USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > History of Jersey City, N.J. : a record of its early settlement and corporate progress, sketches of the towns and cities that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality, its business, finance, manufactures and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 4
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The location of the marsh and upland as shown in this map is MAP OF PAULUS HOOK MADE FOR THE BRITISH WAR OFFICE in 1999. nearly correct. There were but twodwellings on Paulus Hook when the new city was pro- jected. They were a shed south of the stables, and a hay scale. These sheds and stables had been built by Maj. Hunt, and in the sale were valued at SSoo, which Dey agreed to pay. The whole number of persons living on Paulus Hook numbered fifteen including boatmen. Maj. Hunt had a lease of the ferry from Van Vorst which would not expire until May 1. 1805. He sur- rendered the lease to Dey for $600, reserving the right of ferry and the privilege of three days' horse racing on the course during the following month of May. Dey also agreed to keep in order the causeway over the meadow between Paulus Hook and the mainland. This burden was obligatory on the owner of the ferry by an act of the legislature passed September 12, 1766. He also agreed to pay $600.77. being half the amount that Maj. Hunt spent in building a new wharf and stairs at the ferry in 1802. Dey had agreed to interest Hunt in twenty shares of the stock of the new company that was to be organized and to lease to him two lots on Grand Street extending through to York Street. Hunt agreed to build a stone or brick build- ing on these lots from plans to be furnished by Dey. Hunt also stipulated that he was to have a lease of the ferry for two years after May 1, 1805, at an annual rental of $1,500.
These preliminaries being settled, Van Vorst conveyed to Dey on March 26, 1804. The original agreement was to convey the land with the creek and ditch for a boundary, but for convenience the western boundary was made a straight line. The description in the deed was:
.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
" Bounded on the east by Hudson's River : on the north by said river, or the hay commonly called Harsimus Bay ; on the south by the said river or the bay commonly called Communipaw Bay ; and on the west by a line drawn from a stake standing on the west side of the small creek on the southwest side of the said tract (from which stake the flagstaff on Ellis Island bears south one degree, twenty minutes east ; and from which the chimney of the house of Stephen Vreeland on Kaywan bears south fifty-six degrees, ten minutes west ; and from which the steeple of the Bergen Church bears north fifty degrees, twenty minutes west) ; north twenty- six degrees, thirty minutes east to Harsimus Bay aforesaid, together with the right of ferry from the said tract or parcel of land across Hudson's River and elsewhere, and the right and title of the said Cornelius Van Vorst under the water of Hudson's River and the bays afore- said opposite the said premises as far as his right to the same extends."
These bounds include 117 acres and 68-100 of an aere. So far as appears on the records Dey had become the sole owner of the lands and hereditaments. It was known that he had associated with him not only the two who became prominent as the founders, but a number of other well-known men whose character and wealth were a guarantee of success.
The efforts being made by Stevens and Coles to force their lots on the market evidently caused Dey and his associates to put the Paulus Hook property before the people at once. On April 12, 1804, before anything was done on the land or the company organized, the sale was ordered. The advertisement set forth the scheme very fully. It said :
"The proprietors of Powles Hook have lately completed their purchase, and agreed with Mr. Hunt, the present occupant, to deliver the possession of the premises to them (except the ferry buildings now occupied by him), and they give notice that they will commence the sale of lots at Powles Hook at publie vendue on Tuesday, the 15th day of May next, at Powles Hook, and on the succeeding day at the Tontine Coffee House in the City of New York. The sales will commence at 12 o'clock, at noon, each day. A map of the whole ground will be exhibited, and the conditions of sale made known by the ist day of May next, at the office of Mr. Dey, No. 19 Pine Street, in the City of New York, and also on the days of sale.
"An accurate survey of the premises is now making, which will include the extent of the grounds both at low and high water mark, and the soundings in the river to the depth of sixteen feet at low water, for the purpose of building docks or wharves at proper distances in the channel, which closely approaches the shore along the whole front upon the river.
