USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 4
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 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
24
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
The town having denounced these pamphlets, the committee next called the attention of the people, December 19, 1774, to the dangerous character of "Rivington's Royal Gazetteer," published in New York, declaring their determination, individually, to patronize it no longer, and calling upon all the people to follow their example and banish it from their habitations. The article was signed by "Jonathan Hamp- ton, Chairman." This was followed, February 13, 1775, by the following interdict :
Whereas the inhabitants of Staten Island have manifested an unfriendly dis- position towards the liberties of America, and among other things have neglected to join in the General Association proposed by the Continental Congress, and entered into by most of the townships in America, and in no instance have acceded thereto, the com- mittee of observation for this town, having taken the same into consideration, are of opinion that the inhabitants of their district ought, and by the aforesaid association are bound, to break off all trade, commerce, dealings and intercourse whatever with the inhabitants of said island, until they shall join in the General Association aforesaid ; and do resolve that all trade, commerce, dealings, and intercourse whatsoever, be suspended accordingly, which suspension is hereby notified and recommended to the inhabitants of this district to be by them universally observed and adopted.
GEORGE Ross, Clerk.
CHAPTER VIII.
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION .- CONTINUED.
W HEN the battle of Lexington, Massachusetts, was fought, on April 19, 1775, it acted as an electric shock to arouse the people to united action. New York harbor was effectually closed against the export of supplies for the British at Boston.
The old town of Elizabeth arose to arms at once. Among the young men of Elizabeth was Aaron Burr, whose mother was step- daughter of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. Mrs. Edwards had two brothers, Matthias and Aaron Ogden, the latter of whom was of Burr's own age, while Matthias was two years older and became his bosom companion. Young Burr was graduated in 1772, and in 1774 began the study of law, with his brother-in-law, at Litchfield, Connecticut. After the battle of Lexington he wrote to Ogden to come and go with him into the army. His father gave him leave to go. He was then in his twenty-first year, and Burr was nineteen. In years they were boys, but were men in the spirit of the times, and types of the men and boys who were their friends and associates, -ready to go at a call.
The provincial congress of New Jersey miet at Trenton, New Jersey, May 23d. Elizabeth Town was represented by William Peartree Smith, John Stiles, John Chetwood, Abraham Clark and Elias Boudinot. Smith and Boudinot were sent to Philadelphia, on the 25th, to confer with congress on some joint plan of action, and returned on the 30th. Great excitement was caused at Boston by British reinforcements coming in, and congress was called upon to organize an army. Command was assumed over the New England recruits, and George Washington was appointed as general-in-chief of the Continental army on June 15, 1775. This strengthened and inspired the people with new hope and confidence, and the battle of Bunker Hill was heroically fought on June 17th, demonstrating the fact that the Americans not only could fight but would, while it was also certain that the British were not invincible.
Ammunition was greatly needed. The committee of Elizabeth Town set about immediately to supply the demand as far as possible. On July 17th they "Resolved, That this committee, for every hundred weight of saltpeter made within this town for the first three months after this day will pay the sum of twenty pounds proclamation money
26
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
of New Jersey on the delivery thereof to this committee, and fifteen pounds of same currency for the like quantity of saltpeter made and delivered as aforesaid within the next three months thereafter." At the close of November, by order of congress, a recruiting agency was established and the town made the headquarters of the First New Jersey Regiment of regulars, under the command of William Alexander (Earl of Stirling). For several years he had resided at Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and had recently been chosen colonel of a Somerset county militia regiment, and had carried many of them with him into the Continental service. On account of restrictions laid on the commerce of the port of New York, by Captain Hyde Parker of the "Phoenix," man-of-war in the harbor, he took care that all vessels from foreign countries coming to New York should, if possible, enter at Elizabeth Town. This gave him cause to be apprehensive of a visit from some of the armed boats of the "Phoenix." He, therefore, urged congress, December 19, 1775, "to furnish the town immediately with a supply of ammunition and also, if possible, with half a dozen field-pieces with some rounds of grape and cannister shot."
