History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1, Part 23

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 974

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1 > Part 23

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

2 Vide Minutes of the Provincial Congress and Council of Safety, 1775-76, page 4.

3 In a letter addressed by Governor Franklin to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated Burlington, June 18, 1774, he said, " I have likewise had an application made to me by some of the members of the House of Representatives to call a meeting of the General Assembly in August next, with which I have not and shall not comply, as there is no pub- liek business of the province which can make such a meet- ing necessary."

1 The "invitation" referred to was n proposition made by the House of Burgesses of the colony of Virginia to the Assembly of New Jersey to appoint from its members a Standing Committee of Correspondence for the objects re-

. ferred to above.

- 1

117

MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

all the counties of New Jersey. The object of these meetings (which were convened at the call of prominent and influential citizens of the several counties) was to perfect, as far as possi- ble, a general organization of citizens opposed to encroachments on the rights of the colonies by the home government, and especially to pro- vide for the selection of persons to represent them in a general congress of deputies from the several colonies, proposed by the burgesses of Virginia, to be held for the purpose of forming a plan of union, and, in general, to devise measures for the public welfare.

The first of these local gatherings of the people was held in Monmouth County, and is reported in the Minutes of the Provincial Con- gress and Council of Safety, 1775-76, as fol- lows :

"At a meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Township of Lower Frechold, in the County of Monmouth, in New Jersey, on Monday, the 6th day of June, 1774, after notice given of the time, place and occasion of this meeting ;

" Resolved, That it is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that the cause in which the inhabitants of the town of Boston are now suffering is the common cause of the whole Continent of North America, and that unless some general spirited measures for the public safety be speedily entered into, there is just reason to fear that every Province may in turn share the same fate with them; and that, therefore, it is highly incumbent on them all to unite in some effec- tual means to obtain a repeal of the Boston Port Bill, and any other that may follow it, which shall be deemed subversive of the rights and privileges of free- born Americans.

"And that it is also the opinion of this meeting that, in case it shall appear hereafter to be consistent with the general opinion of the trading towns, and the commercial part of our countrymen, that an en- tire stoppage of importation and exportation from and to Great Britain and the West Indies, until the Maid Port Bill and other Acts be repealed, will be really conducive to the safety and preservation of North America and her liberties, they will yield a cheerful acquiescence in the measure, and earnestly recom- mend the same to all their brethren in this Province.

" Resolved, moreover, That the inhabitants of this township will join in an Association with the several towns in the county and, in conjunction with them, with the several counties in the Province (if, as we doubt not, they see fit to accede to the proposal), in any measures that may appear best adapted to the weal and safety of North America and all her loyal rons.

"Ordered, That John Anderson, Esq., Messrs. Peter Forman, Hendrick Smock, John Forman and Asher Holmes, Captain John Covenhoven and Doctor Na- thaniel Scudder be a committee for the township, to join with those who may be elected for the neighbour- ing townships or counties, to constitute a General Committee, for any purposes similar to those above mentioned; and that the gentlemen so appointed do immediately solicit a correspondence with the adja- cent towns."

"On Tuesday, July 19, 1774,1 a majority of the Committees from the several Townships in the County of Monmouth, of the Colony of New Jersey, met ac- cording to appointment, at the Court-House at Free- hold, in said county; and appearing to have been regularly chosen and constituted by their respective Townships, they unanimously agreed upon the pro- priety and expediency of electing a Committee to represent the whole county at the approaching Pro- vincial Convention, to be held at the City of New Brunswick, for the necessary purpose of constituting a Delegation from this Province to the general Con- gress of the Colonies, and for all such other important purposes as shall hereafter be found necessary. They, at the same time, also recorded the following Resolu- tions, Determinations and Opinions, which they wish to be transmitted to posterity as an ample testimony of their loyalty to his British Majesty, of their firm attachment to the principles of the glorious Revolu- tion, and their fixed and unalterable purpose, by every lawful means in their power, to maintain and defend themselves in the possession and enjoyment of those inestimable civil and religious privileges which their forefathers, at the expense of so much blood and treasure, have established and handed down to them:

