Elihn Spencer, and after him the Rev. James F. Armstrong, resided in the Presbyterian parsonage on Third Street, just east of Mr. Woodruff's house. There was a stable by the parsonage which was destroyed by the Hessians. The parsonage was also used by them as a hospital, and mich damaged. Stephen Lowrey, who lived at Dr. Spencer's, was commissary of issues in the commissary-general's de- partment. The Friends' meeting-house at the end of the street is stiil standing, although mueb modernized in appearance. It was built in 1739. Nearly opposite it lived Maj. Schy ler, a well-known colored man. Beyond the street commenced the orchard where the Hessians retreate.] after the surprise on the morning of December 26th, and where they at last surrendered.
"John Rickey had a honse and hardware-store abont where Chief Jns- tice Beasley now resides. It was a donble one-story hipped-roof stone building, and built in 1752. The village school-house was where the Pres- byterian Church stands, and the church itself was quite near what is now the City Hall lot. Polly Yard lived on the south side of Second Street, west of William Tucker's. William Roscoe. an express-rider for Gov- ernor Livingston, lived in a little one-story building. The Bull's Head tavern, kept by Henry Drake, was the largest building on the block, then Sylvester Doyle's honse and the post office before mentioned. Moore Furman, deputy quartermaster-general of the State, had an office and resided where the State Street Honse is located. The alley opposite, now Sterling's Alley, was called Innt's Alley, Abraham Hunt's stable being on the westerly corner. Polly Hawkins lived in a small honse on this alley, Mr. Davies lived just west of the stable on Second Street, in what was afterward called the Pike House. Maj. Peter Gor- dou, of the quartermaster-general's department, for many years State treasurer, lived nearly opposite, and Alexander Chambers' residence was next door, and his store on the corner of the River road. Sqnire Benjamin Yard lived on the opposite corner. A lane half the width of Second Street led westerly as far only as the stone house in after-years, 1793 and 1704, Gen. Knox's war office. I have failed to find who owned it in 1776. Ont on the River road, a property now owned by Mr. Richey, Sir John Sinclair lived on 'his elegant seat called Bellville,' and Gen. Philemon Dickinson owned the 'Hermitage,' a portion of which now forms the residence of Mr. Atterbury. This was the Yager picket-post on that road. Gen. Dickinson purchased this place July 30, 1776. It may be noted that this investment took place be- tween the declaration of independence and the battle of Trenton, and it shows his confidence in the patriotism of the country when he placed funds in a property which lay on the highway between two great cities, objective-points for British attack. Capt. Jobn Mott, of the Jer- sey Continental troops, and guide to the American army at the batile of Trenton, lived some distance ont of the town on property now at- tached to the lunatic asylum. The Widows' Home, ou Front Street, was then joined with the stone house on the opposite side of the
name of Downing lived on the southwest corner of Pinkerton's Alley, . street, and this made the barracks, erected in 1736, during the French
and Indian war, intended to hold . abont three hundred men,' and used at the period of which we speak to hold refugees and soldiers of Knyp- hansen's regiment. Stacy Potts, in 1776, built a steel-works just back of the barracks on Petty's Run, and Dr. Daniel W. Coxe erected a stone building for a paper-mill, in 1736, near the outlet of Petty's Run into the As-anpink Creek.
"On the northerly side of Front Street, between King and Queen Streets, wasa small tavern called Shipand Castle, and then Samnel W. Stockton's residence, hear the Black Horse tavern on the corner. Mr. Stockton was then a young man, but afterward became quite prominent in official life. Between his house and the tavern, off of the line of the street, wa- the village market. MIry. Yard lived on the south side of Front street, - . and there was also a building near her house used ns Tard's bakery.
"Crossing the Queen Street bridge, on the east side, was the site of Mahlon Stacy's flour-mill, built in 1650, of hewn logs, and one and uno- half stories high. In 1600, William Trent purchased the property and built a stone mill there two stories high. George Bright had a twostory stone building next to the mill, which he used as a bakery. On n rongh blue sandstone, imbedded in the wall, was ent, 'G. B., 1756.' This stone
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
was afterwards placed in the front wall of the paper-mill of Harry Mc- Call. Mr. Bright lived on the west side of the road, opposite his bakery. Next to the bakery was Jonathan Richmond's tavern, the headquarters of Geu. Washington for the first two days of the year 1777, but which he was obliged to abandon on the afternoon of Jannary 20. Samnel Wooley lived on the westerly side, and Capt. Alexander Donglass in what was so long known as the Douglass Honse, Gen. St. Clair's head-
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THE DOUGLASS HOUSE. Gen. St. Clair's Headquarters, where Gen. Washington hield a Council of War, Jan. 2, 1777.
