History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 70
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 70

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In connection with Coryell's Ferry in the following year there is an interesting letter of Maj .- Gen. Bene-

· " Bina Mounts," in this letter, la n mistake for " Beanamont's." Juhu Beaumont owned a large tract of land opposite Moore's Station, And near Brownsburgh, Pa. lle was frequently called WUnemount.

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dict Arnold addressed to Gen. Washington. Arnold, whose name is now loaded with infamy, was then in high repute in the American army. This letter is published in the "Correspondence of the Revolu- tion," vol. i. p. 384. It is as follows :

"CORYELL'S FERRY, 16 June, 1777, 8 o'clock P.M.

"MY DEAR GENERAL,-I wrote Your Excellency yesterday that the boats, scowe, &c., were sent up the river II miles to a place called Tohe- gao,* except such as were necessary here, which would be secured from the enemy in case of their approach; since which I had no direct and but very imperfect intelligence from Your Excellency. I am at a loss if any part of your army has removed from Middlebrook, and more so of Your Excellency's intentions. The enemy, I am informed, are at Somer- set Heights, intrenching. Gen. Sullivan is at Flemington with 1600 Continental troops, the Jersey militia, and 1000 men I have sent him from this place half Continental, the others militia. I expect Col. Bull here to-morrow with 500 State troops, part of two battalions engaged for the war. Gen. Mifflio wrote me yesterday that the city militia will move this morning ; I em informed there are about 2000 of them. They bring IO pieces of cannon and one royal howitzer, 200 tents, 1000 felling-axes, 1000 spadee and shovels. One quarter part of the militia of this State are ordered out immediately, except two of the western counties. The whole, including the city militia, I am informed, will make 10,000 men. Three thousand of the Southern Continental troops are ou their march, aod will be in Philadelphia in the course of a week ; six heavy pieces of cannon, four galleys, and ten armed boats are arrived at Bristol and Trenton Ferries. The enemy must be desperate indeed if they attempt to push for Philadelphia.

" As the militia can be but illy spared at this busy season, I wish to know ae early as possible Your Excellency's orders respecting them,- if you wish to have them in the Jerseys or on thist side the Delaware. If the latter, for the defence of the passes on the river one-half will effectually answer the purpose. I have examined and inclosed Your Excellency a sketch of the passes between this and Trenton Ferry.

" Four or five thousand men, with a few pieces of cannon, will effectu- ally guard the whole, and as far down as Philadelphia with the assis- tance of the galleys and armed boats, against 20,000 men. Above Cory- ell'e Ferry I am convinced the enemy will never attempt to pass. I hope the troops will be ordered for a different purpose,-that of securing the enemy where they are in the Jerseys. If they are detained bere, I shall employ them in fortifying the banks of the river against the passes.

"I have sent off this evening, via Flemington, four wagons, and musket cartridges 66,000, under an escort of 75 men.

" I have only to add, with great respect I am

"Your Excellency'e most obedient humble servant, " BENEDICT ARNOLD."

Washington was here again July 30 and 31, 1777, as appears from his letters of those dates, which are given on page 67 of this work.

Just at this point a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, written at Coryell's Ferry while the army was lying here, is of special interest. Hamilton was then chief of Gen. Washington's staff. In this letter he gives his views as to the design of the enemy. It is as follows :

" HEADQUARTERS, CORYELL'S FEARY, July 20, 1777.

" DEAR Sin,-I have the pleasure of your favor of the 25th, I cannot bo induced to think the enemy so numerone as you apprehend, und would place no dependence on what ie said either by deserters or pris- oocrs, further than us it respecte their own company, nor even that with regard to prisoners in general, who commonly have their cue, as the phrase is, and know very well how to manufacture stories calculated to serve the purposes of the side they belong to. If we may judge at all

