USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Paper read before the historical society of Hudson County. 1908 > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
In those days it was probably, as in later years, and before the great industries located there, a piece of rolling land of sandy character with salt marshes intervening. VanBoskerck's Point, which is really a part of the same formation of land jutting out into the bay was to the north of the point, distinctively named Constable Hook. On VanBoskerck's Point stood a peaked roof one and one-half story stone house of moderate di- mensions, until recently torn down by the Standard Oil Com- pany, among the first, if not the first house ever built in Bay- onne. It was the homestead of one branch of the VanBuskirk family who, generation after generation, tilled the soil as farm- ers, assisted by slave labor, and marketed their surplus products at the growing city of New York. Transportation of produce, etc., in those days was by "pierauga," a type of sail boat much like a schooner in rig with no jib or topsails. The old house remained in the family until recently purchased by the Standard Oil Company. Near this house was the old VanBuskirk Ceme- tery, where nearly all the old settlers were buried. Here was buried old Peter VanBuskirk and his descendants, also the ances- tors of the Cadmus, Vreeland, Cubberly, VanHorn, Garrabrant and many other old families. This burial place was not much used after 1880 and fell into decay and was neglected. | The bodies of many were removed to other cemeteries and since the purchase of the surrounding property by the Standard, the old graves and vaults have all been wiped out and oil tanks have been erected where these old worthies slept; the bones of some were not cared for and re-interred elsewhere before the ruthless hand of commerce laid hold of these historic grounds; they were scat- tered and the stones that marked their resting place destroyed. Many old headstones and records of historic value were thus wiped out and are beyond recall.
Roy received a patent for these lands in March, 1646. In
4
1654 patents were issued for lands between Gemonepas and the Kilvankol. What was formerly called Pamrapo but then Pem- repogh, now a portion of the Third Ward of the city of Bayonne, was within this grant. It was an Indian name.
During this period the growth of the settlement was much retarded by the unfriendly attitude of the Indians, who had been incensed by the treatment they had received from the Dutch at New Amsterdam. The barbarous attacks upon the isolated farm houses scattered over this territory compelled the inhabi- tants to fly for shelter to New Amsterdam and their houses were burned, and cattle driven off. For a number of years it was un- safe for them to return to their farms and rebuild. After the troubles with the Indians had subsided this section of the coun- try became again inhabited by the former owners and by others who came with them, until clusters of houses, built near each other for mutual protection, formed themselves into villages or hamlets. Gradually the Indian disappeared from this locality, withdrawing to the interior where he would not be molested by the intrusive white. The forests were cleared and as the farms were extended the population increased.
Winfield relates in his history how the villages of Pemre- pogh and Mingagque were accused of not contributing their fair share to the support of the precentor and schoolmaster at Ber- gen. The magistrates of Bergen ordered that all should pay a certain portion of this expense. These villages disregarded this demand and the authorities in New Orange were called upon to compel them to pay their share. The result of this appeal was that these inhabitants were ordered to pay up. After this de- cision, it is related by the historian that "the schoolmaster con- fided to his whip a more artistic flourish and the precentor chanted with a clearer voice, but his triumphant cadences were soon turned into the doleful minor by the unregenerate stub- borness of Mingagque and Pemrepogh. These uncircumcised in heart thought Old Hundred. and Windham, piping out from under the pulpit, very good music for those who were educated up to that standard, and were willing to pay for the luxury. The schoolmaster, with eyes severe, piloting the bewildered urchin through the mazes of the multiplication table by the aid of the birch, was very good in his way to those who lived near enough to enjoy the blessing of his wisdom. But they reso-
5
lutely refused to be thus edified or instructed, and declined to contribute to the general expense of such benefactions. Perse- vering in their disobedience, another order was made that imme- diate execution should issue against these unwilling debtors. This put it up to the unwilling debtors either to fight or remon- strate against what they considered an oppression. They chose the latter. Lourens Andriessen, the ancestor of the VanBuskirk family, at Mingagque, and Jooset Vander Linde were appointed agents to submit the cause of the people to the authorities in New Orange. This appeal, however, was without avail. Other disputes arose later, but were ultimately compromised without bloodshed.
Almost all of the lands of Greenville and Bayonne were used as common lands for cattle grazing, and it was not till sub- sequent years that these lands were divided into severalty among their respective owners.