On January 6, 1776, he wrote to the president of congress : "I have the pleasure to inform you that several vessels with valuable cargoes from foreign ports have arrived in this province, and, under the protection I have afforded them, have landed their cargoes. Among the rest are some hundred barrels of gunpowder."
Lord Stirling recommended to congress that William Barnet, Jr., be appointed surgeon of the First Jersey Battalion, and Matthias Halsted, quartermaster, which was accordingly done. Four companies of the battalion were stationed at Elizabeth Town. The barracks not being sufficient to accommodate all of them, a part were quartered among the people. The ship, "Blue Mountain Valley," soon gave them an opportunity to show their energy. The following is a letter written by Robert Ogden, chairman of the town committee, to John Hancock, president of congress, dated Elizabeth Town, February IO, 1776 :
Sir-I am ordered by the Committee of Elizabeth Town to acquaint the Congress of the Capture and state of the ship " Blue Mountain Valley," now lying at Elizabeth Town Point, and to desire particular directions from the congress what is to be done with the said ship, cargo, officers and seamen.
On Monday, the 22d of January, between eleven and twelve o'clock, Lord Stirling, with about thirty men of his regiment, being near all that were armed at this place, the rest being at Long Island, set out for Amboy on a serious enterprise. In the evening of the same day an express arrived in this town with a letter directed to Lord Stirling, and, in his absence, to the chairman of the committee of this place, informing that an armed vessel, with a detachment of marines and seamen, was sent off from New York that day from the ships of war in New York, and to the transport ship.
On the chairman's receipt of this letter, he immediately called the committee, which met about six o'clock in the evening, and from the letter and express collected and concluded that Lord Stirling left this place with an intention to procure a vessel at Amboy, and go in quest of the transport ship, which he then thought was in a defenseless
27
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
condition, not knowing of the reinforcement sent from New York, and that if intelligence should reach him that night, he would not be able to procure vessels and assistance in season at Amboy to secure success, and might be repulsed with loss. On which the committeee resolved to send a detachment of one hundred volunteers in three or four boats, by the way of the Narrows, to take, or assist Lord Stirling to take, the armed vessel or transport, ot which they immediately notified Lord Stirling by an express, and to encourage volunteers to enter, assured them they should share of prizes, according to the regulations that were or should be made by the Continental congress. Vol- unteers were soon procured, and furnished by the committee with ammunition, provision and what arms were wanting, of the townsmen about eighty and of the Continental troops about thirty. The committee also procured three boats and fitted them in the best manner that the night and hurry would permit of. Between twelve and one o'clock at night the armament was ready to sail, but on account of the tide and ice they could not proceed by the way of the Narrows; they therefore set out, with a fair wind, by the way of Amboy, where they stopped and called upon Lord Stirling, who, with a boat procured by him for the purpose, and about forty of his regiment, set out with them in quest of the ship and armed vessel. At sunrise, from the masthead, they descried the ship at sea, stood for, met, and boarded her without opposition, at ten o'clock in the morning ; they found her to be a transport from London, with coals, porter, potatoes, hogs and horse-beans, designed for the ministerial troops at Boston, commanded by John H. Dempster, brother of George Dempster, member of parliament for Dundee, etc., in Scotland. But the armed vessel, by great good fortune, saved herself by returning to New York, not having discovered the ship, to the great disappointment of our people. Lord Stirling gave the command of the ship to Mr. Rogers, a sea captain, with orders to proceed to this place, but, being detained by tide and contrary winds, on Wednesday evening, sent a reinforcement of about eighty men to secure her against any such attempt, and on Friday she arrived in safety at Elizabeth Town Point, where she remained under the command of Lord Stirling, guarded by some of the troops under his command, until Tuesday last, when he and his troops were ordered to New York, since which time she has been, and now is, under the care of the committee. By order of Lord Stirling and the committee, the porter and beans are stored, the sails and rigging are taken on shore. The potatoes, which are chiefly rotten, and coal remain on board the ship. The captain and seamen remain prisoners at large in this town. The committee expected Lord Stirling would have, before this time, pro- cured the particular directions of the congress for the disposition of the ship and cargo, but in this they are disappointed, and everything respecting the ship is in suspense. The hogs remaining, being only seven out of eighty, and the remaining potatoes they have concluded to sell. The coal is in great demands for making arms, and is liable to be destroyed with the ship by an armed force which may be dispatched privately in the night from New York, which is but fourteen miles distance. The seamen, who are boarded out by the committee, are uneasy aud soliciting the committee for their wages, which, they say, were promised by Lord Stirling. The captain is anxious to know how long he is to be detained, and the committee are desirous that he soon be dismissed, and at liberty to inform his friends and countrymen of the usage he has received from the Americans. This, sir, is the state of affairs relating to the store-ship called the "Blue Mountain Valley," and brought to this place.