from the state of the British and foreign regiments in Howe's army or the proportion of recruits they have had this year, we cannot but believe the representations you mention greatly exaggerated. 'Though the Northern army have not suffered much by action. they have probably suffered more by sickness than the Southern : for many accounts agree that they bave been very sickly, and particularly that there was a great mortality among them while lying at the Isle of Noix, From the esti- mate of the first prisoner, they must have been greatly reduced by some means or other; for it appears that before his company had been augmented by the 24 foreigners it was only 26 strong, and it is very improbable it should have had so large an augmentation, for I am mor- ally certain the regiments under Howe have not had 50 men each as recruits, and I see no reason to suppose Burgoyne'e could have had much better luck. Eight companies, at 26 men each, amount to 208. Suppose each regiment to have received 100 recruits, which, by every rule of comparison, must be more than the truth; this brings a regimeat to about 300 men. Ten regiments at 300 each amount to 3000,-the num- ber of British troops in Canada. Again, if I am not mistaken, 4000 was the allotment of foreign troops for the Northern department. As the sickness spoken of fell chiefly upon them, they in all probability lost more in that way than they had gained in recruite. But, even if this were not the case, they cannot exceed the original number : 4000 added to 3000 make 7000. Besides these, there are the grenadiers and liglit infantry. Of these there cannot be above 18 companies each, which, allowing them to contain every one 50 men, amount to 1800; and this brings them to about 8800 men in their whole force of British and for- eign troops. Of these, at least one-sixth must be unfit for duty, by every calculation, which reduces the number of men fit for the field to about 7500. Part of these must be left in Canada, if it were for no other pur- pose than to guard their magazines and for other duty of that kind. Nor could they with safety commit the charge of those things to the Canadians, many of whom are notoriously disaffected, and would be very likely to destroy instead of preserve them. From this view,-which I verily believe is too favorable to them,-they cannot bring more than between 6000 and 7000 British troope to act out of Canada. Out of these 6000 or 7000, a considerable part must be left to garrison Ticonderoga and secure their rear in case of accidents, for they could not, without madness, attempt to advance and leave the posts behind theni io a de- fencelese state; and they may be obliged to increase their attention to this matter by keeping a body of men somewhere about the Grants, which has been recommended. When this last deduction is made, Bur- goyne cannot advance with more than between 5000 and 6000 men, to suppose him to act with his whole collective force, except Canadians and Indians, who are not, by any accounts, numerous.

" Let us now take a view of our own force. When Glover's brigade gets up, and the recruits for the regiments there, now on their march, arrive, Gen. Schuyler will have abont 5000 Continental troops. Surely the Eastern States cannot sleep so soundly when the danger is so immi- nent, but that they will reinforce him with 8000 or 10,000 militia. If this happens, and he cannot stop Gen. Burgoyne's progress, it must proceed from other cnuses than the want of men. With about the same army last year, Gen. Washington kept Howe, with 16,000 or 17,000 men, at bay.

"Perhaps it may be said there will not be time to colleet this force, ae the enemy are advancing with very great rapidity. I am much mistaken if there will not be nbundant time. The nature of the ground, the diffi- culty of transporting the immense quantity of baggage, provisions, etc., necessary to accompany an army of 5000 meu penetrating nn enemy's country, the want of wagons for the purpose, the impediments thrown in the way by cutting up the roads,-all these obstacles will retard their march much more than is at first sight imagined, and will give full time to prepare themi a good reception.

"On the whole, I am clearly of the opinion that unless Howe co-oper- ates with Burgoyne againet your State it hne very little to fear; and I oven doubt, if ho goes to the southward, whether Burgoyne will attempt to penetrate fnr. At present there is every appearance of a Southern ex- pedition. Seventy snil of the enemy'e have been seen passing by Little Egg Harbor, making short tacke to the capes of Philadelphia. Three divisions of the army are arrived here and ut Howell's Ferry, four miles up. One is coming by way of Princetou, etc. ; nnother coming after us by way of Morristown. I wish this last to hnlt there. Two brigndes more have been ordered to cross the North River and wait furthor ordere. Wo shall not, however, pass the Delaware till we hear of the arrival of the onemy in the enpes of Philadelphia. Nor will these two brigades be ordered on till the same event takes place. We shall act the most con- tious part possible in our circumstances.

"I communicated your letter to the general. lle agrees with me in

* This is now spelled Tohickon, which is the name of the brook that empties into the Delaware ut Point Pleasant. Up this stream, and noder its steep, wild, and (then) thickly-wooded banks, was the favorite haunt of the noted Tory outlaws, the Doanes.

+ From this it is evident that Arnold had his headquarters for the time on the Pennsylvania side of Coryell's Ferry.

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point of the enemy's numbers. With respect to animating the Eastern States, he has written the most urgent letter to their several Assemblies, which I am in hopes will answer tho end you propose fruin sending per- Bons to euch of them.

" It were to be wished your forts and ships were well supplied with rannon ; but it is wholly out of the general's line to strip the ships to the eastward of their cannon for that purpose. If your convention wero to make application to the Congress or Board of War, it might succeed ; but I should have very little hope of it.

"I amı, with great esteem, dear sir, " Your tnost obedient, " ALEXANDER HAMILTON."

