USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume I > Part 33
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Peter Kalm, a professor of the University of Abo in Swedish Finland, who visited North America in 1748 as a naturalist, under the auspices of the Swedish Royal Academy of Science, gives this description of New Brunswick :
About noon we arrived at New Brunswick, a pretty little town in a valley on the west side of the river Raritan. On account of its low situation it cannot be seen coming from Pennsylvania before arriving at the top of the hill which is close to it. The town extends north and south along the river. The town-house makes a pretty good appear- ance. The town has only one street lengthwise, and at its northern extremity there is a street across. Both of these are of considerable length. One of the streets is almost entirely inhabited by Dutchmen who came hither from Albany, and for that reason they call it Albany street. On the road from Trenton to New Brunswick I never saw any place in America, the towns excepted, so well peopled.
The greater part of New Brunswick's trade is to New York, which is about forty English miles distant. To that place they send corn, flour in great quantities, bread, sev- eral other necessaries, a great quantity of linseed, boards, timber, wooden vessels, and all sorts of carpenter's work. Several small yachts are every day going backward and for- ward between these two towns. The inhabitants likewise get a considerable profit from the travelers who every hour pass through on the high road.
Notwithstanding all this, the embyro town must have been of very diminutive proportions, for a little over a quarter of a century later, in fact a year before the opening of the Revolutionary War, John Adams, afterwards President of the United States, describes it as follows: "Went to view the village of New Brunswick. There is a Church of England, a Dutch church and a Presbyterian church in this town. There is some little trade here; small craft can come up to this town. We saw a few small sloops. The river is very beautiful. There is a store build-
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ing for barracks,* which is tolerably handsome; it is about the size of Boston jail. Some of the streets are paved, and there are three or four handsome houses ; only about one hundred and fifty families in the town."
The granting of a Royal city charter to New Brunswick, December 30, 1730, established two cities in Middlesex county, which was at that time the only county in America to embrace within its limits chartered munici- palities. It was not for the growing density of population that there was a demand for the forming of cities, it was not a result of a necessity, the real movement being for an essential unity, which was evidenced by the fact that a greater part of these cities were in the middle of the colonies, the only notable exceptions being Annapolis and Albany. The first corporation seal of the new city is described as follows : On the right side of the seal, the goddess of agricultural bounty is represented by a sheaf of wheat alongside a pair of scales; the motto reads Alma sed Alequa, signifying "kindly but just." On the left side appears a ship riding at anchor in the Raritan, typifying commerce. The words Laeta revertor may be freely translated "I am glad to return home."
The petitioners for the Royal Charter were Thomas Farmar, Jacob Okey, James Hude, Dolin Hegerman, Lawrence Williamson, Duncan Hutchinson, Derrick Schuyler, William Okey, Paul Miller, William Williamson, Abraham Bennet, Cort Voorhees, James Neilson, John Balding, besides others. The boundaries were described as all that tract of land beginning at the mouth of South river upon the bounds of the city and precincts of Perth Amboy, and from thence following the said bounds up the said river unto the post road that leads from Perth Amboy to Burlington, and along said road to Milston brook or river from thence down the same brook or river as it runs into the country road that leads from Trenton to Inian's Ferry, thence easterly along the said road unto a brook called the Mile run about a mile dis- tant from said ferry, thence down the said brook as it runs (including the same) unto the mouth thereof where it empties itself into Raritan river, thence on a line to the north side of the said river, thence down the said river as it runs (including the same to high water mark on the northeasterly side thereof) unto the bounds of Perth Amboy aforesaid, and from thence along the said bounds to the point of beginning.
The charter appointed Thomas Farmar mayor, and a board of alder- men, consisting of William Cox, Jacob Okey, Dolin Hegeman, William Cheesman, Josiah Davison and Law Williamson. There was another corporated body called in the charter "assistants," but known as the Common Council. The members appointed for this board were John Thomson, Cort Voorhees, Minne Voorhees, Henry Longfield, William Williamson and John Van Dyck; James Neilson was made clerk ; Evan
*The barracks were located on George street, between Bayard and Paterson streets.
