USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of the city of Trenton, New Jersey : embracing a period of nearly two hundred years, commencing in 1676, the first settlement of the town, and extending up to the present time, with official records of the population, extent of the town at different periods, its manufactories, church history, and fire department > Part 17
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 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
After the ceremonies at the arch were concluded, he halted at one of the hotels* in the city, where he received the visits of the citizens ..
He then proceeded to Princeton, accompanied by a number of gentlemen, among whom was the Rev. J. F. Armstrong, f an intimate and personal friend of General Washington throughout the war.
While in Princeton, Washington gave Mr. Armstrong the fol- lowing note :
" General Washington cannot leave this place without express- ing his acknowledgments to the matrons and young ladies who received him in so novel and grateful a manner, at the triumphal
* The City hotel, on the corner of State and Warren streets, where the Mechanics Bank now stands, kept at that time by Joseph Broadhurst.
ยก Mr. Armstrong was at that time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.
185
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
arch in Trenton, for the exquisite sensation he experienced in that affecting moment.
" The astonishing contrast between his former and actual situ- ation at the spot-the elegant taste with which it was adorned for the present occasion, and the innocent appearance of the white-robed choir, who met him with a gratulatory song, have made such impressions upon his remembrance as he assures them will never be effaced. Trenton, April 21st, 1789."
" This note," says a late writer, " brief, but graceful and ele- gant, depicting most vividly the whole scene and its impressions, was read to the ladies of Trenton, called together for the purpose, at the house of Judge Smith. It was then deposited in the hands of Mrs. Smith. At the death of the judge, it passed into the hands of his adopted daughter, Miss Lydia Imlay, who preserved it with the care due to its origin and associations until shortly before her death, when she gave it, as a valued legacy, to the late Chief Justice Ewing. By his care it was placed in a hand- some frame, and is now preserved by his family as a sacred relic."
The arch was preserved on the premises of the Misses Barnes, in Warren street, near the Episcopal Church, until 1824, when it was placed in front of the capitol, at the gate of entrance, to grace the reception of General Lafayette when on his way to the assembly room, where he was addressed by the mayor, Robert McNeely, Esq., and exchanged congratulations with the citizens.
The remnant of this arch was again used on the Ioth of May, 1855, when it was erected across Chancery court, on the occa- sion of a grand firemen's parade in honor of the visit of the Phoenix Hose Company, of Easton, Pennsylvania, to this city.
The remains of the arch are now in the possession of the Misses Armstrong, of this city.
Mr. Benjamin S. Disbrow has made several elegant boxes and other small articles, which are inlaid with a part of the wood of the arch.
In 1810, the total population of Trenton was three thousand, proportioned as follows :
186
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Free white males,
1,282
Free white females,
1,265
Total whites, - 2,547
All other persons, except Indians, not taxed, - 272
Slaves, - - - 18I
Total population, - - - 3,000
In 1820, the total population was three thousand nine hundred and forty-two, proportioned as follows :
Free white males,
1,598
Free white females, -
- 1,744
Total whites,
3,342
Free persons of color-males,
221
Free persons of color-females,
- 294
Slaves-males,
39
Slaves-females, -
- 46
Total population, - - 3,942
This number was sub-divided as follows :
Foreigners, not naturalized, 40
Engaged in agriculture, 227
Engaged in manufactures,
- 433
Engaged in commerce,
43
In 1843, the population of Trenton, including the borough of South Trenton, was upwards of six thousand. Of this number there were in the city proper four thousand and thirty-five, the remaining one thousand nine hundred and sixty-five being in South Trenton.
In the city proper, in 1840, there were one hundred and three persons engaged in commerce, five hundred and seventy-one in manufactures and trades, and forty-one in the learned professions.
