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 8
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In 1837, the lower story was boarded up and used by the
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Eagle Fire Company as an engine house, the upper room being occupied by them as a place for meetings.
In 1841, after Mill Hill had been incorporated into the borough of South Trenton, it was resolved that the old building, which, in consequence of some of the timbers becoming decayed, was considered dangerous, should be removed, which was accordingly accomplished, it is said, by the women of the place. Thus perished from our sight a venerable relic, and one to which many a citizen of Trenton could look with pleasure as the place where his mind received its first mental budding.
At about the same time that the market was built on Mill Hill, one was erected in Bloomsbury, at the corner of Warren and Bridge streets, opposite the store of Lewis Parker. This was a frame building, and occupied the entire walk on the west side of the street. This market was longer than the one on Mill Hill, yet much narrower, and contained seven stalls. On the eastern side there was no footpath, as it covered the gutter and extended into the public road. On the west side there was sufficient room between the market-house and the fence for the passage of a single individual.
In the year 1845, the old markets which stood in State street were taken down, and the ones recently removed from Greene street were erected, and in 1848, in consequence of a great increase of business, they too were found to be entirely too small, and the upper or north market was increased to double its former size.
The matter having for a long time been agitated of building a market-house for the benefit of the lower wards of the city, and council having passed an ordinance to that effect, it was erected in Market street, east of Broad street, in 1845, by private enterprise.
In consequence of the growth and prosperity of the city, and several handsome stores having been erected in Greene street, the people demanded that the markets should be removed from the street. Consequently common council passed an ordinance relinquishing on the part of the city all right of control over the markets, and in the spring of 1870 the material was sold for eight hundred dollars, and the markets torn down.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
John Taylor erected a market in Greene street, near Academy ; J. R. Freese and S. K. Wilkson built one in Chancery street, near Quarry, with a splendid hall for public meetings, balls, &c., in the second story. Two companies were formed, who built large and commodious markets, one at the corner of Front and Stockton streets, one story in height, called the Central Market, and the other fronting on Front, Greene, and Washington streets, near the Assanpink, called the Washington Market, with large and commodious rooms in the second story which can be used for various purposes.
On the Greene street front, about the middle of this market, is a handsome brown stone statue of Washington, by Thom, the great Scotch sculptor, made of stone taken from New Jersey quarries, and is an admirable likeness of the father of his country. This monument was unveiled on Monday, the 26th of December, 1870, the ninety-fifth anniversary of the ever-mem- orable capture of the Hessians. The address was delivered by C. C. Haven, Esq., and the presentation to the building was made by Hon. Alfred Reed, judge, and the acceptance by Hon. David Naar, president of the association.
On the Ist of April, 1870, the market built by Mr. Taylor was thrown open to the public. The size of this market is fifty-one by one hundred and twenty feet, and contains fifty-three stalls and one restaurant, and a cellar under the whole. The cost of the building was thirty thousand dollars.
The company comprising the Washington Market was formed December 15th, 1869, and the association was incorporated by an act of the legislature, February 8th, 1870. The incorporators were George Fitzgeorge, Adam Exton, Joseph B. Yard, John Taylor, Henry N. Barton, Casper Martino, Imlah and Charles Moore, Joseph G. Brearley, David Naar, Henry B. Howell, David Manko, and John F. Klein.
The original projectors of this market were Henry N. Barton, Joseph B. Yard, and George Fitzgeorge. Their first organization was as above described, and the amount subscribed sixty thousand dollars. The real estate purchased cost sixty-nine thousand dol- lars, and the building thirty-six thousand dollars, making in all one hundred and five thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
The officers of the association are David Naar, president ; Henry B. Howell, secretary; Joseph G. Brearley, Henry N. Barton, Imlah Moore, George Fitzgeorge, and Joseph B. Yard, directors.
The market on the first floor contains two hundred and nine stalls and one restaurant, the latter on Washington street. The building is two stories high.
In the second story is a splendid and capacious hall which will seat about twelve hundred persons. This hall fronts one hun- dred and eight feet on Greene street, one hundred and thirty- four feet on Washington street, and one hundred and thirty-five feet on Front street, and is one hundred and sixty-five feet deep in the rear. It contains, besides the large hall, nine rooms fitted up for various purposes.
The main hall is fifty by one hundred feet, with a stage fifteen feet deep, with two ante-rooms, provided with wash-basins and water-closets.
