USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Old times in old Monmouth > Part 8
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He held at different times the position- of Commissary. Justice. Judge, Town Clerk and Keeper of Official Records rela- ting to the settlements on both sides of the Delaware, collector of quit rents, &c. As collector of quit rents and agent to sell
In regard to the origin of the name of Toms River, we have two distinct tradi- tions ; one alleging that it was named after a somewhat noted Indian, who once / lands, his duties called him throughout
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the Southern half of our State, wherever settlers were found, and in search of elig- ible places for settlers to locate. And here his duties seem to have been somewhat similar to those performed for the Propri- etors by the late Francis W. Brinley, so well remembered by our citizens. We find that Capt. Tom was continually tray- eling to and fro in the performance of his duties, was among the first white men to cross the State to New York, was on good terms with the Indians, with whom he continually must have mingled, and it is not at all unlikely in the performance of his duties, he crossed to the shore by In- Tian paths, so numerous and so frequented by the red men in his time, and thus vis- ited the stream now known as Toms River.
As no outline of Capt. Tom's life and services has ever been published, we give the substance of the facts found relating to him, not only because of its probable bearing on the history of old Monmoutlı, and that our citizens may know who he was, but also because it gives an interest- ing chapter in the history of our State. It will be seen that he was a prominent, trusted and influential man before the founding of Philadelphia, Salem or Bur- Ington, or before any considerable settle- ments existed in New Jersey. In looking back to the past, it seems a long while to Indian Tom's day, but Capt. William Tom lived nearly a century before him. The following items are collected from New York, Pennsylvania and Deloware records.
CAPT. WILLIAM TOM came to this coun- try with the English expedition under Sir Robert Carre and Col. Richard Nicholls which conquered the Dutch at New Am. sterdam, (New York) August. 1664. Im- mediately after the English had taken for- mal possession of New York, two vessels, the. " Guinea " and the " William and Nicholas," under command of Sir Robert C'arre were despatched to attack the Dutch settlements on the Delaware river. After a feeble resistance the Dutch surrendered about the first of October of the same year (1664). Capt. Tom accompanied this ex- pedition, and that he rendered valuable service there is evidence by an order is- sued by Gov. Nicholls June 30, 1665, which states that for William Tom's " good services at Delaware," there shall be grant- ed to him the lands of Peter Alricks, con- fiscated for hostility to the English. Capt. Tom remained in his majesty's service un- til August 27, 1668 ; during the last two years of this time he was Commissary on
the Delaware. He was discharged from his majesty's service on the ground as is alleged " of good behaviour." in the ear- ly part of 1668, a servant of Mr. Tom's was killed by some evil disposed Indians, who it is said also killed one or more servalsts of Peter Alricks at the same time. The Indians generally were dispo-ed to live on amicable terms with the whites, and these murders were the result it would seem of selling liquor to the Indians. the majority of whom seeing its evil effects, requested the white authorities to prohibit the sale of it among them. The perpetrators of these outrages were not apprehended, and be- cause this was not done, Gov. Lovelace at- tributes another murder two years later ; he severely censured the authorities " for too much remissness in not avenging the previous murder on Mr. Tom's servant,
On the 12th of August, 1669, Capt. Tom was appointed collector of quit rents, which were imposed on all persons taking up land along the Delaware river on both sides.
This office he held for three years when he resigned. Its duties must have been of considerable responsibility and labor, as it involved the necessity of visiting all places where settlers located from the Capes of the Delaware to the Falls of the Delaware (Trenton.) While engaged in this busi- ness it is probable that as he travelled from place to place he made it a point to search for eligible places for new settlers to locate, and acted as agent for the sale of lands At one time he acted as land agent for John Fenwick the noted Salem proprietor.
We find that Capt. Tom not only stood well in the estimation of Gov. Nicholls, but also in the opinion of his successor, Gov. Lovelace, who at the suggestion of Capt. T. issued several orders relating to affairs on the Delaware. Aug. 12, 1669, Gov. Lovelace at request of Wm. Tom, grants certain special favors to Finns and others removing near New Castle, Del. By his order " permission on request of Mr. Tom " was granted to families from Maryland to settle in the same vicinity " to the end that the said place may be in- habited and manured, it tending likewise to the increase of the inabitants." An order of the same date is preserved, which allows William Tom to kill and mark all wild hogs in the woods near his land.
