History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 181

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 181
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 181

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).

Necessaries furnished sundry poor persons. 37.24

At this time it was ordered that $1026 "poor money" be raised. In 1805, upon the expense of maintaining the poor during the preceding year, the township committee reported as follows :

" It appears to your committee that there have been supported in the poor-house 10 adult panpers and three children for the whole year past, 2 adult paupers and 5 children for three months, and 1 adult pauper for six weeks,-all in the poor-house for the aum of $670, and that four adult papers hava been supported out of the poor-house the whole year for the sun of §263.50."

In 1805, $1000 " poor money" was ordered to be raised, $800 in 1806, and $1250 in 1807. In 1808 $1500 was ordered raised " for the support of the poor, building small bridges, and for incidental expenses." In 1809 the allotment of "poor money" was $1000; in 1810, $14,000. The mode of supporting the poor, which, as is indicated, had prevailed from 1801 to 1810, does not seem to have been found satisfactory during the next five years. Whether it was changed in the interval cannot be ascertained, there being no record of township business from 1810 to 1815, but at the annual meeting of the last-named year it was

" Resolved, That a special committee be appointed to report to a future township mesting to be called on the second Mooday io Juge ensuing the best place of supporting the poor of this township, and that John H. Lain, Thomas Hance, and Phineas Muody he that committee."

The annual expense of maintaining the poor seems to have about doubled since 1810, as it was found necessary this year to authorize the raising of $2500 for such use during the ensuing twelve months. At the special meeting appointed, held in the court-house in New Brunswick, June 12, 1815, the committee re- ported as follows :

" The committee appointed by the last town-meeting to investigate aod report to the adjourned meeting of said towoship on the propriety of changing the mode of supporting the poor of the township beg leave to submit for consideration the following statement, obtained by them from persona to whom the poor of the towoship of Woodbridge are in- trusted, it being, as he informed us, the result of five years' experience :

Ist. For rent of farm. $180

2d. To the parsons having the care of the poor and 200

working the farm.

3d. Firewood.

100

4th. Doctors' hills .. 20

$500

which leaves a surplus of $100, which has generally been sufficient for all the incidental expenses. When the justitution was first established thay purchased 3 cows, one of which was for a beef, 8 sheep, a wagon aod horses, aud farming utensils. . . . Their stock has increased to 5 milch cowa, and one for beef, 1 yoke of oxen aud (1) pair of young cattle, 20 ewes, and 17 lambs; they have 4 hogs and plenty of poultry ; they have now on hand upwards of 100 bushels of corn, a great sufficiency of rye, wheat, and other grain to support them, and salt meat and vegetables to apare. Your committee had the satisfaction of seeing the comfortable manner in which the poor were supported, the cleanliness and good order that prevailed, and the industry of those that were able to labor, and they are satisfied that if the whole township had been present they would cheerfully, in compassion to the poor, adopt a similar mode. Your committee recommend the purchase or renting of a farm on which the poor may be supported as a committee to be appointed may recom- mand :

Calculating the interest of a farm that would cost $6000 at 7 per cent .. $420

Hirs of an overseer 300 Doctors' bills and incidental expenses will make ...... 280

$1000

which is calculated much higher than in Woodbridge, and will leave a clear gain to the township of $1500, an object well worth the considera- tion of the township, as no one of us can tell where we shall stop whilst the present mode is pursued."

The following resolutions were passed :

" Resolved, That the report be referred to the next annual town-meat- ing for their consideration.

" Resolved, That James Schureman and Staata Van Deursen be a com- mittee, with the present members, to investigate on what terms a farm may be rented or purchased for the use of the township, and report to the next annual town-mastiog."

At the annual town-meeting of 1816 the commit- tee reported :

" The committee appointed to investigate on what terms a farm can be rented or purchased for the accommodation and support of the poor do report that they havs ascertained that there are three or four farms for sale in the township, either of which would be convenient and suitable, that the prices are from $45 to $60 per acre; that yr committee would re- command the purchase of a farm in preference to renting. Aod in order to carry the proposed plan into speedy operation, thay do adviss that a select committee be appointed at this meeting to purchase a farm and such stock and farming utensils as are nacessary.

(Signed) " THOMAS HANCE. " JAMES SCHUREMAN.

" PHINEAS MUNDY. "STAATS DEURSEN."