"In the names and behalf of their constituents, the good and loyal inhabitants of the County of Mon- mouth, in the Colony of New Jersey, they do cheer- fully and publickly proclaim their unshaken alle- giance to the person and Government of his most gracious Majesty, King George the Third, now on the British Throne, and do acknowledge themselves bound at all times, and to the utmost exertion of their power, to maintain his dignity and lawful sovereignty in and over all his Colonies in America; and that it is their most fervent desire and constant prayer that, in a Protestant succession, the descendants of the illustrious House of Hanover may continue to sway the British sceptre to the latest posterity.

"As a general Congress of Deputies from the several American Colonies is proposed to be held at Phila- delphia some time in September next, they declare their entire approbation of the design, and think it the only rational method of evading those aggravated evils which threaten to involve the whole Continent

1 Minutes of the Prov. Cong. and Council of Safety, 1775-76, p. 19.

118

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

in one general calamitous catastrophe. They are therefore met this day, vested with due authority from their respective constituents, to elect a committee, representing this County of Monmouth in any future necessary transactions respecting the cause of liberty, and especially to join the Provincial Convention, soon to be held at New Brunswick, for the purpose of nom- inating and constituting a number of Delegates, who, in behalf of this Colony, may steadily attend said general Congress, and faithfully serve the laboring cause of freedom, and they have consequently chosen and deputed the following gentlemen to that impor- tant trust, viz .: Edward Taylor, John Anderson, John Taylor, James Grover, and John Lawrence, Esquires ; Dr. Nathaniel Scudder and Messrs. John Burrowes, John Covenhoven, Joseph Holmes, Josiah Holmes and Edward Williams ; Edward Taylor, Esq., being constituted Chairman, and any five of them a sufficient number to transact business. And they do be- seech and entreat, instruct and enjoin them, to give their voice at said Provincial Convention for no per- sons but such as they, in good conscience and from the best information, shall verily believe to be amply qualified for so interesting a department, particularly that they be men highly approved for integrity, hon- esty and uprightness, faithfully attached to his Majesty's person and lawful Government, well skilled in the principles of our excellent Constitution and steady assertors of all our civil and religious liberties.

" As under the present operations of the Boston Port Bill, thousands of our respected brethren in that town must necessarily be reduced to great distress, they feel themselves affected with the sincerest sym- pathy and most cordial commiseration ; and that they expect, under God, that the final deliverance of America will be owing, in a great degree, to a con- tinuance of their virtuous struggle, they esteem them- selves bound in duty and interest to afford them every assistance and allevation in their power, and they do now, in behalf of their constituents, declare their readiness to contribute to the relief of the suf- fering poor in that town ; therefore, they request the several committees of the counties, when met. to take into their serious consideration the necessity and ex- pediency of forwarding, under a sanction from them, subscriptions through every part of this Colony, for that truly humane and laudable purpose,1 and that a

proper plan be concerted for laying out the product of such subscriptions to the best advantage, and afterwards transmitting it to Boston in the safest and least expensive way."

. Similar meetings for the choice of com- mittees were held in the other counties, and on Thursday, July 21, 1774, " a general meeting of the committees of the several counties in the Province of New Jersey " was convened at New Brunswick, and continued in session until the following Saturday. Seventy-two mem- bers were in attendance, of whom nine were of Monmouth County. The names of these delegates (who had been elected at a meeting of the people held at Monmouth Court-House on the 19th of July) were Edward Taylor, James Grover, John Burrowes, John Anderson, Joseph Holmes, Edward Williams, John Taylor, Dr. Nathaniel Scudder and Josiah Holmes. The general meeting at New Brunswick was organ- ized by the choice of Stephen Crane, Esq., of Essex, chairman, and Jonathan D. Sergeant, of Somerset County, clerk. The record 2 of the proceedings of the convention is as fol- lows :

