History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 154

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 154
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 154

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).

Mr. Henry Farmer, superintendent of schools of | many of the remains and headstones have been re- the city. This school was subdivided into branches representing the different grades of studies, as high We insert a few of the epitaphs : school, grammar, intermediate, and primary, and in " An elegie upon the Death of the truly virtious Mrs. Helen Gordon, spouse to Thomas Gordon, of the family of Strahogh, in Scotland. died 12 December, 1687. Aged 27 ys. married 10 ys. 1876 the grammar department had: Boys, 30 ; girls, 17; total, 47. Intermediate department, boys, 59; girls, 53; total, 112. Primary department, boys, 136 ; girls, 129; total, 265. Mr. A. Leake, principal ; Miss E. H. Prentis, vice principal and teacher of A class.

In 1881, I. D. Caldwell, A.B., was appointed prin- cipal, and Miss Emma Johnson vice-principal and teacher of Class A. There are upon the school roll about 600 scholars. Mr. Henry Farmer held the position of superintendent for a number of years, giv- ing his attention strictly to the advancement of the cause of education in the city ; has just retired to give place to Cortlandt L. Parker, the present superin- tendent.

From the annual report of the city treasurer, show- ing the receipts and disbursements of the public schools of the city of Perth Amboy from March 1, 1880, to March 1, 1881, we take the following :

Receipts

$9216.22

Da.

CR.

By Balance in hande of

To Paid Salary.

$1585.72

Treasurer, March

Incidentals

172.78

1, 1880 ...

$4774.56

Repaire ..

225.64

City Appropriations.

1600.00

Printing.

23 75

Recd. from County

Fuel and Light.

75.97

Superintendent ... 2841.66

Supplies.

125.99

School-Booke.

227.47

$9216.22

Balance in hands of

Treasurer, March

1,1881.

3778.90

$9216.22

Burial-Places .- Col. Hamilton's remains were in- terred in the burial-ground lying north of the present Brighton House. Time has long since obliterated every indication of the spot. A memorial of him, however, existed until recently in an old-fashioned eight-day clock, once his, which continued to mark with accuracy the passage of the hours in the old Parker mansion at Amboy.

The next oldest burying-ground is on State Street, formerly called "Bock" Street. It was granted to the Presbyterians by the proprietors in 1731, upon the petition of John Goschire, John Mathie, John Moore, Thomas Inglis, William Thompson, Thomas Loggans, John Thompson, James Leigh, Samuel Moores, Alexander Cames, and John Harriott, to be used as a burying-ground, and also permission was given them to build a church upon one part of the lot.1 This ground, however, was an old burial-place long before that period, and had been used by the " forefathers of the hamlet" more than a hundred

years. The petitioners speak of it as "the old burial- place, so called," and refer to their “ parents, wives, and children" buried there.

In 1872 the Presbyterian Church and the " Board of Proprietors" transferred the property to the city for the sum of one thousand dollars, and since then moved to other cemeteries.

Calm was her death, Well adored her life,

A pious mother And a loving wife.

Her offspring six, of which four do hero lie."

" J. J., John Moore, 1720."

" 1729, hear Lyeth the body of John R. S. Moor, Aged 8 yea

of the - - in Scotland."

" Here lies ye Body of Anna, ye wife of Gabriel Stelle. She died March 24, 1730, 44 yea wanting one day."

" Here lies ye hody of Anatis, wife of Andrews Robinson, aged 45 ye'e. Deceased ye 22 [or 28], 1731."

" In memory of Andrews Herriott, dec'd Oct. ye 14, 1757. In the 50 year of his age."

" Here lies ye hody of Alexander Thomson, who departed this life May 14, 1763, in the 59 ye'r of His life."

" In memory of Hannah, wife of John Thomson, who departed this life July 15, 1789, in the 39 year of her age."

" Here lyes ye Body of John, son of John & Martha Thomson, aged 13 ye'e. Decd Oct. ye 18, 1731."

