USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > History of Paterson and its environs (the silk city); historical- genealogical - biographical > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
268
PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
and other writers of like fame. "The cellar was not so well stored as the library," he sarcastically observes, "for there was neither wine, cyder, nor rum; nothing in short but some vile cyder-brandy, with which I must make grog. The bill they presented me the next morning amounted nevertheless to sixteen dollars. I observed to Mr. Courtheath, that if he made one pay for being waited on by his pretty sisters, it was by much too little ; but if only for lodgings and supper it was a great deal. * I learnt, on this occasion, that he hired the inn he kept, as well as a large barn which served for a stable, and a garden of two or three acres, for eighty-four bushels of corn a year." It is said that Mr. Curtis (whose name de Chastellux trans- forms into Courtheath, had a sign which bore pictures of a horse, a fish and a bird, with this doggerel below :
This is the Horse that never ran This is the Fish that never swam This is the Bird that never flew Here's good Fare for your horse and you.
To this modest tavern came Gen. Washington and Mrs. Washington, on Thursday, March 28, 1782, and remained there the guests of Col. Van Cort- landt, until the following Sunday morning, when they resumed their journey toward Newburgh. The general had an escort of an officer, a sergeant and twelve dragoons, and we may be sure that as they galloped along the road they were looked upon with great interest by the inhabitants. Many an aged citizen treasured up in his memory in after years as a most precious recollec- tion the fact of having seen Washington stand in the simple porch of the old yellow tavern on those March days of 1782. When the distinguished party left Pompton they were furnished with an additional escort by Col. Van Cortlandt, on the way through Ringwood toward Newburgh.
In General Orders of June I it was directed that the New York Brigade should pass muster and inspection on June 4. Col. Van Cortlandt, for the better display of his troops, moved them to the "flat fields" (probably Pomp- ton Plains), where they underwent the inspection of that military martinet, the Baron von Steuben, who declared himself delighted with their efficiency. The brigade was soon after ordered to Verplanck's Point. So ended the military occupancy of the present Passaic county.
Washington passed through Pompton on July 12, 1782, on his way from the Hudson to Philadelphia, to meet Rochambeau. The treaty of peace with Great Britain having been ratified in April, 1783, the American army soon began to disintegrate. The proclamation of Congress, for a cessation of hos- tilities, was published at the headquarters at Newburgh on April 19, 1783, just eight years from that day when at Lexington and Concord was "fired the shot heard round the world." On that same Saturday afternoon Wash- ington rode to Ringwood, returning to Newburgh the next day. In Wash- ington's Accounts is the charge: "1782 April To the Expences of a Tip to meet the Secretary at War at Ringwood for the purpose of making arrange- ments for liberating the Prisoners-&c £8 Ios. 4d."
269
THE NATION'S WARS
On June 6 the Jersey Line left their cantonments at New Windsor, fol- lowed on June 8 by the Jersey troops who had enlisted for the war, and the Maryland troops. These all marched through this section, some passing through Acquackanonk, and others by way of Ringwood and Pompton to the south. Some new Pennsylvania levies having mutinied and threatened the Legislature of that State, Congress deemed it prudent to adjourn to Prince- ton, and asked Washington to send a detachment for their protection. On June 25 he sent 1500 men, under Gen. Howe, who marched from Newburgh through Ringwood, Pompton and Morristown to Princeton. This was the last movement of any considerable body of troops through this region. On the morning of August 18, 1783, Washington left the Newburgh headquar- ters, with Mrs. Washington, and probably on the 20th passed through Pomp- ton on his way to Rocky Hill, New Jersey, where, on November 2, 1783, he issued his farewell address to the army.
Peace once more spread her white wings broodingly over the desolated land.
The British on one occasion occupied the Acquackanonk church-prob- ably in November, 1776. A number of New Hampshire soldiers once camped in the old Totowa church.
A party of British and Hessians pursued some American soldiers as far as the Passaic river at the foot of Bank street, in Paterson. The Americans had broken down the bridge at that point, but the enemy plunged into the river, the Hessians carrying the officers on their backs. The Americans- probably militia hastily collected-retreated into the thick forests that then crowned the rocky heights, and the Hessians, fearing an ambush, prudently forebore attacking them, and retired across the river.
John Gould, collector of the township of Acquackanonk, was robbed of a large sum of public money by a party of Tories from Staten Island on September 2. 1782. Having satisfied the Legislature on the subject, by the evidence of his neighbors-Sarah Speer, Samuel Crane, Esq., Encrease Gould, Diana Vanderhoof, John Keasted, Sarah Clawson, Peter J. Riker and Caleb Hetfield-an act was passed, August 16, 1784, relieving him from responsibility for the loss.
