USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 65
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273
PUBLIC MORALS IN OLD PEQUANNOCK-LOCAL GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES.
been since whenever anything threatened liberty or in- fringed upon right; that they were earnest in their de- termination to forego the use of foreign goods, and to unite in a mutual compact throughout all the colonies to that end. Then it was that domestic manufactures were turned to with renewed interest, being regarded not only as a matter of necessity but a duty, and consequently carding, spinning, weaving and knitting became the daily employment alike of the common people and of ladies of fashion. It is said that the people in Pequan- nock, in conformity with the action of the people else- where, enjoined it upon themselves to abstain as far as possible from using mutton that there might be a full supply of wool. So true were the people in adhering to their mutual compact that in a short time leading cit- izens, doctors, lawyers, ministers and judges, considered it an honor to appear in homemade apparel; and it became the habit of ladies of education, wealth and refinement, in visiting their neighbors to take with them some kind of work, so that while their tongues were engaged their fingers might also be employed. Thus events showed that the policy pursued by Great Britain was urging the colonists to study and practice self-reliance, and bring- ing them gradually to a condition of self-dependence, which was the most important step toward their independ- ence. A great majority of the people upon mature consideration had come to the conclusion, and so de- clared, that the measures of Parliament for taxing the colonies were groundless and unjust. In this respect they showed ability to think more rationally on a matter of public concern than some of the statesmen of Great Britain who then had control of that government.
The records of this township present some facts that enable us to form a conception of the prevailing moral sentiment of the people at an early day. We find it re- corded that in 1773 fines were collected for profane swearing, that in 1779 fines of one pound each were col- lected for tippling and Sabbath-breaking, and that tavern keepers paid a license fee to the township. This goes to show that the early settlers and their descendants enter- tained some views similar to those of the Puritans who settled the New England States. Facts within the recol- lection of many persons still living go to show that forty or fifty years later the tone of public moral sentiment had become lowered. At that period the use of intoxi- cating liquors had become quite general. not only in this township but throughout the county and State; so much so that it had fastened upon many prominent men in the community the vice of drunkenness. There was scarcely a family of any standing that did not have its decanter of liquor, if not for its own use yet to be offered to friends and neighbors when calling, as a mark of polite- ness and kindly regard. There is a tradition, well au- thenticated, that several of the ministers of the churches became addicted to drinking, and the one who officiated occasionally at Old Boonton church, and also one who officiated at the Pompton Plains church, were accustomed to exhort their people by saying, " Do as I tell you, not as I do; " thus evincing a consciousness that their exam-
ple did not at all times accord with their precepts. It is recorded that some of these erring ministers became so enslaved to this vicious appetite that they were on that account ultimately deposed from the ministry.
ORIGIN OF NAMES OF PLACES.
There has been much speculation as to the origin of the name of Boonton, which at first was spelled Boone- town, as it appears in old documents. From the facts that David Ogden came into possession of this prop- erty, having on it iron works and a number of dwellings and other buildings, in 1759, and in 1760 Thomas Boone was the newly appointed provincial governor, and had visited Ogden at these iron works (known then as the Old Forge), the most reasonable conclusion appears to be that David Ogden named the place after the governor, and called it "Boonetown." This continued to be the way of spelling the name for many years. The first post- office in this vicinity was established at Boonetown in 1795, and Rodolphus Kent was postmaster until 1798, when Richard B. Faesch was appointed. He served to February 3d 1817, when the office was changed to Par- sippany, a place two miles farther west, and George D. Brinkerhoff became postmaster. In 1829, when the New Jersey Iron Company commenced the erection of their great iron works at a point about one mile further up, and just below the falls in the Rockaway River, the name adopted for that locality was Booneton Falls; this name continued in use for about seventeen years. When, in 1846, the first post-office was established here the name was abbreviated by omitting e and Falls, making it Boon- ton, and after that the name Old Boonton was applied to the locality of the old forge a mile below.
The locality known as Montville was first called Uyle- kill, which was a conformity to the Dutch pronunciation of Owl Kill, the name given to the creek and the valley through which it runs for about a mile and a half to its junction with the river. About the close of the last cen- tury Elijah Dod and John Pierson were joint owners of the grist-mill and other property there; and it is said they substituted the name Montville, from a place in Connecticut.
