USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Old times in old Monmouth > Part 5
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It was subsequently discovered that these men, whose name was John and Robert Smith, were brothers from near
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Philadelphia, that they had robbed and murdered a Mr. Boyd, a collector of taxes in Chester county, and when taken, were on their way to join the British. As they had been apprehended on suspicion mere- ly of being refugees, no definite charge could be brought against them. A few days after, Sheriff Forman saw an adver- tisement in a Pennsylvania paper describ ing them, with the facts above mentioned, and a reward of $20,000 Continental mon- ey offered for their apprehension. He, ac- companied by his son, took them there, where they were trie i and executed. On entering Philadelphia young Tunis was carried through the streets in triumph upon the shoulders of the military. In the latter part of the war this young man became very active, and was a pecu- liar favorite of General David Forman. He died not far from 1835. ( The foregoing account is as related by the late Dr. Sam uel Forman to Henry Howe, Esq.)
CAPTAIN JOSEPH COWARD.
In a Philadelphia work containing Sketches of Revolutionary Heroos is found the following notice of one of the patriots of old Monmouth :
" Joseph Coward was a native of Mon- mouth county, N. J. In view of his cogno- men we may well exclaim, " What's in a name, my Lord?" He was a Coward; and yet one of the bravest of the Revolutionary Captains. He was a great terror to the Refugees alias Tories. At the Battle of Monmouth and at several other places, his undaunted courage was conspicuous .- When the British fleet lay off Sandy Hook, one of the supply ships ran too near the shore and stuck fast. With a few, Captain Coward captured her in defiance of two barges manned with superior numbers that were sent to the rescue. At the clese of the war he returned to his farm, became the esteemed citizen and fully exemplified the noble attributes of an honest man."
From his name we should not be sur- prised if the above named hero was a rela- tive of the late Captain Joseph Coward of Toms River, formerly a member of the Legislature, a gentleman much esteemed and popular among his political opponents, | as well as friends.
A JERSEY BLUE AT THE BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN.
BARKALOW, OF OLD MONMOUTHI.
The following story which we find in an old work is worth repeating:
" A Brave Fellow .- Among numerous feats of valor performed by individuals of the American Revolutionary army, none has pleased me more than the following, related by an eye witness.
" During the heat of the battle at Ger. mantown, while bullets flew thick as hail- stones, one Barkalow, of Monmouth, N. J., was levelling his musket at the enemy when the lock was carried away by a ball. Undismayed, he caught up the gun of a comrade, just killed by his side, and taking aim, a bullet entered the muzzle and twist- ed the barrel round like a corkscrew! Still undaunted, our hero immediately aneel d down, unscrewed the whole lock from the twisted barrel, screwed it on the barrel from which the lock had been torn, and blazed away at the enemy.
" Can ancient Sparta or modern Bririan boast a more brilliant display of cool. de- liberate, unshaken courage ? This hero is still living."-Niles Prin. Revolution, 1822
THE REDSTONE COUNTRY.
OLD MONMOUTH CITIZENS EMIGRATING WEST.
At different times between fifty and a hundred years ago, a large number of the citizens of old Monmouth emigrated to what then was termed "the Redstone country." These emigrants left behind numerous relatives, and among their de. scendants are often heard inquiries as to the precise locality of this " Redstone country." The origin of the name at the present day seems somewhat singular.
The term " Redstone settlements " or " Redstone country," was employed to de- note most f the country in Pennsylvania and Virginia west of the mountains. The name Redstone was applied to a creek which enters the Monongahela below Brownsville, Pa., upon which was a settle- ment called " Redstone Old Fort."
In that day coal, as an article of fuel, was unknown. It is stated that "the hills abounded with bituminous coal; and along water courses where the earth had been washed off, the coal was left exposed which often caught fire ; these fires came in contact with the surrounding earth and
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stones and gave them a red appearance -- indeed so much so that when pulverized they were used in painting a Spanish | brown color. Hence the name. Many of these red banks are now visible, the most prominent of which are in Redstone Creek, Fayette county, Pa."
