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 28
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" PETER GORDON, " ELLET TUCKER,
" JAMES J. WILSON, " Commissioners."
317
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
On the same day a resolution was adopted requesting them to proceed to the completion of the duties assigned them, by pro- viding a suitable carpet to cover the floor of the Supreme Court room.
February 19th, 1813, a bill was passed by the house to pro- vide for the paving of the walks in front of the State House.
A bill was passed by the legislature authorizing the construc- tion on the corner of State and Delaware streets of buildings for the offices of the secretary of state and clerk of the Supreme Court.
These offices were one story brick buildings, located on the northeast corner of the State House yard, the entrance to which was on Delaware street, and the end office, towards the river, had an exit into the State House yard, near which was an iron gate leading into Delaware street. They were removed when the new building was erected, and provision was made in it for these offices. The clerk in chancery had a one story brick building in State street on the government lot, on the spot on the corner of State and Chancery streets now occupied by the Chancery Building. It took its name from the fact of the chancery office having previously occupied the same spot of ground. It was removed upon the completion of the new State House, when provision was also made in that building for the clerk of the Court of Chancery.
On the 20th, the house passed a resolution appointing Richard L. Beatty, the clerk of the house, to take charge of the State House, with its appurtenances, during the recess of the legisla- ture.
On October 29th a report was made to the house "that the sum of two hundred and ten dollars had been expended by Mr. Richard L. Beatty for removing the dirt and completing the pavement in front of the offices, fixing the curb-stones on the same, and in some necessary additions to the offices of the secre- tary and clerk; that said sum will be inadequate to the object, and that a further appropriation is necessary." On the 30th a bill passed the house to provide the means to complete this im- provement, and on the 3d of November it passed the council.
February 2d, 1815, a committee appointed to devise ways
2 D *
318
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
and means, and report a plan for rendering the hall in which the assembly sits for the discharge of public business, more com- fortable, presented the following report :
" That in the opinion of the committee, from a common six- plate stove placed under the floor of said hall, and enclosed with brick work, a column of heated air may be so introduced into the hall as to render it more comfortable, at a small ex- pense, and thereby effecting a material saving of fuel, and that this improvement may be made so as to be perfectly consistent with the safety of the whole edifice. Further, that by the addi- tion of two batten doors at the entrance of this hall, much cold air would be excluded."
Whereupon they submitted to the house the following :
" Resolved, That the treasurer of this state, as soon as may be practicable, procure a good six-plate stove, of cast iron, and have the same so enclosed with brick work as to introduce into this hall a column of heated air, or make such other improve- · ments for this purpose as he shall deem expedient ; and that he further cause a double batten door to be placed at the entrance of this hall ; that the said treasurer employ suitable persons to make the said improvements, and, when finished, to lay the bill before this house.
" Resolved, That the treasurer be authorized to employ proper workmen to examine whether any or all the pillars in the hall of the assembly room can be removed without material injury to the State House, and make a report to the next legislature of the result, together with an estimate of the probable expense."
June 5th, 1820, the following resolution was offered in the house, but not agreed to :
" Resolved, That the Lombardy poplar wood in the State House yard be given to the door-keepers of council and assem- bly, they paying the expense of trimming the trees and cutting the wood."
June 8th, the following resolution was offered in the house, and laid on the table :
" Resolved, That in order to aid Charles Higbee and Zacha-
319
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
riah Rossell, Esq., in fulfilling the object of their appointment for planting trees in the yard of the State House, they be author- ized to make sale of trees and wood now standing and being on the premises, and after paying the expenses of cutting the same, to appropriate the residue of the proceeds for the objects of their appointment."
April 2d, 1845, Samuel R. Gummere, Samuel R. Hamilton and Stacy A. Paxson, were appointed commissioners " to cause a good and substantial roof to be put upon the State House, and to cause the stucco work, or rough-casting, to be removed and replaced with new work, in the style of the Mercer County Court-House ; to cause neat porticos to be placed over the north and south doors of said house, and such other repairs as they may deem necessary, and to have the grounds around the build- ing properly fenced, graded, and planted with suitable orna- mental trees."
They were also to cause to be erected two buildings, fronting on Second street, of forty feet front by fifty-five feet deep, each. Each of said buildings to be divided into two offices, with suit- able fire-proof vaults, for the accommodation of the secretary of state, the clerk of the Supreme Court, the clerk of the Court of Chancery, and the state treasurer.
