USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 28
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Further to provide the means of defraying these charges, " it was agread and voted by a Great majorility of those In- terested " in the Nicolls Grant, at a town meeting, July 1, 1734, to empower the seven select men, to dispose of
All that Tract of Land or any part or parcel Thereof Begining at Ceder Brook where Essex Line Croses the said Brook and from Thence Runing west six miles and from Thence the Nearest Corse to the moun- tain from Thence as the said mountain Runs to the hundred acres Lots formerly survead according to the Town order and agreement and from Thence to the first mentioned place to the said Ceder Brook. (Also) To Dispose of what money, shall arise from the Sale of The said Lands, or any part Thereof for the Genoral Intrust of the said Associates and freeholders. In Defending Them or any of Them In The possion of Their property or In dispossessing any That shall unjustly Intrude upon any part of the aforesaid purchase and Grant.#
This tract was wholly in what is now Somerset Co., and included a considerable part of the township of Warren, with a small part of Bridgewater. In the subsequent pro- ceedings connected with these litigations, this measure was made a matter of complaint against the Associates. It was replied, that the Proprietors, "to defray and sup- port the Expense of their Proceedings and Law-Suits, have sold at public vendue, and among themselves, several Thousand Acres of Land," the one following the example of the other.§
* E. T. Bill, p., 47. Ans. to Do., p. 33.
# Town Book, B. 3.
t E. T. Bill, pp., 118-9. Ans. to Do., p. 33. § Ans. to E. T. Bill, p. 38.
315
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
This controversy, affecting, as it did, every man's interests, was, for long years, the all-engrossing topic of thought and conversation, in all circles, among all classes. It came up at every town-meeting, and was discussed in the Justices' Courts, and at the Quarter Sessions. It forms, therefore, the staple of the town-history for this period.
At a town-meeting on the second Tuesday (11th) of March, 1734, the seven Trustees were authorized to lay out the remainder of the common land of the town, back of the first mountain, into lots of 100 acres cach, to be divided by lot among the Associates ; and to arrange with those who had already improved any portion of these lands ; the money thus received to be appropriated to the defence of the people against those claiming under proprietary titles .*
It was charged by the other party, that the measure, then discussed and adopted, was fully and effectually carried out ; that a great number of the Proprietary tenants, fearing the loss of their improvements, were induced either to purchase, or take leases of, the land thus occupied, from the Town Trustees. Nor was the fact at all denied or questioned. Con- sequent on this conversion of title, an Action of Ejectment was brought, in the August Term of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, by James Fenn, holding by Proprietary right derived from the three sons, (John, Thomas, and Richard), of William Penn, against John Chambers and a Mr. Alcorn ; thus opening anew the litigation which had been quieted by the decision in the Schuyler case, and requiring another con- siderable outlay to meet the charges necessary for defending their titles.+
A town meeting, therefore, was held, Sept. 16, 1735, duly convened by warrant from the Magistrates, Joseph Bonnel and Joseph Man, Esqrs, at which the seven Trustees were im- powered, to dispose of
A Certain Tract or Parcell of Land Lying west from a place Known by the name of Baskine Ridge and between the west Jersey line not to
* Town Book, B. 4, 5. + E. T. Bill, pp. 47, S. Ans. to Do., pp. 33, 4.
