History of Morris County, New Jersey, Part 47

Author: Halsey, Edmund Drake, 1840-1896; Aikman, Robert; Axtell, Samuel Beach, 1809-1891; Brewster, James F; Green, R. S. (Rufus Smith), 1848-1925; Howell, Monroe; Kanouse, John L; Megie, Burtis C; Neighbour, James H; Stoddard, E. W. (Elijah Woodward), 1820-1913
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: New York : W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 540

USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 47

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).

Many of the men of this township were in these battles. Some of them were killed and more of them were wounded. It was here that Captain Thomas of the ar- tillery had both legs shot off, and, lifting himself upon his mangled limbs, waved his sword, and cried as he sunk down to die, " Fight on, my boys! never give it up! " It was here that Eliakim Little, with his small company and a few pieces of artillery, held at bay a large body of the enemy for two mortal hours, until the general retreat. Many others died, or carried the wounds of that hot fight all the rest of their days. Several of our wounded men died at the tavern on the east side of the Passaic, opposite Chatham. British officers and soldiers, prison- ers, were taken to Morristown, on their way stopping at the tavern here near the liberty pole, where old Mrs. Richards said she saw the "red coats " moving in and out.

people more than ever. Whenever he came here he had a glad welcome. His home was apt to be that of his be- loved friend Deacon Ephraim Sayre, in whose front room, on the south end of the house, he used to preach. "standing in the southwest corner of the room, the people of the whole neighborhood gathering there to hear him." The house of Deacon Sayre referred to is the one now occupied by D. S. Evans, on . Academy Hill, the property being still owned by the descendants of the old Christian patriot. Mr. Tuttle narrates that once when Caldwell was about to preach in the open air, in Chat- ham, while a stage was in process of erection, an old sol- dier crowded through the throng, and said, "Let me have the honor of being his platform; let him stand on my body; nothing is too good for Parson Caldwell." His popularity indeed with all the patriots throughout this region was unbounded; while no man was more feared and hated by the tories and the British, unless it were his parishioner Governor Livingston, for whose capture or whose assassination the British authorities offered a re- ward. Those who would know more of Rev. James Caldwell will find further particulars in Dr. Murray's " Notes Concerning Elizabethtown," but much fuller in- formation in Dr. E. F. Hatfield's " History of Elizabeth." He was a remarkable man, whether viewed as preacher, pastor or patriot; of fine ability, of most unselfish aims,

197

LAST PATRIOT ENCAMPMENTS IN CHATHAM TOWNSHIP.

fearless courage and trust in God, and of great and valu- able service to his country. He was murdered at Elizabeth Point, by a man named Morgan, "one of the rebel twelve-months men." When the news of Caldwell's death reached this place his faithful friend Deacon Sayre hastened to Elizabethtown, and brought up to Bottle Hill and to his own house six children of these murdered parents. Here they were provided for until permanent provision was made for them elsewhere. These children cherished a great reverence for their father's friend, calling him their foster father.

General Anthony Wayne, who was in command at the time of the mutiny of the New Jersey troops, in January 1781, had his headquarters at the house of Deacon Ephraim Sayre. "The gen- eral's life-guards were stationed in the kitchen in the rear of the main house; while the room occupied by the general was the front room on the north end of the house. A small mulatto servant accompanied him to wait upon him; and in order to encourage in him the martial spirit the boy was fully armed and equipped with a keen wooden sword, which he took great pride in flour- ishing on all proper occasions."

In August 1781 Washington was about to close up the war, having cooped up Lord Cornwallis and the main British army in Yorktown, Va. Orders were given to.a French regiment and a New Jersey brigade stationed at West Point to move southward to Virginia and unite there with the main army of America in that final struggle. In order to deceive Sir Henry Clinton, then holding New York, these troops were ordered to form an encampment on the east side of the Passaic, opposite Chatham, and in every way to assume the appearance of being perma- nently quartered there, and with the probable design to an attack on Staten Island, which was a great depot of stores for the British army. Accordingly these troops came down from the north with all their artillery and bag- gage wagons, and made a regular encampment on the land immediately in front of the old tavern, on the south side of the road leading over Short Hills to the seaboard. Here they set up their tents, built ovens, and made all necessary arrangements for a great force of men; so that the impression was everywhere made that not these troops alone but a much larger body would be permanently here. The enemy's spies were around, and these things were soon carried to the British camp, creating the desired impression. On a certain evening the camp looked as usual; fires were lighted, sentries were set and the sol- diers ready for the night. In the morning every soldier had disappeared, the artillery and baggage were gone, and nothing was left behind except a long wooden shed under which the ovens had been built. The troops passed up Union Hill, through Green Village and Basking Ridge and on to Yorktown, and gave large help in that last act of the war. For years after the close of the war the ovens stood, as mementoes of this military ruse. This was the last time that Chatham township saw any considerable army, although after the capture of Cornwallis, and while negotiations were pending, a few

