History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 161

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 161
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 161

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ciation of men of kindred tastes, and the publication from time to time of its collections has put within reach of the lovers of history in New Jersey and elsewhere a large amount of exceedingly valuable information upon special topics, and encouraged the study of the affair of the State and of the ma- tion.

The present officers of the society are as follows: President, Samuel M Hamill, of Lawrenceville. Vire- Presidents, John T. Nixon, Trenton ; John tlement, Haddonfield; Sammel H. Pennington M.D., New- ark. Recording Secretary, William Nelson, I'mtermin. Trensurer and Librarian, Frederick W. Ricord, New- urk. Executive Committee, Stephen Wirkes, M.D., Orange; Rev. George S. Mott, D.D., Flemington ; George A. Halsey, Newark, Joel Parker, Freehold; Joseph N. Tuttle, Newark ; John F. Hageman,

MILITARY PARK, NEWARK, N. J.

ositics, many of them of great value and of historie or antiquarian interest. The walls are graced with por- traits of many persons of distinction,-Aaron Burr, Chief Justice Hornblower (the first president of the society), Richard Stockton (one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence), Gen. Philip Schuy- ler, Maj. Skinner, Henry Clny.

together, the library-rooms form one of the most attractive institutions of the city, and the fine coller- tion of books and historical data is of incalculable value to the student or writer of history, the annalist or biographer. It is to be hoped that the treasure here collected may some day be placed in an absolutely fire-proof building owned by the society.

The New Jersey Historien) Society has been mod- erately prosperous financially and very largely pros- perons in intellectual achievement or acquisition. It has been productive of much good through the arts-

Princeton; David A. Depue, Newark; Nathaniel Niles, Madison ; John 1. Blair, Blairstown.

Parks .- Oneof the most beautiful features of the old elm empowered city is constituted by its public parks and squares. For these the people are, for the most part, indented to the pioneers, who, when they laid out " our town on Passaic," made hberal reservations of ground for public purposes The most important of these, aside from the tracts reserved for burial-place and church, were the "watering-place," " training- place " and " market-place." The first mentioned was sold in 1s10, but the "training-place" remains as Military Park and the market-placas Washington Park.

It is natural that one of the first things a body of pioneers would do two centuries ngo would be to clear a place on which to hold their military trainings. It is probable that they almost completely demiled of

666

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

its forest growth the spot now known as Military Park. There is pretty good evidence that there were few trees on this area at the time of the Revolution, and that the growth of the magnificent elms has been ac- complished in a little more than a hundred years. Military Park is by all odds the handsomest in the city, as well as the largest. It is an irregular triangle, containing almost six and one-quarter acres. The best view of the park as a whole is that to be seen from its narrow southern end, from which point the diverging lines of noble chns in the inclosure and in Park Place, the quiet and elegant street flanking it on the east, have a most beautiful effect. The park as a whole from here looks like a vast sylvan cathedral, and Park Place as a lofty Gothie-arched aisle. The great level expanse of fresh green lawn, flecked with the sunshine that finds its way here and there through the foliage, the stately elms, with their graceful curving branches, form a most refreshing scene of beauty in the very heart of the city.

The centre of the park has been left without trees as a place for military evolutions, and many have been the gatherings and the brave demonstrations of the militia which it has witnessed. A number of great celebrations have been held in this inclosure, and a large stone tablet at the southern end commemorates that of July 4, 1826.

The park is ornamented with a handsome monument to Maj .- Gen. Philip Kearny-"Fighting Phil,"- Newark's hero of the Mexican war and of the war for the Union, whose gallantry and absolute fearless- ness was displayed from Cherubusco to Chantilly. A lifelike figure of the dashing, impetuous soldier sur- mounts the pedestal.

Trinity Church, occupying the northwestern corner of the park, enhances the prospect, and its clock is a great convenience to the people in this part of the city

Washington Park is on Broad Street, north of Military Park, and, like it, is an irregular triangle. It was this ground which was originally set apart as the market-place.

Lincoln Park, on the west side of Broad Street, south of Clinton, is a comparatively new public ground. With the exception of a small fraction, formerly owned by the city, it was purchased and laid out by the Common Council in 1850, at an ex- pense of over thirty thousand dollars. It is trian- gular in form and contains about five acres. It is surrounded by elegant residences, and only needs the improving hand of time upon its trees to become the equal of Military Park.

Among the other and lesser parks are Lombardy, between Broad Street and the river, and bounded by South Bridge and Lombardy Streets; Orange, at Orange and High Streets; and School- House Park, between Clinton Avenue, Washington and Spruce Streets.

