USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 49
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Dr. Chandler reached New York, Sunday, June 19, 1785, but too infirm to resume his parochial charge. In the course of the following year, the long-sought Episcopate of Nova Scotia was offered him, but his health was too much impaired for him to think of performing its duties, and he was com- pelled to decline it. At his suggestion, the office was confer- red on his friend, the Rev. Charles Inglis, D. D., who had removed from New York to Nova Scotia at the close of 1783, and who was consecrated at Lambeth, Aug. 12, 1787.
Very rarely was Dr. Chandler able to perform any official
* Sprague, V. 141, 153.
+ Annals of Scottish Episcopacy, in Chn. Journal, IV. 98.
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services after his return; five times only officiating in the marriage service, (for Elias B. Dayton, George Joy, Michael Hatfield, Aaron Ogden, and Capt. Cyrus De Hart), and occa- sionally at a funeral. At the request of the Vestry, however, he retained the Rectorship and Rectory as long as he lived. He died, at home, June 17, 1790, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
The funeral services were performed, on Saturday, the 19th, at St. John's Church. The Right Rev. Dr. Samuel Provoost, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, the Rev. Dr. Abraham Beach, the Rev. Uzal Ogden, the Rev. Richard Moore, and the Rev. George Ogilvie, served as pall-bearers. The burial service was read by the Rev. Mr. Spraggs, and Bishop Provoost. Dr. Beach preached from 1 Cor. 15: 55,-" O Death ! where is thy sting," &c .*
He had six children :
1. MARY, baptized June 10, 1753, died early.
2. WILLIAM, baptized, May 23, 1756, graduated at King's College, N. Y., 1774, entered the British service, was Captain of the New Jersey Volunteers, was stationed on Staten Island, went abroad at the close of the war, and died in England, Oct. 22, 1784, in his 29th year.
3. MARY RICKETTS, baptized, Nov. 15, 1761, died unmar- ried, at home, June 28, 1784, a year before her father's return, in her 23d year.
4. ELIZABETH CATHARINE, baptized, July 22, 1764, was married, Jan. 19, 1786, by her father, to Elias Bayley Dayton, son of Gen. Elias Dayton, of this town. She died, Nov. 6, 1806, in her 43d year.
5. JANE TONGRELOU, baptized, Sep. 27, 1767, was married, May 3, 1796, by Rev. Menzies Raynor, to William Dayton, whom she survived many years, dying, in her native place. She was buried, Jan. 31, 1859.
6. MARY GOODIN, baptized, Sept. 11, 1774, an infant when her father left home at the commencement of his ten years' exile, was married, May 6, 1800, to the Rev. John Henry Hobart, the youthful incumbent elect of St. George's Church,
* N. J. Journal, No. 350.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
Hempstead, L. I., and subsequently the highly honored Bishop of the Diocese of New York.
Mrs. Chandler, to whom an annual pension was allowed by the British government, after the decease of her husband, survived him more than eleven years. She.died, on Sunday, Sept. 20, 1801, in her 69th year.
Dr. Chandler is represented, as having been
A large portly man, of fine personal appearance, of a countenance expressive of high intelligence, though considerably marred by the small pox, of an uncommonly blue eye, of a strong commanding voice, and a great lover of music. He had fine powers of conversation, and was a most agreeable companion for persons of all ages. He was very fond of home, fond of retirement and of study, and was greatly beloved by his congregation. His antipathy to any thing but British rule continued to the last. Besides the controversial tracts already named, he wrote the Life of Samuel Johnson, D. D., the first President of King's College, in New York, which was published, after his decease, at N. York, in 1805. He also published at Burlington, in 1771, dedicated to Gov. Wm. Frank- lin, " A Sermon Preached before the Corporation For the Relief of the Widows and Children of Clergymen, in the Connection of the Church of England in America, at their Anniversary Meeting on the 2d of October, 1771, at Perth Amboy." *
* See, for many of the above facts, Clark's St. John's Church ; and Sprague's Annals, V. 187-142.