The name "Waughaw," applied to the valley three miles east of Montville, is of Indian origin, and in old documents is sometimes found written "Ta Waughaw."
The locality northeast of this, known as Jacksonville, containing eight or ten dwellings and a school-house, is said to have derived its name from the fact that fifty years ago all the people there were politically Jackson men, and voted for General Jackson for President.
Beavertown (now a station on the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western Railroad, called Lincoln Park) took its name from the fact that in the early settlement of the place great numbers of beavers were found frequenting a creek passing through, then called Beaver Dam Brook.
Pompton and Pequannock are both names derived from Indian tribes.
Whitehall, a station on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, derived its name fifty years ago from
274
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
the circumstance that a man who kept a store there had his house and store painted white, and two or three small buildings near by whitewashed, and called the place White Hall.
In some old deeds, in the description of property at the upper end of Pompton Plains and the vicinity, men- tion is made of the village of "New Greenwich." It ap- pears that about 1790 this name was given to the little settlement on the Paterson and Hamburg turnpike where Judge Robert Colfax lived, where Peter Jackson and afterward his son James kept a store, and where Slater's woolen factory is; but, a village failing to grow up, the name was dropped and has been forgotten by the oldest inhabitants now living.
TOWN MEETINGS.
The first mode of conducting town meetings, as to the election of officers and the decision of questions to be submitted, was by what is called a "viva voce " vote. This method continued without interruption for over one hundred years, to 1853, when the law was made requiring a vote by ballot as at State and county elections. The old method was a true democratic mode, and some be- lieve it tended to keep the people generally better in- formed as to township matters, and gave them a better opportunity to exercise a free choice. Under the present system the experience of more than twenty-five years has shown that too often a caucus of a dozen or less, fre- quently controlled by two or three, selects the candi- dates; and the result is that the masses are led to the polls to ratify the dictation of a few. Many believe that under the old system the caucus would have less power and interested wire-pullers less opportunity to exercise their cunning.
While the first system was in use party lines were not strictly adhered to in the selection of township officers, but good men were selected from both parties for town- ship committees and some other positions. Since the change to ballot party lines have been more closely drawn.
At the first town meeting held in Pequannock, on the roth of March 1741, Martin Vanduyne was chosen town clerk, Peter Roome assessor, Paulus Vanderbeck col- lector, Abraham Vanduyne and Henry Vanness freehold- ers.
There were not in those days as many town offices as at present. The officers were town clerk, assessor, collector, two freeholders, two surveyors of highway, two overseers of the poor, and overseers of the highway. At the first meeting only two overseers of the highway were chosen. Fourteen years later only four were chosen ; at the end of twenty years there were only seven, and five years later, in 1766, only ten overseers of the highway were chosen at town meeting. Most of the territory in Pequannock was then yet a wilderness, with very few roads passable with wagons ; to the first forges built in the vicinity iron ore was transported in leather bags on the backs of horses. Farmers generally in those days carried their grain in bags on horses' backs to mill because there were so few roads.
The accounts of the overseers of the poor and the col- lector were examined by two chosen freeholders and the justice of the peace, and this practice continued about forty years. In 1777 a committee was appointed to de- termine as to unjust assessments, and in 1780 a com- mittee of three was chosen for that purpose, called com- missioners of appeals. In 1778 a committee of three was chosen to settle with the overseers of the poor, but in 1786 a committee of five was appointed to settle with the overseers of the poor and the collectors. This was the first of what is now the township committee. From 1841 to 1849 two constables were elected for each year, but after that for about twenty-seven years the town books show no record of the election of constables.
The county court it appears exercised the right of appointing the constables up to the time of the Revolution. For many years it was the practice to decide at town meet- ings what the pay should be to the overseers of the poor and the justices of the peace for attending to the poor, and the allowance made was fifty cents, or four shillings, per day for each.
POPULAR SENTIMENT IN 1776.
