USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Narratives of Newark (in New Jersey) from the days of its founding > Part 4
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"I will extol thee, my God, oh, King, and I will bless Thy Name forever." The 145th psalm was chosen. At the sixteenth verse the master read with emphasis: "Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." A long prayer was fervently offered and the simple service ended with the benediction.
The fire, winter and summer, was banked earlier than on other days, refreshing slumbers waited upon the household, and with the rising sun all were in readiness for further
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participation in service of praise to Almighty God. Only necessary attention to live stock was permitted in the way of worldly activity. Quietly it was done, all conversation, except upon religious themes, strictly prohibited. Joseph John- son, the town drummer, could not help his reflective mood as he sounded the call for Meeting House services. He was now a member of the Pierson family, having married Rebecca, daughter of the first . pastor, and thoughts constantly recurred to Betty Lamp the good man so recently gone to his rest.
Sensible of the responsibility thrust upon him in assuming his father's mantle, the young preacher entered the pulpit at the hour announced, and, we are informed, "gave a good account of himself." Rev. Abraham Pierson, now thirty- three years of age, was born at Southampton, Long Island, in 1645. Rudiments of his education were received from his parents, and then he entered Harvard College, graduating in 1668, the second year of Newark's settlement. In full flush of manhood, the minister was comely of appear- ance and his figure well-proportioned, indicating physical and mental endurance. Disdaining not to labor in the field, he accumulated worldly goods and sustenance in the hours of relaxation and also acquired health for the prosecu- tion of his chosen profession.
Rev. Mr. Pierson was one of the first clergymen born, educated, and ordained to the priesthood on the Western Continent. An environment, religiously high-tensioned, ex- hibited weakening signs, at the beginning of the second pastorate, and no one was more aware of the fact than he of the cloth. To the Meeting House on September 30, 1678, came the men of Newark to provide for his temporal welfare, as they had so loyally for the father
"It is fully and unanimously consented to," reads the action taken, "and agreed upon by every Planter now Pres- ent, all being called by Name, that they will from Time to
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Time pay or cause to be payed Yearly, in their full Pro- portions Equally in a Rate that may be agreed on by the Major Part of the Town, to the Maintenance and allowance now agreed upon for the upholding and preaching of the Word in our Town, and Eighty Pounds by the Year is agreed upon to be allowed to the present Minister with his fire wood- and to be Rate free."
The pastor was first assigned a home lot on the highway . running the breadth of the town, but a few years later he purchased the homestead at the northeast corner of the two main highways, the tract being part of the drawing by Deacon Lawrence Ward in the original allotment. When the latter died the property reverted to his widow Eliza- beth. In the town book of deeds and surveys this item is found:
John Catlin and John Ward, turner, administrators of the estate of the late Deacon Lawrence Ward, convey to Abraham Pierson, Jr., Clericus, with consent of Elizabeth Ward, relict of Deacon L. Ward, the dwelling house, well, yard, barn, garden and orchard with one acre and three rods of land, contained by and adjacent to the same according to a bill of sale bearing date of February 1, 1672, as also one great wainscott chair, two hogs- heads, one kneading trough and two joint stools, formerly be- longing to the said Lawrence Ward.
Rev. Mr. Pierson married Miss Abigail Clark, daughter of George Clark, of Milford, Conn. Abraham, the first-born of this marriage, was, in after years, a prominent Con- necticut Magistrate. The other children of the minister's family were Sarah, Susanna, Mary, Hannah, Ruth, James, Abigail and John. The last-named became a well-known Presbyterian clergyman.
Peter Watson who had come to the province, writing to his brother John, in Selkirk, Scotland, in August, 1684, indicated changing religious sentiment in Newark. He says: "They are here very good Religious people. They go under the name of Independents, but are most like to the
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Presbyterians, only they will not receive every one to their Society. We have great need of good and Faithful Ministers And I wish to God that there would come some over here; they can live as well, and have as much as in Scotland, and more than many get; we have none in all the Province of East Jersey except one who is Preacher in Newark."
The people, impressed with the pastor's independence re- garding church membership and attendance, baptismal rites and his desire for a general revision of Puritan practices, were arrayed for and against him, and even his salary was withheld. Discordant notes were injected into the daily life, and the bolder of the town men discussing the issues with him found themselves no match for one so skilled in debate as he and who was equally shrewd in reading the character of men by their demeanor. The opposition developed into a fear for the man who demonstrated his ability in an unusual degree to occupy the office of town leader.
Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, of Elizabeth Town, first Presi- dent of the College of New Jersey, ascribed the trouble to an unwarranted jealousy among the people, principally because of the Rev. Mr. Pierson's superior attainments. Matters were approaching a climax during the winter of 1687, when the pastor's supporters, having a majority vote at the town meeting on January 2, adopted the following: "The way of rating, as formerly, which was after desisted from, and agreed upon to pay the Minister by Contribution for the year 1687."
Another meeting was called for January 9, one week later, when:
It is fully and unanimously consented to and agreed upon by every Planter now present, all being called by Name, that they will from Time to Time pay or cause to be paid yearly, in their full proportion, equally, in a Rate that may be agreed on by the Major Part of the Town, to the Maintenance and Allowance now agreed upon for the upholding and preaching of the Word in our Town, and Eighty Pounds by the Year is agreed upon to be allowed to the present Minister, with his firewood and to be
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Rate free. Note, it is to be understood that every man that doth now subscribe to this Agreement, he paying his Proportion in the Rate, shall not be liable to be prosecuted to make Pay- ment for any that may be deficient in non-payment. In Con- firmation whereof we have hereunto set to our Names.
John Ward, sen., John Bruen, Thos. Johnson, Samuel Freeman, John Curtis, John Baldwin, jr., Seth Tompkins, Micah Tompkins, Samuel Tichenor, Edward Ball, Edward Riggs, Samuel Kitchell, John Cockburn, Anthony Oliff, Joseph Riggs, Theophilus Pierson, Azariah Crane, Samuel Harrison, Daniel Dod, Stephen Davis, Samuel Plum, sen., John Crane, Nathaniel Ward, John Browne, sen., Zachariah Burwell, Ephraim Burwell, Thomas Browne, John Tichenor, Joseph Browne, John Browne, jr., Joseph Walters, Ebenezer Canfield, Matthew Canfield, Robert Dalglesh, Francis Lindly, Samuel Pierson, Jasper Crane, Joseph Harrison, Thomas Pierson, Samuel Dod, George Harrison, Samuel Lyon, Thomas Richards, David Ogden, Samuel Rose, Richard Lawrence, Jona- than Sargeant, John Baldwin, sen., Hans Albers, Jonathan Tomp- kins, Joseph Robinson.
Now was the house divided. Twenty-one years had elapsed since the pioneers came to the country. Town government, fostered upon the purest principles of Christian fellowship, was eminently successful under the leadership of men of indomitable character, and the moral tone of the community was the equal, if not superior, to all others in the province. The civic and religious life was not broken. Only a slight jar had been received.
The homes in constant need of fuel caused the settlers to cut wide clearings in the forest. The town nevertheless continued supplying Rev. Mr. Pierson's firewood. The day appointed for sawing, chopping, hauling and arranging it in the minister's yard partook of holiday spirit. While the men were engaged in their self-imposed labor, the women were busy in the parsonage kitchen, arranging the feast. Refreshments, liquid and solid, were served in unstinted quantities to the hungry and thirsty woodchoppers, who minded not their fatigue in the enjoyable aftermath, which was as mirthful as Puritan rigidity allowed. Cider
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was served in generous portions and there was food enough for all.
Dr. Pierson may have preached reminiscently as he an- nounced his intention to leave Newark after notifying the town officials of his acceptance of a call to Killingworth, Conn., in 1692. He was now forty-seven years of age, dis- tinguished in bearing and of a perspicacity difficult to attain in a partly unresponsive intellectual environment. Differences existing for many years were laid aside as the day for dis- solving the relationship drew near. Amends were made for remissness in withholding the pastor's salary. It was an humbled meeting of planters responding to the drummer's call on April 2, 1692, when, with as much haste as Puritan slowness of action warranted, this provision by way of rep- aration was adopted unanimously:
It is voted that Mr. Pierson shall be paid his Salary for the Time for which no Rates have been made proportionable to the Rate made for Two Years together (viz) '88 and '89.
