USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 38
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Stephen Crane, who had succeeded Robert Ogden, as Chairman of the E. Town Committee, wrote to Stirling, also, on the 14th, to the effect, that they had no right to send a Detachment out of the Province ; urged the desperate state of the Colony ; and said,-
The Arming the two battalions in the Continental Service hath drained us of our best Arms, and in case a Decent should be made at New York, we should be liable to continual excursions of the enemy.
Wm. Burnet, Chairman of the Essex Co. Committee, wrote on the 15th, that a copy of Crane's letter had been sent to him, "from which we are afraid no men will come from Elizabeth Town ; ... however we shall Endeavour to prevail with them to furnish their quota, and hope we shall succeed." The next day, he writes that " the confusion is owing to your writing to the Township and not the County Committee."
Two days after, Stirling acknowledges the services of Bur-
* Gordon's N. J., p. 201. Mulford's N. J., p. 425.
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net and the Newark people ; informs him of his intention to fortify East Jersey, and says,-
I shall send to explain my designs to you and to engage the people of Elizabeth Town to carry them into execution which according to my plan they will be able to do with two or Three hundred men in a few days. Some Intrenching tools will be necessary, and it will be proper to have them Collected as soon as possible at Newark or Elizabeth Town.
And so the men were kept at home to work on their own fortifications. Stirling knew the people too well to believe, that they were wanting in patriotism. One of the staunchest patriots of the town, Abraham Clark, the Signer, wrote to the Committee of Safety, at this very time, March 15th, in reference to a resolution of the Provincial Congress, calling for arms to equip a battalion for Canada,-" If all the Con- gresses upon the Continent required us to disarm ourselves at present, unless we are deemed dangerous to liberty, I would not obey." The situation of the town was becoming exceedingly critical, and they needed to husband all their resources .*
Col. Dayton, in command of the Third Continental Regi- ment stationed at E. Town, in the mean time, had received, March 10th, orders from Stirling to put his regiment in marching trim. On the 14th, he writes, that " the companies of Captains Bloomfield, Dickinson and Potter have passed muster," and that the others are nearly full. He refers to the scarcity of Arms, and says,-" The Militia are now more than ever unwilling to part with their Arms ; " and adds, that he and Major Barber had been to Congress at Philadel- phia about it, but without success. On the 23d, he received orders to march forthwith to New York.+
In accordance with the intimations in the letter to Burnet, Lord Stirling came over, on the 22d, to this town, to survey the ground, and lay out a line of fortifications at the Point. After conference with Gen. Livingston in relation to the plan, he returned to the city on the 24th, to procure engineers to be employed on these works under the direction of General William Thompson.
* Stirling Mss., N. Y. His. Soc. Anal. Index, p. 451.
t Stirling Mss.
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Boston was evacuated by the British Army, March 17th, and, as it was naturally inferred that they would make a vigorous effort to establish their headquarters at New York, the American army was, in the course of a few weeks, mostly transferred to this section of the country. General Washing- ton arrived and took command at New York, on Saturday, April 13th, The work of erecting and strengthening fortifi- cations at exposed points was renewed, and carried on with great vigor.
The Provincial Congress of New Jersey, chosen on the 4th Monday in May, met at Burlington on the 10th of June ; and John De Hart having been permitted to resign his seat in Congress, Abraham Clark, also of this town, who had served for some time as Secretary of the N. Jersey Commit- tee of Safety, was chosen, June 22d, in his place. Wm. Livingston, another member from this town, having been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey Militia, resigned his membership, and established his headquarters at Elizabeth Town Point, while his own family, and others, retired into less exposed portions of the country, in anticipa- tion of the near approach of the British army and the full realities of war .*
* "It may be interesting to some to know what was the appearance of the town at the beginning of the war in 1776. The writer," says Capt William C. De Hart, " can describe a portion of it by which at least, may be seen the great change since that day. From the Barracks, south as far as the corner of the lot where stands [1846] the present residence of Mr. Mayo it was entirely open. At this spot stood the 'Red Store-house,' which will be mentioned hereafter, and then came the stone house (Mr. Mayo's) and between that and Mr. Jelf's now the residence of Mr. Oliver Price, there were but two small wooden buildings. On the other side of the road was the mansion of Mr. John De Hart, which appeared then much as at the present day, with the exception of a piazza and shed which extended entirely across the south front. To the south of this last stood a wooden building occupied by John Blanchard, and probably makes a part of it, as it occupies the same ground of the building now tenanted by Mr. Leavenworth. Proceeding from this on the west side, and crossing the road which runs obliquely toward the Rahway turnpike, stood a small frame building ; and a little further on was the Presbyterian Parsonage occupied by the Rev. James Caldwell. This last was a frame building, covered with shingles and painted red ; in form it was long, two low stories in front, and the roof declined to the rear in a long slope, terminating at the height of one story above the ground. Between the Parsonage and the road, south, there was no other building, and the glebe attached was a large square lot behind the dwelling, and bounded on one side by the road to the corner (Capt. Williamson's) and thence some distance on the Philadelphia road towards Mr. Charles King's residence. The next house was that of Judge Chetwood now in the possession of Mr. Bryant, and opposite to this, east, stood a small building on the corner.
