USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 36
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The Stamp Act was passed, March 22, 1765. Tidings of its passage reached America in May following. The General Court of Massachusetts was in session, and, early in June, it was resolved by the Representatives of that Colony, to recommend to each of the other Representative Bodies " of the several British Colonies on this continent " to appoint Delegates to a General Congress to meet at New York "on the first Tuesday in October next," then and there " to con- sult together on the present circumstances of the Colonies." *
The Massachusetts Circular was laid before the New Jersey Legislature, June 20, 1765, " the last day of the session," at Burlington, "some members gone, others uneasy to be at their homes," and on a hurried conference between the mem- bers, it was, on the whole, deemed best to take no action in the premises. The responsibility of this proceeding 'was, (whether justly or not, it is not easy to determine), thrown upon the Speaker, Robert Ogden, of this town. He had been elected to the Legislature in 1751, and rechosen at each succeeding election. In 1763, he was chosen Speaker of the House. He was the son of Robert Ogden, who was the
* Pitkin's U. States, I. 442.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
grandson of " old John Ogden," the planter. He had for a long time been connected with the Presbyterian church, and, for several years, had been one of its Elders. His patriotism was unquestionable, as evinced in the course of the struggle with the mother country, and in the training of his sons, Matthias and Aaron, of revolutionary fame. He was the son-in-law of that incorruptible patriot, Matthias Hatfield, for whom his son Gen. Matthias Ogden was named .*
Shortly subsequent to the adjournment, Speaker Ogden called a meeting of the Representatives at Amboy, when he himself, Hendrick Fisher, of Somerset Co., and Joseph Bor- den, of Burlington Co., were appointed Delegates to the New York Congress. This first Continental Congress, emanating from the people, met as contemplated, and continued in ses- sion until Oct. 25th. " A Declaration of Rights and Griev. ances," in 14 particulars, was drawn up, with an Address to the King, and a Petition to each House of Parliament,- admirable papers, skillfully drawn, full of patriotic principle, yet courteous and respectful, well-designed to procure the repeal of the obnoxious legislation of Parliament. The pro- ceedings were approved and signed by all the members, except Timothy Ruggles, the presiding officer, and Mr. Ogden of New Jersey. These two gentlemen maintained, that the proceedings were to be submitted to the several provincial Assemblies, and, if sanctioned, forwarded by them, as their own acts. They were, doubtless, quite sincere and conscien- tious in maintaining this position ; Mr. Ogden certainly was. Mr. Ruggles " was severely censured by the Massachusetts representatives," and subsequently became an avowed enemy to the patriot cause. "Mr. Ogden was burned in effigy by the people of New Jersey." It was a blunder, to say the
* Gordon's N. J., p. 139. Mulford's N. J., p. 367. Robert Ogden, the father of Speaker Ogden, died Nov. 20, 1733, aged 46 years. The following Epitaph is inscribed on his grave- stono :
" One dear to God to Man most dear A Pillar in both Church & State Was he whose precious Dust lies here Whose Soul doth with bright Seraphs mate Ilis Name immortal shall remain Till this cold Clay revive again."
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least, on the part of Mr. Ogden, who was so annoyed by it, as to request the Governor to convene the Assembly, when, Nov. 27, 1765, he resigned his position, and his membership.
In the election that ensued to fill the vacancy, Stephen Crane, Esq., one of the most influential citizens of the town, and Mayor of the Borough in 1772, was chosen his successor. He, also, became Speaker of the House in 1771. Mr. Ogden, however, continued still to be honored with the confidence and esteem of his townsmen. In 1776, he was the Chairman of the E. Town Committee of Safety .*
The "Sons of Liberty " were here both numerous and. thoroughly organized. Care was taken, that the Stamp Act should not be enforced in any part of the town. The Act was to take effect, Nov. 1, 1765; but not a Stamp was to be found, nor was it safe either to vend or use one. A New York paper, of Feb. 27, 1766, says,-
A large Gallows was erected in Elizabeth Town, last Week, with a Rope ready fixed thereto, and the Inhabitants there vow and declare that the first Person that either distributes or takes out a Stamped Paper shall be hung thereon without Judge or Jury.
A very summary process, but, probably, never called into requisition. At the same date, the Editor says, --
We have certain Intelligence from Elizabeth Town in New Jersey that the Magistrates and Lawyers carry on their Business in the Law as usual without Stamps.t
With the repeal of the Stamp Act, March 18, 1766, much of the excitement and alarm of the people came to an end. A series of measures were subsequently adopted, however, well fitted to excite the fears, and provoke the resentment of the Colonists.