In 1671 an extraordinary council was con- vened in New York on the occasion of the
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arrival of William Tom and Peter Alricks, the night, naked as he was, he ran into the woods ; but this sachem promised to bring the other alive, for which we prom- ised three match coats. The sachems brought a good many of their young men with them, aud there before us they open- ly told them " Now they saw a beginning, and all that did the like, should be served in the same manner." They promised it any other murders were committed to bring in the murderers. How to believe them we knew not. but the Sachems seen to desire no war." just from the Delaware, with the particu- lars of the Indians murdering two Chris- tians (Dutch) near Burlington. These murders were committed by two Indians who were known and who resided at " Suseunk," four miles eas of Matiniconk or Burlington Island. Gov. Lovelace in a letter to Capt. Tom dated Octoder 6, ex- presses great surpsise at what he has learn- ed from Mr. Tom in regard to these mur- ders. Thisletter gives stringent orders to guard against evil disposed Indians in the future, and from it we find that Burling- What official position Capt. Tom held in these transactions is uncertain, but he appears to have been more relied upon than any other man to settle difficulties. at this time. . ton Island was then occupied as a kind of frontier military station. Gov. Lovelace " recommends a good work about Matini. conk house (on Burlington Island) which strengthened with a considerable guard In 1673 Capt. Tom was appointed one of four appraisers to set a value on Tini- cum Island in the Delaware. In 1 674 he was appointed secretary or clark for the town of New Castle, and he appears to have had charge of the public records for several years. In 1673 the Dutch regain- ed their power in New York, New Jersey and Delaware, but retained it only a few months ; after they were again' displaced in 1674, Gov. Andross appointed Captain- Cantwell and Tom to take possession for the King's use, of the fort at New Castle, with the public stores. They were author- ized to provide for the settlement and re- pose of the inhabitants at New Castle. Whorekills ( Lewes )and other places." would make an admirable frontier." Vig- orous efforts were made to secure these Indian murderers, and the result is seen in the following letter written by Capt. Tom to Gov. Lovelace, Dec. 25th, 1671. He says " that about 11 days since, Peter Atricks came from New York, and the Indians desired to speak with us concern- ing the murders, whereupon they sent for me to Peter Rambo's, where coming they faithfully promised within six days to bring in the murderers dead or alive ; whereupon they sent out two Indians to the stoutest, to bring him in. not doubting easily to take the other, he being an In- dian of little courage ; but the least In- dian getting knowledge of the design of In 1675 some settlers complained against Capt. Tom for molesting them in the enjoyment of meadow lands which ad- joined their plantations. The settlers probably supposed because they owned up- lands, they should also have the use of meadow land without paying for the same. The Governor ordered a compromise. In 1676 he was appointed one of the Justices of the Peace and a Judge of the court. He sat as one of the Judges in an impor- tant suit in which the defendant was JJohn Fenwick, the Salem Proprietor. Judg- ment was given against Fenwick, and a warrant issued to take him dead or alive. Fenwick finding it useless to resist, gave himseit up, and was sent prisoner to New York. the sachems, ran to advise his fellow, and advised him to run or else they would both be killed, who answered he was not ready, but in the morning would go with him to the Maquas, and advised him to go to the next house for fear of suspicion, which he did : and the two Indians, com- ing to bis house at night, the one being his great friend, he asked him if he would kill him, who answered " No, but the sachems have ordered you to die ;" wheres upon he demanded "what his brothers said ;" who answered " they say the like." Then he. holding his hands before his eyes said " Kill me ;" whereupon the In- dian that comes with Cocker shot him with two bullets in the breast, and gave him two or three cuts with a bill on the Capt. Tom was reappointed justice and judge in 1677. Towards the latter part of this year complaint was made that the town records of New Castle were in confu- sion, and Mr. Tom was ordered to arrange and attest them. It is not improbable head and brought him down to Wicaco, from whence we shall carry him tomorrow to New Castle, there to hang him in chains for which we gave to the Sachems five match coats which Mr. Alrieks paid them. When the other Indian heard the shot in ! that ill heaith prevented him from con-
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pleting this task, as we find his death an- nounced January 12, 1678, coupled with the simple remark that, " his papers were in confusion."