The preacher and teacher, counsellor and consoler, who was about to leave for far-away New England had spent pleasant hours by the planters' firesides and partaken of their hospitality. It was not an easy matter to say good- bye after the long association. The last sermon was preached; the ship was loaded with the minister's merchandise and household goods; the final hand-clasps were exchanged. Matrons and maidens wept as wind and sail set the craft in motion, and more than one of the solemn-looking men standing on the shore with difficulty shouted their fare- wells, so overcome were they at the parting. It was a separation, indeed, forever. Covering a quarter of a cen- tury and more, the two Piersons, father and son, planted their souls' best efforts in Newark life. Their work abides even to this day.
After serving the people of Killingworth (now Clinton) about ten years, Rev. Mr. Pierson accepted the call, in 1701, to the rectorship of Yale University, or the College of Con-
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necticut, its first designation. Six years he occupied the high office. Known as a divine of close application to the Scrip- tures and an eminent scholar, he brought to the new insti- tution a high sense of obligation. Faithfully he administered the duties of the office till failing health overtook him. He - died at the close of the year 1706. Trumbull, of Connecticut, says: "He had the character of a hard student, a good scholar and a great divine. In his whole conduct he was wise, steady and admirable, was greatly respected as a pastor and he in- structed and governed the college with general approbation."
An inscription on a tombstone at the burial plot, furnished by Miss Lizzie Pierson, compiler of the Pierson Genealogy, contains the following:
Here Lyeth ye body of ye Rev. d Mr. Abra.h Pierson, The first Rector of ye College of Connecticut, who deceased March ye 5th 1706-7 aged 61 years.
And alongside is a tombstone with this inscription:
Here lyeth ye body of Mrs. Abigail Pierson wife of ye Rev. Mr. Abra.m Pierson who deceased March ye 15th A. D. 1727 aged 73 years.
CHAPTER VIII
THE CORN MILL
O NE of the settlement's urgent needs was a corn mill. Reducing the grain to a digestible commodity was an abiding necessity and more frequently performed by the laborious process of pestle and bowl. Corn meal, the break- fast diet nearly every day in the year, known also as mush, hasty pudding, porridge and suppawn, was prepared by tossing the golden mass into a kettle of boiling water. It was poured into pewter cups after a few minutes' energetic stirring, milk added, and served to the waiting members of the family. A Sabbath Day variation was effected by serv- ing it cold. Silver bowls were used by the master in homes of affluence, a mark of distinction rather than of pride.
A pine table without cover answered for our modern mahogany, and the furnishings of the home were limited to the articles absolutely used in the round of the day.
Opinions were frequently expressed by a few more in- geniously inclined at the town meeting on March 9, 1668, that the creek in the north end of town would provide ample power for a corn mill, in the erection of which efforts half- heartedly made earlier in the year had failed.
Captain Treat now proposed a plan for the encourage- ment of an individual or individuals to assume the con- tract for building the mill, that it might be finished before reaping the next harvest.
Firm was the belief of all in home trade. The thought was not in public mind of turning to New England or any other place to secure one skilled in the trade of millwright. Confident were more of the optimistic planters that from among their number a proposition would be advanced in response to this alluring offer:
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"The Town saw Cause, for the Incouragement of any amongst them that would Build and Maintain a Good Mill for the supply of the Town with Good Grinding, To offer and Tender freely the Timber Prepared for that use, Twenty Pounds Current Pay, and the Accommodations Formerly . Granted Belonging to the Mill, viz .: 18 Acres of upland and 6 of meadow, with the only Liberty and privilege of Building a Mill on ye Brook; which Motion was Left to the Considera- tion of the Town Betwixt this and the 12th of this Mo .. Current at Even, and the Meeting is adjourned to that time. And in Case any desire sooner or in the Mean Time to have any further Treaty or Discourse, about his or their under- taking of the Mill, they may repair to Mr. Treat, Deacon Ward, and Lieut. Swaine to prepare any Agreement between the Town and them."
