USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Orange > History of the Oranges, in Essex County, N.J., from 1666 to 1806 > Part 12
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
I am in the first Place to describe the Nature of Unbelief.
155
Sermon by Rev. Caleb Smith.
Unbelief simply considered means a not giving Credit to the Word or Testimony of Another, and when it respects the Testi- mony of Men, it may be either a right or wrong according as we have grounds for believing or not believing, but when this Word is used in the Matters of Religion, it commonly imports a refusing to give Credit to the Testimony of God, when we have sufficient Evidence to convince a reasonable creature that the Testimony is God's. If we do not yield our Assent or give Credit to what God himself hath testified, we are chargeable with the Sin of Unbelief Human Faith is the believing, &c. &c.
I. Unbelief consists in not believing God to be such a Being as he is. God speaks to us in his Works, for the Invisible Things &c. St Paul informs us that the Law of God, and such as disobey that Law do as really disobey God himself as those who violate &c. In the Epistle to the Hebs it is said, That thro' Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed &c. And without Faith it is im- possible to please.
€ 2. Unbelief consists in not believing that Revelation which God has made of himself, and of his Mind and Will in his Word. If the word of God which comes to us in the written Scriptures, or by the Preaching of such as are inspired by the Spirit of God, is not mingled with Faith in those who hear it, they are chargeable with rejecting the Counsel of God &c. Noah was a preacher of Righteousness. So was Lot to the Men of Sodom &c. Isaiah Jeremiah and others, &c. We have a more sure word of Prophecy.
3. Unbelief in the most common sense of the word in the Times of the Gospel means, a Refusing to credit the Record of God concerning his own dear Son, and not putting our Trust in him as such a Saviour as God has revealed him to be-This is my beloved Son-This is the especial Commandment of God in the Gospel Day.
4. Unbelief likewise means a not believing the great Realities of an unseen future and eternal State. We have this Description of the Nature of Faith in Heb. II. I. That is the Substance of Things-Faith makes real the &c. Now Unbelief does just the contrary, it annihilates Things which the Saints of &c. and rejects the evidence &c .-
2 Gen. I am to consider the peculiar Malignancy of Unbelief.
I 56
History of the Oranges.
I. It reflects the greatest Dishonor upon the blessed God, in that it contemns his Veracity, and in effect charges him with False- hood.
Thus the Apostle says, 1 Epi. 5, 10, He who believeth not God hath made him a Lyar, because he believeth not the Record which God &c.
2. The Evil and Exceeding Malignancy of Unbelief consists in this, that it saps the Foundation of all Religion and Goodness.
3. Unbelief must appear very malignant if it be considered that it opens the Door for all Manner of Sin, and is a Root of Bitter- ness whence naturally grows every Kind of Vice and wickedness- Can God see thro' the thicke and darke-Who is the Lord that we should fear-The natural offspring of Unbelief is Profaneness. The Antients of the House &c. said the Lord seeth not us, the Lord hath forsaken the Earth. Ezek. 8, 12.
4. The Evil and Malignity of Unbelief appears farther from this consideration that it doth in the most effectual Manner destroy the Soul which is under the power of it, and brings upon Persons the most terrible Condemnation-Our Lord says of some, showing the aggravated Ruin that should come upon-
5. Unbelief appears exceeding malignant on the Account of its being a Slight and Rejection of that glorious Scheme of Salvation which the Wisdom and Mercy of God has contrived in Favour of fallen guilty perishing mankind.
The holy Spirit reproves the World of Sin because they believe not on Christ. Unbelievers receive the Grace of God in the Gospel.
3 Gen. I pass now to Shew why such cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, or be admitted into that blessed and glorious Rest which remains for his believing People who remain, &c.
I. Because God himself hath ordained the Contrary. Such is the unalterable Constitution of God himself respecting ye human Race, that such as continue in Unbelief shall remain in their Sins- I said therefore that ye shall die in your Sins, for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your Sins, are the words of our Divine Lord. John 8, 24.
Joh. 3, 18 and 36. He who believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the Name of the only begotten
I57
Sermon by Rev. Caleb Smith.
