History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 79

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 79
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 79

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" In Jord is the order of the 4th and 220 to which and to the General's letter to Congres I must refer you for particulars.

" I always had the highest Opinion of the troops but my most sanguine winhen, tell far short of the real fortitude, & bravery, which privades the whole, even the new recruits rushes out storm althe not the object "- I'monsylvania Archives, vui , 450 .**

XVIII .- GEN. WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF D'INGRESS " Head Quarters, Bergen County, July 26, 1750

"+ Sir

" Having received Information that there were conspleruble numitems of cattle and 11. Tren in Bergen Neck, within reach of the enemy and having reason to suspect that they menut shortly to draw all supplies of that kind within their Hitem. I detar hed Brigulier treneral Wayne, on the 20th, with the first and socond Pennsylvania Brigudon, with four pleces of Artillery

attached to them, and Colonel Muylan's regiment i dragoons - ring them off. I had it also in contemplation, to atten pt, at the same time, the destruction of a Blok h non erected ut Bull's Ferry which served the Iauly of Refugees, bir wh an It was garrison- and wh. i'mmitten dep- relationtan ny on the wil affe ted inbalgtstats for many mailse sruund

guard the different Lund , pues u the Be con shee . ujani wi h the imens intebt threw wet tr= je from ) h I-lindt intet ejt th-retreat, and having went down the Issairy Corrente the home of ir na of thu stock, proe eles| with th hrst, mond and tenth r gien hte and the artillery to the Ithe h-house, wi h he found murr un 1 by an letta and atorkick It. for monetine tried the effe tot him hold pis ca usen l'. lot through the fire was hope up for an hour, they were f und t + light to penetrate the logs of which it was constructed The trees, during this 01- being gall d by ns instant fre fi un th . loopholes fthe h ine, and Being to char cơaf making a lươn h with car non-the I the first and and cogumelos hotel blanding the utmost offerts of the call me to re- strun them, rushed through the alusttini the foot of the showk el- with a view of forcing an entrance, which was found impracticalde This act on minted in the whole to thre ; officers w mn 1 1, 15 n a c rimimi ned and privatew killed, and do non ommissiened And privatem wounded The w andot affi : isant Je fehatte Hammond and I'raw ferd of the first and Lhe stenant D. Heart of the men al, the last milee de I Junta Int mention his death with ros t, as he was a young gentleman idf atutalda qualities, and whop mise fan to be gervi able to his country

" The dragons in the meantime drove of the et al which were f und in the Neck , the shape and wood beats in the dock wear the block hunou were burut, and the Few people er board thein mad pri n r4.

"I have been this particular, leat the iss vint of this affair should have reached the dolphins much exaggerated, as i am bly the such were11. Pennayleon Preke Ang. 1, 1

XIX. - PRESIDENT REED THIEN. WHENY " Philadelphia Ang. 4. 17MI. · Dr sir :

"I duly received & thank you for your Favor of the 24th July Inch =- ing your Order on the late Excursion to Bergen They have been spoker of here much to your Honour & with the gallant Behaviour of the MEn show that the' we did not meet with entire Success we deserved it.

