USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Orange > History of the Oranges, in Essex County, N.J., from 1666 to 1806 > Part 13
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
In 1775, Revolution and Independence grew apace. The now confederated colonies raised their quotas of
I. The Continental Congress, at its first meeting, recommended the establishment of Conventions or Assemblies, sufficient to meet the exigencies of the period, and "to adopt such government as, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, might conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and America in general."
2. Minutes of the Provincial Congress, p. 187.
Washington in Newark Mountains. 167
troops, and pledged their treasures to the common cause. The torch of war was lighted at Lexington and Bunker Hill. Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point, strong fortresses on Lake Champlain, were taken pos- session of, and a highway opened to Canada. George Washington was made commander-in-chief of the Con- tinental army. The British Parliament, in October, resolved to raise an army of 40,000 men, more than 17,000 of whom were afterwards hired as mercenaries.
At the opening of 1776, the idea of Independence of the mother country, which in the year previous had been publicly discussed, gained strength ; though meeting with strenuous opposition in some quarters, the popular sentiment in its behalf made rapid pro- gress. On July 4th, the Continental Congress de- clared the British Provinces in America to be Free and Independent States. Trusting their cause and themselves to the guidance of the God of their fath- ers, the colonists accepted the issue of war.
WASHINGTON IN THE NEWARK MOUNTAINS.
During the winter of 1776-7, the residents of New York, as also the thousands of the British troops there and on Staten Island, were in great straits for neces- sary supplies. Many articles of food could not be had, and others were so dear as to exhaust the resour- ces of the most wealthy. A turkey was worth four dollars ; half a dozen onions a dollar. Fifty dollars would not feed a small family for ten days. Wood was so scarce that it could not be had to keep the houses warm or to cook victuals. Westchester Coun- ty, Long Island, and Staten Island were under royalist rule; but the war of the previous year had arrested the usual tilling of the fields ; and of the crops that had been raised, but little was harvested. New Jersey
I68
History of the Oranges.
ยท had been a source of supply to New York in the past, but now all cattle and family stores which were not needed for home consumption, were secreted in the interior. Foraging parties sent to ravage the country contiguous to New York, brought little back. To the Jerseymen whose avarice outweighed their patriotism, it was a time of great temptation to collect what they could by plunder or by purchase, of food and forage, and, with a protection in their pocket, to transport it to Bergen Heights and the Hudson River.
Sir Henry Clinton, who was in command at New York, ordered and entreated the farmers of the ter- ritory under the royal rule to bring in their produc- tions. As late as September of that year, he organized a raid into New Jersey, with 2,000 troops, divided into four columns. His point of rendezvous was New Bridge, three miles above the Hackensack. One col- umn under Gen. Campbell entered the State by way of Elizabethtown; one under Capt. Drummond, by Dow's ferry, above the bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad ; one under Gen. Vaugn, by way of Fort Lee ; and the fourth under Lieut. Campbell, by way of Tap- pan. Clinton himself followed, by the way of Dow's ferry, over the Belleville road, to Schuyler's mansion at Belleville. The result of the enterprise was the cap- ture of four hundred cattle, four hundred sheep, and a few horses. Eight men were killed, eighteen wounded, ten missing, and five taken prisoners. 1
The success of this carefully concerted raid illus- trates the defenceless condition of this region of country, east of the Orange Mountain. Its only pro- tection was the few companies of local militia, enrolled to be called out for thirty or sixty days' "tour of duty" in case of alarm. Throughout the war New-
I. Winfield's History of Hudson County, p. 150.
Washington in Newark Mountains. 169
ark Township was, at all times, open to annoyances and ravage by bands of British soldiers, chiefly Hes- sians and refugees. Every week the Hessian women connected with the camp at Bergen Heights, were ex- pected to pass over the region, and rob the ovens of their weekly supply of bread. They were attended by a few soldiers for protection, and to enforce their demands. 1
Other bands, composed of men only, ranged the country, plundering such farms and dwellings as the tories marked with the letter R, indicating them as the property of rebels.2 The harrassed people were always subject to alarms, and to the necessity of sud- den flight for safety to the Mountain. Cyrus Jones, who was born and died on Main Street, nearly opposite the present Munn Avenue, related that his father was obliged to flee to the Moun- tain, with his family, to escape the raid of the Hes- sians. They took with them their silver plate and money, together with enough provisions to last sev- eral days. The cattle were turned loose, and upon re- turning they were pleased to find that the house and barn had not been burned. Some live stock and a few articles from the house were taken. The invaders not infrequently traversed the country on horses, stabling them at night in the houses of the people, who were compelled to vacate for the accommo- dation of the raiders. The house of Dr. Matthias