The beginning of the American Revolution found the people of this county divided in sentiment. It not in- frequently happened that such division was found not only in the same neighborhood, but among the members of the same family, which tended to estrangement and to create a general sense of insecurity, that rendered great caution and watchfulness necessary for public safety. Consequently we find the people in Pequannock township, fearing such dangers, at an early period in 1776 prepared to protect themselves by organizing committees of safety, vigilance committees and minute men, as they were styled. As to this we have not only the authority of tradition, but unquestioned documentary evidence. Although there doubtless were in this township some who openly favored the cause of the king, and many who, dreading the great power of England, and the possible confiscation of property, feared to openly declare their position, yet there is evidence that a ma- jority of the leading citizens of the township, early in 1776, took a most decided stand in support of the meas- ures of the Continental Congress. The township record shows that public action was taken at a town meeting on the 12th of March 1776, and Joseph Hoff, Joseph Conger, William Ross, Stephen Jackson, Job Allen, Anthony Mandeville, Phineas Farrand, Hendrick Doremus, Robert Gould jr., and John Parlaman were appointed to be a committee of observation. They were selected from the western, eastern and middle parts of the township, for the purpose of watching closely those who were active in favoring the cause of the king. Subsequently a com- mittee of safety was formed, composed of Robert Gaston, Moses Tuttle, Stephen Jackson, Abraham Kitchel and Job Allen. An article of agreement was also drawn up and numerously signed, which was in the keeping of Stephen Jackson, a member of that committee. From him that paper came down to Colonel Joseph Jackson,
275
REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS OF PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP.
his son, late of Rockaway, and a copy of it was taken by Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle. The terms of the agreement are not only of interest, but the names of the subscribers. The paper is as follows:
We, the subscribers, freeholders and inhabitants of the township of Pequannock, in the county of Morris and province of New Jersey, having long viewed with con- cern the avowed design of the ministry of Great Britain to raise a revenue in America, being deeply affected with the cruel hostilities already commenced in Massachusetts Bay for carrying that arbitrary design into execution, convinced that the preservation of the rights and priv- ileges of America depends, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants, do, with hearts abhorring slavery, and ardently wishing for a reconciliation with our parent state on constitutional principles, solemnly associate and resolve under the sacred ties of virtue, honor and love of our country, that we will personally, and so far as our in- fluence extends, endeavor to support and carry into ex- ecution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental and Provincial Congresses for defending our constitution and preserving the same inviolate, accord- ing to the resolutions of the aforesaid Continental and Provincial Congresses, firmly determined by all means in our power to guard against the disorders and confusions to which the peculiar circumstances of the times may ex pose us.
"We do also further associate and agree, as far as shall be consistent with the measures adopted for the preser- vation of American freedom, to support the magistrates and other civil officers in the execution of their duty agreeable to the laws of the colony, and to observe the directions of our committee acting.
" Robert Gaston, John Munson, Moses Tuttle, John Gould, Joseph Conger, Edward Jackson, Elijah Leonard, Benajah Danels, Samuel Martin, .Joseph Hoff, Garrett Hoff, John Hoff, Charles Hoff jr., Robert Wilson, Sam- uel Blair, Alexander Bates, John Reynolds, Benjamin Fairchild, James Coulter, Jonathan Johnson, John Cardy, Charles Crawley, John Robeson sen., John Robeson jr., David Vanderpool, Peter Johnson, Eliphalet Lyon, Wil- liam Cough, Gershom Wiggins, James Nox, John DeBow, John White, William Upham, John Wilson, John Gal- loway, Richard Van Cock, James Cardiff, Joseph Holmes, Gillis McPherson, James Ronal, Thomas Price, George G. Barr, John Magie, James Norton, William Edwards, John Browne, John Wilson, Isaac Miller, Peter Little, Edward McRank, Jonathan Salsbury, Hugh Quigg, Charles Stuart, John Lee, Samuel Harris, Christian Hoff- man, John Biard, John Davis, Ada Showen, J. Jackson, William Rose, Louis Demorest Dunzoy, James McUrdy, James Mitchel, James Daily, Henry Stock, Hugh Davis, John Richardson, Henry Link, Jan Bigelow, James Tharp, Daniel Talmage, Jonathan Carrington, John Wilson, Joshua Moore, Mark Walton, William Ross, David Be- man, Isaac Vanduyne, Joseph Harriman, Richard Harri- man, Josias Goldsmith, William Drummon, John King, Samuel Lindley, Joseph Porter, Aaron Willis, Job Allen, Stephen Jackson, Israel Youngs, Ebenezer Tuttle, Jabez Biglow, David Allen, Henry Berry jr., Joseph Rogers, Seth Mahurin, Silas Hathaway, Joseph Hull, Aaron Big- low, John Harriman, Aaron Hedden, Joseph Bedford, Isaac Ross, John Pierson, Daniel Jackson, William Fisher, Josiah Biglow, John Miller, Michael Montgomery, John McConnel, Peter Hyler, Josiah Beman, William Price, Daniel Biglow, Josiah Beman, Isaac Kelly, William Howard, Helmer Kent, Hiram Howard, James Hindes, Arthur Young, Jacob Lyon, John Peer, Luman Robeards, Benjamin Wankle, John Marinus, Daniel Hayward, Moses Stiles, Phineas Farrand, Philip Price jr., Peter Francisco,