In compliance with the recommendation of the committee, James Schureman, Thomas Hance, Staats Van Deursen, Squire Martin, and Jan Van Nuis were appointed a committee to carry into effect the object of the report. The following resolutions were passed :

" Resolved, That $10,000 be appropriated by the township for the pur- chase of a farm for the support of the poor, and that the committee ba authorized to purchase such a farm within that sum as shall in their opinioo answer the object in view, and that the sum of $2000 be raised by tax on tha township for the present year to answer the first payment, and that such farthar sum shall be raised annually as shall be sufficient to meet tha successive payments as they become due.

" Resolved, That the sum of $700 bs raised on the township for pur- chasing such implements of husbandry, cattle, furniture, etc., aa may be wanting on said farm.

" Resolved, That $2000 be raised for the support of the poor for the present year."

At a township-meeting held at the court-house April 14, 1817, the following report of the township committee was read, adopted, and ordered to be en- tered upon the records :

" The committee who were appointed by the inhabitants of the town- ship of North Brunswick at their annual meeting in April last, under an appropriation of $10,000, to purchase a fartn as a poor-house estab- lishmant, report that they have bought a farm on Georga's road of Jacob Klady, containing 139f4 acres for $50 per acre, which will amount to $6992, the payments to be made in the following manner, viz. : They have assumed a debt due to the estate of the late Robert Morris, Esq., on the first day of May, 1816, for $2000, to he paid on the first of Janu- ary, 1817; ons-third ou the first day of January, 1818, and the balance on the first of January, 1819. Tha committee further report that being largely within the appropriation made by a vote of the town, and de- siring to carry into effect the wishes of the inhabitants fully expressed at the last annual town-meeting, they were obliged to erect a building, fancings, and other improvements on the farm absolutely necessary be- fore any number of paupers could there be accommodated and supported. The expenses of the above building and improvementa will amount to $1546.96, which will make the cost of the farm $8538.96. The committee

746

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

also report that in further prosecuting the plan adopted by the town they employed Henry Marshall on the 28th of April last, at $225 per annum, to be the township farmer, and to take charge of all such per- 8008 as should be sent to the farm, and that as soon as the buildings were prepared all the regularly admitted paupers were taken to the poor-house. Mr. Marshall having resigned his charge, your committee have con- tracted with William Hendersoo to be the towoship farmer for the en- euing year for the euor of $170. To enable your committee to comply with the contract above mentioned it will be necessary for the town to raise by tax or loan the sum of $2140, due to the estate of the late Robert Morris, Esq., and the farther sum of $3444.40, to meet the first and second payments due to Mr. Klady.

(Signed) " JAMES SCEUREMAN. " JOHN VAN NUIS.

" THOS. HANCE. " STAATS VAN DEURSEN.

"SQUIRE MARTIN."

It was resolved at the annual town-meeting in 1816:

" That the sum of $1200 be raised for the ensuing year for the support of the poor and the salary of the overseer of the farm," aod ordered that the sum of $2000 be raised towards paying for the purchase of the farm, "and that $280 be raised towards discharging the interest due on the mortgage to Robert Morris."

The following extract from the report of the town- ship committee in 1817 shows how satisfactory were the operations of the new place in comparison with the experience of the past:

" It also appears from the account of the overseer that about $800 have been expended for the support, clothing, and medical attendance of 21 peupers maintained at the poor-house farmi during the last year. The towu committee heg leave to draw the attention of the towo to the sum expeuded for the support of the poor in the year 1816, previous to the present plan being adopted, and it will be found to have exceeded $2484, while their support under the present arrangement does not amount to more than $1290, calculating the interest on the purchase money of the farmi at $490, and the amount expended io the last year at $800, making n difference iu favor of the preseot plan of $1200, all which is respect- fully submitted.

(Signed) " JAMES CROMMELIN, ". JOHN VAN NUIS, " SQUIRE MARTIN, " CORNELIUS BERDINE, " STAATS VAN DEUSSEN, " Township Committee."

In 1819 it was ordered that $1897 be raised " for the last payment of Jacob Klady's bond for the poor- house farm," and that "$500 be raised for the support of the poor."

At the annual town-meeting in 1820 the following ordinance was passed :

" Be it ordained by the inhabitants of North Brunswick io towu-oreet- ing convened that the towoship committee for the time being with the overseer of the poor shall be and they are hereby constituted a board of directora, whose duty it shall be to employ some suitable person to work the poor-house farm. Said board shall also direct and advise the manner of cultivating and improving akid ferm, and from time to time form such rules and regulations for the internal goveroment of the house as shall appear to them necessary and expedient."

