USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 3
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The more successfully to compete with the Dutch, and to cripple them in their rivalry, the Duke sought, and readily obtained, from his royal brother, the king, March 23, 1662, a grant of Long Island, and all the land from the west side of Connecticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay, together with what is now the State of Maine, and the Islands along the coast of New England, together with the right of government, or sovereignty ; including thus, not only the Dutch province of New Netherland, but, also, a large part of the territory given by royal patent, less than two years previously, to the Connecticut Colony. A very cool proceed- ing, and a clear case of usurpation.t
The Duke, as Lord High Admiral, had control of the Royal Navy. An expedition was immediately fitted out, of four ships-of-war, under the command of Col. Richard Nicolls, a faithful adherent of the Royal Family, to whom the Duke granted, April 22, a commission to serve as his deputy-governor within the whole grant. With him were associated, also, April 26, [May 5,] 1664, Sir Robert Carr, Knight, George Cartwright, Esq., and Samuel Maverick, Esq., as Royal Commissioners to visit the American Colonies,
* Brodhead's New York, I. 735.
t Ibid. Leaming and Spicer's Grants and Concessions, pp. 3-8.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY
with plenary powers to adjust disputes, appeals, and com- plaints of every description, and provide for the public wel- ware, looking well, of course, to the rights of the crown .;
The fleet cast anchor in the outer bay of New Amsterdam, on Friday, August 23. The surrender of the town of Manhattoes was demanded, the next day. After various ne- gotiations, protracted through the following week, the terms of capitulation were arranged on Saturday, August 27 [Sep- tember 6]. On the Monday following, the Dutch authorities surrendered the town and fort, and the English took posses- sion. New Amsterdam became New York; and Fort Amsterdam, Fort James. Nicolls was proclaimed deputy- governor for the Duke of York, and the people, not a few of them gladly, very quietly submitted to the sway of the Eng- lish conquerors. A few weeks sufficed to bring the whole province of New Netherland into subjection, and to give the control of the whole coast, from Maine to Carolina, to the crown of Great Britain.
To the English inhabitants of the west end of Long Island, the change of government was peculiarly acceptable. They had met with so many obstructions from the Dutch, and had been so stoutly denied a voice in the government, that they could not but regard the advent of the English fleet with favor, and rejoice in their success. Immediately the atten- tion of those settlers who had, several years before, sought a removal to Achter Kol, west of the North River, was directed again to these inviting regions. An Association was at once formed, and several of their number deputed to go down to New York, and secure of the Governor the liberty to pur- chase and settle a plantation, which they had sought in vain from his predecessor under the Dutch Government. Four weeks had scarcely elapsed since the surrender, when we find them presenting the following petition :
To the Right honourablo Col. Richard Nicholls Esq' Governour of New-York &c. The Humble peticon of us subscribed sheweth :
That several of us Yor Peticôners being Intended formerly to have pur- chased and setled a plantation upon ye River called after-cull River be-
# Brodhead's New York, I. : 35-6.
M
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THE HISTORY OF
fore Yor arival into these parts: our Intentions, notwithstanding our making some way with the Indians & Charges & Expences about the prem- isses, was obstructed by the then Ruling Dutch. And some of us by Rea- son of not having any Accommodations here were put upon thoughts of Removing into some other of his Majesties Dominions : but now upon this Yor happy arival and the Decease of the Duch Interest, we would Gladly proceed in the Design afforesd. In order whereunto, we make bold wth all humility to petition to Yor Honor that you would Grant us liberty to purchas and setle a parcel of land to Improve our labour upon on the River before mentioned. and some of us being Destitute of habitations where we are, we crave Your Answer with as much Expedition as may be. we humbly Take our leaves at Present and subscribe Yor Honors to command.
from Jemaico commonly so called Sept: 26, 1664.
John Bailies Daniel Denton
Thomas Benydiek Nathanel Denton
John Foster Luke Watson
The application received the prompt attention of the new Governor, and the paper was presently returned with the fol- lowing endorsement :
Upon Perusal of this Peticôn, I Do Consent unto the proposals and Shall Give the undertakers all Due Encouragement in so Good a work. Given under my hand in fort James, this 30th of Septem" 1664.
