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 31
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March Ist, 1860, the Masonic Hall Association of the city of Trenton, was incorporated, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of twenty dollars each.
The corporators were Jonathan S. Fish, David Naar, Joseph H. Hough, William R. Clapp, John Woolverton, Thomas J. Corson, Edward W. Scudder, Harper Crozer, William T. Nich- olson, Andrew Dutcher, Elias Phillips, and James S. Aitkin.
CHAPTER XXI.
Trenton Arms Company-Trenton Car Works-Normal and Model Schools-Trenton Chain Manufactory-Normal School Boarding-House-Trenton Co-operative Benefit Society-Sol- diers' Children's Home-Trenton Lock Company-Delaware Manufacturing Company-Trenton Hall and Building Associa- tion-New Jersey Silver Mining Company-East Trenton Land and Building Association.
M ARCH 11th, 1862, the Trenton Arms Company was incor- porated, with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, divided in shares of five hundred dollars each, with power to increase it to four hundred thousand dollars.
The corporators were Aaron H. Vancleve, Charles Moore, Joseph G. Brearley, Joseph C. Potts, and Andrew G. M. Pre- vost.
March 18th, 1863, the Trenton Car Works was incorporated, for the purpose of manufacturing railroad cars of all descrip- tions. The capital stock was one hundred thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Joseph G. Brearley, Thomas J. Stryker, and Andrew G. M. Prevost.
February 2d, 1865, the sum of thirty-eight thousand dollars was appropriated by the state for the purchase of the Normal and Model Schools, together with the grounds, fixtures, furniture, library, apparatus, and personal property connected therewith.
March 22d, 1865, the Trenton Chain Manufacturing Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Louis Chevrier, Charles N. Chevrier,
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Henderson G. Scudder, Samuel J. R. Salter, Voorhees Vannest, and Frederick Rippart.
March 22d, 1865, the Normal School Boarding-house Associa- tion was incorporated, with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars, with liberty to increase the same to fifty thousand dol- lars, in shares of fifty dollars each.
The corporators were William White, Jonathan Steward, Charles Brearley, Henry B. Pierce, and Elias Cook.
February 15th, 1866, the Trenton Co-operative Benefit So- ciety, Number One, was incorporated, with a capital stock of forty thousand dollars, in shares of ten dollars each, with the privilege of increasing it to eighty thousand dollars.
The corporators were William Wood, John Lee, Joseph Firth, John Brelsford, John Albert, Thomas Whitehead, Samuel Mellor, George Lever, Benjamin Buckley, and Thomas Fish.
March 7th, 1866, the Soldiers' Children's Home was incor- porated.
The corporators were John K. Smith, Abraham O. Zabriskie, and Samuel K. Wilson.
March 9th, 1866, the Trenton Lock Company was incorpor- ated, with a capital stock of sixty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to two hundred thousand dol- lars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Joseph G. Brearley, Charles Gregg, J. Harris Cogill, Francis B. Pye, Lewis Maney, J. N. Junken, and Elias Cook.
March 13th, 1866, the Delaware Manufacturing Company was authorized to increase their capital stock to an amount not exceeding one million dollars, and the charter of the company was extended twenty-five years longer.
March 15th, 1866, the Trenton Hall and Building Associa- tion was incorporated, with a capital stock of sixty thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars, with power to increase their capital stock to a sum not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars.
The corporators were Joshua Jones, John Taylor, John H. Creveling, Joseph G. Brearley, John C. Cook, John L. Murphy, Charles Scott, Daniel Temple, Philip Smith, John Barnett, and John Mars.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
April 4th, 1866, the New Jersey Silver Mining Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of five hundred thousand dol- lars, in shares of fifty dollars each.
The corporators were J. Harris Cogill, Andrew Dutcher, and Joseph Tucker.
April 6th, 1866, the East Trenton Land and Building Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to five hundred thousand dollars, and divided in shares of one hundred dollars each. Its corporators were Imlah Moore, Jonathan Fisk, Charles Moore, A. W. Cheeseman, and Augustus G. Richey.