" The different elevations of the grounds will also be accurately taken, in order to ascertain a proper height for the central streets, from which the most advantageous descent will be given in every direction to the water. It is proper to notice that the whole premises will be surrounded by the waters of the Hudson. The tide at present, unless obstructed, flows through a small ditch in the rear, which extends from the North to the South Bay. A straight canal, along the line by which the proprietors are bounded on the west is proposed to be opened, of sufficient depth and dimensions for the passage of flat-bottomed hoats, by which the whole traet will be insulated, and possess the benefits of navigation on every side. The natural shape of the grounds, connected with these and other advantages, will also furnish a fair opportunity to determine by experiment how far local situation, with the aid of proper regu- lations, will tend to protect the health of its inhabitants. This is an object which shall receive an early and strict attention.
" It has probably been already understood that the proprietors could not effect the pur- chase on any other terms than that of a perpetual annuity to the former owner, commencing from and after the first day of May, 1805, which is chargeable on the premises, and they are aware that without explanation this might be considered as an objection in the minds of serupu- lous individuals. On this subject the fullest satisfaction will be given. An ample provision will be made by the institution of a fund to be vested in trustees, equivalent in its annual prod- uct to the amount of the annuity, which shall be solely appropriated to that object until the right can be extinguished. In addition to this fund a small ground rent will be reserved, which alone, in the aggregate, will be equal to this annuity, and will also be pledged for its payment. The manner of providing this fund, and of pledging the ground rent as an additional security will also be shown on the first day of May next, at the office of Mr. Dey. The gentlemen al- ready associated with the proprietors, and interested in the purchase in this State and in the State of New Jersey, are numerous and respectable, both in property and in character, and are
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
determined to enter into the most effectual arrangements for this purpose, and if it shall be deemed expedient they have no doubt that legislative aid will be afforded. The contract for the purchase of Powles Hook was made a few days before the Legislature of New Jersey, at their last session, adjourned. An application for a partial incorporation, with powers adequate to this object as well as to the purpose of local regulation and police was then made, but the legislature having resolved to adjourn there was no time to act upon it with effect. Sensible, however, of the importance of promoting the establishment at Powles Hook, the committee to whom the petition on this subject was referred in the Honorable the Assembly of that State made the following report, which was adopted by the House:
" HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, "February 29, 1804.
" The committee to whom was referred the petition from a number of inhabitants of the States of New York and New Jersey, praying an act of incorporation to assist them in erecting a city at Powles Hook, report :
"That your committee having gone into a considerable investigation of the subject sub- mitted to their consideration, are of the opinion that this State would derive important advan- tages from the establishment contemplated by the petitioners, at the same time considering it a matter which ought to be thoroughly investigated ; knowing the situation of the legislature at a very late hour of the session, and conceiving no serious inconvenience can arise from a few months' delay, are of the opinion the petitioners ought to have leave to present a bill, agreeably to their request, on the first Monday of the next sitting of the Legislature."
"From these proceedings and the obvious advantages which in a public view must attend the success of the establishment at Powles Hook, there can be no doubt but it will receive the patronage of that State. The people of New Jersey cannot be insensible to their interest on this occasion, and there is reason to believe that they are fully impressed with the importance of the object. The natural advantages of the place, its healthy situation, the hope of protecting it, by immediate regulations for that purpose, against the dreadful scourge which has so long afflicted some of our principal cities, its vicinity to this City, and to the ocean, the benefits of an easy and free navigation, the patronage of the State to which it belongs, the expectation of its being soon made a port of entry, and its claims to the privileges of other commercial establish- ments, are considerations which must readily occur to every reflecting mind and afford sufficient inducements to men of capital and enterprise to secure to themselves a portion of the advan- tages which it promises."
The map was not ready at the time of the sale, and for that reason and on account of bad weather the sale was postponed. On May 16, 1804, Joseph F. Mangin completed the map of Paulus Hook, and it was hung up in the Tontine Coffee House in New York. The sale still hung fire and was adjourned until June 12th, 13th and 14th. .
The streets were laid out at right angles and 1,344 lots were laid down on the map. The north end of the tract was two blocks wide from east to west, and the south end was four blocks wide. The eastern boundary was Hudson Street, which was laid in the water except a small piece of upland which extended outward at Morris Street, and was subsequently occupied by the Fairbanks scale works. The building was destroyed by fire on June 18, 1889.