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THE HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XXV.
A. D. 1783-1795.
Return of Gov. Livingston -Sad Changes - Visit of Washington - Refugees remove to N. Scotia and N. Brunswick -"New Jersey Journal " established - U. S. Constitutional Convention -Fourth of July Celebrations -New Charter-Death of Gov. Livingston - Death of Gen. M. Ogden - Rage for Speculation - Lotteries - Schools - Circulating Library - Congressmen - Death of Mayor De Hart.
THE eight years war of the Revolution came to an end, April 19, 1783. All acts of hostility between the belligerents terminated on that day. The fugitive patriots, who had sought protection for their families in places remote from the scene of conflict, began now to return to their forsaken, and, in many instances, desolate homes. While the refugee loyal- ists, who had so long been waging a bloody war with their neighbors, were compelled, in order to their personal safety, to go into exile.
By the return of Gov. Livingston to his home, the last week in April, this town once more became, practically, the capital of the State ;- " the first time in seven years," he says, " that I have had any place which I could properly call my home." Part of the time he had resided here, in his own house, while his family found a refuge at Baskingridge, or Parcipany ; afterwards he resided at Trenton, and his good lady at the homestead, to keep it from destruction-the Governor making only occasional visits to his home.
It is not strange, that, on his return, he should feel solitary and sad, as he took his accustomed walks about town, and should say, that, "instead of my quondam agreeable com- panions, the village now principally consists of unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking tories, and very
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
knavish whigs." A great and visible change had come over the place and people. The venerable house of worship that he had so religiously frequented on the Sabbath was gone ; with the court house adjacent, and the academy at the upper end of the burying-ground; the parsonage house, too, and the barracks, on the other side of the river. The town looked desolate, of course .*
Old friends, moreover, had departed. Death had dealt severe blows on the town. Caldwell, the "rousing gospel- preacher," and his most excellent wife had fallen victims of the war. Barber, the young collegian, who had quitted the headship of the Academy for the tented field, and had be- come a highly valued officer of the Jersey Brigade had come to an untimely end a few weeks before. Periam, also, his successor in the Academy, had died ; Judge Stephen Crane, Speaker of the Assembly ; Jonathan Hampton, so conspicuous before the 4th of July 1776 ; Garret Noel, the N. York book- seller; John Clauson, the Commissioner of Confiscated Estates ; and the venerable Deacons Whitehead and Hatfield, with many others, had gone the way of all the earth.
Others were in exile or had removed. Dr. Chandler, of St. John's, had not yet returned from England. Cavalier Jouet, Ichabod B. Barnet, Broughton Reynolds, Wm. Luce, and others, had become refugees. Barnet died in 1783. Robert Ogden, Speaker, had removed to Sussex Co. Wm. Peartree Smith, Esq., the Governor's bosom friend, had re- moved to Newark. Others had gone, designing to return after the war, but came not back. The war had made sad havoc with the old residents, and quite changed the face of society. Many years were required to repair the damage, to recover from the confusion into which all business had been thrown, and to regain lost property.
Late in the summer of 1783, Gen. Washington and his lady had occasion to pass through the town, and the opportunity was embraced to express to the venerated hero, the people's high estimate of his person and services.t
* Sedgwick's Livingston, p. 246.
+ N. J. Journal, Nos. 237, S. Sparks' Washington, VIII. 474-5.