In relation to the care of paupers in the township, the committee rendered the following report at the annual town-meeting of 1821:

" They report that your farm is in a progressive state of improvement, that there is between 40 and 50 acres of young, flourishing wood beloug- ing to it which is carefully husbanded. This year the money you have allowed has been amply sufficient to secure every desirable object, and when you compare the amount raised for the poor with that formerly required you will have cause to be gratified at the vast diminution of ex- pense. Your poor are well clad and abundantly supplied with good and

wholesome food. There is as much comfort and content diffused Bolong them as is reconcilable with a state of poverty, dependence, and their attendant ills, and your committee congratulate you upon the complete success of this system, which combines in its operation with the least possible call upon the property of individuals a perfect relief extended by society to its indigent members and a liberal fulfillorent of the great low, that of benevolence and humanity.

(Signed) " JOHN VAN NUIS. " STAATS VAN DEURSEN. " SQUIRE MARTIN. "JAMES CROMMELIN."

It was ordered in 1823 that $60 be raised for paint- ing the poor-house.

In 1836 it was ordered :

" That the township committee be authorized to erect a suitable huild- ing ou the farm in some most convenient place for the accommodation of all or any insane person or persons which is now or may hereafter become a town charge to the amount of any sum not to exceed four hundred dollars."

The following statement of expenditures on account of the poor was rendered by the committee at the an- nual town-meeting in 1838, covering the time from March 1, 1837, to March 1, 1838 :

" Henry Smith, for manure. $100.00

" Lewis Slover, services .. 150.00

" 2 cowa purchased, $42 ; 2 hoge do., $18. 60.00

" Paid labor, $28.40; rails, $23,36. 51.76

" Repairing building .. 19.83

" Seed rye, oats, and buckwheat, and grass-seed.

50.12

" Expenses of poor on the farol

988.55

" Expenses of poor off the farm.

307.08

$1727.34."

In the compilation of the above history of the incep- tion and establishment of the township poor farm and poor-house of North Brunswick the records have been drawn upon liberally, for the twofold reason that they contain all that there is of interest connected with the early history of the institution, and that such a pre- sentment of the facts embraces not alone the names of those prominent in the affairs of the township during the period 1802-38, but a contemporary record of the part taken by each, and of dates and measures and amounts which will be more and more interesting as the early days recede into the past. From time to time additions were made to the accommodations af- forded by the institution. Its buildings increased in number, and the poor-house proper was rendered more comfortable and cheerful as the years went by. The poor-house is a two-story wood building, about 20 by 40 feet, with an addition abont 15 by 23 feet, kept in good repair, and painted white. There are two good barns and other necessary outbuildings on the farm. In the settlement of the accounts of the townships of North Brunswick, East Brunswick, and New Brunswick, after the division of the township of North Brunswick, in 1860, the poor-house and farm, which had been established and maintained at the ex- pense of the taxpayers of the whole township of North Brunswick as previously bounded, were allotted to New Brunswick, and have since been maintained at the expense and for the benefit of that city. The average number of inmates has been thirty-three for several years past. At present there are thirty, rang- ing from two to eighty-five years of age, about equally

747

NORTH BRUNSWICK.

divided between the sexes. In 1881 the amount of money devoted by the city of New Brunswick to this institution was $6000. The steward, Mr. Alexander Gulick. The farm now ranks with the best in the township, consisting of one hundred and forty acres, one hundred and five of which are under cultivation. Since 1860 the township of North Brunswick has adopted the plan of having its paupers kept in private families.

The township records show that from 1820 to 1821, inclusive, the following sums were voted by the in- habitants of North Brunswick for all purposes con- nected with the care and sustenance of panpers within its limits, the figures having been copied from the minntes of the annnal township meetings: 1820, $1870; 1821, $700; 1822, $700; 1823, $560; 1824, $300; 1825, $650; 1826,8800; 1827,8750;1828,$700; 1829, $650; 1830, $700; 1831, $700; 1832, $1100; 1833, $1100; 1834, $1100; 1835, $1300; 1836, $1500; 1837,$1500; 1838, $1500; 1839, $1500; 1840, $1000; 1841, $800; 1842, $900; 1843, 81000;1 1844, $1200;1 1845, $1200;1 1846, $1200;1 1847, 81000 ;1 1848, $1000;1 1849, 81200 ;1 1850, $1500; 1851, $1500; 1852, $1500; 1853, $1500;1 1854, $1500;1 1855, 82000 ; 1856, $2500; 1857, $2500;1 1858. $3000;1 1859, $5000;1 1860, $300; 1861, $100;2 1862, the money in the hands of the col- lector ; 1863, $300 ;3 1864, $375; 1865, $450; 1866, $600; 1867, 8600; 1868, $600 ; 1869, $800; 1870, $800; 1871, 8600; 1872, 8700; 1873, $700; 1874, $700; 1875, $700; 1876, $700; 1877, 8850; 1878, $800; 1879, $1000; 1880, $1000; 1881, $1000.