Son of God. He who believeth not the Son, shall not see Life, but the wrath of, &c .- He that believeth and is baptized, shall be, &c .-
2. Unbelief does by natural consequence exclude from the Land of promised Rest, because such as remain under its prevail- ing Influence will not in Earnest seek after it. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence-Persons will not shine-How can Per- sons seek first the Kingdom-When Persons thro' Unbelief think that God is altogether such, &c., like those wicked Persons spoken of in the 50 Psla. Unbelief causes Persons to depart from the living God, &c.
3. Unbelief effectually prevents Persons of gaining any Title to the celestial Canaan. The Promise is made to Faith, whereby Persons are brought into Union with Christ-The Kingdom of Heaven is by Mankind in their present depraved fallen condition obtained only by Inheritance.
Impt 1. We are hence taught what is the Root of that Sin and Wickedness which so generally prevails among the Children.
2. Hence we are also taught to account for that Security and Carelessness about the Concerns of the Soul and Eternity which is so prevalent at this Day.
3. We may hence infer that such as are moral in the Conduct, and maintain a fair external Appearance of Religion, if they are Unbelievers, are heinously guilty, and are very high-handed Offend- ers against the Majesty of God.
4. We are hence instructed that where there is not Holiness and a careful conscientious Obedience in the Life, there cannot be true Faith in the Heart.
5. We learn hence that Unbelief does in the most effectual Manner cut the Sinews of all true Holiness.
Exh. 1. To the Saints of God that they would earnestly seek to get their Remainders of Unbelief remedied &c. and to obtain an Increase of Faith.
2. Let me exhort unbelieving Sinners that they would be sen- sible of their Guilt and Dangers, and be counselled to obtain Speedy Deliverance from the Power of Unbelief.
CHAPTER VIII.
ESSEX COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
EN. GAGE, who had been for ten years commander- (I in-chief of the British forces in America, was, in 1774, appointed Governor of Massachusetts. He ar- rived in Boston on May 13th, of that year. The act known as the "Boston Port Bill" had passed the British Parliament on the 29th of March, 1774, and went into effect on June 1st, following. Its purpose was to preclude the privilege of landing and discharg- ing, or of loading and shipping goods, wares or mer- chandise, and every vessel, within certain limits desig- nated, was required to depart within six hours, unless laden with food or fuel. This act was soon followed by another, altering the charter of the Province of Massachusetts, and essentially abridging the liberties of the people. On the day named, business was sus- pended in Boston at 12 o'clock, noon, and the harbor was closed against all vessels. 1
This act of tyranny and oppression not only caused great indignation, but became the occasion of organized effort in the colonies for the purpose, more or less distinctly avowed, of effecting the downfall of British power in America, and of making them an independent
I. Holmes' Annals, II., 187.
1 59
Essex County in the Revolution.
nation. That purpose was expressed in an address to the inhabitants of Great Britain by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, when it said, "appealing to heaven for the justice of our course, we determine to die or be free."
When the passage of the Port Bill was announced in Virginia, the House of Burgesses of that Province resolved that the first of June, when the act was to take effect, should be set apart by the members as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, "devoutly to im- plore the divine interposition for averting the heavy calamity which threatened destruction to their civil rights, as well as the evils of a civil war ; to give them one heart and one mind firmly to oppose, by all just and proper means, every injury to American rights." 1
New Jersey was alive to the importance of meeting the crisis. The initiative steps were taken by Essex County. The following call was issued for a meeting, to be held on June 11, 1774 :
" All the inhabitants of Essex in New Jersey, friends to the con- stitution, the liberties and properties of America, are hereby noti- fied and desired to meet at the court house, in Newark, on Satur- day the eleventh of June, instant, at two of the clock in the after- noon, to consult and deliberate and firmly resolve upon the most prudent and salutary measures to secure and maintain the consti- tutional rights of his majesty's subjects in America. It is therefore hoped that from the importance of the subject, the meeting will be general.
" Signed, by order, at a meeting of a number of the free holders of the County of Essex, the seventh day of June, 1774.
JOHN DEHART, ISAAC OGDEN."
The public meeting of citizens was duly held, on the appointed day, and, after solemn deliberation, the fol- lowing preamble and resolutions were adopted :
I. Holmes' Annals, II. 186.
I 60
History of the Oranges.