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As the time drew nigh for the evacuation of the City of New York, (Nov. 25, 1783), the last foot-hold of British power on the sea-board, where the refugees from this vicinity and elsewhere could freely express their hostility to the whigs and the new order of things, it became necessary for the loyalists who had been hopelessly compromised by the war, to secure for themselves and families a residence in some part of the British dominions. The greater part of those who hailed from this town made choice of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; and several families, who had been permitted to reside here during the war, were now constrain- ed to take their departure. Measures were taken, in the following year, to complete the confiscation of the estates of those against.whom inquisitions had been found and judg- ment entered, 1778-9. All persons indebted to these refugees were required to pay the amount to the agents appointed by the State to receive these sums ;- Samuel Hays of Newark, being the agent for the county of Essex .*
For the first time in the history of the town, a weekly newspaper was established here as early as April, 1785, the publication of which has been continued to the present day. The "New Jersey Journal " was first issued at Chatham, N. J., that place having been chosen rather than one below the Short Hills, because of its greater safety, the enemy never having been able to penetrate that section. The first number bears date, Feb. 10, 1779. It was owned and edited by Mr. SHEPARD KOLLOCK. He was born at Lewes, Del., in Septem- ber, 1750. He learned the art of printing, in the office of the Pennsylvania Chronicle at Philadelphia, under the eye of William Goddard. At 20, he removed, for the benefit of his health, to St. Christopher's, W. Indies, where he practised his art. At the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain, he returned home, entered the army, and served with Col. Neill of the Continental Artillery, as First Lieu- tenant, till the close of the campaign of 1778; when, by and with the advice of Gen. Knox, he established his " Journal," to aid his countrymen in their patriotic work.
* N. J. Gazette, No. 313.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
The paper was of great service to the patriot cause, and con- tinued to be issued at Chatham, until the war was fully end- ed. Immediately after the evacuation of the city of New York, the worthy editor removed his press to that city, opened a book store at No. 22 Hanover square, and com- menced, December 3d, the publication of the "New York Gazetteer and the Country Journal." The first month it was issued weekly ; but, with the beginning of 1784, tri- weekly, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, until the 27th of July ; after that, semi-weekly, on Tuesday and Friday, until August, 1786 ; when, having entered into partnership with George Carroll and John Patterson, Mr. Kollock issued the paper, under the name of the "New York Gazet- teer or Daily Evening Post," until December 14, 1786, when it was discontinued for want of support. He removed, Aug. 13, 1784, to "the corner-house in Water st. opposite the Coffee House," in Wall st.
During a part of this time, he, also, conducted a weekly paper at New Brunswick, N. J., established as early as July, 1784 ; transferring it to this town, not later than April, 1785. The precise date of the transfer has not been ascer- tained, no copies of the E. T. paper previous to Nov. 8, 1786, having been found. The New York Gazetteer of Ap. 29, 1785, asks patronage for " the N. Jersey paper, printed at Elizabeth Town." It was styled the "New Jersey Journal and Political Intelligencer." The latter part of the name was dropped, Wednesday, June 13, 1792. December 5, 1797, the day of publication was changed to Tuesday, as at present.
Mr. Kollock was a zealous patriot, and a strenuous ad- vocate of Republican principles, adhering to the party which elected Jefferson to the Presidential chair. He defended the administration in the war of 1812-15, and supported John Quincy Adams for President. He re- tired from the printing business Sep. 1. 1818, (having sold out to Peter Chatterton,) held the position of postmaster until 1829, for 35 years was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Essex, and closed a
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long and useful life in Christian hope, July 28, 1839, aged 88 years .*
In the proceedings that led to the formation of the Con- stitution of the United States, this town, by means of its " Journal " and public men, took an active and prominent part. In the preliminary Convention at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 11-14, 1786, Congressman Abraham Clark, of this town, was one of the three representatives of N. Jersey. In the Convention that framed the Constitution, and that commenced its sessions at Philadelphia, May 14, 1787, the State made choice of six of its eminent citizens, as rep- resentatives, three of whom, Gov. Wm. Livingston, Hon. Abraham Clark, and Hon. Jonathan Dayton, were well- known citizens of this borough, men of mark, of vigorous intellect, and the former two, particularly, of long experience in State affairs. Mr. Clark, however, was prevented from attending. Livingston and Dayton both took part in the deliberations, and, on the 17th of September 1787, affixed their names to that noble charter.+
The Fourth of July had already at this time become the great day of the year, and was celebrated with the utmost pomp and hilarity. In 1787, Capt. Meeker's Light Horse, Capt. Crane's Grenadiers, Capt. Williamson's Infantry, and Capt. Williams' Artillery paraded, the federal salute was fired, the bells were rung, service was held in the church, the Rev. Mr. Ogden preached an appropriate sermon, and a grand dinner was served at Prentice's tavern. In 1788, the Rev. Mr. Austin delivered the sermon ; the military, under command of Gen. Ogden, paraded, and were reviewed by Gov. Livingston ; "an elegant bower with 13 arches was prepared for the company to associate [for dancing] after dinner, but the rain prevented until the next day, when a most brilliant assembly of Ladies added a double lustre to the rejoicings." In the subsequent years, the sermon gave place to the oration, and the reading of the
* Newark Daily Advertiser, July 30, 1839. Files of N. J. Journal, in N. J. Hist. Soc. Library at Newark.
