History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 73

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 73
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 73

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Henry A. H. Martin, 1848-51, 1853, Lewis E. Clark, 1875-77. 1855-74.

TOWN COMMITTEE.

William Hand, Jr., 1847.

Frazee Lee, 1847-64, 1857-60.

Corra O. Meeker, 1847.

Manning Vermuele, 1×47, 1854.

Randolph Runyon, 1847, 1849-53, 1855-71.

Joseph O. Meeker, 1848.

Elisha Runyon, 1848.

Tunis C. Tunison, 1848.

Robert Anderson, 1848.

Daniel Drake, 1849-54.

Oliver Runyon, 1849-53, 1861-73.

Randolph Dunham, 1849-54.

William C. Ayres, 1854-55, 1859-60.

Johu Harris, 1855.

Edgar Ayres, 1855.

Corra O. Meeker, 1855, 1861, 1863- 65, 1869-70.

James Leonard, 1856-60, 1866-67.

Martin M. Thorn, 1874-76.

Edward L. Morris, 1877.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF COMMON SCHOOLS.

Charles H. Stillman, 1847-54, 1856- ¿ Lewis Bond, 1855.

66.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Elias Kirkpatrick, 1848-53. Peter Moore, 1864-69.

Elias Runyou, 1848-53. Juseph B. Jenkins, 1866.

Joel Dunn, 1850-51, 1856.

Alfred Berny, 1867

Corra O. Meeker, 1850. Peter P. Good, Jr., 1868.

Abraham Ruuyou, 1851. John A Staats, 1869.

Janis Moore, 1856.

Lewis E. Clark, 1874-82.

Elisha Runyon, 1858.

Stephen C. Ryder, 1874.

John Harris, 1858, 1863-69.

J. Oakley Nodyne, 1877-81.

William J. Dunham, 1861. Theodore J. Gillies, 1877.

Henry P. Brouk, 1861.

Levi S. Wadsworth, 1880.

Abraham D. Titsworth, 1863-64.

Joseph N. Richardson, 1878.

COMMISSIONERS OF APPEALS.

Frazee Lee, 1847-48, 1856.

Simeon Fitz Randolph, 1847-49.

James Leunard, 1847-50.

Jacob Thorn, 1848.

Jesse Vail. 1849-50.

Alvah Gardner, 1856, 1860, 1862-66.

Manning Vermuele, 1850, 1871, 1×73-77.

David Thickston (supply). Elisha Runyon, 1857-59.

John Harris, 1862-69.

Joseph B Coward, 1867-73.

William McD. Coriell, 1869-77.

CHAPTER XLV.

TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

PLAINFIELD was incorporated as a city in 1869. It is divided into four wards, and is governed by a mayor elected for two years and a Common Council. The assessed valuation of personal property and real estate within the limits (including North Plainfield) is about $6,000,000, which is not fully up to the true value. There are nearly 2000 legal voters in the cor- porate limits, and about 600 in the North Plainfield District mentioned. The population is about 12,000,

Charles Boice, 1847. John Harris, 1848. William C. Ayres, 1849-50. Joel Dunn, 1851.

Enos W. Runyon, 1852-53.

Randolph Dunham, 1852-54, 1856. William M. Jennings, 1861.

J. Frank Hubbard, 1861-62, 1869- 70.

William C. Ayres, 1863-67, 1871-77.

Manning Stelle, 1851-53, 1859, 1860-68, 1870. 1874-77.

Elston Marsh, 1851-54, 1859-60.

Daniel J. Marshall, 1856.

Thomas H. Force, 1857-60.

William S Dunham, 1861.

William McD. Curiell, 1861-67, 1870, 1872-77.

Joseph A. Ilubbard, 1862-67.

Samuel Fitz Randolph, 1862.

Wallace Vail, 1868-72.

Elias R. Pups, 1$68.

Theodore J. Gillies, 1868-69, 1876- 77. Job Male, 1869.

Edward C. Mulford, 1871-73, 1875- 77.

Ethan Lamphear, 1871.

Lellins L. Compton, 1872-75.

C. B. Rogers, 1873.

Jonathan R. Duohso, 1874-77.

Warreo Green. 1856.

Randolph Drake, 1856-58.

William M. Jennings, 1851-55, 1857-59, 1872.

William C. Ayres, 1854-58.

Enos W. Runyon, 1855, 1861.