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Drummond, sheriff; Alexander Moore, treasurer; Thomas Marshall, coroner ; John Dally to be sergeant of the mace, the mayor to have the honor of having a mace borne before him. The overseers of the poor were John Van Nuys, Daniel Fitch and John Stevens. David Lee and Michael Moore were made constables. Elections were to be held annu- ally on the second Thursday in April, although it reads in original document the second Tuesday. The first meeting held under the city charter was on March 16, 1730-1. Among the early ordinances passed in the first score of years of the city government was a curfew law for- bidding a negro, mulatto or Indian slave above the age of fourteen in the streets after ten o'clock, unless with a certificate from master or mistress, or carrying a lantern with a lighted candle; a market place was appointed under the court room; hucksters were not to sell until the first two hours of the market had expired. Viewers of chimneys were appointed to prevent fire; no hay, straw, shingles or shavings of wood were to be within six inches of any chimney. Constables were to make strict search and inquiries about strangers, and furnish the mayor with a list of their names. Children and servants were forbidden to play on the Lord's Day.
The paving of streets early engaged the attention of city govern- ment, the firing of guns and throwing of squibs or other fireworks in the streets was strictly prohibited; citizens were required to provide leather buckets to be used in case of fire. The curfew law for slaves was amended in 1738, fixing the hour at nine instead of ten o'clock. Citizens were forbidden to entertain or lodge any stranger for the space of twenty-four hours unless they notified the authorities ; every violation of this ordinance was subject to a fine of twenty shillings. The taverns were prohibited from selling liquid refreshments on the Lord's Day. A market house, thirty feet in length and fourteen feet in width, was built in 1743 by subscriptions. Tuesdays and Saturdays were designated as market days. The following year a night watch was established from nine o'clock in the evening until daybreak. The venerable Thomas Farmar continued to occupy the mayoralty chair until 1747, when he was succeeded by James Hude. The city at about this time provided a fire engine which had been purchased in New York City. James Hude continued in the office of mayor until 1762. A new charter was granted the city by George III. on February 12, 1763, but devoid of its legal verbiage there is little difference in its importance from the one secured from George II., thirty-three years before. The third occupant of the mayoralty chair was William Ouke or Oake, who administered the duties of the office until his death in 1778. The next executive officer of the city was William Harrison, who served as mayor until the adoption of the new charter.
At the outbreak of the Revolution, the citizens of New Jersey assem- bled at New Brunswick for the purpose of formulating plans for the
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protection and support of the new-born Republic. The old town on the Raritan was honored by being the meeting place of the first Provin- cial Council of the colony. After this meeting the name of New Bruns- wick hardly appears on the pages of the country's history. The city, however, played its part in the stirring events of the time. It harbored within its walls an element, wealthy and aristocratic, who exerted so overshadowing an influence over their less fortunate neighbors that it was impossible to tell who were for or against the patriotic cause. There were many who were avowed Tories, and a number of citizens who took the oath of allegiance proved treacherous to the cause they had sworn to support. Laying as it did in the path of the two armies crossing and recrossing New Jersey, with the varying fortunes of war, it suffered to an extent which few cities were subjected. The winter of 1776-77 found it in possession of a large force of the British army, with Lord Howe, its commander-in-chief, his headquarters being on Burnet street, in the Neilson house, while the Hessian commander, De- Heister, occupied the Van Nuise house on Queen street. The hill beyond the Theological Seminary was fortified ; a post erected at Raritan Land- ing ; another two miles below the city on Bennet's Island. The British officers were quartered upon the inhabitants; citizens compelled to abandon their residences ; business was suspended ; schools and churches broken up-the whole town being under the sway of the enemy. The British remained in possession about six months, Lord Cornwallis having command of the post. In the winter of 1777 the British were cut off from the base of their supplies at Amboy, and a fleet was started up the Raritan to relieve their necessities. The Americans planted a battery of six guns below New Brunswick that destroyed five of the boats, the remainder returning in a crippled condition to Amboy. Gen- eral Howe at this time made an unsuccessful attempt to open communi- cation by land. The farmers throughout the neighborhood were com- pelled to deliver over their stores to the enemy ; buildings were fired, and barns torn down to supply lumber for the construction of a temporary bridge over the Raritan ; and most wanton cruelties were inflicted. The British were not, however, allowed to remain in undisturbed possession of the city. Colonels Neilson and Taylor continually harrassed them. The former organized a secret expedition against Bennett's Island. With a picked command of two hundred men, sometime before daybreak on February 18, 1777, he surprised the British garrison, capturing one captain, several subordinate officers, and fifty-five privates, besides a quantity of munitions of war. The British finally in the summer of 1777 evacuated New Brunswick.
