USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > History of Paterson and its environs (the silk city); historical- genealogical - biographical > Part 12
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PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
Het Land, daar Melk en Honig vloeyd : Dit is't geweest, daar 't Kruyd (als dist 'len groeyd) : Dit is de Plaats, daar Arons-Roode bloeyd : Dit is het Eden.
It is the land where milk and honey flow ; Where plants distilling perfume grow ; Where Aaron's rod doth budding blossoms blow ; A very Eden.
As the Indians receded further and further West, the whites followed eagerly on their trail, anxious to secure the most vailable land. We may be sure that adventurous spirits lost no time in penetrating the Passaic (or Northwest Kil, as the Dutch called it) to the great cataract of which they must have heard wonderful tales told by the aborigines. There is a tradition that the first settlers of Acquackanonk took up the land eleven years before they got a patent for it. This would fix the date as early as 1674. It is not probable, however, that there was any actual settlement at that time. The first conveyance of lands within the present limits of Passaic county bears date April 4, 1678, being for the Indian title, and is sufficiently curious to transcribe in full:
I underwritten Captehan peter Beareup by this to Hartman Michielsen a great island lying in the river of pisaick near by aquickanucke by the Indians called Menehenicke-I Captehan Peeters freeholder of the above written Island, Beare this to Hartman Michielsen up to him in full freehold in knowledge of the truth Have I this wth my owne hand under set in wit- ness of this underwritten witnesses. Communipau in New Jersey this fourth day of April one Thousand six hundred and seventy and eight-and was marked by Captehan Peeter his mark and the witnesses was marked by Nap- peemeeck his mark, and Derricke Klaese Braecke his mark, and Johannes Michielsen and Eylas Michielsen.
A clue to this fearful and wonderful English is given in the appended note in the record: "This was recorded by the Coppy translated out of Dutch." The expression "Beare up" is a crude translation of the Dutch "overdraagen," carry over, or transfer. Michielsen obtained a patent for this island from the East Jersey Proprietors, dated January 6, 1685. He was then described as of "Communipa, in the county of Bergen, planter." The patent was for "a small island of upland lying and being upon Pisaick River near Aquiackanunke in the county of Essex in said Province Comonly called and known by the name of Hartman's Island Containing about Nine acres Litle more or less," in fee simple, "provided always and upon condition that the said Hartman Michielsen his heirs and assigns shall and do well and truly (yearly and every year forever hereafter) pay or cause to be paid unto the said Proprietors their heirs and assigns on every five and twentieth day of March or within fourteen days after the chief or quit rent of one fatt henn in Lieu and stead of all other services and demands whatsoever." We fear that the owners of that island cannot produce many receipts for said "one fatt henn."
The first conveyance from the Proprietors of East Jersey for lands in
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THE EARLY WHITE SETTLERS
Passaic county bears date July 15, 1678, and is in the name of Sir George Carteret, then Lord Proprietor of East Jersey, to Xtopher Hoagland, mer- chant, of New York, for two tracts of land at Haquicquenock, on the Pisa- wack river, described as follows, in what appears to be a contemporary copy of the original Dutch deed, here translated :
First-one hundred and fifty-eight acres of land beginning at a stake planted by a small fall or a small brook; thence running north as the little fall or brook runs 42 chains to a tree in the swamp (low ground), marked on four sides standing by the little fall or brook; thence running east north- east 18 chains to a stump marked on four sides standing by the [Indian] path ; thence running south 29 chains to a stake marked on four sides stand- ing by the Indian burial place; thence running east thirty chains along the bank of the river past an Indian but ("een Wilde huysje") ; thence run- ning south 35 chains to the point of the neck; thence running northwest by west 40 chains to the stake place of beginning ; bounded south and east by the Pisawack river, west by a small brook or fall, and north in part by land not yet surveyed, and in part by the said river.