The non-importation agreements were renewed, and all trade with the mother-country was brought to a stand. The people of this town and vicinity entered, with all their heart, into the measures of the day. At a meeting of the Free- holders, Merchants and Traders of the County of Essex, held
* Gordon's N. J., pp. 140, 338. Pitkin's U. States, I. 181-6. Hildreth's U. States, II. 531. Force's Am. Archives, IV. S18. t Holt's N. Y. Journal, No. 1208.
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at Elizabeth Town, on Tuesday, June 5, 1770, it was, among other things, unanimously resolved,
That we will not ourselves or by others, receive, purchase, sell, or otherwise use, any of the Manufactures or Merchandize imported from Great Britain, contrary to said Agreements ; and that we will not trade or have any Intercourse with such Persons, who shall import Goods, or Cause them to be imported, or with any Person who shall purchase Goods or other Merchandize so imported,-but that we will use every lawful Means in our Power, to hinder the Sale of such Goods, in any Way what- soever .*
When it became known, that some of the New York mer- chants were disposed to recede from their engagements, the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Essex Co. met in Elizabeth Town, July 16, 1770, when it was resolved,
That we will strictly adhere to our Resolutions of the 5th of June last ; as far as they relate to purchasing Goods imported from Great Britain.
At the same meeting, a Committee of Correspondence was appointed to look after matters of common interest to the country. t.
During the previous three years the Twenty-Sixth regiment of British Regulars had been quartered in the barracks at New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, and Elizabeth Town. (Their Colonel, the Hon. Sir John Sinclair, Bart.,- had married, while here, a Miss Morehead, and died Nov. 26, 1767. His widow, the Lady Sinclair, was married, in this town, Mar. 14, 1769, to his successor, Col. Templar.) They were trans- ferred to New York, and their place supplied, the last week in May, 1770, by the 29th Regiment from Boston, the same that was stationed there at the time of the "Boston Massacre," March 5, 1770. The presence of a portion of this regiment in the town was not adapted to pacificate the excited people. When the 26th were about to leave town, an Address was presented by the Corporation of the Borough, to Col. Templar and Major Charles Preston, acknowledging the good behavior of the officers and soldiers while quartered in the town, and complimenting them on the harmony that subsisted between
* Holt's N. Y. Journal, No. 1431. Pitkin's U. States, I. 212
t Holt's N. Y. Journal, No. 143S.
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them and the Inhabitants. The 29th were succeeded by the 47th regiment under Col. England .*
The well known "Boston Tea-Party " took place, Dec. 16, 1773. The measure was sustained by the whole population, with few exceptions. The Boston Port Bill, closing the port, and transferring the seat of government to Salem, was en- acted by Parliament, March 25, 1774, as a retaliatory meas- ure. When tidings of the passage of this vindictive Act reached this country, May 10, 1774, a furious flame of hitherto-suppressed wrath burst forth, all over the land. Town-meetings were called ; whole counties assembled ; the provinces met in Congress ; and, with one heart and voice, the American people determined to stand by the Bostonians in their conflict with British despotism.
Nowhere was this spirit more fully developed than here in this town. A noble body of patriots, headed by such men as William Livingston, William Peartree Smith, and Elias Boudinot, men of controling influence, were then citizens of the borough, and in power. Stephen Crane, Esq., was the Mayor; Ephraim Terrill, Deputy Mayor ; John Blanchard, Elias Dayton, John Ross, Abraham Clark, Ephraim Marsh, and William Livingston, were of the Corporation. The great body of the people were outspoken patriots; a few were in sympathy with the British officials; and some endeavored to pursue a conservative course. Parties were formed here somewhat as in New York, with which this town had the most intimate connection ; although the trading interest here was subservient and not preponderant.
Measures were taken by the patriots of this town and county, shortly after receiving tidings of the Boston troubles, to give expression to the indignant feelings of the people, and to extend sympathy to the Bostonians. At a formal meeting, held at the Court-House, in Newark, on Saturday, the 11th of June, an admirable paper, prepared, probably, by Wm. Livingston, was unanimously and heartily adopted, urging the country to stand united and firm in their opposi-
* Holt's N. Y. Journal, No. 1431. N. Y. Mercury, Nos. 840, 908. DeHart's Passages in the His. of E. T., No. II.