Lord Stirling's letter, written to congress, dated January 24, 1776, reads : "I immediately set out for Amboy, and there seized a pilot- boat, and, with forty men, was just pushing out, about two o'clock yesterday morning, when I was joined by three other boats from Elizabeth Town, with about forty men eaclı, many of them gentlemen from Elizabeth Town who voluntarily came on this service, under the command of Colonel Dayton and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas." The ship he describes as "of about one hundred feet, from stem to stern
28
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
above, capable of making a ship of war of twenty six-pounders and ten three-pounders."
The following Monday, the 29th, Lord Stirling's letter was read in congress, when it was "Resolved, That the alertness, activity, and good conduct of Lord Stirling, and the forwardness and spirit of the gentlemen and others from Elizabeth Town who voluntarily assisted him in taking the 'Blue Mountain Valley,' were laudable and exem- plary, and that his lordship be directed to secure the capture until further order of congress, and that in the meantime he cause such part of the lading as would otherwise perish to be disposed of by sale."
On February 4, 1776, General Lee sent orders to Lord Stirling to transfer his regiment to New York. Orders were sent to Mr. John Blanchard to take charge of the cargo of the transport, while Brigadier- General Livingston, and John D. Hart were requested to assist him in the management of it.
The provincial congress of New Jersey finally disposed of the affair, on March 2, 1776, by ordering the vessel and cargo to be confiscated, and a commission appointed for the sale of both the ship and its contents, the proceeds to be divided among the captors. Orders were sent to deliver thirty-four chaldrons of the coal to Moses Ogden at the market price, he having a contract with the government for iron-work. The remaining goods was sold at auction March 18th.
Much alarm was caused by General Washington's communicating to Lord Stirling his fears that the British army might be transferred from Boston to New York. New Jersey was called upon to furnish men to assist in fortifying the city and harbor.
Stephen Crane, chairman of the Elizabeth Town committee, wrote to Lord Stirling that they had no right to send a detachment out of the province, and continued by saying : "The arming the two battalions in the Continental service hath drained us of our best arms, and in case a descent should be made at New York, we should be liable to continual excursions of the enemy." Abraham Clark, the signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, wrote, on March 15th, to the Committee of Safety, with regard to the provincial congress, asking for arms to equip a battalion for Canada. "If," said he, " all the congresses upon the continent required us to disarm ourselves at present, unless we are deemed dangerous to liberty, I would not obey." The situation at home was critical and it was necessary to be prepared for the enemy. Want of arms was the source of a general feeling of insecurity. On the 22d of March Lord Stirling came over to take a survey of the ground and lay out a line of fortifications at the Point. On the 24th he returned to the city to procure engineers to be employed on these works, under the directions of General William Thompson.
When the British army evacuated Boston, on the 17th of March, it was supposed they would make a strong effort to make New York
29
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
their headquarters ; consequently the American army was speedily brought to this section of the country. General Washington reached New York on Saturday, April 13th, and took command, when prepar- ations for a reception of the British were carried on with the greatest vigor.