In 1848, very extensive additions were made to the State House. The rotunda was erected, as well as the buildings in front of it facing the street.
The architect was John Nottman, of Philadelphia, and the builders were Joseph Whitaker and William Phillips, of this city.
At that time material and labor was very cheap, and the buildings were completed at a cost of twenty-seven thousand · dollars.
On the northwest corner of the State House lot stood a frame building and lot of ground, and on the 20th of February, 1849, the legislature passed an act for the purchase of the same, appro- priating the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars for that purpose.
Samuel Mairs, state treasurer, Samuel R. Hamilton, quarter- master-general, and Charles G. McChesney, secretary of state,
320
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
were appointed commissioners to purchase the same, with power to sell or remove the building from off the grounds.
February 20th, 1850, a joint resolution was passed authorizing the treasurer to cause the necessary fixtures and apparatus to be put up for lighting the State House with gas.
March 11th, 1853, it was ordered by resolution that the court rooms be lighted with gas.
March 24th, 1863, the legislature appropriated ten thousand dollars to add a wing on the southerly side of the state capi- tol for a library and committee rooms, and the commissioners of the state library were appointed to have the work done. April 14th, 1864, an additional sum of sixteen thousand dollars was appropriated, and the act authorized, in addition to a library and committee rooms, an executive chamber, and rooms for other needful purposes.
April 6th, 1865, five thousand dollars was appropriated to procure the necessary shelving and furniture for the new library room, and to make such alterations as may be necessary in the old library room for the accommodation of the United States courts, and to set apart some suitable room in the building for a jury room, and to procure the necessary furniture, carpeting, &c., for the new executive chamber and committee rooms, the same to be furnished in a neat and becoming manner.
March 31st, 1871, an act was passed appointing Charles S. Olden, Thomas J. Stryker, and Lewis Perrine commissioners to erect an addition and make repairs to the State House.
This addition is now being made, and is intended to extend the library, and build new rooms for the senate and general assembly, and to fit up the present legislative rooms for execu- tive chambers and for offices for the adjutant-general, quarter- master-general, comptroller, commissioners of the sinking fund, and attorney-general.
The contractors for the stone work are Robert S. and William Johnston, of this city ; for the carpenter work, Frederick Titus and Robert M. Conrad, of this city ; for cast iron work, Samuel J. Creswell, of Philadelphia ; for wrought iron work, John E. Thropp, Duncan Mckenzie, and Peter Wilkes, of this city, and for the plumbing work, Stephen K. Philbin, and John E. Eyan- son, of Philadelphia.
32I
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Fifty thousand dollars was appropriated for this addition.
Samuel Sloan, of Philadelphia, is the architect.
The whole front of the State House lot is two hundred and forty-seven feet six inches, on State street.
The whole depth from State street to low water mark is six hundred and sixty feet.
Sold by Joseph Brittain and Susanna, his wife, to Joseph Cooper, Thomas Lowry, James Ewing, Maskell Ewing, George Anderson, Moore Furman, and Richard Howell, commissioners appointed by the legislature, November 22d, 1791, for five shil- lings, deed dated January 19th, 1792, containing two and a quarter acres. These lots are on the Delaware.
Lot No. I, facing on State street, was sold by Joseph Brittain and Susanna, his wife, to Paul Thorp, for twenty-five pounds, January 24th, 1786; and by Paul Thorp and Isabella, his wife, to William Reeder, for seventy-five pounds, March 4th, 1790; and by William Reeder and Priscilla, his wife, to the state commis- sioners, for sixty-two pounds ten shillings, January 19th, 1792, containing one-quarter of an acre.
Lot No. 2, also fronting on State street, was sold by Joseph Brittain and wife to John Emmerson, for twenty-five pounds, March 13th, 1784; and by John Emmerson to James Emmer- son, for thirty pounds, March 13th, 1786 ; by James Emmerson and wife to George Ely, for thirty-seven pounds ten shillings, May Ist, 1798 ; and by George Ely and Mary, his wife, to the state commissioners, for sixty pounds, January 19th, 1792, con- taining one-quarter of an acre.