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tion to Parliament, and inviting a Provincial Convention to assemble speedily to appoint Delegates to a general Congress. The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee to carry into effect the resolutions of the meeting,-viz: Ste- phen Crane, Henry Garritse, Joseph Riggs, William Liv- ingston, William P. Smith, John De Hart, John Chetwood, Isaac Ogden, and Elias Boudinot, Esquires .*
Of this Committee, Mr. Garritse was of Aquackanock, Messrs. Riggs and Ogden were of Newark, and the re- mainder, two thirds, of this town. The movement un- doubtedly originated here, controling the County, and giving impulse to the whole Province. This place became, thence- forward, the headquarters of the patriot movement in New Jersey.t
The several County Committees, elected in accordance with these suggestions, and with a circular letter issued by the Essex Committee, met at New Brunswick, July 21, 1774, and appointed Stephen Crane, of this town, to preside over their deliberations. They made choice of James Kinsey, William Livingston, John De Hart, Stephen Crane and Richard Smith, (three of the five being of this borough), delegates to a. General Congress. A Standing Committee of Correspondence, ten in number, (of whom two, Wm. Peartree Smith, Chairman, and John Chetwood, were of this town), was appointed to look after the interests of the coun- try. The several County Committees, also, " agreed to pro- mote collections in their respective counties for the relief of such of the unhappy inhabitants of the town of Boston as may be now reduced to extremity and want." On the 28th of July, Wm. Peartree Smith, as Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence, addressed a letter of sympathy to the
* N. Y. Mercury, No. 1183. Force's Am. Archives, 4th Ser., I. 299-300 ; 403-4.
t In the midst of these agitations. one of the most venerable and distinguished citizens of the town, Dr. Ichabod Burnet, departed this life. Ile was born at Southampton, L. I., about 1684, and removed with his father, Dan (son of Thomas), about 1700, to this town. Ilis wife, Hannah, was born in 1702, and died, Feb. 19, 1753. They had two sons, Wmn, and Ichabod, both of whom became physicians. The latter died, Mar. 12, 1756, in his 24th year. Dr. Wil- liam removed to Newark, and distinguished himself as a patriot in the revolutionary war. Ho was the father of Judge Jacob Burnot, of Cincinnati. Dr. Ichabod died at E. Town, July 13, 1774, aged 90 years.
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Boston Committee of Correspondence-asking them, also, to advise in what way their necessities could best be answered .*
The results of the deliberations of the General Congress, that met at Philadelphia in September and October, being published, new energy was imparted to the people in their determination to resist the oppressive measures of the British ministry. The Essex County Committee of Correspondence issued a call for town meetings to organize the respective towns for the more vigorous prosecution of the measures recommended by Congress. In compliance with this call, the Freeholders of this town met at the Court House, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1774, Stephen Crane, Esq., in the chair, when a large Committee was chosen for the above-mentioned purpose, viz.
Jonathan Hampton, Matthias Williamson, Elias Dayton, Isaac Wood- ruff, William Barnett, Wm Herriman, Oliver Spencer, George Ross, Ed- ward Thomas, Cornelius Hetfield, John Blanchard, Ephraim Tyrrel, Abra- ham Clarke, Robert Ogden, Junior, Jeremiah Smith, Richard Townley, Junior, Samuel Shotwell, David Miller, Thomas Woodruff, John Clawson, Jonathan Dayton, Ephraim Marsh, Recompense Stanbury, Jedediah Swan, William Parsons, Samuel Potter, William Bott, Jonathan Williams, Chris- topher Marsh, Isaac Wynants, Daniel Halsey.
Stephen Crane, John De Hart, William Livingston, Wil- liam P. Smith, Elias Boudinot, and John Chetwood, Esqrs., were unanimously reelected for the Borough of Elizabeth, on the Essex County Committee of Correspondence. It was, then,
Voted, That two certain Pamphlets lately published, the one enti- tled "A Friendly Address," &c., and the other under the signature of " A Farmer," as containing many notorious falsehoods, evidently calcu- lated to sow the seeds of disunion among the good people of America, grossly misrepresenting the principles of the present opposition to Par- liamentary Taxations; vilifying the late Congress ; and intended to facili- tate the scheme of the British Ministry for enslaving the Colonies, be publickly burnt, in detestation and abhorrence of such infamous publica- tions.
And the same were accordingly committed to the flames before the
* Am. Archives, 4th S., I. 624. Gordon's N. J., p. 156. Mulford's N. J., pp. 888, 9. Sedg- wick's Livingston, pp. 168-172.
