History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 6

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096

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 6
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 6

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" W.M. LEWIS, " NATHANIEL LEWIS, " Philadelphia.""

"near Crosswicks.

Some time about the close of the Revolutionary war three of Mr. Lewis' sons conveyed the property to Amariah Farnsworth and another person jointly. Farnsworth afterwards purchased his copartner's un- divided interest and became the sole owner of the property.

From the New Jersey Gazette, April 30, 1783 :

" BORDENTOWN, April 28, 1783.

"On Saturday, the 19th instant, the glorious peace of the 3d of Feb- ruary, 1783, was celebrated in this town, it being that day eight years since hostilities commenced by the subjects of the King of Great Britain upon the citizens of the United States of America, who have bravely struggled through all the calamities of a bloody and destructive war, until, by the aid of a kind Providence they have obtained peace and inde- pendence, the most desirable of all blessings.

" The gentlemen of the town and its vicinity met at Col. Oakey Hoag- land's, at 12 o'clock, where the Governor's proclamation was read ; afler which 13 cannons were fired, succeeded by three huzzas of the people, with every mark of real joy on that great occasion.

" At 3 o'clock they dined at Colonel Hoagland's; after which the fol- lowing toasts were drunk, accompanied by the discharge of artillery and small arms :

"1. The glorious peace of February 3d, 1783.

"2. The United States of America.

"3. His Most Christian majesty.

" 4. The United Provinces.

"5. Gen. Washington and the army of the United States.

"6. General Greene.

"7. The American Commissioners at Paris.

"8. Count de Rochambean, and the French troops who served in America.

"9. The Marqnis de la Fayette, and all such distinguished patriots.

"10. All the brave Whigs of the United States of America.

" 11. Agriculture, Irade and navigation.

" 12. The memory of all those who have lost their lives in defence of our liberties.

" 13. The Governor and State of New Jersey ; may she ever stand a distinguished pattern of virtue, publick spirit and strict justice to all who have generously supported her in the hour of distress.

"At 7 o'clock in the evening the houses were beautifully illuminated, and in particular the house and academy of the Rev. Burges Allison, whose windows were ingenionsly decorated with the following Irans- parent paintings.

" Ist. The sun in its meridian splendor, shedding his rays on the seg- ment of a globe comprehending North America, with this motto: 'shine on this happy land.'

" 2d. The portrait of His Excellency Gen. Washington, encompassed with 13 stars, representing the United States of America, with tho motto: 'Independent, united, and free,' above, and 'Success to our allies,' below.

"3d. Peace, represented by implements of husbandry, and a dove with an olive branch, motto : ' They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and spears into pruning-hooks.'

"4th. Plenty, represented ly two cornucopias of fruit and flowers, the cornua supporting a festoon, two wheat-sheaves, and a basket of fruil.

"5th. The crown of France in the middle of Ihreo fleur de lis, with this motto: 'Long live Louis the XVIth.'

"6th. A trophy adorned with The British arms, drums, inverted

1 See general history.

BORDENTOWN.

467

standards, motto: ' The spoils of our foes,' over which was . Fame' fly- ing, with a label from her trumpet, 'America shall be free.'

"7th. Britannia, sitting in a disconsolate posture, pointing at her broken spear, says, by a label, 'Alas! I've lost America;' Mars, stand- ing with his sword extended over her head, and saying, per label, 'I've humbled thy pride.'

"Sth. America, in the figure of an Indian, with his bow and arrow by his side, and the British crown carelessly lying at his feet, Mercury standing by him with a laurel crown, saying, per label, 'The laniels thon hast won.'

"The whole making a very brilliant appearance, and affording the most pleasing and agreeable entertainment to the spectators. The even- ing closed with a ball for the further entertainment of the ladies of the town, and thus, with the greatest good and decorum, ended the celebra- tion of peace, which God grant may long continue to bless our land, and of which we most sincerely congratulate the citizens of the United States of America."