" Neither the Uiljects of the Expedition, nor the Conduct of it were fully understood here at first, & as often happens on auch Occasions, were misrepresented, but a few Days & letter Information soun met the Mutter- right-if any Doubts Inel remained the General's Letter wiped them off. the' in some Respects it tended to minke the Affair of the Block- Horse & more important Busnies than i really was Ja to the Whispers of Luvy & Malevalence of slander, you must, my dearsir, submit in comm in with your Fellow Men to a Share of them as the Tax which Merit atil Ins- tinction must pay. The World would be too retimable if (very Acti a was judged upon the Principles of l'andour & its due Worth serned it Whalleyed by Jealouay & I'ncharitald now. In one Respect suil tory terit is least subject to O than any other, as it has Witnesses of I mpan- ions & the Benefits arising to mankir ! from a conspirnous Display of it are such that the World is ready to be ita Friend for its own Int rest. should you be called, as probably you may, to any chating ishal Bank enit Life you will find the Arts of bury wicked Men more suoof il, and not so pily detected or parried. Scarce a week clap-shuts meus ched Falsehood takes Wing with Respect to us, flutters about & dies, when a new one more palatable a single de the Nut of the Day arime, w/ h in its Turn gives Way to a fresher Fir a time I felt mva If hurt A spent Time and Labour to counteract them, but I have Ing since harue I that the best Shield is Integrity & truest Remedy, l'utiener I am Inf ruled that there has been much Industry used this spring & summer m tamp on this Score & that it is very frequ nt at this This. So much Paina to lessen mne in the Opinion of Mankind white Fam pursuing diligently this Interestand my Country with a single Iminterested View bitte it to in this great l'anse fully convinces me that there are some Men who have different Intentions & who fear h nest Men on pullle Stati na I hava at different Periodis had muy I'msiona worked up n, my Interests amailed, splendid l'reageren h I forth to engage me in the Views of l'arty & I never experienced the full Weight of Enmity till I had fully declined overy Overture of this Nature lo such a Manner as left no Hojne f Sie com. However, I trust there is Virtue & Discernment In the World auf ient to aupport a Man iu doing his Duty & that I have one Friends who will judge ujwn fartanet upon Suggestions, especially when they come thro' Do curTIIfet a t'handel.

986

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

"Fanner ias Ihrections to purchase a red Worth for the Facings if to be had in Town & they will be forwarded as soon as possible. Lyttle hasret ' he is an Engr. in the Levies and that he was in the Black-hours when ont with sup y of stores A a good Stock of Shirts and Overall4-20(K) of General Wayne attacked it, which they have since evacuated and demol- ished-this is all i can tell about him."- From the original in possession of € E. l'un l'ortlandt. each which with what gets to you in other Directions will. I hope, prove a comfortable Supply Aliru, my best Wishes attend yon, & I beg you to be ieve mne

" Very much " Y mr sincere Friend & Obed " Ible Servt

JOS REED.

From original in possession of Henry B. Inucson.'

AV -Jons WALKER TO GEN, WEERUN.

". Philadelphia, August 15, 1750.

· Gen ral Wayne made nu unsuccessful attempt to storm a block-house of the enemy - at Bergen a few days ago. The attack was middle with the utanort pallantry and the place would probably have been carried, but no entrance could be found, there being no other but a subterraneous one. Har Ims was sixty odd killed and wounded, in exchange for which wegot Home hundreds of bullocks As much as we want beef this is but Inud exchange "-Papers relating chiefly to the Maryland Line during the hero- tufton. p. 114.

XXI. -- SIR HENRY CLINTON TO LOAD GERMAIN. " East Hampton, Suffolk Co., L .. I .. . August 20, 17%0.

"I HAVE the Atisfaction of communicating to your Lordship, an instance of courage, which reflects the greatest honour on a small fully of the Refugees.

" About recently of them had taken post on a part of the opposite shore on the North River, called Bull's Ferry, where they hal fortified them- selves with a Block-house and Stockade, to be protected in cutting wood, the labour they were employed in for their maintenance.

" A corps uf near tico thousand Rebels, under their Generals Wayne Irving and Proctor, with seven pieces of canson, male an attack upon them on the Elst alt. Notwithstanding a cannonade of three hours, almost every shot of which penetrated through the Block-house and an attempt to carry the place by assault, they were repulsed by these brave men, with the loss of a great many killed and wounded. The exertions of the Refugees did not cearr ; after having resisted so great a force, they followed the enemy, seized their stragglers and rescued from them the cattle they were driving from the neighbouring district.

"The Block-hungr which I visited was pierced with fifty-two shot in one face only and the two small guns that were in it, were dismounted MIX of the Refugees were killed and fittern wounded-the far greater part in the Block-H.nuse "-From The lamihim Gazette, printed in " The C'inse Chase," London, 1781.