Also 120 acres lying adjoining on the west side of the above mentioned brook or fall, beginning at the tree in the low ground, standing in the swamp, marked on four sides, thence running west southwest 34 chains to two white oak trees, marked; thence running south 40 chains ; east northeast 34 chains along the said brook on top of the hill or mound; thence running along the brook to the first mentioned tree; bounded on the north, south and west by land not surveyed ; east by a small stream.
In all 278 acres. Consideration-a yearly rent of half a penny per acre, payable March 25, 1680, or an equivalent thereof in current payment of the country-II s. 7 d.
These two tracts embraced the Dundee section of Passaic, and a little more : bounded on the north by Monroe street; on the west by Lexington avenue, extending south to where was a large rock, near the junction of River and Grove streets ; on the south by a line drawn parallel with Monroe street ; on the east by Passaic river. The brook or "fall" (Dutch, val) men- tioned is Vreeland's brook, also used as the Dundee tail-race. Reference has been already made to another Indian burying-ground, which was thirty or forty acres in extent, near President street. The patent to Hoaghland was called "Stoffel's Point," Stoffel being the Dutch abbreviation for Christopher. Hoaghland agreed, February 16, 1679-80, to sell this tract to Hartman Michielsen, who paid him £70 therefor, but he died (February 4, 1684) before giving the deed, which was subsequently (April 23, 1696) given to Michielsen by Dirck Hogeland, mariner, of New York, son and heir of Christopher Hoaghland. Michielsen sold a one-fourth interest in the prop- erty to his brother, Johannes Michielse, in consideration of £17 IOS., by deed dated April 28, 1698.
The first conveyance for lands within the present bounds of the city of Paterson was the Indian deed for Acquackanonk, and was in the following language, carefully transcribed from the record, as the original deed is not known to exist :
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Know all men by these Presents that I Captahem Indian Sachem and Chief, Owner of a certain tract of Land Lying and being upon Pisawyck River knowne by the name of Haquequenunck, Have for my Selfe my Heires and Assignes, in the Prsence and by the aprobation and consent of Memiseraen, Mindawas, Ghonnajea, Indians and Sachems of the said Con- try, for and In Consideration of a certain Prcel of goods, Blankets, kettles powder and other Goods to my Content and Sattisfaction In hand paid, by Hans Dederick, Gerret Garretson, Walling Jacobs and Hendrick George, The Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge to have received to my Con- tent and Satisfaction given, alienated bargained and sold unto the said Hans Dedericks, Gerrit Gerritsen, Walling Jacobs, Hendrick George and their Associates all and singular the abovementioned tract of land and the meadows adjoining beginning from the northernmost bounds of the Towne of Newark from the Lowermost part thereof to the uppermost as fare as the steep Rocks or Mountaines, and from thence to Run [blank] all along the said Pisawick River to the White Oak Tree standing neere the said River on the north side of the small brook, and from thence run up (blank) to the steep Rocks or Mountains, Which said tree was marked by the said Captaham In the prsence of La Prairie Surveyor General. ( With habendum, covenants and warranty).
This important instrument was signed, sealed and delivered by Cap- tahem, and attested by the other Sachems, March 28, 1679, in the presence of Governor Philip Carteret. The marks of the several Indians do not appear to have any significance, as of their totems, but are merely scrawls. Within two weeks, or on April 9, 1679, Christopher Hoagland, Captain Jacques Cortelyou, of Nyack, opposite Staten Island; Captain Elbert Elbertse, Cap- tain Richard Stilwell and others bought from the Indians the Saddle River tract, "being the tract of land called Aquegnonke lying and being upon Pasawack river together with all the meadows adjoining and the Seven Small islands thereunto adjacent and being bounded on the South with the creek that divides It from Captain John Berry's Land, on the west by Pasawack river, on the north by a creek called Patackpaen, running from thence north around a great Rock Lying near the high lands, and from thence to the afore- said Capt. Berries creek and the land of the above named Christopher Hogh- land." The consideration was "two hundred fathom of White wampum, Ellevan Guns, fifty pound of powder, six blanckets, three cloth Coates, six fatham of Red broad Cloth twelve fathem of Duffield, seven small kettles and one Great one, ten hatchets, ten Hoes, one pair of men's shoes, ten paire of stockings, one Anker of rum, twenty knives one Auger and one drawing knife." There is a tradition that Cortelyou, who was a surveyor, was riding through the Acquackanonk country once upon a time, when he met an Indian who owned it, and negotiated with him for its purchase. The simple savage was greatly struck with the appearance of the white man's handsome saddle, and agreed to give the land in exchange therefor, which was done. This is evidently another story invented to account for the name Saddle River.