The amount of capital was one hundred thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to five hundred thou- sand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
This company was empowered to let, rent, lease, mortgage, and sell such lands and real estate as they may have and hold from time to time, in whole or in parcels, and to improve the same by erecting, or causing to be erected thereon, buildings of every name, kind, and description, and for all proper and legitimate purposes, or by laying off said lands and real estate into lots ; and to use the same for agricultural purposes, or in any other lawful way that the said corporation may deem necessary or advisable ; and to purchase, make up, manufacture, sell, and dis- pose of all materials pertaining to the erection of such buildings.
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CHAPTER XXII.
Trenton Skating Park Club-Trenton Gold and Silver Mining Company-Ransome Patent Stone Company-Trenton Vise and Tool Company-Yuma Silver Mining Company -- Central Mar- ket-Mercer Gold and Silver Mining Company-National Pot- tery Company-Trenton Agricultural Works-New Jersey Pot- tery Company-Union Pottery Company-Trenton Woolen Company-Trenton Ice Company-Continental Saw Company -Washington Market Association-Merchants and Traders Protective Union.
A PRIL 5th, 1867, the Trenton Skating Park Club was incor- porated, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to a sum not exceeding thirty thousand dollars, and divided into shares of ten dollars each.
The corporators were D. Cooper Allison, J. Beatty Lalor, Isaac Weatherby, and G. Allen Anderson.
April 6th, 1867, the Trenton Gold and Silver Mining Com- pany of Colorado was incorporated, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to two hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of not less than five dollars each.
The corporators were Daniel Peters, Samuel Prior, Jacob Sny- der, George F. Brown, W. D. Holt, Israel Howell, and John L. Murphy.
March 5th, 1867, the] Ransome Patent Stone Company, of New Jersey, was incorporated, with a capital stock of fifty thou- sand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to one hundred thousand dollars, and which was divided into shares of one hun- dred dollars each.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
This company was incorporated for the purpose of manufac- turing Ransome's patent concrete stone, from sand and other earths and chemicals, and for the transaction of such business as may be necessarily connected therewith.
The corporators were George S. Norris, Charles H. Higgin- son, John F. Houdayer, Samuel Prior, Gregory A. Perdicaris, Samuel K. Wilson, Simon Donau, David Naar, Charles Moore, Amos Robbins, Philemon Dickinson, William G. Cook, Harry McCall, and Thomas J. Stryker.
March 5th, 1868, the Trenton Vise and Tool Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to any sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were J. Howard Murray, Thomas S. Murray, Daniel P. Forst, James E. Darrah, Edwin G. Stores.
March 10th, 1868, the Yuma Silver Mining Company was in- corporated, with a capital stock of two hundred thousand dol- lars, with the privilege of increasing the same to two millions of dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Philemon Dickinson, Liscomb R. Titus, John H. Phillips, Daniel Temple, Frederick P. Auten, Symmes H. Reading, John L. Taylor, Uriel T. Scudder, and John C. Rafferty.
April 7th, 1868, the Central Market Company was incorpo- rated, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, with power to increase the same, from time to time, to a sum not ex- ceeding two hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were John Taylor, William Wood, John C. Cook, Daniel B. Bodine, John Barnett, Samuel Prior, Charles Brearley, William R. Titus, Alpheus Swayze, Charles Scott, and William S. Hutchinson.
April 7th, 1868, the Mercer Gold and Silver Mining Com- pany, of Colorado, was incorporated, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to five hundred thousand dollars, which was divided into shares of one hundred dollars each.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
The corporators were Jacob Snyder, James P. Davies, Daniel Peters, John H. Norris, William Lee, Lafayette Seaming, and William H. Skirm.
March 3d, 1869, the National Pottery Company was incorpo- rated, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, with the power to increase the same, from time to time, to an am )! t not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars.
The corporators were Theodore W. Hill, Charles Mıyer, Charles Hewitt, Timothy Abbott, and George S. Green.
March 9th, 1869, the Trenton Agricultural Works was incor- porated, with a capital stock of fifty-five thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to any sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were John Melick, Bennington Gill, John Butterworth, John S. Cook, and Amos Laning.