The romantic exploits of those who have been named by a historian as the "Commanders of New Brunswick's Navy in the War of the Revo- lution," had their effect on the British forces. Prominent among these
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was William Marriner, a shoemaker by trade, who at the outbreak of hostilities joined Lord Stirling's regiment. Being of a daring and adven- turous spirit, he was given full swing in his operations to harrass the British. His success was phenomenal on June II, 1777, when with twenty-six picked men he crossed from New Brunswick to Flatbush in two flat bottom boats and made a night attack, capturing Sherbrooke and Bache, two noted Tories. Numerous other sorties were made by Marriner on Flatbush, and captures of noted Tories, specie, and other property. He kept up this method of warfare until he was captured and paroled, his exchange being effected by Colonel Simcoe, who ex- plained to General Clinton, the British commander, that Marriner had once saved his life when a soldier was about to bayonet him as he lay sense- less on the field of battle. The capture and parole of Marriner removed him from all active participation in any more raids. He lived to a green old age, and in his later years kept a public house on John street, near Nassau street, New York City, where he died in 1814, aged eighty-five years, from injuries by being thrown from his wagon.
Worthy successors of Captain Marriner were one of his associates, Captain Dickie, and Captain Adam Hyler. The latter was one of the most daring American officers in this part of the country, having the rare faculty of inspiring his men with his own spirit of venture and daring. His usual plan was to glide out of his hiding place, pass quickly down the river, make his captures, and return. The enemy, having heavier vessels, did not dare to follow him, owing to the shallow and treacherous channel of the river. Amongst his many exploits mention is made of the following: On the night of April 15, 1781, he brought the Hessian Major Moncreif and an ensign, with their servants, from Long Island. The following week he captured the pilot boat of Captain David Morris, and two other boats between Robin's Reef and Yellow Hook. Two of his whale boats visited Nicholas Schenck, a Tory, living three miles south of Flatbush, carrying off plate and money. Two months later he again visited Long Island, capturing Colonel Lott and two slaves; the former was supposed to be rich, and though his cup- boards were searched, little silver was obtained, but two bags were taken supposed to contain about $3,000, but on opening them they yielded only half pennies belonging to a church at Flatbush. The British were determined to capture Huyler, and on January 7, 1782, dispatched a command in six boats under Captain Beckwith. They landed at New Brunswick at five o'clock the following morning and captured all of Hyler's boats. This was a hard blow to the venturesome captain, but he immediately rebuilt his little navy, and early in June he was back at his old tricks. He captured two fishing boats near the Narrows, and on July 21, with Captain Dickie and three twenty-four oared boats, attempted to capture a British galley at Princess Bay. This proved
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unsuccessful, and was his last raid, as his death occurred September 6, 1782, after a tedious and painful illness, the cause of which was an accidental wound in the knee received while cleaning his gun. His death removed the principal leader of this band of free lances. His place was taken by Captain Storer, who promised to become a genuine successor of Hyler, but the spirit of venture in the men seemed to have died out with the death of their leader; they either went into the regu- lar service or drifted to other scenes of excitement; it was not long before New Brunswick's small but active and destructive navy became a matter of unrecorded history.
In the first charter obtained from the State Assembly in 1784, New Brunswick was raised to the dignity of a city. Within its limits were the present city and townships of North and East Brunswick. From 1784 to 1801, New Brunswick was governed by a president, register, four directors and six assistants, all twelve of whom constituted a single chamber known as the common council. They were elected by the people, but by a new charter obtained in 1801, the governor and legisla- ture appointed a mayor, recorder and three aldermen, holding office for five years, and meeting together in common council, with six councilmen elected annually by popular vote. The mayor had some judicial author- ity, presiding over the mayor's court; the recorder had about the same jurisdiction as at the present time; the aldermen until 1838 had the criminal authority of the present justice of the peace.