name to the city, and the male line of our city's Mary, daughter of Langhorn Biles, who resided near Morrisville, Bueks Co., Pa., and who married a sister of Col. Kirkbride. Capt. Borden was an ardent ' patriot, and during the Revolutionary war raised and commanded the Burlington County troop of light- horse, and held, we are under the impression, at the same time the commission of quartermaster of the militia. Upon a number of occasions he rendered important service to the cause, particularly in scour- ing the country after Torics, refugees, and Pine robbers. When Washington was preparing for the surprise at Germantown, and Gen. David Forman marched at the head of nine hundred Jersey militia . and Continental stragglers to his assistance,1 Capt. Borden accompanied him as quartermaster, and du- ring the battle, while acting as an aide, received a musket-wound from which he never fully recovered. It is traditional in his family that his death was hastened by this wound, and although eleven years passed before his death, it annoyed him much. The line of his duty as quartermaster did not call him to the battle-field, but to the train in the rear, and nothing could more elearly show his spirit, courage, and sense of duty to his country than his volunteering upon the staff of Gen. Forman in the hour of battle. During the intervals between his services in the field, which ceased with the action at Germantown, and until the elose of the war, he held several important civil trusts, one as United States loan officer, and another as commissioner of the Court of Inquisition to try cases of disloyalty to the State. It is very probable, with his father's extensive transactions as proprietor of a line of stages and boats between Phil- adelphia and New York, his store, cooper-shop, etc., he was a partner, but we have no proof of this. As ' he died possessed of a considerable estate, it is pre -;

sumable he was engaged in some active business. From the responsible office of Commissioner of the Court of Inquisition he held, his well-worded letters, and fair handwriting, there is every indication he possessed a very liberal education. He left one child, Elizabeth Borden, who, after the death of her mother, inherited his estate. She married Azariah Hunt, of Hopewell township, Mereer Co .; had seven children, one of whom, Mrs. Mary B. Pearson, still resides on the old homestead on a bold bluff overlooking the Crosswieks.

Adjt .- Gen. Stryker, in his "Washington's Recep- tion by the People of New Jersey in 1789," says, " Mrs. Mary Borden, widow of Captain Joseph Bor- den," was one of "the matrons who assembled at the house of James Ewing," and "took charge of the beautiful ceremonies on that occasion." Also that "Miss Elizabeth Borden, only daughter of Captain

CAPT. JOSEPH BORDEN .- On the 16th of Octo- ber, 178S, Capt. Joseph Borden, Jr., died at his residence in Bordentown. He was born in 1755, and died at the early age of thirty-three years. He was the only son of the only son of him who gave his . Borden," was one of the thirteen young ladies who represented the several States upon the same occa- patron became extinct at his death. He married sion, and that she was about thirteen years of age at

that time.

JUDGE JOSEPH BORDEN .- On the Sth of April, 1791, Judge Joseph Borden died at his residence at the southeasterly corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Park Street. He was born in 1719, and at his death was in his seventy-second year. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of Marmaduke Watson. From early manhood he was engaged in active business pursuits with his father, upon whose death, which occurred in 1765, he assumed the entire control of the stage and boat line between Philadelphia and New York. These he managed, probably conjointly with his son, with great activity and energy until January, 1788, when his advanced years and the declining health of his son, Capt. Borden, caused him to retire from business life. During the war, whenever the State was clear of the enemy, and both cities were in pos- session of the Americans. he continued the trips of his line. He was also engaged for many years in merchandising on an extensive scale. Having come into possession of a large landed estate in and around Bordentown upon the death of his father, he continued the scheme of laying out and opening streets, and cutting up the ground into building lots. From the earliest commencement of the Revolutionary strug- gle he espoused the patriot eause with ardor. He was chosen a member2 of the first Revolutionary con- vention that met at New Brunswick, July 2, 1774, to eleet delegates to represent New Jersey in the nrst Continental Congress, and was by it chosen one of the Committee of Correspondence. This committee was one of great importance.

In February, 1775, he was chosen one of the Com- mittee of Observation for Burlington County, and also a member of the Provincial Congress3 that met at Trenton in May, June, and August of that year. By

: Gordon's Hist. N. J., p. 156.

3 Ibid., p. 101.

1 Adjt .. Gen. Stryker -- verbal.

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468

HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

this Congress he was appointed one of the Committee of Safety, to act as an executive body during recess.' In this same year we find him colonel of the First Regiment Burlington militia, which position he held until Sept. 28, 1776, when he resigned to accept that of judge of the Court of Common Pleas, to which he was appointed Sept. 11, 1776, and reappointed Sept. 28, 1781. He also, Sept. 28, 1776, was appointed quartermaster. In this latter position he rendered most efficient service in collecting stores and provis- ions for the army ; his great business qualifications, his knowledge of the resources of the county, his ac- tivity and untiring zeal rendering him a most efficient officer.

