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 24
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TN 1791 there were only six post-offices in the state of New Jersey, and these were at Newark, Elizabethtown, Bridge- ton, (now Rahway), New Brunswick, Princeton, and Trenton. The amount of receipts for the year ending October 5th, 1791, was five hundred and thirty dollars, of which sum the post- masters received one hundred and eight dollars and twenty cents, . leaving four hundred and twenty-one dollars and eighty cents as the net revenue .*
As to who the postmaster in Trenton was at this time we are in profound ignorance, as we can find no authentic records to give the necessary information.
The first postmaster here, of which we have any knowledge, was a Mr. Pinkerton, who filled the office during General Washington's first administration. During Washington's second
* Howe's Historical Collections.
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term of office, John Singer received the appointment, and con- tinued in office until 1801. The office at this time was kept in the house once occupied by the late Dr. John Howell, on the corner of Warren and Hanover streets, and now the Franklin House.
It is supposed that Pinkerton's office was also at the corner of Main (now Warren) street and Decou's alley, (now Hanover street,) the second door south of where Singer afterwards kept it.
The building was an old yellow frame, and stood about the centre of Hanover street ; it was afterwards used as a bakery, and previous to its removal, at the time the street was opened, was occupied as a clothing store.
Major Peter Gordon was appointed postmaster on the Ist day of April, 1801, by Thomas Jefferson. He had his office at the corner of State and Warren streets. Major Gordon retained the office only during part of Jefferson's administration, when, on the 12th of November, 1804, having received from Governor Bloomfield the appointment of state treasurer, he at once re- signed the office of postmaster, and Charles Rice was appointed. He continued the office at the same place where Major Gordon had established it. He remained in office during the adminis- trations of John Adams and James Madison.
In the year 1825, John Quincy Adams appointed James J. Wilson, Esq., postmaster of this city. His office was at 105 Warren street, in the old brick building now owned by Henry Thœne. In 1826 Mr. Wilson died, and his wife served out his term of office. She removed the office into State street, on the corner of the alley opposite to Chancery court, now occupied by Charles Kraft as a shoe store, but did not long continue it there, the locality being unhandy. She was induced to move back into the street she had left, near the place once occupied by her- husband. She continued in the office until General Jackson's. second term, when Joseph Cunningham received the appoint- ment on the 22d day of January, 1835. During his term the office was kept at No. 97 Warren street, in his own house, upon. the spot occupied by William Dolton and Jonathan Blackwell as a wholesale grocery. He held the office during part of Jack -- son's last term, and Martin Van Buren's single term.
z*
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During John Tyler's administration, in 1841, Dr. John Mc- Kelway, received the appointment. His office was kept at No. I West State street, adjoining the Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank, in the house now owned and occupied by John O. Raum as a residence. In 1845, during the administration of James K. Polk, the appointment was conferred upon Joseph Justice, Sr., and the office was again kept in the brick house in Warren street, opposite the termination of Quarry street, where it had pre- viously been kept by General Wilson.
In 1849 General Taylor conferred the appointment upon John S. McCully, who removed the office into East State street, No. 1512, at the place now occupied by the heirs of David C. Mount as a confectionery. Mr. McCully continued the office here during the whole of his term.
In 1853 General Pierce bestowed the appointment on William A. Benjamin. He opened his office in the same place where it had been kept by Mr. McCully, but only continued there for a few months, when he obtained a room in the City Hall, on the corner of State and Greene streets, where he fitted up an office. It was at one time kept at the corner of Warren and Front streets, and afterwards kept by Joshua Jones, at No. 35 Greene street, and removed by Frederick S. McNeely to Taylor Hall, nearly opposite, where Israel Howell, the present postmaster, still continues it.
About the year 1755, during the reign of King George II., of England, the country now occupied by New England, the five Middle States, and the four Southern States, lying along the At- lantic, embraced thirteen colonies, belonging to Great Britain, and all acknowledging the government of that country. None of the country lying west of the states above mentioned was then occupied by English settlers.