t Gordon's N. Jersey, pp. 329, 330.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
Declaration of Independence became a fixed service for the day .*
The Charter of the borough having been obtained in Colo- nial times, it was suffered to lapse, after July 4, 1776, so that the people had been practically disfranchised. Various changes in its provisions were needed, in order to adapt it to the new order of things. Application, therefore, was made to the Legislature, and an Act was passed, Nov. 28, 1789, "To Establish and Confirm the Charter, Rights and Privi- leges of the Borough of Elizabeth." In the amended Char- ter, it is provided,
That Samuel Potter, John Scudder, Benjamin Pettit, John Tucker, Obadiah Meeker, Jesse Clark, John Hendricks, Amos Morse, William Harriman, Samuel Tyler, William Darby, and David Crane, be the present Common Council; that William Halsted be Sheriff of the Borough and Town Corporate; and William Shute, Chamberlain and Treasurer; Na- than Woodruff, Marshal ; and Amos Morse, John Scudder, William Wood- ruff and Matthias Meeker, Assessors ; Jeremiah Ballard, John Craig, Jesse Clark, and Robert Wade, Collectors; David Ross, High Constable; Wil- liam Southwell, Joseph Stansbury, Samuel Norris, Noadiah Potter, Charles Guilman, and Moses Austin, Constables, and Edward Thomas, John Craig, Jesse Clark, and David Crane, Overseers of the Poor. t
Under the new Charter, John De Hart, Esq., was chosen Mayor, and Gen. Elias Dayton, Recorder : John Ross, Jedi- diah Swan, Jeremiah Ballard, Stephen Crane, and Robert Wade, Aldermen.
Hitherto, no measures appear to have been taken, by the town authorities, to restore the ruins of the war. But, on the 10th of December, 1789, it was ordered by the Corpo- ration,-
That Mr. De Hart, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Harriman, & Mr Ballard be a Com- mittee to view the Ground where the old Court House stood & to ascer- tain where the boundaries are, & to obtain draughts for building a new Court House. #
Gov. Livingston died, July 25, 1790, in the 67th year of his age. ITis excellent wife, Susannah French, had died
* N. J. Journal, Nos. 193, 247.
# Corporation Records, I. 6.
t Patterson's Laws of N. J., abridged, p. 98.
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July 17, 1789. His remains were interred on the 27th, with civic and military honors. A vast concourse of people from every quarter assembled in the Presbyterian church, and Dr. Mc Whorter, of Newark, preached from Job 16 : 22. An admirable Memoir of his Life, prepared by Theodore Sedg- wick, Jun., was published at New York, in 1833.
Gen. Matthias Ogden, also, was taken away soon after, in the vigor of his manhood. His remains were deposited in the Presbyterian burying-ground, and the place is marked by a monumental stone, on which is inscribed the following epitaph :-
Sacred to the memory of General MATTHIAS OGDEN, who died, on the 31 day of March, 1791, aged 36 years. In him were united those various virtues | of the Soldier, the Patriot and the Friend, | which endear men to Society. | Distress failed not to find relief in his | bounty, | Unfortu- nate merit a refuge in his | generosity. |
If manly sense and dignity of mind, If social virtues lib'ral and refin'd, Nipp'd in their bloom, deserve compassion's tear, Then reader, Weep ! for Ogden's dust lies here.