298

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

including both sides of Green Brook. Of this number less than 2000 are foreigners. The city covers an area of some seven square miles, and about 4500 acres, as embraced in the territory inclosed by Terrill Avenue on the northeast, the city limits on the south- west, and extending from Mountain Avenue on the northwest to the eastern limits of the city and town- ship line. It is about twenty-four miles southwesterly from New York City, and on the new through line to Philadelphia about ninety minutes' ride therefrom, and pleasantly located on a gently sloping plain abont one hundred feet above tide-water. Evona on the westerly and Netherwood on the easterly sides of the city proper are thriving hamlets.

We insert here the following list of city officials, with the years in which they held their respective offices :

MAYORS.

Job Male, 1869-70, 1877-78.

John H. Evans, 1871-72.

Charles H. Stillman, M.D., 1873-74. L. V. Fitz Randolph, 1881-82.

ALDERMEN.

Peter Moore, 1869-70.

John Harria, 1869.

Henry J. Hankinson, 1871.

MEMBERS OF COMMON COUNCIL.

William C. Ayres, 1869.

Robert O. Edwards, 1869.

Edmund P. Sanger, 1869.

Nicholas W. West, 1869.

John B. Brown, 1869-71, 1874-75, 1878-79.

Daniel T. Marshall, 1870, 1878.

Jamies H. Ackerman, 1871.

Levi Hetfield, 1871, 1874.

David J. Buice, 1871.

Edwin M. Daniel, 1871.

Clark Rogers, 1869, 1871-73.

John G. Voorhees, 1871, 1873-74.

John Allen, 1871-73.

J. Everit Tracey, 1876.

Edward L. Moris, 1876, 1878.

John N. Whiton, 1876, 1880-81.

Samuel T. Varian, 1873. Salvin C. Baker, 1878.

Frederick R. W. Knowland, 1878. Rubert Simpson, 1878-82.

John Cameron, 1878.

Rockhill W. Potts, 1879-80.

Washington Lithgow, 1879-80. W. S. Darling, 1879-81.

John I. Perine, 1873. J. B. Dumont, 1873.

Charles W. Opdyke, 1873.

Isaac L. Miller, 1873.

Morgan Bird, 1873.

Edmund V. Shotwell, 1873.

James Parker, 1874.

Jolın li. Tier, 1874-75.

John II. Gilligan, 1874.

Isaac W. Rushmore, 1874, 1879, 1880-82.

Jolin I1. French, 1874-75.

William H. Vouthees, 1875.

Edward C. Mulford, 1875-76.

Charles A. Hunter, 1873-75. Martin M. Thorn, 1875. Stephen C. Ryder, 1875. Jolın Harris, 1875-76.

Angustns Pettibone, 1876, 1878.

Charles Potter, Jr., 1876-78.

Jacob K. Myers, 1876. John J. Demarest, 1876.

STREET COMMISSIONERS.

Samuel T. Varinn, 1869. George M. Anglemen, 1879-80.

George W. Fitz Randolph, 1870. William Hand, 1881.

John Wilson, 1871-78.

CITY ATTORNEYS.

Enve W. Runyon, 1869-70.

George B. Suydam, 1874, 1877-80.

William B. Maxson, 1875-76. Charles W. Kembell, 1881-82.

CITY CLERKS.

Nelson Ruayon, 1869-77.

O. B. Leanard, 1880-82.

William B. Smith, 1878-79.

CITY TREASURERS.

Cannon Parse, 1869-70. Jeremiah Van Winkle, 1871-82.

CITY JUDGES.

J. Hervey Ackerman, 1874.

Nelson Runyon, 1880-82.

Peter P. Good, 1875-79.

JUSTICES OF PEACE.

John Johnson, 1882.

J. Oakly Nodyne, 1882.

Daniel L. Allea, 1882.

Jasper Berges, 1882.

Vincent W. Nash, 1882.

Lewis E. Clerk, 1878-82.

Levi lletfield, 1882. John J Lee, 1875-79.

CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.

William M. Ayres, 1878-79.

Rowland M. Stover, 1882.

J. Frank Ilubbard, 1882.

SCHOOL TRUSTEES.

J. H. Vincent, 1872.

William B. Stewart, 1877.

E. M. Brown, 1872. Nathan Harper, 1878.

R. M. Titaworth, 1872.

Charles H. Stillman, 1879.

Jacob Kirkner, 1875.

Masoo W. Tyler, 1882.

Evan Jones, 1869.