Philip Dorman, John Doremus, Philip Hiler, Samuel Farrand, Jake Harrison, Henry Young, Samuel Price, Humphrey Davenport, Thomas Welshear, Martin Freder- ick, Abraham Loughenner, John Esseler, Mouris Mouri- son, Peter Hiler jr., Brant Jacobus, Philip Holenkons, Abraham Jacobus, Cornelius A. Jacobus, Henry Hen- nion, John Cone, Martin Frederick sen., Hinery Mouris- son, James Jacobus, Nathan Cone, Coon Vreeland, Hen- ery Van Houten, John Pear, John Parlaman, Abraham Peer, Nicholas Hiler, Edmund Kingsland, John Hiler, Henry Lowerus, Cornelius Jacobus, James Jennings, Pe- ter Tice, John Nix, Conrod Esler, Martin Young, Jacob Vanduyne, Jacob Hoppon, James Shane, Garret Farrall, Peter Roburds, Jacob Hiler, John Miller jr. of jrs."
Mr. Tuttle says that this paper is signed by one hun- dred and seventy-seven names, that some of these names are splendid specimens of penmanship, but others are scarcely legible; that eighteen signers made their mark, Doubtless, as Mr. Tuttle remarked, "many of these signers knew better how to hold a musket than a pen." It is said that "Colonel Joseph Jackson had the fact from his father that this association of Whigs in this township had 400 signers." It is believed that each mem- ber of the "committee of safety " had a copy of the foregoing agreement, and that if all those papers could be obtained we would find the names of over two hun- dred more signed thereto. But the foregoing is sufficient to show that a large majority of the leading citizens were openly pronounced in their determination to support the measures of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, and to stand firmly together for self-protection amid the perilous circumstances in which they were placed.
As the war progressed many of the tories left their homes, some joining the British forces and some joining marauding bands; others, remaining at home, were often in secret communication with such, and acting as spies and informers. A great feeling of insecurity both as to life and property prevailed among the people in conse- quence of the outrages committed by these freebooters, who, keeping themselves concealed in the forests and swamps by day, would come upon the victims in the darkness of night. Robberies and murders were com- mitted within the bounds of this township, it is believed, by a party under the leadership of the notorious tory brigand Claudius Smith, who had his headquarters in the mountains near Ramapo, on the northern boundary of the State, and made frequent incursions into the upper part of New Jersey. There appears to be good reason to believe that a robbery of the family of Charles Hoff while manager of the furnace at Hibernia was com- mitted by a party of tories disguised with paint, and under the lead of this Claudius Smith, and that at the time-these robbers told Hoff they intended to scour the whole county. The Ringwood and Ramapo Mountains, the hiding place of these freebooters, were distant only from 15 to 17 miles from Pompton; consequently the fertile farms about Pompton and Pompton Plains, as well as other parts of Pequannock, naturally attracted these hungry bands, and traditional accounts go to show that such raids were frequent. It is related that an armed band of six one day in the dusk of early evening suddenly
37
276
HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
entered a farm house, seemingly in the pursuit of pro- visions; while two stood guard at the doors some went into the cellar, and others went through the rooms, hastily gathering what they could find and easily carry, and all speedily departed. After they had gone the family discovered that the dead body of a colored infant was missing, which had the same day been placed upon a stand in a room and covered with a cloth; doubtless in their hurry the robbers did not stop to examine closely what they seized upon. At one time an armed company of these tory robbers in the daytime entered the resi- dence of John Parlaman, near Montville, when no men were about, and, hastily gathering what provisions they could find, compelled Mrs. Parlaman to surrender her jewelry, threatening her life and tearing her ear-rings from her ears. It was believed they had designs upon John Parlaman himself had he been found, for he was one of the one hundred and seventy who signed the agreement to support Congress in its measures against the king. Parlaman was a man of some note and infin- ence in this vicinity; the records of Pequannock town- ship show that for more than twenty years he had been elected and had served as town clerk, and was chosen to other important offices, and his penmanship indicates that he was a man of some education. This John Parla- man had a son John, who succeeded io his father's farm, where now resides the widow of the late James Doremus, who is a daughter of the latter John Parlaman.
