USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
* N. Y. Col. Docmts., II. 658.
t Alb. Records, XXII. 375 ; XXIII. 19. Whitehead's E. Jersey, pp. 61, 2. N. Y. Col. Docmts., II. 682, 3, 728.
177
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
much after the fashion of New England. Their old troublers had either left the town, or were kept in quiet, shorn of all authority. The people had it their own way.
But the Dutch rule was soon terminated. A treaty of peace was signed, at Westminster, Eng., Feb. 9, 1673, pro- viding for the mutual restoration of all captured territory. Possession of these provinces was retained by the Dutch, until they were superseded by the English, in November following.
12
178
THE HISTORY OF
.
CHAPTER IX.
A. D. 1674-1681.
Restoration of English Rule - Berkeley sells West Jersey - Sir G. Carteret sole Proprietor of E. Jersey - Return of Gov. Carteret - Stringent meas- ures to subdue the People - Requires them to take Patents for their Lands - Old Conflict renewed - Compromise proposed, but rejected by Carteret - Schedule of Surveys - Militia System - Legislature at E. T .- Enactments - Prices - Act of Oblivion - Thanksgiving Day - Meeker indemnified - Inns regulated -Marking of Cattle -Troubles with Gov. Andros of N. Y. - Car- teret seized, and imprisoned at N. Y .- Tried and acquitted-Legislature at E. T., again -They decline the jurisdiction of Andros-Marriage of Car- teret - Andros recalled - Carteret reinstated - Legislature meet again -- Collision with Carteret - He dissolves them - Death of John Ogden.
CAPT. PHILIP CARTERET, after an absence of more than two years, returned to his old home, in November, 1674. He came over from England, in the same vessel with his kins- man, Col. Edmund Andros, Governor of New York, arriving Oct. 31, 1674. Berkeley had sold, March 18, 1678, his half of the province for £1000, to John Fenwick, in trust for Ed- ward Byllinge, of the Society of Friends. Sir George Car- teret had thus become the sole proprietor of the eastern moiety of the province, which was confirmed to him, June 13, by royal mandate, requiring obedience, from the people of the territory, " to the laws and government " of Sir George, as having "the sole power under " the king, "to settle and dispose of the country, upon such terms and conditions as he shall think fit ; " as broad a basis for despotic power as could be desired. A new patent for the whole territory was given, June 29, to the Duke of York ; by whom East Jersey was reconveyed, July 29, to Sir George Carteret, "in as full and ample manner as the same " had been granted himself.
179
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
The " Concessions," so remodeled as to give, to the Governor, the control of the Legislature, and deprive the people of all original jurisdiction, were re-issued, July 31, and the same day, Capt. Philip Carteret was newly commissioned as Gov- ernor .*
Immediately after his arrival, Carteret proceeded to Ber- gen and called about him his old Council, by whom, of course, he was heartily welcomed. A summons was issued at once, Nov. 6, calling upon " the inhabitants, by their Dep- uties, to meet for to hear his Majesty's Letter, the Governor's Commission, and those Instructions and Orders read that the Governor brought over with him." Deputies were " sent by all the towns except Shrewsbury ; " before whom the papers were read and the Governor's policy set forth. The spirit of that policy may be gathered by what the Council wrote to Sir George Carteret on the 7th of November:
We are very sensible of the disorders and troubles that have happened amongst us, occasioned by some turbulent spirits, which hath cost us much time, labour and pains to redress, and brought your Honour's Or- ders, Desires and Instructions to Perfection, had not the Dutch unhappily come in and nipt us in the bud, to whom these old, turbulent people were more willing to submit, than to their lawful King and Lord.t
In a Proclamation issued by the Governor and Council, dated at Elizabeth Town, Dec. 11, they speak of " the late past distractions of times," as
Occasioned first by the meeting of several male-content inhabitants, and then by the arrival of the Dutch forces in our neighbor Colony, giv- ing opportunity to those seditious spirits, to cover their former guilt with the mantle of treason.