I. Each Hessian regiment brought with it the wives and families of the men, in numbers sufficient to serve the barracks.
2. The tories at Caldwell were very numerous and very bitter towards the whigs. They gave information as to what houses to attack, and where to steal horses. Some of them made considerable money by trading within the enemy's lines.
170
History of the Oranges.
Pierson was so used. It occupied the present site of the Central Presbyterian Church, and was removed when the parish purchased the property for a build- ing. Jotham Harrison, whose dwelling stood on the site of the Halsted house, next east of the Reformed Church, corner of Main and Halsted Streets, was, with his family, driven from their commodious home, and compelled to seek refuge over the Mountain. Salt hay was brought in from the barn, and distributed Matthias over the floors for the horses and their riders. Matthias Dod, who lived on Grove Street, (which was known for many years after the war as Whiskey Lane,) entered the service. When he went to his regiment, for the better protection of his wife and children, he took them to the house of his brother Joseph, who lived in Centre Street, corner of Central Avenue, on the prop- Joseph Dod erty now owned by Mr. Josiah H. Reed. Joseph Dod married a daughter of Amos Williams, who was a pronounced loyalist. The daughter partook of his tory sympathies, and made her household very un- comfortable by her bitter antagonism. It so happened that a small troop of light horse visited the Mountain, and took possession of the dwelling, wherein to spend the night and stable their horses. It was necessary that both horses and riders should be under the same roof, as the former, if placed in the barn, were ex- exposed to capture. After Mrs. Dod's British friends had left their night's quarters, and she had surveyed the condition of the same, she declared that "after all, they were not very nice." The consequence was that her own loyalty to King George was very sensibly modified.
-
-
MATTHIAS PIERSON'S HOUSE.
I71
Revolutionary Incidents.
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
The retreat of the American army before Cornwallis in November, 1776, was the only occasion when its commander-in-chief tarried at the Mountains. With two brigades encamped at Bloomfield and Cranetown, and one at Newark, he waited one week hoping for reinforcements, when the British forces compelled hini to renew his march. There are two houses in Bloom- field which imperfect tradition makes historic as his headquarters. One is the old Cadmus house, built of stone, and still standing. It was the home of Col. Thomas Cadmus, who, in July, 1777, with four others, was confined in jail, first at Newark, and afterwards at Morristown, for refusing to take the oath of abjura- tion and allegiance. The tradition is based upon a statement made by an old resident to persons still living, that, when a boy of ten years, he brought to Washington, at that house, a plate of cherries, and that the great man took him on his knee while he ate them ; a statement quite reasonable until we reflect that the Revolution then in progress could not have so disturbed the course of the seasons as to furnish ripe cherries in the last days of November. 1
The other house claimed as headquarters, belonged to Moses Farrand. He lived less than a mile east of Bloomfield, on the old road to Newark. Mr. Farrand was possessed of property, and was a man of influence
I. We cite this as a fair illustration of the vain traditions of revolutionary events, which abounded in this region among the inhabitants of a generation since, and which are cherished even now. When we came here, forty years ago, we were frequently told of skirmishes and minor engagements that were said to have occurred between stragglers of the two armies in the Mountain district. But the stories are so conflicting, and so unimportant as to results, that we make no allusion to them in this record. If they had any founda- tion in fact, they have been so exaggerated and distorted as to be utterly worthless as history.
I72
History of the Oranges.
as well as a patriotic citizen. From a careful study of the tradition and the facts sustaining it, made in the centennial year, we accept as historic that Washington, having confidence in Farrand as a man of intelligence and of tried virtue, made his house a stopping place, and that on one occasion, at least, spent the night as his guest, the house being guarded by soldiers.1 The Farrand property is still in the family. The old home, removed from its original site, converted first into a cider mill, and now appropriated to other farm uses, is still standing. A new dwelling has taken the place of the old, which, together with a portion of the farm, is occupied by the widow of a grand-son of Washington's host.