The French had settlements in Canada, extending from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario. They had estab- lished several forts and trading-houses along the shores of that lake, to promote their trade with the Indians. They had also laid out New Orleans near the mouth of the Mississippi, and having ascended the river, had laid claim to the beautiful and fertile valley through which it flows. They had also built trad-
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ing-houses on the Ohio river, and had finally determined to con- nect their northern and southern settlements by a chain of forts, extending from Lake Ontario to their establishments on the Ohio, and thence down the Mississippi to New Orleans.
As this land was part of the colony of Virginia, the English claimed it as their possessions, whereas, the French having built their forts and trading-houses upon it, claimed it as theirs. The people appealing to Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, for redress, the governor thought it best in the first place to send a messen- ger to the commander of the French forces on the Ohio, and require him to march his troops away, and thus quit the country. For this important mission, George Washington, then but twen- ty-one years old, was selected. At that early age he began that public career which has endeared his name to every American, and rendered it illustrious throughout the world. Washington de- livered Governor Dinwiddie's letter to the French commander, which was altogether unsatisfactory to the governor; and the consequence of the encroachments of the French and their refusal to march their troops away was, a general war ensued between the English and French governments.
This war continued from 1755 to 1763 eight years, when it was closed by a peace made at Paris, in which France ceded to England all her northern colonies, which still remain subject to Great Britain.
During this war Great Britain had her troops stationed in dif- ferent parts of the country-quite an army was stationed here. At that time the buildings known as White Hall were erected by the king as barracks for his officers. These buildings were erected in 1759; they were built in the spring of the year, and bear the inscription 3 M., 1759, meaning third month, the time when the walls were completed. This building commenced at Willow street, extended west toward the State House ; thence ran south, crossing Front street ; thence taking an easterly direc- tion, terminated again at Willow street, forming three sides of a hollow square. But in 1801, when Warren street was opened below Front, and Front street continued on through to the State House yard, the street ran directly through the old barracks, making two separate buildings of it, instead of one as heretofore.
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In excavating on the eastern bank of the Delaware, the remains of individuals have been found, and considerable curiosity has. been manifested to divine the meaning thereof. Much specula- tion has been made by the curious in such matters, some assert- ing that the place where these bones were found was the spot where the early settlers, about 1676, deposited their dead ; others, that they were Hessians and English killed here in the American Revolution-neither of which, however, are correct, for they were English soldiers who died here in the time of the French war, about the year 1760.
As stated in a previous chapter, all persons traveling from Philadelphia to New York would cross the ferry at Bloomsbury, and proceed east to the Eagle tavern, and thence north over Mill hill to New York. This ferry was continued in operation until the completion of the Delaware bridge, in 1806.
The charter for a bridge across the Delaware river was granted in 1801, but the bridge was not commenced till 1804, and fin- ished in 1806. The present piers are about one-fourth higher than was at first anticipated by the architect. The projectors, in planning the bridge, supposed it was of such height that no flood could reach the top. But in this they were mistaken, for before they had accomplished putting on the frame work or the floor, the river raised so high as to completely cover up the abutments and piers. Then it was that the company saw the necessity of building their work higher.
The bridge is one thousand one hundred feet long. The stones in the piers are fastened by heavy iron rods, of serpentine shape, keeping them firmly together.
There have been at different times several extensive floods in the Delaware, causing much damage to mills, houses, and bridges erected upon that stream ; but in consequence of the precaution taken in the erection of this noble structure, no fatal results have happened to it.
In 1841, during a freshet in the river, five bridges located on the Delaware above Trenton, were raised from their bed, and floated down the river. They were the following : Yardleyville, Lambertville, Taylorsville, Reiglesville and Phillipsburg ; each of these bridges passed directly under the Trenton bridge, tear-
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ing away some of the stays under the floor, but doing no further damage.
The first freshet in the river of which we have any record, ·occurred in 1691. The largest freshet ever known was in 178I ; since that time nothing has exceeded the freshet of 1841. The piers of the present bridge are built of brown sand stone, taken from the Ewing quarries, in this county.
November 29th, 1809, a bill was passed authorizing Samuel Wright, Jr., and George Dill, to build a wing dam in the river Delaware, for the purpose of conveying the waters thereof into the Assanpink creek above their oil mill.