The most perplexing municipal problem of the Twen- tieth Century involves no greater difficulties than did this first public utilitarian enterprise. The drummer warned the planters to attend the adjourned meeting on March 12, 1668. All were eager to hear Captain Treat's report and were prompt in attendance, but he was compelled to regretfully announce that no offers had been received for taking up the important task. Lieutenant Swaine, who was a millwright by trade, after a conference with the cap- tain and others, volunteered to act in the capacity of super- visor if all the town men would assist in the work. For his compensation Swaine was to receive twenty shillings by the week "and three Pounds over for his skill." He was also "to give his best advice about the Dam and the Town promiseth to help him with Work in part of his pay as he needs it; common Laborers at two shillings by the Day and Carpenters at 2s. 6d. the Day." Robert Treat, Henry Lyon, John Brown and Stephen Davis were to oversee the work, Thomas Pierson and George Day were "to call the men forth to Labour," and Zachariah Burwell and John Baldwin "to saw about half the Timber that's to be cut," and were allowed six shillings for each 100 feet of boards
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THE CORN MILL
"and for the Two inche Plank they are to have 6d. more in the Hundred." The meeting adjourned with the under- standing that the "town would send men forth upon the Discovery to see if they could find any suitable Stones for Millstones."
Nearly a year and a half the work dragged along till the town patience was exhausted. At the opportune moment,
Grinding Stone found near site of Corn Mill
Captain Robert Treat and Sergeant Richard Harrison, agreed, at the meeting on August 24, 1670, to build the mill. "The Town at length Made a full agreement with Mr. Robert Treat and Serj't Rich'd Harrison," reads the ac- count written by Captain Treat, "about the Building and Maintaining of a Sufficient Corn Mill, to be set upon the Little Brook, with suitable Necessary's, and Making the Damns, and all other Provisions, needful for and belonging to the sd Mill, and furnishing the same with a good Miller, and to keep it in Good repair; to Grind all the Town's Grist's into Good Meal, Giveing Such due Attendance thereto
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as the Town being the one Party and the owners of sd Mill the other Party shall from Time to Time and at all Times Agree upon for the Twelfth Part of Indian Corn and the Sixteenth of all other Grain.
"And for their Encouragement to set upon the Work . with as Speed as they Can, and upon their Efecting and Maintaining thereof, sd Town doth promise and agree to and with the sd Treat and Harrison, that they shall have . the sole privilege of the sd Brook, Not prejudicing Common Highways; with all the Town's Grist's from Time to Time, all Stones, Capable of Millstones in the Town's utmost Limits and Bounds, with all the Timber, that was prepared for it by Jos. Horton, with 2 days work of every Man and Woman that Holds an Allottment in the Town; with all the Lands formerly Granted to Jos. Horton, Entailed to the Mill in all respects as their own Lands During the Time and Term of their Having and Upholding the sd Mill; they being not to be Alienated or disposed from the Mill without the Consent of the Town; and also Thirty Pounds to be Paid to the sd Crane & Harrison, their Heirs or Assigns at or before the 1st of March Next, in Good Wheat, Pork, Beef, or one Fourth in Good Indian Corn, at such Prices as may be Like to procure Iron, Millstones, or the Workmens wages, viz .: Winter Wheat at 5s pr. Bus'l, Summer, do. at 4s. 5d, Pork 3d. pr. lb, Beef a 2d, and Indian Corn a 2s. 6d Bus'l; and upon these Conditions the said Town with their Two Inhabitants, have Mutually Bargained and Agreed for the Carrying on this work."
The mill was nearing completion in the spring. Grinding days were proclaimed on May 23, 1671, when "it's agreed that the 2d day of the week and the 6th day of the same week and the Next Days if the Town Need and the Work Cannot be well done on those days that are appointed and agreed upon by the Town Meeting and the Owners of the Mill to be their Grinding Days; upon which days the Miller is to attend to his Grinding and the Town are to bring their Grists and the Miller Promiseth to do his best as for
·
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THE CORN MILL
Himself to secure the same until it Be enclosed under Lock and Key."
All was in readiness for operations on a certain bright May morning in 1671. The dam had formed a good sized pond and the final inspection of the mill proved its worthi- ness. Puritan and Indian viewed with awe the creaking timbers in response to the turning of the water wheel. The sluice gates were opened, the stones began to move and clouds of dust arose from the pit where corn was turned into a finely powdered meal in an instant. Now the mill was a reality! A place was assured for the town grinding. Praises were on the people's lips for the two men who wrought the achievement. The miller presented an odd-looking figure in his stout trousers of leather, apron of same material and woolen shirt. He was well shod and he wore a large hat winter and summer. The dust, passing through one or two rents, powdered his hair a yellow tinge. He who turned the wheel of Newark's first industrial venture was happy in his work, so happy that he may have whistled a Meeting House tune when grinding was heavy and the mill was working well abreast of the rush orders.
