History of the city of Paterson and the County of Passaic, New Jersey, Part 71

Author: Nelson, William, 1847-1914
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Paterson : Press Printing and Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 466

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4 On Broadway, north side, near Bridge street.

5 On Broadway, south side, nearly opposite Mulberry street.

6 Broadway.

7 East Eighteenth street.

8 Abraham Godwin seems to have sold to various persons, in plots of a few acres, all the land on the north side of Broadway, from a point a short distance east of Washington street, nearly or quite to Lake street, and extending northerly to within fifty feet of the present Ham- ilton avenue.

1 The plot was 2.26x2.26 chains, or 150 feet front on Broadway, and 150 feet deep, on the east side of Washington street. Here Abraham Godwin and then his widow kept tavern, until her death, after which it was sold, Nov. 5, 1792, hy his administrator, to the S. U. M. See p. 73. The tavern on this site was a frame huilding, ahout fifty feet long, two stories high, with double pitched roof, and round windows at each end, in the attic. There was a hall through the centre of the house, the rooms heing on each side; a piazza extended along the front, and a kitchen extension in the rear. The huilding was painted yellow. It stood thirty or forty feet hack from the street, at a considerable eleva- tion. It was removed about 1850 to make way for the First Baptist church.

2 The retreat of November, 1776, is doubtless referred to.

", 3 Watsessing, now Bloomfield. See p. 56.

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HISTORY OF PATERSON.

Phebe Godwin survived her husband more than eleven years, dying Nov. 12, 1788, and was buried in the Dutchi church yard in Brooklyn.

Second Generation.

Abraham Godwin and Phebe Cool had children:

I. Susan, b. Feb. 18, 1748; prob. d. young.

II. Phœbe, b. Jan. 2, 1750, prob. d. young. 1

III. Henry, b. Feb. 25, 1751; m. Catrina Bant (Cata- lina, or Kete Bandt), prob. in the vicinity of Schraalen- burgh. The survey of Abraham Godwin's liomestead on Water street, quoted on p. 230, was probably made by him. Tradition says that he built a weave-shop about where Straight and River streets now intersect. However this may have been, the beginning of the Revolution found him practising law at Wapping Creek, near Fishkill, N. Y. He promptly enlisted in his country's service, and so early as Oct. 17, 1775, was commissioned Quartermaster of the Second Regiment of New York Minute Men, Col. Jacobus Swart- wout.2 When the Fifth Regiment of the New York Line was mustered in, Nov. 21, 1776, under Col. Lewis Dubois, he was commissioned Captain of the Seventh Company. 3 The Regiment was captured by the British, when they sur- prised and took Fort Montgomery, on Oct. 6, 1777. David says:

My Brother the Captain taken Prisoner was three years and one month in the old Jersey sbip and the Provost, all but the last six months, when he was paroled (being a Captain) on Long Island4 where he was exchanged went to his family, at Wapping's creek stayed but a short time with them when he died his fate being fixed by the ill treatment re- ceived while a Prisoner, he was buried aside of his father with that re- spect due every soldier who dies in the cause they then espoused and which is due to every soldier who carries with him to the grave the Motto worn by us on our caps "God and our Rights" "Freedom or Death."

From the official records we learn that when the muster of the Regiment was made up, July 22, 1778, at White Plains, Capt. "Goodwin" was in command of the Sixth Com- pany.5 Also that he was mustered in as Captain, Nov. 2, 1781, in a Regiment of Levies raised for the further defence of the State of New York. 6 It is said that during the war

1 According to family tradition two children of Abraham Godwin were buried in the Acquackanonk church yard. These may have been the two.

2 N. Y. Col. Docs., XV., 285.

3 Ib., 230.

4 While he was on Long Island, he received 6127, 3S. Iod. from Lewis Pintard, American commissary of prisoners .- Memorial Hist. N. Y., IV., 293.