November 13th of the same year, an act was passed to authorize the building of a lock in the river Delaware at Trenton, for the improvement of the navigation of the river.
January 20th, 1814, William L. Prall and Jacob Lambert were authorized by legislative enactment to erect a wing dam in the Delaware river at Trenton.
On the 9th of February, 1815, Daniel W. Coxe, Samuel Wright, Jr., and Peter T. Smith, were authorized to build a wing dam in the river Delaware, opposite Market street, and "to have a lock in the same, where it crossed that part of the river on the east side of Yard's Island, of such size and dimensions that Dur- ham boats of the largest size and other craft may pass up and through the same with ease and safety ; the lock to be not less than twenty feet wide."
On the 24th of February, 1840, the legislature of Pennsylva- nia passed an act to incorporate the Trenton City Bridge Com- pany, and on the 8th of March, 1842, the act was passed by the legislature of this state ; the capital stock to be fifty thousand dollars, and divided into two thousand shares of twenty-five dol- lars each. This bridge was afterwards erected at the foot of Calhoun street.
The terminus of the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad was for- merly at Morrisville, near the bridge ; from there a horse car con- veyed the passengers for Trenton and those going to New York. Those for New York took the cars at State street, while the Trenton passengers were conveyed down to where the Odd Fel- lows' Hall now stands, corner of Greene and Hanover streets. In a few years the trains commenced running over the bridge,
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and the track in Hanover street was removed, and passengers for Trenton were conveyed in stages to their respective places of destination, while those for New York were conveyed thither in the same train of cars.
The bridge was built, having two wagon tracks, and on the extreme north and south ends were paths for foot passengers. But when the cars were run over by means of locomotive power, wagons were prohibited from going across the north wagon road. The rules of the bridge were, that all wagons should keep to the right to avoid the necessity of one wagon meeting another upon the bridge. The plan adopted when there was but one wagon track was, the wagon first on the bridge should have the prefer- ence. As a signal, to notify the toll-keeper on the opposite side that a wagon was crossing, a man was stationed on each end of the bridge to ring a bell, which was attached to a wire at the other end of the bridge, and no wagon was allowed to start over while another was coming across. This plan was found inconvenient, and the directors resolved in 1851, to con- struct a track expressly for the crossing of the cars, which was accordingly done.
We take the following from Howe's Historical Collections, page 286 :
"In the southern part of the city is the beautiful covered bridge across the Delaware, justly considered one of the finest speci- mens of bridge architecture of wood in the world. This bridge, one thousand one hundred feet in length, was commenced in May, 1804, and finished in February, 1806, at an expense of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. It reflects credit upon its architect, Mr. Burr, combining as it does, three great objects, convenience of traveling, strength, and durability. The floor is supported by perpendicular iron rods, hanging from the arches. It withstood the great flood of 1841 unharmed, while the more frail structures of a later day were swept away. It is -crossed by the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad, having been widened in 1851 by the addition of a passage way on the south side of it for that purpose."
The first charter for the Trenton Water Works was passed December 3d, 1801. It was termed "An act to authorize Stephen Scales to convey the water from his spring through the several
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streets of the city of Trenton." The preamble to which read as follows: "WHEREAS, Stephen Scales hath represented that he hath purchased a spring in the city of Trenton, from which he can conduct the water through several of the streets of said city, thereby supplying the inhabitants with plenty of sweet and wholesome water, provided he can be authorized to lay his trunks through some of the intervening lots."
This charter gave him power to " convey the water from said spring through any lots which he might find it necessary to pass in its way to the streets of said city, without let, trouble, hind- rance, or molestation of any person or persons whatsoever, and with laborers, carts, wagons and other carriages, with their beasts of burden or draught, and all necessary tools and implements, to enter upon the lands through which it is necessary said aqueduct should pass, and to dig through and lay trunks in the same, for carrying on the said work, and for repairing the same from time to time, first giving notice to the owner, if in this state, or to the tenant in possession thereof, doing as little damage thereto as possible, and repairing any breaches they may make in the enclosures thereof, and making amends for any damage that may be sustained by the owner or owners thereof," &c.
