History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 12

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 12
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 12

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John Ward, Sr., had fifty acres, bounded on the north by Thomas Johnson, on the cast by the plain, on the south by John Catlin, and on the west by the hill. Ward was one of the pioneers of the Oranges.

Anthony Oliff (or Olive) had fifty acres, bounded on the south by Samuel Harrison, on the west by the mountain, on the north and cast by unsurveyed lands. This farm included on its northern border the street now known as Valley road, or that part near Tory Corners. It appears from the town-book that the owner at first took possession of more land than the agreement allowed, confessed his fault, sub- mitted the land to the town's disposal, and by his re- quest was admitted a planter in 1678. He married the widow of George Day, the progenitor of the fam- ilies of that name in Essex County, and died without issue March 16, 1723, aged eighty-seven years. The headstone at his grave in the old cemetery bears the oldest date of the many stones in the old graveyard.

deed being again witnessed by Rev. Daniel Taylor and his wife, Elizabeth Taylor.

On June 13, 1679, Fifty-nine acres of upland were surveyed to Joseph Harrison. It was bounded on the north by lands of Benjamin Harrison, and on the northwest by "Perroth's Brook."

If, up to this time, any of the above named farms were under improvement, they were scarcely occupied as homesteads, for it was not till Dee. 12, 1681, that surveyors were chosen, of whom Richard Ilarrison was one, "to lay out highways as far as the mountain, if need be, and to lay out the third division to all who have a desire to have it laid out, and passages to all lands."

In March. 1685, Paul, George and Samuel Day, sons of George Day, had surveyed to them sixty acres of land, bounded on the west by the mountain, on the south by Matthew Williams' land, on the east by Wigwam Brook, and on the north by the common.

Matthew Williams, having been admitted a planter, with others, in 1680, "provided they pay the pur- chase for their lands, as others have done," after securing a plantation, returned to his native State, where he remained for nearly eighteen years, when he returned and made this his home during the remainder of his life. llis brothers, Amos and Samuel, located here after his return, in about 1700.

In January, 1688-89, George Day exchanged lands with Matthew Williams, the latter parting with a dwell- ing-house. shop, orchard, and other property and lands near Newark, and receiving two tracts at the moun- tain, one bounded east by the Wigwam Brook, and the other (swamp land) bounded by Parrow's Brook. This last-mentioned tract evidently lay in what is now the city of Orange, and probably in the Third Ward. The place to which Williams seems to have removed his residence about that time was subse- quently given the name of Tory Corners, and later Williamsville, and is still spoken of by each name. Mr. John C. Williams, in his "Reminiscences," speaks at length of this locality.

April 27, 1694, a warrant was issued to John Gard- ner, in right of Abraham Pierson, for a traet at the foot of the mountain, bounded on the northeast by lands of Azariah Crane, and on the southeast by lands of Jasper franc.

CHAPTER LVIL.

The next owner of the Olitt farm was Peleg Shores, who, on the 23d of April, 1723 (a little over a month after the death of Oliff, or Olive), conveyed the cast- THE ORANGES. ( Continued. ) ern and southern portions of it (one equal half) to Jonathan Lindsley, the deed being witnessed by Rev. The Oranges in the Land Troubles of 1740- 50 .- As early as 1744 we find the settlers about the mountain (now embraced in the t)ranges) adopt- Daniel Taylor and Matthew Williams. May 18, 1726, Mr. Lindsley soll the same to David Williams, who, in 1730, purchased the other half of the farm, the | ing measures for the defense of their land titles.

729

THE ORANGES.

Contributions were raised for defraying the expenses of agents sent to Connecticut and to Horse Neck. (C'aldwell), for the purpose, it is presumed, of obtain- ing papers or affidavits tending to confirm their rights. These land troubles and the causes leading to the difficulty are treated of more particularly in the p i- oral history of this work.

In an account hook of Sammuel Harrison's, preserved by Edward Pierson, Esq., of Newark, in which may be found the following "account of what cach hath paid in order to the establishing their rights of land. and in defraying the charge." The dates following belong to the year 1744.

Nathaniel Crane Samuel Harrison, In cash to Vap Wheder

Vathantel Chip

Samuel K.ddwin

Sammanel Harrison, posil Mir Taylor

Julin Cumdiet, paht Mr Tayı.

August Sith, Garhshot Williams

Ortalwe'r 7th, I received it \nim Will charge of the porelmuse right

Thomas Wi han . .