We have a contemporary account of this real estate speculation by two Labadist missionaries who had come from Holland to America with a view to establishing a colony here. Under date of October 28, 1679, they write :
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While we were in the village of Bergen, a person came to us who was willing to take us up through the Northwest kil, where we were inclined to go, because of Jaques of Long Island and his associates, had bought for a trifle, a piece of land there of twelve thousand morgens (24,000 acres) and he had related wonders to us about it ; and that above his land, and above the falls which are more than an hour's distance from it, there was another tract still better, which was corroborated by almost every one, especially in Ber- gen, whose inhabitants were very well acquainted there, and some of whom had bought a large piece of land close by. The before mentioned tract was considered by them the best in all New Netherlands. * * * They said this piece of land was very large, and could be increased to twenty-five or thirty thousand morgen, which the Indians were disposed to sell, and we could buy for a small price.
Again, under date of Tuesday, March 5, 1680, these same chroniclers write :
Ackquekenon is a tract of land of 12,000 morgen, which Jaques of Najack, with seven or eight associates, had purchased from the Indians, the deed of which we have seen, and the entire price of which amounted to 100 or 150 guilders in Holland money, at the most. It is a fine piece of land, the best tract of woodland we have seen except one at the south. It is not very abundant in wood, but it has enough for building purposes and fuel. On one side of it is the Northwest kil, which is navigable by large boats and yachts thus far, but not beyond. On the other side, there is a small creek by which it is almost entirely surrounded, affording water sufficient, both sum- mer and winter, to drive several mills. When we reached here, we took our provisions and whatever was loose out of the boat into a hut of the Indians, of whom there is only one family on this whole tract.
Wednesday, March 6 .- We went out in the snow to look through the woods, and along the little stream, to see whether it would be worth the trouble to erect a saw-mill there for the purpose of sawing timber for sale, as Jaques had supposed. But although we found the stream suitable for mills, we did not discover wood sufficient for the purpose. The soil seemed to promise good, and the place as well situated as it can be to make a village or a city. The land on both sides of the Northwest kil is all taken up, and the prospect is that the whole region will soon be inhabited. It is already taken up on the south side as high as the falls.
The journey thus far had been made under the guidance of the aged Indian Chief, Hans, who had been beguiled to leave his wigwam at Achter Col, behind Constable's Hook, near Communipaw, and his seawant-making, on the vague promise of a good blanket, of which he stood greatly in need. He was the same Indian whose profound explanation of the origin of things has been quoted ; he was doubtless also the same Chieftain whom Oratamin desired and expected to succeed himself. The adventurous travelers now concluded to brave the unknown dangers of a trip to the Great Falls of the Passaic, of which they had heard much, and accordingly started off, in the rain, under the guidance of Hans. The account of this first journey to the Falls by white men, of which we have any record, is worth transcribing here:
The rain gradually increased, with snow, and did not hold up the whole day. After we had traveled good three hours over high hills, we came to a high rocky one, where we could hear the noise of the water, and clambering