Around the market is a gallery or corridor, surrounded by a handsome iron railing.
Under the whole building is a commodious cellar, fitted up with all the modern improvements.
The drainage in this building is perfect, as everything is car- ried off by drain pipes into the Assanpink creek.
The market in Chancery street was the second one opened for the benefit of the public, Taylor's being the first. The main building fronting on Chancery street is fifty by one hundred feet, and is two stories high, with an extension in the rear twenty by 'one hundred and twenty feet, and one story high. There are one hundred and nineteen meat and vegetable stalls, and one restaurant.
The main hall on the second floor is fifty by eighty-five feet, with two ante-rooms, and passage-way, and gallery on the south end about fifteen feet wide, and running entirely across the building. This hall will seat about seven hundred persons, and is splendidly arranged for meetings of grand bodies of the various secret societies extant.
The Grand Lodges of Odd Fellows and Masons held their annual meetings in this hall in 1870, and it gave general satis-
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
faction. It has two ante-rooms fitted up with wash-basins and water-closets. The stage is twelve by thirty feet. The cost of the building was about thirty-five thousand dollars.
The owners are Samuel K. Wilson and Jacob R. Freese, and the hall is significantly called "Freese Hall."
The Central Market is built on the corner of Front and Mont- gomery streets. It is one story high and contains fifty stalls ; it cost about forty-two thousand dollars.
In September, 1793, the yellow fever made its appearance in Philadelphia, and many citizens fell victims to the disease. And as a precautionary means to prevent the fever spreading among the inhabitants, should it make its appearance here, the common council of this city appointed Messrs. Axford and Howell a committee to procure a house for travelers and for poor persons who might be taken ill of that malignant fever.
The public offices of the United States government were removed here during the prevalence of the fever in 1793, and in 1798, Mr. Adams, the president of the United States took up his residence here; he resided in the house in Warren street, known as the Phoenix hotel, which was recently pulled down to give room for the extension of Quarry street.
The following gentlemen have filled the office of mayor of this city, viz., Moore Furman, appointed November 30th, 1792; Aaron D. Woodruff, February 19th, 1794 ; James Ewing, November 8th, 1797; Joshua Wright, November 10th, 1803; Stacy Potts, March 12th, 1806; Robert McNeely, February 9th, 1814; Charles Burroughs, November Ist, 1832, being appointed by the legislature. In the year 1847, Charles Burroughs resigned the office of mayor, when, according to the charter, Samuel Evans, Esq., being then recorder of the city, acted also in the capacity of mayor until Eli Morris was elected by the aldermen, November Ist, 1847. In the winter of the same year the legisla- ture so amended the charter of the city as to make the office of mayor elective by the people, whereupon, at the spring election in April 1848, Samuel R. Hamilton was elected mayor under the revised charter. In April, 1849, William C. Howell was elected ; in 1850, William Napton was elected.
April 3d, 1855, William P. Sherman was appointed mayor,
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
and on the 10th of the same month John R. Tucker was elected mayor. In 1856, Joseph Wood was elected mayor, and in May of the following year he resigned, and Franklin S. Mills was appointed on the Ist of June, and continued in office until 1861, and in April of that year William R. McKean was elected. In April, 1863, Franklin S. Mills was again elected, and continued in office until 1867. In April, 1867, Alfred Reed was elected, and in 1868, William Napton was again elected, and continued in office until 1871, when John Briest was elected.
The following have been clerks of the city : Benjamin Smith, December 10th, 1792 ; Jacob Benjamin, April, 1796; Peter Forman, April, 1807; Samuel T. Machette, April, 1822; David Johnston, January 28th, 1828; John R. Tucker, September, 1836; Thomas Macpherson, April, 1837; Henry C. Boswell, April, 1842; Alexander M. Johnston, April, 1844; Lewis R. Justice, April, 1848; Charles W. Jay, April, 1849 ; Alexander M. Johnston, April, 1850; John O. Raum, April, 1857; Wil- liam N. Nutt, April, 1859 ; Matthew Brown, April, 1862 ; Ben- jamin Naar, Jr., August, 1864; Alexander M. Johnston, April, 1866. Mr. Johnston occupies the position at the present time (1870).
Previous to 1830 the collector was also the disbursing officer. From 1831 to 1854, the treasurers were appointed by common council, after which they were elected by the people until 1867, since which time they have been appointed by council.
The following have been the financial officers of the city since 1800.