The southern boundary was South Street, subsequently called Mason Street, which was vacated by the city a few years ago. The northerly boundary was Harsimus, now First Street. The upland was nearly circular, and its greatest length was from 100 feet north of Montgomery Street to 175 feet south of Essex Street. More than half of the land was marsh and land under water. The westerly boundary was a line drawn from the east side of South Street to a point near the corner of First and Washington streets.
Dey and his associates intended that the western boundary of the coming city should front on a tide water canal. Their plan contemplated the formation of an island bordered by piers and docks and surrounded by navigable water. Their successors committed an unpardonable blunder in changing the plan. Through this change the city has lost commercial prestige, and has had an expensive annoyance entailed on it by the sewage problem involved in destroying natural drainage. A similar and more inexcusable blunder was committed at a later date when Mill Creek was filled in, as will appear later.
CHAPTER V.
.
OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF THE LITTLE CITY-THE ASSOCIATES MORTGAGE AND THE DISPUTED WATER FRONT-THE CITY GETS ITS NAME AND A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT-SLOW GROWTH UNDER THE SELECTMEN-FULTON'S FIRST STEAMBOAT BUILT.
HE men who conceived the idea of founding the city had unlimited confidence in their enterprise, and left nothing undone that was within their power to add to the proba- bility of ultimate success. They recognized the fact that they would need all the assistance that could be obtained, and the mnost available plan for securing it was to organize a corporation. Among the preliminary steps to accomplish this, and still retain what was looked upon as the most valuable part of their purchase, Dey conveyed to Abraham Varick the tract as he bought it from Van Vorst. This was on April 18, 1804. The next day Abraham conveyed to Richard Varick, Jacob Radcliffe and Anthony Dey the two blocks on Hudson Street between York and Grand streets, containing sixty-four lots, and the wharves, and the riparian right from high to low water mark along four hundred and eighty feet of frontage, with the exclusive right of ferry from every part of Paulus Hook. On April 20th, Abraham con- veyed the remainder of Paulus Hook to Varick, Radcliffe and Dey as co-tenants. The descrip- tion in the Van Vorst deed was used, except the reservation of the two blocks, the water front and ferry privilege.
Two problems were presented to the proprietors at the very outset of their enterprise, and their friends north of them probably aided in presenting them. The first was the difficulty of giving title to the purchasers of lots, and the other was the alleged jurisdiction of New York to high water mark on the Jersey side of the river. These problems had caused a postpone- ment of the auction sale to May 15th, and again to the middle of June and later.
The Van Vorst mortgage was a lien on all the place, and the new proprietors agreed to enter into a covenant with all who would purchase lots that they would sell as many lots, charging each lot sold with such an annual rent, less than its annual value, as would produce, in the aggregate, the annual sum of eight thousand dollars, and that so much of the fund as might be necessary should be applied yearly to the payment of the Van Vorst annuity, the surplus to be divided among the proprietors, and when the annuity should be extinguished the whole of the annual sum was to go to the proprietors. They also agreed to unite with the purchasers in applying for the incorporation of trustees in whom the money pledged for the dis- charge of the annuity should be vested. They had been unable to induce Van Vorst to accept any equivalent for the annuity, and they were forced to offer peculiar deeds with this covenant in them. This made investors wary of purchasing.
A more serious obstacle was offered by the claim from beyond the river that the Corpora- tion of New York owned the land under water up to low water mark on the Jersey shore. This claim, if allowed, would have prevented the proprietors from reaching deep water, and would have been fatal to the new enterprise. The proprietors were all lawyers and had exam- ined into the question of jurisdiction. They held that the extension of territory caused by wharfing would be under New Jersey jurisdiction. They said, the river is a public highway, and therefore they had a right to reach it from their land for the purpose of navigation. In any event, they claimed that Congress had a right to make the new city a port of entry, and thus give it jurisdiction. The questions involved were submitted to their counsel, Alexander Hamilton and Joseph Ogden Hoffman, and they gave a guarded answer, in which they said New York had no property right of soil or title to the land under water at Paulus Hook.
