USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Narratives of Newark (in New Jersey) from the days of its founding > Part 16
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NIGHT RAIDS BY KING'S TROOPS
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justice, are a very agreeable set of beings, whose company serves to educate the mind and in a manner to compensate the toils of military life."
"Tuesday, December 26" (1780) he writes: "I had the honor to dine at his Excellency General Washington's table, and the pleasure of seeing for the first time the celebrated Mrs. Washington. Instead of the usual subjects of great men's tables, such as the conquering of worlds and bringing the whole human race into subjection to their will, or of the elegance of assemblies and balls, and the sublimity of tastes in dress, &c., the simple but very laudable topic of agriculture was introduced by his excellency, who, I think, discussed the subject with a great degree of judgment and knowledge. The wine circulated with liberality, but the greatest degree of decorum was observed throughout the afternoon."
Captain Pennington served as Governor of New Jersey from 1813 to 1815.
Captain Nathaniel Camp, who lived at the point now known as South Broad and Camp streets, one day enter- tained General Washington at dinner. The General, im- .pressed with the Captain's soldierly appearance and also with
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Nathaniel Camp Homestead
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the hospitality extended, promised to send a field piece to the host for use by the company which Camp commanded. In a day or two the cannon came and was christened "Old Nat." Not only did it serve during the engagements in which the Captain and his company took part, but was used on In- dependence Day when peace was restored in firing the national salute. Now the ordnance, properly labeled, oc- cupies an honorable position near the entrance of Washing- ton's headquarters at Morristown.
The Essex County soldiers were represented in every im- portant campaign after the theatre of action was transferred from New England to the Middle and Southern States. The women responded to every call for supplies. Old Nassau at Princeton, used as a hospital, was in dire need during the winter of 1777-1778. The Rev. Jedidiah Chapman at the Mountains (now Orange) urged his parishioners on, a March Sabbath to replenish the supplies for the disabled soldiers. Not a woman in the congregation listened to that appeal without determining to exert her every effort to meet the emergency even though it exhausted her limited wardrobe. Knitting needles were set before the Holy Day had passed and at the time announced for the reception of articles the old Meeting House in the middle of the road (near the point now known as Day and Main streets) resembled a miniature modern department store.
The dominie rejoiced in the hearty response by his people, as ox-carts and other means of conveyances brought the mass of material to the sanctuary.
From over the Mountain, Doddtown, Pecktown, Camp- town and from along the highways and lanes, the pro- cession passed on its errand of relief. When Rev. Mr. Chapman made up the list and prepared it for shipment by wagon across country to Princeton he found this assortment:
Ten blankets, 19 shirts, 45 sheets, 9 coats, 40 vests, 27 pairs of breeches, 105 pairs of stockings, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 surtouts (short coats), 3 waistcoats, 15 pairs of trousers, 94 yards of new linen, 5 yards of new linsey, 104 yards of cloth,
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Statue in Fairmount Cemetery in memory of the Founders of Newark and the Old Burying Ground
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4 pillow cases, 1 coverlet, 1 table cloth and a quantity of old linen. The goods were received at the hospital on March 17, 1778.
The patriotic women of Essex County are entitled to a large share of the credit for maintaining the military ardor during the long years of the war. They counted not the sacrifice in furnishing articles for camp and the hospitals, food for the soldiers and also opening their homes to the in- capaciated troops.
The militia and Continental forces remained on duty quite generally after the surrender of Yorktown. An order written in Captain Nichols' note-book on November 21, 1781, issued by Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt directed the Captain to deliver to Captain Jonathan Cundict, of Newark Mountains, 400 cartridges and an equal number to Captain Cornelius Speer. Headquarters were at Wardsesson (now Bloomfield). Another order, dated at Second River, on February 1, 1782, says: "Be pleased to deliver to Captain Abraham Speer 500 cartridges."
The era of peace was not fully established till November 25, 1783, when the British and Hessian forces returned to their countries and thousands of Tories were exiled with limited resources to the wilds of the Acadia Valley, in Nova Scotia.