Weed his grave clean ye men of genius, { for he was your kinsman! | Tread lightly on his ashes, ye men of feeling, | for he was your brother !
He married, in April, 1776, Hannah, a daughter of Col. Elias, and sister of Jonathan, Dayton ;- " the best of women," as Burr called her. She was born in 1758, and died, Dec. 11, 1802, surviving her husband nearly twelve years. They had four children : Francis Barber, for many years U. S. Consul at Liverpool, Eng. ; George M., afterwards of New Orleans, La .; Peter V., compromised with Aaron Burr in the Blennerhassett affair ; and Jane Chandler, born, Nov., 1784, and died Sept. 9, 1785 .*
The opening of the Western country for settlers, together with the great and increasing opportunities for trade as well as agriculture in the older settlements, engendered a spirit of speculation, felt most in the large cities, but spreading its infection throughout the country. The rage for gambling in
* Davis's Life of Burr, I. 47-57, 62, 66, 77, 80, 94, 97. N. J. Journal, No. 390. Old Mer- chants of N. Y., I. 259.
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ELIZABETHI, NEW JERSEY.
the funds reached the highest pitch, in the summer of 1791. U. S. Bank Scrip rose nearly 100 per cent. in two days, or 500 per cent. on the amount paid in. The process of inflation went on, until, on the 1st of April [fitting day] of the next year, the bubble burst-bankruptcy ensued, and prices depreciated, involving multitudes in ruin .*
The mania that issued, as might have been expected, so deplorably, was fostered, to some extent by legislation, unwisely sanctioning the obtaining of money for public ob- jects, by Lottery. Among others the Elizabeth Town and New Brunswick Church Lottery was authorized in 1786. It was advertised, in Kollock's N. Y. Gazetteer, June 16, 1786, the object being, so far as this town was concerned, "towards finishing a building erected by the Presbyterian Congregation in Elizabeth Town." Isaac Woodruff, Jonathan Dayton, and Aaron Lane were the E. T. Managers. The profits, as acknowledged, in May, 1789, were $1365. Encouraged by the success of this operation, the Corporation of the borough applied for, and obtained a grant of a Lottery to raise the sum of £2500 for "rebuilding the Court House and Gaol," " and finishing the Academy," "which during the late war wore occupied for the use of the United States, and burnt by the enemy." It was proposed to sell 13,800 tickets, of which 7472 were to be prizes, from two, to five hundred, dollars, cach. The Lottery was to be drawn in three classes, one dollar for the first, two dollars for the second, and four dollars for the third, class of tickets. The Managers were Jonathan H. Lawrence and Elias B. Dayton. +
More than twelve years elapsed before the final accounts of the Managers of the Lottery were rendered and settled. Frequent references are made, in the Records of the Corpo- ration, from year to year, in the mean time, to troubles growing out of the sale of tickets, and the payment of prizes.
The Academy appears to have been in successful operation, (although the building was in an unfinished state), from the first of June, 1789, on which day it was opened for pupils. Mr. Patrick Murdock, a graduate of the University of Edin-
* N. J. Journal, Nos. 408, 442, 445.
+ Ib., Nos. 421, 424, 458, 484.
.