troops and a number of officers were here. The old par- sonage was rented and occupied by Colonel Barbour; Colonel Matthias Ogden resided with Major Luke Miller, in the old Miller homestead which is still standing, and Major Woodruff took up his abode with Deacon Sayre.

So the winter of 1782 passed away, the sounds of war dying out, with only an occasional reminder as some ex- press-rider would dash through with dispatches, or a company of soldiers returned north or south, or baggage wagons were driven along these roads leading to the great centers.

On the 19th of April 1783, exactly eight years after the battle of Lexington, the news was announced that articles of peace had been signed. Six weeks after that the American army was disbanded, and the New Jersey sol- diers came home. The old log cabins in Lowantica Val- ley were sold at auction, many of them being taken down and set up for various uses in the vicinity; occupied, some of them, for half a century afterward. How few who ride through the beautiful valley and cross its stream think of the old scenes enacted there; of the anxiety, sorrow and pain, and of the deaths witnessed there a hundred years ago. Time, which has obliterated the mounds where so many were buried, has long since blotted out the names of nearly all of these unknown patriots.

"On Fame's eternal camping ground Their silent tents are spread ; And Glory guards, with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead."

It has seemed to the writer that the Revolutionary days of Chatham township deserved and demanded the extended notice he has thus given them. Then was the special historic era of this whole region, the period of its highest honor, and also of its greatest sacrifices; those were the days unto which the inhabitants of this place, and especially the descendants of the men and women who lived and suffered then, will look back with interest and pride to the latest generations; as also they will long continue to inherit the blessings so painfully se- cured.

Another reason for an extended record in these pages exists in the fact that, while this local Revolutionary history is among the most interesting of all connected with the war, and not by any means the least important, yet no general history of the war gives any adequate ac- count of these events; indeed, such account could hardly be expected from writers who have to survey a wide na- tional field; this puts us under deeper obligations to such men as Dr. J. F. Tuttle and his lamented brother, to whose labors we are so much indebted, and also makes it obligatory on us in these pages to enter into these events with some fullness of detail.

When the war was ended this part of the State bore many marks of the great conflict. Indeed, deeper traces were left on hardly any other section of the country; and here as elsewhere society emerged but slowly out of the disasters of the long strife. This was true throughout the land, of the whole period during the Revolutionary war, and for many years after it. Society was unhinged,

198

HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.

uncertainty and dismay were abroad, young men were in the army, family ties were unloosed, and the churches partook of the calamities of the times. It is distressing to look over the ancient church records of those times, and to see how constant is the recurrence of cases of dis- cipline for the grosser forms of sin; and this continues, with diminishing frequency, down to the memory of many who are yet living.

FORMER PHYSICIANS.

The early physicians here were men of note. The earliest of whom there is record was Rev. Jacob Green, of Hanover. As is well known not a few clergymen of that day were also among the best physicians. The dis- tinguished Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, of Elizabeth, con- temporary with Green, " studied and practiced medicine and acquired a high reputation as a physician." Green was a careful student and practitioner of medicine. His salary being small his people encouraged him, saying that country congregations could not have ministers unless ministers would take some care to provide and help sup- port their own families; and voting that "Mr. Green practice physick if he can bair it and the presbytery ap- prove it." He practiced all through this region, with much reputation and success, for thirty years.