They further say :
We find ourselves not obliged to countenance the commissionating any person or persons, to any office military or civil, who have not patented their lands, &c., nor to yield the privileges of a Corporation to any other- wise qualified, than the said Orders of our said Proprietor doth allow.
Notice is thereupon given, " that the Surveyor General, or his substitute shall attend and remain at Elizabeth Town from
* Whitehead's E. Jersey, pp. 63-5. Mulford's N. J., pp. 159-162. Leaming and Spicer, pp 1 E. T. Bill, pp. 40, 1. E. J. Records, III. 99, 9.
46-9.
180
THE HISTORY OF
the first day of April, until the 15th day. of May following, for runing out and surveying land there, in order for pat- enting the same."*
The "Instructions and Orders " of Sir George Carteret, to which they thus allude, of date, July 31, 1674, were to this effect :
For such as pretend to a right of propriety to land and government within our Province, by virtue of any patents from Governor Colonel Richard Nicolls, as they ignorantly assert, we utterly disown any such thing. But if such persons as have not already received patents of their land from us, shall not within one year after notice to them given of this our pleasure therein, desire and accept patents of the said land, we do hereby order our Governor and Council to dispose of such lands and ten- ements, in whole or in part for our best advantage to any other persons.
All other grants were declared "to be null and void in law." It was further ordered, by the same authority :
That those persons who were the chief actors in attempting the mak- ing an alteration in our government be proceeded against, except they shall immediately upon publication hereof, make their addresses to our Governor and Council, for remission of their offences ; (further) that all persons that have sustained loss or damage, by maintaining our just rights and interest since the 26th of March, 1672, may have reparation in law.t
These were the orders that the Governor and Council deemed themselves bound to put in execution among the people of this town, who had been among the principal of- fenders in the province. Carteret's residence abroad for the space of two years, and his attendance during this period upon a court so aristocratic and corrupt, had, evidently, not induced him to be a whit more tolerant of the principles and spirit of the Puritan settlers of the town than before. Nor were the people any more disposed to yield their own con- victions of truth, of right, of duty ; nor, as has been affirmed, " to regard with satisfaction the return of their governor." The only "demonstrations of good-will " to the Governor were on the part of those who had sided with him in the pre- vious conflicts.}
* E. T. Bill, pp. 41, 2. # Whitehead's E. Jersey, p. 66. Graham's U. States, I. 418.
t Leaming and Spicer, pp. 51-2.
*
181
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
By the same proclamation of Dec. 11, a General Court, to be composed of the Governor's Council, was ordered to be held in this town, on the second Tuesday (9th) of March fol- lowing ; and the Marshal, Samuel Moore, was ordered to collect the fines that had been imposed on the two compa- nies that tore down Michell's house and fence, and broke open Pardon's house. So little occasion had the people of the town to hail the return of their old townsman, the Gov- ernor. They had openly espoused the cause of those so-called rioters, and were not to be driven from it. The Governor's coming was the renewing of the old troubles.
Wearied with these conflicts, the town at length sought to make some kind of a compromise with the Governor and Council. A town-meeting was held on Thursday, the 11th of March, 1674, when it was resolved to offer the following Petition to those dignitaries :
We, the inhabitants of Elizabeth Town, are willing to pay the Lord Proprietor the sum of Twenty Pounds per annum, current pay of this country, in consideration of a Township of eight miles square, to be di- vided according to our Agreement, of first, second and third lots, to be confirmed by Charter to us and our heirs for ever, with all such privileges as any other towns in the Province have or shall have; which we do ap- prehend may be sufficient, in regard of the badness of the soil, which has deceived us all, and the half or more being but waste land. This was voted by all present, on the 11th of March, 1673. Voted, Isaac White- head and George Ross to present this writing to the Governor and his Council. Isaac Whitehead, Clerk.
