USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 31
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
"For this purpose I have addressed the magistrates of every county, to induce them to undertake the business. This mode I have preferred, as the one least inconvenient to the inhabitants; but, in case the requisition should not be complied with, we must then raise the supplies our- selves in the best manner we can. This I have signified to the magistrates.
127
CLOSING REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS.
"I have pitched upon you to superintend the execu- tion of this measure in the county of Bergen, which is to furnish two hundred head of cattle and eight hundred bushels of grain.
"You will proceed, then, with all dispatch, and call on the justices; will deliver the inclosed address, enforcing it with a more particular detail of the sufferings of the troops, the better to convince them of the necessity of their exertions. You will, at the same time, let them del- icately know that you are instructed, in case they do not take up the business immediately, to begin to impress the articles called for throughout the county. You will press for an immediate answer, and govern yourself accordingly. If it be a compliance, you will concert with them a proper place for the reception of the articles and the time of the delivery, which for the whole is to be in four days after your application to them. The owners will bring their grain and cattle to this place, where the grain is to be measured and the cattle estimated by any two of the magistrates, in conjunction with the commissary, Mr. Voorhees, who will be sent to you for the purpose, and certificates given by the commissary, specifying the quan- tity of each article and the terms of payment. These are to be previously settled with the owners, who are to choose whether they will receive the present market price-which, if preferred, is to be inserted-or the mar- ket price at the time of payment. Immediately on re- ceiving the answer of the magistrates you will send me word what it is.
" In case of refusal you will begin to impress till you make up the quantity required. This you will do with as much tenderness as possible to the inhabitants, having regard to the stock of each individual, that no family may be deprived of its necessary subsistence. Milch cows are not to be included in the impress. To enable you to execute this business with more effect and less incon- venience, you will call upon Colonel Fell and any other well affected active man in the county, and en- deavor to engage their advice and assistance. You are also authorized to impress wagons for the transportation of the grain.
" If the magistrates undertake the business, which I should infinitely prefer on every account, you will en- deavor to prevail upon them to assign mills for the re- ception and preparation of such grain as the commissary thinks will not be immediately needful in the camp.
" I have reposed this trust in you from a perfect con- fidence in your prudence, zeal and respect for the rights of citizens. While your measures are adapted to the emergency, and you consult what you owe to the ser- vice, I am persuaded that you will not forget that, as we are compelled by necessity to take the property of cit- izens for the support of the army, on whom their safety depends, you should be careful to manifest that we have a respect for their rights, and wish not to do anything which that necessity, and even their own good, do not absolutely require.
" I am, sir, with great respect and esteem, "Your most obedient servant, "Go. WASHINGTON."
"his nest of American hornets " that he beat a hasty retreat. During this incursion Mrs. Caldwell, wife of a chaplain in our army, was wantonly murdered in her own house. When the enemy learned the troops were on the march they made another attempt to reach Morristown, and on the 23d of June the vigilant sentinels on the Short Hills discovered signs of invasion and gave the alarm. On that day the battle of Springfield was fought. Washington heard of the invasion when near Pompton and hastened back, with a body of troops, to support Greene; but the enemy, after having forced back the Americans and burned Springfield, finding they were likely to be surrounded by a superior force, retired.
The following pasquinade, in ridicule of this British attempt to reach Morristown, was publicly posted in New York city, August 12tl1 1780, and afterward printed in the Political Magazine, London, 1781, pages 290, 291:
" Old Knip-(Knyphausen) And old Clip-(Gen. Robertson) Went to the Jersey shore The rebel rogues to beat ; But at Yankee Farms They took the alarms At little harms,
And quickly did retreat.
Then after two days' wonder Marched boldly to Springfield town, And sure they'd knock the rebels down ; But as their foes Gave them some blows, They, like the wind, Soon changed their mind, And in a crack Returned back From not one third their number !"
The remarkable fact remains that the enemy never reached our county, except now and then a marauding party.
MUTINY AMONG THE TROOPS.
