USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 4
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David Lyell, a goldsmith by trade, became a proprietor in April, 1697, and came to New Jersey at the beginning of the eighteenth cen- tury. He resided part of his life in New York and Monmouth county, but had a permanent residence in Amboy, his house standing directly upon the shore of the harbor, a short distance north of the Episcopal church. It was in 1716 that Michael Kearny purchased a lot of ground in Amboy on the hill south of St. Peter's Church. He was originally from Ireland, and married a daughter of Governor Lewis Morris. His son, Philip Kearny. became eminent as a lawyer, and was great-grand- father of General Philip Kearny, of Civil War fame. Thomas Farmar removed from Richmond county, Staten Island, to Amboy in 1711; he filled many judicial positions. Among the most influential families of ancient Amboy were the descendants of Rev. William Skinner, a member of the clan of MacGregor. He became rector of St. Peter's Church in 1724, and continued to discharge his duties faithfully until his death in 1758. Cortlandt, his eldest son, became a noted lawyer, and was a pronounced royalist during the Revolutionary War, receiv- ing a commission as brigadier-general from General Howe, of the British forces. His house of stone and brick stood on the southwest corner of South and Water streets, the gardens extending along Smith street to what is now Rector street. After the Revolution he went to England, where he died March 15, 1799. The other sons of the Rev. William Skinner namely, Stephen, William and John, were all royalists; the firstnamed resided in a mansion on the north side of Smith street, which was entirely destroyed by fire on December 28, 1776. The youngest son, John, returned to Perth Amboy after the Revolutionary War and en- gaged in mercantile business, and died in December, 1797. Samuel
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Neville, a lawyer by profession, established himself in Perth Amboy in May, 1736. He was a man of education and literary attainments ; had been editor of the "London Morning Post." He soon gained eminence in his new home, became judge of the Court of Common Pleas, mayor of Perth Amboy, and second judge of the Supreme Court of the province. He died October 27, 1764, leaving a name unsullied by the slightest stain. He resided on a farm at the termination of Market street. The name of Barberie first appears on the records of Amboy in 1702; its representative was one of the many thousands of Protestants who left France to escape the evils imposed upon them by Louis XIV. John Barberie, a descendant of the original settler, was Collector of Customs for the port of Perth Amboy at the time of his death in 1770. John Watson and the Parker family have already received notice in this work.
There seems to be no special local government established in the early days of Perth Amboy, for its simple appellation of Perth was soon lost from joining with it the name of the point Ambo. The officers of the county and courts preserved order and regulated its police. Its existence as a town, however, was soon recognized, as one or more representatives were admitted to the General Assembly, which held its first session in 1686 at Amboy. The number was finally fixed at two members and that number continued to be its quota until the Revolution.
The first charter of incorporation was obtained from Governor Hun- ter, August 24, 1718; the title adopted was "The Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Perth Amboy." The names of John Johnstone, Thomas Gordon, John Hamilton, George Willocks, John Barclay, William Eier, John Stevens, William Hodgson, William Frost, Henry Berry, John Sharp, Thomas Turnhill, Andrew Redford and Alexander Walker appear in its preamble as petitioners. The common council, of which the mayor and three aldermen constituted a quorum, were to hold their meetings in the court house or city hall ; their laws and ordinances were to be submitted to the governor for his approval, and if they did not receive his approbation, their operation was limited to six months. The appointment and election of the offi- cials have been already mentioned; the recorder and town clerk held office indefinitely, as no particular term was specified. The assistant aldermen, however, were not chosen until it was known who were to be aldermen. The sergeant, whose particular duty was to carry a mace before the mayor, was appointed by the chief magistrate, with the approval of the common council. If the overseers of the poor and the constables refused to take the oath of office and perform their respec- tive duties, they were to be fined five pounds. The mayor, recorder and aldermen constituted the city court ; a term was held once a month for actions of debt. This is a brief sketch of the municipal machinery that
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was intended and expected to work a great revolution in the circum- stances of the city, to add to its population, increase its dimensions and improve its commerce.