From the corner (Jelf's Hill) east, there was a building near what is now Mr. Cleaveland's Bakery. The next building, well remembered, and a portion of which is still standing, was on
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the 'flats' and occupied by a very worthy person for many years, Maam'selle Nancy Salnave (pronounced Snaw,) the popular dress-maker of the village, the Marchande des Modes, and the arbitress of matters of fashion in those pristine times of taste and troubles. Proceeding eastward, on the corner stood a small building where now lives Mr. James Cree, and beyond a few yards was another small house. From this point to the bridge was vacant; and on the other side of the river was the old mill which yet stands ;- the peaceful clack of whose wheels with its rushing stream, had discoursed their music to the cars of a preceding genera- tion.
,
The next building was the ' Red Lion ' inn, distinguished in its time, for having been for a brief space the quarters of General Washington. Beyond this a few yards was a house known as ' the Lodge,' erected it is believed by an association of Free Masons-a portion of this still remains. The next in succession was the Court House, a small frame shingle-covered building which had never been adorned with paint,-and in the same condition, and style of architecture, was the adjacent building, the Presbyterian Meeting House, both of which re- spectively occupied the ground whereon now stand the structures devoted to the same ob- jects : and where is now the Lecture-room of the ' First Congregation ' stood a small wooden building familiar to all as 'The Academy,' where a Barber taught, not 'rebellion,' but gram- mar and 'old English undefiled.' From this last point up to Jersey street, there were but two houses, the first where Miss Crittenden now resides, and the second a little beyond the residence of Mrs. Wilson, and which was destroyed by fire a few years since. On the opposite side of the street from the corner house now occupied by Mrs. Barber, as far as St. John's Church, intervened but five houses : the first on the corner; one about where now is Mr. Ludlow's shoe store ; a third on the site now covered by Mr. Earle's store; a fourth, which is yet standing though carried up another story since that day, and at present in possession of Mr. M. Halsey ; and the fifth adjoining the Church-yard, and then well known to the children of the town as the ' Cake Shop.'
South of the Church stood the two small brick tenements which are still there, and now occupied by Squire Winans and our worthy post-master; and thence to the residence of General Williamson, now the ' Union Hotel,' was an open orchard. Crossing the street, on the corner stood a small shop, and next, towards the river, where since has been erected the ' Thomas' House,' was a long low one and a half story building, kept as a tavern, and famous in its day, as the resort of the British officers of the garrison, and other gay young men about town.
From this sketch may be seen the changes which have since taken place, and as the busy mart where men most did congregate for the business of the day, was then the corner known as 'Jelf's Hill,' the neighborhood just described may be supposed to have been the most popu- lous part of the village. The old Red Store House, which sometime afterwards was re- moved to the opposite side of the road, having been rebuilt, forms the house occupied by the late Edward Price."-[De Hart's "Passages in the History of Elizabeth Town."]
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THE HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XX.
