USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 2
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
Island, -with the hope of large gains from each, but the Amsterdam chamber of the West India Company, having listened to objections from other greedy speculators, decided that Van Werckhoven could retain but one of the tracts in question. He chose to locate himself on Long Island.
Nothing further was attempted by the Dutch on lands west of Achter Kol, as Newark bay was first called, until after the restoration of Charles II., May 29, 1660. Among the first then to make application to the authorities for the settlement of a plantation was John Strickland, a resident of Long Island. The application was made in behalf of himself and a number of other New England people. The first appli- cation bears date February 15, 1660 ; another letter followed, April 29, 1661. On June 2, 1661, Captain Bryan Newton, one of Governor Stuyvesant's council, wrote the petitioners in answer, giving them liberty to look at the land in question with a view to such a disposition of it as was desired by them.
The Dutch rulers also sent over, in the spring of 1661, a general invitation to all Christian people of " tender conscience," in England or elsewhere oppressed, to erect colonies anywhere within the juris- diction of Petrus Stuyvesant, in the West Indies, between New England and Virginia in America.
The proposals of the Dutch government were liberal, and having been made public, met with a warm reception in New Haven and other towns in Connecticut. A deputation was sent to New Amsterdam to make further inquiry, and to ascertain the character of the lands to be settled.
"This deputation," says Hatfield, " was so courteously entertained and made so favorable a report of the country, as to induce Messrs. Benjamin Fenn and Robert Treat, magistrates of Milford, Dr. Joseph Gunn, one of the deacons of the church of Milford, and Mr. Richard Law, one of the magistrates of Stamford,-all of them being of the New Haven jurisdiction, and originally from Wethersfield,-to come down, in November, 1661, with full powers to negotiate with Governor Stuyvesant for the settlement of a plantation in these parts, 'within the limits of the (West India) company's jurisdiction behind Staten Island about the Raritan river.' "'
Among the conditions insisted upon by the New Haven people were, liberty to gather a church in a congregational way, such as they had enjoyed in New England about twenty years past ; the right of calling a synod by the English churches that might be gathered in New Netherland, for the regulation of their ecclesiastical affairs ; the right to administer justice in all civil matters among themselves, by magis- trates of their own selection, without appeal to other authorities ; the purchase of the lands by the Dutch government from the natives, and a full conveyance thereof to the associates forever ; none to be allowed
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
to settle among them except by their own consent ; the right to collect debts ; and a written charter stipulating these rights in full.
To all this the governor readily consented except the concession of full powers of self-government without appeal. After long and repeated conferences on this subject, the matter, in March, 1662, was referred to the directors at Amsterdam, who, on March 26, 1663, instructed Stuyvesant to insist on retaining appellate jurisdiction in certain criminal cases, as long as it was tenable ; but if the object in view was not obtainable without this sacrifice, then the governor was authorized to treat with the English on such terms as in his opinion were best adapted to promote the welfare of the state and its subjects. The negotiations were renewed in June, 1663, but with what result the record does not state ; it is altogether probable that the disagreement remained.
In the year 1664, in the contest between the Dutch and the English, the former surrendered to the latter. New Amsterdam became New York; Richard Nicholls became deputy governor of the state, and in a few weeks thereafter all New Netherlands came into subjection under the crown of Great Britain.
CHAPTER III.
THE ENGLISH SETTLEMENT AT ELIZABETH TOWN.
S CARCELY a month had elapsed after the fall of New Netli- erlands into the hands of the English before those settlers who several years before had sought a removal to Achter Kol, again petitioned liberty to purchase and settle a plantation at that place. The following is the petition they presented :
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE COLONEL RICHARD NICHOLLS, ESQR., GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, ETC .:
The humble peticoners of us subscribed sheweth : That several of us, Yor Peti- coners being Intended formerly to have purchased and settled a plantation upon ye river called after Cull river before Yor arrival into these parts ; our intentions, notwith- standing our making some way with the Indians & charges & expenses about the premises, was obstructed by the then ruling Dutch. Aud some of us by reason of not having any accommodations here were put upon thoughts of removing into some other of his Majesty's dominions ; but now upon this Vor happy arrival and the deceas of the Dutch interest, we would gladly proceed in the design afforsd. In order whereunto, we make bold wth all humility to petition to Yor Honor that you would grant us liberty to purchase and settle a parcel of land to Improve our labor upon the river before men- tioned, and some of us being destitude of habitation where we are, we crave yor answer with as much expedition as may be. We humbly take our leave at present and subscribe, VOR HONOR TO COMMAND,
JOHN BAILIES, DANIEL DENTON, THOMAS BENYDICK, NATHAN DENTON, JOHN FOSTER, LUKE WATSON.