The Indians arrived carrying bags of corn across their backs and departed with the grain turned into meal. Wheat and rye were brought to the mill by the settlers, but corn was the largest item of the grist. Robert and Richard gathered in the shekels while peace and harmony, prosperity and plenty, rewarded the merry water wheel's churning. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent when the former returned to his Milford home about a year after the installation of the plant. Sargeant Harrison continued as the sole owner till May 16, 1683, when he transferred his interests in the property to his three sons-Samuel, Joseph, and George. The father who was now three score and ten years old, the age limit prescribed by the psalmist, was pre- paring his estate for the final end.
The young men-they were under thirty-five years of age-continued the grinding till their days of labor were
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over. Then others took their places and Mill Brook, Corn Mill, its pond, raceway, and all the traditions clustered about them were associated with the town life nearly two centuries. Here it was that the boy and girl of several generations spent happy hours while the water flowed gently on its way to the ocean in the calm summer day or dashed furiously when dis- turbed by autumnal or winter storms. And here in the stirring Revolutionary period tar barrels were lighted as Liberty's Torch and peace proclaimed and independence abroad in the land, the fire was kindled for many years on each recurring anniversary of the country's natal day as an expression of the intense patriotic Newark Spirit.
CHAPTER IX
SYSTEM OF TAXATION INAUGURATED
P PRINCIPLES of sound local government were launched before the town was organized. While on the his- toric trip from Milford to the wilderness about the Pesayak River the Puritans discussed the constitution whereon to build the settlement. Equal distribution of all the burdens was planned and an item attached to the Fundamental Agreement explains the justice of the method employed in raising taxes.
"The Town hath agreed that a rate should be made for Payment of every Man's Share of the Purchase," we read, "and that they would refer the Matter to Seven Men, that should have full Power to hear, examine and judge of every Man's Estate and Persons, as their Rule, by which they will proceed in Time Convenient to pay for their Lands bought of the Natives, with the necessary Charges of settling the Place, and Mr. Pierson's Transport, and the Divisions and Sub-Divisions of all their Lands and Meadows belonging to the same.
"And the Men so Chosen were Mr. Robert Treat, Deacon Ward, Samuel Swaine, Mr. Camfield, Michael Tompkins, Richard Laurence and Joseph Walters, any five of whom shall have full Power to act herein, and for their Direction herein, the Town saw Cause to allow and pass upon every Head of a Family or that takes up Allotment in the Town, to be valued at 50 pounds, and for every Child or Servant in the Family besides, Ten Pounds by the Head, which shall be allowed as good Estate; and for all other kinds of Goods and Estates, Real and visible, that Men intend, God willing, to transport on the Place, the town wholly referrs themselves and the sole Determination into their Hands, according to
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· whose Judgment it shall stand-Which being done, the Town saw Cause that One Third Part of every Man's Estate in generall through the whole Town should be de- ducted, and according to the Remainder both the Charges and the Divisions of Land should be proportionated and borne for this Year."
"A sure List of Every Man's Estate Approved by the Sale Men," was also incorporated. Mr. Robert Treat was rated at $3,300, Deacon Ward at $1,850, Samuel Swaine at $2,750, Mr. Camfield at $2,500, Richard Laurence at $1,365, Joseph Walters at $900 and Michael Tompkins at $1,300.
Material wealth was measured by actual individual hold- ings. Gold and silver were scarce as mediums of exchange in barter and sale. A brass or iron kettle was of incalculable VSET value and carefully treasured. AND ..... IN AN 7652 They were needed in the daily life, and could only be obtained score cogien. XII from the Mother Country. A S ONEMAN 1,0 Corn, peas, wheat, beef and MA pork were staple products and The Pine Tree Shilling currency was standardized by these necessaries, under a regulated system of prices estab- lished by the Provincial Assembly. Accustomed are the people of the Twentieth Century to business dealings involv- ing vast sums of money and the collection of millions of dol- lars for public use. How insignificant, in comparison, the first tax budget appears !
It amounted to an even $1,200!
Newark's levy for 1915, providing for only a small portion of the territory of 1666, was $6,500,000. Thomas Johnson, of sound financial understanding, whose name is prominently identified with the foundation period, was appointed tax collector.
The manner of paying the tax was indicated at the same meeting: "The One Half of it that is to be Paid between this and the first of January next, and the other half Between this and the Last of March Next, in any Current pay that
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