This mountain region was an important one in its strategic relations. Washington frequently traversed it, carefully inspecting its topography, informing him- self of the sentiments of the people, and acquiring all necessary knowledge of the approaches to Morris County through the mountain passes. He was always attended by his suite. There are idle traditions that on occasions he made his visits alone, on secret service. He appreciated too well the grave responsibilities of his station, to allow himself to be unattended by a proper retinue as a guard to his person.
We have it upon the authority of Mr. Mark A. Ward, that Washington, in one of his trips to Morris- town, by means of the Swinefield Road, stopped at the house of Mr. Ward's great-grandfather, Capt.
I. Pompton Plains, in Morris County, which was the open traveled route between the Highlands on the Hudson and Morristown and the Delaware, are full of well-founded traditions of armies marching through the plains, and of Washington's occupancy of dwellings where he enjoyed all necessary hospitalities .- Manuscript History of Early Settlers of Pompton Plains, by Rev. G. C. Schenck, in New Jersey Historical Society.
An Act of. Courtesy. 173
Thomas Williams, 1 in Tory Corner, and drank from a pewter mug which is still preserved by the family. On another occasion Washington passed from Orange, by the Valley Road, to South Orange, and rested for re- freshment at an inn in Freemantown, which occupied the site of the Hart house, north of the intersecting point of Chestnut Avenue with the Valley Road. It was kept by Ned Tomkins. The host gave his distin- guished guests the best of his larder, which was fried pork and boiled cabbage ; of which they partook with good relish. Soon after resuming their route, Lafay- ette was attacked with a fit of vomiting, which some- what alarmed himself and his companions, lest he should have eaten poisoned food. Their suspicions were soon quieted, but the French General did not forget the occurrence. When visiting the United States in 1824, he received an ovation in Newark. Among the great numbers who called to pay him their respects was Tomkins, and, when the name was announced, the nation's guest asked if this was the Mr. Tomkins at whose house under the Mountain he made a dinner of pork and cabbage. Being answered in the affirmative, he took him by the hand, expressing his happiness at meeting him again, and with true French politeness, assured him that "it was the best dinner he had ever eaten in his life."
AN ACT OF COURTESY HAS ITS REWARD.
At the time of the retreat in 1776, there was a ford on the Passaic River at Belleville.2 When a part of Cornwallis' army reached the river, the ford was
1. Capt. Thomas Williams received his title from having had command of the Parish Sloop. A fuller account of him and the vessel will be found in later chapters.
2. The bridge there was not constructed till 1794.
-
I74
History of the Oranges.
pointed out by Henry Kingsland, who lived in its neighborhood. Shortly after that time he was ar- rested as a suspected spy, and confined in jail. While looking through the bars of his cell, he was noticed by the British officer to whom he had pointed out the ford. The officer reported the case to headquarters, and Mr. Kingsland was released and returned to his home.
AVENGING THIE INSULTS OF A BRITISH OFFICER.
During the war a company of British soldiers was encamped on the east side of the river at Belleville, directly opposite to the old Dutch Reformed Church. It occupied nearly the same site as that of the present edifice. The captain of the company (Marsh) had been noticed by Captain Spear of the town, on several occasions, to come down to the river's brink and place himself in an obscene posture, bidding defiance to the citizens of the village. Captain Spear bore the insult until forbearance ceased to be a virtue. On a cer- tain morning, at an early hour, he stationed himself with his loaded musket in the belfry of the church, and awaited the coming of his majesty's valiant captain. He soon appeared and began to repeat his usual morn- ing insults. The captain's trusty musket sent its deadly missile, and arrested forever the nasty antics of the British officer. 1
I. Our patriotic captain was a good citizen and possessed the confidence of the people to such a degree that, after the war, he represented them for three successive terms in the State Legislature. It is said of him that, dur- ing this service, he never did more than give his vote on the bills presented, till near the close of his last term, when a bill was reported relative to the impounding of hogs running at large. He then sprang to his feet, with the remark : "Now, gentlemen, I can talk to you, for I was born among the hogs, brought up among the hogs, and know all about the hogs."
I75
Brave Men from Belleville.