Enos W. Runyon, 1869. He was the first president of board.

William McD. Coriell, 1869-70, 1872-74, 1879-81.

Rufus K. Case, 1870, 1872-73. Aaron F. Campbell, 1870. John C. Sutphen, 1870.

Nathan Harper, 1870, 1872-74.

Lebbeus L. Compton, 1871-73.

S. Alpheus Smith, 1872-78.

Alexander Gilbert, 1882, In place of William Flanders, who died 1881.

George T. Young, 1872-74, 1876. J. D. Spicer, 1872.

Oliver Runyon, 1872-74.

Janies E. Martin, 1872-73.

Mason W. Tyler, 1873, 1881.

Roland W. Stover, 1879. Gilford Mayer, 1879. Walter E. Stewart, 1879.

Ephrnim H. Depew, 1879. Henry Redfield, 1879-80, 1882.

Edwin L. Finch, 1880-81. Alvan V. Dunlap, 1880. Charles E. Ryder, 1879-80. William Flanders, 1880-81. Charles S. Guion, 1881-82. Theodore B. Hamilton, 1881. Andrew II Smith, 1881.

Henry Smith, 1881. O. J. Warmg, 1881.

J. E. Tracy, 1881. Henry B. Newhall, 1882. Henry Lindsley, 1882.

Robert L. Livingston, 1882.

William Thompson, 1882.

William S. Kaufman, 1882. William E. Gardner, 1882.

John W. Murray, 1876-81.

Census Report .- The population of the city proper is 8126,-males, 2669; females, 3457,-showing an in- crease from 1875 to the present time,-1875, 7216; 1880, 8126 ; increase, 1110.

The city of Plainfield is now (1882) divided in four wards.

Schools .- The early settlers after building them- selves rude habitations also built the "log school- honse." Among the early settlers in this township was James Fullerton, whose parents, Thomas Fuller- ton, his wife, and ten servants, and Robert Fullerton, with nine servants, arrived in October, 1684. They settled on Cedar Brook, just near the city of Plain- field. At this late date it cannot be determined whether James Fullerton was a son of Thomas or not, but it is now known that he was a schoolmaster, as he and Master Robert Coles, of Westfield, taught school in the township. As early as the year 1689 the few settlers, the Gordons, Ormstons, Forbes, Mashs, Farrers, Jacksons, and many others, had settled within short distances of each other, and James Fullerton is spoken of as the schoolmaster. There are a number of teachers spoken of after the year 1701 to 1800, as a Mr. John Boacker (Baker), and one John Conger, a Mr. Brown, also a Mr. Mc- Nulthy.

The following is a description of one of the early Plainfield schools: It was situated on the forks of three roads, surrounded by maple and live-oak trees, and in the centre of the school district, convenient

Joseph W. Yates, 1869-70.

John Simpson, 1869-71, 1874-75, 1878-79, 1882.

John C. Sutphen, 1875-76. Nathan Harper, 1879-80.

John A. Staats, 1869.

John H. Van Winkle, 1871.

Joseph B. Coward, 1872-73.

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....

MAC

RESIDENCE OF JOB MALE PLAINFIELD, N. J.

299

TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

for the children. "School took in from 8 A.M. till 4 P.M.," a much longer session than is the custom at the present time. Boards were nailed for desks against the side of the wall; long benches made of oak slabs from the saw-mill near by, with holes for the rude legs ; a few smaller and lower ones for the little schol- ars; they were without backs Bible-reading was a custom ; the few school-books that could be obtained were not very satisfactory, and so many times we se- Jected letters and words from the Bible."

Joseph Fitz Randolph, about 1809 and also 1812, taught the school, which stood near Mr. James Lean- ard's residence ; William Marsh was also the teacher for five years from 1816 in the same building. Miss Sallie Page kept a Quaker school in 1805-7, and per- haps longer; it was situated on the corner of Peace and Front Streets. Mr. William Davis and Thomas Wallace (and one other in the basement of the Pres- byterian Church) taught from 1835 to 1838. Mr. Frazee Coles, about 1805 to 1809, taught the school in the village of Plainfield and in the Jackson school- house, on or near the Terrill road, for a number of terms. He is spoken of as a " successful tutor." He has just died (Nov. 12, 1881), at the advanced age of ninety-six. A building called the academy was built in the year 1812. Rev. Buckley Morse, a Baptist clergyman, taught for some time, also a Mr. Ran- dolph.