Richard Nicholls *
Having thus secured the Governor's warrant for their en- terprise, " the undertakers " made speedy arrangements for a conference with the native owners of the soil. Capt. John Baker, of the City of New York, it is said, was employed as the English and Dutch Interpreter, and one of the natives as the Indian and Dutch Interpreter. The conference was held at Staten Island, where the chief sagamores of the Indians then lived, and resulted satisfactorily to all the parties. A tract of land was purchased, for which the following deed was given :
This Indenture made The 28th Day of October In the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles By The Grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King Defender of the faith &c. Between Mattano Manamowaouc and Cowescomen of Staten Island of the one part and John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson of Jamaica
* E. Town Book, B., oth. end, 14. E. Town Bill in Chancery, 25. Leaming and Spicer's Grants, Concessions, &c., pp. 668-9.
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ELIZABETHII, NEW JERSEY.
In Long Island Husband Men on the other part Witnesseth That the said Mattano Manamowaouc and Coescomen hath clearly Bargained and Sold to the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson, Their Associates their heirs and Execu's One parcel of Land bounded on the South By a River commonly called The Raritans River And on the East by the River wch Parts Staten Island and The Main, and To Run North- ward up after cull Bay. Till we come att the first River weh setts westward out of the said Bay aforesaid And To Run west Into the Countery Twice the Length as it Is Broad from the North to The South of the aforemen- tioned Bounds, Together with the Lands, Meadows, woods, waters, feilds, fenns, fishings, fowlings, wth all and Singular the Appurtenances, wyth All Gaines, Profitts and advantages arising upon the said Lands and all other the premisses and appurtenances To the Said John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson wth Their Associates, wth their and Every of their Heirs Executors Admin's or Assignes for Ever To have and To hold The said Lands with the Appurtenances To the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson with their Associates their Execurs Assignes, And The said Mattanno Manomowaouc covenant promise Grant and Agree To and wth the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson and their Associates their heirs and Execu's To Keep them Safe in the Enjoyment of the Said Lands from all Expulsion and Incum- brances whatsoever may arise of the Said Land By Any person or per- sons By Reason of Any Title had or Growing before the Date of these presents, for which Bargain, Sale, Covenants, Grants & Agreements on the behalf of the sd Matteno manamowouc and Conescomen to be per- formed, Observed and Done the foresd parties Are at their Enttery upon the Said Land To pay To the sd Matteno Manamowouc and Couescoman, Twenty fathom of Trading Cloath, Two made Coats, Two Guns Two Kettles Ten Bars of Lead Twenty Handfuls of powder, And further the sd John Baily Daniel Denton and Luke watson Do Covenant Promise Grant and Agree to and with the sd Mattano Manamowoauc and Couesco- man the forest Indians four hundred fathom of white wampom after a Years Expiration from the Day of the said John Bayly Daniel Denton and Luke watson Entery upon ye said Lands. In witness whereof we have hereunto put our hands and seals, the Day and Year aforesaid.
The Mark of Mattano The Mark of Sewak herones N The Mark of Warinanco
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the prsence of us witnesses
Charles Horsley The Mark of Randal R Hewett.
* E. Town Book, B., oth. end, 10-11. E. Town Bill in Chancery, pp. 25-6. Ans. to do., p. 7. Grants, Concessions, &c., pp. 669-671. The whole cost and charges were estimated by Secretary Bollen at more than £154.
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THE HISTORY OF
Having thus made, in good faith, of the native proprietors, a fair and equitable purchase of the desired territory, and procured a carefully-worded deed of the said purchase, the Associates proceeded to. submit the transaction to Gov. Nicolls, from whom, presently afterwards, they obtained an official confirmation of their title, by grant, in due form, as follows :
To all To whom These prsents shall come, I Richard Nicolls Esqr Governour under his Royal Highness ye Duke of York of all his Territo- ries In america send Greeting Whereas there is a parcel of Land wth in my Government which hath Been purchased of Mattano Manamowaouc and Couesccoman of Staten Island By John Bayly Daniel Denton & Luke watson of Jemaico In Long Island for a Consideration Express'd In a Certain Deed of Indenture Bearing Date the 28th Day of October Last, wherein the said parcel of Land was made over unto the said John Bayly Daniel Denton and Luke watson and their Associates, their and Every of their heirs Execurs admin's or Assigns for Ever as In the said Deed, Relacôn being thereunto had more fully and at Large Doth and may appear, Now To the End the said Lands may the sooner be planted Inhabited and manured I have thought fit to Give Confirme and Grant and by these prsents Do Give Confirme and Grant unto Capt John Baker of new Yorke, John Ogden of North-hampton, John Baily and Luke wat- son of Jemaico on Long Island and their Associates their heirs Execu's ad- min's and assigns the said