From Jamaica, commonly so called, September 26, 1664.
The application received the prompt attention of the new governor, and the paper was presently returned with the following endorsement :
Upon perusal of this petition, I do consent unto the proposals and shall give the undertakers all due encouragement in so good a work. Given under my hand, in Fort James, this 30th of September, 1664. RICHARD NICHOLLS.
The governor's warrant having been secured, the " undertakers " next sought a conference with the owners of the soil. Captain John Baker, of the city of New York, it is said, was employed as the English and Dutch interpreter, and one of the natives as the Indian and Dutch interpreter. The meeting between the parties was held at Staten Island, where the chief Sagamores of the Indians then lived, and
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
resulted satisfactorily to all the parties. A tract of land was purchased, for which the following deed was given :
This indenture, made the 28th Day of October in the sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles, By the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, defender of the faitli, etc., between Mattano, Manamowaouc and Cones- comen, of Staten Island of the one part and John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, of Jamaica in Long Island, husbandmen on the other part ; Witnesseth, That the said Mattano, Manamowaouc and Couescomen hath clearly bargened and sold to the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, their associates, their heirs, execurs, one parcel of land bounded on the south by a river commonly called the Raritans river, and on the east by the river wch parts Staten Island and the main, and to run northward up After-cull bay, till we come at the first river wch sets westward out of the said bay afore- said, and to run west into the country twice the length as it is broad from the north to the south of the aforementioned bounds ; together with the lauds, meadows, woods, waters, fields, fenns, fishings, fowlings, wth all and singular the appurtenances, wth all gains, profits and advantages arising upon the said lands and all other premises and appurtenances, to the Said John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, wth their asso- ciates, wth their and every of their heirs, executors, adminrs or assignes for ever, to have and to hold the said lands with the appurtenances, to the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, with their associates, their execurs or assignes ; and the said Mattano, Manamowaouc and Couescoman covenant, promise, grant and agree to and wth the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson, and their associates, their heirs and execurs, to keep them safe in the enjoyment of the said lands from all expulsion and incumbrances whatsoever may arise of the said land by any person or persons, by reason of any title had or growing before the date of these presents, for which bargain, sale, covenants, grants and agreements on behalf of the said Mattano, Manamowououc and Couescomen, to be performed, observed and done the foresd parties are at their enttery upon the said land to pay to sd Mattano, Manamowaouc and Cowescomen, twenty fathom of trading cloth, two made coats, two guns, two kettles, ten bars of lead, twenty handfuls of powder; and further, the sd John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson do covenant, promise, grant and agree to and with the sd Mattano, Manamowoauc and Couescoman, the foresd Indians, four hundred fathom of white wampum, after a year's expiration from the day of the said John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson entry upon ye said lands. In witness whereof we have hereunto put our hands and seals, the day and year aforesaid.
The Mark of Mattano. The Mark of Sewakherones. 11. The Mark of Warinanco. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us witnesses.
CHARLES HORSLEY. The mark of RANDAL R. HEWETT.
Having thus made, in good faith, a carefully worded deed of the said purchase, the associates proceeded to submit the transaction to Governor Nicholls, from whom presently afterward they obtained an official confirmation of their title by grant in due form.
The description, though designed to cover the whole territory between the Hudson and the Delaware rivers, was peculiarly applicable to the region bordering on Achter Kol, or Newark bay, and its southern estuary. The purchase was made October 28, 1664, and the governor's patent or grant on the Ist of December following, and the final payment of four hundred fathoms of white wampum was acknowledged by the
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
grantors, November 24, 1665. Appended to the Indian deed is the following receipt : "Received of John Ogden, in part of the above specified four hundred feet of Wampum ; I say, received one hundred fathoms Wampum by mne, the 18 of August, 1665. Witnesses, Samuel Edsall, James Bollen, the mark of Mattano."