Nothing of very marked historical importance seems to have occurred after this period until the time of the Revolutionary War, nor did this locality grow very largely in population. It still consisted of isolated farm dwellings and two or three small hamlets. During the Revolutionary period it seems to have been to some extent a thoroughfare for the fighting forces be- tween Staten Island and New York and Northern New Jersey. Winfield relates that when Admiral Howe's fleet came into the harbor he anchored off the mouth of Kill von Kull and his troops landed on Staten Island. Fearing an attack from Staten Island, General Mercer, on July 4th, 1776, placed a guard of five hun- dred inen at Bergen Neck.
Later, it appears that the force of men that had been placed in this locality was not sufficient to protect it, and it was pro- posed to send the Pennsylvania militia to Bergen Neck. The different passes in Bergen Neck were to be fortified. There were skirmishes between the outlying forces during all the time Howe's fleet was within the harbor, and this continued along the entire shore of Bergen Point to Elizabethport. Evidently some of the British forces had occupied Constable Hook. Later, when the British got in full occupancy of New York, the Conti- nental troops were withdrawn from this section and the Tory and the English contingent occupied the neck of land, and Fort Delancy was used as an outlying post by the Tory forces. This
6
fort was located, as far as can be determined, on the high ground near the old homestead of Hartman Vreeland (recently torn down) about at 52d street, west of Avenue C.
During the remainder of the Revolutionary War the Tories were in practical control of this neck of land, and no events of Revolutionary interest occurred there. The bushwackings and skirmishings were of a trivial character between small bands of soldiers or hangers-on. No event of historical importance ap- pears to have transpired in this section during the period after the Revolutionary War, and until the War of 1812, nor during that war, although the harbor of New York was undoubtedly the scene of naval activity.
Later, during what is known as the "Cholera Year," which was in the '30's, a large number of the inhabitants of this place were taken down with this scourge and died. Tradi- tion attributes the scourge to the fact that bedding or other stuff, which had been upon some ship infested with cholera lying in the harbor, had been thrown overboard and had drifted to the shores of Bayonne and some of the people had come in contact with it, either by using the bedding or other- wise, and thus the disease got a foothold, which swept over the entire neck, leaving devastation in its path.
The inhabitants of this section, afterwards comprising Bay- onne, were scattered, but might be considered as divided into about four very small settlements or groups. One was at Bergen Point near the ferry landing to Staten Island. This ferry was at first propelled by horse power and many an involuntary voyage toward New York or Elizabethport was taken, while crossing, because the power generated was not sufficient to stem the swift tide of the Kill von Kull. Later, these inconveniences were overcome by the introduction of the steamboat. This, however, was many years afterwards. A postoffice was established here, known as Bergen Point Postoffice.
A second and possibly the oldest settlement was at Constable Hook. In this section, there were about five or six families. Here afterwards, were the farms of the Vreelands, VanBuskirks and Terhunes. The old tidal mill located on a tidal creek near where now stands the works of the Oxford Copper Company, was in operation to grind the farm products, wheat, rye, buckwheat of the farms of Bergen Neck and Staten Island. The mill was known
7
as Terhune's Mill. From this point also, where Kill von Kull joins New York Bay the transportation by boat to New Amster- dam was cheap and easy.
The first factory to invade this territory was the Bergen Point Copper Company, prior to 1848; then came White's Sulphur Works, located here in 1850. Now, the whole Hook is covered with the tanks and stills of the Standard Oil Company and the factories of other large corporations.
The third settlement was at Centreville. This community consisted of several farm houses located near together. Later, how- ever, quite a group of houses clustered around the country store, located near what is now the corner of 22nd street and Avenue D or Broadway. In the later days, Hanson Carragan's store, located there, was the general dispensary of the dry goods, wet goods, groceries, clothes, tobacco, farm utensils, drugs, paints and every conceivable kind of merchandise needed by the farmer or fisher- man. Here, also, a postoffice was established, called the "Cen- treville Postoffice."
Afterwards, a road house of considerable proportions, known as the "Mansion House," was built at the corner of 21st street, or Old Hook Road and the Plank Road, and owned and run by one Dodge, afterwards called the "City Hotel" and kept by one White.
The fourth hamlet or settlement was at Pemrepough, after- wards called Saltersville. One historian says that in 1680 there were about twenty families comprising this hamlet. In later years, when the neck of land had become more thickly populated, a postoffice was established here, which was called "Saltersville."
CIVIL WAR.
At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, it is doubt- ful whether there were more than four or five hundred people residing in the limits of Bayonne. It was still a rural commun- ity. It was, however, intensely loyal. It has been difficult to get any satisfactory record of the men who went from Bayonne to serve as soldiers in this war, but a large number of men en- listed with Newark or Elizabeth companies.