BRAVE MEN FROM BELLEVILLE.
Nicholas Joralemon and two other citizens of Belle- ville associated together to skirmish on their own ac- count. One of them being taken prisoner by a com- pany of the enemy, commanded by Captain McNichols from the fort at Paulus Hook, his companions re- solved to rescue him at all hazards. They made the attempt on a dark night, when McNichols and his men were enjoying a ball at the Hook. The windows of the house in which the ball was held were closed, making all dark without and around it. One of the Belle- ville heroes, dressed in the uniform of a"British offi- cer, presented himself at the door of the house and de- manded to see Captain McNichols. He responded at once to the call; when the door was immediately closed, and with a bayonet placed at his heart he was declared a prisoner, and threatened with instant death if he gave any alarm. He was taken to Belleville, and con- fined in the Episcopal Church until an exchange was effected for their own comrade. Previous to the ex- change, the captain's dirk and pistols were taken from him. The latter have been frequently handled by the narrator of this incident.
SELF-DETECTION OF A THIEF.
Mr. James Hornblower used to relate, that while a squad of militia were quartered in an old house on the main street, Belleville, the men were annoyed by the loss of portions of their clothing, hung out to dry after the weekly wash. As one of their own number was suspected of the theft, they adopted the following method to detect him : A rooster, covered with lamp- black, was confined in a corner of a dark cellar, and each member of the squad was commanded to go singly, place his hand upon the fowl, and then return
I 76
History of the Oranges.
with upheld hands. They were told that when the guilty one touched the bird he would crow. The blackened hands of all the company, save one, discov- ered their integrity, and he standing self-condemned confessed his guilt.
LAFAYETTE ANGRY IN CRANETOWN.
During the progress of the war it happened not in- frequently that enterprises were undertaken as feints, to threaten on the one hand, or to confuse and arrest on the other, some suspected plan of the enemy. Such an enterprise is noticed in the manuscript notes of the Rev. Dr. Tuttle.1 He writes that in an inter- view with Mr. Dodd of Cranetown, the latter said that he had heard his father relate an incident in which he was a participant. When the commander- in-chief, on an occasion of uncertain date, considered that it was of the highest necessity to keep the Brit- ish in New York, and thus prevent a hostile expedi- tion of Lord Howe to New England, or to the south- ern coast, Lafayette was entrusted with the scheme of making a show of attacking Staten Island. To do this more effectually, the General had all the boats which could be found on the Passaic River, above the great falls, mounted on wheels, and carted across the country towards Elizabethtown. On a certain night, as the boats were being transported through Cranetown, some of the wagons broke down, giving those engaged in the enterprise great trouble. It was in the midst of a terrible thunder storm. Lafayette was much enraged at the delay. General Winds was with him and in command of the undertaking, with a detachment of men. His voice was heard cheering and directing his men. Mr. Dodd's father said that he "roared louder
I. In the Collected Manuscripts of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Parson Chapman. 177
than the thunder," which was breaking overhead. His energy and good sense did good service in accomplish- ing the work in hand.
When the French General was in this country in 1824, he met Mr. Dodd in Western New York, by acci- dent. He not only recognized his face, and grasped him by the hand, but said with a merry laugh : "Oh, how mad I was that night, at Cranetown !"
PARSON CHAPMAN'S GAME-COCK.
On one occasion, when the parsonage of the Moun- tain Society had been deserted by Mr. Chapman and his family, who were driven therefrom by fear of vio- lence, a company of British soldiers took possession. At night, being merry with wine, they procured an old game-cock, and placed him on the table. They called him the rebel preacher, and instituted a court martial for his trial. After going through with the usual forms, sentence of death by decapitation was pronounced ; old chanticleer clapped his wings and gave a ringing crow, when an officer rose from his seat and cut off his head. 1
PARSON CHAPMAN CHEERS FOR FREEDOM.
A horseman riding leisurely under the Mountain, in no fear of danger, was roused by the sound of an ap- proaching troop of British lighthorse. He gave rein to his horse, to escape them. With oaths and threats they admonished him to stop, but he urged his steed the more, and succeeded in keeping himself in advance of his pursuers till he had reached the summit of a hill-now Ridge street. The foe was rising the hill and within the sound of his voice. The pursued and
I. History of the Chapman Family.
12
.178
History of the Oranges.
fearless rider wheeled about, and facing the troop, raised himself in his saddle, took off his cocked hat, and gave three cheers for freedom. The enemy, sup- posing that he had come in sight of American soldiers, as he looked beyond the hill, changed their purpose and retreated in confusion through the road by which they came.