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Court House, with the universal approbation of a numerous concourse of people .*
The Committee of Observation, thus appointed, were not idle. As the town had denounced the two pamphlets just mentioned, they called the attention of the people, Decem- ber 19, 1774, to the dangerous character of "Rivington's Royal Gazetteer," published at New York, declared their determination individually to patronize it no longer, and called upon all the people to follow their example, and banish it from their habitations. The article was signed by " Jonathan Hampton, Chairman." +
This was followed, Feb. 13, 1775, by the following inter- diet :-
Whereas the inhabitants of Staten Island have manifested an unfriendly disposition towards the liberties of America, and among other things have neglected to join in the General Association proposed by the Continental Congress, and entered into by most of the Townships in America, and in no instance have acceded thereto. The Committee of Observation for this Town, taking the same into consideration, are of opinion that the in- habitants of their District ought, and by the aforesaid Association are bound, to break off all trade, commerce, dealings, and intercourse whatso- ever with the inhabitants of said Island, until they shall join in the General Association aforesaid ; and do Resolve that all trade, commerce, dealings, and intercourse whatsoever be suspended accordingly, which suspension is hereby notified and recommended to the inhabitants of this District to be by them universally observed and adopted. George Ross, Clerk.#
A day or two afterwards, an oyster-boat, belonging to James Johnson, of Staten Island, came up the Creek to the
* Am. Archives, 4th S., I. 1009-10, 1012-3. The former of these pamphlets was entitled, " A Friendly Address to all Reasonable Americans, on the subject of our political confusions. In which the necessary consequences of violently opposing the King's troops and of a gen- eral non-importation, are fairly stated." Dr. Hawkins attributes it to the Rev. Dr. T. B. Chandler, of Elizabeth Town, N. J., but erroneously. It was the production of the Rev. Myles Cooper, D. D., President of King's College, N. Y. Such was the popular indignation against him, that his house was sacked, May 10, 1775, and he, barely escaping the hands of the mob, took refuge on board a ship of war, and fled to England. His Majesty gave him a pension of £200. per year. The latter pamphlet was entitled, "Free thoughts on the pro- ceedings of the Continental Congress held at Phila. 5 Sept. 1774, by A Farmer." It was written by Isaac Wilkins, subsequently the Rev. Dr. Wilkins, of Westchester Co., N. Y. He wrote, also, " The Congress Canvassed ; or an Examination into the Conduct of the Dele- gates." It may have been this last, to which the vote of censure refers. He too fled to England, in May 1775, but returned the next year. N. Y. Col. Doemts., VIII. 297, 569, 5S1. Sabine's Loyalists, 1st Ed. pp. 692-705.
t Am. Archives, 4th Ser., I. 1051, 2.
+ Am. Archives, 4th S., I. 1234, 5.
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stone bridge, and the owner endeavored to make sale of his freight. But a pair of horses were speedily attached to the boat by the indignant people, and the poor craft was hauled up the street to the Court House. Johnson was advised by James Arnet to seek redress from Jonathan Hampton, Chair- man of the Committee of Observation, who was, also, a magistrate. Hampton was found, in conference with Joseph Tooker, at Samuel Smith's tavern, next to the Court House. Hampton gave him a protection, allowed him to sell his oysters, and in the evening, with his skiff, to return to the Island.
This incident, trivial enough, was reported to Rivington in New York, and an account of it appeared in his Royal Gazetteer of March 2d, in which the affair was magnified into a disgraceful and turbulent riot. Mr. Hampton was ac- cused of being " completely drunk," and Messrs. Blanchard and Dayton, two of the Aldermen, were represented as hav- ing " exerted themselves greatly to suppress those violences, but they were only able to check them." Rivington's in- formant says of the mob, (Feb. 18), that " about four o'clock, they proceeded to abuse all the people in the town who were known to be well affected to the Constitution [the Tories]; they erected a gallows, and fixed up a liberty pole in the middle of the town." Both, however, were soon taken down. A fortnight afterwards, (23d), affidavits were published in the Gazetteer, completely exonerating Mr. Hampton and the town from the calumnies of Rivington's informant .*
The vigilance of the Committee was called into requisition a few days afterwards, in another direction. The ship Beulah arrived, Feb. 1775, at Sandy Hook, with an assorted cargo from London, consigned to Robert and John Murray, the old Quaker merchants of New York, and men of great wealth. The vessel was named for one of Robert Murray's daughters. The Murrays were required by the N. York Committee of Correspondence, to send the vessel back without breaking bulk; with which they professed their willingness to comply. John Murray, however, came over to Elizabeth Town, and
* Rivington's Royal Gazetteer, Nos. 99, 101. Moore's Diary of the Am. Rev. I. 23, 4.