" In hope

of a joyful resurection here lyes ye body of Gabriel Stelle, Esq., who departed this life Novr ye 25, 1738, Aged 53 ye'e & 9 mo'e."

" In memory of Margaret llodge, wife of John Hodge, who departed this life December the 30, 1775, aged 45 years."

ST. PETER'S BURIAL-GROUND .- This also is one of the oldest burial-grounds; many of the first inter- ments had no stones erected to tell who they were, and many were destroyed during the Revolutionary war.

In 1805, Baltus Leonard was appointed sexton and grave-digger, and held the office thirty-two years, digging in that time, it is said, four hundred graves with his own hands. He died in 1837, and was suc- ceeded by George Fothergill, whose salary was twenty

1 See history of the Presbyterian Church in the preceding chapter.

631

CITY OF PERTH AMBOY.

dollars a year and fees for grave-digging, and in 1846 John Foster was put in the responsible post, which he held until his death in 1854, being succeeded by his son, George Foster, Esq., who has entire charge of this ancient burial-ground, and under his care it is now kept with considerable neatness, surrounded by substantial fence, the grounds kept with the aid of his assistant in neat and proper order.

The following is a literal translation of the Latin inscription on the stone which marks Thomas Gor- don's place of sepulture ; the original inscription is much defaced by the hand of time, and a few more years will make it entirely illegible:

"In Hope of a Happy Resurrection Here is Deposited what io THOMAS GORDON was found Mortal, who being descended from an Ancient Fam- lly of Pitlochie in Scotland, could have gloried had that been proper in his extracation, yet io him Was not wanting that of which he might justly boast, For As the Secretary of the Province He exerted his best Abilities ia behalf of the councils of the State acceptably to All. Dear to his relations, A sincere Worshipper of the eternal Deity, he enjoyed Life, and Died with resignation on the 28th Day of April, in the year of our Lord, 1722, in the 70th Year of hie Age.

" His Mourning Consort, who Also desires to be Interred Here, has caused this Monument, such as it is, to be set. lle Lived as Long as He Desired, as Long as the Fatee Appointed; thus Neither Was Life Burdensome, Nor Death Bitter."

" Here lyes ye Body of Gertrude Hay, wife of Andrew Hay, aged 47 years, Dec'd December ye 12, 1733, and May Hay, aged 13 mo. Dec'd June ye 23, 1728. James ITay, aged 6 weeks. Dec'd Feb. yo 20, 1734."

ALPINE CEMETERY .- In the year 1862 a number of the citizens of this city and Woodbridge met for the purpose of arranging a union cemetery, and after the matter was decided upon to secure lands near the two above places. They applied for an act of incorporation in the spring of 1862 of the Legisla- ture, which was granted. The following gentlemen were then appointed directors : Edward J. Hall, Samuel Dally, John Manning, Jarvis Valentine, William Paterson, William H. Berry, and William King, and the name of "The Alpine Cemetery Association" was chosen. The grounds have been graded and laid out with considerable care, and the cemetery has become the general burial-ground of the township of Woodbridge and this city of Perth Amboy.

CHAPTER XCI.

CITY OF PERTH AMBOY .- (''ontinned.)

The Court-House .- In the Proprietary Minutes, dated May 14, 1685, is the following :

" It is agreed and ordered that the Town House be built on that place or piece of Land fenced in by Thomas Warne, next Thomas Hart's and Clement Plumstead's lot, and in case any damage be done thereby to Thomas Warne's corn now sowed before reaping that he be paid for the same."

It is not now known where this lot was situated,

but probably it ran through from High Street to Water Street, and what has been lately termed " Lewis Place."