The list of names signed to the agreement to support the American Congress contains between thirty and forty of those well known to have been residents at the time in the vicinity of Pompton Plains, Montville and Boonton. John Pierson lived at Montville and was part owner of the grist-mill there; Phineas Farrand, a nailer by trade, also lived there, but afterward removed to Hanover township. Edmund Kingsland, the fore- father of the Kingslands in this township, lived near Boonton. His stone house, built in 1776 in the Dutch cottage style, with the date of its erection in large iron figures fastened on the front wall, is still standing, in good repair, at the corner of the roads near the resi dence of William G. Lathrop. Abraham Peer lived near Kingsland. The Hilers, Vanduynes, Stileses, Daven- ports, Marinuses, Mourisons, Eelslers and Prices were residents of Montville Valley, then called "Uylekill," and on the Hook Mountain. De Bow, Vandercook, Doremus, Vreeland, Fredericks, Jacobus and others were residents of Pompton Plains and the lands west of there. Some persons who had become conspicuous in closely watching or in sharp pursuit of tory spies and tory bands became obnoxious to them, and the tories would put a price on their heads; such were obliged for their own safety to keep away from their homes, and lodge at night in secret and out-of-the-way places.
The inhabitants of Morris, Sussex and Bergen coun- ties during the Revolutionary war suffered severely from the depredations of the tories, and the people of Pe- quannock, being on the northern border of the county and near the hiding places of these desperadoes, were
subject to frequent and annoying alarms. It is no won- der therefore, when living in constant fear and anxiety not only as to the open enemy but secret spies and in- formers in their midst, that they were active in forming committees of safety and enrolling minute men.
In those days it was no uncommon thing for men to take their guns with them to church, to town meetings, and to the fields where they were at work; indeed, it was expected of the minute men and enjoined upon them that they should always have their arms near at hand, to be ready at a moment's warning. These minute men were the dread of the tories and a great check upon their op- erations. As a result of the constant danger to which the early settlers were exposed, a custom then prevailed and continued many years after the close of the war of keeping loaded guns deposited in racks on the side of the beams overhead, which were six and a half to seven feet above the floor, out of the way of children but readily accessible. Repeating rifles and percussion locks were unknown at that time. The guns then in use had flint locks, and were mostly muskets that would carry an ounce ball. When the men went out, taking their guns with them, they generally left one well loaded and the means of reloading it for the use of the family, for it is well known that many of the mothers and grown up daughters of that day not only knew how to spin, weave, make bread, and attend to other household duties, but in case of emergency were capable of using effectively a loaded musket. The great annoyance occasioned by the tories created a bitterness of feeling that lasted for years after the close of the war, and which led to considerable additions to the population of Nova Scotia and Canada.
In the neighborhood known as Pacquanack in Passaic county, bordering on Pompton Plains, families of the name of Ryerson (at first spelled Ryerse) settled at a very early date, some of whom intermarried with families on the Plains and settled in Pequannock township. In one of these families there were several brothers of full age, who were divided in sentiment as to the war; some sided with the king and others with the American Con- gress; some joined the British forces, while others re- mained at home. It is said that one of these, Samuel Ryerson, became a subordinate officer in the king's ser- vice, and was at the battle of Cowpens, in South Carolina, January 17th 1781, when the American army under Gen- eral Morgan was victorious over the British army under Colonel Tarleton. At one time when Washington and his army were at Morristown a small force of provincial soldiers was quartered at a place in Parsippany near Fox Hill, about three miles west of Boonton. The com- mander of the British forces at New York detailed a company of soldiers and put them under command of this Samuel Ryerson, with orders to proceed to Par- sippany and capture or kill this company of provincials. While on his way, and when on the mountain northwest of Bloomfield, Ryerson met and captured a man on horse- back, going in the direction of Newark. It turned out that this man (who resided at Parsippany) and Ryerson were personally acquainted; and Ryerson, knowing that
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