History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 16

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 16

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541

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

deacon, Richard A. Leonard, born in February, · 1812, and died on May 5, 1877, in his sixty- fifth year; baptized by Father Roberts, April 4, 1834; was a constituent member of the church, and elected deacon in 1853, which office lie filled with rare fidelity until his death. At the very outset of his Christian career he aetively engaged in every good word and work; the cause of temperance had in him a firm and con- sistent advocate, especially among the young, and of the Sunday-school he was superintendent from the first until his death.

The present pastor, Rev. Charles T. Douglass, was settled over the church June 1, 1879. The present membership of the church is one hundred and forty-six.

About 1866 a Methodist Church was formed at Navesink, and the Chapel at Chapel Hill was sold and a new churchi edifice built at this place. The pastors who have served at this church have been A. J. Gregory, E. J. Lippin- cott, L. M. Atkinson, S. F. Gaskill, G. R. Sny- der and L. A. Lavelle.

ALL SAINTS' MEMORIAL (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH is located on the Maclise Creek, southwest of Navesink village. On the 16th of October, 1861, the rector of Trinity Church, at Red Bank, began week-night services in the school-house at Riceville (now Navesink), and continued them for a time. In June, 1862, Charles E. Milnor, Esq., residing in Riceville, gathered his own and some of his neighbors' children together on Sundays and gave them religious instruction ; other children and teach- ers gathered in, and the desire for a church be- came great. The death of Mrs. James A. Edgar caused her father, Jobn H. Stephens, to ereet a memorial to Mrs. Edgar and other deceased members of the family. A parochial organization was effected in 1863, and in Octo- ber of that year the corner-stone of All Saints' Memorial Church in the Highlands was laid by the Right Reverend William II. Odenheimer, D.D., bishop of New Jersey. The chureli was consecrated October 7, 1864. Soon afterwards the Rev. MeWalter B. Noyes became rector of the parish. He was succeeded by

the Rev. Theodore M. Riley, whose successor was the Rev. Mr. Murray, who accepted in February, 1869, and resigned in' November, 1871. The Rev. J. S. Weills became rector September 1, 1872. He remained until 1875. His successor was the Rev. Samuel Edson, who was, in turn, succeeded by the Rev. Dr. McKim, the present rector.

The church lot was purchased, and the Memorial Church erected on it complete, by John H. Stephens, Eleanor P. Stephens, James A. Edgar, Charles E. Milnor, and others connected with Mr. Stephens' fam- ily. The church is of field stone of dark orange tint, with Dorchester stone trimmings. It was designed by Richard M. Upjohn, an architect of New York. The windows are all memorial. The All Saints' Mission School and the rectory were completed before 1872.

The Atlantic Highlands are on Sandy Hook Bay, to the northwest of the Highlands of Navesink, which latter, together with the At- lantie Highlands and all the elevated lands ex- tending south and east from the bay to Clay- Pit Creek and the Navesink River, were known in the days of the early settlements as Portland Heiglits ; and at the same time the locality now called the Atlantic Highlands was named Portland Point, from which plaee westward to Point Comfort the bay was called Shoal Harbor.

On the 12th of June, 1669, "at a legall towne meeting " of the town of Middletown, it was voted " that the meadows that lies only about Shoal Harbour necke shall for present bee laid out into thirty-six lotts, the rest to bee laid out betweene the 29th of September and the 25th of December." James Grover was appointed to lay out the meadows. June 14th, at a meeting, it was ordered " that the meadows shall bee fenced with a general fence by the whole inhabitants, being thirty-six in num- ber . .. the fenees to bee made and mayn- taind."

On the 15th of December, 1667, fifteen days before the Middletown lots were laid out, ten lots had been laid off at Portland Point, a record of which is found in Book A of Deeds, as follows :

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

"The Lotts on Portland Poynt being . into No. 10 are layd ont and are in breadth 20 yds cach Lott and run up from the banek into the woodes upon A strait line W. & N. with Sor nar as the land is Good About 60 or 70 poles, the further west lott one the south side No. 11 No. 2, James Bounds; No. 3 Richard Richardson's. The Lott one the north side the swamp or valley. The first is Randall Huetts Sen- ior, No. 4; the next lott, is Henry Pixsey, No. 5; No. 6, John Biuds [ Bowne]; No. 7, Randall Huetts Junior ; No. 8, William Bounds ; No. 9, William Shakely

" And further it was granted unto the inhabitants aforesaid att portland point att the time of ye Cort and laying out off ye above named ten Lotts December 15, 1667, that in regard off the small quantity of land to those the said Lotts Belonging att present, that if hereafter any more land remaint at hand bee found fitt for planting the iuhabitants above said shall have the benefitt thereof for ye further In- largment of the above said Lots of Land."