In the year 1713 an act was passed for building and repairing jails and court-houses in the province, and Amboy is particularly named as the site for the jail and court-house of Middlesex County. This build- ing was erected on the corner of High Street and the Public Square, and served for both the triers and the tried, the prison being under the same roof. It continued to be used not only for courts, but also for all the sittings of the General Assembly. Each Governor on his arrival at the capital-from Gov- ernor Hunter down to Governor Franklin, inclusive --- proceeded to it in stately pomp to proclaim to the assembled throng the good pleasure of the sovereign of England to the effect that they should respect and obey his representatives ; and beneath its roof did Whitefield preach some of his spirit-stirring sermons to attentive congregations. There is no other notice of the court-house but that it was de- stroyed by fire, 1765 or 1766.

Immediately the General Assembly passed an act, June 28, 1766, for erection of another and also of a jail upon two lots of ground which had been given by the citizens of Amboy, but the amount appropri- ated for its building is not named.

The following items of the early times will be of interest. They are quoted from the bill for the sup- port of the government passed in 1738: "To Mrs. Jannett Parker for the Use of a Room, Fire Wood, etc., for the House of Representatives the sum of Thirty Shillings per week during this present session." "To Mr. Andrew Hay the sum of Twenty Shillings per week for the use of a Room, etc., for the Gentle- men of the Council during this present session."

After the Revolutionary war the county-seat was transferred to New Brunswick. The court-house was used for school purposes and for public meetings. It was thoroughly repaired in 1826 and at different periods since, and will probably remain a monument of the days of "good King George III." It has lately ceased to be a public building, and is owned by one of the citizens.

Jails .- The first mention of a jail in Perth Amboy appears in 1713. It stood until 1765-66, when it was burned with the court-house. The erection of another was authorized by act of Assembly June 28, 1766, and it was finished in 1767 at a cost of two hundred pounds.1 There were rooms for the keeper's family in addition to those for prisoners. In consequence of having no attentiou paid to its preservation from the little need of such a building, it was torn down after the removal of the county-seat to New Brunswick.

The Stocks .- This formidable machine was erected a few feet south of the market-place, and it is only a few years since its removal from this ancient city.

1 William A. Whitehead.

632

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

The cut in the early history of the courts will give the reader a better idea of this obsolete instrument of pun- ishment than could be conveyed by any verbal de- scription. About the year 1827 it was removed as " encumbering the ground." The pillory was also an institution of a peculiarly salutary character belonging to the same period of civilization.1

The Old Market .- This old structure of the early days, after standing a long time untenanted, was re- moved in the year 1842. It was several times re- paired previous to that date, but the corporation con- ceiving it useless or undeserving the expense of repairs, sold it to the highest bidder. It is said that during the Revolution this market-house was closely boarded up, and here was where many of the British soldiers were domiciled. It was also used for the storage of provisions for the troops.

The Barracks .- In the year 1758 barracks were erected, the same time with others at Elizabeth and Trenton. They were built to accommodate three hun- dred men. The sum of twenty-six hundred pounds was appropriated by the province for their construc- tion. The building committee consisted of Samuel Neville, Thomas Bartow, and John Smyth. Three trustees were appointed to receive the title-deeds for the land, which was not to exceed one acre in quan- tity, but more must subsequently have been obtained, as the commons as now inclosed cover morc ground. They were completed in 1759.

These barracks were first occupied by the troops returning from the capture of Havana in 1762, and from that time until the evacuation of this State by the British they were seldom unoccupied for any length of time. The 47th Foot Regiment was the last that occupied them previous to the Revolution. A portion on the west side was used as a wood-yard, and the remainder for the morning and evening parades. On the breaking out of the Revolution the barracks were taken possession of by Capt. Conway's company of militia, who marched down and paraded on the old race-course with the air of an invading army. This, too, while all the British colonial officers were yet nominally in possession of their respective offices. The official papers are among the Stirling reports in the New York Historical Society's Library, as well as an inventory of the furniture, etc., that Capt. Con- way found in the buildings.

Being public property, these buildings were con- fiscated to the United States, and by a resolution of Assembly, 1783, John Griggs was authorized to put stores and warehouses, and a basin was dug out more

them in repair. They are still standing as a monu- ment of the early years of this settlement and used as dwellings.