Cockloft Hall and Summer-House .- One of the

most interesting historie houses in Newark, and one rich in literary associations, is the ancient residence which is most commonly called "Irving's Cockloft Hall," because of the great author's frequent sojourn there, and his allusions to it in his writings. Cock- loft Hall, which is still in existence, though it can be identified by but few even of the oldest residents, was the residence of the Gouverneur family, who figure as the Cockloft family in Irving's "Salmagundi." It descended to Gouverneur Kemble from a deceased uncle, and it was while in his possession that it was made famous. Pierre Irving, in his " Life and Letters of Washington Irving" says: "Among Irving's asso- ciates at this time were Peter and Gouverneur Kem- ble, Henry Brevoort, Henry Ogilen and James K. Paulding, who, with himself, his brother Peter and a few others, made up a small circle of intimates, designated by Peter as 'The Nine Worthics,' though Washington described them as 'The Lads of Kil- kenny.' One of their resorts was an 'old family mansion,' . . which was on the banks of the Passaic, about a mile above Newark. . . It was full of Antique furniture, and the walls were adorned with old family portraits. The place was in charge of an ohl man, his wife and a negro boy, who were its sole occupants, except when the nine, under the lead, and confident in the hospitality of the Patroon, as they styled its possessor, would sally forth from New York, and enliven its solitude by their madeap pranks and juvenile orgies."

Upon the place was a quaint, elaborate and elegant summer-house, which had been built by one of the Gouverneurs, and near by a fish-pond which the same eccentric owner had constructed at considerable cost, although the river, teeming with fish (in his day), was only a few rods away.

It was this summer-house and pond which Irving used to illustrate the peculiarities of the mythical Cockloft,1 otherwise one of the Gouverneurs. "An odd notion of the old gentleman," says the author, " was to blow up a large bed of rocks for the purpose of having a fish-pond, although the river ran at a dis- tance of about one hundred yards from the house and was well stored with fish; but there was nothing, he said, like having things to one's self. And he would have a summer-house built on the margin of the pond ; he would have it surrounded by ulnis and wil- lows, and he would have a echar dug under it for some incomprehensible purpose, which remains a secret to this day."

The late William A. Whitehead thus describes this summer-house as it existed in 1859: " It was octago- nal in shape, nhout eighteen feet in diameter, contain- ing only one apartment, with a door facing the river on the east, and having windows opening to each of the other three cardinal points. It was built of stone (Dutch brick), and had been originally weather-

1 See " Salmingundi, " No. XIV

SHIP BUILDING IN NEWARK IN 1715

boarded, although most of the boards had fallen off.

It had evidently been constructed with great care. being fully plastered within and papered, having an ornamental cornice and chair-board, an arched door- way and cut-stonesteps, all indicating a fastidiousness of finish not ordinarily found elsewhere than in dwell- ings; but it was far gone toward utter ruin, the window-sashes being all out, the door gone and the mutilated wood-work showing it to be a resort only of the idle and vicious." The position of the house and the arrangement of the windows exhibited one of Cockloft's idiosynerasies. "He was determined," says Irving, "to have all of his views on his own land and be beholden to no man for a prospect. So he placed, you see, the door of his summer-house on the side to-

. ..

Cock Left wäre

wards the wa- ter, while the windows all looked inland." No doubt in the days when Irving and Paulding and their gay young companions were Gouverneur Kemble's guests of the old mansion, this summer-house was the scene of many of their jolliest gatherings, and its cellar, doubtless, yielded up for them stores of wine. That it had done so at least for the eccentrie builder there can be little doubt; for what other possi- ble purpose could a collar under a summer-house serve?

"Cockloft Hall," we have ample evidence, was a favorite place of sojourn for the gifted and graceful author of "The Knickerbockers " and " The Alham- bra," for not only does he frequently refer to it in "Salmagundi," but in a letter to the New Jersey Historical Society, written not many years before his death, he remarked : " With Newark are associated in my mind many pleasant recollections of early days,

and of social meetings at an old marsion on the banks of the Passage."

The old house is still standing in very nearly its original condition. It remained in the possession of Gouverneur Kemble until at least 1821, and probably a number of years later, then had two owner, whome names we cannot present, and subsequently passed successively into the ownership of Joseph Duryea, John P. Wakeman, and Winslow L. Whiting. coming into possession of the Letter gentleman about 1×53. He has since diel, but his family now reside in the house. The grounds, which originally included about righteen acres, have been reduced by the laying off of lots to accommodate the city's growth, but the house, of which an illustration appears herewith, has un- dergone no change of form

It is located on Mount Pleasant Avenue, on the corner of Gouverneur Street, and the grounds run through to Ogden Street.