XXII. ADSTHEYS. MACKENZIE TO LAPT. WARD. " Head Quarters, 11th Der. 17M, ·· Sır.

" I HAVE the pleasure of sending you, by the direction of his Excel- Jeney the Commander in Chief, the enclosed extrar of a letter which he has received by the host jacquet, from Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty'« principal secretaries of state, and which he is happy to commu- nata to you, In the first opportunity.

" I am, Sir. Your most obedient, ' humble servant,

.. FRED MACKENZIE. ·· D. A. Gen.

"Capt. Ward. Laval Beingog, "

INCL. APRE.

Extract of letter from Loan GROBE GERMAIN to his Excellency SIR HEVES CLINTON, dated 4th October, ITED.

" The very extraordinary instance of courage shown by the Local Refugees, iu the affair of Bull's ferry, of which you make such honorable mention, is a pleasing proud of the spirit and resolution with which men in their circunstances will art against their oppressors, and how great advantages the Kings troops may derive from employing those of approved elity. And His Majesty to encourage Auch exertions, commands me We demire you will arquaint the survivors of the brave SEVENTY, that their in trepid behavior is approved of by their Sovereign. '- Hirington's Gazette. Dec 13, 1:80).

XXIII .- JOHN Post To WILLIAM VAN INGEN. " West Point Juth iner., 1750.

"(mur Brigade was junted at Fort Lee to watch the enetnies motion frem F Washington which is directly opposite to it, while we lay there two British soldiers swam over to us in the night, from this place I had a fair view of the City, the East River & their encampment on York latand.

Une of the inhabitants said that Jacob Glenn lind been in his Home, that

XXIV. - C'01. PROCTOR'S FORCE.

In the department of State, at Washington, there is an original " Return of the non-commissioned and matrosses in the Corps of Art's. the States to which they lelong & the number wanting to complete the Establishment, July 12, 1781," which probably gives Colonel Proctor's force in the attack :

"4th Regt, Cal. Proctor, Penna, & Companies, effective force of non- com. & Mat. 149, wanting to complete 2×3, establishment 432."

XXV. - AMERICAN ACCOUNTS OF THE AFFAIR.

" Thursday, the 19th instant, the first and second Pennsylvania bugader. commanded by Brigadier General Wayne, marched from their respective encampirats for the purpose of collecting & bringing off those enttle in Bergen County, immediately exposed to the enemy. After executing the under, General Wayue, on Ins leturn, visited u block-house in the vicinity of Bergen town, built and garrisoned by a number of Refugees to prevent the dingreenble necessity of being forced into the British sen service. The work was found proof against light artillery, when a part of the first and beyond Pennsylvania Regiments were ordered to attempt it by Result, when, after forcing their way through the statis and pickets, at retteut was indispensahly necessary, there being no other entrance in the Block- house but a subterraneous passage sufficient only for one man to pass. Our les consists of 69, including 3 officers, killed and wounded. Lieu- tenant Moody and six of his party were taken on their return from an excursion to Sugas.' - Pennsylvania Packet, July 25, 1780.

" We hear that on Friday morning last tlu Pennsylvanin line omder the command of General Wayne, made an unsuccessful attack against the block-homme, the enemy erected some time ago at Closter. in Bergen County. Our future, it is said, was owing to the lightness of our nrtil- lery, And the enemy's metal being umch heavier than was expected. Ihr trouje however recovered several hundred head of quadrupeds, consisting of horses, horned cattle, sheep and hogs, which the banditti that infont the neighborhood had plundered from the inhal itants. Dur loss ou thia occasion is said to be several killed and wounded." - New Jersey tinelle, July 26, 1780.