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conferred with Ichabod B. Barnet, Sheriff of the County, and the husband of his sister. By his aid, a sloop belonging to Isaac Woodruff, but leased to Capt. Samuel Lec, was hired, and sailed for E. Town, ("Barnet going as a hand with Lee"), on Sunday morning, March 5, 1775. They reached N. York, the same evening, and unloaded the next morning. The same day, they sailed to Sandy Hook, and came along side of the Beulah about dusk on Monday evening. Capt. Lee retired to his berth and went to sleep. At 12 o'clock he was called, and sailed, with John Murray and his clerk, Graham, (Barnet, also, continuing on board), for Elizabeth Town. They stopped some hours at Staten Island, and reached Barnet's Store House on Wednesday morning about one o'clock. Several bales, boxes, and other packages of goods, about two tons in weight, taken from the Beulah, were then landed, one Marsh, passing by at the time, being em- ployed to aid them.
In the meantime, or soon after, it began to be whispered about at New York, that something was wrong. Isaac Sears, the noted patriot, suspecting what had been done, wrote to Jonathan Hampton, Chairman of the E. Town Committee, who called the Committee together on Friday, the 10th, and soon the whole affair was ferreted out. Samuel Lee made a · deposition, and the Committee exonerated him from all complicity in the matter. John Murray deposed as to the facts stated above, and endeavored to exonerate Barnett, as having acted in pure friendship for himself. He professed his penitence, and gave the Committee a check of £200, for the rebuilding of the City Hospital, recently destroyed by fire. Capt. Lee was fully cleared by the E. T. Committee, and declared to be " a person well known here to be of good character, and who by his honesty and industry, has justly acquired the esteem. of all the inhabitants of this town." Murray sent in a petition to Congress with proper acknowl- edgments, and both he and Barnett sought forgiveness of the Provincial Congress of N. Jersey, and were reinstated. The goods were delivered on the 15th, to the E. T. Committee to be kept until after the war. A year or two later, tents being
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greatly needed, and there being no duck in the country, the New York Committee obtained, from the E. T. Committee, several bales of Osnaburghs from these stores, which were devoted to this laudable" purpose. What became of the remainder of the goods does not appear. The affair created at the time no little excitement, and the vigilance of the Committees had a most happy influence in promoting the patriot cause .*
The following extract from a communication that appeared March 25, 1775, shows what was then thought of this whole procedure :-
Some would have lately attempted to land goods in America contrary to the Association of the Congress; but such is the vigilance of those excellent inspectors, the Committees of New York, and Elizabeth Town, and such the awful guilt of the delinquents, that they could not be hid. They have confessed their fault and laid a heavy fine upon themselves for their base conduct. Another person concerned in the same dark affair is also detected, and will, it is thought, be sufficiently punished.
Blood flowed at Lexington, Mass., on Wednesday, April 19, 1775. It was the blood of patriots, shed by minions of Great Britain. That blood made America free and independ- ent. It cried from the ground, and its voice was heard in every habitation of the United Provinces. It. roused the sleepers; it fired the populace; it united the people as one man, to resist unto blood the tyranny of the Lords and Com- mons of Britain. Tidings of the event reached New York on Sunday, the 23d, and the city rose in its strength to sustain the common cause. Loyalty was at a woful discount. The tory faction, till then exultant and defiant, were palsied with dismay. Sears and Lamb swayed the multitude at their will, and effectually closed the harbor against the export of all supplies for the British at Boston.
The same day, or the next, it was known all over New Jersey. This ancient town was all ablaze. The sterling patriots, whose voice was all-powerful among the people, took up the cry that came to them from the bloody ground of Lexington, and bore it to every dwelling in the wide
* N. Y. Mercury, No. 1223. Am. Archives, 4th S., II. 144-8, 887-891.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
borough. The die was cast. Negotiation was at an end. Nothing remained but the sword. And he that would not take up arms, in his country's need, was worse than Judas. The young men of the town were eager for the fray.
Aaron Burr, in his childhood, was an E. Town boy. His mother's brother, Timothy, the eldest son of the Rev. Jona- than Edwards, had married, Sep. 25, 1760, Rhoda, daughter of Robert Ogden, Esq., and granddaughter of Matthias Hat- field, Esq., of this town, " and made a home in Elizabeth Town for the family." Mr. Edwards resided here, highly respected and influential, from 1760 to 1771. Burr and his sister, left orphans in 1758, were received into their uncle Edwards' family, the former in his 5th year. Here the lad grew up, and was fitted for Princeton College, under the instruction of Tapping Reeve, teacher of the grammar-school, who soon after married Burr's sister. Mrs. Edwards was the sister of Matthias and Aaron Ogden, the latter being of Burr's age, and the former nearly two years older. They grew up together as children of the same family, and Matthias became Burr's bosom companion. In 1772 young Burr graduated, and in 1774 began to study law with his brother-in-law, at Litchfield, Ct .*
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