Lot No. 3, fronting on State street, was sold by Joseph Brit- tain and wife to James Emmerson, September 13th, 1784, for twenty-five pounds ; and by James Emmerson and wife to George Ely, May Ist, 1788, for thirty-seven pounds and ten shillings, and by George Ely and wife to the state commissioners, for sixty pounds, January 19th, 1792, containing one-quarter of an acre.
A lot was subsequently bought of Mrs. Mary McCall, eighty- two feet six inches front on State street, and running the same depth as the other three lots.
The whole land contains three and three-quarter acres, and
322
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
the entire cost was two hundred and fifty pounds and five shil- lings.
The whole length on State street is two hundred and forty- seven feet six inches ; depth on Delaware street to low water mark, six hundred and sixty feet, as surveyed by William C. Howell, September 16th, 1845.
November 25th, 1794, a bill was introduced into the house, entitled " An act for the removal and preservation of the public records of the state of New Jersey," which bill was considered on the 27th, and referred to Messrs. Aaron Kitchell, of Morris county, Henry Southard, of Somerset, John Blackwood, of Gloucester, Joseph Stillwell, of Monmouth, and Daniel Frazer, of Hunterdon, and on the Ist of December, the committee reported, " that in their opinion a house to hold the public records ought to be built on the State House lot, in Trenton, the size of which shall be thirty feet by twenty-four feet, with three rooms on the floor, two of which shall be arched, in order to secure the records from fire; which building shall be one story high, and built of brick or stone; and that the treasurer of this state be requested to advertise for proposals for erecting and completing said building, and to lay such proposals before the legislature at their sitting, in order to give time to receive such proposals ; and your committee are further of opinion, that the records in the secretary's office, at Burlington, ought not to be removed until all the papers lodged in that office for record- ing be duly entered on record.
·
" By order of the committee.
"AARON KITCHELL."
The bill was postponed until the next session, when it was again taken up, and referred to Messrs. Benjamin Manning, of Middlesex county, David Frazer, of Hunterdon, and Ebenezer Elmer, of Cumberland, who, on the 16th of February, 1795, reported the bill under the following title: "An act for the renewal of the secretary's office, and for the preservation of the public records of the state of New Jersey ;" and on the 27th the bill passed the house, and on the 4th of March it was passed by council. .
March 18th, 1796, it was resolved that Maskell Ewing, clerk
323
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
of the house of assembly, be directed to enter on the minutes of the house this day, the titles and names of the several books now belonging to the legislature ; and that he be further directed to procure, at the expense of the legislature, a suitable case for the keeping and preservation of such books; and further also, that he be responsible to the legislature for the safe keeping and preservation of the same.
The first mention we have of a state library is in the proceed- ings of the legislature of October 28th, 1796, at which time the speaker laid before the house a copy of the journals of the senate of the United States, in the first session of the fourth congress, which was at that time nothing more than a case which Maskell Ewing had prepared by order of the house, as above stated.
February 18th, 1804, the clerk was directed to procure for the use of the legislature eight copies of Jefferson's manual relative to the mode of conducting business in legislative bodies.
On the same day a resolution was passed by the house to ap- point a committee to report rules for the library belonging to the legislature, and for the preservation of the books; also, that they make out a catalogue of the same and cause it to be printed, and that they report what books, if any, are necessary to be purchased.
Messrs. William Coxe, of Burlington, Ezra Darley, of Essex, and John A. Scudder, of Monmouth, were appointed.
February 23d, 1804, Mr. Coxe, from the committee appointed to make a catalogue of the books in the library belonging to. the legislature, and to draft rules for the regulation of the same, reported by name one hundred and sixty-eight volumes, a large number of which were the laws of this and other states, journals of council and assembly, the minutes of the legislatures. of other states, as well as the congress of the United States.
They also recommended the following rules :
" Ist. That the books be put under the care of the clerk of the house of assembly, who shall provide a book in which each member of council or assembly shall enter the name or names of the books taken out by him, and the time of taking out.
" 2d. That none but the members of the legislature be per- mitted to take out books, and that the members consider them-
.
324
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
selves bound not to take a book from the State House without entering the name of it in the library book.
"3d. That a stamp be prepared with which the words New Jersey legislature be branded on each book, with a number to each set to be marked on the back.
" 4th. That the list of books shall be printed in the votes of the house of assembly, with these rules, for the information of the members.