But these gentlemen were determined to abate not one jot of their exactions. Accordingly, the following answer was indorsed upon the back of the petition, March 15th :
There cannot be granted any variation or alteration from the Procla- mation dated 11th December, 1674, but accordingly the Surveyor is re- quired to attend at the time appointed, and its expected that suitable per- sons be provided for his assistance, according to the said Proclamation. By order of the Governor and Council, James Bollen, Secretary .*
Finding no present prospect of securing their rights, with no means of redress at hand, and threatened by their imperi-
* E. Town Bill, pp. 42, 3.
182
THE HISTORY OF
ous rulers with a summary confiscation of all their lands and improvements, laboring, too, under grievous embarrassments for want of definite surveys and a recognized title, the people, with great reluctance, yielded to the compulsion put upon them, and, without prejudice to their previous titles, con- sented to receive such as the Governor chose to give them. One after another they applied for surveys, and warrants were given them by the Governor ; but so distasteful was it, that only one of their number, with the exception of Vau- quellin, the Surveyor, applied within the time assigned- April 1st to May 15th, 1675; and only ten more, including Pardon, in the latter half of the year. The Schedule in the margin shows the date of the Governor's warrant; the per- son in whose favor the warrant was given ; and the number of acres to be surveyed for him. The warrant was ordinarily in the words following :
To the Surveyor General, or his Deputy. These are to require you to lay out butt and bound for A. B -, - acres of upland and meadow in proportion within the bounds of Elizabeth Towne in right of A. B-, and his wife [&c.] and to return a certificate thereof into the Secretary's Office, and for your so doing this shall be your Warrant. Date -.*
" Good old John Ogden " was the very last to make ap- plication for a survey ; and, when he did, it was, doubtless,
* Warrants for Surveys.
Ap. 8, 1675, Symon Rows ..
180 acres.
May 3,
Robert Vauquellin, and wife. 300 66
June 30, " Charles Tucker 140
66
Robert Bond 360
66
Joseph Bond. 160
Jacob Mellins. 300
Sept. 12,
Robert White, wife and daughter. 180
Oct. 6. "
Leonard Headley, and wife. 120
66
John Parker 90
22,
Nicholas Carter. .360
66
23,
. William Pardon, and wife .200
66
Jan. 21, 1678, Luke Watson. 400
66
Mar. 8,
Henry Lyon, rights and purchase
" 14, 66 William Letts. .360
Charles Tucker, (a 2d warrant). 180
66
Benjamin Parkis .180
Henry Norris, self and John Wilson, Carpenr. 210
Daniel De Haert, right of Richard Painter .120
66 Wm. Pardon, right of Wm. Meaker. 120
Isaac Whitehead, sent 180
Nov. 5,
John Woodruff, wife, and three servants .450
.180
€
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
183
under protest, as in the case of the most of his associates. The surveys were made in due form, and patents obtained ;
90 acres.
66
66 Capt. Thomas Young.
210
66 Capt John Baker, wife and 8 others . 1200
Sir George and Philip Carteret, and 15 servants 2700
.6 Philip Carteret, right of Abraham Shotwell. 150
60 66
.6
Do. Do. Do. " Peter Wolverson .450
Do. Do. Do. " Donnis White. .120
Benjamin Wade.
120
* 20,
Richard Beach.
90
66
" 22,
William Cramer
66 Nathaniel Tutthill. . 90
66 Peter Moss, and wife 180
" 27, 1676, George Ross, and wife
120
150
66 3
George Morris.
90
120
66
"
66
Stephen Crane.
120
=
66
William Hill ..
60
" 28,
66
ינ
John Little, right of self and Stephen Salsbury 1SO
120
180
Samuel Marsh, Sen
180
66
66
Samuel Marsh, Junr
100
66
66 John Pope
.100
66
John Carter
60
66
April 8,
William Pills
.320
66
Benjamin Price, Senr
270
90
61
10,
Stephen Osborne
150
66
6 6
11
Jeseph Saars
.150
66
14,
Jonas Wood
300
150
25,
Jeffery Jones
1$0
May 2, 66
Hur Tompson
120
06
9,
Jeremiah Peck.