A. D. 1776-1777.
Independence - Lines drawn -Sentiments of Abraham Clark, theSigner - Brit- ish Fleet -Staten Island taken by the British Troops-The War at the Door -Defence of the Town - Arrest of Traitors-Female Patriot Forays - Changes in the Town -Error of Mr. W. Irving -Disaffection of Pa. Troops - Battle of Flatbush - Wm. Livingston, First Gov. of the State - Gen. Matt. Williamson, in command here -John DeHart declines & Robert Morris appointed Chief Justice of N. J. - Depot for Prisoners here - Am. Army evacuate N. York -Letter of Rob. Ogden - Disasters - Retreat through N. Jersey - People flee-Town occupied by the British - William- son resigns- Defections - Protection Papers - Am. Troops at Short Hills - Rev. J. Caldwell -Skirmish - Death of Col. Ford - Capture of Hessians at Trenton - Capture of Princeton - Retreat of British Army - Washington at Morristown - Enemy driven out of Newark and E. T. - Capt. E. Littell - Barbarity of the Enemy - Tories and Neutrals driven out - Frequent Skir- mishes - British Army evacuate the State.
A NEW Era now dawns on the Town, the State, the Na- tion. A resolution had been submitted, June 7th, to the General Congress, by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, to the effect, " That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES ; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown ; and that all polit- ical connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." On the 10th, having been freely and earnestly discussed for three days, it was adopted in committee of the whole, by a bare majority of the several delegations. For the sake of greater unanimity, it was reconsidered and postponed until the first of July .*
In the meantime, it was warmly debated among the peo-
* Pitkin's U. States, I. 362.
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ple, and in the several provincial congresses. The new Dele- gates from New Jersey, chosen June 21st, were instructed, "in case they judged it necessary and expedient for support- ing the just rights of America, to join in declaring the United Colonies independent, and entering into a Confederation for union and defense." The consideration of the question was resumed in Congress on Monday, July 1st, in committee of the whole, and passed by the vote of nine colonies. Being reported to the house, it was deferred until the next day, Tuesday, July 2d, when it was passed by the vote of twelve Colonies, the Delegates from New York, though personally favorable, being restricted by official instructions from voting. The Declaration of Independence, having been referred to a special committee, was reported on the 28th of June, and, having been closely scrutinized for two days, on the evening of the fourth of July, was adopted by the same vote .*
The die was now cast. The state of vassalage was termi- nated. The house of Hanover was dethroned. Royalty was abolished. All dependence on Britain was abjured. A Re- public was inaugurated. A Nation was born. The struggle ceased to be a civil war. Rebels were now patriots. The British were foreign foes. The war was henceforth to be waged by rival nations. Loyalists were now traitors, and to be treated as foes to their country. Neutrality could no longer be tolerated. King or Congress must rule. Sides must be taken. Every man must be a friend or a foe-for or against his country. He could not be neither.
Tidings of this event soon spread all over the land. Here in this town, as elsewhere, it was received with mingled joy and sorrow. The great majority of the people, including nearly the whole of the Presbyterian party, and some few of the Episcopalians, hailed the Declaration with the utmost satisfaction and exultation, and nerved themselves anew for the conflict. But " from that time," some who had hitherto consorted with the patriots, Jonathan Hampton among the number, " went back, and walked no more with" them. Of these some few subsided into a state of apparent quietude,
* Pitkin's U. States, I. 864, 5. Bancroft's U. S., VIII. 457, 9, 63, 7. 28
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and of constrained acquiescence with the new order of things, taking little or no part in public affairs. Others took the first opportunity to connect themselves, openly and violently, with the cause of royalty.
The "Declaration " was entered on the journal of Congress, on the fourth, and immediately published to the world. But no signatures were appended to it. On the 19th, it was or- dered to be engrossed on parchment, and signed by every member. Accordingly the engrossed copy was presented on Friday, Aug. 2d, and received the signatures of all the mem- bers then present, some of whom had not been present at its adoption. This town has the honor of having contributed one of her noble sons, ABRAHAM CLARK, to that immortal band. In a letter, written at Philadelphia, Aug. 6th (four days only after signing the Declaration), to his townsman, Col. Elias Dayton, then on service at German Flats, he gives utterance to the following appropriate sentiments :
As to my title, I know not yet whether it will be honourable or dis- honourable; the issue of the war must settle it. Perhaps our Congress will be exalted on a high gallows. We were truly brought to the case of the three lepers: If we continued in the state we were in, it was evident we must perish ; if we declared Independence, we might be saved,-we could but perish. I assure you, sir, I see-I feel, the danger we are in. I am far from exulting in our imaginary happiness ; nothing short of the almighty power of God can save us. It is not in our numbers, our union, our valour, I dare trust. I think an interposing Providence hath been evident in all the events that necessarily led us to what we are-I mean independent States; but for what purpose, whether to make us a great empire, or to make our ruin more complete, the issue only can determine .*
Mr. Clark was a man of prayer, and was quartered, at Philadelphia, with his colleague, the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon. Both these worthy men had acted throughout on Christian principle, and with a deep sense of their responsibility to Almighty God.