THE TORY'S SOLILOQUY WRITTEN IN 1783
To go or not to go-is that the question? Whether 'tis best to trust the inclement sky, That scowls indignant o'er the dreary Bay, Of Fundy, and Cape Sable's rocks and shoals, And seek our new domain in Scotia's wilds, Barren and bare; or stay among the rebels,
And by our stay rouse up their keenest rage, That bursting now o'er our defenseless heads,
Will crush us for the countless wrongs we've done them. Will Whigs forget we long have been their foes,
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And guide their verdict by a lawyer's tongue? Perish the hope
Then let us fly, nor trust a war of words Where British arms and Tory arts have failed
T' effect our purpose-on bleak Roseway's shores.
Let's lose our fears-for no bold Whig will dare With sword or law to persecute us there.
A contribution of $15,500,000 by the English Parliament relieved the distressing condition of the Tories. Annuities of half pay were allowed former officers in the King's army, and land grants and other patronage were bestowed by the Crown. Sickness and death overtook a large number of the refugees in the later part of the Eighteenth Century. Several groups returned to Newark, Isaac Longworth being among them. He was forgiven for his "going over to the enemy" and taking with him, so the Board of Justices of Essex County averred, books, papers and money entrusted to his care as a commissioner of the loan office. His second wife, compelled to take up her abode in the camp of the enemy, was a daughter of Colonel Josiah Ogden and a sister of Judge David Ogden, the Loyalist. Thomas Longworth, a brother, and a Tory, returned to Newark after the war, where he died June 23, 1790, at the age of 72 years. He was the father of David Longworth, who published the first New York directory, in 1796.
CHAPTER XXXVII
RECONSTRUCTION DAYS
STERLING patriots were the forbears of the recon- struction period. The former activity of agricultural life, the main support of the people, was resumed in the spring of 1784. Houses, barns, sawmills, gristmills and other buildings wholly or partly destroyed during the long conflict, were rebuilt or repaired, grounds plowed and fences mended. While the Congress and State Legislatures were endeavoring to find a way of harmonizing the various interests of the commonwealths, Newark governmental machinery moved along smoothly. Live stock was scarce. Sheep were needed for their much-prized wool. At the annual town meeting, on May 28, 1788, it was decided to apply the money raised by dog tax to the encouragement of sheep raising. Six pre- miums were offered under this attractive announcement:
The increase of sheep and the consequent production and in- crease of wool being of the highest importance to the interest and prosperity of this Country and the Inhabitants of this Township being disposed to encourage and promote so laudable a design do offer to give the following premiums.
An offer of ten pounds was made "to the person who shall shear off his own sheep in the spring of 1789 the greatest quantity of clean wool." Other proportionate premiums were offered to persons shearing lesser quantities from their flocks, the sixth in rank to receive two pounds. Husbandry flourished in every part of Essex County. Sound money was scarce and the State currency, often of questionable value, circulated freely. The chief industries were in the growth of apples and their by-product, and the tanneries and shoemak-
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ing. Trade was largely carried on by exchanging commodities. Renewal of the project for building a more commodious Presbyterian edifice was made soon after the declaration of peace. The old sandstone pile-the second Meeting House- on the west side of Broad Street was dedicated to the uses of a courthouse, and the site chosen for the new edifice was on the opposite side of the thoroughfare, where it stands to-day, a fine specimen of colonial architecture. Ground was broken just as the Constitutional Convention was rising from its four-months' task at Philadelphia in September, 1787. Rev. Dr. Alexander Macwhorter, eloquent in his pulpit utterances and enthusiastic in his lecture discourses, stood at the northeast corner of the lot and there fervently prayed for God's blessing upon the enterprise.
The clergyman selected trees in the forest which were turned into beams and joists at a neighboring saw mill, blocks of freestone were brought down from the quarries, and the building operations consumed four years. The officials were impatient with the slow-moving contractor having charge of the interior finishing and released him from his obligation. Captain Robert Nichols, the soldier and engineer, called upon to take his place, systematically ar- ranged the work, which was far enough advanced to permit of public worship on January 1, 1791. The Captain announced Presbyterian Church (1791) his task completed in the early summer, the entire cost of the building being about 9,000 pounds York currency.
The length of the structure is 100 feet and the steeple is 200 feet in height. Broad Street was about four feet lower than it is to-day, which gave the church a few feet elevation above the sidewalk.