The Office of Provincial Records .- This low, hipped-roofed, square-shaped record-office of the Pro- vincial Assembly was built at a cost of six hundred pounds in pursuance of an act which took effect Dec.

5, 1760, and the following year it was finished. It stood on the corner of High Street and Gully (now Gorden) Street. Mr. Whitehead says, " It had a fire- proof apartment, occupying one end of the build- ing, and in the year 1761 was used as a place of de- posit for the records of the eastern division of the province. The building now used for these ancient records is in the east of the City Hall, and is desig- nated the surveyor-general's office.

Brighton House. - The proprietors in March, 1762, adopted a plan and gave the necessary direc- tions for building a proprietary house where the present Brighton stands. It is said to have been finished in 1765, and comprised only what is now the main edifice. (An account is given of a first government house, which was erected in 1684, and that the record says was occupied by Governor An- drew Hamilton, but little is now known of its his- tory.) But the record says, "From May, 1766, to May, 1771, it was occupied by Chief Justice Smyth, at an annual rent of twenty-five pounds New York currency, and in October, 1774, it became the resi- dence of Governor Franklin." Its interior was burnt during the possession of the city by the British troops, whose commander's headquarters was at this house. This must have been 1777-78, but after the war, and in 1785, the Board of Proprietors sold it. It was bought by Mr. John Rattoone, who subsequently rebuilt and enlarged it.

It was established as a public inn about the year 1809. It has been kept in the style of some of the best houses; servants abounded, bands of music were in constant attendance, and every arrangement made about the premises to accommodate the public in the most luxurious and agreeable style. This was before the war with Great Britain, and at its commence- ment its prospects as a public house of entertain- ment were blighted, the proprietor became insol- vent, gave up the business, and the property was sold. It came into the possession of the late Mat- thias Bruen, who purchased it, and it was for many years until his death his private residence. But it has been for a long time a place of summer resort.

The Cove and Tower Hill .- There existed an inlet at the time of the settlement at the foot of Tower Hill. In a letter written by Gawen Laurie in his description says, "The spot resembles the Keys in London, and laid out the lots of the city accord- ingly. The highest ground was to be occupied as

like a canal, so to permit small vessels to come up to the warehouse doors, and from this it takes its name of 'The Cove,' and within the recollection of some of the oldest inhabitants boats large enough to carry several loads of wood came inside and deposited their freight."

The Lehigh Railroad Company now occupy the ground, and the low ground has been filled up and occupied by the coal company as their docks.

1 See page 450 of this work.

633

CITY OF PERTH AMBOY.

The elevation or high ground west of this old cove and in front of the church was called Tower Hill, and so designated a great many years before the Revolutionary war. The name, it is said, was con- ferred in consequence of its having been the place where on some occasions criminals were executed.

Post-Offices .- To Governor Andrew Ilamilton the colonies are indebted for the first scheme for the es- tablishment of post-offices in America, for which he obtained a patent from the crown about the year 1694, but subsequently for an adequate consideration reconveyed it to the government, and it is supposed the first regular post-office was established in this city on or about the above date.

"For some time the only offices in New Jersey were at Perth Amboy and Burlington ; being on the direct route from New York to Philadelphia, they partook of the benefits of the first arrangements. Letters for large districts of country were sent to those places for distribution. In December, 1733, a notice is inserted in the Philadelphia Weekly Mereury stating that 'there are a number of letters in the post-office at Amboy for persons living in the coun- ties of Somerset, Monmouth and Essex,' and direct- ing the inhabitants of those counties to apply for their letters to sundry individuals named in the advertise- ment." 1

In 1732 the post ran between the city of Amboy and New York once a fortnight; during the summer it is probable that letters were forwarded once a week. The holders of the honorable office of postmaster in Amboy previous to the Revolution have not been as- certained except in one instance : John Fox in 1851 was the incumbent. In the year 1791 there were only six offices in this State, and Amboy and Burlington were the principal ones. But in 1793 the office of postmaster was regularly established and John Thomp- son was appointed as postmaster. "The mail was brought from Woodbridge three times a week, and continned so to arrive until the year 1812, when it was brought in daily. In or about the year 1825 it arrived daily (except Sundays) during the summer and three times a week in winter, which continued to be the case until the present arrangements were established in 1830," and it is now received daily win- ter and summer.