In the second volume of the official letters of Washington to Congress there is one dated "Camp near l'ennibacker's MiH, Oct. 17, 1777," in which is this passage :

" Wo shall here wait for the reinforcements coming on, and shall then net necording to circumstances. Gen. Varmum, with the detachment from Peekskill, amounting to about 1200, including officers, would be lust night at Coryell's Ferry."

The following winter the army was quartered at Valley Forge, where the sufferings of the soldiers were so severe as to make forever memorable their sacrifices in the cause of liberty. The enemy was in possession of Philadelphia. Gen. Howe, having been recalled to England, was succeeded in command by Sir Henry Clinton. He was instructed to evacuate Philadelphia and to march on to New York. Washington surmised ('linton's plans, and after holding a council of war determined to bring the enemy to battle before reach- ing New York. He accordingly took up the line of march for Coryell's Ferry, choosing that route in order to secure the highlands of New Jersey. The army, since the appointment of Baron Steuben as in- spector-general, was somewhat improved in condition, but still it must have presented a rather worn and ragged appearance as it filed along.

In the volumes of Revolutionary correspondence there is the following letter :

"TO BRIG.GEN. WAYNE: INSTRUCTIONS.

"Sin,-You are to proceed with the First and Second Pennsylvanin Regiments and the brigade late Conway's, by the direct route, to Coryell's Ferry, lenving a proper Interval between your division und Gien. Lee's, su as to prevent thelr interfering with each other. The Instructions given to Gen. Leo are to hult on the first strong ground, after passing the Ihoware at the said ferry, until further orders, unless he should reevivo authentic intelligence that the enemy have proceeded by the direct road to Sonth Amboy or still lower; In this ense he is to continue his march to the North River.

"Given ot Hend Quarters this Isth day of June, 1778."

On the second day following this, Washington wrote a letter to dien. Gates which is as follows :

" Foun o'clock, 20th June, 1778.

" Tu MAJ. GEN. GATES :

" Sin,-I think it necessary to inform you by the return of express who brinight your pocket for Congress that I am now, with the main body of the army, within ten miles of Coryell's Ferry Gon. Lee is advanced with xix brigades, and will cross to-night or to-morrow morning. Ry the last intelligence the enemy were near Mount Holly and moving very slowly; but, is there are so many roads open to them, their route could not be incertained. I shall enter the Jerseys to-morrow and give you the ear- livet notice of their movements and whatever may affect you, As the supplies of Torngo and provision In your quarter will be objects of the utmost importance, they will therefore claim your attention.

" I anı, air," etc.

In Washington's correspondence is another letter bearing the same date (June 20, 1778), from which is taken the following extract :

"Sm,-I have the honor to Inform you that I am now advanced with , the malo body of the army within ten miles of Coryel's Ferry, and shall linlt to refresh the troops, and for the night, as the weather Is very rainy. Gen. Loe is with the six brigades mentioned in my former letter."

On the following day he wrote another letter re- specting some Indians in Virginia. It is dated "June 21, ten miles from Coryell's." At the same time and place he wrote also a letter to Maj .- Gen. Arnold.

On the 22d of June the army crossed the river, and on that day he wrote the following letter, dated:

" HEADQUARTERS NEAR CORTEL'S, June 22, 1778. " Sin,-1 have the honor to inform you that I am now In Jersey, and that the troops nre passing the river at Coryel's and are mostly over. The latest intelligence I have had respecting the enemy was yesterday, from Gen. Dickinson, He says that they were in the morning at Moores- town and Mount Holly, but that he had not been alle to learn what ronte they would pursue from thence; nor was it ensy to determine, as from their situation they might either proceed to South Amboy or by way of Brunswic. We have been a goodl dent impeded lu our march by ruiny weather. As soon as we have cleaned the arms and can got mat- tors in train we propose moving towards Princeton, in order to avail ourselves of any favorable ocensions that may present themselves of at- tacking or annoying the enemy.

" I have the honor to be," etc.

Washington suspected, as he mentions in a subse- quent letter, that the enemy were aiming to draw him down into the low country, that by a skillful flank movement they might secure the heights.

While here Gen. Washington made the house of Richard Holcombe (the younger son of the first John who lived here) his headquarters, and Gen. Greene had his headquarters at George Coryell's, in the house before mentioned, which occupied the site of the frame dwelling now owned by Samuel Hoppock, at the northwest corner of York and Main Streets.