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up to the top, saw the falls below us, a sight to be seen in order to observe the power and wonder of God. Behind this hill the land is much higher than on the other side, and continues so as far as is known. A kil or river runs through this high land between the hills, formed by several branches coming down from still higher land. This river, running along the valley to seek the sea, comes to this hill where it runs over a large blue rock, which is broken in two, obliquely with the river. One part is dry, which is the hill before mentioned; the other is where the river, running over a crevice or fissure between both, appears to be eight or ten feet wide, having on either side smooth precipices like walls, but some parts broken between them. The river finding this chasm pours all its water into it headlong from a height, according to guess, of about eighty feet; and all this pouring water must break upon the undermost piece of stone lying in the crevice, which causes a great roaring and foaming, so that persons standing there side by side. have to call out loud before they can understand each other. By reason of the breaking of the water, and the wind which the falling water carries with it, there is constantly spray ascending like smoke, which scatters itself like rain. In this spray, when the sun shines, the figure of a rainbow is constantly to be seen trembling and shaking, and even appearing to move the rock. The water in this fissure runs out on the south; and there at the end of the rock or point, it finds a basin, which is the beginning of the lower kil. This point is, I judge, about one hundred feet above the water, and steep like an upright wall. When the fish come up the river, this basin is so full of all kinds of them, that you can catch them with your hands, because they are stopped there, and collect together, refreshing themselves, and sporting in and under the falling fresh water, which brings with it from above, bushes, green leaves, earth and mire, in which they find food. The water runs hence east and northeast to Ackquekenon. The Indians come up this river in canoes to fish, because it is one of the richest fisheries they have; but the river is not navi- gable by larger boats, though in case the country were settled, the navigation could be improved. The falls lie among high hills, especially on the south, so that the sun does not penetrate there well except in summer. We found heavy ice there at this time, although it had all thawed away below. When I saw this ice at a distance, I supposed it was the foam. I took a sketch as well as I could, very hastily, for we had no time, and it rained and snowed very much. What I did is not very happily done. I regret I could not crayon it, for it is worth being portrayed. Night coming on, we had to leave. We were very wet and cold, especially in the feet. It was dark, and slippery walking on such precipices, and crossing little streams. Tired and weary, wet and dirty, we reached the place where we had started from, about eight o'clock in the evening, and went into the hut of the Indians, having to-day rowed constantly from early dawn until one or two o'clock, and then walked, through heavy weather, twenty-four to twenty-eight miles.
It was into this wilderness, so graphically described, with all its attend- ant dreariness, that the friends and neighbors of Hartman Michielsen had decided to venture, to found there new homes, and to make the waste places glad with the accompaniments of civilization. It is possible that Elias Michielsen, a brother of Hartman, settled at Stoffel's Point before the other patentees. Family tradition says that the Vreelands were the first whites to occupy the new land, and that the first white man's house in Acquackanonk stood on the south side of Passaic street, in the city of Passaic, about on the site of the New York Steam Engine Company's Works. We may well
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believe that the determination of the patentees to remove into the interior country excited no little commotion in the classic precincts of Communipaw and Paulus Hook, and was the theme of evening gossip for many a long month ere the eventful day arrived which was to see the sundering of ties of kindred and of friends. It was probably a fair day in the Indian summer of 1682 when the eight or ten families which had resolved to set up for themselves new homes along the Passaic above Newark, took leave of their relatives at Bergen, and embarked on the frail craft, already laden with their lares and penates, which were to transport them to the projected settlement.