"June 15: 1669 It is further agreed that the men That are deputed to asist James Grover in the laying out the ineadows shall bee satisfied in soe many dayes workes as they are ont upon the service: and these dayes workes to bee perfourmed by the rest of the In- habitants at such times as they are upon the service Themselves bearing an equall part with the rest.

"James Ashton making a satisfactory excuse to the Towne of nott asisting James Grover iu laying out the meadows John Smith was chosen to supply his roome .

"It was further ordered that the equality of the divis- ion of the meadows is putt to the Judgement of James Grover : Richard Stoutte : and Jonathan Hulmes.

" It is likewise ordered that as many lotts: as ac- cording to Judgement are found defective : that upon Just complaint : the three men : viz: James Grover : Richard Stoutte: and Jonathan Hulmes: shall take a view: of the said defective meadows : and accord- ingly shall give the choice in this second division to the owners of the defective meadows : and further that according to the degree of the defect of any ones meadow in the first division: viz: (shoale harbour meadows) soe have they full power (by vertue of this order) to dispose of successively : wch disposall of the three above named : by agreement of the towue shall stand for Equality.

"Ordered : that upon debate : of putting freshi lotts to salt lotts acording to the desire of some who thinke it equalty is left to decide: when an exact cognizanee of the meadows is taken when they are divided : and the fresh and salt lotts in the first and second division of meadows well veiwed.

"Testis: Edw: Tartt : Town Clearke."

On these Portland Point lots a considerable number of houses were built, and courts were

held there many times during two or three years following, -November 2, 1669, at the house of Richard Richardson, and July 5, 1670. Courts and "General Assemblys" were also held at the house of Randall Huett, at Portland Point.

Randall Huett, Sr., died in January, 1669, and his widow, Margaret, became the wife of Bernard Smith before July 14, 1673, as on that date she appeared before John Bowne, justice of the peace, as " the wife of Bernard Smith, formerly wife to the late deceased Ran- dall Huett," and consented to the sale of her lands, goods and cattle, which were sold as follows :

" To all people to whom these presents shall come I Bernard Smith of Portland point in the province of New Jearsy send greeting : Know Yee : that I the afforesaid Bernard Smith : for : and in consideration of a valuable summe of monney : beeing part of a Debt owing from my Predessesor Randall IIuitt late deceased : to Cornelius Stenwicke : Merchant of new Yorke as apeares by obligation bearing date the 20th of may : 1658 of weh valuable summe of monney I doe acknowledge my selfe fully satisfied contented and paid : and thereof: doe exonerate acquitt : and dis- charge : the said Stenwieke) have hereupon absolutely sould : infeofed : and confirmed : and by these pre- sents : doe sell infeofe aud confirme : all that my towne share of land : weh was formerly procured from the Pattentecs : by my predessesor Randall Huitt late Deceased : wch towne share of land is comprehended in one of the three purchased neckes : Viz : newsinke Narramsun and Potepecke: as may apeare in the booke of Records of the said three necks : like wise I the afforesaid Bernard Smith in consideration of the above said valluable summe of monney have sould to the said Cornelius Stenwicke all that my share of that land commonly called the gift land belonging to my predessesor Randall Huitt as may apeare in the said Records all wch towne share of land : and share of gift land as apeares in the said Records : with all the apurteanances and priveledges thereunto belonging or apertaining : I the afforesayd Bernard Smith from mee : my heires : unto the afforesaid Cornelius Sten- wicke and his heires for ever : and by vertne hereof doe make good the purchase: warranting the sale from any that shall lay claime thereunto : by vertue of any right : title : or interest : (claimed from the grand pattent and booke of Records : or any else : from : by : or under mee : in wittnes hereof I have hereunto sett iny hand and seale this sixt day of ffeb- ruary 1672

livered in the presence "Signed : Scaled and Dc- Signum talis of Edward Tartt Bernard B Smith Signum talis

1 Towne clearke

Margret m Smith

the seale was affixed."

1 The lot No. 1 was owned by John Thornberry.

543

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

The Portland Point settlement for some rea- son did not tlirive, and the greater portion of the land on the west part came into the posses- sion of Jolin Bowne, by whom it was left by will to Daniel Brown, November 25, 1768; sold it to Mary Brown; it was adjoining the Esek Hartshorne tract. It was left to Uriah Brown, who, April 14, 1800, sold to Joseph Hooper a part of it, described as " situate on Sandy Hook Bay, being the westernmost point of Portland Heiglits." The other part was sold to the Leonards, who still occupy a part of it.