William Rippon, 1801; Isaac Barnes, 1806; Peter Howell, 1810 ; Israel Moore, 1814; Samuel T. Machett, 1827; Abram P. Atkinson, 1829 ; Samuel Coleman, 1830, collectors ; Samuel Evans, 1831 ; William C. Howell, 1841 ; Jonathan Fisk, 1851 ; James H. Clark, 1852; Jonathan S. Fish, 1853, treasurers appointed by council ; Jesse M. Clark, 1855; Jonathan S. Fish, 1856; William M. Force, 1858; Jesse M. Clark, 1859; Peter Crozer, 1862; John O. Raum, 1863, elected by the people ; John O. Raum, present incumbent, appointed by council 1867.
The act incorporating the "Borough of South Trenton" was passed February 28th, 1840. It was then enacted that James M.
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Redmond be appointed chief burgess ; James H. Sims and Bailey A. West, assistant burgesses ; Marshall C. Holmes, high constable ; and Jacob B. James, borough clerk, to continue in office until the first Tuesday in May, 1841, and from thenceforth until others. should be duly appointed in their places, under the said charter. They were constituted a body corporate and politic by the name of "The burgesses and inhabitants of the borough of South Trenton." The first meeting held under the charter was on March 3d, 1841, when an organization of the borough was effected. On the 4th of May, 1841, Richard J. Bond was chosen chief burgess ; Wallaston Redman and Joseph Yard, assistant burgesses ; Robert Wilson, clerk. May 3d, 1842, Franklin S. Mills was chosen chief burgess ; James H. Smith and Daniel Lodor, assistant burgesses ; and Jacob B. James, clerk. May 2d, 1843, Franklin S. Mills was again chosen chief burgess ; David Lloyd and Samuel Sutton, assistant burgesses ; Samuel B. Stafford, clerk. May 7th, 1844, Andrew Stilwell was appointed chief burgess; William McGill and Jacob Berdine, assistants ; and Joseph O. Rickey, clerk. May 5th, 1845, Andrew Stilwell was again chosen chief burgess; Jacob Berdine and Samuel B. Stafford, assistants ; and John J. Duswald, borough clerk. May 5th, 1846, John S. Gustin was appointed chief burgess ; Samuel B. Stafford and William B. Paul, assistants ; and John H. Morris, clerk. May 4th, 1847, Samuel B. Stafford was chosen chief burgess ; Charles Gorden and William B. Paul, assistants ; and John H. Morris, clerk. May 2d, 1848, James W. Southard was chosen chief burgess; Henry M. Lee and Joseph W. Bond, assistants; and Lewis R. Parker, clerk. May Ist, 1849, John Valentine was chosen chief burgess ; Abner Mershon and Jacob Berdine, assistants; and Lewis R. Parker, clerk. May 7th, 1850, Orrin Packard was chosen chief burgess; Andrew Ross- and William P. Mulford, assistants ; and Lewis R. Parker, clerk. These were the last officers elected under the borough charter .. In 1851 the legislature incorporated the borough with the city of Trenton, calling that part which constituted the borough the third and fourth wards.
The burgesses and inhabitants, under the borough charter, had power to raise money for borough purposes, such as repairing
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
roads, &c., to the amount of five hundred dollars, which was; afterwards increased by a supplement to one thousand dollars .. Under the auspices of the burgesses was commenced the grading: of the streets and paving the sidewalks, which has materially improved this part of our city.
In the year 1844, all that part of the city of Trenton north of the Assanpink had been divided into four wards, numerically called first, second, third, and fourth, the dividing line being: Warren street between the first and second wards, and State- street between the third and fourth wards. But in this division the wards were considered too small ; consequently, by an act of the legislature, passed March 26th, 1845, "All that part of the city lying and being on the eastern side of a line beginning on the Assanpink creek at the point where the centre of Warren street intersects the same, and running thence along the centre- of Warren street to the Princeton turnpike ; thence along said turnpike to the city line, shall constitute one ward of said. city, to be called 'the East Ward of the city of Trenton ;' and all that part of the said city lying and being on the western side of the line aforesaid, shall constitute the other ward of said city, and be called 'the West Ward of the city of Trenton.'"
By this supplement two members of council were chosen annually, to serve for the term of three years-council consisting- of twelve members. The officers of the first and second wards. were authorized under this act to hold the first elections in the east and west wards of the city, until such times as they should choose election officers in their respective wards.