The transition from vassalage to independence, on the part of the people of Elizabeth Town, was made in the midst of the most serious alarms. Washington wrote from N. York, June 29th, to General Livingston, commanding at E. Town :
* Pitkin's U. S., I. 369. Journals of Cong. Am. Archives, 5th Ser. 1. 785.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
I have received certain information from the Hook, that about forty of the enemy's fleet have arrived there, and others are now in sight, and that there cannot be a doubt, but the whole fleet will be in this day and to-morrow. I beg not a moment's timo may be lost, in sending forward such parts of the militia, as Col. Reed shall mention. We are so very weak at this post, that I must beg you to order the three companies, which I mentioned in my last for Staten Island, immediately to this city .*
These ships were the British fleet from Halifax, under the command of Admiral Shuldham, with the British Army un- der General Howe, recently driven out of Boston, with six transports filled with Highlanders just sent over. Orders were immediately issued for the removal of the live stock from Staten Island, and the people of this town were called upon to aid in this movement. Washington writes from N. York, July 3d, to the President of Congress,-
I am this minute informed by a gentleman that the Committee of Eliza- beth Town sent their Company of Light Horse on Monday to effect it, and that some of their Militia was to give their aid yesterday [Tuesday], - he adds that he was credibly told last night by part of the Militia coming to this place, that yesterday they saw a good deal of stock driving off the Island and crossing to the Jerseys.t
The Staten Islanders had made profession of patriotism, it has been seen, and so were allowed to resume trade with this town. The value of their professions may be seen from the report of Gov. Tryon of New York to Lord George Germain, dated, " Dutchess of Gordon, off Staten Island, Sth July, 1776 :"-
General Howe disembarked the troops under his command on Staten Island the 2d Instant without opposition, on which occasion the inhabit- ants of the Island came down to welcome the arrival of their deliverers, & have since afforded the army every supply & accommodation in their power. On Saturday last [6th] I received the Militia of the Island at Richmond Town, where near four hundred appeared, who chearfully, on my Recommendation, took the Oath of Allegiance & fidelity to his Majes- ty. To-morrow I am to have another muster for the onlistment of Volun- tiers to form a Provincial Corps for the defence of the Island .;
By this defection and the occupation of the Island by the British, this town was brought into the very fore-front of the
* Sparks' Washington, III. pp. 445, 6. + Am. Archives, 4th Ser., VI. 1234. + N. Y. Col. Docmts., VIII. 6,1.
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field of conflict, and so continued throughout the war. Staten Island became thenceforward not only a British post, but a nest of Tories, and the common resort of the "Loyalists," in their flight from East Jersey.
The day after their landing, the enemy made their appear- ance on the western shore of the Island, opposite E. Town Point.
As soon as the troops landed (says a correspondent), they paraded the north shore, and on Wednesday morning [3d] made their appearance near Elizabeth-Town point; but the country being soon alarmed, they re- treated, took up the floor of the drawbridge in the salt meadows, and im- mediately threw up some works. Their near approach to Elizabeth-Town point greatly alarmed the inhabitants of Essex county, and particularly the people of Elizabeth-Town and Newark; but they are now in a con- dition to receive them whenever they may think proper to approach. Two young men from Elizabeth-Town crossed the river in a canoe last Thursday [4th], and fired upon the regulars; but a number of them rush- ing out of the woods, they were obliged to retreat and cross the river again .*
Livingston writes to Washington, on the 4th, that they had
Thrown up a couple of small breastworks on the causeway leading from the Point over the Salt Meadow. We have between four and five hundred at the Point who have thrown up a line from the Point House eastward to answer as a cover. We have two field-pieces, with a part of the Company of Artillery of this Province [Capt. Neill's]. (He adds), Our men are raw and inexperienced, our officers mostly absent, want of discipline is inevitable, while we are greatly exposed for the distance of twelve or fourteen miles.t
He makes an urgent appeal for troops to defend the town against the disciplined troops on the Island, from whom an invasion was constantly expected. Washington, thereupon, writes, on the 5th, to the President of Congress,-
General Mercer arrived here on Tuesday, and, the next morning, was ordered to Paulus Hook to make some arrangements of the militia as they came in, and the best disposition he could to prevent the enemy's crossing from Staten Island if they should have any such views. The distressed situation of the inhabitants of Elisabeth Town and Newark has since induced me, upon their application, to give up all the militia from
* Pa. Eve. Post, No. 229. Pa. Journal, No. 1753.