Dr. Berne (Bernardus) Budd was an early and dis- tinguished practitioner here. His father and grand- father were men of high position in New Jersey, and of great landed estates, the former owning the lands con- tiguous to and including Budd's Lake. The Budd fam- ily was quite famous for the number of medical mnen it produced. Dr. Berne Budd had a wide reputation as a physician, as well as high social position. Both failed to save him from " the crime of counterfeiting the bills of credit of the province of New Jersey." For this, with four others, also men of high social position, the doctor was convicted and sentenced to be hung; but through the efforts of influential friends these were all reprieved on the morning appointed for their execution, and were subsequently pardoned. His reputation as a physician still kept him in large practice. In 1777 he was army surgeon in a brigade of State troops, and he died in December of that year. He was buried at Columbia Bridge, but his grave has no stone.

Dr. John C. Budd succeeded his father, Berne, and practiced here for many years, living in Chatham, in what is known as Budd's lane. He was born in 1762 and lived to a great age, dying in his eighty-fourth year. He is very well remembered by many of the people here, and is usually spoken of as " old Doctor Budd." His skill was in high repute and his practice was widely extended, although he lacked gentleness of manner, and was pro- fane in speech.

ticing in Chatham township, especially as a surgeon, in which department he stood very high, his services being in requisition in distant places. He was a man of most estimable qualities, held in esteem by all men. He died in 1822.

During the latter days of "old Dr. Budd" Dr. Jeph- tha B. Munn practiced medicine here, and also Dr. Na- than Bishop, the former residing in Chatham, the latter in Madison. Dr. Bishop's failing health induced him to invite into partnership Dr. Henry P. Green, who came here in 1828. After a few years the former suffered from a stroke of paralysis and returned to Connecticut, his native state, where he died. This left Dr. Green with a large and laborious practice, which he maintained for thirty years, dying October 15th 1858. In addition to his medical cares he took a foremost place in all public plans, being an active member of the Presbyterian church and for many years the president of its board of trustees, and greatly interested in the educational interests of the town, and in the cause of temperance. He was always a courageous and outspoken man, and his influence abides.

ST. ELIZABETH'S ACADEMY,

Convent Station, is the mother house of the sisters of charity in the diocese of Newark.

This community of sisters of charity was established in Newark ir. September 1859, by the Rt. Rev. J. R. Bayley, who applied to the superiors of Mt. St. Vincent for sisters to begin the foundation. The two members chosen for this important work were Rev. Mother M. Xavier, the present superioress, and Sister M. Catherine, the mother assistant. To the former we are indebted for this account of the institution:

The building selected for their residence was the old " Ward mansion " on Washington street, of which the two foundresses, with five novices, who had been pre- paring for this foundation by a novitiate with the sisters of charity at Cedar Grove, Cincinnati, O., took posses- sion on the feast of St. Jerome, September 30th 1859.

Here they labored some time, but finding the building too small and ill adapted for the purpose of novitiate and boarding school, the latter of which was necessary for the support of the novitiate, they were anxious to obtain a larger and more suitable one; and they finally suc- ceeded in purchasing from Bishop Bayley the "Chegaray mansion," on the Madison and Whippany road. This property, which had been bought four years previous by Bishop Bayley for a college and diocesan seminary, was vacated in June 1860 and the pupils transferred to South Orange, where the present college of Seton Hall is located.

On the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, July 2nd 1860, Rev. Mother M. Xavier and five sisters took formal possession of the Chegaray mansion, which has ever since borne the title of "St. Elizabeth's Acad- emy," a boarding school for young ladies.

Dr. John Darcy (who married a granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Johnes of Morristown) was surgeon's mate in Spen- cer's regiment of the continental army in 1777. This regiment was under the immediate command of Wash- The number of pupils rapidly increasing it was found necessary to erect a separate building solely for educa- ington, of whom and of Lafayette Dr. Darcy was full of anecdotes. After the war he settled in Hanover, prac- tional purposes, the old mansion to be exclusively used

Oscar Lindsay

RESIDENCE OF WM C. JOHNSON, CHATHAM, N .J.

199

ST. ELIZABETH'S ACADEMY-CHATHAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

for the community. In 186- a commodious brick edifice 100 feet long, 50 feet wide and 60 feet high was erected to meet the exigencies. In about two years thereafter it became necessary to build a chapel, which was placed on the south side of the "mansion." The sisters then opened a school for young boys, known as "St. Joseph's Preparatory Boarding School for Boys," in a building erected for the purpose at some distance from the con- vent. Here boys from the age of three to thirteen years are taught the requisites for admission into college. This also proved a decided success, and it is to-day in a flourishing condition.