On the 14th of March, 1844, part of the township of Trenton. was annexed to the township of Lawrence, as follows: "All such parts of the city of Trenton lying and being northeasterly of the following lines or boundaries, to wit: Beginning in the. Assanpink creek near the mouth of a brook, corner of lands late: of Samuel Dickinson and of Joseph Broadhurst, deceased ; thence. by the line between the said lands, and of others, north about: thirty-two degrees west, to the Delaware and Raritan Canal ; thence up the middle of said canal to the line between the township of Lawrence and the city of Trenton, be, and the same are hereby annexed to the township of Lawrence, in the
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
the county of Mercer, and shall hereafter be considered as a part of said township of Lawrence, anything in the act entitled 'An act to incorporate the city of Trenton,' passed the 7th day of March, 1837, to the contrary notwithstanding ; and that this act shall take effect from and after the passage thereof."
In 1851, South Trenton was (by an act of the legislature) annexed to Trenton, and the city was then divided into four wards. All east of the centre of Warren street and north of the Assanpink creek constituted the first ward ; that portion west of Warren street and north of the creek, the second ward ; and all south of the creek and east of Lamberton street, and north of Arsenal, or Cass street, was called the third ward ; while all west of Lamberton street, south of the Assanpink, and north of the Arsenal, was termed the fourth ward. That year six councilmen were to be elected in the third and fourth wards. The term of office of two to expire each year, when others were to be elected to fill their places-two in each year-for a term of three years.
In 1853 the fifth ward was (by an act of the legislature) formed from the first ward, and "commencing at a point in the centre of Warren street, and opposite the centre of Hanover street, runs easterly along the centre of Hanover street, and in a direct line therewith, until it strikes the Delaware and Raritan canal ; thence up said canal to the centre of Perry street ; thence easterly along the centre of Perry street, and in a direct line therewith, until it strikes the Assanpink creek; thence up the said creek until it strikes the township of Lawrence; thence along said line to the branch turnpike road ; thence along said turnpike road southerly to Warren street ; and thence down the centre of said street to the place of beginning."
Under this new arrangement, on April 7th, 1851, William Napton was elected mayor, and Samuel Evans recorder.
In the fall of the same year, in consequence of Mayor Napton being elected a member of the legislature, John R. Tucker was appointed by council to fill the vacancy caused thereby.
The following persons were elected aldermen : first ward, John P. Kennedy ; second ward, Elias Phillips; third ward, Joseph W. Bond ; fourth ward, Marshall C. Holmes.
On the 12th of April, 1852, the following officers were elected :
H
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
mayor, John R. Tucker ; recorder, Robert C. Belville ; alder - man of first ward, Job M. Bennett ; second ward, Elias Phillips ; third ward, John S. Gustin ; fourth ward, Henry Minehart.
On the 11th of April, 1853, John R. Tucker was re-elected mayor ; Sylvester Vansyckel, recorder ; Elias Phillips, alderman of first ward ; Roswell Howe, second ward ; Barnet T. Slinger- land, third ward ; William H. Manning, fourth ward ; David S. Anderson, fifth ward.
In 1854, William Napton was elected mayor ; Joseph Wood, recorder ; alderman of first ward, Thomas Morrell ; second ward, Robert S. Norcross ; third ward, Charles Whelden ; fourth ward, David Lloyd ; fifth ward, Harper Crozer.
The present bounds of the city of Trenton are, on the north extending in a westerly direction to the line of Lawrence and Ewing townships to the Delaware river ; thence, following the course of the river to the line of the township of Hamilton ; thence east along Hamilton township, which is divided from Trenton by the Assanpink creek and the Delaware and Raritan canal ; thence following said canal and creek and the township line of Hamilton to the Lawrence line, the place of beginning.
The bounds of Trenton have been altered at different times. In February, 1831, the farm of General Thomas Cadwallader was set off from the city of Trenton. In 1833, the township of Trenton was divided into the townships of Ewing and Trenton, but the boundaries of Trenton township were made the same as the city of Trenton. In 1858, the farm of S. E. Decou was set off from the city of Trenton and annexed to the township of Ewing.
CHAPTER VIII.
Churches and their Pastors-Presbyterian-Episcopal-Church at Lawrence-Church in Ewing-Separation of the city and country Congregations -- Evangelical Church -- German Re- formed Church-Reformed Dutch Church-Baptist Churches Methodist Churches-Roman Catholic Churches-Evangelical Lutheran Church-Universalist Church, etc.