Educational .- The early school-honses in the township were built by subscription, and teachers were hired by those who were well enough off to bear the expense, much as select schools of a late date have been supported. The first entry to be found in the township records relative to the pro- vision of means of education to those too poor to pay for it in North Brunswick was made in 1827, and reads as follows :

" Resolved, That the sum of five hundred dollars be raised for the education of poor children in this town- ship."

This resolution was passed that year at the annual town-meeting. 1n 1828 three hundred dollars was likewise appropriated, and the same amount was voted in 1829. That year the first school committee was elected, consisting of Staats Van Deursen, Lewis D. Hardenbergh, Peter Dayton, James Gable, and Isaac Brower. In 1830 it was ordered "That the balance of two hundred and fifty dollars in the hands of the collector, belonging to the fund for educating poor children, be transferred to the school committee."

There seems to have been no other provision made for public schools in the township than the annual election of a school committee until 1833, when it was ordered :

"That the balance of $600 in the hands of the collector of school fund be divided among all the schools organized by the 1st Monday of April next.

" That the town committee pay the expenses of publishing the school act for last year, 86, and also for the present year the same sum for the like publication."

In 1834 it was ordered :

" That the school fund now in hand be distributed in due proportion to such schools as the trustees thereof have or may report on or before the first of May next ensuing."

Similar provision for public school was several times made at the annual town-meetings during the ensuing five years. The following report was ren- dered by the school committee in 1840 :

" The school committee of the township of North Brunswick report that the whole number of children between the ages of five and sixteen years, as reported by the trustees of the several districts io said town- ship to your committee, is 1535, viz. : From District No. 1, 930; No. 2, 28; No. 3, 44; No. 4, 16; No. 5, 74 ; No. 6, 87; No. 7, 12; No. 8, 26; No. 9, 72; No. 10, 59; No. 11, 148; No. 12, 39.

" Aod they further report that the apportionment of public school money to this township is $411.39, giving to each echolar 26 ceuts, amounting to $399 10, leaving a balance in the hands of the collector of $12.29 to meet expenses."

Below are the statistics of the schools of the town- ship, 1841-45 :

Year. No. of Districts.

No. of children be-

tween the ages

of 5 and 16.

No, of scholars

Amount received

from collector.

1841 ..

1605

650

$149.40 One in Dist. No. 2; one in No. 11.

1842 ..

1461

707

452.91

1843 ..

1481

459.11

1844 --!

1423

698

519.39

1845 ..

(6 parts of Dists.)

1615

802

809.13 Ove io Diet. No. 11.

In 1841 the tuition ranged from $1.50 to $5 in Dis- 1 trict No. 1; it was $2 in Districts Nos. 3 to 11, and

! $2.50 in District No. 12. School was kept open all the year in Districts Nos. 1, 3, 5 to 8, and 11 and 12; - three quarters in District No. 10; and two quarters in Districts Nos. 4 and 9. The money received from the collector was apportioned to parents in all the dis- tricts, and by them used in paying tuitions. In 1842 the tuition was $2 to 85 in District No. 1; $2 in Dis- tricts Nos. 2 to 11, and $3 in District No 12. Schools were kept four quarters in Districts Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 6 to 12, and two quarters in Districts Nos. 2 and 5. The money was paid directly to the teachers. In 1844 the tuition was $2 to $3 in District No. 1; $2 in Dis- tricts Nos. 5, 6, 9, and 11, and part Districts Nos. 3, 4, and 7, and $2.50 in District No. 12, and part District No. 2. School was kept open twelve months in Dis-

1 And the interest of the surplus State money or other surplus funds deducted.

2 And aoy necessary amount from money in the collectors' handa Dot otherwise appropriated.

3 And a portion of the previous years' surplus tax, aggregatiog $251.67, if needed.

School-houses built.

taught.

(6 parts of Dists.)

748

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

tricts Nos. 1 and 11, and part Districts Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 7; nine months in part District No. 10; seven months in District No. 9, and six weeks in part Dis- trict No. 8. In 1845 the tuition was $2 to $6 in Dis- trict No. 1, $2 in Districts Nos. 5, 6, 11 and 12, and part Districts Nos. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10, and $2.50 in part District No. 2. Schools were kept a year in District No. 1, and part Districts Nos. 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10; nine months in District No. 9, and half a year in District No. 5.