.180
120
120
66
Richard Michell. 120
60
$6
30,
Math: Hetfield.
120
66 31,
66
66 Moses Tompson
150
..
66 Joseph Meaker.
120
66
June 12,
Benjamin Meaker 120
1.4, Benjamin Walde ,144
John Ogden, Junr. .150
Isaac Whitehead, Jun" 120
66
66 Jonathan Ogdon. .120
Sept. 12,
Aaron Tomson, right of his father, Thomas. .120
.
66
66 1,
66
Robert Moss, and wife
150
1S0
66
Humphry Spinings
66
Roger Lambert
William Johnson.
240
66 George Pack
William Olliver
David Olliver
60
Nathaniel Bonnel.
1S0
Thomas Moore
.120
Joseph Fraize
John Winons.
66 Barnaby Wines .240
66 Joseph Osborne
150
..
66
66
Mar. 14, 1678, Samuel Moore, right of John Wilson, the Less.
27, 66 David Ogdon
Benjamin Price, Jun
184
THE HISTORY OF
but, in many cases, the number of acres differed very con- siderably from the number specified in the warrant; several of the people having added to their estates by large purchases. Hurr Thompson's survey was for 160 acres ; Stephen Crane's, 156; Nathaniel 'Tuttle's, 153; Humphrey Spinage's, 218; John Winans', 200; Matthias Hatfield's, 208; John Pope's, 150 ; and Jeremiah Peck's, 223 .*
A season of comparative quiet ensues. Carteret applies himself to the erection of a new and more substantial house ; for which purpose he leased from Henry Lyon, Dec. 8, 1674, two acres of Lyon's house-lot, adjoining his own, for brick- making, at a yearly rent of " one thousand of good and Mer- chantable Bricks." Vauquellin takes up his abode in Wood- bridge. Bollen finds it expedient to sell out to Lyon, and go down to Woodbridge to live. Pardon, evidently, discovers that the atmosphere of Elizabeth Town does not agree with him, and he retires to New York to engage in merchandise. His former wife having proved a disloyal partner, and ab- sconded, he procures a release from the bonds of wedlock, only to bind himself at once to Anna Bostoe, on whom he bestows, Sept. 16th, 1675, for her dowry, his house and home- lot of six acres. Being still regarded as an Associate, how- ever, by reason of his considerable estate in the town, and continued a member of the Council, he makes request, April 12, 1679, " to be discharged from all further service as mem- ber of council, justice, or any thing more to do on public concerns, but to remain in the condition of any other private gentleman.+
Some apprehension of famine existed, at the close of the winter of 1674, on account of the failure of the crops the pre- vious season ; and an order was published, Feb. 24, 167%,
Sept. 12, 1676, Aaron Tomson, right of self. 60 acres.
John Lambird. 100
Oct. 27, Joseph Ogdon 90
Nov. 23, 66 John Simkins ... 80
Dec. 27, ". Samuel Trotter, right of his father, Wm 90
Feb. 1, 1675, Margaret Baker, right of Peter Wolverson. .200
July 11, 1677, James Haynes, and wife. .120
Oct. 26, 1678, Mrs. Hannah Hopkins, wife of Samuel Hopkins. .120 " 29, John Ogden, Sen™ .300
* E. J. Records, II. t E. J. Records, I. 50; III. 158. Stearns' Newark, p. 54.
C
185
ELIZABETHI, NEW JERSEY.
prohibiting the export of corn and grain. In the summer of the same year, the eastern provinces were surprised into a bloody war with the native tribes, and fears were entertained of hostilities with the tribes in New Jersey and beyond the Delaware. A militia system was, therefore, inaugurated, July 15, 1675, by which all able-bodied males, from 16 to 60 years of age, were to be enrolled, to supply themselves with arms and ammunition, and to train four days every year .*
The first General Assembly, after the restoration of British rule, was held here, in November, 1675, beginning on Friday, the 5th, and continuing until the 13th. Henry Lyon and Benjamin Price represented the town. Provision was order- ed to be made to guard against surprise by the Indians, to such an extent as to show, that the alarm was very general. Jacob Mollins [Melyn] the Province Treasurer, was to have twenty shillings salary: Newark and E. Town were consti- tuted a County.