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exceed Eight Milles upon the East and west line and to Extend to our utmost bounds upon the North and south Lines Provided always That the sd Tract of Land be not convey'd and sold for Less then two Thousand Pounds Current Money of New Jersey and so in Proportion for a Lesser Quantity of said Land and it is further agreed and Concluded That we the said Associates and ffreeholders Do Reserve one Third part of said Tract of Land to ourselves if Required by said ffreeholders and then and In such case to Deduct one Third part of said Two Thousand Pounds all which money is to be Improv'd for the General Good of sd ffreeholders .*
This tract, remote as it is from the locality of the original settlement, was clearly included in the township of Elizabeth- Town, as defined by the Act of 1693, and as clearly in the land conveyed by the Indian purchase and the Nicolls patent. It embraced the northern half of Somerset County, and a considerable part of what is now Morris County. No wonder, that the Proprietors, astounded by this vigorous action of the irrepressible yeomanry of Elizabeth Town, should speak of "the Lines of their vast Pretensions ; " nor that James Alexander, the father of "Lord Stirling," should write, Oct. 1, 1735, to Col. John Hamilton [son of Gov. Andrew], at Perth Amboy, "advising him to call a meeting of the Proprietors of East Jersey, to devise measures to stop the proceedings of the Elizabeth Town people in extending their bounds and granting lands."+
A large body of land yet remained unappropriated, lying to the West of the surveys and allotments of 1699-1700, in- cluding what were familiarly known as the First and Second Mountains, as far as the Newark Line on the North, with the intervening Valley drained by Blue Brook, the Eastern Branch of Cedar Brook, on either side of which the village of Feltville has since grown up; and the whole region watered by the Passaic River above Chatham, embracing the whole of the present Township of New Providence, in Union County, and the Southern parts of Chatham and Morris Townships in Morris County. Portions of the tract were exceedingly rug- ged, and others low and swampy ; but other portions, of large extent, were quite productive and desirable. Immigration
* E. T. Book, B. 8.
+ E. T. Bill, p. 49. Analytical Index, p. 164.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
had already found its way thither, in search of fruitful soil, healthful residences, and valuable mill-sites.
It was, therefore, deemed best to repeat the measure of 1699, and make a further distribution of the landed domain of the town. A new generation, the grandchildren of the old planters, had come to years, and needed room to plant and build for themselves. A town-meeting was held, according- ly, Nov. S, 1736, and measures were taken to effect the de- sired object. Joseph Morse (the son of Joseph, and the grandson of Peter Morse, both deceased) was chosen and duly qualified as the Town Surveyor; and John Megie was chosen, Nov. 14, 1737, one of the Seven Men, in place of Samuel Miller, whose growing infirmities of body unfitted him for service .*
The work confided to the Seven Men and the Surveyor was duly and faithfully performed. The first 43 lots were surveyed Dec. 27-9, 1736 ; Lots, 44-164, Nov. 22 to Dec. 3, 1737; the Additional Survey, 1-109, Jan. 17 to Feb. 22. 1733 ; and Corson's Survey of 7 Lots, Jan. 6, 1736. The whole of this large territory-the back country of the town -was regularly laid ont, and divided into 280 one-hundred- acre lots ; of all which due report was made at a town-meet- ing, held, March 28, 1738, for the distribution, by lot, of the respective shares to which each of the Associates, by their heirs and assigns, was entitled. The mode of allotment was determined by the following vote :
All such persons as shall have a first, second or third Lott Right within the sd Elizabeth Town purchase and in the first Division of the Lands to the Northward of the South mountain (Now to be drawn for) and have Disposed of or Conveyed any such Right or Rights to any person or per- sons whatsoever that he or they to whom sd Disposal or Conveyance of s. first, second or third Lot Right has first been made or Conveyed as aforesa may and shall by virtue of this vote (as aforesd first made and conveyed) have the first Draugh of the alotment of the Lands Now to be Drawn for in the Division of the sd Lands and those that have the second Conveyance shall have the second Lot and so on as aforesaid.t
* E. Town Book, B. 16, 17.
t This latter Survey included the greater part of the Passaic Valley, South of Chatham; occupied at the present day, to a great extent, by descendants of these first occupants ; of whom extended notices are given by John Littell, in his "Genealogies of the First Settlers of Pas-
318
THE HISTORY OF
Joseph Williams having died, and Jeremiah Crane by rea- son of age having become infirin, Messrs. Jonathan Dayton and John Ogden were chosen, Mar. 13, 1738, Committee men in their place.