The provincial congress of New Jersey, which was chosen on the fourth Monday in May, met in Burlington on the roth of June, when, John D. Hart having been permitted to resign his seat in congress, Abraham Clark, secretary of the New Jersey Committee of Safety, was chosen, on June 22d, in his place. William Livingston, another member from this town, who had been appointed commander-in-chief of the New Jersey militia, resigned his membership, and established his headquarters at Elizabeth Town Point. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, submitted the following measure to the general congress : "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states ; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." After full discussion, this measure was adopted on the 4th of July, 1776.
That Abraham Clark felt the deepest concern at the state of affairs at this time is seen in a letter written by him on August 6th, to Colonel Elias Dayton, in which he says : "As to my title, I know not yet whether it will be honorable or dishonorable ; the issue of the war must settle it. Perhaps our congress will be exalted on a high gallows. We were truly brought to the case of the three lepers. If we continue in the state we were in, it was evident we must perish ; if we declare our independence we might be saved ; we could but perish. I assure you, sir, I see, I feel, the danger we are in. I am far from exulting in our imaginary happiness ; nothing short of the almighty power of God can save us. It is not in our numbers, our union, nor valour I dare trust. I think an interposing Providence hath been evident in all the events that necessarily led us to what we are, -I mean independent states, -but for what purpose, whether to make us a great empire, or to make our ruin more complete, the issue can only determine."
The British were at this time collecting all their forces, both military and naval, at New York. General Livingston was in command at Elizabeth Town, and Washington wrote him from New York that he had "information from the Hook that about forty of the enemy's fleet" had arrived there and that others were in sight, also that the whole fleet would be in, that day or the next, and, he writes : "I beg not a moment's time may be lost in sending forward such parts of the militia as Colonel Reed shall mention. We are so very weak at this post that I must beg you to order the three companies which I mention in my last for Staten Island, immediately to this city."
30
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
Almost immediately after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, by congress, an opportunity was given the new nation to demonstrate to the world her ability to cope with the enemy. Two field-pieces had been placed at Elizabeth Town Point, with a part of the company of artillery of this province, under Captain Neill. On the evening of the 4th of July an armed sloop of fourteen guns belonging to the enemy ran up to Elizabeth Point and, as related, "was attacked from the shore with two twelve-pounders ; a great number of her men were killed, she set on fire, and entirely destroyed."
The British army had now increased in number to between nine and ten thousand men. On the IIth of July two British men-of-war ran up Hudson river and took possession of Tappan bay. Livingston was greatly in need of military stores. He wrote to the provincial congress, on the 6th of July, saying that "the number of men now in the service loudly called for more ample provision of supplies, -such as ammunition, flints, arms and indeed stores of every kind, and attention to which I cannot give in the manner I could choose in the present exigency."
With the finely disciplined troops of the British in such great numbers on Staten Island, and reinforcements coming in so rapidly, the outlook at the Point was gloomy indeed, while the enemy was more and more encouraged. August 14th Governor Tryon wrote to Lord Germain, from Staten Island, as follows: "The whole arinament destined for this part of America, except the last division of the Hessians, being now assembled here, I expect, by the courage and strength of this noble army, tyranny will be crushed and legal govern- ment restored. (August 15th) Yesterday evening Sir Peter Parker brought into the Hook a fleet of twenty-five sail from the southward." The forces here referred to are the ones which failed to take Charles- town, South Carolina. In all there were about three thousand troops under the command of Lord Cornwallis.
On the 21st of August plans had been laid to make an attack upon Long Island, and go on up the Hudson river, while fifteen Hessians were at the same time to attack Bergen Point, Elizabeth Town and Amboy. Nine thousand soldiers under Sir Henry Clinton landed at Gravesend, Long Island, on the 22d of August, without opposition. On the 27th the battle of Long Island was fought at Flatbush and in its vicinity, compelling the Americans to evacuate the island on the 29th. This was followed by the American army abandoning the city of New York and the British taking possession of it on September 15th.
General Livingston was chosen the first governor of the state of New Jersey, August 3Ist. He then resigned his military command, to assume the duties of executive. The legislature now commissioned Colonel Matthias Williamson brigadier-general of the New Jersey militia, and he took command of the post at Elizabeth Town Point.
