History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 23

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 23

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"As the method ordered by the Congress seems to be the only peaceable method the case will admit of, on failure of which, confirmed Slavery or a civil war of course succeeds ; the bare mention of either of the two last is shocking to human nature, more partieu- larly so to all trne friends of the English Constitution: Therefore it becomes the indispensable Duty of all such to use their utmost endeavours in favour of the first or peaceable method, and suffer it not to misearry or fail of it> salutary and much desired effects by any sinister views or indolence of theirs. Surely ex- peeting on the one hand to be loaded with the curses arising from slavery to the latest posterity, or on the other hand, the guilt of blood of thousands of their Brethren and fellow Christians to lay at their door, and to be justly required at their hands. Think well of this before it is too late, and let not the precions moments pass."

The meeting was held, but without result as to the appointment of a committee, as is shown by the following extract from a letter written

123

MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

by an inhabitant of Shrewsbury (evidently of Resolve, viz. : That fromu and after this day, during Tory proclivities) to a friend in New York on our continuance as a Committee (unless they shall turn from the evil of their ways, and testify their re- pentance by adopting the measures of Congress), we will esteem and treat them, the said inhabitants of Shrewsbury, as enemies to their Kiug and Country, and deserters from the common cause of true freedom ; and we will hereafter break off all dealings and con- nection with them while they continue their opposi- tion .? We do furthermore recommend the same con- duct towards them to our constituents and all others, earnestly hoping it may be a means of reclaiming those deluded people to their duty and interest, whom we shall always be pleased to receive and treat as re- turning prodigals. the day following the meeting. He says: " In consequence of an anonymous advertisement fixed up in this place, giving notice to Free- holders and others to meet on Tuesday, the 17th inst., in order to choose a Committee of Inspec- tion, etc., between thirty and forty of the most respectable freeholders accordingly met, and after a few debates on the business of the Day, which were carried on with great decency and moderation, it was generally agreed (there being only four or five dissenting votes) that the ap- pointment of a committee was not only useless, " Signed by order of the Committee. "NATHANIEL SCUDDER, "Clerk. " Freehold." but they were apprehensive would prove a means of disturbing the peace and quietness which had hitherto existed in the township, and would continue to use their utmost endeavours to preserve and guard against running upon that rock on which, with much concern, they behold others, through inattentive rashness, daily split- ting."

The very unsatisfactory result in Shrewsbury and the repeated refusals of the people of that township to organize a committee, contintted and adhered fo during the following two months, finally brought out the following de- claration from the Freehold Committee,1 viz. :

"MARCH 14, 1775, P. M.

" The Committee of Observation for the Township of Freehold, in the County of Monmouth, New Jer- sey, have made repeated applications to the inhabit- ants of the Township of Shrewsbury earnestly re- questing and exhorting them to comply with the instructions of the late American Congress in consti- tuting for themselves a Committee of Observation, that they might conspire with their brethren in the other Towns belonging to the County in executing the Re- solves of said Congress; but although they have entertained hopes, notwithstanding their former op- position, that they would do it at their stated annual town-meeting, they are at this late hour informed that the said annual meeting of Shrewsbury i- broke up without a Committee being chosen, or any one step taken whereby the least disposition is discovered of their being inclined to adopt the Resolutions of said Congress. They think it therefore their duty, how- ever painful the declaration, to bear publick testimony against them.

And we do unanimously enter into the following

1 Minutes of the Council of Safety, 1775. page 99.

Finally, more than five months after the first committee had been organized in Monmouth County, the patriots of Shrewsbury prevailed over their opponents, as far as concerned the constituting of a Committee of Safety, the election of which is thus recorded:

"At a meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the township of Shrewsbury, this 27th day of May, 1775, the following persons were, by a great majority, chosen a Committee of Observation for the said Town, agreeable to the direction of the General Continental

2 An instance of action taken by the committee under this resolution is found in the minutes of the Council of Safety, 1775-76, p. 100, viz :

" FREEHOLD, MONMOUTH COUNTY, COMMITTEE, " April 3, 1775.

" Thomas Leonard, Esquire, having been duly notified to appear this day before the Committee of Inspection for the township of Freehold, in the County of Monmonth, New Jersey, and answer to a number of complaints made against him, did not think proper to attend.