The new allotments gave occasion for renewed litigation with the Proprietors, and their Assigns. Daniel Cooper held a Proprietary claim to a portion of the lands thus surveyed and allotted. An action of Trespass was, therefore, brought, in his name, "against Joseph Moss, John Crane, John Den- nan, John Scudder, John Terril, Samuel Norris, sen. and Samuel Norris, jun., the then Committee or Managers for the said Clinker Lot Right Men." So they were styled in the bill; but erroneously, as only one of the number, John Crane, belonged to the Committee. The Cause came on for a hearing in the May Term of the Supreme Court, 1738, and the defendants pleading-" Not Guilty "-it was deferred for proof .*
James Logan, also, about the same time, holding by a Pro- prietary claim, brought sundry actions of Trespass and Eject- ment against a number of his tenants, in the Western part of the Elizabeth Town purchase, who had, also, bought, or taken leases, of the Town Committee. Similar actions were brought in the August Term of 1738, against Benjamin Man- ning and Wright Skinner, in the name of Daniel Axtell, de- ceased. In respect to one of these actions, the following record was made, in the Town Book, of the proceedings of a town-meeting, held, June 18, 1739 :-
Agreed and Concluded, that m' John Blanchard mr Eduard Sale mr Jonathan allen mr william miller and mr thomas Clark are to cullect money of the Inhabitants of the purchase of Elizabeth town for Defray- ing the Charges in Runing out the said purchase By a Jury of Revieue In an action Depending Between James Logan plantiff and Joseph manning Defendant and a rule of Court made for ye same. (Also), mr John Crain and mr Jonathan Dayton are Impowerod to Receive the money cullected By mr John Blanchard mr Eduard Sale mr Jonathan allen mr william miller or thomas Clark and Dispose of the same in Defraying the Charges of Runing out the sd purchase to the Jury of Revieue or any other Charges
saic Valley, (and Vicinity,) above Chatham-with their Ancestors and Descendants, as far as can now be ascertained. 1851." E. T. Book, B. 16, o. e. E. Town Book of Surveys, C. 1-60. * E. Town Biil, pp. 49, 50. Ans. to Do., pp. 34, 5.
319
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
which they the sd m' John Crain or mr Jonathan Dayton shall think Necessary in that affair.
As Logan's claim was in the extreme West of the Pur- chase, and it was doubtful whether it was included therein, the Court had ordered the question of fact to be determined by a Jury of Review.
At the same town-meeting, the question of the Newark boundary line, also, came up again for consideration, and it was agreed,
That Justice andrew Joline mr John Blanchard and mr Daniel potter are Impowered by the associates and freeholders aboue said to aGree with the people of Newark to settle and ascertain a Division Line Between the Town of Newark and Elizabeth town and to take such measures and means as to them the sd Justice andrew Joline mr John Blanchard and mr Daniel potter shall seem proper in order to obtain the said Division Line to be Established and to have Reasonable Satisfaction for their service in that affair.
The Newark people appointed, Oct. 24, 1739, " Jonathan Crane Esq'r, Col'l Josiah Ogden, and Samuel Farrand Esq'r. a Committee to treat with the People of Elizabeth Town about settling a Line between the two Towns."*
Whatever was done in the matter, the result was the same as on former occasions ; inasmuch as the line was still nnad- justed, fifteen years later. It was a large and valuable in- heritance that the Town received from the original pur- chasers, but it cost them a vast deal of time, expense, and per- plexity, to determine its exact bounds, and to defend it against all trespassers. +
It was, probably, the difficulty experienced in conducting these delicate and intricate affairs in town-meeting, and the doubtfulness of the authority claimed, in some instances by the Committee men, or Trustees, that led the principal men of the town to seek an INCORPORATION-to obtain a Charter by means of which they could more promptly and thoroughly transact the public business.
The time was opportune. New Jersey, after having been for thirty-five years an appendage of the Province of New
* E. Town Book, B. 20, o. e. Newark Town Records, p. 134.
t Newark Town Records, p. 141.