An enterprise of town interest was the restoration of the Academy, burned by the British on January 25, 1780. It was originally erected on the south side of Washington
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Park, under authority of town meeting on March 8, 1774. Instruction of pupils began on April 3, 1775, when the officials made the formal announcement that "The Academy is fitted for the reception of youth and of such children as can conveniently lodge and board therein. There will be taught learned languages, several branches of mathematics, read- ing, writing, arithmetic, and bookkeeping."
William Haddon, the first master, fled from Newark early in the Revolution and joined the British army. The Academy was used as a hospital, guard house and barracks till destroyed by the enemy. Trinity Church was also used as a hospital.
Rev. Dr. Macwhorter, Rev. Uzal Ogden, of Trinity Church, and John Burnet were appointed at a meeting on November 30, 1791, held at Gifford's Tavern, corner of Broad and Market streets, to raise funds for the erection of the new building. Isaac Gouveneur was chosen president and Rev. Uzal Ogden secretary of the Academy Association on Febru- ary 3, 1792. Efforts to secure an indemnity from the United States Government for the burned building, and the plan of raising the money by popular subscription failed of realization. Abraham Ogden and Elisha Boudinot were on April 13, 1793, appointed a committee "to petition the legislature of the State to grant a lottery to raise a sum not exceeding 800 pounds for the benefit of the Academy." The request was granted, the lottery held, and a sum of money, the amount of which is not recorded, was secured and applied to the building fund. The old site in Washington Park was abandoned and a lot at the corner of Academy and Broad streets, now occupied by the post office building, was purchased on September 3, 1792. St. John's Lodge, F. and A. M., contributed freely to the fund in return for the exclu- sive use of the upper floor. The building was of brick, had a frontage on Broad Street of 66 feet and a depth of 34 feet. The cornerstone was laid on June 25, 1792, with Masonic services. General John N. Cumming, as Worshipful Master of the lodge, was the master of ceremonies. The first board
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of governors was composed of Isaac Gouveneur, president, Rev. Dr. Macwhorter, Rev. Uzal Ogden, Judge Smith, Abraham Ogden, Thomas Bennett, Philip Kearny, General John N. Cumming and Elisha Boudinot. James Moffert, of Scotland, the first schoolmaster, was employed at a meet- ing of the governors on May 7, 1792.
Every possible method was devised to provide funds for the institution's maintenance. Rev. Mr. Ogden was em- powered on March 30, 1795, to sell the negro man James, given by Mr. Watts. Moses Ogden purchased the slave for 40 pounds. A pretentious building the new academy ap-
The Old Academy, Corner of Broad and Academy Streets (1792)
peared, standing on the main highway, almost equi-distant from the two churches on the east side of the thoroughfare. Boys and girls from distant cities and adjoining villages mingled with town youth, in the long day of seven hours' schooling six days in the week. One can imagine the pupils poring over "A New Geographical and Commercial and Historical Grammar and Present State of Several Empires and Kingdoms of the World." This was published in Edin-
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burgh, in 1790, and was a popular text book. Without doubt it was used in the Academy. New Jersey, according to information contained within the book, was divided into thirteen counties. Burlington was the capital of the State. The principal rivers of New Jersey were the Delaware, Pennsylvania, Raritan and Passaick. "Perth Amboy and Burlington," we are told, "are the two principal towns of New Jersey. Philadelphia is the capital of Pennsylvania and of the United States."
The following paragraph is found on page 497:
The American ideas of preserving the peace of a state seem to be very different from those imbibed by the European potentates. Instead of those expensive standing armies to be met with on this side of the Atlantic the whole force of the United States amounts to no more than 1,216 officers and men, and even these answer no other purpose than that of garrisoning some small forts scattered through the back settlements, none of which contain more than thirty or forty men. As they have no enemy to dread but the In- dians, the militia are always ready to be drafted in case of any emergency, and they are abundantly able to contend with these adversaries. They enter into pay only when called into actual service and as soon as the war is at an end they are dismissed and the pay ceases.
As to the Navy the book declares:
The American fleet makes a still less respectable figure than their army, or rather they have no fleet at all, for they have not a single sailor in public pay, nor does the raising of a navy seem to be any object with Congress. This seems the more surprising as they have such plenty of materials for ship building and the great extent of their coast and numerous islands which lie amongst renders it very natural for many of them to apply themselves to maritime affairs. As matters stand at present they must make a very poor figure among the nations of the world, and are more liable than the Europeans to be insulted by the pirates of Barbary, so that no American vessel dares appear in the Mediterranean.