At the opening of the nineteenth century the city of New Brunswick was noted as a shipping and commercial point. Among the early ship- owners was John Dennis, whose place of business was on Little Burnet street ; his sloops were named "Cluster Valle," "May," "Elizabeth," and "General Lee." We find also the "Polly," owned by Barnet D. Kline; the "Catherine," a sloop of forty-five tons burthen, whose master was James Richardson. The "Sally" of forty tons had as master John Voor- hees. A larger sloop was the "Maria," Simon Hillyer, master ; one of thirty-four tons burthen, the "Ranger," was in charge of Caleb Anthony. The names of some of the other sloops were Duy Knick's boat, "Ger- natia," "The Hope for Peace," and "Independence." "The Neptune," a schooner, Andrew Brown, master, was succeeded in 1784 by the "Poet Moses Guest." In 1799 the "Hannah," a sloop of forty-five tons, had for master John Brush ; the "Eliza," commanded by James Richmond, was a sloop of fifty-nine tons burthen. During the early part of the cen- tury the "Lawrence," owned by Peter I. Nevius, was in the carrying trade ; she was too large to navigate the Raritan above the city. These vessels made voyages to the Bermudas, Bahamas, Jamaica, and His- paniola in the West Indies; also to Charleston, South Carolina; Wil- mington, Delaware; Newberne, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia ; Newport, Rhode Island ; besides other ports. Among the cargoes shipped
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from New Brunswick in the last two years of the eighteenth century were thirty-four tons of iron ore to New Bedford, Massachusetts ; 1,800 bushels of grain ; twenty-six barrels of pork; twenty-two sides of leather, to Boston, Massachusetts; to Wareham, Massachusetts, thirty-five tons of iron ore; also another shipment of fifty tons of iron ore was made at the same time. Carriages were shipped to the South, and the vessels brought back sweet potatoes and other products. The sloops and schooners varied from thirty to eighty tons burthen, and used lateral boards for centre boards.
With the restoration of peace came a revival of business and con- sequent increase of travel between New York and Philadelphia. The highways were in a deplorable condition, and travelers gladly availed themselves of the water routes, which were less tiresome and much more comfortable than the bolstered wagons, the stage coaches of that period.
The first civil magistrate under the new charter was Azariah Dun- ham, who served until 1796, when Abraham Schuyler became his suc- cessor. After five years' service, Mayor Schuyler retired, and his successor, James Schureman, was inaugurated in 1801. At the opening of the nineteenth century the population of New Brunswick was about two thousand souls. Among its principal merchants were Robert East- burn, Jacob R. Hardenbergh, Samuel Clarkson, Samuel Barker, all located on Church street; William Lawson, Jr., near the Market; Perez Rowley, S. J. and H. Rudderow, on Albany street ; and George Young, Jr., on Peace street, who dealt in dry goods, groceries, medicines, etc. The hardware merchant was Willett Warne, on Albany street. Build- ers could purchase lumber from James Richmond or William Forman, the former could also supply plaster, grass seeds, etc .; John Dennis, Jr., carried on a varied business-lumber, plaster, paints, etc., could rent a house, or sell a ticket or arrange for freight by the packets and sailing vessels; Michael Pool, on Queen street, dealt in hats and furs ; while Williams & Leslie were watch and clock makers, dealing also in plated ware, silver knee buckles, etc., with a branch store at Trenton. Thomas Brush conducted a land and intelligence office, was also an auc- tioneer, and could sell houses, lots, plantations, negro men, wenches and children, let or hire them for service. Miss (?) Burnet at her Young Ladies' High School taught French, music, dancing, etc. The letters for Somerset, Scotch Plains, Raritan Landing, Amboy, North, South and Middle Branches, Cranbury, Bonhamtown, Millstone, Stony Hill, Pis- cataway, Basking Ridge, Spotswood, Bridgewater, Six Mile Run, etc., all came to New Brunswick on account of its being the nearest post- office. The office was located on Albany street, below Neilson street. John Voorhees was appointed the first postmaster, November 16, 1790; he was succeeded by Peter Keenan, March 20, 1793, who on December
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31 of that year gave way to Robert Hude, who after serving only six months was replaced on July 1, 1794, by Jacob Tallman. News from Europe, six weeks in transit to the city, when it arrived was eagerly read, as the citizens were deeply interested in the war of France and England then in progress. On business trips to New York, the city's merchants generally proceeded by private conveyances to what is now Jersey City and Hoboken, where they crossed New York harbor either in a sail or row boat, the journey taking the better part of three days. Stray negroes were occasionally put in jail; if no owners appeared, they were sold to pay the expense of arrest and jail fees.