Samuel Wheel. I

G 0

Going to X England nine days

Going to llam Noch with Mr. Taylor

Going to Have Neck with Daniel Lenne

= = =

Phil John Cumdiet

Puis John Pundit

Paidl to .lohn Tompkins 17

Going to .w wh

And so on through the old book may be found charges similar to these.

We find the following entry also about that tini . " Jan. 23, 1744-5. Samuel Freeman brought to me two wolves' heads, and I marked it according to law, and gave him a ticket for the same." We may infer that Mr. Harrison was a magistrate, and that Deacon Freeman did not consider the poor wolves entitled to the charities of his office.

As a sample of town legislation on the subject of Jand troubles, we give the following :

March 10, 1715 1" It was 'unanimously votul, that whoever shall en any we al 's tunber on any of the land called the form asge land shall forfeit for every cart Land ton shilling , umpl Ny in pre ja rha 0 foi a lurer or lower quantity, for the use of the poor abaste forfeit tor wand and timber, to be fetched away by any person, for the use of the peer the persons taux the word or timber to be paid by the verwer of the power - hoopla Peck, Jewish landet's, Emanuel Cocker, David to the Same Plum, and David Bruen was chosen to take care of the parrainage lande and prosernte the offenders.

In all these land troubles the proprietors looked to the judiciary for relief. Even Governor Belcher was suspected of weakness, but the courts were more reli- able. Riots were followed by arrests, arrests by in- dietment and conviction. At the June term of the Supreme Court in 1755, a number of people were indieted, among whom were some of the good people of the " Mountain Society." viz: Jonathan Squier, John Vincent, Thomas Williams, Samuel Crowell, Nathan Williams, Samo Il Parkhurst, John Harrison, Moses Brown. Benjamin Perry, Levi Vincent, Jr., Josiah Lindsley, Bertrand Pierson, Nathaniel Ball, John Baker, Nathan Baldwin, Abel Ward, John Dodd, Timothy Ball, Ely Kent, Jonathan Davis, Jr., Ebenezer Lindsley, Eleazer Lamson, Enos Baldwin,

Samuel Ogden, John Brown, Jr. Timothy Mecker, Zebedee Brown, and Thomas Day The following- named persons were fined five shillings each . Daniel Williams, Amos Harrison, John Tompkins, Ebenezer Farand, Robert Young, Paul Day, JJoseph Williams, and Elihu Lindsley. " Recognizance of one hundred pounds for their good behaviour, for three years, and stand committed till fine and fees are paid."

It does not appear from records that the mountain settlers, as they were called, were ever called upon ty stand behind the prison-bars, or pay the one hundred pounds, and no doubt they were fully established in their right to hold their possessions, which they should have been under a free government.

Extracts from Old Papers, Commissions, Etc .--- Mr. William Williams, of Orange, a great-grandson of the original Williams, settler, has in his possession several copies of the t'entinel of Freedom published in Newark in 1813, also military commissions for- mperly held by his father, from all of which we have been permitted to make a few extracts, as follows :

SLAVES-Forsale A healthy BLACK WOMAN and two children, the a MALE and the other a FEMALE. She is about thirty years of ngo . the MALE As in huis 4th year, and the FEMALE x months old. She is soler and bones, mal anderstan is all kin if how work, and can spin we | Ala a NEGRO BOY in hàn 8th y ar vind a NEGRO CIRI. in her Oh yrar hearty and rugged Enquire of the pri te

" FOR SALE-A BLACK B0\ 12 years if nge, 0 6 -1 house-servant. well acquainted with all kinds of hebrew rk. active, h mest and smart. Meld for wa tof engl yount. Enquir of Joseph Plum.

MARRIAGES-In the Centinel of Freedom, dated July 8, 119. we find the following marriage notices.

"on Stunky rrrning, the 27th alt , by the Bes Mr Hilyer, Mr. Aluatherr Harrism & Orange, to Miss Theber T'reemin, of this town

"in the loth, by the sige gentleman, Mr Janwy Matthews b. Miss Flat th Jagger

"On the evening of the ảnh, by the selv gentleman, Mr deat tol Fintor to Ming Philota ( mali

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION, 1813 .- Notwith- standing the United States were yet in their swaddling clothes, and were in the midst of a second encounter with Mother England, the patriotism of the people of Orange was bubbling up in their breasts, and even boiling over with devotion to the cause for which some of the pioneers had given their lives, while others remained to tell of the hardships, privations, and hairbreadth cseapes of themselves and comrades, when we find the following notice in the Centinel of Freedom for June 8, 1813:

" At a large and respectable meeting of the citizens of Orange, ou- venml nt Ira Muun's agreeable to public noti r in order to make arrange ments for the celebrations of the coming Anniversary of our Indepen- drure, Noah Matthews was appointed nudlerator, and Nathaniel Bruen clerk

** 14t. Reply «l that the day be celebrated.

" bl That Dr Im l'iervon be orator of the day

"3d. That Dr Daniel Babbit read the Declaration of Independence.