The old . Corkloft summer-house " gave way to the demand of modern improve- ment, and was demolished when l'ansaic Street was extended. Mr John P' Wake- man bought the material with a view of inducing others to co-operate with him in its restoration ; but that was in war time, when few people had any thought to Ir- stow upon such a project, and finally Mr Wakeman used the material in the found- ation of his carriage-house, which is now a dwelling on togden Street, between Con- verneur and Fourth Avenue. A pencil drawing of the little building, by William A. Whitehead, is to be seen at the Histo- tical Society rooms, engravings of it appear in must (ditions of Irving's "Salmagundi," and an admirable illustration occurs in this volume.

Ship-building in Newark in 1718.1-The following is a copy of a contract between John Biglow and Eleazer Slason, shipwrights, and others to build a sloop :

" Articles of Agreement 1 lated and made This fourteenth day of June Anno 171- by and between Jehn Iliglow and Eleazer Slaan, er Avwark, in je County of Frey and Eastern division of New Jersey, Ship-wrighta, on ye one part, alul David Ogden, John Cooper, Juvinh Ogilen, Nathaniel Wheeler, Jr., Juhn Morris, Thomas Paris, h.hhu Crane, & David Crane on the other l'art Wilnemeth-That the it John Highon & Eleazer Shawn du hereby Creuant and agree by these Presenta, to Build a Sloop according to yo demensions, hervafler in these Prevents fixpretend that is to me to be in length on je keel forty-se foot, and in breadth sipon yo ficam seventeen Just, and seven finn & a half drugs in Je hole, for the Persons atrie mentioned, and the Same 1. In Mare Chal Merchantalle Work Atting for yo sein, and the same to be finished to a C'est nor hefte the Last day of thetuber test, En- sung jo dite herund, and the hand Werk to be Viewed by auch survey- en as Shall be (hoern mutually between 1 . Owners and ye Carpenter, and So often as ye Owners me ( sie ic have it Vlewel, and the Intent t meaning of ye finishing to af loat is all ye wurk Imi nging to a ('ar-

1 lly Daniel T Clark Em] , from Mir lu New Jersey Historical No

665

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

penter. And the sail David Ogden, John Cooper, Josiah Ogden, Nathan- inl Wheeler Jr., John Morris, Thu mas Darin, Elihu Crane & David ('ranc do Covenant Promise and Agree to and with the &J. John Biglow and Meazer Slason, to pay to them, or to Either of them, the Just & full Sum of fifty Shillings per Ton for Every Ton it Shall Contain accord- ing to ye dementions above mentioned, In Current Money of ye province of New Jersey abovesd ; and the Said Owners to find & Provide Tar and Ocum for ye work and all Iron Work Necessary ; and if ye Owners Se Y'ause to have a pige Mast and bolesprit, then ye Owners to allow what the Cost will be more than it would be if made of white wood ; and for ya True performance of Every Article & thing herein Contained the parties to these Presen - have hercunto set their hands the day & Year first above written.

signed. 4. JOHN BIGLOW. " ELEAZEG SLASON,

" DAVIN OGDEN, " JOHN C'OUPER, " JOSIAH On GEN. " NATHANIEL WHEELER,

"' JOHN MORRIS, " DAVID ('RANE."

Newark's Moral Epidemic.1-In 1798, as the following faets set forth, a sort of moral epidemic broke out in the community, the effect of which was not always either pleasant or profitable. The name of the organization was "Voluntary Association of the People of Newark to observe the Sabbath," and was organized July 10, 1798.

" It being at all times proper for those who acknowledge them- selves dependent creatures on the Supreme Being, and who call them- alves (Christians, to reflect upon their ways and reform whatever they thiok is contrary to the word of God ; bur more especially when the Judy- ments of God are ahrvad in the world, and appear with a menacing aspect on our own Country-And as the sanctity of the Sabbath is generally ur- knowledged by all Christians; and the experience of ages teaches, that whenever vice, like a flood, deInges a land, it commonly breaks in with a destruction of the holiness of that day, the observance of which seems to be daily lessening in this l'onntry, to prevent which dreadful calanuty -We, the subscribers, Inhabitants of Newark in New Jersey, deeply Impressed with the importance of the religious importance of the Sah. bath, not only to the existence of our boly religion, but to the hap- piness of our Country-do associate and agree as follows ;

"1-That we will neither give nor partake of parties of pleasure or en_ tertainments on that day.