The following extract from "General Greene's Memoirs" is of interest at this point :

" ('linton moved slowly, with the intention, as Washington and sono of his officers thought, of drawing the Americans into the lower country in order, by a rapid movement, to gain their right and take possession of the strong grounds above them. The Americans moved slowly, too, for the weather was oppressive and the roady heavy with frequent mains and deep sand. On the 2lat they crossed the Delaware, of happy omen, at Coryell's Ferry, Greene marking out the route and order of march and plures of encampment,-a duty that kept him more than half of the time In the muddle.

" Food it was difficult to obtain, and, in spite of all his exertions, Wayne's detachment suffered greatly for want of it. At Hopewell, ou the 24th, another council was called, and Leo, supported by a innfority, still opposed an attack. After a long discussion it was decided ' that a detachment of 1500 mon be immediately sont to aet ns occasion miny Herve on the enemy's left flank and rear, In conjunction with other t'on- tinental troops and militia, who are already hurrying about them, and that the minin body preserve a relative position, so as to be able to act As circumstances may require.' "

From the Revolutionary correspondence associated with this locality it is quite evident that Coryell's Ferry was an important strategie point in the Revo- lution, and that most of the prominent generals of the Continental army were here at different times.

This neighborhood furnished a full proportion of Revolutionary soldiers. Their names have not been

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obtained. Some of the older inhabitants, however, remember the two brothers Ent, who had seen service in the war of independence, and who used to attend the celebrations on the Fourth of July, and were always honored with a conspicuous position on the speakers' platform, thus giving point to the orator's allusions to the Revolution and stimulus to his elo- quence.

The incidents of the war of 1812 associated with this place are quite insignificant compared with those of the Revolution, and yet they are worthy of men- tion.

Two companies were recruited here, one commanded by Capt. John Scott, the other by Capt. Lambert Hoppock, a grandson of the Hon. Jolin Lambert. Capt. Scott and his officers hired rooms on Coryell Street, at the residence of Mrs. Krewson. There were some also at a tavern opposite to Mrs. Krewson's, on the site of Mr. Henry Mattthew's dwelling. The men were quartered at an old frame house which stood back from the street, in the centre of the lot at the southwest corner of Bridge and Main Streets. This building was torn down about twenty-eight years ago. Capt. Scott was at first an ensign in Capt. Hoppock's company, but afterwards recruited another company, of which he was made captain.

The following muster-roll of Capt. Hoppock's com- pany is a matter of interest :

Muster roll of a company of Infantry under the command of Capt. J. L. Hoppock, Fifteenth Regiment of the army of the United States, commanded by Col. Zeb. M. Pike, from the 31st day of August, when last mustered, to the 3Ist day of October, 1812.

OFFICERS.

John L. Hoppock, Captain; William R. Barnet, First Lientenant; Samuel McDougal, Second Lieutenant; John Scott, Second Lieu- tenant; Charlee Roberts, Ensign; John Knapp, First Sergeant; Henry Shields, Second Sergeant; Charlee Wilson, Third Sergeant; Thomas Dennis, First Corporal; Jacoh Rusk, Second Corporal ; William Cozens, Third Corporal; Isaac Hoffman, Fourth Corporal ; William J. Brooks, Fifth Corporal ; Robert Burke, Sixth Corporal ; Joseph Rake, musician.

PRIVATES.

William Heaton, William Groff, Nathaniel Thatcher, Andrew Aston, George C. Biggs, Peter Bell, William Bunn, Stephen Beard, James Barr, Isaac Buck, Charles Blakeley, Arthur Courtney, Daniel Cribbs, John Craig, Timothy Carroll, William Coburn, William Croes, James Coyle, Stephen Deccus, James Dickens, George Derrick, Benjamin Derrickson, James Dougherty, Humphrey Fagan, William Forker, Dennis Ferry, Michnel Gallaher, Edward Grant, John Gregg, Ed- ward Gallaher, George HInll, Patrick Harkins, Henry Howard, John Ilillerman, James Hendricks, Imlu Hainee, William Jenkins, Thomas Kennedy, Isaac Kennedy, John Kongh, Anthony Livingston, Asa Lnces, Reuben McPherson, John Matthews, Thomas McGowen, George Moore, Peter MeDevit, George MeLaughlin, Daniel McDevit, Thomas MeMillen, Joseph Murphey, James Nichols, Daniel O'ller- ren, Michael O'Cain, John Pye, John Russell, Abner Ronce, Ienac Reed, John Reever, James Roe, Eli Robison, Jacob Ross, Alexander Shinw, Jacob Smalley, Andrew Scott, Daniel Sweney, Henry W. Swain, Solomon Southwick, John Uber, David Vanght, John Wil- son, Christopher Wilson, Onkum (Holcombe?) Wilson, Joseph Wil- son, Jacob Wilson, Janiee Wilson, James White, Abram Derweer, Henry Shepherd, Obed Lincoln, Daniel Bramble.