In the first decade of the nineteenth century, the population of New Brunswick increased 1,017, making the total 3,042, of which 2,826 were free white males and females, 53 blacks, 164 slaves. The number of families was 469 inhabiting 375 dwellings. Internal communications were by stage coach to Elizabeth and New York, also to Trenton and Philadelphia. and by water a line of sloops carried freight and passengers to New York, Albany, Troy and other points. The two newspapers of the day were "The Fredonian," a staunch supporter of Jeffersonian policies, and "The Guardian, or New Brunswick Advertiser," a Feder- alist sheet in opposition to the national administration. The religious denominations were Reform, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Baptist; a Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1811. The New Bruns- wick Bank was chartered in 1807, the State Bank in 1812. Mail facili- ties depended on the roads-if they were dry, mail arrived; if muddy, there was delay. William Ten Broeck was appointed postmaster April I, 1801, and filled the office until April 28, 1810, when Bernard Smith succeeded him and removed the office to the south side of Albany street, below George street, where it remained until it was removed to the cor- ner of Church and Dennis streets.
In mercantile trade, the leading men conducting general stores were Ayers & Freeman, Dennis & Kinnan, Peter Buckelew, on Queen street ; R. S. Garretson on Church street ; Van Dorn, Beekman & Company, and Dunham Brothers, also kept a general supply of merchandise; James Richmond offered pine boards for sale ; Israel Freeman had two establish- ments where he carried on coach and sign painting : Peter Perrine had a cut nail factory opposite the Dutch church; L. Deare traded in wall paper ; while K. Newell & Company kept a fine assortment of dry goods, also selling good brandy and raisins, at their store, corner of Church and Queen streets. Schureman, Perrine & Company dealt in Delaware river shad. John C. Davie, Samuel Hunt and James Seabrook were tailors. The hostelry opposite the public market, known as "Sign of the Paddock," had for landlord Marimus W. Warne; Simpson & Bray, on the wharf near the old market house, sold fish. Even those days were employment offices carried on in Church street by Samuel Walker. The
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citizens were supplied with white lead and oil by Robert Eastburn, Sr., on Church street; he also dealt in drugs, paints, books on history and divinity ; also dye woods and family medicine chests. Benjamin Farner manufactured tobacco, while Stephen Scale was a pump maker, with.a shop on Church street. Coaches were made by Thomas McDowell, on Schureman street; Moses Guest carried a stock of shoes and groceries on Burnet street; Mr. Desabaye, a piano dealer, was located on George street, while on the north side of Church street Henry Plum had a brass foundry. Thomas Eastburn was a hardware merchant on Church street; ale and porter were brewed by John Dorey, at the New Brunswick Brewery. On Water street was Henry C. Guest & Company, dry goods and groceries; William Naid was a bookbinder; Samuel H. Day, on Burnet street, catered to the female sex with his stock of mil- linery and shoes ; a sadler was Charles Rarsbeck on Queen street, and the White Hall Tavern was kept by Mr. Degraw. On Burnet street, Bernard S. Judah dealt in oil and window glass; while Edward Sullivan carried a stock of shovels, tongs, copper tea kettles, looking glasses and dry goods. Among the coachmakers were John Van Nuis and Nathan- iel McChesney, on Albany street, and William Roland on Schureman street. Joslin & Mulford had their harness shop on Albany street, and Price & Meeker were cabinet makers on Church street. The public were supplied with earthenware by E. J. Mackey, corner of Liberty and George streets, and with wool for spinning and hatters' use by Thomas Letson. Aaron M. Freeman, another harness maker on Peace street, could also supply the infantry caps for soldiers. George White, corner of Burnet and New streets, sold shovels, molasses, jewsharps, muslin, gun-flints, lump sugar, bellows, corkscrews, etc. Next door, liquor could be obtained from Captain Powers. Douwe D. Williamson and David Abeel had an ironmongery and lumber yard on Burnet street. French was taught to the ladies by Mary Ann Guest, and S. C. Aiken taught writing. At the foot of Easton avenue on Albany street was Josiah Simpson's book and stationery store, with a circulating library; this business was purchased in January, 1812, by Charles D. Greene. Dr. Ira Condict also had a private circulating library to which a person could become a mem- ber by paying a small annual dues; he died in 1811 and his library was sold. Dancing academies were in evidence. Mr. Kennedy opened one in the early part of January, 1812. Mr. Berault also held dancing school in Keyworth's tavern, and he politely informed the male sex that no gentleman was allowed to dance with boots on, on public evenings.
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