History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 97

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 97
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 97

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s Appendix to bill, p. 31. Examination of Claim, etc., p. 9.

1 Graham's " United States."

377

CITY OF NEWARK.

It would be interesting could we summon from the dim past the figures of these men, thus in conference upon matters so pregnant with results in future ages, to sean their features, to criticise their plans, and, though last, not least, to listen to their desultory talk, when not discussing the topics more immedi- ately connected with the purposes of the interview ; but we have nothing to aid us in the attempt. No record of what passed has come down to us, excepting in reference to those purposes ; and we have no knowl- edge of the personal appearance of either of the principal parties, for, notwithstanding the promi- nenve of Treat in the public affairs of Connecticut, no " counterfeit presentment" of his form and features now exists, and we are equally at fault as regards the lineaments of the first Governor of New Jersey. should she, a Governor's wife, manage his establish- ment under such circumstances ?"-a problem for the solution of which she would naturally appeal to the experience of Treat. We might imagine, too, that her presence would naturally lead the conversation to the wife and children of her guest, and that, excited by the recollections of his home, Treat may have told the incident in his courtship, which tradition has preserved, that when, in the freedom of social inter- course and the hilarity of youth, he had once held his future wife upon his knee, he was induced to take the decided step of proposing for her hand by being ex- postulated with in the suggestive language, "Robert, be still that, I had rather be Treated than trotted "1 But a Mrs. Carteret was not present, for the Governor was a bachelor, and continued so for fifteen years As to the subjects upon which they conversed, we may not be far wrong if we imagine Treat inquiring, with lively interest, about the stirring political events which had so engrossed the public mind in England thereafter, dying in less than two years after securing the hand of a blooming widow on Long Island.2 Treat, however, was twice married, which may ac- count for his adopting for his seal the significant during the immediately preceding years, the influence . devive of a heart transfixed by two arrows. But return- ing from this digression, let us resume the narrative.

of which had been so sensibly felt, even amid the rural hamlets of Connecticut; and, also, as to what was known by his host of that dire distemper which was in the midst of its desolating march about the time of Carteret's departure from England. We can suppose him listening with wonder and awe to the re- vital of all which Carteret himself may have seen and heard, the portentous comet which was thought to have heralded the disease, the dread tones of the ma- niac who made London resound with his denuncia- tions of " Woe to the rebellious city!" the startling cry uf attendants on the dead-carts, as they peram- bulated the deserted streets, summoning the pent-up inhabitants with " Bring out your dead !" and var- jous other circumstances, that made the occurrence of the plague of lofs an event in the world's history never to be forgotten.

We may presume that with equal interest did the Governor seek information from one who had been so actively engaged for several years in subduing the wilderness, as to the best modes of procedure not only to master the obstacles which nature presented, but to overcome the greater impediments which the unruly wills of men were likely to interpose. For the first time, too, was Carteret brought into contact with the aborigines, aml how naturally must he have looked to Treat's personal experience for useful lessons to guide him in his intercourse with them !

Hlad there been a Mrs. Carteret present we might readily conjecture certain topics that undoubtedly would have been introduced by her, if then, as now, household affairs intruded themselves sometimes upon the attention of both entertainers and entertained in the most exclusive circles ; for what coukl have en- gaged her anxious thoughts more, on being transferred from populous London, the metropolis of the world, to the embryo settlement of four families at Elizabeth- town, in the wilds of America, than the problem " Ilow

As the concessions required all land to be taken up under a warrant from the Governor, and, as we have seen, Treat and his companions were equally decided in requiring an extinguishment of the Indian title prior to settlement, these mutual requirements were considered satisfactorily met by Carteret's furnishing Treat with a letter to the sachem having control of the desired tract requesting him to give the immi- grants possession and promising to pay therefor, there having been some prior negotiations for the land.3 Charged with this document, Treat and his friends returned to Connecticut to make arrangements for the removal, and early in the spring of 1666 the first emigrants from Milfordembarked for New Jersey. Tradition gives us reason to suppose that about thirty persons, male and female, composed this party, and the vessels bearing them to their newly selected home were those whose arrival in the Passaic has been ad- verted to.