This opinion was published in advertisements of the proposed sale and the New York Common Council at once took steps to prevent an infringement of its alleged rights. The City Counsel, on May 19, 1804, in reply to questions submitted by the Common Council, announced
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
that the City of New York had no title to the land under water at Paulus Hook, but claimed that the land belonged to the State of New York. He also claimed a right for the city of juris- diction to low water mark, and that an attempt to erect a wharf in Paulus Hook would be an infringement of New York City's jurisdictional rights. Other counsel consulted agreed that the land belonged to the State of New York and the jurisdiction to the City of New York. Acting under this advice the Corporation of New York gave notice that any encroachment made at Paulus Hook without its permission would be at the peril of the persons concerned. This apparently put an end to the efforts to sell lots by auction. The men engaged in the en- terprise were not going to be daunted by such opposition. Having failed by direct means to prevent the claim of New York from becoming effective, they adopted a more conciliatory plan, and on June 26, 1804, induced the Common Council to pass resolutions promising every facility to make improvements at Paulus Hook. The boundary dispute was not settled until eighty- five years later, and the early proprietors were hampered by the uncertainty engendered by New York pretensions. They had confidence in their elaim to ownership, but could not inspire purchasers with similar confidence.
The proprietors had made contracts on May 20th for the erection of two wharves to be ex- tended out to twelve feet of water at low tide, and had employed a number of cartmen ard laborers to begin grading. It was their intention to use the sand hills to fill in the marsh land. This work was carried on slowly during the summer more for the effect it might have on the intended auction sale than for actual gradings. The obstacles prevented the sale from taking place and only seven persons had agreed to buy lots. These were all on Morris and Montgom- ery streets. The Morris Street lots on the Schedule were : Nos. 34 and 36, to John B. Coles for $450; No. 25, to Phillip D. Keteltas for $230; No. 40, to Adam Hurd for $250, and No. 42, to Joseph Lyon for $250. The Montgomery Street lots were : No. 30, to Robert Allison and James Morton for $200, and No. 48, to James Abeel for $250. Each was subject to a ground rent of $12.
The title to the land still remained in the three purchasers, who were known as the pro- prietors. There were others interested with them in the enterprise, who became known in the preliminary legal proceedings as the associates of the proprietors, a name which subsequently suggested the title of the new company. The proprietors and their associates had agreed to form a corporation with 1,000 shares of $100 each, and they had agreed to take varying numbers of shares when the company should be organized. Articles of association were prepared on Oc- tober 11, 1804, in which the income of the ferry was pledged for the payment of the Van Vorst annuity, and such lots as were marked on the map to be charged with the payment were to be sold subject to the rent charge to make up the fund of $800. The surplus was to be divided among the members of the association in proportion to the number of shares held. The lots marked on the map as subject to rent were: forty on Hudson at $20 each, sixty-four on Grand Street at $15 each, eighty-eight on Washington Street at $15 each, 268 on cross streets at $12 each, 140 lots between Warren and Washington and Mercer and Bergen at Sio each and sixty lots west of Warren Street at $6 each. This rent on 660 lots, it was thought, would pro- duce $8,056 and leave 684 lots to be sold free of the incumbrance.
In accordance with the articles of association Alexander Hamilton drew a bill to incor- porate the Associates of the Jersey Company, and it was passed by the New Jersey Legislature on Nov. 10, 1804. This act conferred extensive rights and powers on the company and was a perpetual charter. The company was allowed to hold the land bought from Van Vorst, with power to lay out streets, to establish grades, to build and regulate docks, piers, wharves and warehouses and to make such rules and by-laws as should appear proper and not inconsistent with the constitution. They were authorized to entorce the rules and to recover penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars, which was to be sued for and recovered for their own benefit. They were authorized to extend their piers as far into the river or bays as was necessary for the improvement of their property. The land under water was given to them without limit so far as their purchase extended.
The first election under the act was held Dec. 10, 1804. The list of shareowners were : Richard Varick, 100 shares ; Jacob Radcliffe, 100 ; Anthony Dey. 100 ; Joseph Bloomfield, 20 ; J. W. Cummings, 50 ; William Halsey, 50 ; Alexander C. MeWhorter, 30 ; Elisha Boudinot, 15 ; Samuel Boyd, 20; Archibald Gracie, 40 ; John B. Coles, 20; James Thompson, 20; David B.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY CITY.