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Wood's Gazette, Newark's first newspaper, reflects, on April 30, 1794, in this manner upon the local militia:
Many are the advantages likely to ensue from a perseverance in the observance of this regulation (wearing uniform as a Sunday dress). Our officers and soldiers will acquire greater ease by being constantly accustomed to the dress of their uniform than when it is only occasionally worn. Officers especially should use every means to acquire and keep up a military air. Example goes beyound precept in every situation of society, and that com- mander will make but a sorry harrangue to his troops on the etiquette necessary to be observed by them, when his own slovenly appearance is a flat contradiction to what he may say.
Another and important benefit is likely to arise from adopting regimentals as a Sunday dress. Great objection and real incon- venience have been experienced throughout the United States in raising uniformed companies by reason of the expense of regi- mentals, which in general cost much more than plain cloaths, and being but occasionally used become a real tax on the citizens.
New Jersey troops were ordered by President Washington to assist in subduing the whiskey insurrection in western Pennsylvania. Of the 4,318 officers and men called into service for three months, "Captain Thomas Ward's com- pany of cavalry, of Newark," reads an account, "promptly made unanimous tender of themselves as a part of the de- tachment of 500 horse called for by the President."
The enforcement of the excise law on domestic spirits enacted by Congress in 1791, aroused the temper of whiskey still owners, who objected strenuously to the payment of the tax, even defying government officials to make the col- lection.
The Essex County contingent assembled at the training ground (Military Park) on September 10, 1794, equipped for the long march into the Pennsylvania wilds. The trip, aside from the hardships of the winter season, was unevent- ful. The campaign ended at the State capitol, for the cavalry early in December, and the infantry at a later date.
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Home of Captain Samuel Uzal Dodd built about 1800 in the part of Newark known as Doddtown. Destroyed 1916
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The men marched leisurely. A stopping place. was at New Brunswick, where the officers were entertained at dinner in the Whitehall Tavern, on January 26, 1795. Ad- jutant-General Anthony. Walton White, who was the host, gave an eloquent and patriotic speech.
War with France was imminent in 1798, and a mass meeting of Essex County citizens was called at the court house on a July evening to decide upon the course to be pur- sued in the conflict with the nation so recently the ally in the war with Great Britain. All citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years were enrolled and others volun- teered to hold themselves in readiness, declaring their. in- tention "to shed the last drop of blood in defense of our country, our equal liberties and independence against any invading foe whatever notwithstanding many of us are en- feebled by old age and bodily infirmities, yet we still pos- sess in some degree the spirit and patriotic fire of 1776."
General Washington in his sixty-seventh year was selected commander of the armies. An effort made to . extort by artifice a sum of money from the United States Govern- ment to the French exchequer brought forth the slogan, "Millions for defense; not one cent for tribute." The fight was confined to the navy and after one or two encoun- ters between French vessels and the Constellation and other United States men-of-war the Stars and Stripes were hoisted victoriously.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII
AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
N EWS of Washington's death at Mount Vernon, Va., on December 14, 1799, did not reach Newark till six days afterward, when a meeting of citizens at the court house decided upon a memorial service, parade and other expres- - sions of sorrow over the passing of the great man. Rev. Dr. Alexander Macwhorter, who had been an intimate friend of Washington, was invited to deliver the oration, and the com- mittee of arrangements was composed of James Hedden, John Pintard, and William S. Pennington. Major Beach was marshal of the parade, which formed in front of the Academy at 12 o'clock noon. The organizations in line were Captain Hays' company of light infantry, Captain Van Arsdale's company of Federal Blues, Captain Parkhurst's company of artillery, Captain Johnson's company of cavalry (dismounted), Colonel Hays' company of Silver Grays, St. John's Lodge, F. and A. M., field officers of the militia and clergy. The musicians played dead marches.
Church bells were tolled an hour, and the men wore crape on the arm, which they did not remove for thirty days. The memorial services were held in the First Presbyterian Church and the text of Dr. Macwhorter's sermon was taken from Deuteronomy xxxiv:5, "So Moses, the Servant of the Lord, died." Alexander Macwhorter, son of the pastor, read Washington's address of declination of third term as Presi- dent of the United States. Rev. Dr. Ogden, of Trinity Episcopal Church, offered prayer.