" The Committee therefore proceeded, with care and impartiality, to consider the evidence laid before them, and were unanimously of opinion that the said Thomas Leon- ard, Esquire, has in a number of instances been guilty of a breach of the Continental Association, and that, pursuant to the tenvar of said Association, every friend of true free- ‹lom ought immediately to break off all connexion and deal- ings with him, the said Leonard, and treat him as a foe to the rights of British America.

"Ordered, That their Clerk transmit a copy of this judgment to the Press,

" Signed, accordingly, by

" NATH. SOUDDDER. " Clerk."

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Congress held at Philadelphia, September 5th, 1774, their Districts, and upon all occasions exert them- viz. :

" Josiah Holmes

Samuel Longstreet David Knott

Joseph Throckmorton

Nicholas Van Brunt

Benjamin Dennis

Cor. Vanderveer

Samuel Breese

Daniel Hendrickson

Garret Longstreet

Thomas Morford

Cornelius Lane

John Little

"Ordered : That Daniel Hendrickson and Nicholas Van Brunt, or either of thein, do attend the Provincial Congress now sitting at Trenton, with full power to represent there this Town of Shrewsbury. And that Josiah Holmes, David Knott and Samuel Breese be a sub-committee to prepare instructions for the Deputy or Deputies who are to attend the Congress at Tren- ton. Josiah Holmes was unanimously chosen Chair- man.

" JOSIAH HOLMES, " Chairman and Town Clerk."

On the 11th of January, 1775, the New Jersey members of the Continental Congress reported its proceedings to the Assembly of their province, which body unanimously signi- fied its approval of the said proceedings,1 and resolved that the same delegates should repre- sent New Jersey in the next Congress, in which they should propose and vote for every reason- able and constitutional measure for a settlement of the differences between the colonies and Great Britain, and should again report the pro- ceedings of the Congress to the Assembly of the province.

A great majority of the people in all parts of the province of New Jersey approved the ob- jects of the association adopted by the Conti- mental Congress, and meetings, numerously attended, were held in the different counties, and in many of the townships, for the purpose of organizing to carry its measures into effect. Some of the means proposed to be adopted to accomplish the objects desired are shown in the minutes of a meeting held in Hanover township Morris County, February 15, 1775, which re- solved unanimously as follows:

"1st. That they will discourage all unlawful, tu- multuous and disorderly meetings of the people within

selves to the utmost of their power, and oppose and prevent any violence offered to the person or property of any one.

" 2d. That they will take notice of all Horse Racing, C'ock-Fighting and every kind of Gaming whatsoever, and cause the offenders to be prosecuted according to law; and discourage every species of extravagant entertainments and amusements whatsoever, agreea- ble to the eighth article of the Association of the Continental Congress.

"3d. That this Committee will, after the first day of March next, esteem it a violation of the seventh article of the said Association if any person or per- sons should kill any Sheep until it is four years old, or sell any such Sheep to any person whom he or they may have cause to suspect will kill them or carry them to market; and, further, that they will esteem it a breach of said article if any inhabitant of this Township should sell any Sheep of any kind what- soever to any person dwelling out of this County, or to any person who they may have cause to suspect will carry them out of this County, without leave first obtained of this Committee.

"4th. That we do recommend to the inhabitants of this Township the cultivation of Flax and Hemp to the greatest extent that their lands and circum- stances will admit of.

"5th. That from several Pamphlets and Publica- tions printed by James Rivington, of New York, Printer, we esteem him as an incendiary, employed by a wicked Ministry to disunite and divide us; and therefore we will not, for ourselves, have any connec- tion or dealings with him, and do recommend the same conduct towards him to every person of this Township; and we will discountenance any Post- Rider, Stage-Driver or Carrier who shall bring his Pamphlets or Papers into this County.

"6th. That if any manufacturer of any article made for home consumption, or any Vender of Goods or Merchandises, shall take advantage of the necessities of his country by selling at an unusual price, such person shall be considered an enemy to his country; and do recommend it to the inhabitants of this Town- ship to remember that after the first day of March next no East Indian Tea2 is to be used in any case whatsoever.