"On the morning of the 25th ult .. died nt Camp, of the womanis he received in bravely doing his duty before the Block-house near Bull's ferry on the 21st Lieutenant Jacob Morris De Hart, brother of Col. De Ilart, of the 20 Pennsylvania Regiment, aged nineteen years, the cmu- lation and fire necessary to warm a soldier's breast mon kindled in this young, but manly officer having entered into the service of his country at sixteen ; from which time has sweetness of disposition, and attention to duty, gave him the affection of oficers of every rank. At five o'clock in the afternoon he was buried with the humeurs of war, attended by a large concourse of officers from the different lines of the army." - Nere Jersey Gazette, Aug. 2, 1"ML.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM TAPPAN, DATED AUG 11, 1980.

" The British have called in their out-posts. On the with instant they evacuated and burnt the Block-hour in Bergen, on which tieneral Wayne lately made an unsuccessful attack." -The Connecticut Pinzette, Ang. 25, 17:0.

NYVI-BRITISH ACCOUNTS OF THE AFFAIR.

" Yesterday morning about nine o'Clock, Gonerde Wayne and Irwin with the Ist nund 2d Pennsylvama Brigades of Infantry, 'ul. Moyland'N Cavalry, and Proctor'+ Artillery, the Flower of Washington's Army. coll- sisting of about KAMI Troops, with it siv Pounders, and one Howitz, a- penred in view of Col. Cuyler's Refuge . Bist, on the hisry Shore which was then commanded by Capt Thomas Ward ; about 10 0't link they advanced with their Cannon to within 60 Yards of the Refugee Works, and commenced a tremendous l'annomade, which lasted till half pane 11 ; they attempted to startu the Vibattis last were repulsed with the Jai of alwmt 90 killed and wounded, ntsong which are five Officers

"The low of the Refugees is I killed and > slightly wounded , no Veterans could have behaved better on this De asion than these lew Laynlists And his Excellency the Commander in Chief has expressed his Thanks nud approbation to this Lovat. BAND for their spirited and gallant Behaviour. '-Hirington's Gazette, July 22, 1780.

"The following in the Name of the brave Refugees that were killed and wounded at Col. Cuyler's Bofinger Post, near Fort Lee, almut Miles from New York, on Hudson's River, on Friday, the 21st innt six

987

CONFISCATED ESTATES.

" Thomas Philips, co ce as ill ry, John Sh Mures with another mut and a Nagr. killel.

· Lent want George and Mellan Bull Alex andy Starp I in and Ezekiel Fel and J. hu Malien wounded.

" Th prin apa theson of Amock weet lond Muylen, . Marts

. This be chosen Band of Washington's Army were required to a few determined Loyal e auto hat . ran to bel's the lon of the

the most of the Bolig a luty under the 1 mmand of the brave Captain Ward, parst the Rear of the retreating Army up warits if I users, rotook twenty USE of Hate that were carried f u the w affected Neighbors Killed and Roll, and i de Primer of Central Wayuen Suivant and an it er.

them au their lat attack of the Helst + Ft last Findduy, was at sat 150 h les and webud 1. auf aumno them a ofll . twee of which ar

" Chatham, July 20, La Fralay tono al Wayme tub & delats hinent

Bull's Ferry on the North K . but finding it very strong hold only 24 Refugees drew of the men. Ih los, we are told amounts to nieur 50 killed and wounded But u. Ht rusev 1 . Kningum a timelle. July 23, 18 4.

CHAPTER XVII.

CONFISCATED ESTATES IN WHAT IS NOW HUDSON COUNTY, AND ACTS OF LEGISLATURE RELATIVE THERETO.