From the foregoing and other facts that are preserved, it would appear that Wm. Tom was about the most prominent, use- ful and trustworthy man among the sett- lers from the time of the coming of the English to his decease, that he enjoyed the confidence of Governors Nicholls, Lovelace and Andross, that his varied duties were performed with general satisfaction to settlers, Indians and officials, and we may safely infer that he did as much or more than any other man in his day " to- wards the settlement and repose of the inhabitants" on both sides of the Dela- ware. It is no discredit to the name of Toms River that it should be derived from such a man.
In speaking of Capt. Tom's discovering Toms River, we do not refer to its original discovery, nor wish to convey the idea that he was the first white man who visit- ed it. The stream was discovered by nav- igators fifty years before Capt. Tom came to America. They simply . marked the stream on their charts without naming it. The particulars as far as is known of the original discovery of Toms River, and other places along our bay are too lengthy to be given here and may hereafter be fur nished in another chapter. We will say, however, before concluding, that the fact that this river had been previously visited by the Dutch, was probably not known to Capt. Tom and the English in this day.
CAPTAIN JOHN BACON.
The Refugee Leader of Monmouth and Burlington-An Outlaw's Career and its Dreadful End.
This noted refugee leader, whose name is so well remembered by old residents of Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington, ap- pears to have confined his operations chiefly to the lower part of old Monmouth county, between Cedar Creek in what is now Ocean county and Tuckerton in Bur- lington county. His efforts were mainly directed to plundering the dwellings of all well known, active members of the old Monmouth militia. Many old residents in the section where his operations were carried on, considered him one of the most honorable partizan leaders opposed to the patriot cause. Himself and men
were well acquainted with the roads and paths through the forests of Burlington and old Monmouth, and had numerous hiding places, cabins, caves, &c., in the woods and swamps, where they could re- main until some trustworthy spy informed them of a safe chance to venture out on what was then termed a picarooning expe- dition.
The following items, gleaned from vari- ous sources, give the most prominent events in which he was an actor. They aid to give a more vivid idea of 'the perils by which our ancestors were surrounded at home, and of the character of the man who, probably with the exception of Lieu- tenant James Moody, was about the most effective refugee leader in our state.
In ancient papers we have found notices of refugee raids in Burlington county, but they do not give the names of the leaders. It is probable that Bacon commanded some of these expeditions as he was well acquainted in Burlington, and his wife re- sided at Pemberton in the latter part of the war. About September, 1782, it is an- nounced that a man, supposed to be a spy of Bacon's, was shot in the woods near Pemberton, by some of the inhabitants who went out to hunt him ; and we find that the citizens of Burlington were so much exasperated against him that they organized expeditions to follow him in old Monmouth.
BACON KILLS LIEUTENANT JOSHUA STUDSON.
The New Jersey Gazette, published at Trenton during the later years of the Kev. olutionary war, has a brief item to the ef- fect that " Lieutenant Joshua Studson was shot, December, 1780, by a refugee, near the inlet opposite Toms River."
Joshua Studson had been a lieutenant in the Monmouth militia, and was also ap- pointed lieutenant in the State troops in Capt. Ephram Jenkins' company, Colonel Holmes' battalion, June 14, 1780. Here- sided at Toms River.
The following particulars of his death we believe to be substantially correct, though derived from traditionary sources :
Three men named Collins, Webster and Woodmansee, living in the lower part of old Monmouth, hearing that farming pro- duce was bringing exorbitant prices in New York city among the British, loaded a whole boat with truck from farms along Barnegat bay, and proceeded to New York by way of old Cranberry inlet opposite Toms River, which inlet though now
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closed, was, during the war, the next best to Egg Harbor, as square rigged vessels (ships and brigs) occasionally entered it. These men were not known as refugees but undertook the trip merely to make money. They arrived safely in New York, sold out their produce, and were about re- turning home when Captain John Bacon called on them and insisted on taking passage back with them. Much against their will, they were forced to allow him to come on board. They arrived safely out- side the beach near the inlet before sun- down and lay there until after dark, being afraid to venture in the bay during day- light. In the meantime the patriotic citi- zens of Toms River had got wind of the proceedings of these men, and being de- termined to put a stop to the contraband trade, a small party under command of Lieutenant Studson took a boat and cross- ed over to the inlet and lay concealed be- hind a point inside. close to the inlet. After dark the whale boat eame in, but no sooner had it rounded the point, than to the consternation of those in it, they saw the boat of the militia so close by, that there was no apparent chance of escape. Lieutenant Studson stood up in his boat and demanded their immediate surrender. The unfortunate speculators were unarni- ed and in favor of yielding, but Bacon, fearing that his life was already forfeited, refused, and having his musket loaded, suddenly fired it with so deadly an aim, that the brave lieutenant instantly dropp- ed dead in the boat. The sudden, unex- pected firing and the death of Studson, threw the militia into momentary confi- sion, and before they could decide how to act, the whale boat was out of sight in the darkness. The militia returned to Toms River the same night and delivered the body of the lieutenant to his wife, who was overwhelmed with sorrow at his sud- den and unexpected death.