March 18th, 1869, the New Jersey Pottery Company was in- corporated, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same at any time, to a sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Elias Cook, John Woolverton, Caleb S. Green, Barker Gummere, and Nathaniel E. Britton.
March 30th, 1869, the Union Pottery Company was incorpo- rated, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to fifty thousand dollars, in shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Baltes Pickel, William White, Henry Smith, Joshua Jones, and Elias Cook.
March 31st, 1869, the Trenton Woolen Company was incor- porated, with a capital stock of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to an amount not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars, divided in shares of one hundred dollars each.
The corporators were Isaac Weatherby, Augustus G. Richey, Theodore Emery, John Taylor, Henry Ivey, Ferdinand W. Roebling, and Symmes H. Reading.
April Ist, 1869, the Trenton Ice Company was incorporated,
36I
HISTORY OF TRENTON.
with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, with power to increase the same to a sum not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, divided in shares of twenty-five dollars each.
The corporators were Robert C. Belville, Alexander M. John- ston, and John P. Nelson.
April Ist, 1869, the Continental Saw Company was incorpo- rated, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing the same to any sum not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, divided in shares of twenty-five dollars each.
The corporators were George W. Rowley, Gotleib Maulick, Thomas P. Marshall, Imlah Moore, and Jacob R. Freese.
March 17th, 1870, the Merchants and Traders Protective Union was incorporated.
The corporators were Peter Spracklin, Michael O'Neal, John P. Garey, Joseph Lanning, Barclay N. Stokes, John Crawford, Anderson Horner, and Daniel S. Thompson.
2 H
CHAPTER XXIII.
Swearing by the Uplifted Hand-Trenton Academy-Two Crim- inals pardoned under the Gallows-Sale of Stills at Beatty's Ferry-Lower Trenton Ferry-Association to Prevent Trade with the Enemy-Ratification of the Treaty of Peace.
O CTOBER Ist, 1778, the general assembly, sitting at Prince- ton, passed an act for the ease and relief of such persons as are scrupulous of taking an oath with the ceremony of touch- ing and kissing the Book of the Gospels, by allowing that of holding up the hand in lieu thereof, and making them guilty of perjury by taking a false oath in this way.
The publisher of the "Gazette " advertised to be sold at the printing office drugs of every description, and " that he would put up doctors' prescriptions ; also on sale, tea, coffee, choco- late, sugar, pepper, ginger, soap, pins, needles, and a variety of queensware, &c., diaper and damask table cloths, frying-pans and tar"-by which it appears that he kept everything neces- sary for family use. The paper also contains a number of adver- tisements for runaway "niggars and wenches," ranging from four dollars to four thousand dollars reward, continental money.
William Churchill Houston was the receiver of continental taxes in the state of New Jersey in 1782.
On the 18th of September, 1782, the Trenton Academy was founded.
The following advertisement appears in the "New Jersey Gazette," published by Isaac Collins, corner of Queen (now Greene) street and Second (now State) street.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
" TRENTON ACADEMY.
" A number of the inhabitants of Trenton and the country adjoining, in order to render the means of education more easy and certain, have formed a regular permanent establishment for that purpose. A commodious, handsome stone building has been erected, and is now open for the reception of scholars. A school, in which reading, writing, common arithmatick, and book-keeping are taught, has been formed some time, under the care of an able teacher, and is carried on with great propriety and success. To improve the system, another is now opened, in which are taught the English, Latin, and Greek languages gram- matically ; geography, practical mathematicks, the principles of natural philosophy and astronomy, public speaking, and the rudiments of any other branch of useful education, either to fit pupils to finish a course at college, or to go immediately into business. The subscribers, the present trustees of this institu- tion, are determined to spare no pains to render it as beneficial as possible ; to which end they have put it under the care of George Merchant, B. A., a gentleman graduated at the College of New Jersey several years ago, who has, from the time he com- menced his studies, been engaged in teaching, and whose pru- dence and ability have been highly approved. The situation of the place is pleasant and beautiful ; boarding may be had in gen- teel, reputable families, and on reasonable terms; and strict attention will be paid to the morals and behavior of the youth. A school for the study of the French language will be opened as soon as a sufficient number of scholars to support a teacher are engaged.