quarters, lately torn down. Jacob Garwood lived on the easterly side, nearly opposite the lane leading to the Bloomsbury farm, the residence of John Cox Miss Mary Dagworthy, who was so active in ailing the sick and wounded soldiers, and who strewed flowers afterward on Wash- ington's pathway at the bridge, lived and taught school where the Eagle Hotel now stands. Robert Pearson lived a short distance south of the entrance to the Ferry road.
" Dr. Daniel W. Coxe, the counselor and friend of the English army, lived on the corner of the wagon-road leading from Bloomsbury farm to the Ferry road. Opposite his honse was a fort, built during the French and Indian war, and just beyond it Rensselaer Williams' tavern. Opposite the tavern was the saddlery of Mr. B. Smith.
" Below Trenton Landing, in Lamberton, I note the house of Capt. John Cluun, a mariner, in the house now occupied by James Wooley, also Hugh Runyon, a druggist, Jabez Ashmore, William Richards, a store-keeper, William Douglas, and Abraham Waglum.
"There are a few others who resided in Trenton, I have reason to think, at this period, but whose residence cannot now be accurately de- termined. Among these are Charles Cinun, William Pidgeon, Michael Thorn, Daniel Howell, William Clayton, and Michael Cinnn. During the war, although I believe at the latter part of it, James Burnside had a book-tore, and John Singer a dry-goods store, in the village. Robert Hoops lived, if not in Trenton, still near the town. Dr. William Bryant, the eminent physician, lived sonth of the Assanpink Creek. Probably most if not all those just named lived in the same locality."
Washington's Reception at Trenton .- The re- ception of Gen. Washington at Trenton on his way to New York to assume the duties of President, to which office he had just been declared elected, took place on the 21st of April, 1789. The memory of this ceremony was always cherished with pride, both by those who participated in it and those who wit-
nessed it, and the history of it is read with pride by their descendants.
The following account of the most interesting part of this ceremony was written by Adjt .- Gen. William S. Stryker :
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" At the bridge over the creek :in Greene Street) the ladies of Trenton had formed a plan to testify to Gen. Washington their appreciation of his noble deeds, and the love which the whole nation felt for its great deliverer. Here he had captured a body of Hessian mercenaries under Col. Rahl, who had done all that bad mien could do to injure the good people of the Jerseys. On this very spot he had withstood for hours the advance of the British, and afterward had performed one of the masterly movements of the war. During these eventful two weeks he had nearly freed the entire State of an insolent foe. In grateful memory of the successful issue of the Revolutionary struggle the ladies prepared for Washington a reception which was peculiar in the good taste displayed, and which certainly was intensely gratifying to him.
ASSANPINK BRIDGE AND THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH OF 1789.
"On the north side of the bridge an arch about twenty feet high was raised, supported on one side by seven and on the other by six pil- lars. The arch was nearly twenty feet wide and abont twelve feet in length. Each of the thirteen pillars was entirely covered with masses of evergreens and wreaths of laurel, and the arches above were closely twined abont with the same material, and festooned inside with long ropes of laurel and the flowers of early spring. On the south side of the archway, the side which first appeared to the Presidential party, an in- scription in large gilt letters on a blne ground was fastened, and beanti- fully ornamented with flowers :
"THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS WILL BE THE PROTECTOR OF THE DAUGHTERS.'
" Above this arch was a circlet of laurels and flowers, wreathing the dates of those two events just referred to :
". December 26, 1776-Jannary 2, 1777.'
"On the top of this mass of evergreens was a large sunflower, which was intended to emblemize the American people, who turned towards him as the only Snu which would give life and warmth to the body politic.
"The structure had been erected the day previous by workmen in charge of Benjamin Yard, and the ladies had been busy all the morning putting in position the wreaths and emblems which they had with such taste prepared. Beneath this arch Gen. Washington must pass to enter Trenton.