The crew of the whale boat, knowing it was not safe for them to remain at home, after this atfair, fled to to the Brit- ish army, and were lorced into service, but were of little use as " they were sick with the small pox, and suffered every- thing but death," as one of them after- wards said, during their brief stay with the British. Taking advantage of one of General Washington's proclamations offer- ing protection to deserters from the Brit- ish army, they were afterwards allowed to return home.
SKIRMISH AT MANNAHAWKIN.
A Patriot Killed-Sylvester Tilton, an old Colts Neck citizen-His Wounding and Revenge.
Another affair, in which Bacon was a prominent actor, was the skirmish at Mannahawkin, in Ocean County, Decem- ber 30th, 1781. The militia of this place, under command of Captain Reuben F. Randolph, having heard that Bacon, with his band, was on a raiding expedition and would probably try to plunder some of the patriots in that village, assembled at the inn of Captain Randolph's, prepared to give them a reception. After waiting until two or three o'clock in the morning. they concluded it was a false alarm, and so retired to rest, taking the precaution to put out sentinels. Just before daylight the Refugees came down the road from the north on their way to West Creek. The alarm was given and the militia hasti- ly turned out but were compelled to re- treat, as the refugees had a much larger force than they anticipated. Asthey were retreating, Bacon's party fired and killed one of the patriots named Lines Pangborn and wounded another named Sylvester Tilton. The refugees did not stop to pur- sue the Americans but passed on south toward: West Creek.
In regard to the wounding of Sylvester Tilton, it is a well attested fact. that the ball went through him below one of his shoulders, and that the surgeon passed a silk handkerchief through his body, in search of the ball. He recovered his health and strength, much to the surprise of all who knew how seriously he had been wounded. He was convinced that a refugee named Brewer, one of Bacon's gang, was the man who had wounded him, and he always vowed to have satisfaction if he could ever find him. After the war he heard that Brewer was living in a cabin in some remote place near the shore, and he started on foot, one time, to find him. As he was on his way, he met a man named James Willetts, then quite anoted and highly esteemed Quaker, of old Staf- ford, who upon finding out Tilton's er- rand, vainly endeavored to persuade him to turn back. Finding he would not Willets asked permission to go along, hop- ing something would turn. up to make a peaceable ending of the affair. Tilton consented to his going but plumply told the Quaker that if he interfered he would flog him too.
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Arriving at the house where Brewer was Tilton suddenly opened the door and rushed in upon him before he could reach his musket, which he always kept in the room expecting such a visit
Tilton was a powerful man and he dragged Brewer to the door and gave him a most unmerciful pummelling, and then told him "You scoundrel ! you tried to kill me once, and I have now settled with you for it, and I want you now to leave here and follow the rest of your gang." Most of the refugees had then gone to Nova Scotia.
After this affair Tilton removed to Colts Neck, near Freehold, where we believe his descendants yet live.
BACON AT GOODLUCK, FORKED RIVER AND WARETOWN. 1
On one of his picarooning or raiding ex- peditions, Bacon with fifteen or sixteen men plundered the dwelling house of John Holmes at Forked River. who then lived at the mill known in late years as Francis Cornelius' mill. The party camp- ed in the woods, near the house, until daylight and then came and demanded money. Mr. Holmes was supposed to be somewhat forehanded and they hoped to have made a good haul. In the expecta- tion of such a visit, he had buried many of his valuables in his garden. The refu- gees pointed a bayonet to his breast and threatened to kill him if the money was not forthcoming. Mr. Holmes' wife hap- pened to have some money about her, which she delivered up and this seemed to satisfy them as far as money was con- cerned ; they then ransacked the house and took provisions and such other things as they wanted.
An ancient paper says that about the last of April, 1780, " the refugees attacked the house of John Holmes, Upper Free- hold, and robbed him of a large amount of Continental money, a silver watch, gold ring, silver buckles, pistols, clothing, &c." It is possible that this refers to the same affair-if so it occurred in old Dover town- ship instead of Upper Freehold.