" We had a number of teachers and many Yankee schoolmarins and masters," says an old resident. It was burnt down in the year 1834. Mr. Joseph Ran- dall taught in the " village" in 1811 and 1816. An- other account of these early schools says that the in- habitants desired their children educated, and built a school in 1760, on the corner of what is known as Peace and Front Streets, and this and the one that was built near " Tow Town" were the first. A little later a school-house was built on the corner of Somer- set and Front Streets, where Messrs. Pope Brothers' store now stands, and James Fitz Randolph (who was a Quaker) taught there as well as at the Quaker school.

There was a private school-house built where the late residence of Cornelius Boice, Esq., stood, and before his house was built. Here Ezra Fairchild kept a select school from 1837-40.

About the same time there was a school-house, which afterwards was changed into a dwelling, oppo- site the First Baptist Church. The teachers who taught here were Amos Lyon, from near Scotch Plains, 1835; Mr. Whitney, 1833-34, and again in 1840; Jacob Wood was the next teacher, who taught in 1841-43, and after his term expired it was sold to Mr. Abra- ham Runyon for a dwelling. Mr. E. Dean Dow is mentioned as a teacher in the seminary, and after- wards editor of the Central New Jersey Times at Plain- field.

The Plainfield Seminary was a frame building, forty by thirty-six feet, which was built on the land after-

wards owned by Mr. Cornelius Boice, on the southwest and adjoining the First Presbyterian Church.

The Plainfield Classical Institute, a rival educa- tional interest, was organized in 1834, and was also in a frame building, sixty by thirty five feet. It stood opposite the First Baptist Church, and both buildings are still standing, having been converted into private dwellings.

In connection with the history of the schools in this city should be mentioned the name of Charles H. Stillman, M.D., who died so suddenly at his residence on Front Street early on Sunday, Nov. - , 1881. The cause of education seemed to belong to his life-work. We refer to his labors in founding the public school system in Plainfield, and to his disinterested and unbroken services of thirty-four years in developing that system as a trustee and president of the board of education. The story of the early struggle to lay the foundations of our public schools show what persistent and enthusiastic labor was necessary to achieve that result. On the occa- sion of presenting the oil portrait of Dr. Stillman to the Board of Education, some three years ago, to be placed upon the walls of the High School Chapel, a sketch of the doctor's life-work was given in an ad- dress by the editor of the New Jersey Times, - Leonard, Esq. This was the first free school founded in New Jersey. There was not even a law on the statute books of the State to provide for raising money to found and carry on such a school as this. Dr. Still- man took the first step to accomplish this result in securing proper legislation, and be encountered not only the difficulties which always meet one in attempt- ing the passage of important laws, but the prejudice of those who opposed the free school as an innovation. A law was at length passed appropriating one hundred dollars to carry on the school for a year, together with the three hundred dollars which the State had appro- priated in years gone by for the use of poor children. This was also secured through the agency of Dr. Still- man for the free school of Plainfield, and thus the sum of four hundred dollars was obtained with which to start the work, and the public school was founded Aug. 16, 1847.

But when this point was reached he looked around for a suitable building, and there was none to be found. Finally it was decided to select two buildings, one at the lower end of the town and one at the upper end, the latter being the upper story of a deserted cabinet- shop, and the other at the west end a deserted and dilapidated hatter's shop. But after a short time they were found to be entirely inadequate to the purpose, and through the persistency of Dr. Stillman another law was passed by the Legislature appropriating two thousand dollars for the purpose of building a school- house and defraying other expenses of the school. Thus it is seen that this important work was accom- plished. Dr. Charles H. Stillman, M.D., was for thirty-four years the trustee, and also in 1847 as town-

300

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

ship superintendent of schools, and held the last po- sition for twenty years, or until the office of snperin- tendent was abolished. He was then re-elected under the new law as a school trustee, and for fourteen years more or until his death was president of the board. The success of his work as seen in our public school system is his best eulogy.

The following statistical report relates to the city ' schools of District No. 12: Amount of apportionment from the State, including the two-mill tax and the $100,000, $6772.72; amount of district school tax voted for payment of teachers' salaries, $13,146.24; amount voted for building purposes, $5389.40; amount ordered to be raised, $18,535.64 ; total amount received from all sources for public schools, $25,308.37 ; pres- ent value of the school property, $56,000; number of children in the district between five and eighteen years of age, 2019; number enrolled, 1258; male teachers, 1; female teachers, 23.

