History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 102

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 102
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 102

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" By an indorsement on the deed by Carteret to Pike and his associates, made Dec. 3, 1667, Governor Carteret acknowledged the following persons as equal associates with him in the purchase, and it is said to be ' for the accommodating of the town called Wood- bridge,' namely, Joshua Pierce, John Pike, John Bishop, Henry Jacques, Hugh Marsh, Stephen Kent, .

2 Leaming and Spicer, pp. 329, 330. Historical Paper by Charles D. Deshler.

8 Schedule vii. Eliz. Bill in Chancery. Coffin'e Hist, of Newbury, p. 70. Deshler'e Historical Paper. Dolby's Woodbridge.

420

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Robert Dennis, and John Smith (from which last Smith's Creek, in Woodhridge, is named).' And on the 18th of December, 1666, Daniel Pierce conveyed one-third part of his purchase of Dec. 11, 1666, to Jobn Martin, Charles Gilman, Hugh Dunn, and Hopewell Hull, the same being expressed as 'being for the inhabitants of Piscataway.' Three years after Governor Carteret's agreement with Daniel Pierce and his associates for the settling of Wood- bridge and Piscataway, on the 1st of June, 1669, a charter was obtained for Woodbridge under the seal of New Jersey, by which 'the tract of land therein described, and said to contain six miles square, is erected into a Township and Corporation.' This charter prescribes that 'the said Corporation or Township, called by the name of Woodbridge, shall consist of at least sixty families, and as many more as they shall see fit.'"? Under their charter the peo- ple of Woodbridge organized a municipal govern- ment in 1683, possibly at an earlier date.

" When Piscataway was first erected into a separate municipality I have not," says Mr. Deshler, “been able to discover. It could not have been as early as 1668, for in that year an act of Assembly, which re- cites the names of the six towns in the province or- dered to be taxed for the defraying of public charges, does not mention Piscataway3 as one of them. The Rev. Mr. Corwin, in his admirable ‘Historical Dis- course,' says, 'Piscataway received a charter in 1666.' If by this he means that a municipal charter was granted at this date he is in error, that being the date of the grant merely under which it was settled. In 1675, Piscataqua, under the name of 'New Piscat- aqua,' sent two deputies to the General Assembly, and is classed among the towns of the province, and on the 29th of May, 1679, it had become a place of sufficient importance for the General Assembly to meet there. Its first selectmen were appointed in 1693."

CHAPTER LIX.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF EAST JERSEY.

JUST previous to the Scotch emigration, in 1683, a little work was published in Edinburgh by the Scotch proprietors, entitled " A Brief Account of East New Jersey in America."+ This work was designed to induce emigration from Scotland to the lands of the proprietors in East New Jersey, and therefore a consid- erable part of it is taken up with an argument bear- ing upon that point. The writer expresses the opinion

that if the Scots are disposed to emigrate there might be a plantation abroad as large and plentiful as Scot- , land itself, not inferior in numbers and far exceeding it in riches and all other conveniences.

" To make tbie more manifestly appear," contiones the writer, "let it be considered what nnumber of People have gone out of Scotland since the year 1618. That the Warrs began in Germony, since in the Swedish Armie at one time there was said to 27 Scots Collonelle: And into France to Dowglas Regiment, from time to time. We believe it will be granted but a modest calculation to affirm there hath bean many thousands, and yet of that Vast Number few have aver returned, or had enccession ; scarce any Family hath remained abroad iu any Comfortable settlement. And to be eure not the 10th part hath ever returned that their Equip- ping tham abroad coast; they all either dyed or been killed there, with- ont any benefit to our country but an empty Fame; Which ie now in those parts little or nothing considered.

" Yea, it may be well affirmed that the charge of James, Marquesse of Hamiltone, his Expedition in the year 1631, coast four times more than ever all our Sonldiers of Fortune brought hume to Scotland. Now, if these People had gone over to come Forreign Plantation, and had but a Proportionable number of Women with them, which this Country could easily have epared, what a brava and large Colonie would there have been by this time, and very advantageous to Scotland, as ehall after le mada to appear." .

" And the Voyage to a Plantation here proposed is become so easie and the Interconrse so frequent, that a Correspondence would be as ordinar as ie betwixt the South and North parta of this Nation : Yea, a great deal more than ie naual betwixt the West and Northern Islands and the other more frequentad parts of the country.