"The committee, taking into their serious consid- eration the dangerous and destructive nature of sun- dry Acts of the British Parliament with respect to the fundamental liberties of the American Colonies, conceive it their indispensable duty to bear their open testimony against them, and to concur with the other colonies in prosecuting all legal and necessary measures for obtaining their speedy repeal. There- fore, we unanimously agree in the following senti- ments and resolutions :

"1st. We think it necessary to declare that the in- habitants of this Province (and we are confident the people of America in general) are, and ever have been, firm and unshaken in their loyalty to His Majesty King George the Third; fast friends to the Revolution settlement ; and that they detest all thoughts of an independence of the Crown of Great Britain. Accordingly we do, in the most sincere and solemn manner, recognize and acknowledge His Majesty King George the Third to be our lawful and rightful Sovereign, to whom, under his royal protec-

1 In accordance with the spirit of this resolution, a large amount of supplies were sent to Boston, Monmouth County contributing most liberally. Boston acknowledged the receipt of them in a letter dated October 1, 1774, from which is extracted the following relating to the Monmouth contributions : " The kind and generous donations of the County of Monmouth, in the Jersies, we are now to acknowl- edge, and with grateful hearts to thank you therefor ; hav- ing received from the Committee of said County, per Cap- tuin Brown, eleven hundred and forty (1140) bushels of · rye and fifty barrels of rye meal for the suffering poor of

the Town, which shall be applied to the purpose intended [ by the donors ; and what further cheers our hearts is your kind assurances of a further supply, if necessary, to enable us to oppose the cruel Parliamentary Acts. levelled not only against this town, but our whole Constitution."

2 Minutes Provincial Congress and Council of Safety, 1775-76, p. 25.

--.-

119

MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

tion in our fundamental rights and privileges, we owe, and will render, all due faith and allegiance.

" 2d. We think ourselves warranted, from the prin- ciples of our excellent Constitution, to affirm that the claim of the British Parliament (in which we neither are nor can be represented) to make laws which shall be binding on the King's American subjects 'in all cases whatsoever,' and particularly for imposing taxes for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, is unconstitutional and oppressive, and which we think ourselves bound, in duty to ourselves and our posterity, by all constitutional means in our power to oppose.

"3d. We think the several late Acts of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, invading the Charter rights of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and subjecting supposed offenders to be sent for trial to other colonies, or to Great Britain, the sending over an armed force to carry the same into effect, and thereby reducing many thousands of innocent and loyal inhabitants to poverty and distress, are not only subversive of the undoubted rights of His Majesty's American subjects, but also repugnant to the com- mon principles of humanity and justice. These pro- ceedings, so violent in themselves, and so truly alarm- ing to the other colonies (many of which are equally exposed to Ministerial vengeance), render it the in- dispensable duty of all heartily to unite in the most proper measures to procure redress for their oppressed countrymen, now suffering in the common cause ; and for the re-establishment of the constitutional rights of America on a solid and permanent foundation.

"4th. To effect this important purpose, we con- ceive the most eligible method is to appoint a Gen- eral Congress of Commissioners of the respective Colonies, who shall be empowered mutually to pledge, each to the rest, the publick honour and faith of their constituent Colonies, firmly and inviolably to adhere to the determinations of the said Congress.

"5th. Resolved, That we do earnestly recommend a general non-importation and non-consumption agreement to be entered into at such time, and regu- lated in such manner, as to the Congress shall seem most advisable.

"6th. Resolved, That it appears to us to be a duty incumbent on the good people of this Province to af- ford some immediate relief to the many suffering in- habitants of the town of Boston.

"Therefore the several county committees do now engage to set on foot and promote collections without delay, either by subscriptions or otherwise, through- out their respective Counties ; and that they will remit the moneys arising from the said subscriptions, or any other benefactions that may be voluntarily made by the inhabitants, either to Boston, or into the hands of James Neilson, John Dennis, William Oake, Abraham Hunt, Samuel Tucker, Dr. Isaac Smith, Grant Gibbon, Thomas Sinnicks, and John Carey, whom we do hereby appoint a Committee for for-

warding the same to Boston, in such way and manner as they shall be advised will best answer the benevo- lent purpose designed.