Endorsed on the deed is the following: "The 24 November, 1665, paid to the Indians in full payment of this obligation : In wampum, one hundred and ninety fatlioins (190). In a fowling piece and lead 40 for 180 gilders that was behind for the payment of Luke Watson. Oxen that were kild by the Indians, seventy fathom of wampum. The sum of three hundred fathom (300) I say in all." Witnesses :
The mark of Mattano.
Henry Creyk.
WAREHAM.
JOHN DICKESON,
SEWAH HERONES,
JEREMIAH OSBONE, MANAWAOUC,
JAMES BOLLEN, KAWAMEEH,
LUTONEWACH. "
The precise date of the first occupation of this tract by the new proprietors is not on record. By tradition it is evident that four fam- ilies at least were there in August, 1665, and it is probable that besides these four mentioned in Nicholls' grant, their associates as well, or a number of them at least, were there before that time as occupants of the town. Denton, one of the projectors of the undertaking, writes, four or five years afterward, that the usual way is for a company of people to join together, either enough to make a town or a lesser number ; these go, with the consent of the governor, and view a tract of land, there being choice enough, and finding a place convenient for a town, they return to the governor who, upon their desire, adinits them into the colony, and gives them a grant or patent for the said land for themselves and associates. These persons being thins qualified settle the place and take in what inhabitants to themselves they shall see canse to admit of till their town be full.
From Hatfield we quote the following : "True it is, that, on the first settlement of the said purchases and associates it was agreed and understood that the lands so purchased should be divided, in proportion to the money paid for the purchase, to wit : Into the first lot, second lot and third lot rights, the second lot to be double and the third lot treble what was divided to those called first rights." In commenting upon this point, Hatfield concludes, "that ground was broken for the settlement of the town as early as in November, 1664." A considerable number of the associates for whom the land had been purchased arrived with their wives and children and took possession of their new homes in Achter Kol.
CHAPTER IV.
GOVERNMENT OF PHILIP CARTERET.
LIZABETH TOWN was the seat of the first English government in New Jersey. In 1664 the Duke of York having sold Nova Caesarea, or New Jersey, to Lord John Berkeley and Sir John Carteret, two of the lords of the privy council of King Charles, Philip Carteret was appointed governor, with plenary authority to administer the civil affairs of the colony.
Early in the month of August, in the year 1665, the ship " Philip " having arrived at New York, July 29th, now makes her appearance at the point or entrance of the creek on which the town is laid out. She brings Captain Philip Carteret, a sprightly youth of six and twenty, with a company of emigrants from the Old World. Among them is a French gentleman, Robert Vauquellin, a surveyor by profession, with his wife. Captain James Bollen, of New York, is also of the number. With these came also eighteen men of the laboring class, possibly a few others, -females, probably, of whom no special mention is made,- some thirty in all.
Captain Carteret, with credentials to Ogden and his townsinen, comes accredited with papers from Governor Nicholls and a governor's commission from Lord John Berkeley, baron of Stratton, Somerset county, England, and Sir George Carteret, knight and baronet, of Saltrum, in Devon (botlı of the privy council), to whom the Duke of York had granted the territory lying west of Hudson's river and east of the Delaware, to be known henceforth as Nova Caesarea or New Jersey.
The new governor was met by the Elizabeth Town associates at the landing, when mutual explanations followed. The Indian deed was produced and Governor Nicholls' grant was brought forward, and the tradition says that Carteret, being informed of their right to the lands, approved of the same and readily and willingly consented to become an associate with them, and went up from the place of landing with them, carrying a hoe on his shoulder, thereby intimating his intention of becoming a planter with them.