1 .. Such members as were Quakers excepting only to snch parts as seemed to wear an appearance or might have a tendency to force, as inconsistent with their religious principles."-Gordon's " History of New Jersey," p. 157.

2 \ " Monmouth Tea Party" was held in April, 1775, in Sandy Itook Bay. A vessel having arrived at the tlook from England, the pilots all refused to take her up to New York until they were well assured she had no tea on board, -such being their striet instructions from the Committee of Safety. It was finally found that eighteen chests of the forbidden article were on board, whereupon a party of men boarded her, threw the tea into the bay, and even then forbade the captain from going to the city, but forced him to put to sea and return to England.

125

MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

"7th. That we will in all cases whatsoever, and at all events, use our utmost endeavors to comply with and enforce every article of the Association of the General Continental Congress."

These resolutions, being nearly identical in their import with those passed by meetings of freeholders and committees in nearly all the other counties, are reprodueed here at length as showing the remarkable earnestness with which

Upon the receipt of the alarming news from the people indor-ed and promised "to comply | Lexington, the Committee of Correspondence with and enforce every article of the Associa- for the province was summoned by its chair- tion." The condemnation of Rivington and man to convene for deliberation, and to take such action as might seem necessary. The committee accordingly met, and the following is the record2 of its proceedings on that occa- sion, viz. : his publications, so strongly expressed in these resolutions-and quite as strongly in the decla- ration of the Freehold committee, before quoted -was enunciated in the same forcible manner in other county meetings, by some of which he was denounced as "a vile Ministerial hire- " At a meeting of the New Jersey Provincial Com- mittee of Correspondence (appointed by the Provincial Congress) at the City of New Brunswick, on Tuesday, the second day of May, Anno Domini 1775, agreeable to summons of Hendrick Fisher, Esq., Chairman. ling employed to disunite the colonies, and ca- himniate all their measures entered into for the publick good ;" as an enemy to his country, and a person to be hated, shunned and dis- countenanced by all friends of American liberty.

On the morning of Wednesday, the 19th of April, 1775, a detachment of British regular troops that had been sent out from Boston to the town of Coneord, Mas -. , met and fired on a body of armed, but unorganized and undisci- plined, farmers and mechanics, who had collected at Lexington Common. The volley of the regulars told with an effeet fatal to some of the Provineials, and this was the first blood shed in the war of the Revolution. Before the crack of the yeomen's rifles had ceased to sound along the road from Lexington to Boston, the Com- mittee of Safety of the town of Watertown had sent out express-riders to carry the news south and west. The dispatch destined for New York and Philadelphia passed on through Worcester, Norwich, New London, Lyme, Say- brook, Guildford, Brandford, New Haven and Fairfieldl (being successively forwarded by re- lays by the committees of these places), and reached the chamber of the New York con- mittee at four o'clock p.M., on Sunday, the 23d of April. From New York 1 the dispatch

1 At New York the dispatch was thus indorsed by the committee : " Recd. the within Account by express and

was forwarded with all haste to New Bruns- wiek, from which place the momentous tidings spread like wild-fire up the valley of the Raritan to the mountains, and in the other direction, across the hills and plains of Middle- sex and Monmouth to the sea, while the mes- sengers with the committee's dispatch sped on to Trenton and Philadelphia.

" Present, Hendrick Fisher, Samuel Tucker, Joseph Borden, Joseph Riggs, Isaae Pearson, John Chet- wood, Lewis Ogden, Isaac Ogden, Abraham Hunt and Elias Boudinot, Esquires.

"The Committee, having seriously taken into con- sideration as well the present alarming and very ex- traordinary conduct of the British Ministry, for carry- ing into execution sundry Acts of Parliament for the express purpose of raising a revenue in America, and other unconstitutional measures therein mentioned ; and also the several aets of hostility that they have actually commenced for this purpose by the Regular Forces under General Gage against our brethren of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, and not knowing how soon this Province may be in a state of confusion and disorder if there are not some

forwarded by express to New Brunswick, with Di- rections to stop at Elizabeth Town, and acquaint the Committee there with the following particulars. By order of the Committee, Isaac Low, Chairman. The Committee at New Brunswick are requested to forward this to Phila." The other indorsements made on the dis- patch in its passage through New Jersey were as follows : " New Brunswick, Ap. 24, 1775, 2 o'clock in the morning. reed. the above express and forwarded to Princeton,-Wm. Oake, Jas. Neilson, Az. Dunham, come."; " Princeton, Monday, Apl. 24. 6 o'clock, and forwd. to Trenton, -Tho. Wiggins, Jon. Baldwin, com. members" ; " Trenton, Mon- day, Apl. 24, 9 o'clock in the morning. reed. the above per express and forwarded the same to the Committee of Phila- delphia .- Sam Tucker, Isaac Smith. come."