320
THE HISTORY OF
York, under a succession of Royal Governors residing in the City of New York, had at length, after repeated remonstran- ces and entreaties, obtained a position independent of the other Provinces, with one of her own citizens, Lewis Morris, as Governor. His long familiarity with the Territory and with the people, as a private citizen and in public office, had made him acquainted with the towns and their need. Joseph Bonnel, a man of commanding influence at home, had repre- sented the town in Gov. Morris' first Legislature (1738-39), of which he had been chosen Speaker, from which position he had been transferred by the Governor to the Bench of the Supreme Court, having been appointed, May, 1739, Second Judge, Robert Hunter Morris being Chief Justice .*
A petition, therefore, was prepared, and circulated, praying Gov. Morris to procure from his Majesty, the King, a Charter of Incorporation for the town, as a free town or borough. It was extensively signed, the first names being in order as follows : "Joseph Bonnel, Andrew Joline, Thomas Price, John Ross, John Blanchard, John Crane, Thomas Clark, Matthias Hetfield, Noadiah Potter, John Halstead, Nathaniel Bonnel, Samuel Woodruff, Samuel Marsh, Jonathan Hamp- ton, William Chetwood, Edward Thomas, and Cornelius Het- field." These were the leading men of the town, representing both of the parties into which it was divided, and both of the religious denominations. As Judge Bonnel's name leads the petition, it is quite likely that he himself had prepared it, and presented it.
The petition was favorably received, and a Charter granted by his Majesty, George II., bearing date Feb. 8, 1739. It . constituted the Passaic River, from the mouth of Dead River to the Minisink Crossing, the Western boundary of the Borough. The territory was nearly co-terminous with the present Union County. On the South-west, however, it in- cluded nearly the whole of the town of Warren in Somerset County. It was to be known "by the name of the Free Borough and town of Elizabeth." It appointed Joseph Bon- nell, Esq", "Mayor and Clark of the Market," and Coroner,
* Anal. Index of N. J. Docmts., p. 175.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY
also ; John Blanchard, Esq', Recorder ; "Andrew Joline, Matthias Hatfield, Thomas Price, John Ross, John Crane, & Thomas Clark Esq's," Aldermen ; "Noadiah Potter, John Halstead, Nathaniel Bonnel, Samuel Woodruff, Samuel Marsh & Jonathan Hampton Gent.," "Assistants and Common Councill ;" "William Chetwood Esq"," Sheriff; Jonathan Dayton, Chamberlain ; Thomas Hill, Marshall; " John Rad- ley, George Ross, Junior, Daniel Marsh & John Scudder, Assessors ; Robert Ogden, John Odle, John Terrill & Wil- liam Clark, Collectors; James Townley, High Constable ; and Robert Little, Nathaniel Price, Richard Harriman, John Looker, John Craige, Daniel Dunham to be petit Constables ; Henry Garthwait, Cornelius Hetfield, John Radley Sent. John Allen, Ephraim Marsh & Daniel Day," " Overseers for the Poor;" and " Michael Kearny, Esq"," Common Clerk.
It accorded to the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Coun- cil all the Rights, Immunities and Privileges usually granted to bodies corporate; as will be seen by reference to the ex- ceedingly voluminous Document itself .*
Of the above-named officers of the new Corporation, An- drew Joline had been Collector for this town from 1734 to 1738, and Justice, as early as 1735. His death occurred not later than 1742. William Chetwood had been Sheriff of the County, as early as 1735, succeeding Benjamin Bonnell. Joseph Bonnell, Thomas Price, and Matthias Hatfield had been Justiçes.
The town had, from the first, been the leading town in East Jersey. In 1734, the Rates for Essex Co. were as follows : for Elizabeth Town, £56. 0. 0 : for Newark, $44. 14. 0 : for Acquackanong, £14. 7. 3. Agreeably to the action of the town, June 18, 1739, the Line was drawn separating Essex County from Middlesex and Somerset Counties, for which the following charges were paid : To Mr. Joseph Bonnell, " for procuring a Writ or Warrant for Runing the Division Line," £2. 14. 0.