AMONG the first acts passed by the Legislature of New Jersey were those relating to the security of the government and the punishment of treason. At the first session under the constitution, held at Princeton, from the 27th of August to the Sth of October, 1776 an act was passed on the 19th of September repealing the old wath of loyalty to the King, and prescribing the new oath of allegianer to the government founded by authority of the people. The oath of aljuration of the kingly authority is in the words following :

"I, A B., do sincerely profese und swear or, if one of the people called the King of Great Britain, So help It loud "

The following is the wath of allegiance to the popu- lar government :

"I. A. B., do simvereiy profes and swear (or if one of the people called Quakers, afirin), That I de and will hear true Faith and .Hirguance to the Government established in this State under the Authority of the Pe ple, So belje mo (real "

In an " Act to punish traitors and disaffected per- sons," passed Det. 4, 1776, it is provided in the fourth section :

""That any two justices of th, . peace shall, and they hereby ure en - wwwered and directed to Convene by Summuns or Warrant any juryon whotaknever whom they shall auspal to be dangerous or disaffected to the prosent Government, and to tender and mulminister to bim the onthe of Atjuration and Allegiance set forth In an act entitled ' An Art for these- curity of the Giovannint of New Jersey,' pavad the mneteenth of sep- tomber, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-en, And if any person to whom the Oath shall be tendered shall tegl ator refuse to take

in the and junto hull trigo with it surely to App- Mari That teklinurt uf Grue a Quarter & Fhs f the Pure, and t In in the nganwhile af ge 1 kelses or , and in fan of wifficient

bat Court f Quarter de Jong of the Power, where if auch offender re- [ totk lo ajoath, last dl . lamad : hin Lood Behaviour,

In the early stage of the war many persons had been induced to leave their homes and their friends and join the army of the King of Great Britain. Others who had wen guilty of treasonable practic s against the State secrets I themselves to cape pun- ishment. "In compassion for their unhappy situa- tion, and desirous that evey measure should be employed to restore such to their allegiance and to the benefits of a free government, the Legislature of New Jersey, on the 5th of June, 1777, pussel " An Act of free and general pardon, and for other jurjuses therein mentioned." This act provided that all such offenders who chose to return to their allegiance or join the cause of their country In for the 5th day of August next ensuing should meet with amnesty on the part of the government, and upon taking the pre- scribed oath before the Judge of the Supreme Court, or of the Court of Common Pleas, or any other justice of the peace, should receive the following form of certificate :

"I, C IM ione of the Justices, etc., As the case may be do hereby cer- tify that A. B., tring one of the Offenders described in an Art of the Legislature of New Jersey, made and pared the fifth day of June, uno Th anand Seven Hundredand Seventy -ven, entitled " An Art of freeand general Pard n, and for ther Purposes therviu mentioned,' having volun- tarily appeared bef re me and claimed the Benefit of the said Act, hath this has taken and subscribed the outhe or Affirmati n, as the case may the prescribed in the said Art. Given under my Hand and scal the

L. S. A

On presenting this certificate to the clerk of the county of his residence, to be recorded in a book kept for that purpose, the offender should be "freely and absolutely pardoned, released and discharged from all treasons and other offenses specified in an act of the Legislature of the State made and passed at Princeton on the 4th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy- six, entitled "An Act to punish Traitors and Disaf- fected persons," and should be thereupon " restored to all the rights, liberties and privileges of other and good subjects of this State." >

If, on the contrary, they declined or refused to necept of the generous offer of the government within the time specified in the act, commission rs appointed by law were to take possession of their estates, real and personal, and under certain conditions lease or sell the same for the benefit of the State.

High Treason,-The crime which worked the for- friture and confiscation of real estate in New Jersey

> Chapter II., Acts of 1776.

2 than V Laws of 1974.

988

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

was that of high treason. and is thus defined in the " purchased by Benjamin Shotwell, Feb. 24, 1787. Lib. act of Der 11, 1778, entitled "An Act for forfeiting E, page 24. to and vesting in the State of New Jersey the real William Bayard, land on North River adjoining Weehawken; sold to Daniel Baldwin, Dec. 4, 1784, for £800 lawful money of New Jersey. Lib. E of deeds. page 136. estate of certain fugitives and offenders, and for di- rerting the mode of determining and satisfying the lawful debt- and demands which may be due from or made against such fugitives and offenders, and for other purposes therein mentioned,-"