" 5th. That the clerk of the house and the clerk of council be required to cause the copies of the laws of the United States, transmitted by the general government, and which have been retained by the two houses, to be bound in the same manner as the first four volumes, and to proceed in the same manner in future.
"6th. That the clerk of the house of assembly be required to have the laws of this state, and journals and votes reserved for the use of the house, to be bound in the same manner, and that the secretary be requested to do the same with those of council.
" 7th. All the binding to be of leather, strong and neat, and as nearly as can be, similar to that of the laws of the United States."
These rules were adopted by the house February 29th, 1804, and on the same day they were adopted by council.
October 23d, 1804, Governor Bloomfield, in his message to the house, informed them that the journals of the senate and house of representatives, the fifth volume of the laws of Penn- sylvania, and a copy of the acts of the legislatures of Ohio, Ken- tucky, and North Carolina had been received, and placed in the library of the legislature of this state.
At the session of 1803, the secretary of council and clerk of the general assembly were directed by a resolution of both houses to have the laws of the United States and of this state, and the journals of council and minutes of assembly, bound ; and at the session of 1804, on the 26th of October, they reported " that on examining the library they were able to find but one complete set of the laws of this state, which they have had bound ; that of the laws of the United States, five complete sets were found, which are also bound ; that of the journals of council, six sets, and of the minutes of assembly, eight sets, were com- pleted and bound. The binding is well executed, with good
325
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
materials, and cost fifty cents per volume, or ten dollars alto- gether."
In 1708, the laws and journals of congress, and the laws of sister states received during the year, were deposited in the library of this state, and three hundred and forty-two copies of the laws of the United States delivered to the treasurer for dis- tribution.
October 29th, 1813, Messrs. John Beatty, of Burlington, and Joseph Falkenbridge, of Cape May, were appointed on the part of council, and Jacob R. Hardenburgh, of Sussex, Mahlon Dick- erson, of Morris, and Ephraim Bateman, of Cumberland, were appointed a joint committee to examine the books and papers in the State Library, and report the same to the house, and make a catalogue of the same.
On the 4th of February, 1813, the committee made the fol- lowing report :
" That on examining the State Library they are of opinion that to execute the duty assigned them will require more time than they can devote to it, and at the same time attend to their other duties in the house ; and your committee beg leave to sub- mit the following :
" Resolved, That Richard L. Beatty, the clerk of this house, be requested to cause the books in the State Library to be assorted and placed in regular order on the shelves ; to inquire for and procure such books as may have been taken out of the same, and have them replaced in the library; and in cases where any volume or volumes have been lost, of any regular set of books, that he be authorized to procure others at the expense of the state, and that he be paid for his services by this house."
On the roth of February, 1813, the first act of the legislature was passed by the house, entitled "An act concerning the State Library."
October 26th, 1814, Messrs. Samuel Bayard, of Somerset, Nicholas Mandeville, of Morris, and Robert M. Holmes, of Cape May, on the part of the house, and Messrs. Andrew Howell, of Somerset, and Caleb Earl, of Burlington, on the part of council, were appointed a committee to consider what rules were necessary for the preservation of the library.
2 E
1
326
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
This joint committee, on the 2d of November, reported the following :
"I. That during the recess of the legislature, the library be confided to the special care of the secretary of state, whose duty it shall be not to suffer any book or books, pamphlets, maps, charts, or other documents to be taken therefrom, except by the governor or one of the members of council while sitting as a Court of Errors and Appeals, from whom respectively some memorandum in writing, signed by the person taking a book or other document from said library, be taken and reserved by said secretary until the book so taken be returned in like condition as when delivered out.
"2. That during the sitting of the legislature, every member of the same desirous of a book or other document from said library is required to send or give a memorandum in writing containing the title of the book or document wanted, and signed with his hand, to the door-keeper of council, who is thereupon required to obtain such book ór document, if in the library, for the person desiring the same, and to keep such memorandum until such book or document, if obtained, shall be returned.
" 3. That at the close of the session of each legislature, it shall be the duty of the president of council to call on the door- keeper of council to ascertain whether there are any books or documents in the hands of either of the members of said houses not returned. And if such be the case, said president is hereby authorized to take such measures as he may judge pru- dent and advisable for effecting the return of said books or other documents ; and for the service by these resolutions re- quired, a compensation shall be allowed in the incidental bill."