" It is also generally known how hardly the Hnebandman here do liva, and with how much Toil and Difficulty they are able to pay their Rents and have any comfortable Lively-bood. The Reason whereof is, That aspecially near the Seaside and moet inhabited places, they are be far overthrong, and one might Maisnre what two or three have: For thay seeking to have so much Corn-Land, they eot out the substance of it, wearia themselves, and wrong their Landlords: So that, if there were fewer of them, and each of them had more Land and less in Corn, and more upon Grasse for Bestial, they would have a greater ease, and then Masters would ba better paid ; But they not knowing how to diepose of themsalvee otherwise, makes tham thus throng one upon another, and render one another miserable.

" Now thera would be a notable Remedy for this in a Forraign Plan- tation; for a Huebandman that hath two or three thousand Merks in stock (as moat of them have) might transport himself, his Wife and his Family, and get a little Plantation at so easie tarams, in a short tima ao stocked that he might live mora Comfortably, plentifully, and at lasse Labour than many of the Masters do here.

" It is also known that ordinary servants here, after they have eervad six or seven years in the prime of the youth, can hardly, the most thrifty of them (over what earves them in Cloathe) gather so much to- gether as when they Marry and come tu have children, will be the be- ginning of any Comfortable Lively-hood : But there after four years they muy be in a better condition. . . .

" There needs no other nor more evident proof of this than the axam- ple of most of these, who being taken at the fights of Dunbor and Worcester in the years 1650 and 51, being sent over as servants to Borba- does and other placee, aftar they served out their time have most of them purchased notable Plantations for themselves, both in Barbadoes and Maryland and elsewhere, and live very plentifully, accounting them- selvee happy in that pruvidence that brought them thera, and extremely regreating the Condition of many of their friends at home, and wishing them sharers of their propertia. . . .

" It ie time now to show how some of our Constry-man, in order to 80 advantagious a Project, have alrendy purchased an coneideralla Interest in a Plantation, which is justly esteamed not Inferione, if not beyond any place, upon the whole continent of North America, belonging to the English Dominions, called East New Jersey. ...

"The Scots Proprietors are James, Earl of Pearth, John Drummond of Lundy, Lord Treasurer Depute, Sir George Mackenzie, Lord Register, Robert Gordon of Cluny, Arent Sonmans (a Dutch-man, bnt interested with the Scute Proprietors) Robert Barkley of Y'rie, Robert Burnet of Lethenty, Gorine Laurie; Seven parts of the 24 belongs to theee Persone, which, by the most modest Calculation, is thought, will be near Five hundred thousand Acres.

" The Sictuation of this Country is just, as it were, in the Center of

1 Elizabeth Bill, p. 30.

2 1bid., p. 31. Deehler'a Ilistorical Paper.

3 Leaming and Spicer, p. 90.

4 This work is one of the rarest books relating to the English colonies now extant. It le a quarto nf fifteen pages, and the original, in the pos- session of Samuel L. M. Barlow, Eeq., of New York, was copied into the Historical Magazine for February, 1867.

421

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF EAST JERSEY.

the English Plantations in America, betwixt the South parts of Carolina, which is ovar hot ; and the North parts of Pemaquitte, next New Scot- land, which are coldest ; ao that its Conveniency for Scituation. tem- perature and the Aire, and fertilitis of oyl is such that thara is no less than seven towns considerable already (viz.) Shreutsburry, Middletown, Berghen, New-wark, Elizabeth-town, Woodbridge, and Piscataway, which are well inhabited by a sober and industrious People, who hava necessary Provisions for themselves and families, and for the comfortable entar- tainment of Travellars and Strangers.

" And the Quittrents or Fewes (as they are here called) of these Towne and othor Plantations already in the Country, yielda to the 24 Pro- prietors above 500 lib, starling, yearly Revanna, and the Air of this Col- ony is experimentally found genarally to agres wall with English Con- stitutions and Consequantly with onrs.

" For Navigation it hath these advantages, not only to he scituate along the navigable parta of Hudson's River, but lies also fiftia miles along the Main Sea, and near the Midst of this Provinca is that noted Bay for Ships within Sondy-Hook, very well known not to be inferior to any Harbour in America, where ships not only harbour in greatest storms, but there Ryde safe, with all Winds and Sail in and ont thence as well in Winter as Summer. For Fisheries the sas-banka ara very wall stored with variety of Fishes, oot only such as are profitable for ax- portation, but such as are fit for Food thera: Thera are Whales, Coad- fish, Col and Huke-fish, and Large Mackeril, and also many other sorts of Small and Flate-fish ; Tha Bay, also, and Hudson's River are plentifully stored with sturgeon, and other scale-fish, Eills, and shell-fish, as Oysters, in abundance.