". B. it encried by the Authority afiremail, That each and every inhab- stant of the State, seized or possessed of, interested in or entitled to any Etal., Real or Personal, within the same, who hath, since the nine- trentlı Day of April, Our Thousand &-ven Hundred and Seventy-Five, and before the forth Day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-six, aided and assisted the enemies thereof, or of the I nited States, by joining their Armies within this state, or otherwise, or who hath voluntarily gone to, taken refuge or continued with, or endeav- vred to continue with the Enemy aft resaid, and and them by Counsel or otherwise, and who has not since returned and become a Subject in Alle- giance to the present Government by taking the Oaths vr Affirmations prodrived in the Net entitled 'An Vit for the Security of the Govern- ment of New Jersey," passed the mneteenth Jmy of September, 1776, when required, each and every such Person is hereby deslured to be guilty of Ihghi Treawm against the State ; and oh Conviction thereof by Inquisition found, and final judgment thereon entered in favor of the State, as heremafter declared, such Conviction shall amount to a full and almolute Forfeiture of such Person s Estate, both Real and Personal, what- seever, within this State, to and for the l'e and Benefit of the same.

"Proride i, ale ay , That such Conviction shall not extend to affect the Person fany such Offender, but shall operate against his or her Estate only ' 1

Under the provisions of the foregoing acts, estates were confiscated and sold in New Jersey in 1778 and 1779. But the war still continuing. the poverty of the country and the depreciated state of the currency made it necessary to discontinue their sal- to a more favorable time. Hlenee, on the 26th of June, 1781, an act was passed by the Legislature of New Jersey, en- titled " An Act to suspend the sales of real estates which have or may hereafter become to and vested in the State." Under an act passed Dec. 20, 1781, Hendrick Kuyper was appointed agent to take charge of forfeited estates in Bergen County. Some of the con- fiscated estates disposed of in this county were sold by the commissioners-James Boord, Garret Lyn- decker, Hendrick Kuyper, Peter Fell and others-pre- vious to the act of suspension. After that they were sold by the agents, Hendrick Kuyper and Cornelius Haring, who executed the deeds to the purchasers, which are found recorded in the clerk's office of Ber- gen County. We have compiled from the records the following :

List of Confiscated Estates in what is now Hudson County .- Estate of William Bayard, 564 acres in the township of Bergen, at Hoboken; sold to John Stevens, Jr., July 26, 1784, for the sum of £18,360 lawful money of New Jersey. Deed recorded in book D, page 437.

Estate of William Bayard, 125 acres in the town- shipof Bergen . deeded to John Stevens, Aug. 25, 1784. Lib. D of deeds, 440).

John F. Ryerson, 93 acres in the Ramapo patent ;

William Bayard, 104 acres adjoining Hoboken Creek; sold to Jacobus J. Bogert, May II, 1784. Lib. E, page 153 deeds.

Michael Van Tuyl, township of Bergen, 20 acres at Bergen Point; sold to Andrew Van Tuyl et al., June 20. 1787.

William Bayard, 23 acres, bounded west by north of lot No. 17, east by Jacobus Bogert, south by lot No. 19, township of Bergen; sold to William Jackson for £502 May 1. 1784.

William Bayard, 25 acres, bounded northerly by the road or lot No. 10, east by lot No. 4, south by lot No. 12, township of Bergen; sold to William Jackson, of the township of Bergen, for $500, May 10, 1784.

William Bayard, " late of Hoboken," in the county of Bergen, lot containing +3 acres, extending from Hudson River on the east to Secaucus Commons on the west; sold to Cornelius Huyler for £702, Aug. 25 1784. Lib. E 2. page 67.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HUDSON COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.

THE canses which led to the secession of the south- ern States in 1861, have been written and rewritten until every school-boy has become thoroughly ac- quainted with the subject, and long ere this pro- nouneed his verdict of condemnation npon the wicked and suicidal policy of a comparatively few of the aristocratic slave-owners of the South, aided and abetted by an insignificant number of their dough- face tools at the North; therefore we will not occupy valuable space with that branch of the subject.

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 79

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