They had pursued the rebel parson Chapman. His cheers were ringing ones. It is said of him that he had a voice of uncommon power. 1
That he was esteemed and trusted at headquarters may be inferred from the fact, that Lafayette spent a day with him at the parsonage. To add to the pleasure of his guest, the pastor took him to the summit of the Mountain, to show him the prospect which it affords. Being delighted with its extent and beauty, the Gen- eral said : "Doctor, you ought to build a house here." Chapman replied : "If we Presbyterian priests were as rich as your Roman Catholic priests in France, I would."
When Lafayette visited this country, half a century afterwards, Dr. Hillyer was introduced to him in New- ark as coming from Orange. The General at once spoke of his pleasant remembrances of Orange, and asked : "Is the old gentleman Chapman yet alive ?" and alluded to his visit to him during the war.
I. During his pastorate he made a missionary tour into the wilds of Sussex County. In passing through the forest he was chased by a bear, which evidently intended to make an attack upon him. Finding that he could not escape, he faced the beast and defended himself by raising his voice to its utmost power. Whether he preached to him upon his inalienable right to freedom, which was to him a favorite topic, or on some other inspiring theme, the tradition does not inform us. His enemy showed the effect upon him by discreetly retreating.
8
-
.
..*
AARON HARRISON'S HOUSE.
179
Pluck of Samuel Harrison.
PLUCK OF SAMUEL HARRISON.
The inhabitants of the township were possessed of more or less silver plate, which, together with their silver money, they were careful to conceal and thus to save from plunder.
The house of Aaron Harrison, on the Valley Road, situated on the corner of what is now Lakeside Ave- nue, was visited by the red-coats. The family being forewarned of their approach, had fled over the moun- tain, taking their valuables, so far as they were able. Samuel Harrison, a bachelor uncle of Aaron, remained alone in the house. The raiders came, as expected, and demanded silver. He replied that he should not give it up. They threatened to shoot him, suiting their threatening action to their word. "Well," said he, "it don't matter much to me whether I die now, or at some other time. You may shoot me, if you please." The robbers left him, and the silver dollars which he had buried in the swamp were saved. They were hoarded still, and after his death the sum, not an inconsiderable one, was finally invested in the stock of the Orange Bank when it was organized.
JOHN DURAND REPAIRS WASHINGTON'S FIELD-GLASS.
When General Washington had his headquarters at Morristown, he expressed his great regret to a group of friends that he had broken, or otherwise injured, one of the lenses of his field-glass. As it could not be repaired without sending it to Philadelphia, he would be deprived of its use for many days.
One of the company said that he knew of an ingen- ious artisan at the foot of the Short Hills, which is not an hour's ride from Morristown, who, he thought, could repair it, and offered to go and see him. The General gladly accepted the proposal, and the instru-
180
History of the Oranges.
ment was taken to John Durand, the grandfather of the distinguished artist, Asher B. Durand, lately de- ceased. The old ancestral homestead was an hundred feet, more or less, south of the late residence of Asher, which he built for himself, and where he spent the last years of his life.
John Durand was an ingenious worker in fine brass and iron work, making himself a necessity among the people of the Mountain in repairing watches, clocks, locks, and other work requiring delicate and intelligent skill. The field-glass was placed in his hands, with the inquiry whether he could put it in repair. Upon examining it, he replied that he thought he could. "How long will you want to make it perfect ?" "Not long ; you can have it to-morrow." Within a day or two thereafter, Washington rode down with his friend through the Short Hills to the artisan's house. He found that the valued instrument had been put in good condition ; "better," as he declared, "than it ever was before."
After the First Presbyterian Church of Orange had received its first charter, Rev. Mr. Chapman was re- quested to prepare a device for a corporate seal. Upon presenting one satisfactory to the Trustees, they voted that Mr. Durand be requested to execute the work. His bill for the same, paid January 23d, 1787, was sixteen shillings. The same seal is still in use.
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.