" This Country is also plantifully supplied with Lively springs, Rivolets, Inland Rivers, and Creeks, which fall into the saa and Hudson's River, la which there is also varietis of Fresh-fish, and water Fowl.

" There are little hills from Raritan River, which is about the middle of this Province, that go to the verie North-West bounds of it, in which an abundance of good Mill-stons to be had, and there ia many, both Corne and saw-oilnes set, and setting up already, also on the other side of these mountains there is brava fresh Rivolets, fit for setting In-Land Towns, and a great deal of Meadow-ground upon the banks thereof, ao that there is abundance of Hay to ba had for Fodaring of Catle in the Winter time, and these Meadows shows the Country is not altogether covered with timbar. . . .

" To show how Fruit-Traes do advance in that Country, it is credibly reported that abont Burlingtown. in West Jersey, which is mora Northerly than the greatest part of this Province, from an Apple-tree-sced in four years (without grafting) thare aprung a tree that in the fourth year bure anch a quantitie of Apples as yielded a barrel of Syder.

" There is there also great atore of Ilorsea, Cowea, Hoges, and some Sheep, which may be bought at reasonable pryces with English moday, or English commodities, or man's labour, where goods and money are wanting.

" For Minerals, It is thought there ara not wanting of several sorts, For thera is an Iron work already set up, where there is good Iron made ; And also thera is diacovered already abundance of Black-Lesd."

What the author of this account says of the In- dians seems to have been borrowed from, or at least suggested by, Denton's work :

" The Indian Natives in this Countrey are but few, Comparative to the Neighbouring Colony. And those that are there are so far from being formidable or injurions to the Planters, and Inhabitants, that they are raally serviceable and advantageous to them, not only in hunting and taking the Deer, and all other wild Creatures, and catching of Fish and Fowl fit for food io their seasons, but iu the killing and destroying of Bears, Wolves, Foxes, and other Vermina, whose skina aod furrs they bring to tha English and sell at less prica than the value of time that people must spend to take them. Like as that this Colony may be founded in Justice, and without anything of Oppression, as all that is already Planted is truly purchased from the Indiana, ao there is a great deal mora of the Province cleared by their consent, and all is intended by faction with them to ba obtained, so that whoavar Purchase or Plant under the Proprietors shall be fred of that iocnmbrance; and if there were any hazard from the Indians, as really there is none, yet this Prov- inca Could hardly be in any danger. In respect that to tha North, upon the Main Land, from whence the hazard, if any, must come, the Province of Naw York comes batwixt it and them, and 20 miles and more above, upon Iludson's River, there is a Fort called New Albany.

" There is order given that in the several most convenient Places, Ten thousand Acres be set out to each of the 24 Proprietors to them to sell, sat out,

or dispose of as they please; and when that shall be anyways Peopled or bronght in, then the Proprietors will either jointly sell ont the rast or make a new Dividant, as they find most convenient; for it is probably believed, according to the most equal Conjectura, that every 24 part will contain 80,000 Acres.

"The Propriatora have framed a new Scham of Government, which is not yet a fully concluded ona, but is intended to be rather ao enlarging than an abreviating of tha former, and making it more easie and advan- tagiona for tha Inhabitanta. The chief parts of it ara :

"That the 24 Proprietors ahall Chuse a Governonr, 16 of theni has a Conclusive Vote in it, after the death of him now Chosen, he shall con- tinue but for 3 years, and ba liable to the Cansure of the Proprietors and great Connsal and punishable if he transgresa. There is a great Counsel to meet once a year (and set, if they see meet, for 3 months) consisting of tha 24 Proprietors and 48 chosen by tha Plantars and In- habitants; two-thirds Concluda, one-half of the Proprietors assenting; and no monay can be raised, or Law mada to touch any man'a Libertis or Property but by this Connael. There is a Common Counsel to sit constantly, Consisting of the 24 Proprietors, or their Proxies, and nine chosen ont of the Representatives of the Planters, in all 33, to be divided into three Committees, 11 to each, one for the Public Police, One for the Treasuria sod Trade, and ona for Plantations.