An adjourned session was held from Nov. 29th to the 9th of December, when the code of 1668 was revised, enlarged, and enacted. The following statute shows at least an out- ward regard for the ordinances of religion :
Whosoever shall prophane the Lords Day, otherwise called Sunday, by any kind of servile work, unlawful recreations, or unnecessary travels on that day, not falling within the compass of works of mercy or neces- sity, either wilfully or through careless neglect, shall be punished by fine, imprisonment, or corporally, according to the nature of the offence, at the judgment of the Court Justice or Justices where the offence is committed.
The following rates were established for country produce : Winter Wheat, 5 shillings; Summer Wheat, four shillings and sixpence ; Rye and Barley, four shillings ; Indian Corn and Pease, three shillings, a bushel; Beef, two-pence ; Pork, three pence ; Bacon, six pence ; Try'd Tallow, six pence ; Green Hides, three pence; Dry Hides, six pence ; "Hogs fat good and try'd," six pence ; and Tobacco, four pence, a pound ; Beef, fifty shillings, and Pork, seventy shillings, a barrel.+
* N. Y. Col. Docmts., III. 254. E. J. Records, III. 110, 117.
+ Leaming and Spicer, pp. 93-103.
186
THE HISTORY OF
At the close of the session, an act of oblivion was passed by the Assembly in respect to the troubles of the preceding five years, providing :
That there shall be an utter abolishing of all actions, tending to re- cover damages, costs and charges, for any action committed or done against any one within this Province, that hath been a party or any way concerned in the endeavoring and making an alteration in the govern- ment here settled by the Lords, anytime from the year 1670 until June 1673 .*
All previous judgments of Court, however, were to stand. No abatement. was made of the fines and penalties in the Michell and Pardon cases. The peace intended to be se- cured by this measure, was, after all, a compulsory peace, designed, apparently, on the part of of the government, the more effectually to establish their arbitrary claims ; of which they had abated "not one jot or tittle."
Something of the temper of the popular branch of the Legislature may be gathered from the fact, that Isaac White- head, the town-clerk, and always of the town party, was, and continued to be for years, Clerk of the House of Deputies.
Two sessions of the Assembly were held in 1676, the first, beginning, April 6th, in this town, and the second, from the 5th to the 8th of October, at Woodbridge. On the latter occasion, the custom of an autumnal Tranksgiving-Day, so common in New England, was introduced here, by Act of Assembly.+
As William Meeker had been adjudged to lose his estate, because of what he had done, as the town's agent, in the cases of Michell and Pardon, a petition for indemnity was sent by him to the Governor, Council, and Deputies, of which no no- tice is taken in the proceedings of the Legislature, but which resulted, November, 1676, in a voluntary contribution in his behalf on the part of this town and Newark, and probably of other towns, also.}
During the years 1677-9, the Assembly met annually in October, at this place; but in 1677 and 1678, nothing of
* Leaming and Spicer, p. 110.
+ Leaming and Spicer, pp. 121, 2.