The meaning of the following receipt is not clear, but it is believed to refer to some incident of the war :
Weesel, June ye 14th : 1777
Recd, of Henry Garritse junr. the sum of twenty four Shillings in behalf of my Brother morinus Garritse for Riding Mr. Sharps Sarvents to powlis Hook Recd, By me ----- JOHN GARRITSON
To prevent a conflict of authority this document was given :
This is to Certifie that all the Hay and Grain Mr. John Codmes has to spare is Engaged for the Forrage Store at Pompton
May 20th, 1778-
PETER KINMAN Purchg : Fore. Masr. at Pompton.
-
270
PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
John Codmus [Cadmus], of Slooterdam, appears to have been favored by the authorities, being perhaps employed in the public service, as this pass would seem to indicate :
Permit John Cadmus to pass to Slaughterdam Head Quarters 23. Oct 1780
To all Concernd D HUMPHREYS A D Camp
This precious bit of paper, brown with age, and soiled with creases, is significantly endorsed on the reverse:
New Jersey State? ss
Bergen County
Permit the Bearer, John Codmus, To pass and Repass from this place to Slotterdam, the Respectif place of his Abode- Unmilisted he behaving as becoming a friend to his Country } Me
Pomtan. Novem" 6.th 1780} To whom Concernd
ABRM ACKERMAN, justice.
What was John Cadmus doing at Washington's Headquarters at Preak- ness, on the day before the intended movement against Staten Island? Had he important intelligence to communicate? Was he a spy in the employ of the commander-in-chief ? It may be added that he was afterwards taken prisoner by the British, and confined for months in the Sugar House in New York, whence he was released only to die two weeks later from his cruel treatment.
A field lying at the base of the mountain, a mile or two west of Wanaque, is locally known as "the Jersey Camp," or "the Camp." A few mounds, still distinguishable, are supposed to mark soldiers' graves. It is more prob- able that they are ruins of winter huts.
On the east bank of the Pequannock river, about a mile above Pompton, a bold cliff has been called "Federal Rock" from time immemorial. Fifty years and more ago it was the custom to celebrate the Fourth of July by burning great piles of brushwood at night on the summit of this hill.
A tradition is preserved in the Doremus family of Lower Preakness, of a rude party of soldiers entering the house of one of the family mentioned, and demanding something to eat. The good housewife set before them a toothsome pumpkin pie. The foragers, doubtless foreigners, did not know what it was, and with brutal disdain threw it in the face of their startled hostess. She ever after had a realizing sense of the force of the proverb, as to the folly of throwing pearls before swine.
Near the former Hamburg turnpike, at Upper Preakness, in 1806, was "the Comb Makers' heap"-perhaps the relic of an encampment in Revolu- tionary days of the artificers connected with the artillery.
271
THE NATION'S WARS
CHAPTER IX.
First Revolutionary officers from Passaic County-The patriotic God- wins, long residents of Paterson-Robert Erskine and his services in the cause of liberty-William Colfax, captain of Washington's Life Guard-Active sympathizers with the British cause.
What heroes from the woodland sprung, When, through the fresh-awakened land, The thrilling cry of freedom rung, And to the work of warfare strung The yeoman's iron hand !
-Bryant.
Having detailed the military movements in the present Passaic county during the Revolution, it may be of interest to give some account of the part taken by the citizens in the great contest.
While many of the people were content to form "Associations," and "Committees of Correspondence," others felt that these efforts would be in- effectual unless supported by a military organization. Accordingly, on June 28. 1775, three militia companies were enlisted in Acquackanonk township, to be attached to Col. Philip Van Cortland's Essex county regiment, and the following officers were chosen :
First Company-Capt. Henry Garritse, jun .; Ist Lieut. Thomas Post ; 2d Lieut. Michael Vreeland, jun .; Ensign Abraham Van Houten.
Second Company-Capt. Robert Drummond; Ist Lieut. Tunis Joeral- mon; 2d Lieut. Richard Vreeland; Ensign Anthony Waters.
Third Company-Capt. Francis Post; Ist Lieut. Peter Van Ness; 2d Lieut. Cornelius Spier ; Ensign Richard Stanton.
In a general way, it may be said that the First Company was officered from the Wesel, Goutum and Bogt neighborhoods; the Second Company from the localities at and below and west of Passaic Bridge; and the Third Company from the vicinity of Little Falls and Cedar Grove.