"7th. Resolved, That the grateful acknowledgments of this body are due to the noble and worthy patrons of constitutional liberty in the British Senate for their laudable efforts to avert the storm they behold impending over a much injured Colony, and in sup- port of the just rights of the King's subjects in America.

" 8th. Resolved, That James Kinsey, William Liv- ingston, John De Hart, Stephen Crane, and Richard Smith, Esquires, or such of them as shall attend, be the Delegates to represent this Province in the Gen- eral Continental Congress to be held at the City of Philadelphia on or about the first of September next, to meet, consult, and advise with the Deputies from the other Colonies, and to determine upon all such prudent and lawful measures as may be judged most expedient for the Colonies immediately and unitedly to adopt, in order to obtain relief for an oppressed people and the redress of our general grievances.

"Signed by order,

" JONATHAN D. SERGEANT, "Clerk."

A new general Standing Committee of Cor- respondence and Inquiry was also appointed, consisting of William Peartree Smith, John Chetwood, Isaac Ogden, Joseph Borden, Robert Field, Isaac Pierson, Isaac Smith, Samuel |Tucker, Abraham Hunt and Hendrick Fisher. It is noticeable, in the proceedings of this con- vention, that, although they evinced an unmis- takable spirit of opposition and resistance to the oppressive measures of the British Parlia- ment and ministry, they were profuse in ex- pressions of unmeasured loyalty to the King, and resolutions of similar import had been passed in all the preliminary meetings in the several counties of this province.

The Congress of Delegates from the several provinces assembled at Carpenters' Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, on the 4th of September in the same year, and organized on the following day, with Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, as president. Among the business transacted during the somewhat protracted session which followed was the adoption of resolutions pro- hibiting the importation, purchase or use of goods from Great Britain, Ireland or any of the British dependencies after December 1, 1774, and also directing that (unless the griev- ances of the American colonies should in the

120

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

mean time be redressed) all exportations hence to Great Britain, Ireland and the British West Indies should cease on and after September 10, ' 1775. An association in accordance with the requirements of these resolutions was then formed, and was signed by all the members present. Article XI. of this Association (adopted October 20, 1774), provided :

" That a committee be chosen in every county, city and town, by those who are qualified to vote for Rep- resentatives in the Legislature, whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all per- sons touching this Association ; and when it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of a majority of any such committee that any person within the lim- its of their appointment has violated this Association, that such majority do forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published, . . . to the end that all such foes to the rights of British America may be publickly known and universally contemned as the , enemies of American Liberty; and thenceforth we respectively will break off all dealings with him or her."

The formation of the first local Committee of Observation and Inspection in Monmouth County, in accordance with the above-noticed recommendation of Congress, is recorded in the following report of a meeting of the people of Freehold township, held for that purpose, viz. :

"FREEHOLD, December 10th, 1774.

" In pursuance of a recommendation of the Continental Congress, and for the preservation of American Freedom, a respectable body of the Freeholders, Inhabitants of Freehold town- ship, met at Monmouth Court-House and unan- imously elected the following gentlemen to act as a Committee of Observation and Inspection for said Township : John Anderson, Esquire, John Forman, Asher Holmes, Peter Forman, Hendrick Smock, Capt. John Covenhoven, Dr. Nathaniel Scudder, David Forman and Dr. Thomas Henderson. This Committee were in- structed by their constituents to carry into exe- cution the several important and salutary meas- ures pointed out to them by the Continental Congress, and, without favour or affection, to make all such diligent inquiry as shall be found conducive to the accomplishment of the great and necessary purposes held up to the attention · of Americans."