It appears that the omission on the part of Treat to deliver promptly the letter to the Indians with which he was furnished by C'arteret, and to complete the arrangements for the occupancy of the desired tract, was the cause of unexpected embarrassment and delay. On attempting to land their goods at some point on the river, they were warned off by Indians on the ground, who claimed to be the owners, and in- formed them that they had not yet parted with their right thereto.4 The goods were therefore reladen, and a report of the circumstances made to the Gover- nor.

1 Lambert's " X. Haven," p. 137.

" Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Richard Smith, of Smithtown, Lung Island, widow of William Lawrence, of Tow's Neck. East Jerry under the Proprietors, p. 55.

3 Examination of (laim, ofc., p. 9.

4 Hill in Chancery, app. 118.

378

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

These unexpected difficulties, the result, probably, ¿ mutually covenanted and combined into a civil body of misunderstanding merely, were removed at this interview. Samuel Edsal, a resident on Bergen-Neck, to whom the neighboring chiefs had become known through several negotiations with them that he had conducted, both on his own account and as interpreter for others, was authorized by Carteret ,to effect the purchase.1 Accompanied by Treat and some others of the new-comers, he proceeded up the Hackensack to confer with those who claimed to be the proprietors of the land west of the Passaie; but let us hear what Treat himself states : " One Perro laid claim to the said Passaic lands, which is now called Newark, and the result of our treaty was, that we obtained of a body of said Indians to give us a meeting at Passaic, and soon after they came, all the proprietors, viz .: Perro, and his kindred, with the Sagamores that were able to travel ; Oraton being very old, but approved of Perro's acting; and then we acted by the advice, order and approbation of the said governor (who was troubled for our sakes) and also of our interpreters, the said governor approving of them (one John Cap- teen, a Dutchman, and Samuel Edsal) and was willing and approved that we should purchase a tract of land for a township." ?

A bill of sale was made out, arrangements perfected for taking possession, and soon the little party, re- Hieved from their close quarters on board the vessels, | sects, or, perchance, the stealthy step of the savage or were established on the site of the contemplated town.

While these preliminary measures were being con- animated an opportunity was afforded for the prepa- ration and execution of written stipulations with certain agents from Guilford and Branford-who had either been fellow-passengers with the Milford people or had arrived subsequently-that settlers from those places should be permitted to join in forming one common township, provided definite intimations to that effect should be received prior to the ensuing 1st of November. The meeting at which this agreement was made was held, probably, on board of one of the vessels lying " near to Elizabethtown," on the 21st of May, and was verified by the signatures of Robert Treat for the Milford people, and Samuel Swain for those of Guilford and Branford, on the 24th of the same month; it being, they say, their "desire to be of one heart and consent, through God's blessing, with one hand they may endeavor the carrying on of spirit- ual concernments, as also civil and town affairs, ac- cording to God and a godly government." 3

We are carried back by this agreement to that other which, forty-four years before, was perfected in the cabin of the " Mayflower," off the coast of Massa- chusetts, by the Pilgrim fathers, who, "for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith," in the presence of Good and one another, solemnly and

politie for the better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends they had in view. Although we are not permitted to chronicle the name of the vessel on board of which the Newark settlers thus in- timated the principles that were to guide them in their undertaking, yet the instrument itself will ever perpetuate the fact of their adherence to the same fundamental truths on which the Plymouth colonists had based their hopes of prosperity and happiness.

On attempting to picture to ourselves the forms, animate and inanimate, and the various conditions of active existence which made the world as it was in ages gone, our conceptions must come so far short of the realities we would reproduce that we can only regard them as simply symbolical, as mere shadowy portraitures in which outline and body are dimly dis- tinguishable, and which scarcely serve to present the main characteristics of what we would evolve from the obscurity of the past. Such must be our experi- ence on summoning before the imagination the woods and waters, hills and dales, fields and meadows which made the landscapes here two hundred years ago, -while striving, amid the tumultuous noises and busy scenes around us, to realize the quietude and repose of primeval nature as it then reigned, disturbed only by the casual notes of a flitting bird, the hum of in- the rippling of the Passaic as the placid stream was disturbed by his bark canoe.