Ogden, 20 ; John Wells, 30; John Radcliffe, 20 ; J. Rhea, 20; David Hunt, 20; Joseph Lyon, 20 ; David Dunham, 20; Abraham Varick, 20; Peter W. Radcliffe, 40 : Samuel Hays, Jr., 5 ; William S. Pennington, 20 ; L. Panbell, 20 ; William W. Woolsey, 40 ; Aaron Ogden, 25 ; Wm. Radcliffe, Jr., 20; Samuel Pennington, 5 ; John A. Devenport, 20; Isaac H. Williamsen, 5 ; Amasa Jackson, 5 ; John Ward, to, and Isaac Kibbe, 5, making 975 shares. There were but 750 shares voted on, and the trustees ehosen were : Richard Varick, Jacob Radcliffe, W. W. Wool- sey, James Thompson, David B. Ogden, William Halsey, A. C. MeWhorter, W. S. Pennington and 1. H. Williamson. Richard Variek was elected president and D. B. Ogden secretary. These nine trustees had power to manage the affairs of the company and to appoint all necessary officers. They formed the first municipal organization at Paulus Hook. The company became known as the Associates, a name which elings even now when their acts or their successors are mentioned. They were very anxious to attract residents and manufactures. They made special terms with Robert Fulton to establish his shipyard in the new town. They sold a block of ground to him at $1,000 and allowed five years' time on the purchase money, without interest. It was on this land that Fulton built his first machinery for propelling a vessel by steam. His deed was dated Nov. 3, 1804. The foundry was on the corner of Green and Morgan streets and the dry dock was in front of it. Fulton continued to manage it until he died, on Feb. 24, 1815.
But little work in opening streets was done during the first year, but on May 4, 1805, the grade was established for the east side of Hudson Street and the south side of South Street at four feet above ordinary high tide. The centre of Grand and Washington streets was fixed at twenty-six feet above tide. From this corner, the most elevated in town, there was to be a regular descent in all directions. This provided drainage, and the gutters were hollows in the middle of the streets. Offers were made to induce the Associates to build, and they were tendered lots free of charge, except the ground rent, if they would erect buildings on them worth $1,000 or more. If two buildings or a single building worth $2,000 was built the owner was to receive two lots on the same terms. Any purchaser who would erect a building worth $500 was to have five per cent. deducted from the price of the lot. William Halsey was the first Associate to accept the trustees' offer. He located lots 6 and 8 Essex Street and 5 and 7 Morris Street, paid the ground rent and surveyor's fees, and proposed to build two houses cost- ing not less than $3,000, to be completed on May 1, 1806. The number of stages arriving and leaving the ferry at this time can only be guessed by the statements made in the newspapers of the day. Twenty daily lines were advertised, and there were irregular stages besides the daily lines. "From almost every direction in the interior of the State stage lines were organized, and all sorts of vehicles started toward Paulus Hook to accommodate the public." Men of means who had business drove to the ferry and left horses and carriages in the tavern stables. Farmers came with loaded wagons, and their produce was put on the ferryboats, leaving the teams until their return. When horses and vehicles were taken across the ferry they were hoisted on board the sailboats, and the ferriage was more expensive than stabling. The pas- sengers arranged a system of signals by which the hostler at the tavern knew who were com- ing on the boats and got their teams ready. The time occupied in crossing varied from half an hour to two or three hours, and delays after landing were unpopular.
After Maj. Hunt gave up his lease, Dey leased the ferry and tavern to Joseph Lyon, of Elizabethport. He had the ferry landing and stairs moved to a point about midway between Grand and York streets, so that the passengers conld signal the hostler more conveniently. The equipment of the ferry at that time was two rowboats and two sailboats of the kind known as periangers. This name had drifted into Dutch use from the Spanish pirogue, or piragua. They were open boats with two masts, but no bowsprit. The sails had gaffs, but no booms.
This travel made it probable that a better tavern would be profitable, and the Associates took measures to have one built. The new building was erected in 1805 and was a brick structure which is still standing on Grand Street near Hudson. It was occupied by Lyon and was subsequently known as the Hudson House. It is now a part of the Colgate soap works. The same year the Jersey Bank was organized through the efforts of the Newark Associates. It was a branch of the Newark Bank and Insurance Company. The bank building was erected during the summer of 1805 on the southwest corner of Greene and Grand streets. The bank came to grief by attempting to evade a State tax in 1810 and was closed up by the sheriff in February of the following year. The directors got a charter in New York and organized there
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