2 Minutes of the Provincial Congress and Council of Safety, 1775-76, p. 108.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

effectual measures speedily taken to prevent the same; this Committee are unanimously of opinion, and do hereby advise and direct, that the Chairman do im- mediately call a Provincial Congress to meet at Tren- ton on Tuesday, the twenty-third day of this instant, in order to consider and determine such matters as may then and there come before them; and the several Counties are hereby desired to nominate and appoint their respective Deputies for the same, as speedily as may be, with full and ample powers for such purposes as may be thought necessary for the peculiar exigencies of this Province.

"The Committee do also direct their Chairman to forward true copies of the above minute to the several County Committees of this Province without delay.

" HENDRICK FISHER, " Chairman."

In accordance with this call of the committee, delegates from the several counties of the prov- ince assembled on Tuesday, the 23d of May, at Trenton, where, on the following day, they organized as "The Provincial Congress of New Jersey," by electing Hendrick Fisher president, Jonathan D. Sergeant secretary, and William Paterson and Frederick Frelinghuysen as-ist- ant secretaries. The number of delegates in attendance was eighty-seven. Those represent- ing Monmouth County were Edward Taylor, Joseph Saltar, Robert Montgomery, John Holmes, Jolin Covenhoven, Daniel Hendrick- son and Nicholas Van Brunt. One of these, Edward Taylor, was at the same time a mem- ber of the Colonial Assembly of New Jersey.

The Provincial Congress remained in session at Trenton eleven days. The most important business of the session was consummated on the day of adjournment, in the adoption of "a plan for regulating the Militia of this Colony," and the passage of "an ordinance for raising a sum of money for the purpose therein men- tioned,"-that is to say, for the purpose of organizing and arming the militia troops and preparing them for active service when neces- sary. The preamble and first three sections of the militia bill then passed were as follows:

that the inhabitants of this Province be forthwith properly armed and disciplined for defending the cause of American freedom. And, further, considering that, to answer this desirable end, it is requisite that snch persons be intrusted with the command of the Militia as can be confided in by the people, and are truly zealous in support of our just rights and privi- leges, do recommend and advise that the good people of this Province henceforward strictly observe the following rules and regulations, until this Congress shall make further order therein :

"Ist. That one or more companies, as the case may require, be immediately formed in each Township or Corporation, and. to this end, that the several Com- mittees in this Province do, as soon as may be, acquaint themselves with the number of male inhabit- ants in their respective districts, from the age of sixteen to fifty, who are capable of bearing arms ; and thereupon formi them into companies consisting, as near as may be, of eighty men each; which companies so formed shall, each by itself, assemble and choose, by plurality of voices, four persons among them- selves, of sufficient substance and capacity for its officers,-namely, one captain, two lientenants and an ensign.

"2d. That the officers so chosen appoint for their respective companies fit persons to be sergeants, cor- porals and drummers.

"3d. That as soon as the companies are so formed the officers of such a number of companies as shall by them be judged proper to form a regiment do assemble and choose one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, a major and an adjutant for each regiment."

The " ordinance," also passed on the last day of the session, and having for its object the raising of funds, principally for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the militia bill, recited and declared that :

" Whereas, It has become absolutely necessary, in the present dangerous and extraordinary state of public affairs, in which the usual resources of govern- ment appear to be insufficient for the safety of the people, and in which the good people of this Province have therefore thought proper to choose Deputies in this present Congress, that a fund be provided for the use of the Province : We, the said Deputies, being per- suaded that every inhabitant is willing and desirous to contribute his proportion of money for so import- ant a purpose, do, pursuant to the powers intrusted to us by the people, resolve and direct that the sum of Ten Thousand Pounds, Proclamation Money, be immediately apportioned and raised for the use afore- said; the same to be apportioned, laid out and disposed of in such manner as hereinafter is directed."

