History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 114

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 114
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 114

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).

John Dennis, Esq., laid before this Congress an ap- praisement of the blankets in the barracks in New Brunswick by John Schureman and William Apple- gate, which is in the words following :

" NEW BRUNSWICK, Feb. 6, 1776. " In pursuence to order of the Provincial Congress, directed to us the subscribers for appraising all the blankets in the barracks at New Bruns- wick, we find as follows :

62 blankets, which we value At 158. £46 10s. 0d.

« 128

13 16s. Od.

4 78. 6d.

1 17s. 6d.

Proclamation ..

£62 3%. 6d

" JOHN SCHURMAN.

" WILLIAM APPLEGATE.

" To JOHN DENNIS, Esq."

The new battalion called for should consist of eight companies, and each company of seventy-eight pri- vates, and officered by one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, and four corporals. The plan for raising the troops was reported by Hendrick Fisher, chairman of the committee. It provided that the officers be immediately recommended for commis- sions ; that the captains and subalterns be appointed, aud warrants issued to them to enlist the necessary complement of men. None but healthy, sound, and able-bodied freemen, none under sixteen years of age, no apprentice without the consent of master or mistress could be recruited ; parents or guardians could secure the discharge of an enlisted minor by applying to the officer within twenty-four hours after enrollment, re- funding the money or necessaries with which the re- cruit had been supplied, or paying an equivalent therefor. The pay and subsistence of the soldiers was determined by general ordinance of Continental Congress. The prescribed oath of enlistment was in the following words :

" T, A. B., have this day enlisted myself as a soldier in the American Continental Army for one year unless sooner discharged; end do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shell be established for the government of the said army. So help me God !"

For the purpose of raising the companies of this battalion and seeing that the captains properly exe- cuted their warrants, Azariah Dunham, of Middle- sex, John Mehelm, of Hunterdon, Joseph Ellis, of Gloucester, and Edmond Thomas were appointed by the Provincial Congress muster-masters, to review the said companies and administer the requisite oath to the captains, said oath being in the words following, to wit :

" I, A. B., do solemnly swear that all the men whose names are en- tered in the mueter-roll by me produced are truly and bona fide enlisted, and so far as I know or believe intend going In the service of the United Colonies in the Third Battalion raised or raising in this colony. 'So help me God ]' "

465

MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

Upon the certificate of the muster-master attached to the back of the muster-roll of each company, and presented to Provincial Congress, or in its recess to the committee of safety, the commissions of the offi- cers were issued.

The following were the officers named and commis- sioned : Elias Dayton, colonel; Anthony Walton White, lientenant-colonel; Francis Barber, major.

Samuel Potter, captain; Rinear Blanchard, first lieutenant; Josiah Quimby, second lieutenant ; Cor- nelius Hennion, ensign.

Thomas Patterson, captain ; John Mott, first lieu- tehant; William McDaniel, Jr., second lieutenant ; Edward Patterson, ensign.

John Ross, captain ; Edward McMichael, first lieu- tenant ; Richard Cox, Jr., second lieutenant ; Thomas Coachey, ensign.

William Eugene Imlay, captain ; Richard Lloyd, first lieutenant ; Daniel Pierson, second lieutenant ; Edgar Ganlidet, ensign.

Peter Dickinson, captain ; Stephen Dunham, first lieutenant ; David Tuttle, second lieutenant ; William Tenbrook, ensign.

Thomas Reading, captain; John Anderson, first lieutenant; Ralph Guild, second lieutenant; John Hagan, ensign.

Joseph Bloomfield, captain; Joseph Seely, first lieutenant; William Gifford, second lieutenant; Eben- ezer Elmer, ensign.

Anthony Sharp, captain; Samuel Flanagan, first lieutenant ; Samuel Hazlett, second lieutenant; Na- thaniel Leonard, Jr., ensign.

The Committee of Safety of New York, Feb. 12, 1776, sent a requisition to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey for troops to prevent the British from landing on Staten Island. The Congress unanimously resolved that a detachment of volunteers, consisting of three hundred militia of the county of Middlesex, three hundred of the militia of the county of Essex, and one hundred of the militia of the county of Som- erset, be ordered immediately to march to Staten Island, under the command of Col. Nathaniel Heard, Lient .- Col. Edward Thomas, and Maj. John Dunn, to prevent the enemy from landing on the said island, and carrying off live-stock and provisions. They were to remain on the island until further orders, and Azariah Dunham, of New Brunswick, was appointed commissary to supply them with provisions and other necessaries.