The last considerable exodus of citizens of old Monmouth bound for the Redstone country, occurred some fifty odd years ago. Some of the emigrants from the county who went previous to this time, experienc- ed great hardships, and at one time were so seriously annoyed by the Indians that they had to return until the troubles were over. One native of old Monmouth named Conoved' during the Indian troubles, be- came quite noted for his skill and bravery in meeting the savages, and his adventures were so thrilling that we shall try to find place for them hereafter; it will be seen that he did no discredit to the county that gave him birth.
INDIAN WILL.
AN ECCENTRIC ABORIGINAL OF OLD MON- MOUTH.
In days gone by the singular character and eccentric acts of the noted Indian Will, formed the theme of many a fireside | sand ; Will kept the white money and story among our ancestors, many of which Longstreet the yellow ( gold,) and this sat- isfactory division, made the Longstreets quite wealthy." are still well remembered by our older citizens, especially those belonging to the Society of Friends. Some of the incidents given below, derived many years ago from aged Friends, differ in some particulars, but we give them as related to us now, in hopes some of our readers can furnish cor- rections and additions. The first story given below, was published some thirty years ago, and as will be seen differs from other versions.
" About the year 1670, the Indians sold out the section of country near Eatontown to Lewis Morris for a barrel of cider, and emigrated to Crosswicks and Cranbury .- One of them, called Indian Will, remained and dwelt in a wigwam between Tinton Falls and Swimming river. His tribe were in consequence exasperated, and at vari- ous times sent messengers to kill him in single combat ; but being a brave, athletic man, he always came ofi conqueror. On a certain occasion, while partaking of a breakfast of suppawn and milk at Mr. Ea- ton's with a silver spoon, he casually re-
marked that he knew where there were plenty of such. They promised if he would bring them they would give him a red coat and a cocked hat. In a short time he was arrayed in that dress; and it is said that the Eatons suddenly became wealthy. Abont 80 years since. in pulling down an old mansion in Shrewsbury, in which a maiden member of this family in her lifetime had resided, a quantity of cob dollars, supposed by the superstitious to have been Kidd's money, were found con- cealed in the cellar wall. This coin was generally of a square or oblong shape, the corners of which wore out the pockets."- (Howe's Hist. Coll.)
A somewhat similar or a variation of the above tradition, we have frequently heard as follows :
" India. Will often visited the family of Derrick Longstreet at Manasquan, and one time showed them some silver money which excited their surprise ; they wished to know where he got it, and wanted Will to let them have it. Will refused to part with it. but told them he had found it in a trunk along the beach, and there was plenty of yellow money beside ; but as the yellow money was not as pretty as the white, he didn't want that, and Longstreet might have it. So Longstreet went with him, and found the money in a trunk cov- erel over with tarpaulin buried in the
It is very probable that Will found mon- ey along the beach, but whether it was from some shipwrecked vessel, or had been buried by pirates, is another question .- However, the connection of Kidd's name with the finding of the money would indi- cate that Will lived long after the year mentioned in the first quoted tradition. ( 1670.) Kidd did not sail on his piratical cruise until 1696. And trom the tradition- ary information the writer of this has been able to obtain, Will must have lived many years subsequent.
In personal appearance, Will is described as having been stout, broad shouldered, with prominent Indian cast of features and rings in his ears, and a good sized one in his nose. The following are some of the additional traditions related of him:
Among other things which Will had done to excite the ill will of other Indians he was charged with killing his wife. Her brother named Jacob, determined on re-
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venge; so he pursued him and finding Will unarmed, undertook to march him off cap- tive. As they were going along, Will espied a pine knot on the ground, and managed to pick it up and suddenly dealt Jacob a fatal blow, and as he dropped to the ground, Will tauntingly exclaimed, " Jacob, look up at the sun-you'll never see it again." Most of the old residents who relate stories of Will. speak of his finding honey at one time on the dead body of an Indian he had previously killed, but whether it was Jacob or some other is not mentioned.