In 1845, in the city proper, stood the old capitol building, one hundred feet front by sixty feet deep, built of stone, and stuccoed in imitation of granite. This building was erected in 1794, together with the governor's residence and two banks. The
187
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Trenton Bank, which is next to the oldest in the state, was incor- porated in 1804, with a capital of two hundred and ten thou- sand dollars, which was afterwards increased to four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank was incorporated February 19th, 1834, with a capital of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1854, the capital stock was increased to two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, and again to five hundred thousand dollars.
The State Library was established in 1821, and contained five thousand four hundred volumes of law, state legislative, judicial, and congressional documents, besides two thousand miscella- neous works, making in all, seven thousand four hundred volumes.
In 1837, a City Hall was built, and a lyceum established, called the Trenton Institute, and seven churches, (now increased to twenty-four), divided at that time as follows : one Presbyterian, one Dutch Reformed, one Episcopal, two Friends', one Metho- dist, and one African Methodist.
South Trenton, at that time, contained the Mercer County Court-house and offices pertaining to the same, the State Prison, State Arsenal, and three churches-one Baptist, one Reformed Baptist, and one Catholic.
There were in Trenton proper, fifty retail stores, with a capital of one hundred and ninety-six thousand dollars. Four lumber yards ; capital, four thousand nine hundred dollars. Three tan- neries, one brewery, one pottery, and three paper mills, with a capital of three hundred thousand dollars. One rope-walk, two flouring mills, two grist mills, three saw mills, three printing offices, three newspapers-two of which were published weekly, and one tri-weekly-two book-binderies, four academies, with one hundred and four students, and ten schools, with three hun- dred and fourteen scholars.
In 1850, when the census was taken, Trenton proper was divided into two wards, designated as the east and west wards of the city of Trenton.
In the east ward there were six hundred and eighty-four dwellings, and five thousand one hundred and nineteen inhabi- tants, consisting of seven hundred and twenty-seven families. There were fifty-four deaths during the year. .
188
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
There were one hundred and fifty-two acres of improved land in the ward, and fifteen acres unimproved, making a total of one hundred and sixty-seven acres, the value of which was, at that time, twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars. Value of farm- ing implements and machinery, one thousand two hundred and seventy dollars. Amount invested in marble and stone yards, eleven thousand dollars. Amount of yearly sales, nine thousand dollars. Amount invested in saw mills, planing mill, and sash and blind factory, thirty thousand five hundred dollars, and a yearly business amounting to sixteen thousand eight hundred dollars. Amount invested in nurseries, eight thousand dollars, with a yearly business of two thousand dollars. Amount invested in woolen factory, two thousand dollars. In iron manufactory, forty-three thousand three hundred dollars. In machinery, twelve thousand dollars. In the book business, seven thousand dollars. In the paper business, two thousand dollars. In blank book manufacturing, five thousand dollars. In the tobacco busi- ness, twenty-five thousand dollars-in leaf tobacco, eight thou- sand dollars, and in segars, fourteen thousand seven hundred dollars. In the tin business, three thousand eight hundred dol- lars. Tin-ware and stoves, eleven thousand seven hundred dollars. In porcelain teeth manufacturing, two thousand five hundred dollars. In the shoe business, nineteen thousand five hundred dollars. In hatting, two thousand dollars. In cabinet making, two thousand dollars. In the clothing business, eleven thousand dollars. In confectionery, two thousand dollars. In upholstery, one thousand one hundred dollars. In brush making, three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
These different branches of art gave employment to about two hundred male and one hundred female operatives. Total amount invested in business pursuits in the east ward in 1850, two hun- dred and eighty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.