"4th. That Captain Thuins Williams bear the (. of Liberty

"5th. That John Lindsley Ery , bear the Standanl.

"I'h. That Majoor Abraham Willinne le offer uf the iny

" "th. That the following permis be a committee for the arrangements of the day : Capt. William Williams, Daniel Smith, Jordals leonard, Nathan Williams, Jothnin Quinhs, William W' Ballwin and llenry Il. Campbell.

Going to A Fogland four days

lush porlet to Mr Taylor

730

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

"8th. That the above Revolution be published in the Centivel of Free- " NOAH MATTHEWS, Moderator

dom.

" NATHANIEL BRIEN, Clerk. "

MILITARY COMMISSIONS. Mr. Williams has in his possession the several commissions granted to his father, William Williams, as follows: One dated Feb. 2, 1809, commissions him as ensign of the Fourth Company, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment of the Es- sex Brigade.

One dated May 9, 1804, making him ensign of the Orange Volunteer Company of the Second Battalion, First Regiment of Essex.

Another is dated April 27, 1809, commissioning him as lieutenant of the Fourth Company of the First Battalion in the Fifth Regiment of the Essex Brigade.

The next one is dated June 19, 1811, promoting Lieut. Williams to be captain of the Fourth Com- pany, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, Essex Bri- gade.

The above commissions were signed by Joseph Bloomfield, Governor of New Jersey.

On Feb. 10, 1816, Governor Mahlon Dickerson commissioned Capt. Williams to be major of the First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, Essex Brigade, and on Feb. 11, 1818, Isaac H. Williamson, then Gov- ernor of New Jersey, commissioned Maj. Williams to be colonel of the Fifth Regiment of the Essex Brigade.

DRAFTS-ORDER TO CAPT. WILLIAMS-TORIES .-- C'OF RT MARTIAL-FINES .- The drafts made upon the Newark militia from time to time took many from their farms from this, then part ot Newark, township. An order dated Newark, Aug. 29, 1777, and signed by Samuel Hayes, was addressed to Capt. Williams, or the officer commanding in his absence, to detach his proportion of men to relieve those on duty there whose month was just expiring: also to meet with his subalterns "at the house of t'apt. Pierson, to-morrow at three o'clock, p.M., to appoint officers for said detachment, to be marched into this town on Sunday, at three o'clock, p.M." There were some, Tories, of course, upon whom these orders were in- effectual.

** At a court-martial held at Newark Mountain (now Orange) July 7. Hat, at the house of Samuel Mann, for the trial of several poranna, not diers In Col. Philip V. Cortland: - regiment. Exa County Militar, he tonging to Captain Thomas Willinins' company, being charged with dis- obeying order in not turning out of their proper tour of duty on the 20th day of Inne last, and on the alarm on the 23d of June, and for de- sertion, agreeable to an act of the Governor, Connell and General AN- sembly in that care made and provided, entitled ' An Act for the more effectual defense of the State in case of Invasion of incursion of the en"my.''

The court having met according to the order, found three persons guilty of the above charges, and unani- mously agreed to fine them in the following sums ; Jonathan Williams, five hundred pounds; Charles Crane, two hundred pounds; Joseph Tompkins, three pounds and fifteen shillings. The presiding officer of the court-martial was t'apt. Josiah Pierson. The

other members of the court were t'apts. Thomas Williams, Isaac Gillam, Henry Joralamon, Lieut. Henry Squier and John Edwards. Ensigns Reming- ton Parcel, Thomas Baldwin and Ralph Post.

The fines thus imposed look quite large, and the old adage that " figures will not lie" has its falsifica- tion in our Revolutionary history.

By the act of June 9, 1790, about a month before these penalties were imposed, the Legislature had estimated the currency of the State" at the rate of one Spanish milled dollar in lieu of forty dollars of the bills now in cirenlation." So depreciated was the currency, as stated by the officers of the Jersey line in a memorial addressed by them to the Legislature " that four months' pay of a soldier would not procure for his family a single bushel of wheat," and "the pay of a colonel would not purchase oats for his horse." These facts will correct any extravagant opinion the reader may have formed of the atonement rendered by the above delinquents.