At a meeting of the captains, lieutenants and ensigns, held at Newark, July 8, 1775, the following field officers were chosen: Colonel-Philip Van Cortlandt ; Lieutenant Colonel-Joseph Alling; First Major-Caleb Camp ; Adjutant-Daniel Neil. The Colonel was from Second River; Neil from Acquackanonk ; Alling and Camp from Newark.
Abraham Godwin, of Acquackanonk, Richard Dey, of Preakness, Oba- diah Seward, of Sussex, and John Van Houten, probably of Totowa, memo- rialized the Provincial Congress thus, February 7, 1776: "They are ready, . able and willing to enter into the service of the United Colonies as officers of a company in the next Regiment or Battalion to be raised in this Province, and are desirous to show their courage and fidelity in the preservation of their country, and support of American liberty and in counteracting the usurpers of the rights and privileges of America, and humbly pray that a warrant may be granted to Abraham Godwin, Captain; Richard Dey, First Lieutenant ; Obadiah Seward, Second Lieutenant ; and to John Van Houten, Ensign." The Committee of Acquackanonk, by Michael Vreeland, chair-
272
PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
man, and Nicholas Roche, clerk, recommended that the above request be granted, but no action was taken on it.
Other militia companies were organized, of which we have no record. The officers were not always enthusiastic or efficient. Gerrit Van Wagoner, who was chosen as second lieutenant in Capt. Thomas Sigler's company, wrote, August 16, 1776: "As these times requires a man of activity to stand hardships your memorialist humbly prays that no commission may be granted, as his declining state of health prevents his doing duty almost in any capacity." Jacobus Post, major of a regiment of light horse, resigned February 3, 1776.
Many of the officers selected flatly refused to turn out when the militia was summoned for duty. On October 21, 1776, Adj. Samuel Hayes, of Newark, was given a warrant by Col. Edward Thomas, authorizing him to distrain and sell the property of the officers and captains in the second bat- talion of the Second Regiment, who had refused to do military duty when ordered by their superior officers, the recalcitrants being Capts. Francis Post, Richard Van Riper, Henry King and Henry Garritse. It may well be that the delinquents had valid excuses to offer, for the court records of the day show that the local justices of the peace were prone to impose fines illegally upon persons whom they summarily adjudged delinquents. At the January term, 1778, of the Essex common pleas there were a number of appeals from such judgments, which had been given on the complaint of Capt. Fleming. For instance: Cornelius Van Winkle, fined £75, 3s. 6d. for not appearing in the militia, had his fine remitted. Henry Garritse, Jr., fined the same amount, on the evidence of Capt. Fleming and Sergt. Post, had the fine re- mitted, it appearing that he was never warned. Marinus Van Riper and John A. Post had the like good fortune, under like circumstances. Peter Kipp, who had paid 2001/2 dollars fine to constable William King, had the fine remitted, on Dr. Roche's evidence, "on account of inability of body." Henry Garritse, Jr., paid £75, 3s. 6d fine to Constable William King, but on appeal had the fine remitted, "it appearing to the Court that a substitute was hired for the appellant within three Days after notice." Capt. Jorale- man was the complainant in this case, and also in the case of Cornelius Eder- son, who was fined 201 dollars "for substitute money," which he had been unable to pay, and was therefore in custody. At the April term, 1778, Elias Vreeland and Jacob C. Vreeland, fined £75, 3s. 6d. "for not appearing in the militia last December," had their fines remitted, on the evidence of Henry · Garritse and John A. Post. At the January term, 1779, Cornelius Van Hou- ten and Hessel Peterse, fined £19, 17s. 3d. "for not doing duty in the militia when called on," had their fines remitted. These proceedings indicate that harsh and illegal methods were frequently resorted to by the militia officers. But what excuse can be conjectured for the following case of gross and pro- fane insubordination, set forth with amusing simplicity ?
Sir-According to Your orders I proceeded to order the Officers & Men of my Company to Equip themselves, & to proceed down to Camp but on my speaking to Lt V. Houten he swore he'd be dam'd if he would, likewise he
273
THE NATION'S WARS
has also neglected his duty on the Alarm at English Neighbourhood, when there was real Call for him.
Yr. H1. St. HENRY VAN BLARCOM Capt
In the First Battalion of the "Jersey Line," organized by the Provincial Congress, November 7, 1775, to serve in the Continental army, Yellis Mead was first lieutenant of the Fifth Company. He was of the family which afterwards gave its name to Mead's Basin, now Mountain View, in Wayne township. He was prompt and energetic in enlisting his complement of men at the outset of the war, winning the favorable notice of Lord Stirling. He was an ensign, but received his lieutenant's commission, January 12, 1776, and was commissioned captain, October 29, 1777, serving until the close of the war.