5 Saffell's Records of the Revolutionary War, 166.

6 N. Y. Col. Docs., XV., 259. After the war his widow made appli- cation for bounty lands as follows :

To the Honble the Commissioners of the Land Office of the State of New York.

Gentlemen

I Catalina Godwin Widow of the late Henry Godwin a Captain in the Line of this State, being an Executrix to his last Will and Testament do hereby as his Representative Enter my Claim for the Bounty Lands to which he was intitled by law- He left four Children all of whom live with me, the eldest but 13 and the youngest 6 years old. I should be Glad for the sake of those Children to have the said Lands

he printed at Newburgh a little newspaper, about seven by nine inches in size, designed to stimulate the popular patri- otism; it is even said that after the death of his brother Abraham, in 1835, a copy of this newspaper was found among the latter's papers.1 No trace has been found of this newspaper, and inasmuch as he was a prisoner during most of the active period of the war it is extremely improbable that he voluntarily assumed the functions of an editor in addition to his military duties. The foundation for this story may be some printed proclamation, or other appeal, in broadside form, over his signature. His widow joined the Schraalenburgh church in 1790.

IV. John, b. Jan. 18, 1753; prob. d. young.

V. Stephen, b. March 20, 1754; prob. d. young.2

VI. Mary (Maria), b. Jan. 9, 1757; m. Thomas Shap- pels (Tomas Cheppel). Issue: I. Abraham, bap. July 14, 1782, at Totowa; 2. b. Nov. 8, 1783, at Hacken- sack.

VII. Margaret (Margreta, Margarita), b. March II, 1759; m. Abraham Vanderbeck, Aug. 15, 1779 (Acquackanonk). Issue (bap. at Hackensack and Schraalenburgh): I. Maria, b. Dec. 12, 1791; 2. Annaatje Walker, b. Sept. 29, 1796.3

VIII. Elizabeth, b. April 5, 1761; m. Captain Resolvert Waldron, of New York. Issue: I. Catrina, b. March 9, 1783; 2. Adolph, b. Oct. 22, 1786; 3. Abraham Godwin, b. Aug. 12, 1788; 4. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 10, 1789; 5. Phebe, b. Dec. 19, 1790.

IX. Abraham, b. July 16, 1763, "at 4 o'clock in the morning," says the family record, with great particularity; m. Maria Munson. (She was bap. July 29, 1764, dau. of Caleb Munson and Susanna Ludlum, who were m. June 22, 1758, and lived near Morristown; Caleb Munson d. at New Vernon, Morris county, Feb. 25, 1815, aged 80 yrs.) He d. Oct. 5, 1835; she d. Feb. 6, 1826, aged 62 yrs., 7 mos., II days. They were buried in the Old Dutch church yard in Ryle avenue, but in 1876-significant year !- some of their descendants had the remains removed to Cedar Lawn, where they now rest. He joined his brother Henry at Fish- kill, and enlisted in his Regiment, the Fifth, of the New

1 Conversation with Abram-Henry Godwin, May 3, 1876.

2 In his Narrative, David Godwin speaks only of his two brothers and three sisters. The other four children doubtless died very young.

3 The Hackensack church records give the baptisms of the following children of Rachel Godwin and Abraham Vanderbeck : 1. Isaack, b. Oct. 10, 1780; 2. Abraham, b. Feb. 22, 1783 ; 3. Hendricus, b. Dec. 21, 1787. It is probable that these are all children of the same couple ; the mother may have been called Margaret Rachel.

Granted in such a way as will be most for their Advantage, and enable me to maintain them-

I am Gentlemen I am Gentlemen

Your most humle

and obedt servt

Catalina X Godwin mark her

New York 16th Novr 1786.

Upon this application a patent was issued, July 6, 1790, to Capt. Henry Godwin, and delivered to his widow, for Lot No. II, in the town- ship of Homer ; Lot No. 156, in the township of Hannibal, and Lot No. 63, in the township of Scipio, each Lot containing 600 acres.

277

THE GODWINS.