About 1834, William Brown built a landing at the place which had been Portland Point. The property came to the possession of Thomas Leonard, and his son, Thomas H. Leonard, lives in the old Brown farm-house. About 1877, Thomas Leonard and others built a dock and ran the steamer " Marion " to New York for freiglit and passengers. This dock was later extended by the Atlantic Higlilands Association into the bay about three-quarters of a mile to deep water.

In 1879 the Atlantic Higlilands Assoociation was formed to purchase and lay out lands for camp-meeting purposes. About three hundred aeres of land was purchased of Thomas Leonard, Edward Hooper, Nathaniel Roberts, Charles Woodward, John L. Patterson, Jacob Swan and Jolın Dye. Improvements were at once made, and the grounds were formally opened July 27, 1880.

On the 11th of February 1881, the association became incorporated with a capital of two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars. The corpora- tors were the Rev. Stephen C. Baldwin, D.D., of Newark; Rev. J. E. Lake, of Seabright ; Thomas Leonard, of Leonardsville; Somers T. Champion, of Pleasantville, Atlantic County ; Rev. S. Wesley Lake, of Atlanticville; and Robert Emory, of Seabright. The corner-stone of a Methodist Episcopal Church was laid December 23, 1882, which was finished and is now in use as a honse of worship.

Several hotels were erected, the largest of which is the Grand View. A fire company was organized January 9, 1883, as the Everett Hook-and-Ladder Company, No. 1. Many

fine residences are built at the Atlantie High- lands. A pavilion and large auditorium have been built for religious services in summer; the latter has a seating capacity of four thousand people.

The Navesink Park Company was formed in 1879, and purchased two hundred and sixty acres of woodland southeast from Atlantic High- lands. It embraces within its limits Mount Mitchell, from the summit of which a fine view of the bay and ocean are obtained. A wharf was built; also a pier thirty feet in width, which extends one thousand feet into the bay. The lands were laid out by Egbert L. Viele, the landscape engineer of Central Park, New York.

The Hillside Park Improvement Company was incorporated June 22, 1883, with a capital of thirty-five thousand dollars, with the object of improving land on the Atlantic Highlands. Their lands lie back of the Atlantic Higlilands and north of Navesink village. It is intended to develop it as a place of summer resort.

Leonardsville is situated in the northeast part of the township, near the bay. It is a little hamlet, which received its name for the family of Leonard, who came to what is now this county, and built for James Grover the iron- works at Tinton Falls, then called the " Falls of Shrewsbury." James and Henry Leonard came from England, in 1642, to Taunton, Mass., and from that time to about 1667 were engaged in constructing iron-works in the eastern colo- nies. James Grover, one of the Monmouth patentees, settled at Middletown in 1667, and while surveyor of the township, a few years thereafter, discovered traces of bog-ore at or near the Falls of Shrewsbury, on the line be- tween Middletown and Shrewsbury. He sent for the Leonards to come to New Jersey and construct iron-works, which they did, as men- tioned. The name of Henry Leonard occurs frequently in the records for many years. The first mention is Angust 27, 1697, of "Henry Leonard's saw-mill, on Saw-Mill Brook, on the Manasquan road." March 6, 1706, a road was ordered laid from Lawrence Mill, on Hop Brook, to Leonard's Mill. Mention is again made in 1709, as Henry Leonard's saw-mill in

544

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Middletown ; and many times as "ye Leonard's mill." Samuel Leonard was a justice in 1700. An old tide-mill was standing many years ago on Mine Run, the site of which is now out in the bay. The Leonard family lived many years at Shoal Harbor, and are still living at the place called Leonardsville.

A store was opened at the place many years ago by Thomas Leonard, and a post-office was established. Soon after the opening of the At- lantic Highlands it was moved to that place. A Baptist chapel was erected in 1883, and dedi- cated in June of that year. It is under charge of the Navesink Baptist Church.

. On the bay, near Leonardsville, is " Apple- gate's Doek," located on a part of a large tract of land lying along the bay, which, in 1674, was the subject of a dispute between Bartholomew and Thomas Applegate and Richard Sadler on one part, and John Bowne and others of the Monmouth settlers on the other. The case is explained with tolerable clearness in the fol- lowing extract from the minutes of " A Council held at Fort Willem Hendrick (New York City), on Thursday, the 8th of March, 1674, and presided over by the Dutch Governor-Gen- eral, Anthony Colve." This was during the brief reoccupation of New York by the Dutch, in 1673-74. The extract is here given, viz .:

" Read and considered the petition of Bartholomew Appelgadt, Thomas Appelgadt and Riehard Sadler requesting in substance that they may be allowed to purchase from the Indians a tract of land situate about two leagues on this side of Middle Towne, near the Nevesings, fit for a settlement of 6 a 8 families, etc. Whereupon it is ordered: The Petitioners' re- quest is allowed and granted, on condition that after the land be purchased, they take out patents in form for it, and actually settle it within the space of two years after having effected the purchase, on pain of forfeiture."