January 13th, 1815, the rules were considered by the house, and amended by inserting " the speaker of the house of assem- bly " after the words "president of council," and also to add "to remind the members of their respective houses having books belonging to the state to return the same prior to their leaving the seat of the legislature," and on the 18th of January, the resolutions, as amended, were concurred in by council.
November 16th, 1822, the legislature passed an act providing
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
327
for the appointment annually, by joint meeting, of a suitable person as librarian of the two houses.
In 1836, the law library was kept in the Supreme Court room, and in 1837 the legislature passed an act authorizing the librarian to fit up a room adjoining the library, with appropriate fixtures, for the reception of books and papers belonging to the State Library.
The following is a list of the state librarians from the formation . of the library to the present time.
I. Nov. 23, 1822. William L. Prall, Esq., appointed in joint meeting.
2. Oct. 31, 1823. Oct. 29, 1824. Oct. 28, 1825.
Charles Parker, Esq.,
re-appointed
66
Nov. 9, 1826.
66
66
66
Oct. 26, 1827. Nov. 8, 1828. 66
William Boswell, Esq,, appointed
66
66
66
Peter Forman, Esq., appointed
re-appointed
66
Charles C. Yard, Esq., appointed 66
66 re-appointed
66
66
Oct. 30, 1840.
66
66
66
66
Peter Forman, Esq., appointed
William DeHart, Esq., appointed 66
" · re-appointed
8. Mar. 26, 1852.
Sylvester Vansickle, Esq., appointed [Resigned in May, 1853.]
Hon. Charles J. Ihrie, appointed by Governor Fort.
66 in joint meeting.
66 re-appointed 66
66
Clarence J. Mulford, Esq., appointed
IO. Feb. 21, 1866. II. Mar. 25, 1869.
66
66
66
66
66
3. Nov. 6, 1829. Nov. 9, 1831. Feb. 27, 1833-
4. Oct. 25, 1833. Oct. 31, 1834. Oct. 30, 1835. Oct. 28, 1836.
66
5. Oct. 27, 1837. Oct. 26, 1838. Oct. 25, 1839.
Oct. 2, 1841. Oct. 29, 1842.
6. Oct. 27, 1843.
7. Feb. 11, 1845. Jan. 29, 1846. Jan. 19, 1849.
9. May 30, 1853. Feb. 1, 1854. Feb. 19, 1857. Mar. 15, 1860. Mar. II, 1863.
Jeremiah Dally, Esq., 66
,
328
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
March 8th, 1798, the house passed an act entitled "An act to provide a house for the residence of the governor of this state," and on the 9th it passed the council.
March 4th, 1801, Messrs. Benjamin Vancleve, of Hunterdon, Jonathan Bowen, of Cumberland, and John Hass, of Hunterdon, were appointed a committee to examine and report what repairs would be necessary to be done to the government house and property, and on the 5th they reported " that they had exam- ined the same, and were of opinion that provision ought to be made to make the said repairs. An estimate being made by a workman to answer the said purpose, amounting to forty pounds, the committee recommend an allowance to be made in the inci- dental bill to the amount of one hundred dollars to answer the purpose aforesaid.
" By order of the committee.
" BENJAMIN VANCLEVE."
A bill was presented to the house on the 5th and passed on the 6th, and on the 7th it was passed by council.
October 29th, Messrs. John Dey, of Bergen, Amos Harrison, of Essex, and Azel Pierson, of Cumberland, were appointed a committee by the house to inquire what sums of money had been drawn from the treasury, for making the necessary repairs to the house and lot now occupied by the governor, and also to in- quire into and report the propriety of selling the same, and on the 3d of November they reported that the sum of ninety-seven dollars and fifty-three cents had been drawn from the treasury by Abraham Hunt, agreeably to the law passed the 7th day of March, 1801, and that they deemed it improper at this time to sell the government house.
Again, on the 9th of November, a committee of both houses was appointed to settle with Abraham Hunt, and to report the expediency of selling the government house. On the 12th they reported " that Abraham Hunt had expended, in repairs to the government house, the sum of ninety-two dollars and eighty- nine cents, which, together with commissions at five per centum, makes the sum of ninety-seven dollars and fifty-three cents, which was the sum drawn from the treasury.
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