York Line, Jan. I, 1777, as Fife Major of the First Com- pany, when but little more than thirteen years old. Surely there were few soldiers younger than he in the American army. His experiences in the Revolution are detailed be- low, in his brother David Godwin's narrative. At the close of the War, Abraham returned home. It is very probable that during the army's encampment at Morristown, in the winter of 1780-81, he met his future wife. He evidently married her soon after being mustered out of service, if not before, or in the latter part of 1781 or early in 1782, when but eighteen years of age. It is possible that he remained in Morris county a few years after his marriage, but in 1788 three of his children were baptized in the Totowa church, indicating that he then lived in this vicinity. The follow- ing lines written by this youth soon after his return home, though not characterized by poetic genius have a simplicity that is quite pleasing, while the personal and local allusions give them a decided interest:

To MY NATIVE RIVER.

Assist my muse, inspire my lay, While on Passaic's hanks I sing, where sportive lamkins play, Their youthful, harmless pranks.

Passaic ! unknown in Fame's great page, Ohscure thou long hast roll'd. No mighty Bard, no Poet sage, Thy beauties e'er have told.

Be mine the task in humhle lays Thy heauties to record ; Or dwell forever in thy praise For pleasure's the reward.

Of thee sweet river, still my theme Should he from morn till night ;

For on thy hank my vital gleam Erst quick'nd into life.

There first my lov'd departed sire, His lonely mansion rear'd, To sooth the 'plaint or meet the ire Of savage hordes prepar'd.

There too, rude forest he subdued, Their rougher face compos'd ; While flow'ry lawns and meads ensued, In order sweet dispos'd.

There too a tender mother's care Seem'd with my Sire's to vie ; Which hest their offspring flock to rear Their greatest power should try.

Oft. on thy verge with pleasure they Have view'd their op'ning charms, Engaged in youthful, harmless play, Nor dreamt of war's alarms.

But like all transitory things, Those pleasures could not last ; Thus ev'ry sweet its bitter hrings, Our sanguine hopes to hlast.

Alas ! too soon that demon War, That fell destroyer rose Triumphant in his bloody car, To haffle sweet repose.

Though virgins weep and matrons pray, The monster wields his rod :

Nor father, hrother, son could stay, All ! all ! ohey his rod.

Thus from each kindred, fond embrace, Ere fourteen years I'd told,

The ensanguin'd field impell'd, I trac'd, Where deathlike thunder s roll'd.

Yet at this early period, I The glorious impulse caught

To join to free our soil, or die. This was my early thought.

With patient zeal full seven years, The toils of war I hore ;

But peace, sweet peace once more appears, To hless our happy shore ;

But much unlike the wars of yore, When peace was hut a name, Because to us she does restore Both liherty and fame.

And now once more I take my flight To that delightful spot, Where juvenile scenes did once delight, There fix my humble lot.

As thou art gently wafted hence Toward thy patient main, In hliss may I he wafted whence There's none return again.

What opening was there for a young man who from his fourteenth to his twentieth year had lived in camp? We have seen that his mother lamented the neglect of his edu- cation. But this patriotic lad, whose zeal had carried him through five or six years of war, still had the ambition to distinguish himself in the gentler arts. The scenes of bat- tle and the idleness and hardships of camp-life had by no means quenched in him an ardent love of the beautiful, and accordingly he turned his attention to the graver's art, practising on silver plate with tools fashioned by a black- smith.1 His skill was soon recognized, and in various pub- lications, between 1785 and 1800, we find copper-plate en- gravings of considerable merit, with the signature of A. Godwin. 2 During all his life, indeed, he had a great fond-

1 In the " History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States," by William Dunlap, New York, 1834, I., 157, is a no - tice of Godwin, in which it is stated : " The war heing over, he married and then gave his hond to a person of the name of Billings for two months' instruction in engraving, but soon found that he could use the graver better than his master."