In 1850, there were twenty-seven deaths in the west ward. Number of dwellings, four hundred and four. Number of fami- lies, four hundred and seventy-seven, and three thousand three hundred and eighteen inhabitants. In this ward was located the office of the Trenton Gas Light Company, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars-cash paid in, fifty-six thousand
189
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
dollars. Amount invested in blacksmithing, one thousand two hundred dollars. In wheelwrighting, one thousand dollars. In paper manufacturing, fifty-four thousand dollars. In saw mills, forty-six thousand dollars. In the manufacture of sash and blinds, six thousand dollars. In grist and flouring mills, thirty- two thousand dollars. In upholstery, one thousand dollars. In tanneries and skin dressing, twenty-six thousand dollars. In the cigar business, two thousand dollars. In clothing, one thousand dollars. In shoemaking, two thousand dollars. In the cabinet business, six thousand five hundred dollars. In the soap and candle business, eight thousand.dollars. In baking, one thou- sand dollars. In cedar-ware, one thousand dollars. Total invested in business pursuits in the west ward, two hundred and thirty-eight thousand seven hundred dollars.
The different branches of business in the west ward gave employment to about one hundred and fifty individuals. Besides the capital above enumerated, there was invested in farms located in the west ward, seventy thousand dollars, and in farm imple- ments, eight thousand dollars.
Thus, in the city proper, including all north of the Assanpink, the amount invested in the different industrial pursuits in 1850, was six hundred thousand dollars. Value of real estate in the city, three million dollars. Inhabitants, eight thousand four hundred and thirty-seven.
Value of real estate in that part of Nottingham, afterwards forming the borough of South Trenton, and now forming the third and fourth wards of the city, one thousand three hundred dollars. Total valuation of real estate in the city proper and the borough of South Trenton, four million three hundred thousand dollars.
Trenton, in 1855, contained seventy-nine streets, five alleys or small streets, Chancery court, and the Dark lane, with real estate amounting to about ten million dollars.
The following is the population of Trenton according to the census of 1855 :
Native males in first ward, nine hundred and eighteen, females one thousand and three, foreign males two hundred and forty- five, females two hundred and forty-five, colored males twenty,.
.
190
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
females twenty-seven-total, two thousand four hundred and fourteen. Second ward, native males eight hundred and ninety- six, females one thousand and two, foreign males three hundred and four, females three hundred and ninety-five, colored males ninety-three, females one hundred and thirty-four-total, two thousand eight hundred and twenty-four. Third ward, native males five hundred and sixty-nine, females five hundred and eighty- nine, foreign males four hundred and five, females three hundred and sixty-six, colored males one, females two-total, one thou- sand nine hundred and thirty-two. Fourth ward, native males six hundred and fifty, females six hundred and seventy-three, foreign males four hundred and ninety-seven, females four hun- dred and twenty-eight, colored males seven, females fourteen- total, two thousand two hundred and sixty-nine. Fifth ward, native males, four hundred and eighty-five, females six hundred and ten, foreign males two hundred and fifty-four, females two hundred and seventy-three, colored males thirty-nine, females sixty-nine-total, one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
Total native males three thousand five hundred and eighteen, females three thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, foreign males one thousand one hundred and sixty-one, females one thousand seven hundred and seven, colored males one hundred and sixty-one, females two hundred and forty-six. Total popu- lation, eleven thousand one hundred and sixty-nine.
In 1860, the population was as follows: First ward, males one thousand one hundred and four, females one thousand three hundred and thirty-one, colored males twelve, females thirty- total, two thousand four hundred and forty-seven. Second ward, males one thousand three hundred and ninety-eight, females one thousand six hundred and seventy-nine, colored males one hun- dred and forty-two, females one hundred and seventy-nine- total, three thousand three hundred and ninety-eight. Third ward, males one thousand nine hundred, females one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, colored males fifty-three, females seventeen-total, three thousand six hundred and eighty-eight. Fourth ward, males one thousand six hundred and fifty-three, females one thousand six hundred and seventy-five, colored males six, females sixteen-total, three thousand three hundred
191
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
and fifty. Fifth ward, males one thousand six hundred and four, females one thousand seven hundred and forty-nine, col- ored males, eighty-nine, females one hundred and twenty-six- total, three thousand five hundred and sixty-eight. Sixth ward, males three hundred and eighty-seven, females three hundred and fifty-five, colored males one, females four-total, seven hun- dred and forty-seven.