parcell of Land Bounded on the South By a River commonly called the Raritans River-On the East by ye sea wch partes Staten Island and the main, to Run Northwards up after cull Bay Till you come to the first River wch sets westwards out of the sd bay, And To Run west Into the Countery Twice the Length of the Breadth thereof from the North To the South of the aforementioned Bounds Together with all Lands, Meadows Pastures woods waters feilds fenns fishings fowling with all and singular the appurtenances, with all Gaines Profits and advantages arising or that shall arise upon the sª Lands and premises To have and To hold the sd Lands and appurtenances To the sd Capt John Baker, John Ogden John Bayly and Luke watson and their As- sociates their heirs Exec's admin's and assigns forever, Rendering and pay- ing Yearly unto his Royal Highness The Duke of Yorke or his assigns a cer- tain Rent according To the customary Rate of ye Countery for New Planta- tions and Doing and prforming such Acts & Things as shall be appointed by his said Royal highness or his Deputy, and The sd Capt John Baker John Ogden John Bayly & Luke watson and Their Associates their heirs Execu's admin's and assigns are To Take Care and Charge of ye sª Lands and prmisses That People be carried thither with all convenient speed for the setting of plantacons thereon and that none have Libertie so To Do
33
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
without the Consent and Approbation of ye sª Capt John Baker John Ogden John Bayly and Luke watson and Their Associates Except they shall neglect their Planting thereof according To The true Intent and meaning of These p'sents. and I Do Likewise promise and Grant that the persons so Inhabiting and planting the Lands and premises aforosª shall have Equal freedom Immunities and privileges with any of his Maties sub- jects In any of his Colonys of America. And the sª Cap' John Baker John Ogden John Baily and Luke watson and Their Associates have Libertie to purchase of the Natives (or Others who have the proprietie thereof ) as farre as Snake hill to the End and purposes aforest-In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first Day of December In the sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles The Second By the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Irre- land Defender of the faith &c. at fort James In New York on the Island of manhatans.
Richard Nicolls .*
At or about the same time, Gov. Nicolls drew up and pub- lished certain Proposals by which property in lands might be acquired in any of the unoccupied territories of the Duke of York in America, as follows :
The Conditions for New Planters, in the Territories of his Royal High -- ness the Duke of York.
The Purchases are to be made from the Indian Sachems, and to be Recorded before the Governour.
The Purchasers are not to pay for their Liberty of Purchasing to the Governour.
The Purchasers are to Set out a Town and Inhabit together.
No Purchaser shall at any Time Contract for himself with any Sachem, without Consent of his Associates: or Special warrant from the Gov- ernour.
The Purchasers are free from all manner of Assessments or Rates five Years after their Town Platt is Set out, and when the five years are Expired. they shall only be Liable to the Publick Rates and payments, ac- cording to the Custome of other Inhabitants both English and Dutch.
All Lands thus Purchased and Posses'd, shall Remain to the Pur chasers and their Heirs as free-lands to Dispose of as they Please.
In all Territories of his Royal Highness, liberty of conscience is allowed ; Provided such liberty is not Converted to licentiousness or the Disturbance of Others in the exercise of the Protestant Religion.
The several Town-ships have liberty to make their Particular Laws, and · deciding all Small Causes within themselves.
* E. Town Book B., oth. end, pp. 11, 12. E. Town Bill in Chancery, p. 26. Grants, Conces- sions, &c., pp. 671-3.
3
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THE HISTORY OF
The Lands which I intend shall be first Planted, are those upon the west side of Hudsons River, at or adjoining to the Sopes. but if any Num- ber of men sufficient for Two or Three or more Towns, shall desire to Plant upon any other Lands, they shall have all Due Encouragement Pro- portionable to their Quality and undertakings.
Every Town-ship is Obliged to pay their Minister, according to such Agreement as they shall make with them and No man to refuse his Pro- portion. the minister being Elected by the Major Part of the house-holders, Inhabitants of the Town.
Every Town-ship hath the free Choice of all their Officers both Civill and military, and all men who shall take the oath of allegiance to his Majestie and are not Servants or Day-labourers, but are admitted to Enjoy a Town-lott, are Esteemed free-men of the Jurisdiction, and cannot for- feit the same without Due Process in law .*
These Proposals were all that could be expected, ema- nating as they did from a Court, that was bitterly opposed to every thing like democracy, exceedingly jealous of the power and privileges of the people, and so hostile to the Puritan party in the Church of England, as to have driven more than two thousand non-conforming ministers into pri- vate life. They were regarded with peculiar favor by the new settlers in the Duke's territories, and accepted as a lib- eral constitution for the planting of new towns, and the organizing of new municipalities.