To Wm. Chetwood, Sheriff, for time and Expences, 6. 0. 0. To John Blanchard, Surveyor, " 2. 2. 0.
* Murray's Notes, pp. 25-41.
21 :
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THE HISTORY OF
To Jonathan Hampton, Surveyor, for time and
Expences, £2. 0. 0.
To John Crane, for time and Expences, 1. 8. 0.
To Nathaniel Bonnel, " 1. 19. 10.
To Daniel Potter, 66
1. 6. 0.
February 27, 1739.'
£17. 9. 10 .*
. During the first sixty years of the settlement the newspa- per was unknown. Information of current events at home and abroad was received by correspondence, or oral commu- nication. The gathering at the "meeting-house," on the Lord's Day, was the principal occasion for the diffusion of intelligence, whether of domestic occurrences, or of provin- cial and foreign events. Advertisements were posted at the
doors of the meeting-house, where all could read them. The Boston "News-Letter," a half-sheet of paper, 12 by 8 inches, was started, April 24, 1704 ; but it is scarcely probable, that it circulated here. Possibly a single copy may have found its way hither occasionally. The same may be said of the "Boston Gazette," commenced at the close of 1719, and of the " New England Courant," commenced at Boston, Aug. 17, 1721.+
" The New York Gazette " was introduced to the public by Wm. Bradford, Oct 16, 1725, being the first Weekly Pa- per established in the City of New York. Though a dimin- utive affair, the event was of no small importance. This humble periodical brought the people of the city and neigh- boring towns, into a familiar and accurate acquaintance with passing occurrences of greatest interest, and was made, also, the vehicle of communicating one with another. The Ad- vertisements were few and brief, and the News-items exceed- ingly meagre. But occasionally a paragraph appears shed- ding light on the social and commercial interests and history of this town. The earliest notices of the kind, now to be found, are worthy of a place in these pages. The very first is connected with the institution of Domestic Slavery, now, by the good providence of God, brought to a perpetual end :-
* Essex Co. Justices' Account Book.
t Buckingham's Specimens of Newspaper Literature, I. 4, 44, 9.
323
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
Run away from Solomon Bates of Elizabeth Town, a Negroe Man, called Clause, aged about 27 years old, has got with him a Homspun Coat of Linen and Wool, with Brass Buttons, an Ozenbrig Vest with black Buttons and Button-holes, and an old striped Vest, Leather Breeches, new Homespun Wosted Stockings, black Shoes with Buckles; he has a Hat and Cap, and he can play upon the Fiddle, and speaks English and Dutch. Whoever can take up the said Negro, and bring him to his said Master, or secure him and give Notice, so that his Master can have him again, shall have reasonable Satisfaction, besides all reasonable Charges .*
Mr. Bates' name first occurs, Nov. 9, 1714, in the old " Record of Ear Marks for Elizabeth Town ; " but he seems to have had no connection with the Associates. His name occurs, also, in "the Morristown Bill of Mortality," p. 13, as having died of old age (100) November, 1771. His widow died, also of old age, March 18, 1787, 97 years old. They must have removed to Morristown at an early day. Claus, or Nicholas, formerly belonged to Daniel Badgley. He was arrested and restored to his master. But he had a persistent propensity to have his own way; and, less than two years afterwards, Mr. Bates complains that he had taken himself away again, and, this time,-
He has taken with him a grey Homespun Drugget Coat trim'd with Black, a white linnen Vest trim'd with black, and a homespun Kearsay Vest, a Pair of Leather Breeches, with red Puffs and Shoes and Stock- ings.t
" Mr. Benjamin Price, Attorney at Law in New York," has for sale a House and Lot in New Brunswick. Mr. Price was a grandson of one of the Associates and bore his name.#
The public are informed that
there is good Entertainment for Men and Horses and Horses to be Let at all Times by William Donaldson at the Rose and Crown in Eliza- beth Town, New Jersey.§
The House, Stable and Garden of Benjamin Hill in Elizabeth-Town in New Jersey, is to be Let from year to year, or for a term of years. It is a very convenient place for a Trades-man or a Shop-keeper. I
At the Sign of the Ship in Elizabeth-Town lives Benjamin Hill, wl:o keeps Horses to Let, and where all Travellers and others may be accom-
* N. Y. Gazette, June 1, 1730.