1 Am. Archives, 4th Ser., VI. 1262.
·
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the Jerseys, except those engaged for six months. I am hopeful they will be able to repel any incursions, that may be attempted .*
He writes to Livingston, the next day, 6th,-
General Mercer has just set off for Jersey. In his experience and judgment you may repose great confidence. He will proceed to Amboy after conferring with you. You will please to keep me constantly in- formed of the proceedings of the enemy, and be assured of every assist- ance and attention.t
In the same letter, he writes, in answer to one from Liv- ingston, of the same date, as follows :-
The known disaffection of the people of Amboy, and the treachery of those of Staten Island, who, after the fairest professions, have shown themselves our most inveterate enemies, have induced me to give direc- tions, that all persons of known enmity or doubtful character should be removed from places, where they might enter into a correspondence with the enemy, and aid them in their schemes. For this end, General Heard [of Woodbridge] has directions to apprehend such persons, as from their conduct have shown themselves inimical, or whose situation, connexions, or offices have given just cause of suspicion.#
This order had a very salutary effect, resulting in the ap- prehension of a considerable number of suspected persons, in this town and vicinity, but more particularly in Amboy. Maj. Duyckinck, of the Middlesex militia, had arrested nine of the principal inhabitants of Amboy, and sent them here to General Livingston, giving occasion to Livingston's letter to Washington.§
A Philadelphia paper, of August 10th, relates the follow- ing :-
On the late alarm at Elizabeth Town, when an immediate attack of the regulars was expected [July 3d], and every man, capable of bearing arms, was summoned to defend it, there were three or four young men [brothers] going out from one house, when an elderly lady, mother or grandmother to the young men, without betraying the least signs of timidity, with a resolute calmness encouraged and assisted them to arm. When they were ready to go, and just setting out, she addressed them thus :- *
" My children, I have a few words to say to you; you are going out in
* Sparks' Washington, III. 449-50.
* Ibid., III. 451-2.
t Ibid., p. 452.
§ Whitehead's Amboy, p. 830.
?
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a just cause to fight for the rights and liberties of your country. You have my blessing and prayers, that God will protect and assist you. But if you fall; his will be done. Let me beg of you, my children, that if you fall, it may be like men ; and that your wounds may not be in your back parts."
A noble specimen of the Christian heroine ! It is to be regretted that her name is not recorded on earth; it is in heaven .*
The two field-pieces, of which mention has been made, very soon gave a good account of themselves. Under date of July 4, 1776, 12 o'clock at night, it is said,-
One of the enemy's armed sloops of fourteen guns, having this evening run up near Elizabeth Point, was attacked from the shore, with two twelve-pounders, a great number of her men killed, she set on fire and entirely destroyed.t
As this occurred just about the time that the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress, or within two or three hours of that event, it was probably the first military exploit of the new-born nation, and an auspicious omen of its career.
" About one hundred and thirty sail," as Washington in- forms Gen. Schuyler, on the 11th, had now arrived from Hali- fax, and the British army on the Island numbered " between nine and ten thousand." The next day several ships of the line arrived, and among them the Admiral's ship, who had been daily expected. The utmost vigilance now became ne- cessary, the more so, as two British men of war had the same afternoon run up Hudson's River, and taken possession of Tappan Bay. Livingston, in command of the militia here, and Mercer, in charge of the Flying Camp at Amboy, kept their eye on the opposite shore of the Sound, and prevented all foraging incursions from the enemy on the Island. Living- ston found himself very much in need of military stores. In a letter to the Prov. Congress, July 6th, he says, --
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