Early in January, 1778, he was one of the prime movers in the celebrated keg enterprise. This act shows his patriotism and ardor, and dearly did he pay for it in the utter destruction of everything combus- tible which he owned within reach of the enemy.

Col. Borden possessed a liberal education and was a well-read man. Tradition represents him as tall of stature and possessed of the port of a courteous gentlemau. The important offices he held shows he possessed the confidence of the community, and that he was the leading spirit of the neighborhood. He died possessed of a large estate, both real and personal. His only son, Capt. Borden, died some two years and a half before him. His two and only daughters both had the rare honor of marrying signers of the Declaration of Independence. Ann married Francis Hopkinson, famed as a poet, artist, and statesman; and Maria, Thomas Mckean. His widow, Elizabeth, survived him sixteen years, dying in 1807, in her eighty-second year.

--- -

FRANCIS HOPKINSON .- Thomas Hopkinson, the founder of the Hopkinsou family in America, and father of the eminent Francis, was born in London in April, 1709. He came to this country while young, and married Mary Johnson, the niece of the Bishop of Worcester, England, in 1736. IIe possessed a fine genius and finished education, having been a student at Oxford. He was distinguished for his classical at- tainments, general learning, the brilliancy of his con- versation, and his fondness for philosophical studies. He was judge of the Court of Admiralty, was a mem- ber of the literary society called the "Junto," and afterwards the first president of the American Philo- sophical Society.

Thomas Hopkinson died at early age, leaving a widow and several children, of whom Francis, then not more than fourteen years old, was the eldest. His baptism is thus given in the register of Christ's Church : " Francis S. (son) of Thomas & Mary Hop- kinson, aged 7 weeks, 12 Nov. 1737, O. S." He grad- uated at the College of Philadelphia, having been the first student who entered that institution, and after- wards studied law under Benjamin Chew, Esq., then

attorney-general of the city. But little is known to the author of his pursuits in early manhood. From among the unpublished letters of the American Philo- sophieal Society, however, is taken the following in- teresting extract, that refers to that period :

" I have finished the translation of the Psalms of David, to the great satisfaction of the Dutch congre- gation at New York and they have paid me £145 their currency, which I intend to keep as a Body Reserve in Case I should go to England.

"Your Sincere " & much obliged Friend " FRAS. HOPKINSON.

" PHILA., Dec. 13th, 1765."

The title of the translation referred to in this letter is: "The Psalms of David, with the ten command- ments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c., in metre. Also the Catechism, Confession of Faith, Liturgy, &c. Trans- lated from the Dutch for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the city of New York. 1. 6 mo., New York, 1767."

In 1766 he embarked for England for the purpose of visiting the land of his fathers. Such was the es- timation in which he was held in his native city that he received a public expression of respect and affec- tion from the board of trustees of the college of Philadelphia, which the provost of that institution was desired to communicate him, and wish him in behalf of his Alma Mater a safe voyage. He resided there for about two years, and appears to have spent much of his time in Hartlebury Castle, the palace of his relative, the Lord Bishop of Worcester. In the edition of his works in three volumes, 1792, and now become a rare book, we find several poems dated at that place in 1766 and 1767.

Francis Hopkinson returned to America probably iu the latter part of 1767. About this time he became acquainted with Miss Borden, for whom he formed an ardent attachment.

Miss Borden, the daughter of Judge Joseph Borden, like her sister Maria, who married Governor Thomas Mckean, was said to be one of the most beautiful ladies of New Jersey. In the fall they were married .? In the Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Adrer- tiser, No. 86, for Monday, Sept. 5, 1768, we find the following announcement of the marriage :

" Bordentown, Sept. 3.

"On Thursday last FRANCIS HOPKINSON, Esq. of PHILADELPHIA, was joined in the Veivet Bands of HYMEN, to MISS NANCY BORDEN, of this place, a lady amiable both for her internal as well as external Accomplishments, and in the Words of a celebrated Poet :

"""Without all shining, and within all white, Pure to the sense, and pleasing to the sight.'"

His acknowledged talents soon attracted the atten- tion of the royal government, from which he received the appointment of, collector of the customs of the

I Mulford'e Ilist. of N. J., p. 406.