§ Ib., Oct. 16, 1732.
t Ib., May 8, 1732.
1 1b., Mar. 25, 1734.
+ Ib., July 20, 1730.
324
THE HISTORY OF
modated with good Entertainment for Man and Horse at all Times in the White House which Mr. Schuyler bought of Mr. Townley .*
This was the house built by Gov. Carteret shortly before his death, of which Col. Townley became possessed by marry- ing the Governor's widow.
On Wednesday the 23 of April next at the Paper Mill in Elizabeth- Town, there will be Sold at Public Vendue to the highest Bidder, all sorts of Household Goods, Cattle, Horses, Hogs, Cart, Plows, Harrows with Iron Teeth, and other Utensils : The Plantation adjoyning to the said Mill will also be sold, which contains about Ninety Acres, &c.t
It was at this Mill that the Paper was made, on which the Gazette was printed. It is not known by whom the Mill was built ; but, in 1728, it was purchased by William Bradford, of New York, who, in 1730-1, was a resident of the town. His son, Andrew, was, at the same period, printing the " American Weekly Mercury." The father and son had quite a monopoly of government printing, and needed a mill independent of the foreign manufacturers. This was the first paper mill in New Jersey .;
To be Sold at Publick Vendue, on Tuesday the 26th of August instant, at Elizabeth-Town in New Jersey, a Grist Mill and fulling Mill, also a Lot of Ground, adjoyning to the Dwelling House of Edward Thomas, in the said Town, very convenient for a dwelling house and Garden, and near the said Mill, as also sundry Household Good. All which were lately belonging to Wm Williamson late of said Town, deceased, and power of Selling the same given by his last Will to Margaret Williamson his Wid- dow Now living at Elizabeth Town aforesaid. §
This was the old Mill that was still standing, until within a few years, at the stone bridge in Broad street,-originally constructed by the pioneer John Ogden,-the last vestiges of which have now disappeared before the march of modern improvement.
In the Month of December last an Apprentice Lad named Abraham Hendricks ran away from his Master John Ross of Elizabeth Town New- Jersey ; said Lad is about Years of Age, was of small Stature, had a brown great Coat and a Linsey Wosley under a Beaver Hat half worn
* N. Y. Gazette, Mar. 31, 1735. + Ib., Ap. 7, 1735. # Historical Magazine, I. 86, 123; III. 173; VII. 210.
$ N. Y. Gazette, Aug. 25, 1735.
325
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
having light colored hair and took a set of Shoemakers Tools along with him, being a Shoemaker by Trade. (A Reward of 303. and charges of- fered.)*
Mr. Ross was named, in the Borough Charter, one of the Aldermen of the Corporation, and became, in 1748, Mayor of the Borough. Hendricks was, probably, the brother of Isaac, and the son of Jonn Hendricks, who came here as early as May, 1721, from Piscataway, where Daniel and Jabez Hendricks, brothers, and Leonard Hendricks were numbered among the original settlers. Abraham returned, and his name is found among a large number of citizens, attached to a Memorial forwarded in 1743 to the King, George II.
These are to desire all Persons not to Trade with nor Trust my Wife Hannah Tunis on my Account, for I will not pay any Debts that she shall contract. Peter Tunis.t
This is the first occurrence of the name in the Records, or Chronicles of the Town. The family were early found among the Dutch in New York.
We have an Account also that two Boys, the sons of Matthias Hat- field of Elizabeth Town in New Jersey, being in the Woods hunted a Rabbit into a hollow Tree, and in order to get it cut down the Tree, which fell upon the younger Brother and killed him dead on the Spot .;
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