Total white males eight thousand and forty-six, females eight thousand five hundred and seven, colored males three hundred and three, females three hundred and seventy-two. Total popu- lation, seventeen thousand two hundred and twenty-eight.
In 1870, the population was as follows: First ward, two thou- sand nine hundred and twenty-five; second ward, two thousand six hundred and nineteen ; third ward, four thousand six hun- dred and eight; fourth ward, four thousand one hundred and fifty-seven ; fifth ward, four thousand one hundred and ten ; sixth ward, one thousand one hundred and ten ; seventh ward, three thousand three hundred and ninety ; total population, twenty-two thousand nine hundred and nineteen.
The industrial pursuits are as follows: Agricultural imple- ments-capital invested ninety thousand dollars ; hands em- ployed, forty-five. Anvils, fifty thousand dollars ; hands, fifteen. Baking, seventy-eight thousand eight hundred dollars ; hands, ninety-seven. Bleaching, one thousand dollars ; hands, five. Bottling, thirty-nine thousand dollars; hands, ten. Boot and shoe making, twenty-six thousand three hundred and ninety-five dollars ; hands, one hundred and fourteen. Bow making, forty thousand dollars ; hands twenty-six. Brass founding, two hun- dred dollars ; hands, two. Blacksmithing, eleven thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars; hands, thirty-one. Brick making, sixteen thousand dollars; hands, forty. Bonnet making, one thousand dollars ; hands, three. Broom making, six hundred dollars ; hands, one. Brush making, eight thousand dollars ; hands, six. Builders, eighty-eight thousand six hundred and fifty dollars ; hands, two hundred and thirty-three. Cigar box making, three hundred dollars ; hands, two. Car building, twenty-five thousand dollars; hands, thirty. Cabinet making, three thou- sand three hundred dollars ; hands, seven. Chain making, sixty-
192
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
five thousand eight hundred dollars ; hands, eighty-four. Carpet weaving, one thousand four hundred dollars ; hands, ten. Coffee and spices, thirty thousand dollars ; hands, twelve. Confection- eries, eighteen thousand five hundred dollars; hands, twenty- six. Druggists, seven thousand five hundred dollars ; hands, nine. Fertilizers, thirteen thousand dollars; hands, seven. Flour mills, one hundred and three thousand five hundred dol- lars ; hands, thirty. Flint and spar, five thousand dollars ; hands, twenty. File making, five hundred dollars ; hands, two. Glue manufacturing, one thousand dollars ; hands, two. Hand- stair railing, six hundred dollars; hands, one. Hat making, six hundred and fifty dollars, hands, two. Hoop skirt making, two hundred and fifty dollars; hands, six. Hosiery, five thousand dollars ; hands, twenty-two. Hay and straw pressing, one thou- sand dollars; hands, two. Horse-shoe nail making, one hun- dred dollars; hands, one. Iron railing, forty-five thousand dollars ; hands, five. Iron founding, seventy-one thousand five hundred dollars ; hands, one hundred and four. Illuminating gas, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Lime burning, twenty-six thousand dollars ; hands, eleven. Locks and knobs, sixty thousand dollars; hands, forty. Leather belting, fifteen thousand dollars; hands, five. Locksmithing, one thousand dollars ; hands, two. Lumber, fifty thousand dollars ; hands, thirty. Marble cutting, twenty-three thousand dollars ; hands, ten. Matches, three thousand dollars; hands, six. Machine shops, twenty thousand one hundred and fifty dollars ; hands, twelve; Millwrighting, three thousand dollars; hands, twenty- three. Millinery, two thousand dollars; hands, four. News- papers, sixty-one thousand two hundred dollars ; hands, twenty- six. Oak coopers, one hundred and fifty dollars ; hands, two. Oxyd zinc, one hundred thousand dollars ; hands, thirty. Paper bags, one thousand and fifty dollars; hands, ten. Plumbing, one thousand three hundred dollars ; hands, eight. Potteries,; seven hundred thousand three hundred dollars ; hands, six hun- dred and twenty-one. Paper making, twenty-five thousand dol- lars ; hands, twenty. Pump making, four hundred dollars ; hands, two. Printing, sixty-one thousand dollars ; hands, fifty- one. Railroad iron, two hundred thousand dollars ; hands, one