At another council held by Governor-General Colve on the 18th of the same month,

"John Bound [Bowne] and Richard Hartshooren [ Hartshorne], residing at Middletown, both for them- selves and partners, give notice that the land granted to Bartholomew Appelgadt, Thomas Appelgadt and Richard Sadler on their petition, is included in their, the Petitioner's, patent, requesting therefore that said land may again be denied to said Appelgates: Or- dered : Petitioners shall, within six weeks from this

date, prove that said land is included within their patent, when further order shall be made in the pre- mises."

There is little doubt that the Applegates sus- tained their claim, as some of the family lived and owned land in that vicinity for many gen- erations.

Port Monmouth is in the north part of the township, on Shoal Harbor, and at the northern terminus of the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad, now the New Jersey Southern.

Prior to 1854 the place, which afterwards be- came Port Monmonth, was known in general terms as Shoal Harbor. In this year a plank- road was built from Middletown village, through Chanceville (now New Monmouth), to the point then for the first time called Port Mon- mouth. The land on which it is situated was a part of the Thomas Seabrook estate.

The Port Monmouth Transportation Com- pany was incorporated April 5, 1855, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and with the following-named directors : Charles Morford, Aaron Seabrook, Jacob Conover, William Mor- ford, John B. Crawford, Garret Van Dorn, Elias Morford and William W. Murray. This com- pany built a long pier out into the bay to deep water, and built the steamboat " Eagle," to run from their pier to New York. A large hotel was also built, called the Port Monmouth Hotel.

Upon the opening of the Raritan and Dela- ware Bay Railroad to this point, making a route to New York by the connecting steamers, a large business was done, particularly during the War of the Rebellion. The steamers "Tama- nend," "Jesse Hoyt" and others ran at different times on the line from the railway terminus to New York. During the time in which the railway traffic and travel passed by way of Port Monmouth it was a place of ex- tensive business, but after the opening of the New York and Long Branch Railroad it de- clined rapidly, and is now a place of much less importance than formerly.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Port Monmouth was organized in 1864, and the present church was creetel in 1866. The

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MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

pastors have been the Rev. Ananias Lawrence, C. C. Eastlaek, S. H. Asay, J. F. Heilenman, E. T. Tunnicliff, J. Garrison, W. 1. Massey, W. Franklin, E. Waters, L. A. Beeman and J. F. Seachrist, the present pastor. Harmony Church is now connected with this church, and the membership of both is one hundred and fifty.

The Port Monmouth post-office was estal)- lished at the terminus of the railroad in 1861, with the Rev. William V. Wilson as postmas- ter. He still holds the office.

An enterprise was begun along the shore in 1871 of packing menhaden (fish) in oil. The business was carried on by Coit & Co., Ameri- can Club Fish Company and Stanley & Co. It was carried on for four or five years, but finally abandoned. A. Osborn & Son, David Vail and Daniel Vail are now using large quantities of menhaden, extracting the oil for painting and selling the refuse for fertilizing purposes.

Leedsville is in the south part of the township, a short distance from Swimming River, which there forms the boundary against Shrewsbury.

In this locality William Leeds purchased of the proprietors a large tract of land on Swim- ming River, and March 29, 1680, he purchased the Indian right of Cherewas-Melileth, Cherles, Puropa, Lendreck, Iraseef, Mestoa, Poruras, Leoples, Secoes and Metopeek. Iraseef was called the sachem of Wickoton. Upon this tract of land William Leeds built a house which is mentioned in a road record of 1687 as "Wil- liam Leeds' new house." A great portion of this land was left by Leeds in his will to the Epis- copal Church of Shrewsbury, at that time em- bracing Christ Church of Middletown. This was held by the two congregations in common until 1855, when the property was divided.

The village of Leedsville is on the northern boundary of the Leeds tract, and as early as 1800 it acquired the name of Sandy New, by which it was known many years. Hendrick Bennett kept a tavern at the place from 1800 to 1820. It was later kept by Benjamin Lever- son and by Gilbert Clayton, who was the last. In 1841, John H. Adlem bought the tavern property, and still owns it. Joseph Stillwell erected the present hotel about 1829.