The draft of an interesting communication, addressed to the committee above named, was found by the Honorable William P. Forman among the private papers of his great-grand- father, Peter Forman. It was without signa- ture or date, but there are references in it showing clearly that it was made late in the fall of 1774. As an evidence of the intense feeling of patriotism which then pervaded the greater part of the people of the county, a copy of it is here given,-

" To the Committee of the Township of Freehold in the County of Monmouth :- Gentlemen :- In an- swer to the several questions proposed by you on the 3d of this instant, it is the sense of the people: 1st. That as the Province arms were purchased with our money and expressly for our use, we think ourselves properly authorized to apply them to service in any emergency. We therefore request you to call on the Justices and Freeholders, in whose hands they now are, for liberty to have them immediately collected together and put in good repair, the expense of re- pairing them to be defrayed out of the money to be raised as hereinafter expressed. We do, moreover, think it absolutely necessary that a magazine should be immediately established, lest on emergency we should be unable to supply ourselves with ammuni- tion. To effect this grand point we do request you, as speedily as possible, to prepare and send a petition to our General Assembly, praying them to pass an Act for raising a sum of money, as well for the sup- port of a detachment of men that it may be necessary to send from this Colony in defence of your liberties as for the purpose of establishing a magazine. And should the Assembly be prevented from making this provision by a dissolution, or the want of the assent of the Governour and Council, or by any other cause, we do request you will immediately make us ac- quainted therewith, and we will cheerfully subscribe a competent sum of money for these purposes.

"2d. We do fully concur with you in thinking the Military ought to be put on a proper footing for speedy improvement, as we are constrained to fear the melancholy time is near at hand when the Amer- ican Militia will, under God, be the only bulwark of our religion and property. The mode that appears to us most proper to be adopted for our becoming a well-regulated Militia is as follows, viz. : That you do immediately write in the name of the People to our Captains, and require them to call a general meeting of the inhabitants of Freehold on the thir- tieth day of this instant at Monmouth Court-House, where, unless some more eligible method be adopted, we will by agreement constitute companies for every neighbourhood, each containing from 40 to 60 men from 16 to 60 years of age, and appoint stated times

* **

121

MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

for calling the respective Companies together for Grand Muster. By these measures we shall meet to- gether with little expense, and, we hope, raise a spirit of emulation in the several Companies to excell each other.

"3d. We do request you will call on every mer- chant in your district, without favour or affection, and demand of them upon honour, and, if necessary, upon oath, to inform you of the average advance they have had in their goods from the 5th of Nov., 1773, to the 5th of Nov., 1774; and that they give up to your inspection their original invoices of the goods they purchased this Fall, and permit you to examine the advance they now sell at. By these steps you will easily discover whether they have infringed on the 9th Article of the Association of the General Congress.

" In case any of them have transgressed, we do re- quest you immediately to advertise it to the Publick. The like inquiry we desire may be repeatedly made, and on the second offence we do declare we will immediately break off all commerce with him or her so offending, or with his or her agents or factors, and hold them up as enemies to their Country. We do further entreat this enquiry may be made speedily, without information or complaint lodged.

"4th. Those persons who shall persist in extrava- gance, dissipation, gaming, etc., we will view as ene- mies to our Country, and if, after application made to them by you, they do persist in open violation of the Continental resolves, we will, on information from you, wait on the offenders in such a manner as will for the future convince them of the evil conse- quences of running counter to the sense of the people.

"5th. As there are many evil-minded people among us who, for lucrative prospects, would betray this country, and are daily endeavouring to sow the seeds of Discord around them by condemning the measures of Congress, calling our Meetings unlawful and rebellious, and declaring the right of taxing America to be in the British Parliament, we do insist that on your being acquainted with any such person you will publickly advertise their names and places of abode, and we will treat them as rebels against their Country.

"6th. We do request that you may have stated times of Meeting, that we may attend, as well to lay any new matter before you as to be informed of your proceedings.

"7th. We desire these instructions may be entered on the Records or in the Town-Book, and acknowl- edged by you as your instruction from us."

The Freehold Committee of Observation and Inspection, elected on the 10th of December, 1774, postponed a publication of their forma- . tion and official action until the following

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1, Part 23

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 974

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 974