In the late William A. Whitehead's "East Jersey under the Proprietary Governments," it is stated in a foot-note that there were Dutch settlers at Acquackanonk as early as 1640, the Albany Records, Vol. II, p. 101, being cited in support of that statement. From the account that has been given in these pages of the Indian wars up to 1655 it is obviously extremely im- probable that any white settlers would have ventured as far as Acquacka- nonk as early as 1640. In order to ascertain precisely what foundation there was for this assertion, the writer addressed a letter on January 23, 1874, to the late E. B. O'Callaghan, M. D., who for many years prior to that time had been the historiographer of New York, and had translated all or most of its original Dutch records and manuscripts, requesting an exact transcript of the entry in question in the Albany Records, cited by Mr. Whitehead. Under date of February 7, 1874, Dr. O'Callaghan wrote: "The translation by Vanderkemp [who was employed about 1820 to translate the Dutch records in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany], in Vol. 2, p. 101, of Albany Records, is wrong, and has misled Mr. Whitehead. It seems that one Edward Griffin had come in 1640 to New Amsterdam (New York) from Maryland, and Gov. Calvert had sent on a requisition for his rendition on the ground that he was a 'fugitive from Service.' In rebuttal, Griffin proved by the evidence of Henry Pennington, of Hackemac [Maryland], that he was a freeman, and he was therefore discharged. Vanderkemp translated, or rather converted, Hackemac into Ackquackcnack. Hence the blunder. I retranslated the volume, and whilst pointing out, corrected the error, the particulars of which I now communicate. The trial of Griffin is to be found in Vol. 4, p. 75, of original Dutch MSS., to which I further refer." This is one of many instances that could be given of the readiness of Dr. O'Callaghan to aid the historical researches of others. There were no roads as yet through the wilderness ; no bridges spanned the broad rivers, and so the only recourse was to make the journey by water. Sailing early in the morning, and favored by wind and tide, they might possibly have reached their destination before nightfall. Allowing, however, for the ordinary mishaps of such a voyage, and taking into account, also, the natural delibera- tion with which the Dutch moved, especially in such numbers, it is most likely that they had to camp on shore the first night, and reached Acquacka- nonk by noon of the next day. Doubtless the men had erected comfortable log cabins, fit for dwellings and if need be fortresses as well, during the previous summer ; so on the arrival of the vessels from Bergen they could at
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once remove the goods to their rude houses, and two or three days of ener- getic work by the sturdy Dutch vrouws saw everything "to rights," so far as the more immediate home comforts were concerned. The Newark people were much vexed that the Dutch should have secured the fair domain of "Hockquekanung," and were fain to console themselves with an addition to the westward of their town. at Poquanock. The new settlers on the Passaic let nothing disturb them, but went on as quietly and systematically as if they had resided there for years. Elias Michielsen was appointed one of the justices of the peace for Essex county, on March 24, 1682-83, which may or may not indicate that he was already a resident of Acquackanonk. But the new settlement was unmistakably recognized by the action of the Governor and Council on December 3, 1683, when it was ordered that a warrant "be issued forth for the Choyce of a Constable by the Inhabitants at Aquani- noncke and New Barbadoes necke the warrt to bee sent to Captn Sandford." On the same day, "ffor the better setling and Exerciseing the Militia in every County within this province," it was ordered "that there bee one Major and so many Captaines Commissionated in Each County as there bee Inhabitants to make vp Companyes. It's ordered that Major Sandford appoint an officer to exercise the Inhabitants of Aquaninocke." The boundary between Acquackanonk and Newark (which then extended northerly to Third river) seems to have occasioned some dispute between the two towns, the Newark people on March 22, 1683-84, appointing another committee on the subject, with instructions "to make no other agreement with them of any other Bounds than what was formerly."
Possibly it was this standing difference that led the inhabitants to take steps-which ought to have been taken immediately after securing the Indian deed-to obtain a Patent from the Proprietors for their land. Accordingly we read in the Journal of the Governor and Council, under date of May 30, 1684: "The peticion of Hans Dedricke Elias Mekellson and Adrian Post in behalfe of themselves and other Inhabitants of Aquaquanuncke setting forth they had purchased by order of the late Governor Carteret A Tract of Land and Containeing 5520 Acres wch is to bee Devided amongst fourteen ffamelys of them there settled-pray they may have a gen'-all Pattent for the same,-It's ordered that the Indian sale being Recorded-Arrerages of Rent paid that a pattent bee made and granted them att one halfe penny pr Acre yearely Rent."