"2-That we will ueither ride out nor travel except in cases of neces- sityi on that day.

"3-That we will regularly attend divine worship on that day, und con - pel our children, apprentices and servants to do the same as far as in our power lies.

" 1-That after divine service is over we will keepour children, appren- ticos and servants at home and not suffer them to go abroad on that day- "5-That we will exert ourselves to suppress all manner of employment and worldly husinme on the Sabbath.

"f-That we will exert unralves to assist and support the officer of .Justice to put the laws into forre against those who -hall violate them on that day -and we will appoint a Committee from time to time of at least nesch persons to assist the officers in carrying these Resolutions into effert.

"T-That we will also extend our exertions to support the magistrates and officers of Justice to prevent all the immoralities and vices pointed out In the Inw for preventing vice and immorality.

" Newark, 10th July, 1795.

" Alexr M. Whorter.

Jamen \' Porl.

Jon'n Baldwin. stephen Baldwin. William S. Pennington. Samuel Foster, by order.

Jimwph l'amp. Joseph ('liztu',

Ebenezer Baldwio.

David J. P'rade.

From Atkinam'a " History of Newark "

Nathaniel t'anfield.

Benjamin ( +0. Jabez Baldwin.

Jotham (lark.

Henry L. Parkhurst.

Caleb Parkhurst Nathaniel Camp

Joshua Baldwin.

Ebenezer Havens.

Samuel Pennington

larael Curry. Garret Hogwart.

James Baldwin. Isaar Aling.

Moses Hayes

John C. Burnet.

Ananias Baldwin.

Caleb Wheeler.

James Tichenor.

David Ayres.

John Morris.

Moses Roberts.

Stephen Hayes.

Josiah Conger.

Daniel Tichenor.

Joseph Brown, JI

David Johnson.

Samuel Whitaker.

Sylvanus Baldwin.

Robert Nichols.

Stephen Ogden Thompson.

Nathaniel Beach.

Jabez Parkhurst.

Samuel Hayes.

Jonathan Andrus.

Matthaus Bruen.

David Burnet.

Uzal Sayre.

Joe. T. Ballwin.

Jacob Simpron.

Ezekiel Ball, Jr.

Eleazar Brown. Benjamin Cleveland.

Moses Faitout.

Junah James.

John t'rauc.

Lewis Johnson.

Jeremiah Baldwin.

Samuel Nuttinan.

Stephen Crane.

Aaron Grummon.

Timothy Andrums.

Jesse Ballwin.

Zephaniah Grant.

Czał Ogden.

Robert B. l'ampfiehl.

Jonathan Payne.

Caleh Camplu.Il.

Ja-p. Ten Bronk.

Juhuson Tuttle.

Ichabod Jennng,

Jonathan Crane.

Nimuel Sayre, Jr.

Edwarl .Jones.

Elisha Bomlinot.

Alx'r & M Whorter."

J. N C'unaning -.

As has almost invariably been the case in move- ments of this character, zeal seems to have far out- run sound judgment. On one occasion the well- meaning but self-constituted ministers of morality went so far as to usurp the authority of the United States. That is to say, they stopped the Federal mail-coach from running on Sunday, and it was not until they were advised by an authority not in sympa- thy with them that they were liable to be arrested and carried in handcuffs to Washington, that they desis- ted. On another occasion two French gentlemen en route for France, via New York, who had chartered a stage to take them to the place of embarkation, were stopped in this place by the enforcers of the Sunday law. By the advice of a justice of the Supreme Court, resident in the town, the travelers were liberated and permitted to pursue their journey. On still another occasion a United States army subaltern,- none other, as is believed, than the illustrious soldier who afterwards became Gen. Winfield Scott,-while passing through Newark one Sunday in a curricle, a female relative being with him, was stopped, like the Frenchman and the United States mail-coach. His release was much more rapid, however. Upon his presenting a pistol at his annoyers; and declaring his intention to treat them as he would banditti, they ffed precipitately, and he pursued his way without further molestation. The stoppage of yet another party was followed by consequences which gave pause to further interference with travelers. The party in question staid at the tavern here all night, and next day referred the landlord for pay to the Sunday-law

Jamen Crane.

John Ward. James Brown David Tichenor. Ellas Ihold. Jumph Riggn. David Hayes, sr.