At the outbreak of the War, a militia company was orga- nized, known as the "Close Light Guards." It was so named from the fact that Joseph B. Close, who was then quite a wealthy
8
resident and property owner here, provided money for some of the equipment. It was a company of about sixty men, captained by John J. VanBuskirk, afterwards promoted to Major. The company formed a part of the Second New Jersey Volunteers, and went to the front in April, 1861. These men were among the first who enlisted under the three months' call of President Lin- coln. It was then thought that the war could be quickly termi- nated, and that three months would be sufficient to end it. After- wards, most of these men re-enlisted in the Twenty-first New Jersey Volunteers, of which Hiram VanBuskirk, afterwards Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, was Major. The Colonel of this regiment was VanHouten.
Andrew VanBuskirk and John Vreeland were captains in this regiment, both of them residents of Bayonne. They drilled in the ball room of a hotel which was located on the Old Plank Road near what is now 50th street, for a time kept by Egbert Wauters.
Among the old residents and veterans of the Civil War still living in Bayonne are William Dexter, Nicholas Cubberly, John Vreeland, Jacob Oliver, Fred Boorman and James C. VanBuskirk. James C. VanBuskirk served through the entire war from '61 to '65, and was for four and one-half months a prisoner in the prison pens of Andersonville, Georgia. He served in many of the prominent battles of the war, as did several of the other veterans.
VOCATIONS.
The earliest inhabitants at first subsisted by trade with In- dians, farming a little, where the lands could be easily cleared, and supplementing their agricultural activities by fishing and oyster- ing. Fish and oysters were abundant in these waters. Whit- comb in his history of Bayonne says: "Money was almost un- known, the unit of value being a beaver skin, and the currency being provided by bits of clam and periwinkle shells deftly cut and polished. They traded honorably and gave and received fair values. Yankee tricks were unknown to them. They were slow to form new acquaintances, but were firm in their friend- ship. On early mornings, probably once a week, it was a com- mon occurrence to see a group of Dutchmen with their sugar- loaf hats and leather breeches, together with their wives in their multiplied petticoats and other paraphernalia, entering skiffs on the New York Bay Shore to convey them to New Amsterdam.
9
There they would spend the day trading their fruit, vegetables, oysters and fish for clothing, beer, tools and the like, and gos- siping with their friends. A road, or at least a path, led from this section over to Bergen Town, over which these settlers would travel occasionally for the same purpose that took them to New Amsterdam."
Later, as the heavy growth of timber, the forest primeval, was, bit by bit, cleared away, the land, which was very fertile, was devoted to farming, the commons or common land being open for grazing to the cattle of the neighborhood. Many of the inhabitants devoted their whole time to the water vocations. The inhabitants secured a good living by these means and were contented and happy.
When the slave was introduced to assist in the farming and to be the servant of these humble Dutch settlers, I have not been able to learn. That there were slaves in several of the more prosperous families and that some of their descendants still live in this section is an undoubted fact. Slavery was not abolished in this State until the year 1846. Previous to this, however, through the efforts of the Quakers, several legislative acts were passed in New Jersey, penalizing slave holders and tending to- wards the gradual abolition of slavery. An important act of this nature was passed in 1804. In 1790, Bergen County, of which Hudson County was then a part, had twenty-three hundred slaves, and these comprised about one-sixth of the population.
In 1800 there were 12,500 slaves in New Jersey.
1810
10,900
1820
7,500
1830
2,200
66
1840
674
€
These negroes, in many cases, assumed the family names of their masters, so that to this day you will find some dusky Van Horns and VanBuskirks in the directories of Bayonne and Jersey City. Many of them, after their liberation, continued to live in cabins located on the farms of their former masters and were aided and looked after more or less by them.
As the population increased, the variety of vocations in-
10
creased also. The residents seldom visited New York except to market their products.
Gradually, the loveliness of this section, its beauty of loca- tion nearly surrounded by the waters of New York Bay, Kill van Kull and Newark Bay, and its healthfulness, attracted busi- ness men of New York and Jersey City. Improvements were in- troduced, streets laid out, the sections grew together and the city was born.
The present city of Bayonne is the southerly part of Bergen Township, formerly known as Bergen Neck. This township was one of the component parts of the County of Hudson, which was set off from the County of Bergen in 1840.
Legislation relating to that part of Bergen Township lying south of Morris Canal, looking toward making it an independent municipality, was first enacted in 1857, when a legislative com- mission was appointed to survey and lay out streets and avenues in said locality. Messrs. A. D. Mellick, Jacob A. VanHorn, Jacob M. Vreeland, Hartman Vreeland and Egbert Wauters were the first commissioners named and they were to be paid for their services one dollar per day each, for each day employed. Rather modest pay when compared with allowances to present day com- missions.