The following were instructed and named in the charter to perform the first official stations: William Eier, mayor and clerk of market; James Alexander, recorder ; John Parker, John Rudyard, Samuel Leon- ard, William Hodgson, aldermen; John Brown, Andrew Redford, Michael Henry, Jacob Isleton, assistants; John Stevens, chamberlain and treasurer; John Barclay, town clerk; John Harrison, sheriff and water bailiff; William Harrison, coroner; William Frost, marshal or sergeant of the mace; John Ireland, Henry Berry, overseers of the poor ; John Herriott, Fred Buckaloo, Alexander Cairns, constables. There are no records of the city extant from which a list could be made of those who subsequently held these offices. Notwithstanding these efforts to boom the city, no perceptible growth was obtained. It is described in 1759 as having about one hundred houses, and being in appearance, though the capital of the province, a small and unpretentious village. Smith, in his "History of New Jersey" in 1765, though he speaks of its pleasant situation, the commodiousness of its harbor, states that the attempts to make it a place of extensive trade had not materialized. The city was at its pinnacle of fame at the time of the commencement of the Revolution ; though its foreign commerce and domestic trade had perhaps been greater in previous years, it doubtlessly had a larger population than at any time before; as the seat of government, its importance and rank was greater than it was again to possess for over a century. The struggle for independence caused many of its inhabitants to move, and the operation of other systems of government affected its commerce. The only record we have of those who filled the mayoralty chair before the Revolution were Samuel Neville in 1758, and James Parker, the elder, in 1771.
In the pre-Revolutionary days, the question of travelling facilities was an important matter. The proprietaries, ever solicitous for the growth of the capital, expressed a wish to their representative, Deputy- Governor Lawrie, in July, 1693, that a convenient road should be established between Perth town and Burlington. This was done by Lawrie the following year, and in connection with the road he operated a ferry boat between Amboy and New York. This line of travel was in opposition to the old Dutch road, which crossed the Raritan river at the present site of New Brunswick. The latter route was preferred by travelers, but as late as 1698 there was no public conveyance for the transportation of either goods or passengers on either route. The ferry boat which Lawrie established takes precedence in the records of all but one established under the proprietary government. In 1669 there was established a ferry at Communipaw for the accommodation of the
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people of Bergen and Communipaw in communicating with New Amster- dam. The proprietaries in December, 1700, granted for fifteen years to Arthur Simson a ferry right between Amboy and Navesink. These three ferries, with the one across the Raritan river granted to John Inian and his wife in 1697, are all that are mentioned in the proprietary records. The Provincial Assembly in 1716 seems to have paid more attention to the condition of public roads. An act was passed con- firming all highways that were six and four rods wide, laid out in pursuance of previous laws, and annulling all others. Rates of ferriage were established by public ordinance; about this time there were in existence a ferry from Amboy to Staten Island, and one known as Redford's ferry from Perth to South Amboy. Passengers and produce were also transported direct from South Amboy to Staten Island. The ferries from Perth Amboy across the Raritan and the Sound were granted in 1719 to George Willocks and his wife. In 1728 Gabriel Stelle received a patent for a ferry from South Amboy to Staten Island, touching at Perth Amboy; these ferries continued to be of essential service until the introduction of steamboats plying between New Bruns- wick or Amboy to New York.
The first advertisement of a stage route between Amboy and Bur- lington appeared in March, 1732-3, in which Solomon Smith and James Moore of Burlington were to keep two stage wagons on the route, making trips once a week for the transportation of passengers and freight. There seems to be no opposition to this line of stages until October, 1750, when a new line was established by Daniel O'Brien, a resident of Perth Amboy. His stage boat was to leave New York every Wednesday for Amboy, where on Friday a stage wagon would proceed to Bordentown, where another stage boat would convey the passengers to Philadelphia. The success of this line led to an opposition in 1751, originating in Philadelphia. A boat left once a week for Burlington, whence a stage conveyed the passengers to Amboy Ferry, where a boat commanded by Matthew Iseltine received the passengers for New York. This boat is described as having a commodious cabin, fitted up with a tea table and other conveniences; they promised to make the journey in twenty-four or thirty hours, less time than the competing line ; it, however, required the same number of days as O'Brien's line. In June, 1753, Abraham Webb made his appearance with a boat "exceed- ingly well fitted with a handsome cabin and all necessary accommoda- tions." He probably took the place of O'Brien on the line; for the next year the latter had two boats leaving New York for Amboy on Mondays and Thursdays, unconnected with any special through routes, as he offered to forward merchandise via Burlington or Bordentown as parties might choose, both lines meeting at Amboy. John Butler in November, 1756, instituted a New York stage via Perth Amboy and Trenton, to
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make the journey in three days to Philadelphia. The establishment of rival stage routes from New York by the way of New Brunswick to Philadelphia in 1765-66 put an end to the traveling by way of Amboy ; the packets, however, continued to run for the transportation of way passengers and merchandise, but less numerous until about 1775, when there was but one sailing between Amboy and New York, commanded by Captain John Thompson.