" As he came to the high ground on Mill Hill, some two hundred yards below the creek, the beautiful triumphal arch appeared. But as he passed through the archway with uncovered head a still more lovely sight greeted him. On the one side of the arch he saw six little girls dressed in white carrying baskets of flowers; on the other side, thirteen young ladies to represent the several States, who were dressed in a similar style, and also had baskets filled with flowers; behind all these a nuia- ber of the matrons of the town and neighboring villages.
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CITY OF TRENTON.
"As Washington entered the arch the six little girls began to sing a beautiful ode which had been written by Maj. Richard Howell, and which, under the instruction of Rev. James F. Armstrong, they per- formed with exquisite sweetness:
" Welcome, mighty chief ! once more Welcome to this grateful shore ! Now no mercenary foe Aims again the fatal blow- Aims at thee the fatal blow.
" Virgins fair and matrons grave, Those thy conquering arms did save, Build for thee triumphal bowers. Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers- Strew your hero's way with flowers!"
At the conclusion of the last line the way was strewn with flowers by the young ladies and little girls.
Gen. Washington acknowledged his appreciation of this reception in the following letter, which is still carefully preserved here :
"General Washington canuot leave this place without expressing his acknowledgements to the Matrons and young Ladies who received him in so novel & grateful a manner at the Triumphal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite sensation he experienced in that affecting moment. The astonishing contrast between his former and actual situation at the same spot, the elegant taste with which it was adorned for the present occasion, aud the innocent appearance of the white-robed Choir who met hint with the gratulatory sung, have made such impressions ou bis re- membrance as, he assures them, will never be effaced.
"TRENTON, April 21st, 1789."
Congress-Lafayette in Trenton .- The Congress of the United States met at Trenton on the Ist of November, 178. During this session, which contin- ued here till the 24th of the next month, an act was passed authorizing the appointment of commission- ers " with full powers to lay out a district not less than two, nor exceeding three miles square, on the banks of either side of the Delaware, not more than eight miles above or below the lower falls thereof, for a Federal town."
On the 11th of December the Marquis de Lafayette was formally received by Congress, and also by the Legislature of New Jersey. He remained in Trenton at that time about three weeks.
During his tour through the United States forty years later, Gen. Lafayette was received and honored at Trenton by the citizens of the city and surround- ing country. The following is a copy of a paper which originated at that time. The original is in the possession of Mayor G. D. W. Vroom, of Trenton :
"We, the subscribers, agree to pay to Pearson Hunt, Wm. Halstead, and David Johnston, committee of arrangement, our proportion of the expence attending the reception of Gen1. La Fayette, at Trenton, ou Saturday the 16th July, 1825.
" Sam. R. Hamilton, 1; John Wilson, B; R. P. Atkinson, 2; Lucius Ho- ratio Stockton, 3; Thos. J. Stryker, 4; Chas. Higbee, 5; P. T. Glent- worth, 6; John Lafaucherrie, 7; Chas. Burroughs, 8; Seth Wright, E; R. A. IInnt, B; F. Tyler, 9; Charles Ewing, 10; Zac. Rossell, B; Win. Hyer, B; Charles Parker, 11 ; Thomas L. Woodruff, B; Pear- Bon Hunt, B; Jno. C. Chambers, 12; Thos. Wood, 13; A. M. Mc- Neely, 14; Win. Halted, Jun., B; David Johnston, B; Abm Up- dike, 15; Samnel Dickinson, 16; Westley P. Hunt, B; Garret D. Wall, B; P. Forman, 17; George Clymer, B; Joseph Higbee, B."
" TRENTON,1 27th October, 1817.
"SIE,-As soon as you come into Trenton to the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, the Eleventh: day of November next, I am desirous of bolding with you some conversation. There will then be in my hands two write in the Supreme Court ready for immediate service. It is advisable that one of the two writs should be served by yourself as high sheriff, and that it should not be served by your under-sheriff. Therefore, I shall be glad to see at the next Supreme Court yourself, and not your under- sheriff. These lines are addressed to you for your information and re- membrance. I am with great respect to you, Sir,
" Your humble servant,
" SAMUEL LEAKE. "TO JAMES S. MANNERS, Esquire,
"Sheriff of Hunterdon."
State Buildings in Trenton .- Trenton was made the capital of the State Nov. 25, 1790, and a year later an act was passed " to provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of the Legislature and public offices of the State." Pending the passage of this act unsuccessful efforts were made to change the location of the buildings to New Brunswick and to Woodbury.
