History of Morris County, New Jersey, Part 6

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 6

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).

Silas Condict was the son of Peter Condict, who came from Newark to Morristown about 1730 and lived first on the Doughty place, on Kimball avenue, and afterward in a house near the David Mills place. His son Silas was born March 7th 1738, and married first Phebe Day, and afterward Abigail Byram. He was a man of good education and fine ability, an active member and trustee in the Presbyterian church, and an ardent patriot. He was one of the committee of the Provincial Congress to draft the first constitution of the State, and was the repre- sentative of the county in the State council. He was a member of the council of safety in 1777-8, and in 1783 represented the State in the Continental Congress. He was twice appointed one of the judges of the county, and was eight times elected to the House of Assembly, of which body he was four times the speaker. He died September 18th 1801, leaving but one descendant, a granddaughter, afterward the wife of Colonel Joseph Cutler, and the mother of Hon. Augustus W. Cutler. His nephew, Dr. Lewis Condict, son of Peter Condict jr., was a member of Congress from this State, and speaker of the House.

Ellis Cook was a very prominent public man and maintained the respect and confidence of a large con- stituency for many years. He was a member of the Coun- cil for three years, and of the House of Assembly for fourteen years.

David Thompson was a devout elder in the Mendham Presbyterian church, and noted for his eloquence in prayer and faith in the ultimate success of the patriots. He said in one of the darkest hours of the struggle: "We can look to Jehovah when all other refuges fail;" and his wife declared to the numerous soldiers she entertained without charge that "nothing was too good for the use of those who fight for our country." Thompson com- manded a company of militia in the war.

Abraham Kitchel was a son of Joseph Kitchel, of Hanover, and a brother of Hon. Aaron Kitchel, the mem-

REVOLUTIONARY LEADERS-CONTINENTAL TROOPS.

ber of Congress and United States senator. He was born August 26th 1736, and in 1768 was one of the supporters of the Rockaway church, to which he continued to be- long until his death. He lived at first on the "back road " from Rockaway to Hibernia, in a log house near the stone house occupied after his death by his son James. He was a man of better education than was common among men of his day, of strong good sense, and of firm- ness amounting to obstinacy. He had great independ- ence of character and more than ordinary physical strength. He built the Mansion House at White Meadow, and occupied it until 1799, when he sold it and the lands about it to Bernard Smith. He died at Parsippany, Jan- uary 11th 1807.

.Of the military officers chosen, Cologel Winds, Major De Hart and Captains Morris and Howell soon found their way into the " regular army " of that day, and were officers in the Ist battalion Ist establishment of the con- tinental army-"Jersey Line." Joseph Morris was made captain of the first company in this Ist establishment, November 8th 1775, and captain of the first company in the rst battalion 2nd establishment November 29th 1776. He was promoted to be major, and severely wounded at the battle of Germantown, October 4th 1777, and died from his wounds, January 7th 1778.

Captain Silas Howell was captain of the 2nd company Ist battalion Ist establishment, November 14th 1775; captain of the 2nd company Ist battalion 2nd establish- ment, November 29th 1776, and retired September 26th 1780.

John Huntington was one of the organizers of the Rockaway church in 1758, and an elder in it for many years. His beautiful handwriting and fair composition in the church records show him to have been a man of considerable education. He lived near Shongum, and left at his death considerable estate. He was quarter- master in General Winds's militia brigade.

Archibald Dallas, the clerk of the meeting, was com- missioned second lieutenant in Meeker's company Ist battalion Ist establishment, December 9th 1775, and in Captain Howell's company Ist battalion and establish- ment November 29th 1776; captain in the 4th battalion 2nd establishment, and also in Colonel Spencer's reg- iment, and was killed in action January 28th 1779.

CHAPTER IV.

MORRIS COUNTY TROOPS IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.

N the 9th of October 1775 the Continental Congress made its first call on New Jersey for troops. It was in the shape of the follow- ing resolutions:

" Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention of New Jersey that they immediately raise, at the expense of the continent, two bat- talions, consisting of eight companies each, and each company of sixty-eight privates, officered with one cap- tain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, and four corporals.

"That the privates be enlisted for one year, at the rate of five dollars per calendar month, liable to be discharged at any time on allowing them one month's pay extra- ordinary.

" That each of the privates be allowed, instead of a bounty, one felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, and a pair of shoes; the men to find their own arms.

" That the pay of the officers, for the present, be the same as that of the officers in the present continental army; and in case the pay of the officers in the army is augmented the pay of the officers in these . battalions shall, in like manner, be augmented from the time of their engaging in the service."