A post office was established at Amboy in 1793, John Thompson receiving the first appointment as postmaster. The mail was brought three times a week from Woodbridge, that town being on the main route between New York and Philadelphia. This arrangement con- tinued until 1825. when the mail arrived daily with the exception of Sunday during the summer, and three times a week in the winter season ; in 1830 another change was made, mails being received and departing daily. Among the early postmasters were Edward John Ball, Joseph Golding. George Wright, Robert Rattone, Simeon Drake, Robert Arnold, Lewis Golding, James Harriott, Benjamin F. Arnold, W. S. Russ, John Manning, R. P. Barton, John F. Ten Broeck, John Tomlinson, Elam Sanford, John Fothergill, George H. Tice, Cornelius Convery, George H Tice, William Pfeiffer and Richard F. White. The present post office was erected on the corner of Maple and Jefferson streets by the United States Government (1909), with accommodation for the Post Office Department, and the Collector of the Port. The estimated cost was about $30,000. About the same time rural delivery routes were established. and are still maintained on the roads leading to Fords and Metuchen. Free delivery went into operation in 1901.
The advantages of obtaining an education under the proprietary government were very limited. It is true that under legislation passed in 1693 the inhabitants of any town could choose three men to make a taxable rate and fix the salary of a schoolmaster; and ten years later three men were to be elected annually, and appoint places where schools should be kept. There is, however, no information extant concerning the character of instruction meted out to the young of Amboy and its vicinity. The period under the royal governors seems not to have been favorable either for education or a general diffusion of intelligence among the people.
The records show of the existence of a school in connection with St. Peter's Church in July, 1765. The Rev. Mr. Mckean, the rector, informed the vestry that the school could not be longer held in the barracks without paying rent. Subscriptions were immediately obtained ; in April. 1768, a house was hired for a school, which was commenced by Mr. McNaughton. The schoolteacher was an Irishman of dark com- plexion. The building was located near the gully that divided the church green from the building. This school was discontinued in May,
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1770, and three years later a school fund was obtained by subscription. In July, 1774, Thomas Johnston was secured as master, and a school was opened in the court house. After the Revolution, matters were in much the same condition until the adoption of the improved system of State education.
The seat of government of the province and residence of the principal royal officers made Perth Amboy at the commencement of the War of Independence a place of interest to both of the conflicting parties. Men- tion has already been made in the chapter on the Revolutionary period, of the British troops that formed the garrison at Perth Amboy before the opening of hostilities. The organization of two New Jersey pro- vincial regiments in December, 1775, aroused in the early part of the following year the patriotic spirit of the boys of the ancient capital. They formed a company of volunteers under the name of "The Gov- ernor's Guard." The captain of this redoubtable company was Lambert Barberrie; the lieutenant, John Skinner ; the ensign, Andrew Smyth. The company proved at a later period a serviceable auxiliary to the American officers by watching sentinels and guards, reporting any observed failure in duty or discipline.