Although the main army left Morristown in the sum- mer of 1780, this point was of too great importance to leave entirely undefended. The local militia and some other forces still remained. It was on the first day of the following year, January Ist 1781, that the mutiny of the Pennsylvania troops, under General Wayne, the "Mad Anthony " of the Revolution, occurred. These troops, 2,000 in number, had enlisted for three years, "or during the war." There was no thought that the war would last longer than three years; and the phrase "or during the war " meant, they claimed, that they should be dismissed at its expiration in case it did not last three years. Their officers gave to it the other construction, that they had enlisted for the war, no matter how long it might continue.
Washington left Morristown in the early part of June. Added to this cause of dissatisfaction was the fact that they had received no pay for twelve months, and were without necessary clothing and food. These circum- stances were sufficient to excite a spirit of insurrection, which on the date above mentioned manifested itself in open revolt. On the roth of June he was at Springfield, where he had his headquarters until the 21st, on which day, with the exception of two brigades under General Greene, the whole army was marching slowly toward the Hudson via Pompton. On.the 6th of June General Knyphausen had attempted to reach Morristown. He landed at Eliza- On a preconcerted signal the whole line, except a part bethtown Point and proceeded as far as Connecticut of three regiments, paraded under arms without their Farms; but was met so warmly by General Maxwell and | officers, marched to the magazines and supplied them-
18
I28
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
selves with provisions and ammunition; and, seizing six field pieces, took horses from General Wayne's stable to transport them. The officers of the line collected those who had not yet joined the insurgents and endeavored to restore order; but the revolters fired and killed a Captain Billing, and wounded several other officers, and a few men were killed on each side. The mutineers com- manded the party who opposed them to come over to them instantly, or they should be bayoneted, and the order was obeyed.
General Wayne endeavored to interpose his influence and authority, urging them to return to their duty till their grievances could be inquired into and redressed. But all was to no purpose, and on cocking his pistol they instantly presented their bayonets to his breast, saying: "We respect and love you; often have you led us into the field of battle, but we are no longer under your com- mand; we warn you to be on your guard; if you fire your pistol, or attempt to enforce your commands, we shall put you instantly to death."
Finding both threats and expostulation in vain, Gen- eral Wayne resolved to accompany his men, and ordered his quartermaster to supply them with provisions.
That these troops were inspired by no traitorous sen- timents is evidenced by the fact that Sir Henry Clinton, hearing of the mutiny, sent two emissaries, a British ser- geant, and a New Jersey tory by the name of Ogden, to offer them flattering inducements to place themselves under the protection of the British government. These offers were spurned, and the two emissaries in due time handed over to General Wayne. They were eventually tried as spies, convicted, and immediately executed.
On the 4th of January the mutineers reached Prince- ton, where they were met by a committee of Congress, and their demands satisfied.
The Jersey troops were not proof against the example of their Pennsylvania comrades, as appears from the private journal of William S. Pennington. He writes:
"Monday, 22d (of January 1781), we received informa- tion that the Jersey line had followed the example of Pennsylvania in mutinying, in consequence of which a detachment of artillery, consisting of three 3-pounders, to be commanded by Captain Stewart, was ordered to parade immediately. I was ordered to join the above detachment vice Alling.
25th .- This day the detachment marched to Smith's Cove, and halted for the night.
26th .- This day we marched to Ringwood, and joined a detachment under Major General Howe.
"Saturday, 27th .- This day the above detachment marched at 1 o'clock, and at daylight surrounded the Jersey encampment near Pompton, where the mutineers were quartered. No other terms were offered to them than to immediately parade without their arms. General Howe likewise sent them word, by Lieutenant Colonel Barber, that if they did not comply in five minutes he would put them all to the sword, rather than run the risk of which they surrendered. Upon which the general ordered a court martial in the field to try some of their leaders, three of whom, namely, Grant, Tuttle, and Gilmore, were sentenced to suffer death. Grant, from some circumstances in his behavior, was pardoned. Tuttle and Gilmore were immediately executed. The
mutineers returned to their duty, and received a general pardon."