I N consequence of the close connection existing between the Churches of Lawrence, Trenton First Church, Trenton city, and Pennington, it is almost impossible to find any accurate records containing the early history of the Presbyterian Church in this town, as it is difficult to distinguish what churches are meant by Hopewell in connection with Maidenhead.
In the records of the Presbytery and Synod of Philadelphia, the name of Joseph Yard is mentioned as being present at most of their meetings as an elder, from 1707 to 1717; Mr. Daniel Howell was also present as an elder in 1717. . Both of these men were among the first settlers of this part of Hopewell, and both were elders in what was then Hopewell, and afterwards Trenton (now Ewing) First Church.
This church was known as the Old Hopewell Church, and was connected with the Church at Maidenhead many years before the Church at Pennington was formed.
The brick Presbyterian Church of Pennington, removed some time since to give way to another structure, was built in 1766. This fact was ascertained from the widow Kirkpatrick, who, during the latter period of her life, resided in this city. She said the roof was put on the church the day she was born.
In 1709, the people of Hopewell and Maidenhead applied to the Presbytery of Philadelphia for supplies, and Mr. Joseph
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
Smith was directed to preach to the people on his way to and from New England.
In 17II, Mr. William Yard (brother of Joseph), applied to the Presbytery to assist them in getting a minister for these congregations.
In September, 1715, Philip Ringo presented to the Presbytery a call from the people of Hopewell and Maidenhead for the labors of Mr. Robert Orr, and he having accepted the call, was ordained at Maidenhead on the 20th of October, 1715. But it is probable he did not continue long in this charge, for in September, 1719, it is mentioned on the minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia that Mr. Orr had no particular charge. Rev. Moses Dickinson, a graduate of Yale College, and a brother of . the first president of the College of New Jersey, succeeded Mr. Orr, in 1717.
In 1729, Mr. Dickinson was followed by Rev. Joseph Morgan. He was pastor of the Church at Freehold from 1710 until he was called to take charge of the united congregations of Hopewell and Maidenhead.
From 1719 till 1736, there are no satisfactory records which can be found, that I am aware of, relating to these congregations.
In the year 1736, they applied to the Presbytery of Phila- delphia to have Mr. David Cowell, a licentiate of that Presbytery, ordained, which ordination took place November 2d, 1736.
Mr. Morgan had been preaching in these congregations previous to April, 1737, but for how long a time is not known.
The Rev. David Cowell preached in the town and country churches until 1760, when, from ill-health, he resigned his pastoral charge. Mr. Cowell was not married. He lived in a yellow frame house in West State street, adjoining the residence of William A. Benjamin on the west. He died December Ist, 1760, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, having served in the town and country congregations nearly twenty-four years. His remains were interred in the church-yard in Trenton city, where the Rev. John Hall, D. D., now has pastoral charge.
In 1760, the Rev. William Kirkpatrick, who had been licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, August 15th, 1758, and ordained July 4th, 1759, was appointed to preach for these
4
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HISTORY OF TRENTON.
congregations, and in April, 1761, they gave him a call to settle among them ; but it does not appear that he either accepted cr declined it at that time, though in the spring of 1762 he accepted the call, and in June, 1766, he accepted a call from Amwell, and was installed pastor in August following ; he died in 1769.
In 1767, Mr. Jonathan Edwards, then a tutor in the college at Princeton, and son of the eminent president of the college, received a call from these congregations, but in April, 1768, declined accepting it, 'as he had been chosen professor in the college.
In 1769, the united congregations of Hopewell and Maiden- head presented a call for the Rev. Elihu Spencer, of the Presby- tery of New Castle, who was preaching at Shrewsbury, Shark River, and Middletown Point. Mr. Spencer accepted the call and removed from Eatontown, in Monmouth county, to Trenton, and lived the first year on the corner of State and Warren streets, in the house built by John Dagworthy, Esq .* This building was afterwards converted into a tavern, and was called the City tavern, and was occupied for that purpose until its removal in 1837, when the Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank building was erected up on the same site. t
Mr. Spencer preached one-third of the time in each meeting- house, in Maidenhead, Trenton, and the old meeting-house, until the close of the year 1784, when he departed this life on the 27th of December, in the 64th year of his age.
In October, 1738, a petition was sent from some of the people of Hopewell and Maidenhead to the Presbytery of Philadelphia,
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