Towards the end of June, 1776, Sir William Howe arrived at Staten Island with a large body of troops for the purpose of preventing inter- course between the Eastern and Middle States. This movement led General Washington to form a camp at Amboy, which he placed under the command of General Hugh Mercer. It was about this time that a British brig-of-war entered the harbor and anchored off St. Peter's Church. The Americans obtaining an eighteen pounder gun, placed it behind breastworks near the church, and opened fire on the vessel. The British ship promptly replied, but soon heaved anchor and sailed away. There were in August, 1776, fifteen hundred American troops stationed at Amboy. General Mercer, on the night of October 16, 1776, passed over with a body of troops to Staten Island with the object of capturing a force of British soldiers stationed in the vicinity of Richmond, but little was accomplished. Washington's retreat through New Jersey commenced in November, 1776, and the British concentrated their forces upon New Brunswick and Amboy, relinquishing all the advantages they had gained, excepting the retention of these two places. Washington, having wintered his army at Morristown, towards the end of May, 1777, advanced upon New Brunswick, from which place General Howe marched on the 14th of June to take the field against him. The British commander gained no advantage over the American army, and retired again to New Brunswick. A general retreat was commenced June 22, 1777, the British forces leaving New Brunswick for Amboy. The harbor was filled with British vessels on which troops were embarked, the transports sailing to Chesapeake Bay. The Americans remained
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in undisturbed possession of Amboy during the remainder of the war. After this period of activity, the revolutionary history of the city pre- sents little interest and nothing of importance.
At the opening of the last century, Perth Amboy's civil government was conducted under a second charter, which passed the legislature December 21, 1784, and remained the law of the land unimpaired by amendment until 1844. From minutes of a meeting of the citizens, November 12, 1785, at the court house, it appears that James Parker was mayor, but, under the impression that he would not be eligible for reappointment, the name of Thomas Farmar was presented to the legislature then in session at Trenton for the office, as the appointment of mayor came from that body. There is no record of the city officers existing from which a perfect list can be obtained. According to census returns of 1810, the first which gave the enumerations by cities and towns, Perth Amboy had 358 white males, 372 white females, all free persons 36, slaves 49, a total of 815; it was not, however, until the census of 1840 that the item of slaves disappeared in the enumeration. In that year there were 587 white males, 678 white females, 38 free colored, a total of 1,303.
There are some fragmentary memoranda of the city records in existence since 1831. They are, however, and unfortunately, very incom- plete. The council met February 28, 1831, at the house of Martin Chandler ; the mayor at this time was James Parker. At this meeting a book of minutes was procured and some semblance of a record was commenced. The following year, James Parker still occupied the mayoralty chair. The danger of cholera then prevailing in the States caused the appointment of Dr. Charles Mcknight Smith as health officer. At a subsequent meeting this officer reported that all necessary precautions had been taken and that all cases of the disease had been confined to the localities where they originated. James Marsh became mayor in 1834, and at a council meeting held May 20, 1835, a resolution was adopted to lay a single row of flagstones in the center of Smith and High streets. This was the first effort towards walk improvements, but unfortunately the resolution was rescinded by the council the fol- lowing year. On application of sundry citizens, October 18, 1835, the names of a number of the streets were changed. There seems to be a hiatus in the records until 1844, when a new charter was granted to the city by the legislature, February 27th of that year. James Harriot was elected mayor in 1844 and was succeeded the following year by Francis W. Brinley. The mayor for 1846 was William Paterson, who after holding the office one year, gave way to the reelection of Francis W. Brinley. His successor was Commodore Lawrence Kearny in 1848; the following year Dr. Solomon Andrews was occupant of the chair, and recorded in the minutes are several ordinances for street improve-