Board of Education .- President, Jacob Kirkner ; Secretary, John W. Murray ; Mason W. Tyler, Na- than Harper.

There are under the care of the board four schools, viz., one high school, one grammar school, and two primary schools. These are all under the direction of Miss J. E. Bulkley, principal. The High School is on Union, corner of Fifth Street. Teachers : Misses J. E. Bulkley, C. E. Niles, Anna Stevens, and A. H. Morton. Grammar school, on the corner of Fifth and Union Streets, Miss C. R. Runyon, Mrs. E. R. Hal- Jock, Misses Mariana Shreve, E. L. Gavett, A. M. Day, Cornelia Anderson, P. R. Fisher, teachers. Pri- mary school, on Fifth Street; teachers: Misses M. E. Humpston, A. B. Miller, A. W. Booream, S. L. Wood, A. E. Wilson. Special : Miss E. J. Utter, teacher of vocal music. Primary school, on Fourth Street; teachers: Misses Josephine Shreve, F. A. Willets, S. G. Kenny, E. U. Force, J. J. Ketcham, and E. A. Holmes.

The average attendance in all the schools for the last school year has been 937, and teachers' salaries average : in the primary grade, $300 to $550; in the grammar grade, $500 to $600; in the high school grade, $600 to $1200.

The following is the list of teachers from 1866 to 1882: Miss Julia E. Bulkley, September, 1872; prin- cipal, October, 1881-82. Mr. T. J. Miller, High School, October, 1881. Miss Mary A. Gleim, 1881. Miss Ellen E. Niles, September, 1869. Miss Mary E. Lavender, November, 1880. Grammar department: Miss Carrie B. Runyon, September, 1866. Annie M. Day, September, 1881. Mariana Shreve, August, 1875. Esther L. Garnett, February, 1873. Emma Jones, April, 1881. Cornelia Anderson, September, 1880. Mary E. Palmer, October, 1881. Primary de- partment : Josephine Shreve, February, 1876. F. A. Willets, May, 1881. Sarah G. Kenny, September, 1871. Emma Force, October, 1869. Julia J. Ketcham, September, 1877. E. A. Holmes, September, 1879. M.

E. Humpston, September, 1874. A. B. Miller, May, 1880. Annie W. Booream, September, 1876. S. L. Wood, September, 1878. Celia J. Gates, November, 1881.

PLAINFIELD ACADEMY, A BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN, Seventh Street near Liberty. At this school students are prepared for business and for college. The principal is Pro-

PLAINFIELD ACADEMY.

fessor James Lyon, who has been teaching a number of years in the city. He has introduced an evening class for the study of book-keeping, arithmetic, and writing, which meets on every alternate evening.

There are a number of seminaries and private schools, viz. :

Mrs. Julia Austin's, located in Craig Place.

The Misses Coles', on Sixth and New Streets.

Miss H. M. Conrey's, 82 Park Avenne.

Miss E. E. Kenyon's, Seventh Street, north of Park Avenue.

Miss Joanna K. Maxson's, West Seventh Street, north of Park Avenue.

The Friends' select school was established in 1878 in the new brick Orthodox Meeting-House on Front Street. It is upon a basis of moral as well as intel- lectual training. The school has a large number of pupils. Elizabeth Burton, principal ; Annie Gillies, assistant principal.

The Quakers .- Quakers first settled in the south- easterly parts of this township and in Raritan in 1728, and about the year 1735 many settled on the line of Green Brook, just under the " Blue Hills," as that portion of the First Mountain was often called. The following names are among those of the early settlers :

Nathan Vail, Isaac Vail, Amos Vail, Edward Vail, Joel Vail, Ralph Shotwell, Daniel Shotwell, John Shotwell, Elijah Shotwell, Isaac Webster, Joseph Shot-

RESIDENCE OF J. KIRKNER, PLAINFIELD, N. J.

301

TOWNSHIP AND CITY OF PLAINFIELD.

well, Samuel Shotwell, Smith Shotwell, Zachariah The following items of interest are found in con- neetion with the early meetings of the Friends : Shotwell, Ephraim Vail, James Vail, John A. Vail, Abram Vail, Jonah Vail, Webster Thorn, Hugh From the minutes of the Monthly Meeting assem- bled on the 17th of July, 1755, we learn that legacies Thorn, John Thorn, Hugh Townsend, Jothan Town- send, and Elijah Pound. These are the names of the | had been bequeathed at different times to this meet- first families, and many descendants of most of them ing, and one item is recorded of the half-aere given by John Laing for building the meeting-house at Plainfield. are still living, some in the immediate vicinity, and some scattered widely over the country.