2 Christ Church Records: " 1768, Sept. 1, Francis Hopkinson, Esq., and Ann Borden."

469

BORDENTOWN.

port of Philadelphia and executive counselor. These offices, however, he did no: long hold, being obliged to sacrifice them in the cause of his country. He en- tered with strong feelings into the public measures which preceded the Revolutionary contest. About this period he took up his residence in Bordentown, residing in the present Hopkinson mansion. At that time, when the citizens of the embryo nation were. searching for their purest and best men to whom they . eould intrust the fate of their country and their own welfare, his abilities and patriotism pointed him out as a proper person to represent them in Congress.

On the 21st of June the Provincial Congress, then in session at Burlington, chose Richard Stockton, Fran- eis Hopkinson, Jolin Witherspoon, D. D., LL. D., John Hart, and Abraham Clark as their delegation. It would seem that Francis Hopkinson was the leading spirit of this delegation, at least it is certain that on the 28th of June he presented to the Continental Con- gress instructions from the Provincial Congress of New Jersey empowering him and his colleagues to join in declaring the United Colonies independent of Great Britain, and on the journal of Congress the name of none of the delegates excepting him appears between the 21st of June and the 4th of July. He voted for the Declaration of Independence, and, with the others, affixed his signature to that immortal in- strument.

Congress appointed a marine committee to manage the affairs of the navy. Want of professional skill made their duties very vexatious, and often inefficient. Finally it resolved to select three persons well skilled in maritime affairs to execute the business of the navy, under the name of "The Continental Navy Board." Francis Hopkinson was appointed one of the three, at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year.1

In September of the same year he was appointed one of the committee by the first Legislature of inde- pendent New Jersey, then sitting at Princeton, to prepare a great seal of the State, and was chosen by that committee to superintend its execution. The same month he was appointed by Governor Living- ston third justice of the State of New Jersey, which position he held until 1779.2 In that year the Presi- dent of the State of Pennsylvania nominated Mr. Hopkinson a judge of the Court of Admiralty of that State, to which office he was unanimously appointed by the Council, and the duties of which for ten years, until the organization of the Federal government, he continued to discharge with honor to himself and benefit to his country.

It is rather singular that both of Judge Borden's sons-in-law, Francis Hopkinson and Governor Me- Kean, should have enjoyed the rare honor of being claimed as citizens of two independent States at the same time.

Soon after the adoption of the Federal Constitution, President Washington appointed Mr. Hopkinson to the office of United States district judge for Penn- sylvania. This was an important and dignified sta- tion, for which he was admirably fitted, and in which capacity he assisted in giving stability and dignity to the national government.

Although Francis Hopkinson occupied a high posi- tion among the statesmen and patriots of his time, it is as a writer he claims our special notice. He very materially contributed during the Revolution in rous- ing the feelings of the people. The chief means by which he accomplished this was the employment of his power of satire, which he possessed in an uncom- mnon degree.

The mannscript of the edition of Hopkinson's works in 1792 was probably finished by him a short time before his death. The originals, in five well- bound volumes, each bearing his book-plate, are in the American Philosophical Society. The writing is on both sides of the page, and was doubtless copied from the earlier manuscript articles of his, published by him in the newspapers and magazines of the day, as there are other duplicate manuscripts in existence of some at least of those writings. There are few erasures or interlineations in these volumes, they pre- senting a neat and graceful appearance.

But little has ever been written of MIr. Hopkinson as an artist, yet he was of no mean ability. The in- ereasing interest manifested in early American art and its history will eventually place this phase of his character in its proper light. In colored crayons he excelled, and the finest example of his talent, a work of real artistic merit, is referred to in an article in "Lossing's American Historical Record," a maga- zine published March, 1874, where a very fair wood- eut is given of the original picture, which is life-size.

John Adams, in a letter written in Philadelphia to his wife, Aug. 20, 1776, says, "MIr. Hopkinson has taken in crayon, with his own hand, a picture of Mies Keys, a famous New Jersey beauty. He talks of bringing it to town, and in that ease I shall see it, I hope."

Dusimitiere, a citizen of Geneva, resided in Phila- delphia during the Revolutionary period, an artist and collector of pamphlets, coins, minerals, etc., writes in his " Manuscript Collection," under date of " xber, 1774-a miniature of the late Mr. Jenifer, of Maryland, from a erayon picture done by Mr. Hop- kinson."

Another picture in eolored crayon is in the posses- sion of Miss Smith, of Washington, D. C., a great- granddaughter of Franeis Hopkinson.