In the Third Battalion, "Jersey Line," organized February 6, 1776, Col. Elias Dayton, the Ist company was officered from this vicinity, the men com- posing it being doubtless enlisted here. Captain-Samuel Potter ; First Lieu- tenant-Rinear Blanchard; Second Lieutenant-Josiah Quimby ; Ensign- Cornelius Hennion. Potter was discharged with the battalion. Blanchard resigned, and went over to the enemy. Quimby lived near the Great Notch. Hennion was promoted to second lieutenant, July 19, 1776; to first lieuten- ant, November 29, 1776, and captain about the same time. He was severely wounded at Short Hills, New Jersey, June 26, 1777, and was discharged on account of wounds, April 1, 1778, being allowed half-pay. He was doubtless of the Preakness family of Hennions.
In addition to the troops contributed to the Continental army, New Jersey organized the militia, some of the companies being liable to duty, when needed, not only in this, but in other States. Of these bodies one was the Eastern Company of Artillery, and among the officers chosen, March I, 1776, was Daniel Neil, of Acquackanonk, as captain-lieutenant. By an act passed November 27, 1776, a battalion was ordered raised in Bergen, Morris and Essex counties, of which Richard Dey, of Preakness, was major ; he subsequently resigned.
The militia of the State were regulated by an act passed June 3, 1775, providing for the enrolment and equipment of "minute men," ready to turn out at briefest notice for service. By ordinance passed June 14, 1776, five battalions were ordered raised, to reinforce the American army at New York, and Richard Dey, of Preakness, was appointed major of one of the battalions. By subsequent legislation several regiments were organized. In that of Bergen county Theunis Dey was colonel; Richard Dey was first major; and George Ryerson was adjutant. In the Second Regiment of Essex county, Dr. Nicholas Roche, of Acquackanonk, was surgeon of the South Battalion.
A melancholy interest attaches to the career of Daniel Neil, who has been mentioned several times, from the fact that he is the only officer from Old Acquackanonk, or indeed from the present Passaic county-who was
P-18
274
PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
killed in battle during the Revolution. Some years before the war he was engaged in mercantile business in New York City, probably in a small way, as the newspapers of the day and other current sources of information do not mention liim. While still a resident of New York he married Elizabeth Mallam, spinster, his marriage bond being dated January 10, 1769. The young merchant came to Acquackanonk in the fall of 1773 or early in 1774, as appears by a deed dated October 16, 1773, acknowledged January 12, 1774, from Thomas Griffith and Lydia his wife, of Acquackanonk, who for £900 conveyed to Daniel Neil, of the city of New York, "all that certain Dwelling house and piece, parcel or Farm of Land, Situate, lying and being at Acquackinong aforesaid, Butted and Bounded as follows, Northerly by Land of Francis Van Winkle, west by Land of John Sipp, southerly by Land of John Sipp and of Richard Ludlow & of Christopher Van Norstrand, and Easterly by Passaick River. Containing 37 acres and a half of an acre." Neil paid the consideration money at once, but in order to raise most of the sum needed he and his wife gave a mortgage on the same property, Oct. 25, 1773, to Isaac Rosevelt, of New York, merchant, "for the security of the said Daniel Neil and Elizabeth his wife their conveying in fee simple on or before November 10, 1775, a certain house and lot of ground in Montgomery Ward in the City of New York aforesaid at the northwest side of Queen street bounded southeast by Queen street, northeast by the house and ground of William Depeyster, southerly by ground of said Isaac Rosevelt, containing in breadth in front 23 feet 3 inches in rear 15 feet 3 inches in length on each side 244 feet [property situate on Queen (now Pearl) street, near Beekman, 'on the highway to the Fresh Water']; or if said Elizabeth should happen to die before said November 10, 1775, for the repayment unto said Isaac Rosevelt of the sum of £640 New York currency with lawful interest from October 17, 1774." The Acquackanonk property purchased by Neil was situated on the Passaic river, and is now intersected by the Erie railroad, at Passaic Bridge. It extended about one hundred feet south of Westervelt place, westerly to Franklin avenue, or thereabouts, and northerly about to Lafayette avenue ; it was somewhat irregularly shaped. On the west side of the River road, and just north of the present Westervelt place, stood a small stone house, about 32x24 feet, one story high, with attic, two rooms deep, with kitchen extension about 14x16 feet in area. This was the residence of Daniel Neil. In all probability he kept a country story on the premises, and did some shipping on the river, his neighbors-Richard Ludlow and Chris- topher Van Norstrand-having considerable docks on the river also. When James Leslie was licensed, April. 1775, to keep the tavern at Acquackanonk Bridge, Daniel Neil was one of his sureties. We have seen that Neil was selected as one of the General Committee, at the meeting of Acquackanonk patriots at Leslie's tavern on May 3, 1775. Probably his bold stand for the country caused his Tory creditors to press him, for at the next term of the Bergen and Essex courts three judgments were entered up against him, for comparatively small sums. On July 8, 1775, he was chosen adjutant of Col. Philip Van Cortlandt's Essex county regiment. When he was transferred