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ment. The next mayor (in 1850) was the influential citizen, James Parker, who was succeeded the following year by Lewis Compton. The council, December 17, 1851, granted a lease of the slip at the foot of Commerce street for eighteen years to David Crowell and son. Theo- dore F. King was elected mayor in 1852, and at an annual election the following year, Dr. Solomon Andrews was elected to the office. There were four special town meetings held during his term of office, one to consider the charter for improvements of streets and sidewalks, another to raise $5,000 to facilitate these improvements; the others were to consider the law granting ferry privileges, which on being referred to a committee advised a repeal of the law. The ordinance for the sup- pression of vice and immorality stands on the minute book as a monu- ment to the city council of 1854, Joseph D. Forbes being the occupant of the mayoralty chair. Dr. Solomon Andrews was for the third time elected mayor in 1855; a number of ordinances for improvements were passed. His successor was William Paterson; the year is noted for granting of licenses, this being the issue for which the council was elected. In the year 1857 considerable business was transacted by the council ; the mayor was Edward J. Hall. The slip at the foot of Fayette street was leased for ten years to Peter R. Hawley. For the third time William Peterson was elected mayor in 1858, and reelected for the fol- lowing two years. The sewer on Smith street was commenced in 1859, at a cost of $2,795. The second term of Edward J. Hall was in 1861 ; general business of importance was transacted. In the election of 1862, Joseph L. Crowell was chosen mayor ; he resigned in October of that year, enlisted, and went to the war. The recorder, John R. Watson, acted as mayor until the election in 1863 which resulted in placing in the mayoralty chair Alfred Hall, who continued by reelection until 1869. In this period were the busy times of the Civil War. The city was bonded for $1,800 to pay for volunteers ; a tax of $10 was imposed on all those liable to a draft; the council was authorized to pay a bounty of $300 to every man credited on the call for three hundred thou- sand men, the quota of Perth Amboy being thirty-five. The tax was payable May 1, 1865, and an act was passed by the legislature authoriz- ing the borrowing of $10,500. The slip at the foot of Smith street was leased in 1863 to Messrs. Drake for a ferry. The charter was revised in 1865, fifteen sections being added, principally relating to street im- provements. Streets were extended to the suburbs, Prospect street to Market street, also High street, from Washington street to Crane creek. Smith street was laid out to the township line to run parallel with Market street; King street was opened from Smith to Market streets ; bulkheads built at foot of Gordon and other streets. The ferry slip in 1867 was leased to the Staten Island Railroad Company for twenty years A contract was awarded July 15th that year for the
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erection of twenty-five street lamps to be lighted with oil. The council of 1867 deemed it necessary that the city should be supplied with a clock; on March 16, 1869, a contract was awarded to A. S. Hotchkiss & Company at an expense not to exceed seven hundred dollars. For the safety of the city's funds, a safe was purchased in 1867 at the cost of two hundred and seventy-five dollars.
The mayor in 1869 was James M. Chapman; in this year Water street was graded and shade trees set out from Smith street to Fayette street. The city park fence and chains were reset. The council by resolution adopted a memorial to the memory of Lewis Golding, late treasurer of the city, who had for thirty-nine years been connected with the city government. The charter was revised March 17, 1870, and the council started out anew under its workings; Joseph L. Crowell was the mayor elected for two years. The board of education was organized, the school enlarged, a lot purchased for the erection of a new school house, for which bonds were issued. Sixteen additional street lamps were erected, and a contract awarded for the building of a jail at an expense not to exceed $1,150. A map commission was appointed to survey the city and make a map with street and sidewalk improvements. The expediency of building an almshouse was agitated at council meetings in 1871. On being referred to a committee, they reported that the matter should be deferred only a short time. The police force was increased to two, and a committee was appointed to examine plans for the rebuilding of the city hall. This improvement was completed and the new city hall dedicated October 15, 1872, the city being bonded for $16,000 for building and furniture. At the dedication ceremonies, John G. Garretson, having been elected mayor in 1872 for two years, presided.
The following have filled the mayoralty chair since: John G. Gar- retson, 1882-86; James Growney, acting-mayor, 1887-88; Thomas Arm- strong, 1888-90; E. R. Pierce, 1890-93; Edward W. Barnes, 1894-95; Ira B. Tice, 1896-98; James L. Compton, 1898-1900; Adam Eckert, acting mayor, 1901 ; Charles K. Seaman, 1902-1903; H. Martyn Brace, 1904- 1905; John Pfeiffer, acting mayor, 1906; Albert Bollschweiler, 1906-10; Wm. D. Voorhees, acting mayor, 1911 ; Ferd. Garretson, 1912-16; John F. Ten Broeck, 1917-18; Frank Dorsey, 1918-19; William C. Wilson, 1920.
The city in 1915 acquired several pieces of real estate which they are gradually converting into attractive parks. The largest of these is Washington Park, fronting on New Brunswick avenue, comprising several acres. Caledonian Park, named in honor of the first settlers of the town, lies at the foot of High street, overlooking the Bay. Bay View, foot of Market street, is also on the Bay, opposite Staten Island.
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