NECROLOGY OF CITY OF NEWARK.

officers. The latter had to liquidate the bill. That materially curbed their zeal in the enforcement of the law. An effort was made about the same time to stop the consumption of all sorts of intoxicating beverages. Over zealousness in this, as in the attempt to enforce the Sunday law, defeated the entire move- ment. One of the leading spirits in it made himself su odious to many persons that once he narrowly escaped being tarred and feathered. His mother's hat and cloak formed a disguise whereby he was enabled to elude the vigilance of his irate pursners. On the old town lot, about opposite the First Presby- terian Church, on Broad Street, stocks were erected, but only to be cut down inside of twenty-four hours, and turned into a subject of ridicule and reproach to the well-meaning but ill-advised "Cold Water society," as it was termed by non-sympathizers.'

County Asylum for the Insane .- The new asy- lum or retreat for the insane in Newark is a model institution, which takes the place of the old one that had become inadequate for the purpose designed. The old asylum was built by the county in 1972 upon a plot of ground purchased by the city authorities for hospital purposes. From time to time additions had been made in accordance with the increased demand for accommodations, and at length it became obviou- that the best policy was to build a new structure so commodious as not only to serve present necessity. but to anticipate the demands of the future.

The plot of ground on South Orange Avenue upon which the new County Insane Asylum stands, in a nearly completed condition, comprises eleven and three-eighths acres. The buildings were commenced in 1852. The front building, facing the avenue, will be, when completed, over four hundred feet long by about fifty feet in width, and the rear building, paral- lel with it and connected with it by a three story wing, is somewhat less in dimensions. The buildings are three and four stories high ; the material is brick, trimmed with stone, and the design is admirable, both as regards appearance and comfort of inmates. The advantageous arrangement of the structure is quite remarkable, and few if any, asylums in the country are better prepared to give the insane such care as their condition requires. Strength and dura- bility are everywhere apparent, and yet the value of tastefulness and an aspect of cheerfulness has never been ignored. The building is supplied with all of the modern conveniences in lighting, heating and ventilation, and contains elevators and a good water system.

The grounds are not less admirable, in their way, in appearance and utility than the building. While a portion of the tract is laid off ornamentally, several acres are reserved for gardening, and there many of the inmates of the institution are employed during the summer months at easy labor, which they enjoy

and perform well. Dr. Livingston S. Hinkley, of Avon Springs, N. Y., has recently been elected superintendent of the asylum.

Collectors of the Port of Newark. The dates of changes in this office cannot be given, but the following list gives the names of the collectors and their deputies in proper succession from Archer Gitford, who was appointed in 1834, down to the present incumbent : Archer Gifford, James Hewson, F. L. Thomas, E. T. Hillyer, Peter W. Martin, James Silvey, William A. Baldwin. The deputies who have served were Joseph P'. Bradley (1-34), John J. P'lum, James Hewson, Julius Van Wagenen ? and William J. Martin, the present incumbent.

Collectors of Internal Revenue. September, 1802, to Urt. 31, 1565, Daniel M. Wilson; Nov. 1, 1865, ( Oct. 31, 1566, Alexander 11. Wallis; Nov. 1, 196, to Mar. 31, 1567. George W. Thorn ; April 1, 1567, to June 19, 1871, Jacob Weart ; June 20, 1-71, to May 20, 1873, Alexander HI. Wallis ; May 21. 1873, Robert B. Hathorn.

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CHAPTER LII.

NEUROLOGY OF CITY OF NEWARK.

The Death of Washington.'-On Dec. 20, 1799, the melancholy intelligence came by mail announe- ing the death of the illustrious patriot, licorge Wash- ington, the father of his country, who died on the 14th day of the month at Mount Vernon, Va. As a public testimony of respect a numerously attended meeting of the inhabitants of the town assembled at the court-house, and resolved unanimously as follows :

"! That the persons who compter this meeting will wear a black crape on the left arm for thirty duyn, atul that it be recommended to the cl gelis tu il, the mine. " That It be recommended to the diff rent cungregs- tions of the tomb to sanse their respective churches to be dressed in

! Atkinson s " History of Newark."

3 At present Inspecter.

3 From a Mas, by M Hon Baldwin, MD

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670

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

mourning for the fike space of thirty days. 3. That the church bells be tolled to-morrow one hour after sunrise, one hour at noon, and one hour after sunset. 4. That Friday next (the 27th inst.) be set apart as a day of juubhe mourning, that the Rev Dr. Me Whorter be solicited to deliver a funeral sermon at eleven o'clock, and that the uniform companies and officers of the militia be requested to appear in military mourning on that day. "

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 161

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840