The contour of the western hills, the river in its general aspects, and the stars which are nightly re- fected in its surface constitute all, probably, upon which our eyes rest, that wore the same appearance to the strangers who then were drawn hither by the natural advantages of the country. As they sailed up the bay, the broad meadows which then, as now, skirted the southern margin of the stream must have been among the chief attractions, from their similarity to the eye to the rich alluvial bottom-lands of the Connectient, promising abundant supplies of forage without tillage ; while the higher land in the distance, not so wooded as to interfere materially with its im- mediate cultivation, but sufficiently so for shade and ornament, presented such rural charms as marked it out for the site of the settlement. On the north a pine forest covered the peninsula between the Hackensack and the Passaic, while farther west the hills which formed the horizon gave assurance of other contributions to meet the prosent and prosper- tive requirements of the settlers.

It must be within the memory of many of the older people of Newark when along the river front there was an almost continuous bluff, such as may still be seen in the northern limits of the city, in some places rising, perhaps, from thirty to fifty feet above the marsh of Hags which in most places skirted the water ; and, doubtless, the generally elevated position of the site was one inducement for the location here.

( Bill in Chancery, app. 117.

% Bill In Chancery, p. 118.

Town Records, mee Chapter XXXV.)

379

CITY OF NEWARK.

The area selected for the town plot had its in- equalities of surface, and through some parts of it meandered brooks that, having their heads in the hills towards the west, intersected the plain in differ- ent directions, Trees were not in superabundance, and it was found necessary, before many years, to adopt measures for the preservation of such as were conveni- ently situated in the streets for shade or ornament.1

1 Town Records, Feb. 6, 1676, p. 66. An erroneous impression very generally prevails that we mie indebted to the original settlem or their immediate successore for the larger of the moldle chus thut ornament our streets and parks ; and the consequent inference that the clin ix of slow growth, in connection with the unfounded supquestion that it IN [n'- culinrly susceptible to attacks from noxious inserts, hus led to consider- able neglect in its cultivation, although it must be conceded to be one of our most beautiful shude-trece.

It is somewhat remarkable that nothing is wild in the town records of the first setting out of the trees on either of "the commons, " altlungh the town committee in office when it was done deserve, for their good taste, judgment and consideration for posterity, to have their names in- arrild high upon the full of the city's bonefactura. In the nbowner, therefore, of direct testimony, we must seek collateral information es to the period when there now aged and time neglected friends of our first- cant their shade arrows the pathways of our progenitor, and the conclu- aion arrived at must in that, with the exception of a very few, -a half dogon perhaps, at most-within the city linate, our larger elms are only from sixty to wventy years obl, while the far greater number fall con- niderably short of that age.

It must be remembered that only one species of the elm, of the three or four indigenous to America, is found in this section of the country. It is easily distinguishable by its long, pendulous branches, preventing a muked contrast-us the varieties In our parks clearly demonstrate-to the more rigid, upright forms of its English and European consins that at different times and io different ways have been introduced, and there is no evidence that it was nt all common at the period of settlement ar for many years thereafter. . As Inte as 1794 the intelligent traveler, Wanzey, who passed through Nowark, Elizabethtown, Rahway, etc., on his way to Philadelphia, says, expressly, "I saw nu chin Freey anywhere ; I believe it is not a native of America, at least not that which is so com- nion in England." (" An Excursion to the United States in 17!], " by Henry Wanzey, F. A.S, 2d edition, p. 87.) And a venerable gen- theman, yet living, in his ninety-first year, writes to me, "1 have httlo remembrance of Newark before 1797. I made, as I remember, only two visite from New York up to that time, and then very short. I do not recollect weing any trees on the commons as the parks were then culled The old church, where the present Trinity Church stands, had no trees around it that I remember. "

There are many time in various parts of the city where ages are well known, and whowe growth, although materially interfered with by the pavements preventing the neres of water to their Duits, corresinais with that given in the namal growth of the species, for the number of years they have stood, and conftruis the view above taken as to the ages of our burger tries.