At one time, to make sure work of kill- ing Will, four or five Indians started in pursuit of him, and they succeeded in sur- prising him so suddenly that he had no chance for defence or fight. His captors told him they were about to kill him and he must at once prepare to die. He heard his doom with Indian stoicism, and he had only one favor to ask before he died, and that was to be allowed to take a drink out of his jug of liquor which had just been filled. So small a favor the captors could not refnse. As Will's jug was full. it was only common politeness to ask them to drink also. Now if his captors had any weakness it was for rum ; so they grateful- ly accepted his invitation. The drink rendered them talkative, and they com. menced reasoning with him upon the enormity of his offences, The condemned man admitted the justness of their re- proaches, and begged to be allowed to take another drink to drown the stings of con- science ; the captors condescendingly join- ed him again-indeed it would have been cruel to refuse to drink with a man so soon to die. This gone through with, they per- suaded Will to make a full confession of his misdeeds, and their magnitude so aroused the indignation of his captors, that they had to take another drink to enable them to do their duty becomingly. Indeed, they took divers drinks, so over- come were they by his harrowing tale; and then they become so unmanned, that they had to try to recuperate by sleep. Then crafty Will, who had really drank but lit- tle, softly arose. found his hatchet. and soon despatched his would-be captors.
It was a rule with Will not to waste any ammunition, and therefore he was bound to eat all the game he killed, but a buz- zard which he once shot sorely tried him, and it took two or three days starving, be- fore he could stomach it. One time when. alone upon the beach he was seized with a
fit of sickness and thought he was about to die ; and not wishing his dead body to lie exposed, he succeeded in digging a shallow grave in which he lay for awhile, but his sickness passed off' and he crept out and went on his way rejoicing. He would never, in the latter years of his life. kill a willet, as he said a willet once saved his life. He said he was in a canoe one dark night crossing the bay, somewhat the worse for liquor, and unconsciously about to drift out the inlet into the ocean, when a willet screamed, and the peculiar cry of this bird seemed to him to sound, " this way, Will; this way. Will !" and that way Will went and reached the beach just in time to save himself from certain death in the breakers.
When after wild fowl he had a singular way of talking to them in a low tone :- "Come this way, my nice bird. Will won't hurt you ; Will won't hurt you !" If he succeeded in killing one he would say : " You fool, you believe me eh ? Ah, Will been so much with the whites he learned to lie like a white man !"
An old resident of the present county of Ocean, says that " Indian Will some- times travelled down along shore as far as Barnegat Inlet and always attended by a lot of big, lean, hungry looking dogs, to help him fight off other Indians."
Near the mouth of Squan River is a place known as " Will's Hole." There are two versions of the origin of the name .- One old gentleman living in the vicinity. says it was so called because Will was drowned in it. The other version is that Will drowned his wife here.
The following traditions of Indian Will were told last summer by the venerable Thomas Cook of Point Pleasant, recently deceased, to a correspondent of the New York World. Though copied in this paper at that time, yet in this connection they will bear republishing :
Along the shore of Squan river a small inlet was pointed out to me which is known as " Indian Will's Hole." Some three quarters of a century ago, an old Indian chief made his home in the woods attached to the Cook farm. He was a brawny, muscular savage, peaceably inclined to- wards the whites and suffered no molesta- tion from them. Many of his people lived around him, but he preferred to occupy his cabin alone with his wife, while he spent most of his time in hunting and fishing.
But one day Indian Will brought home
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a muskrat, which he ordered his spouse to prepare for dinner. She obeyed, but when it was placed upon the table, refused to partake of it. " Very well," grunted the noble red man, " if you are too good to eat maskrat you are too good to live with me." And thereupon took her down to the little bay spoken of, and caused her to sink so effectually that she has not yet come to the surface.
Indian Will had three brothers-in-law, two of whom resided on Long Island, and when in course of time word reached them of the manner in which the chief had "put away " their sister, they went down to Jersey to avenge her death. When they reached Will's cabin he sat inside eating clam soup. Knowing their errand, he in- vited them in to dinner, telling them that he would fight it out with them as soon as the meal was concluded. "Barkis was willin " and they gathered around the ab- original board, complimenting the steam- ing soup which was placed before them, and scooped it into their capacious jaws in the very felicity of sensuous enjoyment.
Before dinner was over Indian Will pre- tended that he heard some one approach- ing, and spring'ng up hurried out of his cabin as if to meet him. But the instant he was out of sight of the two visitors, he caught up their two guns, which they had left leaning up against the cabin in full trust of his honor, and through the open door shot both, the last redskin falling dead as he was rushing out to close in with his treacherous host.