The ordinance of Oct. 28, 1775, appointing com- missioners to purchase fire-arms and military stores, restricted them to a certain prescribed price. This was found to be a hindrance, and was repealed Feb. 10, 1776, it being "unanimously voted that the said commissioners proceed in the purchase of fire-arms upon the best terms in their power, without any lim- itation or restriction, and that this Congress will in convenient time pass an ordinance for that purpose."

This ordinance was the first among ten passed at

the session in New Brunswick in February and March, 1776. The entire list of ordinances passed at this session is as follows :

" AD Ordinance Directing the manner of sigoing the General Associ- ation by persons of tender conscience, and enforcing the same, and also for amending the militia ordinance passed at the last session of this Congress."

" An Ordinance for exempting persons who enlist in the service of the united colonies from arrest."

"AD Ordinance for striking the sum of fifty thousand pounds, five shillings, in bills of credit, for the purpose therein mentioned, and di- recting the manner of sinking the same."

" An Ordinance to prevent persone desertiog places in danger of being attacked, and for restraining such as are dangerous to the common cause from taking refuge in this colony."

"An Ordinance for directing the mode and fixing the time for the election of deputies to serve io Provincial Congress for this colony, and also to ascertain the qualification of electors."

" An Ordinance for raising two Artillery Companies in New Jersey, and providing for their pay and subsistence."

" An Ordinance for paying a bounty on saltpetre and common salt, manufactured in New Jersey, and for purchasing saltpetre."

" An Ordinance to pruvide for the payment of incidental charges."

Among the itemis provided for in the last-named ordinance are such as the following :

" To each of the muster-masters of this colony the sum of twenty-five shillings for every company he has reviewed or shall review by order of this Congress.

" To the door-keeper the sum of five shillings per diem for each day that he hath or shall attend this Congress.

"To Myndert Voorhees the sum of fifteen pounds for firewood and candles, aod for the use of his large room during the present sitting of this Congress.

" To John Carey, Esq., as a recompense for his services as secretary during the last sitting of this Congress at Trenton, aod for revising and copying the minutes for the press, the sum of eleven pounds four shill- inge proclamation money.

" To Dr. Moses Scott the sum of one pound sixteen shillings and three pence, in full of his account for attending certain sick soldiers in New Brunswick.

" To Robert Drummond, Esq., the sum of nine pounds three shillings and four pence, in full of his account for removing the treasury aod records in the secretary's office at Perth Amboy to New Brunswick.

"To John Dennis, Esq., the sum of seveo pounds eight shillings and three pence for sundry expenditures as per account.

"To Elias Cook, Esq .. the sum of ooe pound six shillings and eight pence, in full of his account for removing the records in the surveyor- general's office at Perth Amboy to New Brunswick.

" To Azariah Dunham, Esq., the sum of two pounds for his expenses in going to and returning from Philadelphia on a message to the Hoo. Continental Congress.

" To Abraham Clark, Esq., for copying and correcting the minutes and ordinances of this session for the press, such sum as Azariah Dunham and John Dennis, Esqs., shall agree to be paid for that service."

The first election held under the ordinance extend- ing the right of franchise to all persons of full age, whether freeholders or not, who had resided one year in the county, and was worth fifty pounds proclama- tion money in personal estate, and had signed the articles of association, took place on the fourth Mon- day in May, 1776. The names of the deputies chosen were the following, with the names of their respective counties :

Bergen .- John Demarest, Jacobus Post, John Van Boskirk, Jacob Quackenbush, Daniel Isaac Brown.

Essea .- Stephen Crane, Abraham Clark, Lewis Og- den, Caleb Camp, Robert Drummond.

Morris .- Silas Condict, Jacob Drake, Elias Cook, William Woodhull, Jacob Green.

466

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Sussex .- Ephraim Martin, Casper Shaver (Shafer), Thomas Potts, Isaac Van Campen, John Cleves Symmes.

Somerset .- Frederick Frelinghuysen, William Pat- erson, John Witherspoon, Jacob R. Hardenbergh, James Linn.

Middlesex. - Moses Bloomfield, John Wetherill, John Dunn. Jonathan D. Sergeant, John Combs.

Monmouth .- Edward Taylor, John Covenhoven, Joseph Holmes, James Mott, Josiah Holmes.

Hunterdon. - Philemon Dickerson, John Allen, Samuel Tucker, John Hart, John Mehelm.

Burlington .- Peter Tallman, Thomas Reynolds, Thomas Fennimore, Charles Read, Caleb Shreve.