While a part of the gang remained at the mill a detachment went over to Good- luck, about a mile distant, to plunder the houses of two staunch patriots named John Price and William Price, two brothers who had lived in West Jersey during the first part of the war, but for the last two or three years of the struggle, had resided at Goodluck. These men had not only
been active in the field during most of the war, but, to the extent of their abilities. aided the families of those who suffered at the hands of the enemy. When the dwelling of Capt. Ephraim Jenkins, at Toms River, was burned, and his family scattered, as described in a previous chap- ter. Lieut. John Price. (in after years, bet- ter known as Major Price,) took one of the children, a girl, and gave her a home. The activity of the Prices made them marked objects of refugee attentions.
Bacon's party, at this time, entered the houses of the Prices, and took whatever they could carry, though, we believe, these patriots, like others in those dark days, kept buried in gardens and fields many things they feared the refugees mightcovet. We have heard from an aged resident of Good- Inck, a tradition of the visit of therefugees to the house of an American Lieutenant, at this village, and that the officer saw them just before they reached the house ; he sprang up and grasped his lieutenant's commission, which he valued highly, from a high shelf, and sprang out of the back door just in time to escape. We presume this officer must have been Lieut. Price, as we know of no other officer then resid- ing at Goodluck. Among other things found at Major Price's was a musket, fife and drum, the two last of which came near causing trouble among the tories them- selves, for as thev marched back to Holmes' Mill to rejoin Bacon, they used them for their amusements with such effect, that Bacon thought it was a party of Americans after him, and he arranged his men on the mill hill, prepared to fire as soon as the party emerged from the woods. Un. fortunately for justice, he saw who the men were in time to stop firing. The Refugees then impressed Mr. Holmes' team to carry of the plunder they had gathered, and forced his son William Holmes to drive it ; they went on to Ware- town and took possession for a short time of a public house (of David Bennet's ? ) until they could find some safe way of getting their plunder to one of their secret rendezvous, one of which was supposed to be at this time in Mannahawkin swamp.
Among other zealous Americans for whom Bacon had strong antipathy were Joseph Soper and his son Reuben, both members of Captain Reuben F. Randolph's militia company. They lived about half wav between Waretown and Barnegat at a place known as "Soper's Landing." His attentions to the Sopers were so frequent
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that they often had to sleep in the adja- eent swamps along Lochiel brook.
Mr. Soper's son Reuben was murdered by Bacon on Long Beach about a mile south of Barnegat Inlet, the particulars of which will be given hereafter.
At this time there lived at Waretown an Englishman, named William Wilson, better known as " Bill Wilson," who seems to have acted as a kind of jackall for Ba- con to seent out his prey for him. Mr. Soper was a vessel builder ; at one time he had received pay for building a small vessel. Wilson accidentally was a witness to his receiving the money, but he did not know the amount. After Wilson had left, Mr. Soper suspected he would inform Ba- con, and so he divided his money into two parcels ; a small amount in one parcel, and the larger part in arother, and then buried both lots in separate places not far from the house. Sure enough, in a very short time, Bacon and his gang visited the house, piloted by a man with a black silk handkerchief over his face that he should not be recognized. This man was gener- ally believed to be Bill Wilson, though strong efforts were made to make the So- pers believe it was another man then re- siding at Waretown. Mr. Soper at this time, had taken refuge in the swamp, and the house was occupied only by women and young children. When the refugees entered they at once began behaving very rudely and boisterously, flourishing their weapons in a menacing manner, jambing bayonets in the ceiling, and other similar aets to frighten thewomen. Their threats compelled the women to lead them into the garden, to the spot where the smallest amount of money was buried, when they received which they seemed to besatisfied, thinking it was all they had ; they then returned to the house and made a elean sweep as they had done several times be- fore, of provisions and clothing, and such other articles as they eculd carry. Among other things taken by Bacon at this time was one of Mr. Soper's shirts, which after- wards served Bacon's winding sheet, as he was subsequently killed with it on. . Bill Wilson could never be fairly convicted of actual complicity in overt acts with the refugees, but all who knew him were con- vineed that he was a spy of Bacon's. It was alleged that he was with Bacon at Holmes' Mill's and at the Price's, at Good- luck. After the war elosed he remained for some years in the vicinity of Waretown, but he found it a very uncomfortable place
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