If our examination is extended to other cities, similar results are uby- tuined. For examples. Previone to 1733 there were but few trees in Binton Common. In that year there were two rows of sixteen trees mot out. (" Drake's Boston, " pp. 592, 820.) I do not know that the position of thewe can Ine Identified ; but it is doubtful if any of them are among tho venerables whom the Boston authorities, to their honor, wo aveidu- ously now watch over and protect.

Lucien W. Sperry, Erq., mayor of New Haven, informs me that prior to 1785 the streets of that proverbially-shaded city had in them only two trees, and that the old elna which now so adorn the phwe were planted between 1782 and fit, the largest now being about four foot diameter. This is shout the size of our larger elmos now standing in the Military Park, only three or four havinga greater diameter. The largest I have seen in the city anywhere measures a little more than five foot, being nearly sixteen feet in circumference.

It is hoje that this brief reference to the subject may lead to a more extended cultivation of the elms, and that more cure may be taken of those we now have. With rareely an opportunity to protit by tha rains which the clouds distil for their beueilt, their trunks throttled by the flagging of the sidewalks to such a degree that we me them

The town was laid out at first with little reference to regularity or symmetry, and the courses given to the streets were probably made to conform to the character of the surface, the more or less freedom from obstructions in certain directions modifying their courses, and perhaps an Indian path may have been followed in locating what is now Broad Street, that and our present Market, Mulberry and Washingtou Streets constituting all the principal highways of the early settlers. The location of the parks was proba- bly determined by peculiarities of surface which rendered the ground Jess favorable for "home lots;" what is now the Military Park being low and springy.

It seems that only a small number remained at the place during the first summer, but it is probable that the autumn found the settlers in full force, busily en- gaged in preparing for the approaching winter, with all its untried experiences. Would that we could lift Time's curtain, that obscures from view their doings in those first months of our city's history !

In accordance with terms of the agreement of May 21st and 24th, twenty-three heads of families, resident at Branford, on the 30th of October, 1666, in- timated their acquiescence in the proposed junction with the Milford people by signing the following document : 3

"October 30, 100G.

"At a meeting Touching the Intended design of many of the inhab- itants of Branford, the following was anlocriland:

" Ist. - That none shall be admitted freemen or free Burger+ within [went. i. 13. our Town upon Paraick River, in the Province of New Exod. xviii. 21. Jersey, but with Planters us are members of wine or Dent. xvii. 15. other of the Congregational Churches, nor shaH any but wuch be chosen to Magistrury or to Carry on any part of said tivil Judi- vature, or as deputies or assistanta, to have power tu Jerem. XXX. 21. Vote in establishing Laws and making or repealing them, or to any thief Military Trust of Office, Nur shall any But auch Church Members have any Vote In such election. The all other admitted to be planters have right to their proper Inheritance, and doand shall enjoy all other Civil Liberties, Privilegre, according to all Laws, Orders, Grants which are, or herefter shall be made for this Town.

"od .- We shall with Care aml Diligence provide for the maintenance of the purity of Religion profesed in the Congregational Churches. whereunto anterrified the Inhabitants from Branford.

1. Jasper t'rune.

13. Kbenezer l'amfichi'

2. Abra. Prison.

3, Sam'l Swaine

15. Fal. Bull.

16. John Harrison

17. John Crane,

6. Samuel Plum.

18. Thus, Huntington.

7. hulnh Ward.

19. Delivered ('ale.

8. R.M.

20. Aaron Hincthly

21. Richard laurence.

22. John Johnson.

hin

23. Thomas i .. [.yo.

everywhere struggling to get free, with parasitical planta alstracting their juices, with wounds and injured limbs uncared for, we cannot wonder if in a few years " Ichall" should be written upon our public grounds.

2 Willow Pendant, "for her staying on the place a long when the town was first attled," was subsequently granted an arre of land, und KTalIta were also made to Martin Tichenor, Thonmas laplington and Juhn Curtis, "for staying on the place the first summer." Town Records, pp. 43-44. * Town Records, next Chapter.

. The figures affixed to the names correspond with those of the home lote on the map. Thomas Bisethly and Ebenezer Camfield do not wenn to have hud home lots, and it In thunght the former did not carry out hin intention of becoming a settler.