Gloucester .- John Sparks, John Cooper, Elijah Clark, Joseph Hugg, Joseph Ellis.

Salem .- Andrew Sinnickson, John Holme, Joseph: Shinn, Whitten Crips, Samuel Dick.

Cumberland .- Theophilus Elmer, Jonathan Ayers, Ephraim Harris, John Buck, Jonathan Bowen.

Cape May .- Elijah Hughes, Jesse Hand, Thomas Leaming, Jr., Joseph Savage, Hugh Hathorn.

This body of men composed the Congress which convened at Burlington on Monday, June 10, 1776, and continued by adjournments to Trenton and New Brunswick to hold its sessions until the 21st of Au- gust following. The most important acts of this Congress were the deposing of Governor Franklin and the adoption of the first constitution of New Jersey. The series of resolutions touching the case of Governor Franklin was begun by the introduction of the following on Friday, June 14, 1776 :

. "1. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Congress the proclamation of William Franklin, Esquire, late Governor of New Jersey, bearing date oo the thirtieth day of May last, in the name of the king of Great Britain, appointing a meeting of the General Assembly to be held on the twen- tieth of this instant, June, ought not to be obeyed."

The above resolution passed as follows :

Yeus, 38 .- Mr. A. Clark, Mr. Condict, Mr. Drake, Mr. Cook, Mr. Woodhull, Mr. Green, Mr. Freling- huysen, Mr. Paterson, Dr. Witherspoon, Mr. Harden- bergh, Mr. Linn, Mr. Hart, Mr. Mehelm, Mr. Coven- hoven, Mr. Mott, Mr. Sparks, Mr. Cooper, Mr. E. Clark, Mr. Hugg, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Elmer, Mr. Ayers, Mr. Harris, Mr. Bowen, Mr. Hand, Mr. Leaming, Mr. Hathorn, Dr. Bloomfield, Mr. Wetherill, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Combs, Mr. Martin, Mr. Shaver, Mr. Van Campen, Mr. Symmes, Mr. Sinnick- son, Mr. John Holme.

Nays, 11 .- Mr. Drummond, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Allen, Mr. Joseph Holmes, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Sav- age, Mr. Demarest, Mr. Post, Mr. Van Boskirk, Mr. Brown, Mr. Potts.

It will be seen that all the members from Middle- sex voted in the affirmative.

The discussion and passage of this resolution occu- pied all day Friday, from 8 o'clock A.M. to the hour of adjournment. The first thing on reconvening at 8 A.M. on Saturday was the reading of a petition of

sundry inhabitants of the North Ward of the city of Perth Amboy and inhabitants of the township of Shrewsbury, in Monmouth County, praying that the government of the Province of New Jersey may not be changed. A respectful hearing was given to these petitions, but they did not affect in the least the action of the Congress. Resolution No. 2 was then intro- duced, viz. :

"2. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Congresa, the said William Franklin, Esquire, by auch proclamation has acted in direct contempt and violation of the resolve of the Continental Congress of the fifteenth day of May last."

The vote on this resolution being taken, stood as follows :

Yeas .- A. Clark, Condict, Drake, Cook, Woodhull, Green, Frelinghuysen, Paterson, Witherspoon, Har- denbergh, Linn, Hart, Mehelm, Covenhoven, Mott, Josiah Holmes, Elijah Clark, Sparks, Cooper, Hugg, Ellis, Elmer, Harris, Bowen, Hand, Leaming, Ha- thorn, Bloomfield, Wetherill, Dunn, Sergeant, Combs, Demarest, Post, Quackenbush, Martin, Shaver, Van Campen, Symmes, Sinnickson, Holme, 41-a gain of three over the last vote on the affirmative, Messrs. Demarest and Post changing their votes from the negative, Mr. Ayers not voting, and Mr. Quacken- bush and Josiah Holmes being new members.

Nays .- Drummond, Dickinson, Allen, Jos. Holmes, Hughes, Savage, Van Boskirk, Brown, Potts, Taylor, the latter being the member from Monmonth not present when the first vote was taken, or at least not recorded among the first voters. It is probable that this member came in on Saturday, bringing the peti- tion against the change of the government, signed by numerous citizens of his county, and that he was pledged to his constituents to vote against the cen- sure and removal of Franklin ; at all events, he voted in that way upon the second, third, and fourth reso- lutions. The following are the two other resolutions adopted by the Congress :

"3. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Congress the aaid William Franklin, Esquire, has discovered himself to be an enemy to the liber- ties of this country, and that measures onght to be immediately fakro for securing the person of the said William Franklin, Esquire."