" To avoid Lordiog over one another, No Man Can purchas above the 24th part of the Countrey ; And on the other hand, least thay should squander away their Intareat, and yet retain the character of the Gov- ernment, that belongs to property and thence he capable to betray it, as not being bound by Interest, there must be a suitable quantity retained, otherwiso the Title in the Government extinguishes in him and passes to another, to be Elected by the Proprietors, that Dominion may follow Property, and the inconveniency of a beggarly Nobility and Gentry may be avoidad.

" No man can be judged io any cause, either Civil or Criminal, but by a Jury of his Peers, and to avoid io that all Caballin, the names of all the County or Neighbour-hood, capable to be chosen, are to be wrote in little piecea of Parchment, and the number of the Jury taken out by a Child under 10 years of aga. And the Proprietors, as well as others, are to be Lyabla to the like tryall, and not under any Exception.

" Libertia, in matters of Religion ia established in the fullest manner. To be a Plantar or Inhabitant nothing more is required but the acknow !- ødging one Almighty God, and to have a share in the Goverunient, a simple profession of faith of Jesus, without descending into any other of the diffarances among Christians, only that Religion may not be a cloak for disturbance, whoever comes into the Magistrature minst declare they hold not themselves in Conscience obliged, for Religion's saka, to make so altaration or to endeavour to turn out their partners in the Govern- ment, Because they diffar in opinion from them, and this ia no more than to follow that great Rule, To do as they would be done by.

" These are the fundamentals, which are not alterabla by any act of the great Councill, as other things, by the voices of 2-thirds, but only by an universal agreement. So it is hoped that this hint will satisfie all sober and understanding people what Encouragement such a Govarn- mant may give."

This unique government was never fully perfected or carried into execution. It was based upon the principle that dominion should follow property, and therefore if a proprietor lost his property he lost his voice in the government. The method of securing a trial by an impartial jury for the poor as well as for the rich was to elect jurymen by ballot, the number being drawn by a child under ten years of age. This, while beautiful in an ideal sense, was yet without any practical value as to the attainment of the end sought. Any number of these men eligible to act as jurymen might have been prejudiced in particular cases, and yet have been the very ones drawn by the child to try those cases. The mere drawing of the ballots by an innocent party was no guarantee whatever that the names drawn stood for the qualities of good and suitable jurors to try the particular cases to come be- fore them. On the contrary, the most unsuitable per-

422

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

sons would be quite as likely to be chosen as the most suitable.

The scheme was quite tolerant for that age. None were excluded from being planters or inhabitants of the colony but Atheists and Polytheists. Deists, Theists, and all believers in "One Almighty God" conld be admitted to citizenship, but when it came to taking part in the government none but Christians were eligible, that is, they must " profess" some form of "faith in Jesus Christ." This might be putting "God in the Constitution" and honoring Christ by raising a political flag in his name, but the profession at the same time might be the merest pretense and mockery for the sake of office and place.

This work contains the following passage respect- ing Perth Amboy, not then built, but the prospective capital of the colony :

"The Proprietors have also Ordered to be set out upoo a place called Ambo point (which has a good and Convenient Harbour, and a pleasant and wholesome place) 1500 Acres for to build a Town. This is to be di- vided into 150 Lote, and every Lot is to consist of ten Acres, and is to be Bold at 20 lib. Starling, provided it be done before the first of July next, before the ship go from SCOTLAND, For after that time we cannot produise to accommodate any, least all be taken up, for many are offering upon the place, and the Proprietors intend to have each a house built there upon their own Account this Summer. Now this will be found a very good Bargain, considering there is 300 of the 1500 Meadow ground, 80 that each lot is like to have 2 Acres of Meadow ground belonging to it, which is of great value."

" For Husbandmen that has a Stock, able to transport themselves and Families, with a few Servants, and to have but a 1000 pound Scots, or a 1000 Merks more to carry over in Commodities, they shall have upon their arrival 100 Acres of good ground measured out to them, or shove aot exceeding 500 Acres, and for their incouragement shall for the first 7 years pay nothing, and then have what they please, not under 100 nor exceeding 500 Acres, confirmed to them and their heirs forever, paying half a Crowo an Acre, never to be raised upoo them; And for the Charge of the first year they may easily calculate it by carrying over as auch Oat-meul as will serve them Bread, and the fraught will be incou- siderable, and they will get flesh enough in the Country for killing without charge, and will be able to clear more ground the first winter than will double serve their Families after the first harvest, so that they will only have to buy with the Commodities they carry over with them Seed and Beaste.