193
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
hundred and eighty. Rolling mills, seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars; hands, five hundred and seventy. Sash and blinds, twenty-three thousand three hundred dollars ; hands, thirty-one. Stone, ninety-six thousand dollars ; hands, sixteen hundred and sixty-four. Segars, seven thousand five hundred and fifty dollars ; hands, thirty-three. Silver plating, one hun- dred dollars ; hands, one. Soap making, eleven thousand five hundred dollars ; hands, two. Tailoring, forty-eight thousand eight hundred dollars; hands, ninety. Tin and sheet iron, thirty-one thousand and fifty dollars ; hands, forty-three. Turn- ers, one hundred dollars; hands, one. Terra cotta, one hun- dred thousand dollars; hands, fifty-five. Upholstering, ten thousand dollars ; hands, five. Undertakers, five hundred dol- lars ; hands, one. Vise and tool making, one hundred and fifteen thousand five hundred dollars ; hands, eighty-two. Wheelwright- ing, three thousand nine hundred dollars ; hands, ten. Woolen and cotton goods, two hundred and eighty thousand dollars ; hands, three hundred and twenty-nine. Windsor chairs, five hundred dollars; hands, two. Wool, twenty-five thousand dollars ; hands, twelve. Total amount of capital invested in industrial pursuits, three million eight hundred and seventy- eight tltousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. Hands employed, four thousand eight hundred and twenty-six.
The following shows the streets of the city, alphabetically arranged :
Academy, from Greene east to Canal street ; Adelaine, from Edmund east to Hermann; Allen, from Greene east to Mont- gomery ; Asbury, from Ferry east to Federal ; Assanpink, from Stockton east to the canal; Bank, from Warren west to Willow; Barberry, from Sweet's avenue southwest to Gordon ; Barnes, from Quarry to Bank ; Belevue avenue, from Calhoun opposite Higbee, west to city limits; Behm, from Esher to Hermann ; Belvidere, from Fowler west to Calhoun ; Bond, from Princeton avenue to New Brunswick avenue ; Bridge, from Delaware river east to Broad; Broad, from Assanpink creek to White Horse road; Calhoun, from Delaware river to Pennington street ; Cam- den, from Quarry to Passaic; Canal, east from Perry to White Horse road; Canal, west from State to Perry; Carroll, from
R
194
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Edmund to State; Carter's alley, from Montgomery to Stock- ton; Cass, from Union to the canal ; Centre, from Broad to Riverview Cemetery ; Centre court, from Pike easterly ; Chan- cery, from State to Bank; Clay, from Market to Taylor ; Chauncey, from Warren to the railroad ; Clinton, from Millham road to Sandtown road ; Coats, from Cass to Federal ; Com- merce, from Stockton to the canal ; Conover's alley, from Market southerly ; Cooper, from Factory to Centre ; Cox's alley, from Union easterly ; Cross, from Carroll to Ewing ; Dark lane, from Montgomery to city line; Decatur, from Market to Bridge ; Delaware, West State to Delaware river ; Delaware alley, South Warren to Fair; Dillon's alley, South Warren to Delaware river; Doane alley, from Centre to State Prison ; Donley's alley, from Lamberton westerly ; Drummond's alley, from South Warren to Fair ; East Front, from Warren to the canal; East State, from Warren to city line; East