EXTRACT FROM SAMUEL HARRISON'S WILL, 1776 .- Sammuel Harrison was born in 1684, and April 6, 1748, he made his will, and Sept. 15, 1776, when the then feeble colonies were struggling for an existence, he departed this life. He was not only a Christian gen- tleman, but a prominent actor in the affairs of the township, and conspicuous in the land controversies that had taken place in Essex County during his lifetime.

In the distribution of his property, as related in his will, twenty-eight years before his death he divided his real estate between his sons, Amos, Samuel and Mat- thew, and to Samuel he gave a yoke of oxen, a horse and his young riding mare; also " a horse colt, one year old." It is very doubtful whether the yearling ever lived to be interested in the execution of the will, as it would have been twenty-nine years of age and ready to retire from active service. The "team tack- ling, to be equally divided as they do agree." he gave to Samuel and Matthew. This, also, if it had been kept in use the whole twenty-eight years, could hardly have given much occasion for strife. A "pale white brindle cow, with white head," was given to Jane Bunel, and to Abigail Shores he gave a brindle cow, " with two suits of apparel, one for Sabbath-day and one for every-day wear, with a Dutch spinning-wheel and a Bible, and to her and her heirs and assigns forever, as a reward for her services." These tokens of grateful remembrance must have proved of small . account,-the Bible excepted -provided they (Jane and Abigail) lived as long as the devisor. A blind provideuee is man's, but it is more commonly death, and not life, that deranges his plans and disappoints his good intentions.

HARRISON AVENTE LAID OUT. " New Jersey, November yo Je anno, 17H.

" Whereas, application bath been made to na, the under subscribers, surveyor for the County of Fex, to lay out a highway, four roda wide Beginning at the highway that runs up to the mountain, near the house af Amos Williams, bounded north upon his Cence and a Chestnut Tree;

731

THIE ORANGES.

thence running outward over the brook on the land of lawis Crane, by a line of marked trees ; ther se northeast acrom the lund of Lewis frate and David Crane to a maple bush marked on four sites in the line of Loui Vincent ; thene runting eastward along the line between Pavid 'rano and lamm Vincent to the highway that runs ap tu Nathaniel ('rans's ; thence outward on the south side of the Brook on the land of David Crane to a borch bush ; thenre turning over the Brook and running by a line uf marked treos to the northwest corner of Johanis Cadman his land, thenre running down said Julianis his land to Toneis Brook; thence running over the brook by a line of marked trees to the road that run by Jonathan Davis in confirmation of which we have sute riled our nunes."

PIONEER BOOM FOR ORANGE .- The following ad- vertisements in Wood's Newark Gazette and New Jersey Advertiser of June 10, 1795, indicates that " building lots" and "boarders" were beginning to figure in the business nomenclature of the village at that early date :

" By way of public vendue, on Saturday, the 25th of July, twenty-three bulldling Jote, pleasantly situated in Orange Dale, the main road, opjumite the merting-house, and adjoining the academy For of sanl lots have a uever-failing stream of water running through them, which renders them convenient for tanning business. On one of said lote there is a well of excelent water, and likewise a number of Kund fruit-trees dis- pered through the different lots, all of which are fronting on a road, which renders them convenient for both mercantile and merhamen! business. They are situated in a very Hourishing part of the e nintry, and would be very convenient for any person or persons who may wish to take in twarders.

" MATTHEW CONDIT.

"N. B .- Scythe-makers, nailers and silversmith will find it tend greatly to their interest to settle themselves, and carry on their business in this place, as they are much wanted."

The following "ad." also appeared in the same paper .

" THEY ACADEM AT ORANGE. DALE.

"Opened on Tuesday, the 17th inst., at ler the immediate instruction of Mr Wyckatt, who has taught the English and learned languages, the arts and sciences in this place, with approbastion nud success, for a number of years. Thơ who chương to mand their children to this institution may be assured that great rare and attention will be paid Inthe to their edu- cation and morala, under the attendance, direction and influence of a board of trustres annually chosen by the perish for thut purpose.

" JEDEDIAH CHAPMAN,

Preekdent. "

" Orange, May 24, 1796.

The expenses of instruction are not given ; but in an advertisement of the Newark Academy, published at the same time, and signed by " Alexander Mae Whorter, minister of the First Presbyterian Church," and " Uzal Dodd, rector of Trinity Church," we have the English language, writing, arithmetic, and public speaking taught for two dollars per quarter; geography, book-keeping, Latin, Greek, and the mathematics for three dollars and twenty-five | cents ; French, by a native, for one guinea. Who at the present day (1884) can obtain an education at the above figures?