We quote the following from Murray's notes on the history of Elizabeth. "By the concessions and agreement of the lords proprietors
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
a general assembly was established, consisting of the governor, a council and a house of burgesses. This assembly held its first meeting at Elizabeth Town on the 26th of May, 1668. The council consisted of seven and the house of burgesses of eleven members. John Ogden, Sr., and John Bracket were the members from Elizabeth Town. It is very easily inferred that a New England influence was predominant in the first colonial legislature, as we find the chief features of the Puritan codes transferred to the statute book of New Jersey. After setting four days and passing sundry laws, they adjourned to the 3d of November, when the burgesses were increased by the addition of some delegates from the river Delaware. They sit but a few days ; and from the letters which pass between the governor and council on one hand, and the burgesses on the other, we conclude that it was dissolved amid no little excitement." In May, 1668, it was enacted that the general assembly are to meet on the first Tuesday in November next, and so to continue their meeting yearly on the same day until they shall see cause to alter the said time of meeting, but there is no record of its meeting from November, 1668, to November, 1675. Up to 1682 the sessions of the supreme court were held here. Here were all the public buildings, but not a trace of these buildings exists to day, " nor," says Murray, "does even the tradition point out the site on which they stood." In 1686 the assembly met at " Amboy Perth." It afterwards alternated between Amboy and Burlington, occasionally meeting here until it became stationary at Trenton. In 1693 the assembly, resolved that the township of Elizabeth Town shall include all the land from the mouth of Rahway river west to Wood- bridge stake, and from thence westerly along the line of the county to the partition line of the province ; and from the mouth of the said Rahway river up the sound to the mouth of Bound creek, and thence to the Bound hill ; from thience northwest to the partition line of the province. Mr. Murray thinks that Basking Ridge, Pluckemin, and a part of Lamington, now lying in Somerset county, were included within these lines.
The land covered by Governor Nicholls' patent for the township of Elizabeth Town, extended from the mouth of the Passaic, on the north, a distance, in a straight line, of not less than seventeen iniles and running back into the country twice the distance, or thirty-four miles. Besides embracing the whole of the present territory of Union county it included the towns of Woodbridge and Piscataway, part of the towns of Newark and Clinton, a small part of Morris county and a considerable portion of Somerset county, embracing in all about five hundred thousand acres of territory, May 21, 1666, the townships of Woodbridge and Piscataway, and also on the same day the township since become tlie flourishing city of Newark, were all set off from Elizabeth Town, which considerably reduced that territory, to boundary
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
lines extending only to Rahway river on the south and to the Bound brook on the north.
Difficulties soon arose between the new governor and the legislature, the former becoming jealous of his prerogatives, and the latter body refusing to become creatures of the governor's will. In 1669 the affairs of the province were involved still further in much uncertainty, on account of the trouble which had overtaken the lords proprietors at home. Berkeley had been detected in the basest corruption, and deprived of his office. Carteret had long been under the accusation of parliament as a defaulter and was expelled from the house of commons in 1669. These circumstances led to the renewal of the scheme of annexing New Jersey to the province of New York, in which Colonel Nicholls, always having been interested, succeeded in having New Jersey transferred to the Duke of York's possessions. By some new turn, however, the lords retained possession of their charter, and Elizabeth Town remained the seat of government of the province and the residence of the governor and his officials.
The governor, however, refusing to convene the assembly or to recognize its proceedings, the latter met in 1670 and again in 1671 ; and, as the governor refused to preside over the assembly, the members, as authorized by the concessions, appointed James Carteret, the son of Sir George (who was then residing in Elizabeth Town), to preside over theni.
William Pardon, the secretary of the house, taking sides with the governor, refused to deliver up the acts and proceedings of the assembly, and these records were, by the authority of the governor, destroyed. The newly appointed governor then ordered the arrest of Pardon. In the meanwhile Governor Carteret fled to Bergen, and Pardon escaped from Meeker, the constable, who made his arrest. The issne of Pardon's arrest is dated May 25, 1672. Upon the advice of the lords proprietors, Governor Carteret repaired to England, in July, 1672, to lay the grievances of the province before them, leaving Captain John Berry, deputy-governor, in his place. Captain James Carteret, low- ever, occupied the government house at Elizabeth Town. On the 9th of July he issued a writ of attachment against the house and lands and all the estate of William Pardon, who had fled to England. Captain James Carteret arrived in Elizabeth Town in the summer of 1671, on his way to North Carolina to take possession of his newly acquired domain as landgrave. He was the son of Sir George Carteret, the lord proprietor of New Jersey, who instructed liimn, in 1673, to look after his patrimony in Carolina. His brief authority was followed by that of Captain Berry until the return of Governor Carteret from England, in November, 1674. In the meantime the Dutch had retaken the country and had again surrendered it to the English. Berkeley had sold his half of the province to John Fenwick, and Sir George Carteret
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
had become the sole proprietor of East Jersey by a new patent from the Duke of York.