"At a meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Essex in the Province of New Jersey at Newark in the said County, on Saturday the 11th day of June, 1774; This meeting taking into serious consideration some late alarming measures adopted by the British Parliament for depriving his Majesty's American subjects of their undoubted and constitutional rights and principles, and particularly the Act for blockading the port of Boston, which appears to them pregnant with the most dangerous consequences to all his Majesty's Dominions in America, do unan- imously resolve and agree :
"I. That, under the enjoyment of our constitutional privileges and immunities, we will ever cheerfully render all due obedience to the Crown of Great Brittain, as well as full faith and allegiance to his most Gracious Majesty King George the Third; and do esteem a firm dependence on the Mother Country essential to our political security and happiness.
"2. That the late Act of Parliament relative to Boston, which so absolutely destroys every idea of safety and confidence, appears to us big with the most dangerous and alarming consequences, especially as subversive of that very dependence which we should earnestly wish to continue, as our best safeguard and protection ; And that we conceive every well-wisher to Great Brittain and her Colonies is now loudly called upon to exert his utmost abilities in promoting every legal and prudential measure towards obtaining a repeal of the said Act of Parliament, and all others subversive of the undoubted rights and liberties of his Majesty's American sub- jects.
" 3. That it is our unanimous opinion, that it would conduce to the restoration of the liberties of America, should the Colonies enter into a joint agreement not to purchase or use any articles of British Manufacture, and especially any commodities imported from the East Indies, under such restrictions as may be agreed upon by a general Congress of the said Colonies hereafter to be appointed.
"4. That this county will most readily and cheerfully join their brethren of the other counties in this Province, in promoting such Congress of Deputies, to be sent from each of the Colonies, in order to form a general plan of union, so that the measures to be pursued for the important ends in view, may be uniforni and firm ; to which plan when concluded upon, we do agree faithfully to adhere and do now declare ourselves ready to send a Committee to meet with those from the other counties, at such time and place, as by them may be agreed upon, in order to elect proper persons to represent this Province in the said general Congress.
161
Essex County in the Revolution.
" 5. That the freeholders and inhabitants of the other counties in this Province be requested speedily to convene themselves to- gether, to consider the present distressing state of our public affairs ; and to correspond and consult with such other Committees as may be appointed, as well as with our Committee, who are hereby directed to correspond and consult with such other Com- mittees, as also with those of any other Province ; and particularly to meet with the said County Committees, in order to nominate and appoint Deputies to represent this Province in General Congress.
"6. We do hereby unanimously request the following gentle- men to accept of that trust, and accordingly do appoint them our Committee for the purposes aforesaid, viz : Stephen Crane, Henry Garritse, Joseph Riggs, William Livingston, William P. Smith, John DeHart, John Chetwood, Isaac Ogden and Elias Boudinot, esquires."
The other counties of the Province promptly and cordially responded to the appeal of Essex.
A convention of the committees of the several coun- ties met at New Brunswick, on Thursday, July 21st, and continued in session to Saturday following. Seventy-two gentlemen took part in the delibera- tions. Stephen Crane, of Essex, was in the chair. They unanimously agreed in the declaration :
" Ist. We think it necessary to declare, that the inhabitants of this Province, (and we are confident the people of America in gen- eral) are, and ever have been, firm and unshaken in their loyalty to his Majesty King George the Third; fast friends to the Revo- lution settlement; and that they detest all thoughts of an inde- pendence on the Crown of Great Britain ; Accordingly we do, in the most sincere and solemn manner, recognize and acknowledge his Majesty King George the Third to be our lawful and rightful Sovereign, to whom under his royal protection in our fundamental rights and privileges, we owe, and will render all due faith and allegiance.
"2d. We think ourselves warranted from the principles of our excellent Constitution, to affirm that the claim of the British Par- liament, (in which we neither are, nor can be represented) to make laws which shall be binding on the King's American subjects, 'in all cases whatsoever,' and particularly for imposing taxes for the purpose of raising a revenue in America, is unconstitutional and
II
162
History of the Oranges.
oppressive and which we think ourselves bound in duty to our- selves and our posterity by all constitutional means in our power to oppose.