These resolutions were laid before the Provincial Con- gress October 13th 1775, and that body on the 26th of the same month resolved that warrants be issued to the proper persons to raise the troops called for, and appointed mustering officers to review the companies when raised. The form of enlistment was in the following words:

“ I, , have this day voluntarily enlisted myself as a soldier in the American continental army for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the govern- ment of the said army."

Some delay was caused by the question whether the field officers should be appointed by the Provincial or the Continental Congress; but on the rotli of November (only a month after the first call of Congress), this ques- tion being settled by the confirmation, by the Continental Congress, of the officers recommended by the State au- thorities, six companies were raised and ordered to gar- rison the fort in the Highlands on the Hudson; and No- vember 27th the rest of the two battalions were ordered into barracks in New York. December 8th both bat- talions were ordered into New York, and on the 26th they were ordered to be mustered. These troops were called the first or eastern battalion and second or western

This first Provincial Congress on August 12th directed an election in the several counties, to be held on Thurs- day the 21st day of September, for delegates to attend the Provincial Congress to meet at Trenton October 3d 1775. The delegates to the latter from Morris county were William Winds, William De Hart, Jacob Drake, Silas Condict and Ellis Cook. It was the last Provincial Congress, and continued its sessions, with adjournments, to Angust 21st 1776, when it adjourned without day, battalion of the first establishment. As stated hereafter July 2nd 1776, two days before the declaration of inde- a third battalion was afterward called for by Congress January roth 1776, which was raised for this establish- ment. The western battalion was in the western and southern parts of the State, but in the eastern battalion Morris county was largely represented. Lord Stirling was colonel, William Winds was lieutenant colonel, and, pendence, it adopted the first constitution of this State, under which the first State Legislature was elected, and which continued in force until supplanted by the consti- tution of 1834. On the committee to draft this constitu- tion was Silas Condict.

HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.

after Stirling's promotion, Colonel William De Hart was major. Three companies at least were from Morris, viz: The first company, of which Joseph Morris was captain, Daniel Baldwin first lieutenant, Daniel Brown second lieutenant, and Jonathan F. Morris ensign; the second company, of which Silas Howell was captain, John Mer- cer first lieutenant, Richard Johnson second lieutenant and Jacob Kemper ensign; and the fifth company, of which Joseph Meeker was captain, Yellis (or Giles) Mead first lieutenant, Archibald Dallas second lieutenant, and George Ross ensign.

On the roth of January 1776 three companions of this first battalion were ordered to report to Colonel Nathaniel Heard, in command of minute men, for duty in arresting tories and disaffected persons in Queens county, N. Y. The rest of the battalion, Colonel Winds commanding, were stationed at Perth Amboy and Elizabethtown until May 1776. On the 3d of May, with the third battalion, they left New York to join the expedition to Canada, and having been joined by the second battalion took an active part in the operations before Quebec. Later the first and second battalions were ordered into barracks at Ticonderoga, and remained at that place until directed, November 5th 1776, to return to New Jersey for dis- charge.

January roth 1776 Congress directed another battalion to be raised in New Jersey on the same terms as the other two, and on the 6th of February the recommenda- tion was made by the Provincial Congress. The regi- ment was organized at once, and left Elizabethtown April 29th for New York. On the 3d of May it sailed for Albany with the. first battalion, and served with it in the campaign. The battalion left Albany March 7th 1777, and was discharged at Morristown on the 23d. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Elias Dayton, and contained at least one Morris county company-the fifth-which was commanded by Peter Dickerson, of Morristown, Stephen Dunham being first lieutenant, David Tuttle second lieutenant, and William Tenbrook ensign. A list of the enlisted men of this company has been made up for the files of the adjutant general and is as follows:

William Anderson, Stephen Beach, Woodrick Bilberry, William Bishop, Joseph Bolterhouse, Jacob Buttersop, Martin Crill, Andrew Culpet, Patrick Davis, Luke De Voir, John English, Jeremiah Fleming, Daniel Guard, Thomas Hathaway, John Hill, John Howe, Jacob Kent, Henry Kitchen, William Logan, Timothy Losey, Thomas Martin, Clement Martin, James Mathers, Robert Mc- Kindrick, William Mead, John Moore, Stephen Price, Adoniram Pritten, John Quill, Joseph Rose, John Sline- man, Peter Smith, Isaiah Tuttle, John Tway, Isaac Ward, David Watson, John White, Richard Williamson, Morris Wooden.