Finding the distance from the railroad station to be a disadvantage to the schools, the sisters built at their own expense a neat frame building known as Convent Station (since removed several hundred yards nearer Morristown and considerably enlarged by the railroad company), at which nearly all the trains stop daily. The distance from the station to their academy was thus reduced to fifteen minutes' walk.

The "mansion," with its additions, spacious and large the State of New Jersey.

though they were, proved in course of time totally inade- quate to the growing wants both of sisters and pupils; hence they selected a site on higher ground, command- ing an extensive view of the surrounding country, and within five minutes' easy walk from Convent Station, where they began in 1878 the erection of the new St. Elizabeth's Academy, of which the following is a general description :

The building is of brown stone, granite and Philadel- phia pressed brick. It has a frontage of 476 feet, the depth to the rear of the chapel being 176 feet, and from its size and fine architectural proportions it is a striking object of view from many sections of the surrounding country. The main building, seven stories high, is 150 feet in height and has two lateral wings, the depth of each of which is 156 feet, and height 112. The wings are five stories high.

The northern wing contains an auditorium 90 feet long, 50 feet wide and 30 feet high. The other stories of this wing are reserved for the novitiate of the sisterhood.

The southern wing contains the school. The basement serves as a recreation hall; it is 90 feet long, 50 feet wide and 15 feet high. The first story is for the study hall, being of the same dimensions as the last, but 18 feet high. The third story serves for class rooms and the fourth is utilized as dormitories.

The interior of the main building is grand and beauti- ful. The building is heated throughout by steam, and nothing that could tend to the comfort of the pupils has been forgotten.

Across the corridor, almost opposite the landing of the grand stairway, is the door which opens into the beauti- ful chapel, which is of modern Gothic architecture and is 130 feet deep by 45 in width, and 40 feet in height. The windows are beautifully stained, with life-size representa- tions of religious subjects. The most noteworthy paint- ings on the ceiling are the representation of the Assump- tion of the Blessed Virgin, of the annunciation, and of

St. Michael the archangel. Upon the walls within the sanctuary are represented the ascension of our Lord and His resurrection.

Within the sanctuary three marble altars are seen. The high or center altar is 18 feet in height and is a perfect specimen of architectural beauty. The side altars, that of St. Joseph on the right, and that of the Blessed Virgin on the left, are each 12 feet high and are in gen- eral keeping with the main one. The ornamental mosaic work of the altars is composed of six species of Italian marble of the most beautiful and costly kind. The pil- lars and ornaments are of Mexican onyx and Egyptian porphyry. The different species and colors of the mar- ble used form a rare combination and produce a grand and imposing general effect.

The style of architecture is florid ornamental gothic, and the altar, entire, is said to be the most costly and elegant in America. During the twenty-two years since its inception the sisterhood has been gradually increas- ing, and it now numbers over 350 members, scattered over

CHATHAM VILLAGE.

The early history of the village of Chatham forms, of course, part of the general history and settlement of the township, which has been given. The part of the town lying upon the Passaic took the name of the town, as the upper part was called Bottle Hill and afterward Madison. Bonneltown was that portion lying between the village proper and New Providence. Chatham early contained a grist-mill and a fulling-mill. It had also a two-story academy building, in which, besides the district school, public religious services were held on week days, and oc- casional Sabbath services, there being no church building. The early settlers of Chatham, being nearly all Presby- terians, attended church in Bottle Hill; some also in New Providence at a later day, and a few in Hanover and Springfield. On the 23d of October 1823 a

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

was organized, and a building fitted up for worship, standing near the Passaic River, and the Rev. Asa Ly- man, of Morristown, became its stated supply. Under the labors of Mr. Lyman the small building was soon filled, and the village began to assume a new and better aspect. In 1827 Mr. Lyman was compelled by ill health to withdraw, and in 1828 the Rev. Joseph M. Ogden be- gan his labors, being installed pastor in November 1828.