A post-office was established here in 1841. The postmasters have been Samuel T. Holmes, Joseph Thomson, Cyrenus Thompson, Frank Ryan, Henry H. Adlem, Constant Ingling and Tenbrook Davis. The office was abandoned several years ago.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT LEEDSVILLE Was organized in 1846, and October 10th in that year elected James Grover, John N. Johnson, Daniel Polhemus and Horace Gleason trustees. The society was incorporated February 25, 1847. A site was procured and timber was made ready for the raising of a meeting-house, when some financial difficulty occurred and the project of building was abandoned. It was again started in 1868 and a chapel was built, which was dedicated February 17, 1869. In 1876 the society was involved in financial diffi- culty and the house was sold to John Bergen and Jolin Sutton, two Baptists of Red Bank, and in 1880 the society purchased and now own it. The pulpit has been supplied by the Red Bank Baptist Church from the first, and it is now a part of that church.

New Monmouth (formerly Chanceville) is situated in the western part of the township, north of Middletown village.

The land on which New Monmouth stands was in the hands of the Morford family before 1840, when William and Charles Morford opened a store and kept it from that time for many years. A post-office was established and Henry Morford became the postmaster. Heafterwards went to Keyport and published the New Jersey Standard, and became a writer of some note. He was succeeded as postmaster by Howard Van Tassell, and H. J. Frost, who is the present postmaster.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT CHANCEVILLE was organized in 1854, largely from members of the First Baptist Church of Middletown. In the next year the present church building was erected and also a chapel. The church was re- modeled and enlarged in 1860. The present membership is one hundred and forty-four. The Rev. William V. Wilson, of Port Monmouth, has been pastor of this society from its organization.

546

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH was organ- ized in 1876 and has a membership at present of six hundred souls. The corner-stone of the church was laid June 21, 1878. A mission was begun here several years before by Father Danielson, and in 1876 Father John J. F. O'Connor became rector, and is now in charge. Morrisville Catholic Church is also under his care.

At " Holland," on the west line of the town- ship, stands the Lyster house, which was built in 1730 by one of the family who came from Long Island and settled there. Dur- ing the Revolution there were two brothers, Peter and Cornelius Lyster. The latter was the grandfather of Hendrick V. Lyster, now living near there. Peter lived and died on the homestead. John P., his son, was a soldier in the Revolution. Emma and Catharine Lyster, granddaughters of Peter, now live in the old homestead house.

Morrisville is a settlement on the township line between Holmdel and Middletown. The place has a store, a school-house and a few dwellings.

Prior to 1833 a Methodist Society was or- ganized at Scott's Corners (now Morrisville), and.on March 30th in that year it was incor- porated and trustees chosen. A lot was pur- chased not far from the Corners and a meeting- house erected upon it, which was also used for school purposes. On the 28th of March, 1845, the lot was sold by John B. Crawford, Samuel H. Smith and David H. Bennett, trustees of the church, to the school trustees. No perma- nent organization seems to have been held from this time.

Chapel Hill village is in the northern central part of Middletown township, two miles east of Middletown village and nearly the same dis- tance south from the shore of the bay. This place had been known as "High Point " for many years prior to 1800. Soon after that date it began to be called by its present name, . because of the erection there of a Baptist meet- ing-house or ehapel.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH at what was soon afterwards known as Chapel Hill was organ- ized as the "Independent Baptist Society and congregation at High Point, Middletown." June 17, 1809, the following-named trustees were elected : Rev. John Cooper, John Stillwell, Henry Johnson, Job Layton, William Norris and John Johnson. A meeting-house was erected which was known as High Point Chapel. How long the Rev. Mr. Cooper re- mained in charge has not been ascertained. The society was not incorporated until January 14, 1829.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized and incorporated at the place October 13, 1828, with the following trustees : James Lewis, William Baker and John Taylor. This society, early in 1829, purchased the High Point Chapel, and used it until the Methodist Episcopal Church was erected at Navesink, when it was abandoned and the house sold to Deacon An- drew Brown, of the First Middletown Baptist Church. Among the ministers of the Method- ist Church were Revs. Loudenslager, Andrews, Jaquett, and in 1859-60, William A. Brooks. Af- ter the purchase of the chapel by Deacon Brown services were held occasionally by the pastor of the Middletown Baptist Church, and upon Dea- con Brown's decease he left the chapel, by will, to the First Baptist Church of Middletown, who now use it as a place of worship.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 16

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 994

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994