Mr. Hopkinson was also a fine musician, and com- posed popular airs for his own songs. In the Na- tional Portrait Gallery, 1836, appeared a sketch of him from the pen of his son, Judge Joseph Hopkin- son. In the last part of the article the author says, "Ile was a musician of a high grade in his perform-

1 Nov. 6, 1776. Lo-sing's Field-Book, vol. ii. p. 637.

2 Gordon, Hist. N. J., p. 236.

470

HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ance on the harpsichord, and composed some songs which were well received."

in its cause. In September, 1861, he recruited a com- pany of soldiers at Bordentown, which afterwards From the "Lives of the Signers," by the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 1829, page 224-25, we extract the following : "Irstature Mr. Hopkinson was below the common size. ITis countenance was extremely animated, though his features were small. In speech he was fluent, and in his motions he was unusually ! quick. Few men were kinder in their disposition, or more benevolent in their lives. He was distinguished for his powers of taste, and for his love and devotion was Company C of the Ninth Regiment Infantry, New Jersey Volunteers, Col. Allen, going into Camp Olden, near Trenton. in October. On the 6th of De- cember he arrived with his company and regiment at Washington, and was stationed on the Bladensburg turnpike until January, 1862. On the 12th of that month they sailed from Fortress Monroe with the fa- mous Burnside expedition, and after having lost their lamented colonel, they on the 5th of February sailed to science. He possessed a library which contained up Pamlico Sound, and landed on Roanoke Island, the most distinguished literary productions of the ; N. C. Skirmishing that day with the enemy, on the times ; and in his library-room was to be found a col- lection of scientific apparatus, with which he amused himself in his leisure hours, and added greatly to his stock of knowledge."

Mr. Hopkinson died on the 9th of May, 1791, in the fifty-third year of his age, of an apopleetie fit of two hours' duration. He left a widow and five chil- dren.

JUDGE JOSEPH HOPKINSON .-- Joseph Hopkinson, son of the eminent Franeis, was born in Philadel- phia, Nov. 12, 1770, and died there on the 15th of January, 1842. He was best known as the author of our national song, " Hail Columbia," adopted in meas- ure to an air entitled "The President's March."

Judge Ilopkinson was for many years the confiden- tial friend of Joseph Bonaparte, and during his ab- senee in Europe always managed his affairs. He was designated by the count, in connection with Mailliard, an executor of his estate in America, they having full power to aet jointly or separately in all matters per- taining to the will. Mr. Hopkinson, however, died before the count. As a memento of friendship the connt in his will left Mr. Hopkinson a round bas- relief of marble representing Gen. Bonaparte as First Consnl, which was forwarded to him before his death.

The degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Princeton, "the College of New Jersey," in 1811.

Joseph Hopkinson married in Philadelphia, Feb. 27, 1794, Emily Mifflin. Their children were Thomas Mifflin, Francis, James, who died young ; Elizabeth, who married William Biddle, of Philadelphia; John P. Joseph, who died young; Alexander H., Emily, George, James, Oliver, Edward C., and Joseph. All are now dead but Mrs. Biddle and Oliver. Francis married Miss Ann Biddle, of Philadelphia, and died at Bordentown, June 2, 1870. He was at the time of his deeease in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

Francis resided in the old Hopkinson honse on Park Street, near the park, now occupied by his son, Thomas Hopkinson. Another son, Alexander Ham- ilton, a young lawyer of mueh promise, died in 1861. The youngest son, Charles Biddle Hopkinson, was born Jan. 21, 1834. When the war for the Union broke out, although of delicate physical organization, he deemed it a duty lie owed to his country to fight

morrow they were engaged in heavy battle, victory crowning their baptism of fire. In this battle Capt. Hopkinson acted with distinguished coolness and bravery. Lying in the swamps of Roanoke in this eold and wet season of the year, the captain was taken down with typhoid fever, and sent North. Upon his recovery he immediately returned to his command, then at Beaufort, and soon after was appointed on the staff of Gen. Gibbons. The fever, however, of which he had recovered, left him enfeebled in health, which hardship and exposure in the field did not im- prove, and being sent North again he was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of physical disability. He never afterwards fully recovered his health, and died at Bordentown, June 26, 1870. Capt. Hopkinson. who was a gentleman by nature, was possessed of many fine qualities of mind and heart, and was en- deared to many warm friends.

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History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 6

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096