In this field, as his own earliest pastorate, and being himself the first pastor of the church, Dr. Ogden contin- ued his uninterrupted and successful labors for the next forty-five years, resigning his charge September 23d 1873. The original house of worship soon became too strait for the increasing congregation, and in the spring of 1832 the foundations were laid of a larger building, which was completed and dedicated in the winter following. This building, 38 by 56 feet, it has since been found necessary to enlarge, and it has now a seating capacity for four or five hundred persons.

200

HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.

Dr. Ogden was succeeded by the Rev. A. V. C. John- son, who was installed November 6th 1873, and resigned on account of ill health November 12th 1877. Rev. William F. Anderson was ordained to this charge July 15th 1879, and resigned his pastorate September 20th 1881. It is an interesting fact that each of these pastors began his ministry with this people.

The church has long possessed a commodious parson- age, and a few years ago it added a handsome chapel, which will accommodate about two hundred persons. The church numbers about 150 members, with a flourish- ing Sunday-school of over 100 teachers and scholars.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

About the time when the present Presbyterian church edifice was erected measures were taken to build a Meth- odist Episcopal church. In this enterprise Rev. John Hancock took much interest. The building was ded- icated in 1832, and, the congregation steadily increasing, it was enlarged and otherwise improved. It is now firmly established church of about 70 members, with a Sunday-school of about 100 teachers and scholars. Its present pastor is Rev. Samuel Sargent, a graduate of Drew Theological Seminary.

In this connection a fact may be recalled which is not without historic interest. Mr. Tuttle, when giving the account of the building occupied by the Rev. Mr. Brad- ford, in Bottle Hill, for his classical school, and removed to 'Chatham by Sheppard Kollock, says: "I have been told by Mr. Enos Bonnel, an aged man now living near Chatham, that the first Methodist Episcopal service that was ever held in the township was held in that building, just after it had been vacated by Mr. Kollock as a print- ing office and a little after the proclamation of peace with Great Britain. The clergymen who officiated were the Rev. Messrs. Haggerty and Lynch." In this build- ing Methodist services were held afterward, but only oc- casionally, the first systematic effort was as given above.

ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

was built in 1872, at a cost of somewhat over $4,000. The land on which it is built was purchased in 1871 for $500. It is a brick building. It was used as a school- house until 1875, when additional land was bought at a cost of $800, and a frame school-house was built there- on, at a cost of almost $1,000. The congregation num- bers about 200, and the school children about 35 or 40. The average annual cost of conducting the school was about $600.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Chatham has taken upon it new aspects and exhibits marks of improvement on every hand. It has 700 inhabi- tants and grows steadily. Old buildings are being re- built, and new ones of fine proportions and beautiful sur- MADISON. roundings are being put up. There has recently been erected a large and well arranged and furnished academy, The village now called Madison was early and long giving excellent educational advantages. In the center known as Bottle Hill. The name indeed yet lingers, for of the village is a large and commodious boarding-house;

with accommodations for seventy or more boarders. The house is a few minutes walk from the depot, with spacious and beautiful grounds; it stands well in from the road and is every way finely adapted to its purposes. There are found two flouring mills, a paper manufactory, three blacksmiths' shops, two harness factories, and two greenhouses, doing a prosperous business.

STANLEY.

Stanley, which is an outgrowth and suburb of Chat- ham, has of late years been largely developed by the bus- iness and religious enterprise of George Shepard Page. A mill property was purchased by him and an active business established, which has been continued until to- day, with the intermission of a year or two after the mill buildings had been burned down. Mr. Page at once en- gaged in zealous Sabbath-school work, and on August 5th 1867 organized a school in a grove on the hillside, which in the winter was removed to the upper loft of an old store near by. The school grew, and steadily be- came a power for good in the neighborhood, and, it being in much need of larger and better quarters, Mr. Page' built and furnished for its accommodation "Stanley Hall," so naming it after the maiden name of his mother. The very natural although unanticipated outcome of the school and its various adjunct services was, first (in 1872) a regular Sabbath evening service in the hall, and on Aug- gust 15th 1873 the organization of the "Congregational Church of Stanley; " the district, the post-office and the church all associating with themselves the name and the work of the Sunday-school and its founder.

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.