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THE HISTORY OF
burgh, who had taught for several years at Wilmington, took charge of the Latin School, and Mr. Luther Halsey, of the English department. The Trustees were-Rev. David Aus- tin, President, Gov. Wm. Livingston, Judge John Chetwood, Hon. Jonathan Dayton, John De Hart, Aaron Ogden, Mat- thias Williamson, and George Ross. In November 1790, Mr. Murdock was succeeded by Col. John Taylor, subsequently Professor in Union College, N. Y. Board was to be had for £20, in good families, and Tuition was £5 a year .*
Col. Taylor was succeeded by Samuel C. Blackman, (Yale, 1793); and he, in Sep. 1796, by Henry James Feltus, a young Methodist exhorter, who had come over, in 1795, from Eng- land, afterwards, the Rev. Dr. Feltus, of the Episcopal Church, N. Y. He had charge of the Academy for two years, and was succeeded, in 1798, by James Stevenson, of Morristown ; and he, in 1799, by David Young (Yale, 1798), famous in subsequent years for his astronomical calculations. He gave place, in 1801, to Edmund D. Barry, of Trinity College, Dublin, "an exile of Erin," well known in after years, as the Rev. E. D. Barry, D. D. (Epis.), and a most successful teacher. His successor, in 1803, was the Rev. Samuel Lilly, of St. John's Church, of whom mention is made on a subsequent page. To him succeeded, in 1806, Henry Mills (C. N. J., 1802), afterwards the Rev. H. Mills, D. D. (Presb.), of Auburn Theo. Sem., N. Y. William Belden (Yale, 1803), followed, till 1812, long a successful Pub. School Teacher in New York. He was followed, in 1812-13, by Edward Allen (C. N. J., 1815), and again, 1815-17. He has been a most useful Presbyterian minister, more than half a century. Moses Smith, previously of Hudson, N. Y., followed in 1817. +
A Young Ladies' School was commenced, in April 1789, by Anne Williams, in the house opposite John Blanchard's. A similar school was opened, May 1; 1791, by Madame
* N. J. Journal, Nos. 292,332, 369. The following announcement appeared in the N. J. Journal of Aug. 1, 1787: "Monday [July 30] an handsome edifice was reared in this town to be devoted to the cultivation of science. ... It is to be denominated the Elizabeth Town Academy."
+ N. J. Journal, Nos. 676, 769, 908, 944, 1082, 1209, 1488, 1786. Fish's St. Ann's Chh., Brooklyn, N. Y., pp. 29-39.5*
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
Capron, a French lady, in which the French language, French manners, and French accomplishments were taught. It was the period of the French Revolution, and it was all the fashion then to shout for the French Republic, and fraternize with French democracy. Mons. St. Aivre was her Dancing Master, under whose auspices, a ball was given at Wales's Tavern, Sep. 7, 1791, and another, Oct. 13, "when 16 young ladies performed the Bow Dance, the Minuet de la Cour, la Gayotte and Allemande." Mons. Dillon succeeded him the following year. Madame Tapray, in March, 1795, succeeded Madame Capron. In the spring of 1799, Messrs. Mitchell, Nugent and Dupot each opened a Dancing School in the town .*
A Medical School, also, was opened here, in 1790. Dr. Paul Micheau, of Richmond, Staten Island, who had commenced practice in the town, in April, 1789, advertised, Feb. 1790, a complete course of Medical Lectures to be given, at 4 P. M., from May 10th to July 25th. Charge, £5. 1.
Thus early after the war, the town began to be distinguish- ed for its institutions of learning. Pains were taken to obtain the best instructors in all departments of knowledge, many
* N. J. Journal, Nos. 257, 393, 411, 417, 475, 596, 810, 811, 814.
t Ibid., Nos. 287, 332. Dr Micheau married, March 5, 1791, Maria, the daughter of Peter Vergereau, Jr., and Abigail, daughter of Col. Cornelius Ilatfield. Mrs. Michcau dicd, Aug. 15, 1793, before completing her 21st year. Over her grave, in the Presbyterian burying ground, her fond husband erected a monument with this inscription :-
" Closed are those eyes in endless night, No more to beam with fond dellght, Or with affection roll ; Eternal silence seals that tongue, Where sense and soft persuasion hung, To captivate the soul.
Fair as the break of op'ning day, Calm as the summer's evening ray, Truth, virtuo was her guide. When sister spirits call'd her hence, Obedience bow'd at life's expense, She sigh'd, she sunk, she died !
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