"3d. We think the several late Acts of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, invading the Charter rights of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, and subjecting supposed offenders to be sent for trial to other Colonies, or to Great Britain ; the sending over an armed force to carry the same into effect, and thereby reducing many thousands of innocent and loyal inhabitants to poverty and distress ; are not only subversive of the undoubted rights of his Majesty's American subjects, but also repugnant to the common principles of humanity and justice. These proceedings, so violent in themselves, and so truly alarming to the other Colonies, (many of which are equally exposed to Ministerial vengeance,) render it the indispensible duty of all, heartily to unite in the most proper measures, to procure redress for their oppressed countrymen, now suffering in the common cause; and for the re-establishment of the constitutional rights of America on a solid and permanent foundation.
"4th. To effect this important purpose, we conceive the most eligible method is, to appoint a General Congress of Commissioners of the respective Colonies, who shall be empowered mutually to pledge, each to the rest, the publick honour and faith of their con- stituent Colonies, firmly and inviolably to adhere to the determina- tions of the said Congress.
" 5th. Resolved, That we do earnestly recommend a general non-importation and a non-consumption agreement to be entered into at such time, and regulated in such manner, as to the Con- gress shall appear most advisable.
"6th. Resolved, That it appears to us, to be a duty incumbent on the good people of this Province, to afford some immediate relief to the many suffering inhabitants of the town of Boston.
" Therefore, the several County Committees do now engage to set on foot, and promote collections, without delay, either by subscrip- tions or otherwise, throughout their respective counties ; and that they will remit the moneys arising from the said subscriptions, or any other benefactions, that may be voluntarily made by the inhab- itants, either to Boston, or into the hands of James Neilson, John Dennis, William Ouke, Abraham Hunt, Samuel Tucker, Dr. Isaac Smith, Grant Gibbon, Thomas Sinnicks, and John Carey, whom we do hereby appoint a Committee for forwarding the same to Boston, in such way and manner as they shall be advised will best answer the benevolent purpose designed.
163
Essex County in the Revolution.
"7th. Resolved, That the grateful acknowledgments of this body are due to the noble and worthy patrons of constitutional liberty, in the British Senate, for their laudable effort to avert the storm they behold impending over a much injured colony, and in support of the just rights of the King's subjects in America.
"8th. Resolved, That James Kinsey, William Livingston, John DeHart, Stephen Crane and Richard Smith, Esquires, or such of them as shall attend, be the Delegates to represent this Province in the General Continental Congress, to be held at the City of Philadelphia, on or about the first of September next, to meet, consult and advise with the Deputies from the other Colonies; and to determine upon all such prudent and lawful measures as may be judged most expedient for the Colonies immediately and unitedly to adopt, in order to obtain relief for an oppressed people and the redress of our general grievances.
" Signed by order, "JONATHAN D. SERGEANT, Clerk."
One of the measures recommended by the Congress appears in an appeal by the Committee for Essex County, to the freeholders of the County qualified to vote for representatives in the Legislature.
It was made their duty to take notice of the conduct of persons touching the action of the General Con- gress. They recommended that should any inhabitant of the colony be found to be disloyal to the Congress he should "be held up to public notice, as unfriendly to the liberties of his country, and all dealings with him or her be thenceforward forever broken off." For closer observation of the conduct of individuals, it was further recommended that a committee be chosen for each of the three precincts of the County, viz: Elizabeth, Newark and Aquackanung. Not less than fifteen for the first two, and not less than ten for the latter ; being inhabitants of the respective precincts of the most reputable character.
The inhabitants of the Newark precinct, at a meeting at the Court House, December 7, 1774, unanimously chose as a Committee of Observation for the township
164
History of the Oranges.
of Newark, twenty-three persons, viz: Joseph Allen, Esq., Garrabrant Garrabrant, Esq., Caleb Camp, Be- thuel Pierson, John Range, Solomon Davis, Doctor Matthias Pierson, Samuel Pennington, Joseph Hed- den, Jun., Daniel Cundict, John Earle, John Spear, Moses Farrand, David Cundict, Esq., John Peck, Joseph Lyon, Thomas Cadmus, Jun., Abraham Lyon, James Wheeler, Ichabod Harrison, Jonathan Sayer, Robert Johnson, Robert Neil, Jun.