Encouraged by the Governor's concessions, and furnished with every requisite document to establish their right and title, beyond all doubt and controversy, to the absolute pro- prietorship of their lands, the four purchasers from Long Island, with their Associates, took measures for a speedy and effective occupation of the fair domain thus lawfully and honorably acquired. It was, indeed, a fair domain, scarcely to be equalled, and certainly not excelled, on the whole At- lantic coast of the new world. Its advantages were extolled in glowing terms, by eye-witnesses of its virgin beauty. The Dutch government, in 1661, spoke of it as follows :
It is under the best clymate in the whole world; seed may bee thrown into the ground, except six weekes, all the yere long; there are
* E. Town Book, B. 1. Ans. to E. T. Bill, p. 6. Grants and Concessions, p. 667. Smith's 'History of N. York, I. 85-6. Mulford's New Jersey, p. 139.
35
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
five sorts of grapes weh are very good and grow heere naturally, with diverse other excellent fruits extraordinary good, and ye fruits trans- planted from Europe far surpasseth any there ; as apples, pears, peaches, melons, &c. the land very fertile, produceth a great increase of wheat and all other grane whatsoever : heere groweth tobacco very good, it naturally abounds, with severall sorts of dyes, furrs of all sorts may bee had of the natives very reasonable ; store of saltpeter; marvelous plenty in all kinds of food, excellent veneson, elkes very great and large; all kind of land and sea foule that are naturally in Europe are heere in great plenty, with severall other sorte, y' Europe doth not enjoy ; the sea and rivers abounding with excellent fat and wholesome fish weh are heere in great plenty ; the mountenouse part of the country stored with severall sorts of mineralls; great profit to bee derived from traffique with the natives (who are naturally a mild people, very capable (and by the Grace of God) to be drawne out of their blind ignorance to the saving light by Jesus Christ. Heere may likewise bee great profitt made by fishing, whereby abundance of people may bee imployed with great and notable advantages .*
This description, though designed to cover the whole ter- ritory between the Hudson and Delaware rivers, was pecu- liarly applicable to the region bordering on Achter Kol, or Newark Bay and its southern estuary. Daniel Denton, one of the original " undertakers " of this settlement, is no less 'enthusiastic in its praise. Writing in 1670, he describes it as follows :
I may say, and say truly, that if there be any terrestrial happiness to be had by people of all ranks, especially of an inferior rank, it must certainly be here : here any one may furnish himself with Land, and livo rent-free, yea, with such a quantity of Land, that he may weary himself with walking over his fields of Corn, and all sorts of Grain ; and let his stock of Cattel amount to some hundreds, he needs not fear their want of pasture in the Summer or Fodder in the Winter, the Woods affording sufficient supply. For the Summer-season, where you have grass as high as a mans knees, nay, as high as his waste, interlaced with Pea-vines and other weeds that Cattel much delight in, as much as a man can press through ; and these woods also every mile or half-mile are furnished with fresh ponds, brooks or rivers, where all sorts of Cattel, during the heat of the day, do quench their thirst and cool themselves ; these brooks and rivers being invironed of each side with several sorts of trees and Grape- vines, the vines, Arbor-like, interchanging places and crossing these riv- ers, does shade and shelter them from the scorching beams of Sol's fiery
* N. York Col. Documents, III. 88-0.
36
THE HISTORY OF
influence. And how prodigal, If I may so say, hath Nature been to fur- nish the Countrey with all sorts of wilde Beasts and Fowle, which every one hath an interest in, and may hunt at his pleasure : where besides the pleasure in hunting, he may furnish his house with excellent fat Venison, Turkeys, Geese, Heath Hens, Cranes, Swans, Ducks, Pidgeons, and the like ; and wearied with that, he may go a Fishing, where the Rivers are so furnished, that he may supply himself with Fish before he can leave off the Recreation ; where besides the sweetness of the Air, the Countrey itself sends forth such a fragrant smell, that it may be perceived at Sea before they can make the Land; where no evil fog or vapour doth no sooner appear but a North-west or Westerly winde doth immediately dissolve it, and drive it away. I must needs say, that if there be any terrestrial Canaan, 'tis surely here, where the Land floweth with milk and honey .*
Van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, writing in 1650, says,
The district inhabited by a nation called Raritangs, is situate on a fresh water river, that flows through the centre of the low land which the Indians cultivated. This vacant territory lies between two high moun- tains, far distant the one from the other. This is the handsomest and pleasantest country that man can behold, it furnished the Indians with abundance of maize, beans, pumpkins, and other fruits.t
The land covered by Gov. Nicolls' patent was of large dimensions. It extended from the mouth of the Raritan on the South, to the mouth of the Passaic on the North, a dis- tance, in a straight line, of not less than seventeen miles ; and running back into the country twice this distance, or thirty-four miles ; embracing the towns of Woodbridge and Piscataway, the whole of the present Union County, part of the towns of Newark and Clinton ; a small part of Morris County, and a considerable portion of Somerset County- containing about 500,000 acres, upland and meadow, in fair proportions, well watered by the Raritan, the Passaic, the Rahway, and Elizabeth Rivers, Thompson's [Morse's] Creek, and Bound Brook; diversified with level plains and ranges of hills, of considerable elevation, ordinarily classified as mountains ; the soil of the uplands mostly red shale and clay
* Denton's Description of N. York, Ed. of 1845, pp. 19, 20, 21.