9. Thomas Peireun.

10. John Wardr.

11. John U'utling.

12. Richard Harrison.

14. John Ward, Senior.

4. Lauraure Ward.

5. Thomas Blanthly.4

380

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

OUR TOWN-ON PASSAICK RIVER.

Wiehe

1.5

24 27 41

. . ...

40 26 21

22 25

2 1

سي)٠٩

A The Watering Place

C The Training Place.

E The Market Place.

F The Elders Lot

G The Mill Let

H The Boatmans Lot.

1 First Riv or Mill Brk

The Black facedfigures represent the Home Lots of the inhabitants from Milford, New Haven, &'c and the Open faced figures those of the inhabitants

from Branford ---

The texts of Scripture1 referred to in the margin of justice. Jasper Crane, whose name heads the list of this document, indicating the Supreme authority to which they howed and wished ever to be subordinate, road thus,-

"And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall pro- cerd from the midst of them."-Jer. xxx. 21.

"Thou shalt in any wise set bim king over thee whom the Lord thy God shall choce, one from among the brethren shalt thou set king over thee ; thou muyest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother." -Deut. xvii. 15.

"Take ye wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you .- Deut. 1. 13.

" Moreover, thou shalt provide ont of all the people, able men, such as frar God, men of truth, hating covetousness ; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties and rulers of tens."-Exodus xviii. 21.

It would be well for the city, well for the State, well for the country if our practice now conformed more than it does to the tenor of these texts.

It would be an agreeable task to portray the characters of some of these first comers, but spare will not permit, and other hands can do them greater

the Branford men, occupied among them a position scarcely less prominent than was that of Treat among the people of Milford. As a magistrate and as an officer of the church, he enjoyed the full confidence and respect of his neighbors, and hence the honor accorded to him on this occasion, to precede even Abraham Pierson, their revered spiritual head.

Of Mr. Pierson's (the first minister) personal char- acteristics, both physical and mental, we have com- paratively few particulars; but it cannot be doubted that he possessed a strong will, great independence, unswerving perseverance, and more than ordinary power in controlling and guiding those attracted by his virtues, or to whom he was officially related. This is manifest from the manner in which he iden- tified himself with his people; and his people clung to him, following his movements whithersoever they tended, so that his congregation might have been numbered among the peripatetics. His first flock in America was at Lynn, in Massachusetts, whence he and they removed to South Hampton, L. I., which was settled under his spiritnal administrations; thenee he and they removed to Branford; and now we see liim, at the head of the same, or nearly the same band, transferred to Newark. He was a Puritan, whose character, so far as it is known, is free from stain, on whom no charge cun rest of variation in doctrine or contrariety of life from the acknow- ledged fathers of "the church in Christ after the Congregational Way,"-a rigid religionist, an

1 The reference to thewe texts Was simply conformiog to views expressed and acted upon during the whole history of the New Haven colony. On the 4th of June, 1639, when abont to lay the foundations of their civil and religious polity, "Mr Davenport der lared unto them by the Scrip- tures what kind of persons olight best be trusted with matters of gov- ernment, and by sundry arguments from Scripture proved that such as were described, -Ex. xviil. 21 ; Bent. 1. 13, with Deut. xvii. 15; I C'or. vi: 1, 6 and 7, ought to be entrusted by them." (Fundamental Articles, Lambert, p. 4%; "Trumbull's Connecticut" 1, 504.) It is somewhat remark- able that the places where these texts are to be found should be su fre- quently misprinted ; both the above authorities give them errunrously, aod even the editors of our own printed Town Records failed to correct a freak of the types in connection with them.

J J J Line of Common Ferre.

KKK Roads to Meadows

PASSSALCR

References.

VER

B The Burying Ground

D The Landing Place.

18/23

121

33 12 36

381

CITY OF NEWARK.

honest man, a good citizen of simple tastes and con- sistent life; but his subsequent career, from his iden- tification with the history of the First Presbyterian Church in this eity -so well narrated in Dr. Stearns' admirable volume-is too well known to call for further comment here, save an expression of sincere regret that the grave of such a pastor and such a man should be without some fitting testimonial of the re- spect due to his memory, from those who are now en- joying the results of his labors and self-denial.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 97

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