Ground on which to erect these buildings was pur- chased from Joseph Brittain, George Ely, and Mrs. Mary McCall, in all three and three-quarter acres. Of this two and a quarter acres were sold to the State by Joseph Brittain for five shillings.
The buildings were erected under the above-named act, and. from time to time they have been enlarged and changed to meet the demands of changing cir- cumstances till they have their present dimensions and appearance. Space will not permit a detail of these changes, which have been made by the authority and at the expense of the State.
At first the use of the State House appears to have been permitted for other purposes than for the ac- commodation of the constituted authorities. In 1803 a resolution was adopted forbidding any such use of it. This resolution was the result of an inquiry into the circumstances attending the assembling and riotous conduct of a mob during that year.
THE STATE LIBRARY, which, though it is not a local institution, possesses great local interest, is first mentioned in the proceedings of the Legislature in 1796. At first it consisted of a single case, in which were a few books. In 1804 the library contained one hundred and sixty-eight volumes, most of which were laws of New Jersey and other States, and journals of Congress, and of the Legislatures of this and other States. In 1813 the first act of the Legis- lature concerning the State Library was passed, and in 1815 rules for its preservation and regulation were adopted.
In 1822 an act was passed providing for the annual appointment of a librarian. Under this act the fol- lowing have been appointed, and each was reap- pointed till the time of his successor's appointment : William L. Prall, 1822; Charles Parker, 1823 : Wil- liam Boswell, 1829; Peter Forman, 1833; Charles C. Yard, 1837 ; Peter Forman, 1843; William De Hart,
1 Copy of an antograph letter of Samuel Leake's, In possession of Jacob Weart, Esq., of Jerery City.
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
1845; Sylvester Vansickle, 1852; Charles J. Shrie, 1853; Clarence J. Mulford, 1866; Jeremiah Dally, 1869 ; and the present librarian, James S. MeDaniels, 1872.
In 1836 the law library was kept in the Supreme Court room. It now occupies the whole of the first floor of the library, and the alcoves there are furnished with tables, etc., for the use of those who desire to eonsult it. The miscellaneous books are kept in the gallery. The total number of volumes in both de- partments is thirty thousand.
MUSEUM OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY .- In 1876 a collection was made of geological, mineralogical, and agricultural specimens in the State of New Jersey for exhibition at the Centennial Exposition. In 1877 these were arranged in a museum in the State capitol, where they have since been kept. This museum is one of the chief local attractions of the city.
STATE PRISON AND ARSENAL .- In 1795 the first State Prison was creeted a short distance south from where the present State Prison stands, between Sec- ond and Third Streets. This was the penal institu- tion of the State till 1836, when the present State Prison was first occupied, and the old edifice was eon- verted into an arsenal. The two oeeupy the entire space bounded by Second, Federal, Third, and Cass Streets.
COUNTY COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL .- The county eourt-house stands on a spacious lot at the corner of Broad and Market Streets. A short distance from it, on each side, stand the offices of the county clerk and surrogate. The jail is in the rear of the court-house, and fronts on Cooper Street.
RANDOLPH H. MOORE .- The Moore family were early settlers of Hopewell township, then Hunterdon
City Public Buildings .- The first eourt-house and County, now Mercer. His grandfather, Nathan Moore, jail in Trenton stood in Warren Street, on the present 1 was a farmer in Hopewell, where he was born and site of the Trenton Bank. It was probably erected in 1720. Raum says of it, " It was a two-story building, erected of gray sandstone, with stuccoed front. The cells were in the lower story. The upper story was used as a court-room, the entrance to which was by a number of stone steps erected on the outside of the building and surmounted by an iron railing. The steps extended over the pavement, commencing from the gutter, and persons going into the court-room were compelled to ascend from the street. Pedestrians going up and down the street passed directly under these steps. They were afterwards removed from the street and placed erosswise upon the front of the build- ing, commencing from either eorner on the north and south sides of it, and meeting at the top in the centre of the building, forming a pyramid, so that anyone going into the court-room could ascend either from the north or south side of it. Subsequently these steps were removed and placed inside the building." where he died about 1827, aged about seventy-five years, leaving children,-Cornelius F., Absalom, and Ruth. Of these, Cornelins F., father of our subject, married Rachel, daughter of William Swem, of Hope- well, who died in 1850, aged fifty-three years, and who bore him the following children: Nathan, a merchant of Philadelphia and temperanee reformer, died at Bass River, N. J .; Deborah, wife of James B. Green, of Ewing; Catherine, wife of John W. La Tourette, of Trenton; De Witt C., was a merchant in Philadelphia, and noted in that eity and New York for his vocal powers as a singer, and died in 1877, aged fifty years; Absalom B. was a colonel in the late war, went to Illi- nois as the agent of the Illinois Central Railroad, was for fifteen years clerk of La Salle County, and died in Chieago in 1878; and Randolph H. Moore. The father, Cornelius F. Moore, spent most of his active business life as a farmer in Ewing township, and while a young man was a volunteer in the war of 1812 under Gen. Garret D. Wall. He died in 1853, in the sixtieth year of his age.