# Newark Town Records, p. 65.
187
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
special interest in respect to the town affairs was transacted .. No collision, apparently, occurred between the people and the court. Both parties evidently were seeking to "follow after the things which make for peace." A regulation re- specting Inns, passed, Oct. 10, 1677, is of interest, as showing the cost of living at that day :
No Ordinary-keeper shall by the Gill exceed ten shillings and eight pence the gallon strong liquors ; if by the quart two shillings and six pence ; good wine after the rate of seven shillings the gallon ; cyder four pence the quart ; eight pence a meal for victuals; six pence a day natu- ral for pasture for horse in the summer, and the like for winter ; and nine pence a peck for oats, the ordinary keeper be left at liberty for such as will bespeak their own provision .*
Stringent laws were made against selling strong drink to the Indians, and in private houses, as well as against disor- derly conduct on the Sabbath-day. Much trouble grew out of the custom of having a common pasturage for cattle and swine ; leading to numerous regulations for the branding and marking of animals, the making of fences and keeping them in repair, as well as providing a pound for estrays.t
The first travelers, of whose visit to this place we have any printed record, were Jaspar Dankers and Peter Sluyter, of Friesland. They visited the town, on Friday, Oct. 13th, . 1679, coming here from Staten Island, of which they had just made the circuit. "Pierre Jardinier," at whose house they had lodged the night before, brought them,
In his canoe over to the Point of Mill Creek in New Jersey achter kol. We learned immediately, (they say), that there was a boat up this creek loading with brick, and would leave that night for the city. After we had thanked and parted with Pierre le Gardinier, we determined to walk to Elizabethtown, a good half hour's distance inland, where the boat was. From the Point to this village there is a fine wagon road, but nowhere in the country had we been so pestered with mosquitos (muggen) as we were on this road. The land about here is very poor, and is not well peopled. We found the boat, and spoke to the captain who left about two hours afterwards; but as the wind was against going out of the creek. he lay by and waited for the tide. We returned by evening to the Point
* Leaming and Spicer, p. 123.
t A register of the various ear-marks of cattlo within the town has been preserved to the present day, which is not without interest to the antiquarian.
188
THE HISTORY OF
where we were to stay until morning. There was a tavern on it, kept by French papists. We slept there this night, and at three o'clock in the morning we set sail.
At the end of a month, they were again at "the Point of Elizabeth's kil : "
We all went ashore, and lodged for the night in the house of the French people. We all slept on the floor, and supped upon what we had brought with us.
Again, Jan. 1, 1680, they say,-
We made good speed past Smoker's hook, and by evening arrived at the Point of Elizabethtown Creek, in the tavern before mentioned, where we lodged for the night ; but there was nothing to be had there except to warm us. We had something left in our traveling sack, upon which we made our supper, and then laid ourselves down to sleep in our old fashion upon a little hay, before the fire .*
· Gov. Carteret found it, doubtless, a desirable thing to be on good terms with his townsmen, because of his apprehen- sion of difficulties with Gov. Andros, of New York. The Duke of York, out of regard to his brother, or in obedience to his order, and because of the services of Berkeley and Car- teret to the royal family in the days of their exile, had waived his claim to jurisdiction, in his Grant to the two lords. But Berkeley had retired from the concern, and Sir George Car- teret was then getting old and infirm. The opportunity might soon occur of reclaiming East Jersey. The commis- sion, given to Andros, gave him jurisdiction over all the ter- ritory from the Connecticut to the Delaware rivers. Andros wanted but an occasion to assert and maintain his claims.t
The question had been under discussion from the time that the two Governors came over in 1674. But Andros had been told to exercise caution in the matter, as long as Sir George retained the proprietorship. The interests of the lat- ter were safe in the hands of Gov. Philip Carteret. From the very first, he had been determined on developing the commerce of his colony. Many of the planters had been ad-
* Journal of a Voyage to New York and a Tour in Several of the American Colonies in 1679-80. By Jaspar Dankers and Peter Sluyter of Wiewerd in Friesland : Brooklyn, 1867 pp. 147-8, 168, 252-3.
+ N. Y. Col. Docmts,, III. 229, 240.
189
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
dicted to sea-faring pursuits. Their position on tide-water gave them great facilities for navigation, and they readily embraced them. Several of them, as has been seen, engaged in the whale fishery. They were in constant communication by water with New York. Vessels were fitted out for the coasting trade as far east as Piscataqua, and South to the Carolinas, Barbados, and St. Christopher's. These vessels cleared and entered at Elizabeth Town, greatly to the an- noyance of Andros, though, as yet, he could not openly re- sist it. In November, 1677, he returned home for further instructions. Previous to his departure, he paid Carteret the compliment of a short visit :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.