On the 18th of September, 1803, James Ewing, Peter Gor- don, Thomas M. Potter, Gershom Craft and Alexander Cham- bers purchased of Stephen Scales his right to said spring, and by an act of the legislature, passed February 29th, 1808, they became a body politic and corporate, by the name, style, and title of "The President and Directors of the Trenton Water Works."
The first charter granted to Stephen Scales gave him power to use only the water which should originate or rise from his spring, or upon his said lot so purchased, but that he should permit all water not originating or rising upon his said lot or from his spring, freely and uninterruptedly to pass for the use of the tan yards on the stream made thereby.
The stock of the first company that purchased the spring of Stephen Scales consisted of twelve hundred dollars, divided into sixty shares of twenty dollars each ; the company, when organized, to be at liberty to extend the number of shares if they found it necessary.
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James Ewing was chosen president, and Peter Gordon and Thomas M. Potter were chosen directors under the original charter.
At a meeting of the stockholders, held on the roth of June, 1839, the capital stock of the company was fixed at twenty thou- sand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each. This was confirmed by act of the legislature, approved March 24th, 1852.
At the same time, a supplement was passed to the act of the 29th of February, 1803, granting to them the privilege of taking the water, either in whole or in part, from the Delaware river, and to construct all suitable apparatus for that purpose, but not to obstruct, in any way, the navigation. The first pipes laid by the company were constructed of wood. These were afterwards taken up and replaced by iron. These, in their turn, were taken up in 1850, and replaced by iron pipes of larger bore, and they have at different times been considerably enlarged. The officers of the company were, Jonathan Steward, president ; Samuel Evans, treasurer ; Thomas Hill, secretary.
In 1854, an act was passed by the legislature, authorizing the purchase of the works by the city, if, at a special election, the people so determined. In accordance with the will of the people then expressed, the works were purchased, at a cost of eighty-eight thousand dollars. The following were the first officers appointed by council : William P. Sherman, president ; Alexander M. Johnston, secretary ; Robert C. Belville, treasu- rer. The capital stock of the company was increased to one hundred thousand dollars.
In 1853, the company built their basin on the Pennington road, and after the works came into possession of the city, finding it too small, the directors caused a new basin to be built in 1855, and the same year caused cast iron fire plugs to be erected through the city. The amount of stock purchased by the city was eighty-eight thousand dollars, twelve thousand dollars worth still remaining in the hands of private individuals, which was afterwards purchased, and the works are now worth two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The city issued bonds for the pur- chase of, and the various improvements on the works, amounting to two hundred and four thousand five hundred dollars. The
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income from the works not only pays all the interest on the bonds and all expenses of the management, but every year a handsome sum into the sinking fund, toward the liquidation of the debt. The last fiscal year, this sum amounted to three thou- sand five hundred dollars. The present commissioners are : Philemon Dickinson, president ; Albert J. Whittaker, secretary ; John C. Miller, William Hancock, Isaac C. Gearhart, William Johnson ; and John B. Quigley, superintendent and treasurer.
The Newark Banking and Insurance Company was the first bank chartered in the state, and is still in operation. It was chartered on the 17th day of February, 1804; and on the 3d day of December of the same year, the Trenton Banking Com- pany was chartered. The charter when first granted was to continue in force for twenty years. The original act of the legislature authorized a subscription to be opened for three hun- dred thousand dollars, in shares of fifty dollars each, under he direction of James Ewing, Joshua Wright, George Abbott, Pe er Hunt, and Abner Reeder. The affairs of the institution are controlled by a board of eleven directors, elected annually, any seven of whom can, at their first regular meeting after every general election, elect from among themselves, by a majority of the members present, by ballot, a president, who shall be an inhabitant of the city of Trenton or Nottingham. In the ap- pointment of a cashier or treasurer, the vote of seven directors was necessary to a choice, who, when chosen, were required to give bond, with two or more sureties, to the satisfaction of the directors, in a sum not less than sixty thousand dollars, with condition for their good behavior. Each director, cashier, or treasurer, before entering upon the duties of his office, was to make oath or affirmation faithfully to perform the duties of his office, agreeably to the provisions of the law and the trust in him reposed, to the best of his skill and understanding.