Randolphi H., youngest son of Cornelius F. Moore,
was born in the township of Ewing, June 26. 1830, where he spent his boyhood in the routine of farm- work and attending school. When nearly seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the machin- ist's trade with Van Cleve & MeKean, Trenton, with whom he remained for four years. During his first year as journeyman he received an injury in one of his limbs which compelled him to abandon his trade and seek other employment, and since that time he has been almost uninterruptedly connected with the public offiecs of the eity, county, and courts. He was assessor of the First Ward of the city for four years, was for two years employed in the Supreme Court at the State-House, and for three years following in the ehaneery office. He was deputy county elerk under Robert C. Bellville for nine years, and after the expi- ration of that gentleman's term of office formed a partnership with him in the real estate and insurance business. During these business relations, as ageut of the Mutual Life, he was very sneeessful, and con- tracted a million and a half for the company in eleven years. lle was also appointed during this time deputy collector of internal revenue for Trenton, and served under John .N. L. Stratton. In 1872, Mr. Moore was elected clerk of Mercer County, and by re-election is the incumbent of the office in 1882. He was appointed a master in chancery in 1874, and no- tary public in 1855, and he was one of the incorpo- | rators of the Phoenix Iron Company, of Trenton, and has been vice-president of the company since its or- ganization. He was united in marriage in 1851 to Mrs. Sarah Jane, daughter of Isaac Warner, and widow of the late William Brant. Their children are Edwin A., Florence D., and Albert W.
The old town-house which succeeded this, and which must have been built about the commence- ment of the present century, stood in Academy Street, near the present Trenton Academy. The
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CITY OF TRENTON.
lower story of this was the city prison, and in the yard stood the whipping-post as long as corporal pun- ishment was practiced. In the second story was a room where what was known as the Court of Quarter Sessions was held. This court was erected for the convenience of the city, the county-seat of Hunter- don County being so far distant as to render the ad- ministration of justice in minor eases troublesome and expensive.
The present City Hall, on the corner of State and (freene Streets, was crected in 1837, when Greene Street was not the centre of the town, but was con- sidered a back street. The upper story of this was finished for a Common Council room and for the holding of this court.
In the second story was a place for public meetings, lectures, etc., or what might be termed a public hall. In the lower story were rooms for various purposes.
On the erection of Mercer County the necessity for this Court of Quarter Sessions here no longer existed, and the court- and council-room came to be used as a council-room alone.
The erection of other halls for lectures and enter- tainments rendered the one here less necessary, and the growing wants of the city demanded the room which the town hall occupied. It was accordingly divided into offices for the use of the city officials, and it has been thus occupied since. As the city police came into existence, the lower story was occupied for police purposes. This building is now in process of renovation, and when this is completed it will pre- sent an appearance quite in accordance with modern taste.
Market-Houses .- Previous to the incorporation of Trenton as a city, a market-house had been crected in Warren Street, commencing at State, and extend- ing about sixty feet north. It occupied the middle of the street, as did the markets that were built dur- ing many years afterward. At the southern end of it stood the old town-pump, and near this the pillory and whipping-post. The pillory was abolished when the city came to have a prison, and after some years the whipping-post was also abolished. It disappeared in the night, no one knew by what ageney.
Soon after the incorporation of the city the old mar- ket-house was sold " for five pounds one shilling and ten pence." In the autumn of 1793 a new market- house was built "in the middle of Second (now State) Street, between King (now Warren) Street and Queen (now Greene) Street." This market consisted of two buildings and a space between them. The first, look- ing from Warren Street, was used as a meat-market, the second as a truck-market, and the space between was also utilized for the sale of truck.
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