The diary of Timothy Tuttle, a sergeant in the first battalion in Captain Joseph Morris's company, has been preserved and has been printed. In it his daily doings are recorded from before January Ist 1776 until he ar- rived at Albany on his way home, November 12th. From this it appears that he and his comrades arrived at Albany May 8th, after an eight days' sail, and marched

from there to Lake George, where they arrived May 22nd. On the 26th of May they arrived at Crown Point, which they left on the 28th in boats for St. John. From there they marched up the Sorell River, and on the 8th of June were under fire of the enemy's cannon. They were en- camped on the Sorell until the 14th, when they began a retreat to Crown Point, which they reached on the 24th. They remained in the neighborhood of Ticonderoga and Crown Point until November 6th, when Tuttle, with ro5 of the men of his battalion, left for home with General Winds. Recruiting had begun for the second establish- ment, which was enlisted for three years or during the war, and many of the officers and men of the first estab- lishment remained and were mustered into the second establishment. Tuttle notes under date of November 5th: "Same morning our men seemed to persist to go home, and orders came out from the general that Col- onel Winds and what men is a mind to follow him to be off to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock. Some of officers say we go away with scandal, but Colonel Winds says [we] go with honor." Sergeant Tuttle was afterward en- sign and lieutenant in the Morris militia, and later a cap- tain in Colonel Sylvanus Seeley's eastern battalion of Morris militia.

These three Jersey regiments of the first establishment did some hard service in this campaign, none the easier to endure because the movement was unsuccessful in that it did not accomplish what was hoped for it. A committee of the New Jersey Provincial Congress by direction of that body went to Crown Point, and there reviewed the Jersey troops October 25th. They re- ported that they "found the soldiers destitute of many articles of dress; supplies of every kind they want, but shoes and stockings they are in the last necessity for, many having neither to their feet." They believed the troops were well furnished with provisions, and that they ·had plenty of arms. " Respecting the disposition of the officers to engage in the service" (meaning to re-enlist), the commissioners say, "It is with the greatest cheerfulness the most of the officers are ready on your appointment to serve their country during the war."

Somewhat similar to the experience of later years, Con- gress found in the summer of 1776 that troops enlisted for a short time would not suffice to bring the war to a success- ful termination. Accordingly, September 16th 1776, a resolution was adopted that eighty-eight battalions be enlisted as soon as possible, to serve during the war, and that New Jersey furnish four battalions.

The State Legislature appointed a joint committee to take the matter into consideration, who recommended that the first three of the new battalions be formed of the officers and men of the three batalions then in the field, so far as they were willing to re-enlist; and that the offi- cers of the fourth battalion be made up as much as pos- sible from the five regiments of militia then serving under General Heard. This recommendation was adopted, and the three battalions in the field formed the nucleus of the first three battalions of the new establishment.

In the first battalion, Colonel Winds having retired,

COMPANIES OF CONTINENTALS-THEIR SERVICES.

Silas Newcomb and, on his promotion, Matthias Ogden was made colonel. Major William De Hart continued in service and was made lieutenant colonel on the promotion of Ogden. Joseph Morris remained as captain of the first company (until made major of the battalion), with John Mercer, formerly first lieutenant of Captain Howell's company, as first lieutenant; Robert Robertson (who afterward resigned on account of wounds) as second lieutenant and Simon Mash as ensign.

Silas Howell remained as captain of the second com- pany, with John Van Anglen (afterward captain) as first lieutenant, Archibald Dallas (formerly of Meeker's com- pany) as second lieutenant and John Howell (afterward captain) as ensign.

Captain Meeker went home at the end of his enlist- ment. His lieutenant, Giles Mead, remained as lieuten- ant of the third company, commanded by Captain John Conway (afterward major of the fourth battalion); John Flanhaven was second lieutenant and Ebenezer Axtell was ensign of this company.

Captain Peter Dickerson's company seem to have re- enlisted in a body and formed the first company of the third battalion. The lieutenants and ensign having quit the service their places were filled by others. Samuel Flanagan was first lieutenant until promoted to a cap- taincy; Jonathan Brewer second lieutenant, and Edward D. Thomas ensign until made first lieutenant. In addi- tion to the enlisted men of Captain Dickerson's first company the following were members of this his new company : Thomas Beedle, Josiah Beetle, David Brown, Jonathan Conkling, George Corwine, James Crane, John Cugo, Thomas Cugo, Cornelius Drake, Simeon Hatha- way, John Henry, James Joy, Conrad Kingfield, Jasper Langley, Enos Little, Abram Ludlow, Archibald McNich- ols, Solomon Munson, John Panton, John Price, Conrod Runyan, John Tuttle, and William Tuttle.