2 Among his engravings are the following :

1786 -Certificate of membership in the General Society of the Me- chanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York; reproduced in the An- nals of that Society, published in 1882. He designed as well as en- graved this certificate, which is very elaborate. In December, 1786, he was employed to engrave a seal for the Society; soon after, he present- ed a hill for {23, 145., 6d., for the certificate and seal, and it was ordered paid.

1787 (or earlier)-Certificate of membership in the New York fire de- partment ; above is a spirited view of a burning huilding, with firemen and engines at work ; a neat border surrounds the whole. It is repro- duced in Valentine's N. Y. Manual for 1851, p. 112 ; and for 1854, P. 153. 1790-One of the plates in Brown's Family Bihle, folio edition, published in New York in 1792.

1795 (cir.)-Book-plate, representing the interior of either a library or a school-room. It is described in " American Book-Plates," etc., hy Charles Dexter Allen, New York, 1894, pp. 137, 311. The original cop- per-plate is in the writer's possession.

278

HISTORY OF PATERSON.

ness for writing, painting, sketching and engraving, and he left many specimens of his skill in these directions.1 With commendable family pride his first endeavor, after return- ing home, was to regain his father's former possessions. The State of New York having offered to reward its Revolu- tionary soldiers by grants of land, he filed his claim, Oct. 22, 1785,2 and upon receiving a considerable tract, realized enough from its sale to enable him to repurchase the old tavern property and much of the farm previously attached thereto.3 The record of this conveyance has not been found, but it was between 1793 and 1796.4 There was a great celebration of Independence Day, in 1795, concluding with a grand dinner at Godwin's tavern, when Captain Abraham Godwin sang a song of his own composing. Per- haps he was celebrating this Fourth of July for the first time in his father's home, which he had been striving for years to regain, and if so, we may faintly imagine the im- mense interest of the occasion to him. The poem in ques- tion is reproduced herewith:

1 Among the works left by him were these: Portrait of Washington, oil ; Ceres and Flora, water-color; Woodman, with dog, oil; Black- smith drawing teeth, oil ; Liveliness, a head, India ink; Garrick, he- tween Tragedy and Comedy, pen and ink, from an old engraving ; por- trait of himself, in water color. The walls of the old Passaic Hotel piazza were covered with his sketches in pencil, which were remarkably well done, and used to attract a great deal of attention from visitors. They were covered with whitewash many years ago.

2 His claim was as follows:

To the Honrbl Commissioners for granting Lands in the State of N. York.

Gentlemen

Having Served (as Fife Major) in the fifth and Sec- ond New York Regiments During the late War and heing Intitled to A hounty of Lands for the same by Laws of Said State I do hereby enter my Claim therefore requesting the favour of A grant in time Conven- ient. Which will much ohlige

Gentlemen Your Very Humhle Servt Abraham Godwin

New York 22d Octr 1785

A patent was issued and delivered to Abraham Godwin, July 8, 1790, for Lot No. 60, in the township of Milton, containing 600 acres.

3 In the Newark Gazette and New Jersey Advertiser for Jan. 11, 1797, he advertised for sale 600 acres of land in the township of Milton, N. Y., adjoining Cayuga Lake. The late Ahram-Henry Godwin informed the writer, Nov. 6, 1875, that his grandfather, Abraham Godwin, the plucky little Fife Major, sold his land at Cayuga Lake for a drove of sixty or seventy horses, which he brought to this neighborhood and sold, and thereby raised the money to redeem the old hotel property in River street.

4 A road was laid, April 6, 1792, "heginning in the middle of the road that leads from Acquackanonk to or near Totoway Bridge on a course North 16 deg. E. one chain and ten links from Abraham Godwin's well thence running in the line of John Van Houters south. 6 deg. W." etc. This road would have started from Broadway where the Muzzy Building now is, and run nearly parallel with the present Main street. It was never opened, but the opening description determines the location of Godwin's well, and, inferentially, of his tavern at that date. The late Jobn Colt informed the writer, on Aug. 8, 1873, that he distinctly re- membered having seen a man with a phenomenally large head in God- win's House, in Broadway, where the man lived, in 1793. On May 13, 1796, a road was laid : "Beginning at the foot of Paterson Bridge near the house of Abraham Godwin," etc., heing Bank street and Main street southerly to Market street. This shows that Ahraham Godwin in 1796 was occupying his father's quondam homestead .- Hist. Passaic County Roads, 25, 27.