THE MORRISTOWN GHOST.
Shortly after the Revolution considerable local history was made by the appearance of the far-famed Morristown Ghost.
It is not remarkable that the people of a century ago should have believed in witches and hobgoblins. We need not enumerate the causes of this superstitious credulity. The fact is that which now concerns us. The staid people of this vicinity were no exception to the general belief of that time in ghosts. The more recent freedom of our community from this superstition is probably due as much to the exposure of his ghostship, which we propose to relate, as to the advanced enlighten- ment of the age.
In the latter part of the last century a book appeared of which the following is the title page:
"The Morristown Ghost; an Account of the Beginning, Transactions, and Discovery of Ransford Rogers, who seduced many by pretended Hobgoblins and Apparitions, and thereby extorted money from their pockets. In the County of Morris and State of New Jersey, in the year 1788. Printed for every purchaser-1792."
Who wrote and who published this pamphlet can not now be certainly ascertained. Some supposed that Rogers himself wrote it, in order to increase his revenues and also to punish the Morristown people for their treatment of him. From the resemblance of the type and paper to that used in the New Jersey Journal of that date the suspicion is not unwarranted that the pamphlet was published by Sheppard Kollock, of Elizabethtown.
The names of many prominent persons in the com- munity figured in this pamphlet. It is not difficult there- fore to believe the tradition that the edition so far as possible was bought up and destroyed. Such things, however, refuse to die. David Young, "Philom.," whose name figured so conspicuously on the title pages of half the almanacs of forty years ago, accidentally found a copy of the work in Elizabeth; and thus in 1826 appeared "The Wonderful History of the Morristown Ghost; thoroughly and carefully revised. By David Young, Newark. Published by Benjamin Olds, for the author. J. C. Totten, Printer."
In 1876 a fac-simile copy of the original history of the Morristown ghost, "with an appendix compiled from the county records," was published by L. A. and B. H. Voght, and it can, we believe, still be secured from them.
The affair created intense excitement at the time, and not a little merriment at the expense of those so cleverly duped. A few years later it furnished the materials of an amusing comedy, which was played at a public exhibition in Newark, the author of which, if tradition may be trusted, was a son of Rev. James Richards, D. D., a former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of this place.
In the following account of this humbug we suppress
129
THE MORRISTOWN GHOST.
the names of the duped, as they are not generally known and some of their descendants are with us unto this day.
It was a common opinion at that time that large sums of money had been buried during the Revolutionary war by tories and others in Schooley's Mountain. It was supposed to be thus concealed to protect it on the one hand from confiscation by the colonists, or on the other from the demands of the war. Many of these tories never returned to their homes, while many of the other class died during the contest; their treasures being, so it was believed, still under the ground.
Moreover these treasures were guarded by the spirits, so that no one could obtain them who did not possess the art of dispelling spirits.