The names of the postmasters as nearly as can be as- certained with the dates of their appointment are as follows :

- 1751, John Fox.

July 1, 1793, John Thompson. Nov. 1, 1794, Edward John Ball. Sept. 1, 1795, Joseph Golding. Nov. 1, 1796, George Wright. June 20, 1798, Robert Ruttoone. April 15, 1801, Simeon Drake. May 29, 1812, Rubert Arnold. March 10, 1827, Lewis Golding. Oct. 23, 1830, James Harriott. - 1847, Lewis Golding.

- Benjamin Arnold.

- W. S. Ross.

- 1853, John Manning.

- 1857, R. P. Bartin.

-1861, John F. Ten Broeck.

Juhu Tomlinson.

-1873, Elam sanford.

Miss Midora Sanford (as acting P.M. after her father's death ).

1881, John F. Ten Broeck (his sec- oud term).

CHAPER XCII.

CITY OF PERTH AMBOY .- ( Continued.)

Banks and Institutions .- In the year 1872 a number of the business men of this city met for the purpose of arranging the establishment of a banking institution in this city. It had been deemed a matter of considerable importance that something should be done to establish a bank in this city, as heretofore much of the moneyed interest was withdrawn into other sources or channels, and difficulty had arisen in cashing paper without going some distance, either to Rahway or New Brunswick, being the nearest banking institution, when, March 14, 1872, was or- ganized the

MIDDLESEX COUNTY STATE BANK of Perth Am- boy, with a capital of $35,000. The directors are William Hall, president; William King, Uriah B. Watson, Noah Furman, R. N. Valentine, and Eber H. Hall.

PERTH AMBOY SAVINGS INSTITUTION .- Incorpo- rated April 2, 1869. They have a fine building, used for different purposes as well as their institution, valued at twenty thousand dollars. The Raritan F. and A. M. have their rooms in the third story, and are spoken of as being fitted up in a superior manner, besides lawyers', dentists', and Water Company offices in the second story.

President, William King; Secretary, F. W. Gordon ; and Treasurer, William King.

THE PERTH AMBOY GAS COMPANY was incorpo- rated March 8, 1861, with a capital of $65,000, which has all been paid up; and Dec. 21, 1871, they met at John Manning's, merchant, of this city, for the pur- pose of organizing. The following gentlemen com- missioners were present: John Manning, Joseph L. Crowell, William Hall, and John L. Boggs, and arrangements to put in effect the lighting of this city. The present officers are: President, William Hall ; Treasurer, William Hall; Secretary, William H. Hall; Directors, William Hall, Rev. Aaron Peck, N. C. J. English, and M. B. Watson.

Manufactures and Business Pursuits .- At an early date manufacturing was carried on, and much of the household as well as the wearing material was made in this city. In 1831 the cove or wet dock property was leased to the Perth Amboy Manufactur- ing Company, and confirmed on Monday, March 6, 1831, for ninety-nine years for the sum of six cents per year, on the condition that the Manufacturing Com- pany would within five years fill it up two feet in height with good and wholesome soil, on failure of which the lease to be void. Since then various branches of busi- ness have sprung up, and there is at present a cork manufactory, terra-cotta company, brick company, the Ashland Emery Company, iron and brass founder, shipwrights and repairers, wholesale oyster dealers, Lehigh and Wyoming coals, Perseverance Iron-Works