All hail this joyous festive day ! That shall to latest time convey That Independence made us free, Huzza's the song for Liberty.

Liberty, sweet Liberty, Huzza's the song for Liherty.

This day let peace and mirth prevail ; No slavish tools will dare assail. Who cringe to Kings and hend the knee,

They're strangers all to Liherty. Liberty, etc.

While Freedom's sons assemble here, At distance let them laugh and sneer ; They no such joys can taste as we, Who fought and hled for Liherty. Liberty, etc.

But Hark ! Our cannon now do roar,

To welcome to our peaceful shore The friends of freedom, o'er the sea, Who seek this land of Liberty. Liberty, etc.

Then let the cheerful howl go 'round, And toasts and their good healths resound, Who dared to hrave the raging sea, And bartered all for Liberty. Liberty, etc.

Let Washington he next our theme, And pleasure in each face he seen ; With songs and glasses all agree, Toast WASHINGTON and LIBERTY. Liberty, etc.

Then hail this joyous festive day, That shall to latest time convey That Independence made us free, Huzza's the song for Liherty. Liberty, sweet Liberty, Huzza's the song for Liberty.

Captain Godwin was a marvelously attractive host. He could play excellently on various musical instruments; he was a graceful , dancer, a capital singer, and he was. the life of every company in which he mingled. He was a most delightful raconteur, and never tired of telling of "the days that tried men's souls," when his father, two- brothers and himself served their country, to help win that country's independence. He was tall and dignified in bear- ing, and to the very last wore his hair in a queue, though in his later years it was tied up, instead of hanging down his- back. What he lacked in early education he made up by an ardent zeal for knowledge, a readiness of acquisition, and a constant association with the most cultured men of his day, and the most distinguished visitors to the Falls were ever glad of the opportunity to converse with him. For many years he was one of the leading men of the town, com- manding the universal respect of his fellow citizens. No. important occasion was complete unless graced by his pres- ence. At banquets, celebrations, public meetings of every kind, he was always expected to make a speech. One of the pleasantest compliments imaginable was paid him in the naming of Godwinville, 1 on Jan. I, 1829, when he was

1 The name was changed, about 1870, to Midland Park, prohahly be- cause it is neither.

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THE GODWINS.

present and made a felicitous address. Because of his early military experience, and his subsequent devotion to the training of the young in the manual of arms, he gradually rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the State militia. From time to time civil offices were also thrust upon him. He was elected overseer of roads in Acquackanonk town- ship in 1792, and was on the Essex county grand jury in 180I. In 1802 he was elected to the Assembly from that county, being the first man ever sent to the Legislature from the territory now comprised in the city of Paterson ; the people re-elected him in 1803, 1807 and 1810. At another time (Aug. 17, 1814) he took a company of Paterson Volun- teers, seventy-six men, in military dress, down to Sandy Hook, where they were received with great acclaim, and did their full share of work on the entrenchments.1 Immediately after the death of his wife he advertised "Godwin's Hotel and Old Washington Tavern" to be let, March I, 1826, and soon after leased it to his son-in-law, Ira Munn; six or seven years later, Henry H. Post, another son-in-law, leased the establishment. In 1828 he was nominated for Presiden- tial elector, on the Jackson ticket. After giving up the hotel he devoted himself to his mercantile business, and the care of his extensive real estate possessions. Thus he en- joyed a dignified and comfortable retirement from all pub- lic affairs. His funeral was held in the First Presbyterian church, and was the largest and most imposing the little town had ever witnessed, all classes being anxious to do honor to the memory of so distinguished a citizen. His will, dated Aug. 21, 1835, was proved Nov. 16, 1835. He provides that "all my pictures of my own drawing shall be collected together and disposed of amicably among my chil- dren that my other pictures, scraps of poetry, &c., (if any there should be found worth preserving) shall be divided up as aforesaid;" his gold epaulets to his son Abraham; his sword, chapeau and sash to his grand- son, Abram H. Godwin; his executors were directed to sell his real estate and divide the proceeds into eight equal parts, among his children and the representatives of his de- ceased children. Executors-Caleb Munson Godwin, Abra- ham Godwin and Russell Stebbins.2