Special exercises were also held at the First Church, on February 22, 1800, the natal day of the Father of his Country. and in his remembrance.
Foremost of the local public improvements, late in the
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Eighteenth Century was the building of a bridge over the Passaic River at Bridge Street in 1792. Streets were un- paved and the thoroughfare "running the length of the town" was impassable when persistent rainstorms prevailed. An effort in 1798 to restore the Puritan Sunday by orga- nizing "The Voluntary Association of the People of Newark to Observe the Sabbath," failed, and the town morals con- tinued under the watchfulness of the constabulary.
Wells and springs constituting the principal water supply had not failed, nor the stream feeding the frog pond at
Rear View of Elisha Boudinot's Home
Broad and Market streets diminished its flow. Each home provided its fire-fighting apparatus, consisting of one or two leathern buckets and a ladder, though they were not sufficient to combat a well-started conflagration, lamentably apparent when the home of Judge Elisha Boudinot on Park Place was destroyed by fire early in January, 1797. The people were very much exercised over the loss which induced the town clergymen-Rev. Dr. Alexander Macwhorter and
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the Rev. Uzal Ogden-to call a mass meeting on January 16, 1797, when citizens were requested "to meet to-morrow even- ing at the court house at the ringing of the bell to consult on the purchase of an engine and also on the formation of two fire companies." The engine, handpumped, was ordered and an organization of volunteer firemen made up Newark's first Fire Department.
Rev. Moses N. Combs, a resident of the town since the early part of the Eighteenth Century, sent the first order-200 pairs of seal shoes-to a merchant of Au- gusta, Ga., and thereby became the pioneer manufacturer - sending this Newark product to outside communities. Prosperity visited him and he was liberal in the use of his means for promoting the town spirit. He was of a deeply re- ligious disposition, a liberal Presbyterian, and established a' church in a building which he erected on Market Street, near Plane Street. The upper part was devoted to a school and the sanctuary was on the first floor. His sermons were ex- pository of a practical religion, advocating at all times the emancipation of human beings from slavery and the mind from superstition. He would not hold the blacks in bondage, and he exercised a helpful influence over the community morals.
One of his estimable acts was the providing of a free school for his apprentices. The custom was in vogue, and continued till long after the Civil War, to apprentice boys from the age of sixteen years till reaching their majority, to manufacturers and tradesmen, who were held responsible also for the development of character of their charges as well as mastering the trade details. Every young man was expected to begin his life's work equipped with a trade or profession.
Jewelry manufacture began about 1790, when Benjamin Cleveland advertised himself as a gold and silversmith. In 1800 only a few buildings were on Broad Street, from Rec- tor Street to South Park (now Lincoln Park). John Wood, editor and printer of Wood's Gazette, Newark's first news- paper; John Nesbitt, farmer; P. Hill (afterward by Rev. Dr.
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Ogden), Mrs. Hatfield, Caleb Baldwin, Caleb Sayres and Jonathan Sayres occupied the lots on the west side of Broad Street, opposite Military Park. A vacant lot came next on the south and then the Academy, the most pretentious build- ing on that side of the main highway. A lane passed west- ward, now known as Academy Street. Beyond this, in a southerly direction, was William Tuttle's cottage, W. Rodger's house and saddlery, Thomas Jones' store, Jasper Ten Brook's house and store, Smith Burnet's watch shop, and at the corner of Broad and Market Streets was Pennington & Bruen's general store, destroyed by fire in 1808.
On the opposite corner, where the Firemen's Building is now located, was Archer Gifford's stage house and tavern, the most popular public house of the vicinity (Rev. Abraham Pierson's house stood on the plot when he removed to Killing- worth, Conn.). Early in the morning a two-horse stage coach backed up to the stone block in front of the tavern, and passengers leisurely went aboard for Paulus Hook, now Jer- sey City. The vehicle was most uncomfortable, but it was the best the period afforded. The long body of the cumber- some affair hung from iron jacks and a baggage rack was placed in the rear. Springs, now necessary in every vehicle of transportation on land, were not then in use.
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