t N. Y. Col. Documents, I. 366-7. N. Y. Doc. His., IV. 29.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
loam, and a large part of it susceptible of a high state of cultivation.
The precise date of the first occupation of this tract by the new proprietors is not on record. No memorial of the event has come down to the present day. It was, doubtless, an humble beginning in the first instance, and not deemed of sufficient moment to attract attention. The purchase was made, October 28th, 1664, and the Governor's patent or grant obtained, on the 1st of December following. It is probable, that something like a formal entry was made, and possession taken, between these two dates. From a receipt, endorsed on the Deed from the Indians, it appears that the final payment of "four hundred fathom of white wampom ". was acknowledged by the Grantors, November 24, 1665. This became due only " after a years expiration from the day of entery upon ye said lands." It is not probable, that the time of payment was anticipated ; and hence it may be concluded, that the settlement was actually commenced, ground, at least, broken, and something of a habitation attempted, as early as November 24, 1664 .*
The purchasers, in their application to Gov. Nicolls, September 30, 1664, had craved his "answer with as much expedition as may be ; because some of them, by reason of not having any accommodations where they then resided, were put upon thoughts of removing into some other of his
* Appended to the Indian Deed is the following receipt : Received of John Ogden in part of the above specified foure hundred feet of wampum I say Received one hundred fathom of wampum by mee the 18 of August 1665 The mark of Mattano
Witnesses, Samuel Edsall, James Bollen
Endorsed on the Deed is the following : The 24 November 1665 paid to the Indians in full payment of this obligation
In Wampum one hundred and ninty fathom -
- 190
In a fowling peice and Lead -
40
for 180 Gilders that was behind for the payment of Luke -
Watson's oxen that were killed by the Indians seaventy fathom of
} To wampum
the sum of three hundred fathom
300 I say in all
(Witnesses)
The mark of Mattano
Henry Creyk
Wareham
John Dickeson
Sewab lerones
Jeremiah Osbone
Manamawaouc
Kawameeh
James Bollen
E. J. Records, B. 181, 2, and I. 1, 2; II. 12.
Lutonewach
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THE HISTORY OF
Majesty's dominions." The grant from Nicolls, also, was obtained on the condition "that people be carried thither with all convenient speed for the setting of plantations thereon." All this renders it highly probable, that the settlement was undertaken without loss of time. Possibly the winter-season, then at hand, may not have been the most propitious for active and energetic operations. But, cer- tainly, with the passing away of the frosts, in February or March following, they would be on the move to clear the ground of the "goodly oaks" on either side of the Creek, where they had determined to locate their town and lay out their home lots, to prepare the soil for the summer and autumnal crops, and to erect their humble dwellings.
The people of L. Island (says Gov. Nicolls, in 1665), are very poor and labour onely to get bread and clothing, without hopes of ever seeing a penny of monies .*
An exaggerated statement, doubtless, and to be taken with considerable abatement ; and yet indicative of the gen- eral opinion in respect to the poverty of the soil of Long Island, in comparison with the fertile tract west of Staten Island ; rendering it quite unlikely, that the purchasers of this tract would suffer many months to pass away, before be- · ginning their settlement. Early in July, 1665, Gov. Nicolls writes to the Duke, in respect to the "lands to the west of the * Hudsons River," -- " Upon this tract of land several new pur- chases are made from the Indians since my coming, and three Townes beginning ; " + showing that at that time a town had at least been begun here, indicative of a considerable immigration ; something more than three or four huts or cabins, as a somewhat vague tradition represented, some seventy years afterwards. No reliance, in the absence of documentary evidence, can be placed on the statement, made in 1747, that, as late as the first of August, 1665,
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