A Weekly Meeting was held at the house of John Laing, near "Tow Town," about the year 1723, and Oct. 16, 1725, they applied to the Friends at Wood- bridge Meeting for the privilege of holding their meet- ings nearer their homes on account of distance and bad roads, as it was a long distance to ride every First Day. Their request was granted, but on the 21st of September, 1728, the day of the Plainfield Meeting was changed from the first to the fourth day of the week, in order not to affect the attendance at the Woodbridge Meeting, which was held on the first day, and the residence of the Laings was still the place appointed for service, although John, the promoter of it, was dead. He bequeathed to the Friends a plot of ground on which to build a meeting-honse, and on the 27th of March, 1731, the Woodbridge Monthly Meeting gave them permission for its construction, directing that it should not exceed in its dimensions twenty- four feet square and fourteen feet "between joynts." It was completed and all accounts settled by the latter part of the year 1736. In I744 a " hors stable" was built adjoining the new meeting-house, towards which, as well as towards the building of the meeting-house itself, the Woodbridge Friends liberally subscribed. Here in their burial-ground the first of these tami- lies were buried " near the meeting-house," and here their meetings were held for many years.

At their Quarterly Meeting held in 1786 the ques- tion was agitated as to the propriety of removing the meeting-honse " at John Laing's, deceased, to the set- tlement at the plains," and for some months the mat- ter was spoken of, until, in 1788, a decided step was taken, and a plot of land was purchased near the depot in the city of Plainfield, and the present build- ing (which is " shingled on the sides") was built. It is still kept in excellent condition, and the surround- ing grounds " well fenced and free from brambles." The old meeting-house was removed to this site, and for a time used. They have built substantial horse- sheds, and in the rear of them is their place of inter- ment. As usual but few stones or inscriptions can be found in the yard here. Here rest the dead of one hundred years ago.

The rise and progress of the Society of Friends here has been slow, many having moved to different States and formed colonies, and many of their descendants are still found faithful to the principles of their belief.

Within a few years the second meeting-house has been built of brick. It is neat in appearance, and the upper part is used for a Friends' school. This building is pleasantly situated on the main street.

In the same meeting the question "respecting a man's marrying his wife's first cousin" was consid- ered, and it was decided that it was a difficult matter to determine. Nevertheless the prohibition of such marriages heretofore existing among the Friends was reaffirmed as the wisest and safest plan to be adopted.

At this time (1758) George Parker had the charge of the meeting-house, and Robert Willis was one of the most active ministers of the Quakers in this part of the country.

In 1760 a proposition was made in the month of August "to remove the Plainfield meeting-house from John Laing's to its present site," which was done twenty-five years after, in 1786. In 1761 a " Pre- parative Meeting was established at John Laing's meeting," preceding the Monthly Meeting; one at Woodbridge, etc.

During 1762 the question of holding several Monthly Meetings at Plainfield instead of confining them to Woodbridge was mooted. Afterwards it was altered to include Rahway, and was held there and at Plainfield alternately. For several years the ques- tion of holding negroes in bondage had agitated the society. "A report to the Monthly Meeting at Plainfield in August, 1774, shows that at this time only one negro 'fit for freedom' within the jurisdie- tion of the society remained a slave."]

" This [Plainfield] meeting is informed that Ben- jamin Harris has signed a paper for independency, and has suffered his apprentice to go in the army, and has received his wages. Several Friends tried to show Benjamin the error of his ways, but he re- fused to give them any satisfaction for his miscon- duet. He was therefore cut off from their com- munion."

The Quaker meeting-house here was occupied dur- ing a part of 1776 by soldiers. Robert Willis, who was a Quaker preacher, had some idea of visiting the South in 1778, but " great commotion" (in Plainfield, where his letter is dated), "occasioned by the war," prevented his contemplated journey. He was loatb to leave his friends in the midst of so much distress. A committee for the relief of sufferers was formed this year, consisting of Abraham Shotwell, William Smith, Hugh Webster, John Vail, William Thorne, and Elijah Pound. Subsequently Thorne resigned, and Edward Moore was chosen in his place. Thorne said in the November meeting at Rahway that he was compelled to affirm his allegiance to the Continental

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 73

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