In those days it was the custom of the Indians to hold a yearly meeting or coun- til at a place now known as Burrsville, somewhat like a dozen miles from this point. It was here that Indian Will en countered the third brother-in-law, and they started homeward together having no weapons with them, but carrying a jug of whiskey. Deep in the gloomy recesses of the pine woods. when his blood was in- flamed with fire-water, this Indian told the chief that he must die as the death of his relatives must be avenged.
They halted and closed in the deadly struggle. Both were active and powerful men and it was a fight unto death ; but late in the evening Indian Will appeared at his cabin with no companion but his whiskey jug. The next day he received several visitors from his race who had been at the Council the day before, and who had seen the two depart together. In. quiring as to what had become of his com-
rade, he told them to search and they would probably find out.
They took the back trail of the chief and after an hour's tramping found the dead body. The crushed skull and a bloody pine knot near told the tale. Hence- forth Indian Will was let alone and quiet- ly died in his own cabin many years after. I find that in the deed of the Cook farm, this " Indian Will's Hole " is recognized, and its margin is given as one of the land- marks."
CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION- PRINCIPLES INVOLVED.
Early Stand taken by the Citizens of Mon- mouth .- Proceedings of Meetings in Different Townships in 1774-5 .- Free- hold leads the State .- County Resolu. tions .- An Admirable Document .- Pa- triots Appeal to their Descendants .- " A Faithful Record" of 1774, and its Message to 1873.
Historians of other States have always conceded that the citizens of New Jersey were among the earliest and most active opponents of those tyrannical acts of Great Britain which brought on the war, and fi- nally resulted in separation. Large and spirited public meetings were held in va- rious parts of the State in 1774-5, to de- nounce the obnoxious laws, and to organ- ize for counsel and defence.
At this stage of affairs, separation from England had not been proposed, and most of these meetings, while condemning the acts of the British Ministry and Parlia- ment, still expressed decided loyalty to the King. Our ancestors warmly seconded the stand taken by the people of Boston and freely forwarded contributions to the suffering inhabitants of that city.
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We annex extracts from the proceed- ings of some of these meetings in Old Monmouth, as they exhibit the timely zeal and firm and decided spirit of its citi- zens, and also furnish the names of some of the leading spirits who were prominent In the early stages of political movements which brought on the Revolution. The several counties of the State were request- ed to send delegates to meet at New Bruns. wick, July 21st, 1774, to consider what
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action should be taken by the citizens of the Province of New Jersey. This conven- tion was generally spoken of as the " Pro- vincial Congress of New Jersey, " and was a different body from the Legislature ; in several instances, however, the same per- sons were members of both bodies. A number of persons named in these pro- ceedings were afterwards, during the war, conspicuous in military or civil life, for their services in behalf of their country in legislative halls and on the field of battle.
For a year or two the citizens of the county appear to have been about unani- mous in their sentiments, but when finally the subject of a separation from the moth. er country was boldly advocated, there was found to be a diversity of opinion, and some who were among the most active in the meetings of 1774-5, earnestly opposed the proposition, and eventually sided with England in the later years of that memor- able struggle. The fearful consequences of this division, in which it would seem almost every man capable of bearing arms was compelled to take sides, we have en- deavored to give in other chapters.
The citizens of Freehold had the honor, we believe, of holding the first meeting in New Jersey to denounce the tyrannical acts of Great Britain-of inaugurating the movements in our State which finally re- sulted in Independence. The date of their first meeting is June 6th, 1774; the earliest date of a meeting in any other place that we have met with, is of a meet- ing at Newark, June 11th, 1774.
The following is a copy of the Freehold Proceedings :
LOWER FREEHOLD RESOLUTIONS.
" FREEHOLD June 6th 1774.
" Ata meeting of the Freeholders and In- habitants of the Township of Lower Free- hold in the county of Monmouth in New Jersey, on Monday the 6th day of June 1774 after notice given of the time place and occasion of this meeting
' Resolved That it is the unanimous opin- ion of this meeting, that the cause in which the inhabitants of the town of Boston are now suffering is the common cause of the whole Continent of North America ; and that unless some general spirited measures, for the public safety be speedily entered into there is just reason to fear that every Province may in turn share the same fate with them; and that therefore, it is highly incumbent on them all to unite in some
effectual means to obtain a repeal of the Boston Port Bill and any other that may follow it, which shall be deemed subver- sive of the rights and privileges of free burn Americans.