An act was passed on the 14th day of November, 1821, ex- tending the charter fifteen years, to expire on the 3d day of December, 1839. On the 20th of February, 1838, an additional act was passed, further extending the charter for the term of twenty years, from and after the 3d day of December, 1839.
At the session of the legislature of 1854, a further extension
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was granted, and at the same time the stockholders and directors were made personally responsible. This last act seems to have given general satisfaction. Considerable feeling existed upon the subject of special banking privileges, but since the liabilities have been thrown upon the officers of the institution, it has allayed all feeling upon that subject, and the people are satisfied that their money is perfectly safe in the vaults of such institutions as the one above. Isaac Smith was the first president, appointed in 1805; Pearson Hunt, cashier, and Josiah Fithian, teller. Jonathan Rhea, second president, was appointed in 1807. John Beatty, third -president, was appointed in 1815. Thomas L. Woodruff was appointed president in 1826, In 1828 Joseph Olden Clarke was appointed cashier, and John Thompson teller. In 1832 Philemon Dickinson was appointed president ; the same year, John Titus cashier, and Jasper S. Scudder teller ; after Titus had resigned, Thomas J. Stryker was appointed cashier.
In 1838 the new building was erected on the site where the old one had stood. The architect was Thomas U. Walter, of Philadelphia.
The capital stock was two hundred and ten thousand dollars, with capacity to increase to six hundred thousand dollars ; it is now four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The state origi- nally owned one thousand two hundred shares of stock, which were purchased by the bank. The par value of stock is fifty dol- lars ; thirty dollars per share was originally called in, the remain- ing installments having been ordered by the stockholders in 1855. The present directors are, Philemon Dickinson, Charles S. Olden, Caleb S. Green, William G. Cook, Benjamin Fish, Jonathan Steward, Albert J. Whittaker, Alexander Wurts, S. Moore Hart, Samuel S. Stryker ; notary public, Charles C. Burroughs.
The State Bank commenced operations in the year 181I. Their first banking house was at No. 22 East State street, on the site now occupied by the stores of Bechtel, Davison & Dye, and Willet Hicks. The last officers of this institution were, Abner Reeder, president ; Lambert Rickey, cashier, and George Wat- son, teller. In 1812 they built their banking-house on the corner of Warren and Bank streets. It ceased operations in the year 1822.
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February 19th, 1834, the Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank was chartered. February 16th, 1843, an act was passed authorizing them to reduce their capital stock whenever they might think proper so to do, and on the 19th of March, 1857, they were authorized to increase it, making their capital stock five hundred thousand dollars.
Their present officers are, Timothy Abbott, president ; James S. Clark, cashier ; directors, Joseph G. Brearley, Samuel K. Wilson, Daniel P. Forst, Frederick R. Wilkinson, Edward W. Evans, Augustus G. Richey, Timothy Abbott, Imlah Moore and Ferdinand W. Roebling ; notary public, Joseph H. Hough.
In 1837 they built their present banking-house, having occu- pied the building No. 75 Warren street, as did also the Trenton Bank previously, while they were erecting their new building.
On the 7th of March, 1844, the Trenton Saving Fund Society was incorporated. Its corporators were, Peter D. Vroom, John C. Redman, John Read, Stacy G. Potts, George Dill, Xenophon J. Maynard, Richard J. Bond, Thomas J. Stryker, Jacob Kline, Jasper S. Scudder, Timothy Abbott, Charles Parker, and Henry W. Green. The present officers are, Caleb S. Green, president ; Lewis Parker, Jr., treasurer and secretary ; managers, Caleb S. Green, Thomas J. Stryker, Timothy Abbott, Benjamin Fish, G. A. Perdicaris, Joseph G. Brearley, Augustus G. Richey, William G. Cook, Albert J. Whittaker, and William J. Owens. Their deposits amount to about four hundred thousand dollars.
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