31
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
The campaign was now almost wholly transferred to New Jersey, and General Washington wrote, urging Governor Livingston to put the New Jersey militia in the best possible condition, and see that the barracks at Amboy and Brunswick were in order. He informed congress, on November 14th, that he intended to quarter his army at Brunswick, Amboy, Elizabeth Town, Newark, and Hackensack.
Washington having been followed up by the British under Lord Cornwallis, pushed on, reaching New Brunswick on Friday, and there remaining until Sunday, December Ist, when he again took up the line of march toward Trenton, reaching there on Monday morning. Washington's army was obliged to retreat to the Raritan, their case apparently hopeless. The enemy, under Cornwallis, were in fine condition, vigorous and self-confident. They were taking possession of every town and hamlet. They were so sure of success that, on the 30th of November, a proclamation was issued by the Howe brothers commanding all persons who had taken up arms against his Majesty to disband and return home, and at the same time offering a full pardon to all who should sign a declaration within sixty days that they would neither take up arms themselves or encourage others to do so. The tide soon changed, however, and then the Americans were able to dictate terms.
CHAPTER IX.
UNION COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
HE disastrous campaign on Long Island was followed by the abandonment, on the part of the American army, of the city of New York, on Sunday, September 15th, and its occu- pation by the British. On the 3Ist of August, 1776, General Livingston was chosen the first governor of the state of New Jersey, and his command of the post at Elizabeth Town then devolved upon Matthias Williamson, who received, a few days afterward, a com- mission appointing him a brigadier-general of the New Jersey militia.
On Tuesday, September 24th, four transports arrived at Elizabeth Town with four hundred and twenty American soldiers who had been taken prisoners at Quebec the previous winter. They had been liberated on parole. The battle of White Plains was fought on tlie 28th of October ; Fort Washington was taken on the 16th of November, and Fort Lee evacuated on the 18th. The campaign was now transferred to the soil of New Jersey. Washington, with a fragment of an army, reduced by the expiration of militia enlistments, was compelled to retire before the vastly superior troops of the enemy. He wrote to Governor Livingston from White Plains, on November the 7th, urging the importance of placing the Jersey militia on the very best footing, and to forward to him new troops, and, on November the 14th, he informs congress that the army has left the other side of Hudson river, and that he intends to quarter them at New Brunswick, Amboy, Elizabeth Town, Newark and Hackensack. On November 21st, Washington fell back on the right bank of the Passaic river, and the next day he entered Newark, where his army remained unmolested for six days. During this time the people of Elizabeth and Newark removed their families and effects beyond the Newark mountains and Short Hills, and on November 28th, Washington, with his army of not more than thirty-five hundred in number, entered the old deserted town by the Newark road, the advance guard of Lord Cornwallis entering Newark as the rear of the American army left it. On Sunday, December Ist, Washington left New Brunswick for Trenton, reaching there on Monday morning.
On the approach of the enemy, General Williamson, with the militia under his command at Elizabeth Town, retired to the upper part of the county. On the Stli he wrote from Morristown of liis
33
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
apparent inefficiency, as follows : "Very few men of the counties of Essex and Bergen joined my command. I have it from good intel- ligence that many who bore the character of warm Whigs have been foremost in seeking protection from General Howe and forsaking the American cause."
Washington, in a letter, on November Ist, to Governor Livingston, while speaking of this defection of troops, and of their weakness, says : "I have not, including General Williamson's militia, more than four thousand men." On the 5th Washington wrote to congress as follows : "By my last advices, the enemy are still at Brunswick ;" and the account adds that "General Howe was expected at Elizabeth Town with a reinforcement to erect the king's standard and demand a submission of the state."
The proclamation by the brothers Howe was issued on Saturday, November 30th, the day after the British entered Elizabeth Town. It commanded all persons who had taken up arms against his Majesty to disband and return home, and offered to all who should withdraw in sixty days and subscribe to a declaration that they would be peaceable subjects, neither taking up arms themselves nor encouraging others to do so, free and full pardon for the past.
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.