Second Lieut. Samuel McDougal was promoted to a first lieutenancy and transferred to Capt. Vandal- son's company, and Ensign Scott was promoted in

place of McDougal. Hence the names of both appear as second lieutenants in the muster-roll of Capt. Hop- pock's company, as McDougal was then in transitu. Capt. Hoppock was killed at the battle of Plattsburg, N. Y.

The place which had so long been known as Coryell's Ferry became more widely known as Lambertville, owing to the post-office being so named in honor of the Hon. John Lambert, who, while United States senator, secured, in 1814, the appointment of post- master for his nephew and namesake, Capt. John Lambert. This was the first post-office here. Some of the Coryell family, particularly Judge John Coryell, strove to have it named " Georgetown," for the judge's father, George Coryell.

There were not a dozen houses, all told, in the vil- lage at that time. The upper part of what was then the village-plat-that is, the land lying between Church Street on the south and the Bull line on the north-was mostly in the possession of the judge, and that he still clung to the name is shown by the fact that the Presbyterian church, the corner-stone of which was laid in 1817, was styled the Union Presby- terian Church of Georgetown and Lambertville, and was built on the line dividing the Coryell from the Lambert property. The name of Georgetown grew more and more into disuse, until in a few years it was entirely dropped.

Lambertville, at the time of the establishment of the post-office, although it was a mere hamlet, had gotten to be quite a trading-point, especially for lum- ber, which was sold in large quantities on both sides of the river.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

On the 18th of August, 1817, the corner-stone of the " Union Presbyterian church of Georgetown and Lambertville" was laid. The building was not fin- ished, however, until several years afterwards.

A meeting in reference to the erection of a church had been held on August 7th of the previous year at the public-house of John Lambert, Jr. At this meet- ing John Coryell, Esq., acted as chairman, and John Lilly, M.D., as secretary. The chairman presented a draft of a subscription-paper in the following words:

" WHEREAS, a desire has been manifested by a number of the inhabit- ants of this vicinity that a house should be orected in eome convenient eituation to hear the preaching of the gospel, and it ie believed that the present is a favorable time to commence the undertaking ; Therefore, We whose names are hereunto annexed do agree, in behalf of oureelves, our executors and administrators, to pay or canse to be paid to such persons as may be appointed hereafter to receive the same by the said eubscribers the eums eevorally annexed to our names for the purpose of erecting a house for the worship of Almighty God, on Union Street, near the grave- yard lying between Georgetown and Lambertville, to be styled the Union Presbyterian Church of Georgetown and Lambertville."

This paper was unanimously adopted by the meet- ing, and the following persons were appointed to solicit subscriptions,-viz., John Coryell and Samuel D. Ingham, Esqs., John Lambert, Jr., Maj. Emley

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Holcombe, John Lilly, M.D., and Wilson Lambert. Upwards of $500 were immediately subscribed. Hon. Samuel D. Ingham and Samuel MeNair, Esq., were present as commissioners from the Presbyterian Church of Solebury, Pa., empowered to propose a union with the projected church under one pastoral charge, but no action was taken.

On the 24th of the same month they again assem- bled, according to adjournment, and the secretary was directed to give notice to the subscribers of a meeting to be held at the house of John Lambert, Jr., on the 31st instant, at 4 P.M., to concert measures for the building of the proposed church edifice. The sub- seribers met, pursuant to notice, when it was an- nounced that $1500 had been raised. It was resolved to commence the building as soon as practicable, and John Coryell, Esq., John Lambert, Jr., Cornelius Van Horn, and Wilson Lambert were appointed managers.

At the first meeting of the managers John Coryell, Esq., was appointed president, and John Lilly, M.D., secretary and treasurer. It was then decided that the church should be built of brick, 44 by 50 feet, with a gable end, surmounted by a tower and cupola, faving I'nion Street. The negotiations for a union with the Solebury Church proved unsuccessful.

In the mean while two instalments of the subserip- tions had been called in, and a building committee had been appointed, consisting of Emley Holcombe, John Coryell, and Amos Wilson .* Subscriptions were obtained from a wide extent of country, and a number of people in the immediate neighborhood gave freely several days' labor.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170