" And that it is the opinion of this meet- ing that in case it shall hereafter appear to be consistent with the general opinlon of the trading towns and the commercial part of our countrymen, that an entire stoppage of importation and exportation from and to Great Britain and the West Indies, until the said Port Bill and other Acts be repealed, will be conducive to the safety and preservation of North America and her liberties, they will yield a cheerful acquiesence in the measure and earnestly reccommend the same to all their breth- ren in this Province.
"' Resolved, moreover That the inhabitants of this township will join in an Association with the several towns in the county and in conjuction with them, with the several counties in the Province (if, as we doubt not they see fit to accede to the proposal ) in any measures that may ap- pear best adapted to the weal and safety of North America and all her loyal sons.
" Ordered That
JOHN ANDERSON Esq PETER FORMAN HENDRICK SMOCK JOHN FORMAN
ASHIER HOLMES Capt JNO COVENHOVEN
and Dr. NATHANIEL SOUP DER
be a committee for the township to join those who may be elected for the neigli- boring townships or counties to constitute a General Committee for any purposes similar to those above mentioned; and that the gentlemen so appointed do im- mediately solicit a correspondence with the adjacent towns."
( Dr. Scudder subsequently was a Colo- nel in the First Regiment Monmouth Militia, and killed October 15th. 1781. as described elsewhere.)
The following week the citizens of Essex sent the following to the patriots of Mon- month :
ESSEX TO MONMOUTH. " ELIZABETHTOWN June 13th 1774.
"Gentlemen : The alarming Measures which have been lately taken to deprive the Inhabitants of the American Colonies of their constitutional Rights and Privi- leges, together with the late violent attacks made upon the rights and liberties of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay ( for as- serting and endeavoring to maintain their rights ) manifestly intended to crush then without Mercy and thereby disunite and
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weaken the Colonies, and at the same time dare them to assert or own their Constitu- tional Rights, Liberties or Properties, un- der the Penalty of the like, and if possible, worse treatment ; and as the Assembly of New Jersey are not like to meet in time to answer the Design proposed, and the neighboring Colonies are devising and ex- pecting the immediate union of this Colo- ny with them.
"Sundry of the Inhabitantsof the County of Essex by Advertisements, convened a general Meeting of said County at Newark on Saturday last, when the said inhabi- tants unanimously entered into certain Resolves and Declarations upon that occa. sion, a copy of which you have enclosed. We the Committee appointed by the said Meeting, do earnestly request that You will immediately by Advertisements or otherwise, call a general Meeting of your County for the purposes aforesaid as soon as possible, as we have intelligence that it is most probable the General Congress of the Colonies will be held the latter end of July next. We think New Brunswick the most suitable place for the committee to meet, and with submission to them desire they will meet us at New Brunswick on Thursday July 21st next at 10 o'clock in the morning, unless some other time and place more suitable shall in the meantime be agreed upon.
" We earnestly request your answer as soon as possible.
" Letters of this Tenor and Date we now despatch to the other Counties in this Col- ony.
We are, Gentlemen, " your most ob't servants " STEPHEN CRANE Chairman " By order :
" To Messrs Edward Taylor, Richard Law- rence Elisha Lawrence, John Taylor and Henry Waddell, and other Inhabitants of the County of Monmouth, Friends to the Liberties and Privileges of the American Colonies.
( The above letter was directed to the above named gentlemen " or to any body else in Monmouth County.")
Delegates from the different townships in the county assembled at Freehold, July 19th, and the result of their decision is found in the following admirable docu- ment. It is lengthy but will well repay pernsai. In the closing paragraph they trust that some faithful record will trans- mit the reasons which actuated them, to their posterity to whom they make a brief but eloquent appeal. As they desired, this
record has been preserved, and as they desired, we do what we can to place it be- fore their descendants:
MONMOUTH COUNTY RESOLUTIONS.
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