Orange as a Watering-Place .- Within a hundred yards of St. Mark's Church, at the base of the moun- tain, there was once the celebrated chalybeate spring that, up to 1821 made Orange the Saratoga of America. Every season brought to this spot hundreds of in- valids and pleasure-seekers, whose provence added a

new feature to the social character of the place, as this spring was from 1812 to 1824 the most fashion- able resort in the United States. The chalybeste foun- tain of old shows now no signs or particular traces of its ancient ambition to attract the stranger. Around the old spring are groves and running waters, cascades and artificial - ponds, fences of rustic-work, the foot- bridge that lightly spans the chasm, and the solid staircase hewn from the rock. The place now has for the visitor a double interest, from the beauties the grounds now exhibit and from its historie associations.

Pioneer and Later Merchants .- In the earlier period of the settlement of Orange there were no inducements for men of mercantile pursuits to embark in what would at that early period seem to be a fool- hardy undertaking with a population so sparse that their combined patronage would not support a store of the smallest dimensions, and for the first thirty or more years the settlers went to "Our town on the Passayak " to do their trading and obtain their supply of groceries, which, of course, was not at that date as elaborate and expensive as at the present day.

The pioneer merchant of Orange, or, at least, the earliest that can be remembered by the oldest inhabit- ant, or by tradition from their ancestors, was --- Stryker, who kept a small store on the main road, below what is now Day Street.

STEPHEN D. DAY was a merchant here in the latter part of the last century. His store was near that of Mr. stryker's.

JOHN M. LINUSLEY, was one of the Orange mer- chants at the beginning of the present century. His store was on the corner of Main and Cone Streets. on the site now occupied by the Orange National Bank.

Another of the pioneer merchants of this place was William Condit, whose store stood on the corner of Main and Centre Streets, on the site now occupied by the flour and feed store of E. W. Hine.

IRA MUNN was also among the early merchants of Orange.

MOSES, father of William Condit, kept a store for several years in the beginning of this century on the site now occupied by the mansion and grounds of Alexander Hudnut, on upper Main Street.

Course of Travel, Highways, Railroads, Etc .- Previous to the construction of the Hoboken Branch of the Morris and Essex Railroad passengers were carried by the Morris and Essex road to East Newark I only, where they were transferred to the New Jersey, (now Pennsylvania) Railroad. Just at the close of the panie of 1857 the directors of the Morris and Essex road thought they must do something to in- crease the income of the road ; they therefore adopted a resolution to increase the fare fifty per cent. on con- mutation tickets, and twenty-five per cent. on way fares to Newark, and also to reduce the number of trains about one-half. This action caused great dis- satisfaction among all travelers between Orange and New York, as Orange was then just coming into note

New Jersey Historical Sam Bety Library.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

as a place of residence for New York business men. . A public meeting was called, and a committee of leading citizens appointed, among whom were Henry A. Howe, Lowell Mason, Rev. B. I. Barrett, Charles A. Light- hipe, I. J. Everett, Nelson Lindsley, George Lindsley, and many thers, to wait upon the directors ofthe Morris and Essex Railroad. The committee were met by the directors with a cont mptuous refusal to recede from the ground they had taken, and were told to go back to the citizens of Orange and inform them that the directors of the road understood their business; that Orange travel was not worth having, and if the people did not submit, they would " bridge " Orange over. Upon the report of the committee, the people re- solved that they would be independent of the railroad and its managers, and in less than two weeks an omnibus company, under a general law of the State, was organized with a capital stock of five thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars, sub- seribed in shares of twenty-five dollars each. The company elected Philip 11. Kissam president and Edward II. Ensign secretary, treasurer and man- ager. Single fares between Orange and Newark were ten cents, and yearly commutation tickets between the two points was fixed at twenty-five dollars.

Preceding the organization of the omnibus com- pany Rowland Johnson and William Vreeland started a stage line between Orange and Newark, and ran it twice a day till the omnibus company was ready to take it.

During the first year the omnibus company car- ried aghty thousand passengers between Orange and Newark, while the capital stock was inereased to ten thousand dollars, besides paying a dividend of ten per cent. to stockholders. The omnibus line was con- tinued three years, and was made a success. Then the present street railroad was chartered and built. superseding the omnibus line, and that, too, has proved to be successful beyond expectation. The first cars were small things, and only made two trips a day, with Mr. Sharp as driver and conductor. The omni- bu- company was dissolved, its property sold, and about seventy per cent. returned to the stockholders.

During this time the Morris and Essex Railroad Company reduced the fare between Orange and New- ark to five cents, and subsequently raised the fare to ten cents, at which rate both steam and horse cars now carry passengers between the two points.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 12

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830