It is interesting to notice that, of the above named Committee, Bethuel Pierson, John Range, Matthias Pierson, Daniel Cundict, David Cundict, John Peck and Ichabod Harrison,-and perhaps some others,- were residents of the territory now known as the Oranges. The enthusiasm of the people of that neighborhood was thoroughly aroused, in defence of the public liberties. On May 4, 1775, the inhabitants of the whole Township had a Town Meeting-probably at the Meeting House near the River. The following is the official record of the proceedings :
"At a meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town- ship of Newark, in New Jersey, on Thursday the 4th day of May, A.D. 1775, Dr. William Burnett in the chair.
"An association having been entered into and subscribed by the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of said Town, a motion was made and agreed to, that the same be read. The same was read and is as follows :
" We, the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Township of New- ark, having deliberately considered the openly avowed design of the Ministry of Great Britain to raise a revenue in America, being affected with horrour at the bloody scene now acting in the Massa- chusetts Bay for carrying that arbitrary design into Execution ; firm- ly convinced that the very existence of the rights and liberties of America can, under God, subsist on no other basis than the most animated and perfect union of its inhabitants : and being sensible of the necessity in the present exigency of preserving good order and a due regulation in all public measures ; with hearts perfectly
165
Essex County in the Revolution.
abhorrent of slavery, do solemnly, under all the sacred ties of re- ligion, honour and love to our country, associate and resolve that we will personally, and as far as our influence can extend, endeavor to support and carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress or agreed upon by the proposed convention of Deputies of this Province, for the purpose of preserving and fixing our constitution on a permanent basis, and opposing the execution of the several despotick and oppressive Acts of British Parliament, until the wished for reconciliation between Great Britian and America on constitutional principles can be obtained.
"That a General Committee be chosen by this Town for the pur- poses aforesaid, and that we will be directed by, and support, them in all things respecting the 'common cause the preservation of peace, good order, the safety of individuals and private property.'
"Voted, That Isaac Ogden, esquire, Captain Philip Van Cortland, Bethuel Pierson and Caleb Camp be the deputies to represent said Township in the Provincial Congress referred to in the said association.
" The General Committee also mentioned in the said association was then chosen, consisting of forty-four.
"Agreed, that the powers delegated to the Deputies and General Committee continue until the expiration of five weeks after the rising of the next Continental Congress and no longer.
"Agreed, That the General Committee have power to appoint one or more Sub-Committees, to act on any emergency.
ISAAC LONGWORTH,
Town Clerk.
"The General Committee immediately convened and elected Lewis Ogden, esquire, chairman, Doctor William Burnett, deputy chairman, and Elisha Boudinot, esquire, clerk of the said General Committee.
"Agreed, that the above named Lewis Ogden, esquire, Dr. William Burnett, Elisha Boudinot, esquire, Isaac Ogden, esquire, and Mr. Isaac Longworth, be a Committee of Correspondence for said Town.
ELISHA BOUDINOT, Clerk to Committee." 1
I. The foregoing documents have been taken from the minutes of the Provincial Congress and Council of Safety of New Jersey. The author believes that they will be more valued by his readers than any historical sum- mary ; giving, as they do, the words of the writers, their sentiments and impulses in that momentous crisis of their political affairs.
166
History of the Oranges.
The convention of the committees of the several counties in the Province, which met at New Bruns- wick, July 21, 1774, to nominate delegates to the first Continental Congress, foreshadowed the important step alluded to in the action of the Town Meeting at New- ark, above noted, viz: the institution of a Provincial Congress, which should assume the government of the affairs of New Jersey, independent of the royal gov- ernor, Franklin, and his Council and the House of Assembly. 1
Among the first acts of this Provincial Congress, was one to place the Province as nearly as possible in the best state of defence and active co-operation in general measures, for the common protection of American rights. It resolved at first that £10,000, proclamation money, should be raised by apportionment among theycounties. The proportion for Essex County was £742, 18s. Subsequently, an ordinance was passed to issue bills of credit for £30,000. An ordinance of Au- gust 16, 1775, provided for raising twenty regiments and a company of rangers, and for commissioning their officers. On the same day, it was also resolved : "That 4,000 able effective men be enlisted and enrolled in the several counties, who shall hold themselves in constant readiness, on the shortest notice, to march to any place where their assistance may be required for the defence of this or any neighboring colony." 2
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.