The only time the names of the school trustees were entered in the record was in 1843, when the fol- lowing named were serving : Peter P. Runyan, George G. Nevins, J. Whitnach, John Christopher, Richard DeMott, J. H. Outcalt, H. Cock, Benjamin L. Smith, H. H. Booraem, J. Van Deventer, Peter L. Buckalew, Matthew Gilland, J. Combs, Abraham Rappleyea, R. D. Applegate, F. Stutts, Stephen Smith, J. L. Pier- son, and Cornelius W. Tunison.

School committeemen were not elected after 1846. In 1847 Dr. Henry B. Poal was elected the first town- ship superintendent of schools. The annual reports upon the condition of the schools of the township were not thereafter entered in the records till 1851.

"The report of the superintendent of schools was received, showing the whole number of districts to be 12; whole number of children taught, 1055; amount of money raised and expended, $653.91 ; whole num- ber of children between the ages of 5 and 16 in the district (township), 2440."

The "free school" system was adopted in 1851. The report of the superintendent for that year, ren- dered at the annual town-meeting of 1852, showed the following comparison between the years 1850 and 1851 :

"Schoole upon the old system, in which the bills of tuition averaged $3 per quarter, were open for eleven months in 1850.

"Free schools were open ten and one-fourth months in 1851.

" The whole number of children taught was 1055 in 1850.

"The whole number of children taught was 1351 in 1851.

" The average number of children attending school in the several dis- tricts was as follows:

District.

Average per quarter. 1850.

1851.

No. 1

748

868

73/

371/

23/

...

243/ 53

" 10.

6115

113

¥ 12

1944

This surely must be regarded as a triumph for the free school system.

Statistics of schools, 1852: Number of districts, 12; number of children of the school age, 2785 ; number of children taught, 1765; average number of months schools were kept, 10}; amount of school money raised by tax, $7803 ; amount received from the State, $1463.23 ; number of teachers (11 male, 7 female), 18; total amount appropriated for school purposes, $9366.23.

School statistics of 1857 : Number of districts, 12; number of children of the school age, 3403; number who attended school, 2217; average number of months schools were kept open, 10} ; amount of money raised by tax for the support of schools, $10,209.

This showing, together with all previous statistical statements, included the schools in the city of New Brunswick and those in the then portions of North Brunswick now embraced within the limits of the township of East Brunswick. It is probable that the advanced thought and educational experience of members of the successive committees resident at New Brunswick-the cradle of learning in Middle- sex County and a wide range of country in all direc- tions beyond-had their influence in emancipating the schools of North Brunswick from the primitive condition of contemporary country schools in New Jersey at an earlier period than that at which im- provements would otherwise have occurred. With the separation of New Brunswick from the township in 1860 came a marked change in the organization of school affairs in North Brunswick; but the seed that had been sown by the early and long alliance, and the community of interests educationally that had existed between the two sections of the old township as a whole, has borne good fruit since the division, and at this time the opportunities for the acquirement of a common-school education are as good in North Brunswick as in any town of similar status in New Jersey.

The number of children between the ages of five and eighteen in North Brunswick during the period from 1867 to 1880 is shown below: 1867, 335; 1868, 319; 1869, 354; 1870, 381; 1871, 400; 1872, 312; 1873, 302; 1874, 326; 1875, 350; 1876, 344; 1877, 352; 1878, 364; 1879, 347; 1880, 360.

There are in the township three school districts, numbered in the enumeration of the school districts of Middlesex County 27, 28, and 29, and known re- spectively as "Oak Hill," "Milltown," and "Red Lion" districts. Their statistics in 1880 were as follows:

Amount of apportionment from State appropria- tion : No. 27, $300; No. 28, $565.08; No. 29, $300. Amount of district school-tax voted for payment of teachers' salaries : No. 28, $400. Amount of district school-tax voted to be used for building, purchasing, hiring, repairing, or furnishing public school-houses : No. 28, $100; No. 29, 875. Total amount of district school-tax ordered to be raised: No. 28, $500; No. 29, $75. Total amount received from all sources for public school purposes: No. 27, 8300; No. 28, $1065.08; No. 29, $375. Present value of school property : No. 27, $1500; No. 28, $3500; No. 29, $800. Number of children of the school age in the districts: No. 27, 90; No. 28, 199; No. 29, 71. Average number of months schools have been kept open: No. 27, 9}; No. 28, 10; No. 29,10. Average attendance: No. 27, 22; No. 28, 76; No. 29, 24. Estimated number of

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 181

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