"It is not the intention of the subscribers to trouble the pub- lick with strained and pompous representations in favor of this academy-they are persuaded the success and usefulness of it will soon recommend it more effectually.
" MOORE FURMAN, " STACY POTTS,
" WILLIAM C. HOUSTON,
" JAMES EWING, " ISAAC COLLINS."
December 11th, 1782, James Ewing, the clerk of the board of
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
trustees, advertised for a writing master and accountant in the academy at Trenton, as follows :
" Any person well qualified to teach writing, arithmatick, and book-keeping, and who can be well recommended for sobriety, industry, and capacity, will meet with generous encouragement by applying to the trustees of the academy in Trenton.
"By order of the trustees.
" JAMES EWING, Clerk."
On the 23d of December, 1782, at nine o'clock in the fore- noon, the examination of the grammar school, at the academy in this place, occurred.
The scholars acquitted themselves greatly to the satisfaction of the trustees and other gentlemen present.
"In the afternoon several of the scholars of both sexes exhibited a specimen of their improvement in the art of speaking, in the presence of a crowded assembly of ladies and gentlemen of the town and neighborhood, several members of the honorable the court of commissioners now sitting here, and other strangers of distinction, all of whom expressed the highest approbation of the performances.
"We cannot but remark that the proficiency of the youth exceeded anything that could have been expected from the shortness of the period since they have engaged in these studies, and that the conduct and success of the institution reflect honor upon the abilities and care of the teachers."
David Brearley and Isaac Smith were added to the board of trustees, in the place of Moore Furman and William C. Houston.
September 25th, 1782, we find the following item :
" Yesterday Joseph Davison and John Mulliner, who were sentenced at the last Supreme Court to be hanged here for horse- stealing, were pardoned under the gallows."
We find the following advertisement, October 9th, 1782 :
"TO THE PUBLICK.
" A set of large stills are now completed at Mr. Beatty's ferry, at the head of Trenton falls ; also, a large set of fomenting tubs, containing five hundred gallons each, to receive the cyder of
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
any person who favors the subscribers with their custom; the convenience of emptying the cyder into those large tubs, will enable all persons immediately to take back their hogsheads. From the size of the stills and their construction, spirit of a very superior quality will be produced than from small stills, or stills of any other construction, no copper being made use of in this distillery, which ever throws up verdigris that is prejudicial to the spirit.
" The terms for distilling are one-third of the spirit ; cash for cyder at one dollar and a half per barrel, or two gallons of high proof cyder spirit in exchange for each barrel of cyder, which will prevent any delay by the publick's humble servants.
" LYNCH, NEIL, and POOL.
"N. B. The publick may be supplied by the Ioth of October with excellent cask beer, Irish stingo, and porter ; also, bottled beer at twelve shillings per dozen; Irish stingo at fifteen shil- lings, and porter at fifteen shillings ; empty bottles to be brought in exchange, by applying to Neil and Pool, at their store in Trenton."
In the same issue appears the following :
"The publick are hereby informed that American porter, assembly beer, Irish stingo, and table beer are now ready for sale at the porter brewery in York street, Burlington.
"N. B. The assembly beer is a choice, pretty liquor to smoke a pipe with ; the Irish stingo is a strong, excellent beer, prescribed by the faculty, is a balsamic to the stomach, and a never-failing remedy to an uneasy mind ; the porter gives vigor to the body, animation to the face, and occasions a healthy, blooming coun- tenance, if drank regularly a few months.
" October 8th, 1782."
The following advertisement appears in the " New Jersey Ga- zette" of November 6th, 1782 :
" LOWER TRENTON FERRY.
" The road on each side of the river Delaware to the landing is now completed ; the best attendance and quickest dispatch will be given to all persons who may please to favor it with their
2 H *
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
custom. In this part of the river there are no obstructions, the water is deep and smooth, and the shores gravelly, so that the boats may at all times be brought so near the shores as to land their passengers without wetting the soals of their shoes."