The same ship which brought over Carteret brought over Colonel Edmund Andros, the newly appointed governor of New York. Now followed the disputes of Andros and Carteret over the government of East Jersey, the seizure of Carteret and his trial, May 27, 1680, for pre- suming to exercise jurisdiction over territory within the bounds of his Majesty's letters-patent granted to his Royal Higliness, the Duke of York. The jury declared Carteret not guilty, but an order was appended to the judgment of the court requiring him to give security that he would not exercise jurisdiction, either civil or military, in the province of New Jersey.
On June 2d, five days after Carteret's trial, Andros called a general assembly to meet at Elizabeth Town. He presented himself personally before the deputies, unfolded the king's letters-patent and thus claiming the rights, the governor gained their consent in behalf of the people to his right to rule until the authorities in England could be heard fromn.
On March 2, 1681, Governor Carteret resumed office, but the remainder of his administration was unimportant. With the decease of Sir George Carteret and the transfer of East Jersey to the new proprietors, the necessity arose for a new administration. This was inaugurated under Thomas Rudyard, as the deputy governor of Barclay, in 1682. Carteret died four weeks after this time, his will, inade just before his death, bearing date December 10, 1682. His administration was regarded as a complete failure.
Elizabeth Town was the largest and most important town in the province for many years after the settlement. Here were all the public offices, and here was the residence of most of the officers. The place and people are thus described by Thomas Rudyard, in a letter dated May, 1683 :
"My habitation with Samuel Groome is at Elizabeth Town, and here we came first. It lies on a fresh, small river, with a tide ; ships of thirty or forty tons come to our doors. We cannot call our habi- tation solitary ; for what with public employ, I have little less com- pany at my house daily than I had in George Yard, although not so many pass by my doors. The people are generally a sober, professing people, wise in their generation, courteous in their behavior, and respectful to us in office among them. As for the temperature of the air, it is wonderfully suited to the humors of mankind, the wind and weather rarely holding in one point or one kind for ten days together. I bless the Lord, I never had better health, nor my family ; my daughters are very well improved in that respect, and tell me they would not change their places for George Yard, nor would I. People here are generally settled where the tide reaches."
Gawen Lawrie thus writes to the proprietors, in a letter dated
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
"Elizabeth Town, I Month, 2d, 1684" : "Here wants nothing but people. There is not a poor body in the province nor that wants. Here is abundance of provisions, -pork and beef at two pence per pound ; fish and fowl plenty ; oysters I think would serve all England ; Indian wheat, two shillings and six pence per bushel ; it is exceeding good for food every way and two or three hundred fold increase ; cyder good and plenty for one penny per quart ; good drink that is made of water and molasses stands about two shillings per barrel, wholesome like our eight-shilling beer in England ; good venison plenty, brought in at eighteen pence per quarter ; eggs at three pence per dozen ; all things very plenty, land very good as ever I saw ; vines, walnuts, peaches, strawberries, and many other things in plenty in the woods."
CHAPTER V.
THE TOWNSHIP OF ELIZABETH TOWN.
HE township of Elizabeth Town was not fully organized until 1693. Such a government, however, as the original colony required for its local purposes, in addition to the government of the province itself, was established among the first planters in 1665. The infant plantation of Elizabeth Town was not only the seat of the first general English government in East Jersey, but also of the first English government in the province. It was the capital of the province and port of entry for twenty-one years, having the government-house and custom-house, the resident governor and principal provincial officers, and the highest courts of judicature.
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