The yeas and nays on this resolution were the same as on the last, except that Savage voted in the affir- mative and Post in the negative, the numbers being still the same on both sides.

" 4. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Congress all payment of money on account of salary or otherwise to the said William Franklin, Es- quire, as Governor, ought from henceforth to cease ; and that the treas- urers of this province shall account for the money in their hands to thie Congress, or to the future Legislature of this Colony."

On taking the vote upon this last resolution it was found that the nays had diminished to three, viz. : Allen, Brown, and Potts.

It is evident from the wording of the last resolu- tion that the members of the Congress considered their mission only provisional. They had assumed extraordinary powers, the exercise of the functions of government while a government authorized by

467

MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

the king existed, and resistance to which was high treason, for which every one of them would have suffered death in the event of failure. But they made it high treason to resist their government, which they put in place of that of the king and his loyal representative, " William Franklin, Esq." It is evident that they only regarded their work as that of providing for the exigencies of the colony until a constitution and better system of government could be adopted. Hence they speak of "the future Leg- islature of this Colony" in anticipation of the work that was to he accomplished in less than three weeks from the date of the passage of these resolutions.

The resolutions were carried into effect under the following order, approved June 15, 1776:

" Resolved, That the following order do issue to Colonel Nathaniel Heard, of the first Battalion of Middlesex County :

" THE Provincial Congress of New Jersey, reposing great confidence in your zeal and prudence, have thought fit to entrust to your care the execution of the enclosed resolves. It is the desire of Congress that this necessary basiness be conducted with all the delicacy and tender- ness which the nature of the business can possibly admit. For this end you will find amoog the papers the form of a written parole, in which there is left a blank space for you to fill up, at the choice of Mr. Frank- lin, with the name of Princeton, Bordentown, or his own farm at Ran- cocus. When he shall have signed the parole, the Congress will rely upon his honour for the faithful performance of his engagements; but should he refuse to sign the parole, you are desired to put him under strong guard, and keep him in close custody until the further order of this Congress. Whatever expense may be necessary for this service will be cheerfully defrayed by the Congress. We refer to your discretion what means to use for that purpose, sod you have full power and authority to take to your aid whatever force you mey re- quire."

Col. Heard, in obedience to this instruction, waited upon Governor Franklin at his residence in Perth Amboy, and read to him the parole, which he abso- lutely refused to sign, and forbade the colonel at his peril to carry the order into execution. The colonel then placed a guard of about sixty men around the Governor's house, and reported to the Provincial Congress at Burlington. That body immediately sent Col. Heard the following order :

"Sia : It is the desire of Congress that you immediately bring William Franklin, Esquire, to this place, under such guard as you may think sufficient."

Being brought before the Provincial Congress, " to be examined touching such portions of his conduct as were deemed inimical to the liberties of America, Mr. Franklin refused to answer the questions put to him, denying the authority of this body, which he alleged had usurped the king's government in this province." It was thereupon resolved that the said William Franklin be confined in such place and manner as the honorable the Continental Congress shall direct.

Upon the same day that the symbol of British authority was thus deposed in the person of the royal Governor, the Congress of New Jersey, in pursuance of a special order, went into the consideration of the propriety of forming a State government, agreeably to the recommendation of the Continental Congress, | says,-

which had been passed on the 15th of May preceding. The vote in favor of the proposition was almost unanimous, only Messrs. Allen, Taylor, and Brown voting in the negative.

June 27, at eight o'clock A.M., the Congress re- : solved itself into a committee of the whole, and Mr. Covenhoven being in the chair, took under consider- ation the draft of a constitution. It was voted that twenty of the members of this Congress be a quorum sufficient to transact any business except such as may respect the formation of the constitution, that re- quired the committee of the whole. On Tuesday, the second day of July, the draft of the constitution was reported, and after full discussion and sundry amendments was ordered accepted and printed.

In order to " prevent the failure of justice" pend- ing the organization of government under the con- stitution, it was resolved that all judges, justices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners, and other inferior officers of the late government within this colony proceed in the execution of their several offices under the authority of the people until the intended Legis- lature and the several officers of the new govern- ment be settled and perfected, having respect to the present constitution of New Jersey as by the Congress of late ordained, and the orders of the Continental and Provincial Congresses : and that all actions, suits, and processes be continued, altering only the style and form thereof, according to the terms of the said constitution prescribed, in the further prosecution thereof."