"The Charge for transportation is for every Man and woman 5 lib starling, passage and entertainment, for Children over 10 years of age 50 shillings, and sucking Children nothing, 40 shillings for the tone of goods, and often under.

"The Voyage is Judged less Sea hazard than either to Holland or Lon- don, and if there be any tolerable winds it is ensely made in 6 weeks. There went a ship last harvest to West Jersey from the Road to Aberdeea, and they came to Delaware River-mouth in 8 weeks, though they had great ('alms, and of betwixt 30 sod 40 passengers that out of Aberdeen several women and Children, not above 4 of them had been at Sea before, not one dyed, nor was sick by the way. . . .

" All sorts of Tradesmen may make a brave Livelyhood there, such as Carpenters, Ship-wrights, Rope-makers, Smiths, Brick-makers, Tuylors; Tan- ners, Cowpers, Mill-wrights, Joyners, Shoemakers, etc., and any such like who are willing to go to serve the four years, not having to transport themselves, shall, in Consideration of their Trade, have (after the ex- piring of their Service) 30 Acres at 2 pence the Acre, as much Corn as will sowe 2 Acres, a Cow, and a Sow; And for the iocouragement of any such Tradesmen who are willing to go over aud transport themselves, they shall have the like quantitie of Land at the same rent, and the Proprietors will oblige themselves to find them work for a year after their arrival at as good Rates as they can have here until they furnish themselves with some Stock to make better advantage upoo the place.

" We will not encourage any to go there in expectation of Gold and Silver Mines ; yea tho there were such in the Country. Wo should not be curious aor industrious to seek them out ; being besides the Toyl and Labour, but occasions of Envy and Emulations. Nor yet is there Sug-

gar or Indigo there, or Cotton, nor any store of Tobacco, tho it grows there very well. But we consider it not our interest to employ much ground on it. The Riches of this Country consists io that which is moet Substantial and necessary for the use of mian, to wit, plenty of Corn sod Cattle (and they have besides Vines and Fruits in abnadance, as before bas been said) so that who dwell here need not be obliged to any other Plantatione or be beholden to them for necessaries, without which their Curiosities would little avail them. This, with the Province of New-York being the Granary or Store-house of the West Indies, without which Ber- badoes sad the Lee-wards Islands could not subsist : Yea, New England is forsed to Come here every year for Corn, this with the advantage of Fishery being considered, will easily iaduce sober and industrious Peo- ple to prefer a Plantation liere to most other places.

"There will a Ship go from Leith about Mid-Summer next, which will also call at Aberdeen. Such as deeire to ha more fully informed or to treat with any of the Proprietors, may address themselves to Andrew Hamilton, at the siga of the Ship over against the Court of Guard in Edinburgh ; or at Dovid Falkconer's, Merchant there, who will either give them satisfaction or find them occasion to treat with some of the Pro- prietors. Also at Aberdeen information may be had from George Pyper and Thomas Mercer, who will be heard of at Robert Gerards or John Leitch, their shops ia the Broad-Gate."

CHAPTER LX.

THE CLAY DISTRICT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.1

Topography .- The clay district, which is the chief subject of this report, includes the portion of Middlesex County which lies along the Raritan and South Rivers and the Woodbridge and Chesquake Creeks, and extends from Woodbridge on the north to the Mon- mouthi County line on the south, and from Staten Island Sound aud Raritan Bay on the east to Martin's Dock and the mouth of Lawrence Brook on the west. Its boundaries are as follows : Beginning at the north- east on Staten Island Sound near the mouth of Wood- bridge Creek, the line runs west-southwest up that creek till opposite Edgar Station, on the Woodbridge and Perth Amboy Railroad, which is three-quarters of a mile north of Woodbridge; thence from the creek running west and southwest near the old Wood- bridge and Metuchen road, and intersecting the Me- tuchen and Bonhamtown road a half-mile north of the latter village; thence southwest through Piscataway to Martin's Dock on the Raritan River ; south of the Raritan River its western limit may be said to be de- fined by Lawrence Brook and the Old Bridge and New Brunswick turnpike; the southern boundary is not plainly marked, but it may he approximately de- scribed as running from Old Bridge to Jacksonville, and thence to the Monmouth County line near Rari- tan Bay shore; and the waters of Raritan Bay and Staten Island Sound, being the State line,2 limit it on the east.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 102

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224