Washington, from Warren to Greene; Edmund, from Millham road to Canal; Elizabeth, from Ewing to Clinton ; Esher, from Southard to Hermann; Ewing, from Perry to East State ; Factory, from Lamberton to Broad ; Fair, from Factory to Federal ; Falls, from Delaware river to Union ; Federal, from Delaware river to Third ; Ferry, from Delaware river to Broad ; Feeder, (North) from Greene to Canal ; Feeder, (South) from Greene to Canal ; Fountain avenue, from Prince- ton avenue westerly ; Fowler, from Spring to Higbee ; Franklin, from Ewing to Railroad ; Frazer, from Reservoir to Pennington avenue ; Front, from Delaware to East Canal ; Fuhrman, from Second to Lamberton ; Grant, from rolling mill to Lamberton ; Greene, from Broad to New Brunswick avenue ; Green's alley, from Quarry to West State; Gordon, from Princeton avenue northerly ; Hankinson avenue, from Perry to Woodruff ; Hano- ver, from Warren to Stockton; Henry, from Millham road to Canal ; Higbee, from Willow to Calhoun; Howell, from Ed- mund to Hermann ; Humboldt, from Barberry westerly ; Jack- son, from Livingston to Railroad; James, from Millham road to Canal ; Jefferson, from Ewing to Clinton ; Kossuth, from Clin- ton to Ewing; Lalor, from Lock No. 4 to Delaware river ; Lamberton, from Factory to the cemetery; Landing, from Third to Delaware river ; Lewis, from Clay to Canal ; Lincoln
195
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
avenue, from Clinton to Assanpink creek; Livingston, from Broad to Assanpink creek ; Lodge alley, from Front to Wash- ington ; Market, from Warren to Assanpink creek ; Mercer, from Livingston to Railroad ; Merchant, from Stockton to Canal ; Mill, from Market to Fair ; Millham road, from Clinton to city line; Model avenue, from Clinton to Assanpink creek; Mon- mouth, from Southard to Assanpink creek; Montgomery, from Assanpink to New Brunswick avenue; New, (North) from Bank to Quarry ; New, (South) from Union to water power raceway ; New Brunswick avenue, from Warren to city line ; New Market, from Second to Delaware river ; North Feeder, from Montgom- ery to city line ; Ogden, from Southard to Ewing ; Passaic, from Feeder to Calhoun ; Peace, from Front to Delaware river ; Pen- nington, from Warren to city line ; Perry, from Warren to Clin- ton ; Pike, from East State to Front; Princeton avenue, from Warren to city line ; Prospect, from West State to Pennington avenue ; Quarry, from Warren to Calhoun ; Quarry alley, from Willow to Calhoun ; Quintin avenue, from Mercer parallel with Assanpink creek; Railroad avenue, from Belvidere Delaware Railroad easterly ; Reservoir, from Pennington avenue to city line ; Ringgold, from Pennington avenue to Tucker ; Rose, from New Brunswick avenue to Feeder ; Sandford, from Princeton avenue to New Brunswick avenue ; Second, from Broad to River- view cemetery ; Sheridan avenue, from Clinton to Assanpink creek ; Southard, from Perry to Carroll; South Feeder, from Greene to Canal ; Spring, from Willow to West State; State, (East) from Warren east to city line; State, (West) from War- ren west to city line ; Smith's alley, from Front to State; Steam- boat, from Union to water power; Sterling's alley, from West Front to West State ; Stockton, from Perry to Assanpink creek ; Sweet's avenue, from Princeton avenue northwesterly ; Taylor, from Broad to Mercer; Taylor's alley, from West State to Quarry ; Temple, from Second to Third ; Third, from Broad to Second ; Tucker, from Warren to Willow ; Turpin, from Fed- eral to Bridge; Union, from Market to Ferry ; Union alley, from East Front to Assanpink creek; Wall, from Clinton to Assanpink creek ; Warner's alley, from East Front northerly ; Warren, from Assanpink creek to Princeton avenue ; Washing-
196
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
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.