X. David, b. March 5, 1766; m. Catharina Wald- ron, 3 March 18, 1791; d. at Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1852; she d. in New York city, Nov. 21, 1837.

Being proficient with the drum, as his brother Abraliam was with the fife, he joined his brother Henry's Regiment (Fifth New York), Dec. 29, 1776, and was mustered in to January, 1781, practically for the War. On Oct. 7, 1777, the day after the disaster at Fort Montgomery, he was transferred from the Fifth to the Seventh Company (his brother Henry's), of the same Regiment.1 In his Memoir he relates this distressing occurrence, which gives an idea of the bitterness of the struggle, even so far in the interior as Totowa then was:

Uncle David Griffith being at Fishkill and going home I had a wish to see my motber and sisters I went with him I had not been home but a few days wben uncle David sent one of his children where I was to come to him I went he sbewed the Brittish at our house and said we must get away before they found us we went to the river found a canoe (as the bridge was down) to take us over he tben took me up on the bill back of the church where I could see the doors of our house and all tbat was done there, he told me keep myself close sbould any one come that way to hide in the bushes till he returned, be would hurry to Colonel Deys2 to try to get him to send some militia to meet them be returned without any success if he then bad twenty men at the stone house of Mr. Benson's8 they could have killed every man as they were wading tbe river and their arms of no use as the water was too deep to make use of tbeir cartridges. they then took old Mr. Ryersons and Vander- beek's4 Sleds and horses carried the troops back and then went to the house put on the plunder and carried it to the landing where they dis- posed of it for what it would bring and told Vanderbek if they wanted their Sleds they would come to the landinge for them, After they had gone towards night uncle David and I returned to the house but dread- ful was the Sigbt a motber and three Sisters stripped of everything, a plundered house filled with straw and feathers taken out of bed ticks to put their plunder in, not one article left in the house except a Book case too large to move which they commenced burning-Which was forbid by the commanding officer or they would they would have burned every- thing they could not carry with them We went to the kitchen there sat motber and sisters on tbe few cbairs left in the kitchen which the major saved for them from the hands of the ruffians. motber said come girls let us have a cup of tea but alas they had saved the tea kettle and had a well of good water but where was the tea, That was the first of motb- er's giving way through the trials of the day her little consolation taken from her, her closets where was plenty stript not a vestige left her, Cel- lar stocked for the winter ransacked Provisions taken casks upset so

1 N. Y. Col. Docs., XV., 226, 230. See Part II., pp. 127-128 of this History.

2 Col. Richard Dey, at Lower Preakness.

3 The stone house in Water street, occupied by David Bensen when this Narrative was written.

4 From what is now the Doremus house, Nos. 115-121 Water street.

5 Acquackanonk Landing, now Passaic.

1 Says a newspaper of the day: "They arrived at Jersey ferry at an early hour in the morning, having walked all the way, and between six and seven o'clock passed across the city to Beekman Slip, with martial music and colors flying. They excited the liveliest feelings of patriot- ism and enthusiasm in the spectators."

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History of the city of Paterson and the County of Passaic, New Jersey, Part 71

Author: Nelson, William, 1847-1914 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Paterson : Press Printing and Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 466

Author: Nelson, William, 1847-1914
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Paterson : Press Printing and Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 466