In an affidavit made by Henry Clark in order to obtain a pension (preserved with others by Hon. Lewis Condict), he says he enlisted at Mendham in January 1776 for three years, in Captain Noadiah Wade's company, with Abram Hudson, Stephen Leonard, Stephen Frost, John Doughty, William Minthorn, Isaac Stark, William Brown, John Payne and others whom he does not recollect. Zophar Carnes was first lieutenant, John Pipes second lieutenant and Clement Wood ensign. Wood and Wade lived in Mendham, Carnes in Roxbury, and Pipes in what was then Pequannock. The company consisted of 60 men, and was filled, the membership being as follows:

Captain, Noadiah Wade; lieutenants, Zophar Carnes (cashiered April 16th 1777) and John Pines, promoted first lieutenant June Ist 1777. Second lieutenant, Ben- jamin Horn. Ensign, Clement Wood. Sergeants Robert Logan, John Browne, Shadrack Hathaway and Abram Hudson. Corporals: Stephen Harriman, Ichabod Johnson, Richard Hedley and Jonathan Starks. Drum- mer, John Cornelius. Fifer, William Stone. Privates: Adam Showers, Nathaniel Petty, George Clifton, Levi Shadwick or Shaddock, Samuel Freeman, William Mun- son, Jesse Rodgers, Samuel Davis, Philip Minthorn, Abram Mulet, Henry Blum, Jonathan Bailey, Gabriel Hutchings, Nathaniel Thompson, Price Thompson,

Abram Losey, Robert Carson, Philip Hathaway, Lewis Alvord, John Potter, John Doughty, David Mott, Richard McGuire, William Finley, Ichabod Homans, Daniel Parks, Joseph Richards, Eleazer Perkins, Michael Hayes, John Davis, Benjamin Losey, Robert Hine, Charles Clarkson, Stephen Leonard, William Brown, Robert Minnis, Thaddeus Rice, Samuel Smith, Daniel Tuttle, Samuel Hazle, Jeremiah Day, David Mumford, Joseph Pipes, Stephen Frost, John Frost, Job Stiles, Jonathan Mc- Laughlin, John Williams, David Carter, Henry Dugan, Josiah Wynne, Benjamin Eaton, Dominick Hughs, Isaac Dickinson, John Milburne, John Woodcock, John Col- lins, Henry Clark, James Channel, John Stewart, Jona- than Crane, Dennis Cargriff, Thomas Perry, Joshua Pearce, John Berry, William Minthorn, James Knox, John Hardcastle, Alexander Campbell, Thomas Day, Benjamin Thorp, Thomas Rial, Charles Blumfield, Ephraim Cary, Andrew Phillips.

The company was mustered June 12th 1777, and marched to Westfield, where it was reviewed by Colonel Martin. It was the third in the fourth battalion second establishment.

Besides those mentioned there were many other Morris county men in this brigade. John Doughty was captain of a company in the third battalion, promoted major, and resigned, probably to enter the artillery arm of the ser- vice, in which he afterward distinguished himself.

The four regiments were ready for the field early in 1777, the first battalion being organized as early as De- cember 1776, the second and third in February and the fourth in April 1777. They were brigaded together and placed under command of General William Maxwell, forming what was known as "Maxwell's brigade." It . was placed in the division of Major-General Adam Stephens, then encamped at Elizabethtown, Bound Brook and Rahway. The following extract from General Stry- ker's history of Jerseymen in the Revolutionary army shows the part these battalions took in the war:

"During the summer of 1777 the division of General Stephens marched through Pennsylvania and Delaware, and on the morning of September 11th a portion of the ' Jersey line' opened the battle of Brandywine. They continued in the fight all that day, on the advance of the division. After the battle the brigade continued march- ing and countermarching, had a skirmish with the enemy at White Horse Tavern, on the Lancaster road, passed near Yellow Springs, Reading Furnace, Worcester, and then towards the enemy, and finally encamped at Ger- mantown. A battle took place at this post on the 4th of October. With the brigade of North Carolina troops commanded by Brigadier General Francis Nash, Max- well's brigade formed the corps de reserve and left wing of the American army. This division was commanded by Major General Lord Stirling, of New Jersey. The whole command distinguished itself in this fight, but especially the first battalion, which suffered severely in - both officers and men. Maxwell's brigade was most of the winter of 1777-8 with the army at Valley Forge, and on the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, June 18th 1778, was detached from the main army, and with some militia was ordered to harass and impede General . Clinton's force. The British army marched towards New York by way of Moorestown and Mount Holly. The army under Washington crossed the Delaware River at Coryell's Ferry (Lambertville), and passed through Hopewell, Princeton, Kingston, Cranberry and English- town, and met the enemy near Freehold. Maxwell's

HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.

brigade was afterwards joined by six hundred continental troops, commanded by Colonel Daniel Morgan, of Vir- ginia, and again by fifteen hundred picked troops under Brigadier General Charles Scott, of Virginia, and one thousand under Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, of Pennsylvania. The entire force engaged in harassing the enemy was in command of General Lafayette. On the 28th of June 1778 the ' Jersey line' joined the left wing of the army, and the brigade, as well as the militia under Major General Philemon Dickinson, participated in the battle of Monmouth, fought on that day. The brigade after the fight was sadly in want of clothing, and many and urgent were the requests made therefor to the Legislature."

The following is a list of recruits raised in the Ist regiment foot militia, commanded by Colonel John Mun- son, in Morris county, who were to serve nine months from the day of their joining any of the four regiments raised by the State for the service of the United States. They joined the Jersey brigade June 5th 1778, at Mount Holly, and no doubt participated in the battle of Mon- mouth:

Captain Luse's Company, 2nd Regiment-Aaron Bai- ley, John Clawson, William Cooper, John Hamler, Jacob Hinckle, Spencer Lake, Michael Pace jr., Benjamin and John Parr and John Smith, of Roxbury: Matthew Con- ner, James Gibson, Hiram Howard (unfit for duty on account of a wound), James Jordan and Andrew Mc- Roath, of Mendham.

Captain Cox's Company, 3d Regiment-William Mapes, Roxbury; Joseph Bedford, Elijah Leonard and Reuben Wood, Mendham; Elihu Howard and Eleazer Perkins, Pequannock.

Captain Ballard's Company, 3d Regiment-Elkanab Holloway, Lemuel Twigley and Eleazer Woodruff, Mend- ham; Timothy Morris, Roxbury.

Others-Andrew Conard and John Turney, Penn., de- serted; Jabez Bigalow, Mendham, drum major 3d regi- ment; James Kenebough, Pequannock, Captain Patter- son's company, 3d regiment; Moses Losey, Mendham; Stephen Leonard, of Pequannock, and Stephen Arnold, of Mendham, Captain Morrison's company, Ist regiment; William Halsey, Hanover, Captain Baldwin's company, Ist regiment; David Sargent, enlisted in the continental service.

"The above recruits marched from William Young's, Esq., in Mendham township."

The winter of 1778-9 was passed mostly at Elizabeth- town, although a detachment of the second battalion was stationed in Newark, and a detachment of the fourth battalion in Spanktown (Rahway).

In consequence of the "massacre of Wyoming " Max- well's brigade on the 11th day of May 1779 was ordered, with the first or principal division, under Major General John Sullivan, of New Hampshire, to march up the Sus- quehanna into the settlements of the Seneca Indians. Attached to the brigade at this time were Colonel Oliver Spencer's regiment, Colonel David Forman's regiment, Colonel Elisha Sheldon's (of Connecticut) regiment of light dragoons, and one battery of artillery. On the 9th of October the brigade was ordered to return to New Jersey.

On the 23d of June 1780 the Jersey troops, continental and militia, took a prominent part in the fight at Spring- field.

May 27th 1778 Congress made a new arrangement of troops, consolidating the battalions and reducing the number of field and other officers. March 9th 1779 it was resolved that the army should consist of eighty bat- talions, of which the Jersey troops should form three. This new arrangement was not finally consummated until the summer of 1780. In this new and last establishment Matthias Ogden was colonel of the Ist regiment, Israel Shreve of the 2nd and Elias Dayton of the 3d.

Recruits for the regiments of the continental line in the field were again obtained from the State militia, and the following lists have been preserved of these new lev- ies:

" A return of recruits from the eastern regt. of the county of Morris, commanded by Colonel Sylvanus See- ley; mustered and past to serve in the State regiment until ye Ist of January next, agreeable to a law of s'd State passed at Trenton 7th June 1780." (After the man's name come his place of abode and the name of the captain of the company to which he belonged. All enlisted in the first week of July.)

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