In the summer of 1788 two Morris county men, travel- ing through Smith's Clove, New York, fell in with a school teacher from Connecticut, one Ransford Rogers. These men had long been in search of some one who possessed sufficient power to recover the Schooley's Mountain treasure. Rogers professed to have a " deep knowledge of chymistry " and all the sciences, which gave him, he claimed, the power to raise and dispel good or evil spirits. Visions of speedy fortune rose before the two travelers, and they urged him to accompany them to Morristown; this, after a modest refusal, he consented to do, they promising him a school in the neighborhood. He accordingly came to Morristown and was installed as school teacher about three miles from the town, on the Mendham road; the school-house stood on the hill near where is now the residence of Samuel F. Pierson. He took charge of this school early in August, but being im- portuned to exhibit his art he found he needed an ac- complice and accordingly went back to New England for one, returning in September. Rogers now gathered his believers, to the number of about eight, and held a secret meeting; he assured them the treasure was there, and that it was absolutely necessary to raise and consult the guard- ian spirits before it could be obtained; this he assured them he was able to do, and at the close of the con- venticle enjoined them to refrain from all immorality lest the spirits should be provoked and withhold the treasure. The members of the company, trans- ported with dazzling, golden visions, communicated their hopes to friends, and their number was soon increased to forty. Rogers pretended to have frequent meetings with the spirits, and, to strengthen the faith of the weak, com- pounded substances which being thrown into the air would explode, producing various extraordinary and mysterious appearances, which the spectators believed to be caused by supernatural power; others were buried in the earth, and after a certain time would occasion dread- ful explosions, which in the night appeared very dismal and caused much timidity. The company was impatient of delay, and wished to proceed in quest of the promised | believing in Rogers, and confident the spirit would re- riches. A night was appointed for a general meeting, and though very stormy all were there, some riding as much as twelve miles for the purpose of attending. The If Rogers had stopped here and now he might have been feared and respected to the end of the chapter. But such was not the case. During the winter in which spirit now appeared, and told them they must meet on a certain night in a field half a mile from any house,
where they must form certain angles and circles, and not get outside the boundary of the same, on pain of extirpa- tion. On the appointed night they assembled, and about half past ten went within the circle, and forming a procession marched round and round. They were sud denly shocked by a terrible explosion in the earth, a short distance from them, caused as above stated but at- tributed by them to supernatural causes. Immediately the pretended ghosts made their appearance, hideous groans were heard, and they conversed with Rogers in the hearing of the company. The spirits informed them that in order to obtain the treasure it would be neces- sary for the members to deliver twelve pounds apiece to them (the spirits) as an acknowledgment. The company were adjured to acknowledge Rogers their leader. The pretended "ghosts " had machines over their, mouths which so changed their voices that they were unrecogniz- able. This was in November 1788. Frequent meetings were now held and at all some " manifestations " took place, such as groans, rappings, jingling of money, and sometimes a voice saying "PRESS FORWARD!" These spirits favored specie payment and refused to take the " loan paper " which was at that time current in New Jersey. But the members of the company, being confi- dent of speedy reimbursement, would give almost any discount to obtain the hard cash. In March, therefore, the money was nearly all paid, and several of the most credible gentlemen of the company were called out of bed at night by pretended spirits, and directed how to proceed. They now convened, privately as usual, and with various "manifestations " were told they should receive the treasure the first of May. The appointed time soon came, and the whole company assembled in an open field, in the aforementioned circles, and awaited the ghosts; these soon made their appearance, but at a small distance from the circle. "They exhibited symptoms of great choler and uttered the most horrible groans, wreathing themselves into various postures which ap- peared most ghastly in the circumambient darkness. They upbraided the company with the utmost severity, declaring that they had not proceeded regularly, that some of them were faithless, and that several things had been divulged which ought to have been kept profoundly secret "; that the wicked disposition of many of the company and their irregular proceedings had debarred them from receiving the treasures at present. The of- fended ghosts appeared so enraged that all thoughts of money were forgotten, and the members looked to Rogers only for protection. He appeared as much frightened as the rest, and was scarcely able to appease the spirits; after a variety of ceremonies, however, he succeeded in dispelling the apparitions, and tranquillity once more reigned within the circle. The company dispersed still turn and conduct them to their anticipated fortunes. So ended the first lesson.