On the 11th of July, 1782, a number of the inhabitants of Trenton met together on short notice, for the purpose of con- sidering a plan of association to prevent trade and intercourse with the enemy, and a draught being proposed, was agreed to, and subscribed by all present.
A committee was then appointed to take measures for offering it to the inhabitants of the town and neighborhood, to devise the best means of rendering it effectual, and to call a general meeting of the inhabitants of the town and country adjoining, on Friday, the 19th inst., in order to determine upon such things as were necessary to be done. The following is a copy of the draught :
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being convinced that the king and ministry of Great Britain, their agents and adherents, despairing of the conquest of these states by force, are resorting to the arts of duplicity and intrigue ; that among other devices, they are endeavoring by means of those among us who are opposed to the present revolution or devoted to sor- did gain, to introduce into the country large quantities of British goods, and to draw off our money in payment for them ; thus they expect to disable us from paying our taxes, rob us of a medium of business, and put an end to our opposition, in the support of which money is indispensably necessary ; that care is taken to send out such species of goods as are not only useless, but are likely to have the greatest effect in corrupting the man- ners of the people ; that the better to insure success, the highest encouragement is afforded to such as will engage in the traffick, either personally or by connexion in interest ; and, on the other hand, every effort is made use of to shut up, as far as possible, all the channels by which goods have been, during the war, im- ported among us, or the produce of the country sent out to mar- ket ; that those among us who favor this trade, either from the malignity of principle, or the inordinate love of gain, are doing everything in their power to secure it under the feigned appear-
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
ance and cover of the law, and that they have but too far and too often succeeded ; that they are endeavoring to slacken the bands of those who are disposed to be active and vigilant in putting a stop to such intercourse and traffick, by propagating an opinion that interference of this kind is mean and dishonor- able; that notwithstanding the salutary measures taken by the legislature, the evil is become so dangerous and inveterate that it will not be in the power of the magistrates to correct and re- move it, unless the citizens in general exert themselves to bring offenders to justice ; that to approve, connive at, or not to use every means to destroy such intercourse and traffick with the enemy, is not only unworthy the character of men of principle, but a mark of disrespect and ingratitude to a nation from which we have derived the most seasonable and effectual aid in the progress of this revolution, and whose exertions and sufferings in our favor claim from us every possible acknowledgment and preference; that such clandestine traffick is a discouragement and injury to the fair and upright trader, and has a baneful ten- dency to lead away others by the example. And being also con- vinced that it is the duty of every good citizen to recollect the glorious principles which gave rise to the revolution, and to recur to those principles, which, under Providence, have brought it to the present state, and will be the most powerful means of bringing it to a happy and successful termination, we have asso- ciated ourselves for the following purposes :
" I. We will, to our utmost, detect and bring to justice all who may be in any wise concerned in this pernicious traffick, and use every lawful means to prevent and suppress it.
" 2. To which end we will, to the utmost of our power and influence, strengthen the hands of all officers, civil and military, in the discharge of their duty, and support the full and vigorous execution of the laws.
" 3. We will give every assistance to those who are vested with authority, to restrain and punish all suspicious persons trav- eling without proper passports or certificates, or carrying British goods or other property made seizable by law.
" 4. We will avoid, as far as possible, all intercourse, commu- nication, and dealings with such as have been or may be con-
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
cerned in trading with the enemy, or who have been or may be justly suspected of being so concerned.
"5. We will give every support and assistance in our power to those who shall exert themselves to detect and bring to jus- tice persons concerned, either directly or indirectly, in trading with the enemy, and treat as mean, false, and designing every insinuation that such endeavors are in the least degree inconsis- tent with honor and good citizenship, or that they are not highly becoming and praiseworthy.
"6. In prosecution of these objects, we will, at the same time, discountenance and oppose all acts of oppression and vio- lence, and whatever may be inconsistent with the peace and good order of the community, being determined not to resort to force, except where the same may become indispensably neces- sary.
"Subscribed by one hundred and fifty-three inhabitants of Trenton and the neighborhood. Trenton, July 11th, 1782."
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