It was nearly ten months later ere the Patent was taken out, that impor- tant instrument bearing date the sixteenth day of March, in the year 1684, according to the Old Style then in vogue, when the year began on the twenty- fifth day of March; the date of the Patent would be, according to our New Style, 1685. It was as follows :
THIS INDENTURE made the sixteenth day of March Anno Dm. one thou sand six Hundred & Eighty ffour and in the seven and thirtieth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles the second over England, etc .: BETWEEN the Lords Proprietors of the Province of East New Jersey of the one part and Hans Didericke, Garrett Garretson, Walling Jacobs, Elias
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Machielson, Hartman Machielson, Johannes Machielson, Cornelius Machiel- son, Adrian Post, Urian Tomason, Cornelius Rowlafson, Symon Jacobs, John Hendrick Speare, Cornelius Lubbers, and Abraham Bookey, of the other part. WITNESSETH that the said Lords Proprietors as well for and in Consideration of the summe of ffifty pounds sterling moneyes in hand paid by the said Hans Diderick Garrett Garretson, Walling Jacobs, Elias Machiel- son, Hartman Machielson, Johannes Machielson, Cornelius Machielson, Adrian Post, Urian Tomason, Cornelius Rowlafson, Symon Jacobs, John Hendrick Speare, Cornelius Lubbers, & Abraham Bookey, to the Governor of the said Province, to and for the use of the Lords Proprietors thereof, the same being in full payment and discharge of all Arreares of Quitt Rents for the Lands hereinafter granted the Recept whereof the said Governor dotlı hereby Acknowledge and thereof and of every part and parcell thereof doth acquitt and discharge them and every of them and the heires and Assigns of them and every of them As also for the Rents and services hereinafter Re- served-HAVE Aliened granted Bargained and sold and by these presents doe Alien grant Bargaine and sell unto the said Hans Diderick, Garret Garretson, Walling Jacobs, Elias Machielson, Hartman Machielson, Johannes Machiel- son, Cornelius Machielson, Adrian Post, Urian Tomason, Cornelius Rowlaf- son, Symon Jacobs, John Hendrick Speare, Cornelius Lubbers, and Abraham Bookey, and to their heires and Assignes a Certaine tract of Land scituate Lyeing and being upon Pisaick River in the County of Essex and called and knowne by the name of Acquickenunck BEGINNING att the Northermost bounds of the towne of Newark and soe Runeing from the Lowermost part to the uppermost part thereof as far as the steepe Rocks or mountaines and from the said Lowermost part along Pisaick River to the great ffalles thereof and soe along the steep Rocks and mountaines to the uppermost part of New- arke bounds afores'd as it is more plainly demonstrated by a Chart or Draught thereof made by the Late Surveyor generall together w'th all the Rivers ponds Creekes, Isles Islands (Hartmans Island w'ch particularly belongs to Hartman Machielsen onely Excepted) and also all Inletts Bayes swamps marshes meadows pastures ffields ffences woods underwoods ffish- ings hawkings huntings ffowleings and all other appurten'ces whatsoever thereunto belonging and app'taineing (halfe part of the gold and silver mynes and the Royalty of the Lords Proprietors also Excepted) To HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Tract of Land and P'misses and every part and parcell of the same to them the said Hans Diderick, Garrett Garretson, Walling Jacobs, Elias Machielson, Hartman Machielson, Johannes Machielson, Cor- nelius Machielson, Adrian Post, Urian Tomason, Cornelius Rowlafson, Symon Jacobs, John Hendrick Speare, Cornelius Lubbers, & Abraham Bookey, their heires and Assignes and to the use of them their heires and Assignes forever to bee holden in ffree and Common Soccage of them the Lords Proprietors their heires and Assignes as of the seignory of East Greenwich YEILDING AND PAYING therefore yearely unto the said Lords Pro- prietors their heires or Assignes the Chiefe or quit Rent of ffourteen pounds of starling moneyes or the value thereof yearely for said Tract of Land upon every ffive and twentieth day of March forever hereafter in Liew and stead of the half penny per Acre mentioned in the Concessions and in Liew and stead of all other services and demands whatsoever the ffirst payment to bee made upon the ffive and Twentieth day of March w'h shall bee in theare of our Lord one thousand six hundred Eighty and six AND the said Hans Diderick, Garrett Garratson, Walling Jacobs, Elias Machielson, Hart- man Machielson, Johannes Machielson, Cornelius Machielson, Adrian Post, Urian Tomason, Cornelius Rowlofson, Symon Jacobs, John Hendrick Speare, Cornelius Lubbers, and Abraham Bookey-doe hereby for themselves their
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