130
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
the preceding events were taking place Rogers had given up his school and moved into Morristown. Here he be- came acquainted with two young men recently from Yankeedom, and they by some means became privy to his "ghostly" secrets. They wished to enter the company but he refused to admit them. They now persuaded him to undertake a second venthre. This he agreed to do, and accordingly met five persons whom they had induced to join in the enter- prise. The old tricks of groans and peculiar noises were resorted to, also a new one, viz .: Each one of the company, the plotters included, took a sheet of paper from a pile, and wrapping it around his wrist held it out at the door, for the spirit to write upon. After holding them thus a considerable time they withdrew them and, having previously huddled the papers together, exam- ined them, when lo! on one was written a time when they were to convene and receive further directions from the spirit! It is needless to say one of the plot- ters had previously prepared this paper. On the ap- pointed night they met at Rogers's house, and having first united in prayer each took a sheet of paper again, and proceeding to a field near the house they drew a circle, and with one arm raised fell on their faces and continued in prayer with their eyes closed, that the spirit might enter the circle and write on the papers. After a time they returned to the house, when, after shuffling the papers together, one was found to contain writing, so elegant they did marvel exceedingly! The import of the paper was that the company must be in- creased to eleven members, each of whom must pay the spirit twelve pounds gold-the old amount. Rogers now determined the scheme should be conducted under a re- ligious garb, and he visited church members in the char- acter of "the spirit of a just man," enjoining them to join the company. In this way he increased the num- ber to about thirty-seven, mostly religious men. Indi- vidual members frequently received nocturnal visits from the " spirits " and were told to "pray without ceasing," " look to God" etc. All the old tricks were resorted to to keep up the faith. Finally, when part of the money had been paid, Rogers presented each man with a parcel of burnt bones, powdered, which he told them was dust of the spirits' bodies, which he had received from them as a sign of their approbation. This was to be carefully guarded and not to be opened. The spirits advised all to drink liquor freely, and as a quantity of this was al- ways provided it is to be feared these church members did not always return home sober. Rogers even com- pounded pills, of which each person must take one and then drink freely to prevent serious effects-this by the spirits' orders.
All has worked well so far; now comes the explosion. One of the aged members, having occasion to leave home, through forgetfulness left his parcel of powder behind. His wife found it, and out of curiosity broke it open; but, perceiving the contents, feared to touch it, lest peradventure it should have some connection with witchcraft; she went immediately to Rev. Mr. for
his advice on the subject. When her husband returned he was terrified at what she had done, declaring he was ruined forever. She now insisted on knowing the con- tents, and, after promising to keep it secret, was told the story. She thereupon declared he was serving the devil, and refused to keep the secret, saying it was her duty to put an end to such proceedings. This alarmed Rogers, and he and his accomplices were now more busy than ever appearing as spirits. At last Rogers, having imbibed too much, appeared to converse with a gentleman one night, but made several blunders. The man's wife no- ticed this, but the man did not. Next morning, however, he arose early, and where the pretended spirit had been he had found tracks of a man, which he followed to a fence near by and there found a horse had been tied. Rogers was now tracked down, arrested, and confined in jail. He protested innocence, was bailed out and attempt- ed to leave the State, was again arrested, and confessed. Most of his followers remained firm before, but were compelled to believe his own confession. Rogers soon made his escape, how is not related. He had kept up the imposture about a year, and swindled his dupes to the tune of $1,300.
The moral of the Morristown Ghost is too apparent to need to be stated.
THE CHURCHES.
In our history for the present century we shall have occasion in detailing modern institutions often to go back for their beginnings to the last century. We begin with the churches. First in order of time is
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The desire of some to divide the Hanover church, re- ferred to on page 110, was strenuously opposed by the eastern portion of the parish. To quiet matters a resort was. had to the casting of lots, which resulted against the proposed division. To this decision, however, this branch of the congregation would not submit. For their action in this matter, though they gained their point, yet the church when organized called them to account. A public confession was required from Joseph Coe, John Lindsley, Joseph Prudden, Matthew Lum, Uriah Cutler, Stephen Freeman, Peter Condit, Jacob Ford, Joseph Howard, Benj. Bailey, Philip Condit, &c. The whole affair was carried up to synod in 1733, who strongly disapproved of the casting of lots, and resolved that in their poverty and weakness it might be very advisable for the people of West Hanover, at least for some time, to join them- selves with the congregations of East Hanover and Bask- ing Ridge "as may be most convenient, until they as well as the said neighboring congregations be more able to subsist of themselves separately." Yet if reunion was impracticable "the synod judge that the people of West Hanover be left to their liberty to erect themselves into a separate congregation." No doubt knowing the tem- per and state of feeling in this part of his field of labor this deliverance of synod was in no way satisfactory to Mr. Nutman, the pastor at Hanover, for at the same ses-
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.