275
THE NATION'S WARS
to the artillery, March I, 1776, as captain-lieutenant, he was promptly called into active service, and was stationed at Perth Amboy during a portion of the ensuing summer. It is probable that he served in the battle of Long Island, and in the subsequent movements on Manhattan Island, and the retreat through the Jerseys. When Washington executed his second masterly sortie across the Delaware and attacked the British at Princeton, on January 3, 1777, one of the victims of that brilliant victory was Captain Neil, who fell gallantly fighting at the head of his artillery company. As Gen. Henry Knox, commander of the Continental Artillery, wrote from Morristown, December 7, 1780: "This is to certify that Captain Neill of the Artillery of the United States, & belonging to the State of New Jersey, was killed at the head of his Company while nobly supporting the Liberties of his Country, at Princeton, on the third Day of January, 1777." His widow was granted a pension (half of his pay), in January, 1780. On February 6, 1780, she married Maj. Samuel Hayes, of Newark. He was a sturdy fighter in the days of the Revolution, the terror of the Tories, and from his rough and ready manner was given the sobriquet, "Old Bark-Knife." She died prior to 1782. Her property appears to have passed into the hands of Isaac Rosevelt, probably by foreclosure of mortgage. In 1805 it was bought by Dr. Benjamin R. Scudder, for $2,755, and on his death, 111 1819, it descended to his four daughters. The former farm of thirty-seven acres is now intersected by the Erie railroad, and is divided among scores of owners, none of whom ever heard of Capt. Daniel Neil. The public park adjacent to the Passaic Bridge railroad station is the very spot whereon stood the residence of this patriot hero of the Revolution. How fitting it would be were there set up here a statue, a monument or a tablet to perpetuate the memory of the gallant sol- dier from Acquackanonk, who fell while bravely fighting at Princeton!
The visitor who came from New York to admire the Passaic Falls in the year of Grace 1750 met with no house within a mile or more of that wonderful phenomenon, until he reached the grist-mill on the river bank, at the foot of Mulberry street. Probably some sort of a residence was there for the miller and his family. There was no other house nearer to that mill than Dirck Van Houten's, in the present West Side Park. Into this wilder- ness, scarcely broken save by the road from New York and Newark-via Acquackanonk Landing, the Wesel road, Vreeland avenue, Broadway, Mul- berry and River streets-to Pompton and the West, came, about the year 1755, one Abraham Godwin, a young carpenter and builder, from New York. He was born (in New York, it is understood) November 23, 1724; m. (in the Dutch church, New York) Phebe Cool (b. November 29, 1726), May 9, 1747. An extremely interesting account of this pioneer in the founding of Paterson proper was prepared by his son, David Godwin. This manuscript fills eighteen closely-written foolscap pages. Judging by various references in the text, it was written about the year 1820, and was rewritten about 1835, when the author was nearly seventy years old. Wherever possible to verify his statements by references to the records, he is found to be sur-
276
PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
prisingly accurate. Unfortunately, the information he gives us regarding the first of the family in this country is extremely meager, being as follows :
Grandfather Godwin must have emigrated to this country about the year Seventeen hundred and twenty from England. Some time after father settled at Totowa Grandfather and Grandmother Godwin came to live with him they both died in the house father built over the river where Garra- brant Vanhoutten built afterwards. They were both old upwards of eighty years Grandfather Cole must have come to this country from Holland in the year 1722 they remained in New York some years before they came to Totowa They lived after they moved to Totowa with Uncle David Griffith who was married to their daughter there I believe [ After] Grandfather died Grandmother staid with them till Aunt Sally died She then came to mother and lived with her till after the war she died aged eighty four years.
Taking up the narrative of David Godwin at the beginning he gives us this account of his father's venturing into the wilds of Paterson :
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.