" The Congress, taking into consideration the cruel and arbitrary measures adopted and pursued by the British Parliament and present ministry for the pur- pose of subjugating the American Colonies to the I most abject servitude, and being apprehensive that all pacific measures for the redress of our grievances The amounts to be raised under this ordinance will prove ineffectual, do think it highly necessary | by the several counties of the province were

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MONMOUTH COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

apportioned to them as follows: Bergen, £664 88. Od .; Burlington, £1071 13s. 4d .; Cape May, £166 18s. Od .; Cumberland, £385 6s. 8d .; E -- sex, £742 18s. Od .; Gloucester, £763 2%. 8d .: Hunterdon, £1363 168. 8d .; Middlesex, £872 68. 8d., Monmouth, £1069 2. &d .; Morris, £723 8%. Od .; Salem, £679 12s. Od .; Somer- set, £904 2% Od .; Sussex, 598 5%. +d.

Other sections of the ordinance pointed out the manner of assessing and collecting the tax, and provided that when the amount collected in a county should be received by the county ? collector he should pay the same over to the county committee, "to be disposed of by them in such manner as they in their discretion shall think most proper" to meet expen-es arising from the exigencies of the times. After the adoption of these measures for the public safety it was by the Congress

" Ordered, That Mr. Fisher, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Dan- iel Hunt, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. I. Pearson, Mr. Dunham, Mr. Schureman, Mr. John Hart, Mr. Bor- den, Mr. Deare. Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Schenck, Mr. Ralph Hart and Mr. Heard, or any three of them, in conjunction with the President or Vice-President, be a Committee of Correspondence, with power to con- vene this Congress."

Immediately after the appointment of the Committee of Correspondence, the Congress ad- journed, June 3, 1775.

It is a rather remarkable fact in the history of this Provincial Congress of New Jersey that, although one of its first act, was to declare that its members had "assembled with the pro- founde-t veneration for the person and family of Hi- Sacred Majesty, George III., firmly pro- fessing all due allegiance to his rightful authority and government,"1 the close of it> first >es-ion was marked by the adoption of the most vigorous measures in preparation for armed resistance to that sovereign's authority.

Two weeks from the day on which the Con- gress of New Jersey closed it- session at Tren- ton, a force of British regular- moved from Boston to Charlestown, and marched in splendid order and perfect confidence up the acelivity of

Bunker Hill to attack the >light defenses of the patriot force that stood waiting for them in -ilence upon the summit. Twice were the scarlet lines hurled back in disorder down the slope, but as often did they re-form and return to the a-sault. Their third charge was successful; the Provincial force-, undismayed, but with empty musket> and cartridge-boxe-, were at last forced from their position, and the soldiers of the King carried and held the blood-soaked crest. This event -the battle of Bunker Hill-is as well known and conspicuous in history as that of Marathon or Waterloo, and it was more im- portant in its results than either. Just before its occurrence General George Washington had been appointed2 by the Continental Congress 3 commander-in-chief of the forces of the United Colonies, and immediately afterwards he as- sumed command of the army at Cambridge and disposed his thin lines to encircle the British forces in the town of Boston.

In less than a week after the memorable battle in Charlestown, the startling news had been re- ceived in Philadelphia, and was known in every township of New Jersey. In this alarming state of affairs the general Committee of Corre- spondence of the province, exercising the powers intrusted to them, called a second session of the Provincial Congress, which body accordingly convened at Trenton on the 5th of Augu-t following. Eighty-three members were in at- tendance. Those of Monmouth County were Ed- ward Taylor, Robert Montgomery. John Holmes, John Covenhoven and Daniel Hendrickson.

The Congress at this session adopted a num- ber of measures for promoting the public safety, the principal of which were a resolution to pro- vide for the collection of the ten thousand pounds tax ordered at the May and June ses- sion, and a resolution "for further regulating the Militia, etc.," the first-named being the first business that was attended to after the opening of the session. It appears that many obstacles had been encountered in the collection of the tax, and that in a great number of instances payment had been avoided or refused.

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 23

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148