Thus by the efficient action and wise management of the Provincial Congress the chasm was entirely bridged over from the king to the people, from a de- pendent colony subject to the royal pleasure to an in- dependent, sovereign State. This had been done in a little over two years from the first meeting of the Congress at Trenton, 23d of May, 1775, and this body had, during the same time, carried the colony through the most critical period of its history-furnishing it with all needed guidance and direction to meet every emergency. Scarcely can we find in history a body of men deserving more credit for their practical wisdom, their energy, their firmness in holding on to the great principles of free government amidst cir- cumstances the most discouraging.

Hendrick Fisher, Esq., was the first president of the Congress, and served in that capacity till Oct. 4, 1775, when Samuel Tucker was chosen president, and Hendrick Fisher vice-president. Samuel Tucker re- mained president until the Congress finally adjourned. Jonathan D. Sergeant, Esq., was the first secretary, with William Paterson and Frederick Frelinghuysen, assistants. William Paterson was made secretary Oct. 5, 1775, and was succeeded by John Carey ; Wil- liam Paterson again from February, 1776, to the close of the Congress.

Speaking of the services of this body, Mr. Deshler

468

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

" It is impossible for us duly to estimate the value of the services of these wise, indefatigable, sod courageous men. It is utterly beyond the acope or the power of our vision, accustomed as it is to ao atmosphere whose skies are golden with peace and prosperity, to descry the cloud of gloom and apprehension that enveloped our State one hundred yenrs ago. But though we may oot see this muurky and lowering cloud, we may yet hear a faint echo coming to us over the chasm of these hundred years, coming from the lips of the brave and patriotic men whose de- liberations we have been poodering this evening. It was one of their latest utteraocee, made by them to this our own city, aod published to the people of New Jersey io au ordinance organizing the militia. It was ao appeal to our people to choose between freedom and servitude. Let us listen reverently to it, and let it sink deep into our hearts, in- citing us to hold fast with unyielding grasp the liberties they secured for us. 'In this interesting situation,' they said, as they cooteosplated the storm of war that was rolling rapidly toward them, and called upon the people to enrull for the common defense, 'in this interesting eitna- tion, viewing oo the one hand an active, inveterate, and ioiplacable enemy, increasing fast in strength, dnily receiving large reinforcements, and industriously prepariog to strike sodie decisive blow ; on the other, a considerable part of the inhabitants enpinely slumbering oo the briok of ruin, moved with affecting apprehensione, the Convention think it incumbeot upoo them to warn their constituents of the impending danger. Oo you, our friends aod brethren, it depends this day to de- termine whether you, your wives, your children, and millions of your descendante yet unborn shall wear the galling, the ignominious yoke of slavery, or uobly ioherit the generoos, the inestiomable blessings of freedom. The alternative is before you. Can you hesitate in your choice ? Can you doubt which you prefer? Say ! Will you be slaves ? Will you toil and labor aod gleao together a little property merely that it may be at the disposal of a relentless aod rapacious cooqueror? Will you. of choice, become howers of wood and drawers of water ? Impos- sible ! You cannot be so amazingly degenerate as to lick the hand that is raised to shed your blood ! Nature aod Dature'e God have made you free! Liberty is the birthright of Americans. The gift is of heaven ! And the instant it is forced from you, yon take leave of everything val- vable on earth. Your happiness or misery, virtuous independence or indigoant servitude hang trembling io the balance. Happily, we know we cao anticipate your virtuous choice. With confident satisfaction we are assured that not a moment will delay your important decision-that you canoot feel hesitation whether you will tamely sad degenerately bend your necks to the irretrievable wretchedness of slavery, or, by your instant and animated exertione, enjoy the fair inheritance of heaven-born freedom, sod transmit it unimpaired to your posterity '"

COL. JOHN NEILSON, a member from New Jersey of the Continental Congress of 1778. was born at Raritan Landing. near New Brunswick, on the 11th of March, 1745. His father, John Neilson, M.D., had recently removed to this country from Belfast, Ireland. with his brother, James Neilson, who settled at New Brunswick as a shipping merchant and ship- owner. His vessels traded with Belfast, Lisbon, Madeira, and the West India Islands.

The south half of the house on Burnet Street below Green Hall, still in the possession of the family, was built by him. He also owned lands on Sonman's Hill, now owned by Mr. Jacob S. Carpenter, and also the mills and water-rights on Lawrence Brook, now the city water-works. James Neilson was also the presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County.

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.

History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 114

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