1 East Jersey Records.

634

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

and Machine-Shops, 1 designer and sculptor, 2 car- riage-makers, 2 undertakers, 17 hotels and saloons, 7 physicians, 5 dry-goods stores, 2 harness, 1 real estate and insurance, 12 groceries, 5 lawyers, 2 news-agents, ! 4 merchant tailors, 8 meat-markets, 2 ship chandlers, 2 fruits and nuts, 3 dentists, 2 livery exchange, 1 ship stores, 1 stoves, 2 schools, 1 custom-house collector, 3 newspapers, 3 millinery, 2 mason and builder, 4 car- penters and builders, 3 painters, 5 barbers, 2 express companies, 5 cigars and tobacco, 4 bakers, 1 fancy goods, 2 stationery, 2 boat-builders, 1 lumber, 1 fur- niture, 4 blacksmith, 4 stoves, 3 candies, 1 coal and wood yard, 3 oysters and clams, 1 sail-loft, 3 railroad stations, 2 machine-shops, 1 clothing, 1 florist, 2 jew- elers, 1 bank, 1 savings-bank, 1 photographer, 1 hard- ware and crockery, 1 steamboat landing, 2 sewing- machine, 3 druggists, 1 gas company, 1 postmaster, 1 shipmaster, 1 furniture, 1 confectionery and saloon, 2 fruits and vegetables, 1 livery, 1 tobacco and sta- tionery, 3 restaurants, 2 fish, 1 foundry, 1 cooper.

THE OYSTER BUSINESS is a large interest of Perth Amboy, giving employment to hundreds of men. The beds in Prince's Bay cover an area of about twenty square miles, and are divided into lots varying in size from a few rods to one hundred acres or more, and in value from ten to fifteen dollars to two thousand dol- lars per acre.

The seed-oysters are taken from the Raritan River and Newark Bay, and placed in these beds in quan- tities sufficient to entirely cover the ground and left there until large enough for the market, usually three or four years.

THE ASHLAND EMERY COMPANY .- This company commenced business in this city some three years ago. Their business has steadily increased from the begin- ning, and they have erected substantial buildings to handle the large stock which the trade demands. A large number of men are employed, and the amount of business done places these mills among the im- portant industries of this city.

Emery ore is found in Turkey and in the island of Naxos. The mines in Naxos have been worked for nearly a century, their yield being about twelve hun- dred tons yearly. The product is owned by the Greek government, and sold mostly in Belgium and Mar- seilles; for a long time these mines were held by English overseers, who enjoyed the monopoly of the world in emery. Mr. Charles Alden in 1844, through the aid of a friend then residing in Smyrna, secured a few hundred pounds of stone from that country, which proved to be pure emery, and from that small beginning the supply for the world has mostly come from that source, and the demand is increasing to thousands of tons every year.

longing to the same order of minerals as the ruby and sapphire, and has been used in India from time immemorial for cutting and polishing all gems and precious stones except diamonds. The first question that naturally arises is how can a substance second only to the diamond in hardness be worked? The miners have to work around the outer ledges where the ore has been shattered by volcanic action, and take out such pieces as they can break off with ham- mers and wedges. It comes in size of a few ounces in weight to one hundred and sometimes two hundred pounds, is first put into crushers, which work like huge jaws, and reduce it to about the size of a walnut. It is then run through six different mills, each re- ducing it a little finer than the last. The process of reducing the ore must be very gradual, so as not to destroy its crystalline structure, on which it depends for its sharp points and hardness. It is used for pol- ishing granite and marble, and so much is required to gratify the public taste for the beautiful that it would be impossible to dispense with its use in almost every department of mechanical work. It is made into solid wheels. Emery-cloth, emery-paper are glued on woolen wheels and belts. It is also used in lapidary work, the cutting and polishing of precious stones, and in these various forms made to do every kind of work required more rapidly and cheaper, giving a better quality of work than can be done with file and grindstone. Optical instrument makers, plate glass manufacturers, plow-makers, engine- builders, and nearly all workers in mechanical tools and instruments find its use indispensable. By the courtesy of N. D. White, Esq., treasurer of this com- pany, I am indebted for these facts.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 154

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