Afterwards, this section of Bergen Township was named the Township of Bayonne, this being the name originally given to that part of the township, now known as Central Bayonne, and extending from 30th street to 38th streets, from New York Bay to Newark Bay.
Messrs. Benjamin F. Woolsey, Erastus Randall, Peter Bent- ley, David Smith and associates bought the entire Cadmus tract, locally known as the Jasper Cadmus and the John Cadmus or Cadmus farms, and laid them out into building lots with streets and avenues. They planted shade trees, graded and laid side- walks and beautified and developed the property. Many dwell- ing houses were erected by them and other improvements were made. The name "Bayonne" was taken from that of the French city of the same name and seemed peculiarly fitting to this locality, by reason of its delightful situation between the two bays.
In 1869, the city of Bayonne was chartered, and since that time its growth has been remarkably rapid.
11
Population 1870
3,834
1880
9,372
1885. 13,000
1890 19,033
1900.
32,722
1905.
42,000
1906
44,170
1909
48,000
In the early days, this section of Hudson County, or as it was then, Bergen County, was very sparsely inhabited. Holland Dutch farmers occupied nearly all of the lands extending from Kill von Kull to Bergen. In the upper section, the farms ran from New York Bay to Newark Bay. Besides the Cadmus farms alluded to above, there was in this section the Jacobus VanBoskerck farm, which he divided between his four sons, James C. VanBoskerck, David VanBoskerck, Abraham VanBos- kerck and Cornelius VanBoskerck.
Adjoining this farm on the north was the Jasper Cadmus farm, one part of which was entailed to his son, Jasper Cad- mus. North of this was the farm of Richard Cadmus, locally known as "Uncle Dicky Cadmus." Then came the Vreeland farm, part of which was afterwards sold to David B. Salter, and part was acquired by Hartman Vreeland. This was bounded on the north by the Thompson farm, afterwards acquired by James Currie. This property is still in part held by the Currie family.
The more southerly portions of the Neck and extending to Bergen Point, were owned by the Zabriskies, Garretsons, Cad- muses, Vreelands, VanHorns and other well known Dutch fam- ilies.
Constable Hook, now a noisy, busy hive of industrial activi- ties, where the great plants of the Standard Oil Company, Tide- water Oil Company, Pacific Coast Borax Company, General Chemical Company. Orford Copper Company and other industries are located, was originally all owned by the VanBuskerck and Vreeland families.
ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION.
The first road through this neck was located on the westerly side near Newark Bay, and parallel thereto, west of what is now the Boulevard or Avenue A.
12
There are several places where traces of this road are plainly visible yet. Then the Bergen Road was laid, which became afterwards the Plank Road, known as the Jersey City and Bergen Point Plank Road. The new plank road was built by a stock company and was a toll road. This continued as a toll road until the incorporation of the city. When the new plotting of the city was finally accepted, and streets were graded in ac- cordance therewith, the old Plank Road fell into disuse and has since been abandoned and vacated, except where its line was co- incident with the line of Avenue D (now Broadway ), one of the principal arteries of the city.
The other old road which ran longitudinally through the city was what was called the "back road" and is now Avenue A, or from 36th street north, the Boulevard. This road in the early days ran through a most delightful stretch of woodland.
The Kings Highway, leading from Paulus Hoeck to Bergen Point, was laid out in 1764, and this was the old road laid nearer Newark Bay Shore. This became part of the stage route between New York and Philadelphia.
The Bergen Road was laid in 1796. The first means of pub- lic conveyance between Bergen Point and Jersey City was by the stage coach. Winfield says: "In 1764 we first set up to start from Paulus Hoeck for Philadelphia via Bergen Point and Blaz- ing Star Ferries. The vehicle used was a covered Jersey wagon without springs. Three days were consumed in dragging it to Philadelphia. It was modestly called a 'Flying Machine.'"
About 1840 a steamboat line was established, running to Newark. Soon afterwards this boat, the "Passaic," began making stops on her trips to and fro through Kill von Kull at Enyard's Dock, Bergen Point, which was located near the foot of Ingham avenue. This afforded quite quick transportation to New York. Afterwards, other steamboats running to other points, Elizabethport, Perth and South Amboy, stopped here for passen- gers and freight, either regularly or on signal. Prior to the con- struction of the Central Railroad from Elizabeth to Jersey City, the company had operated a ferry from its Elizabethport termi- nus to New York, and the residents of the Bergen Point section of Bayonne were afforded good and quick service for those days by means of these steamboats, which made regular stops each way at a dock near the foot of Avenue C, although the original
13
dock for these landings was further east. The first of these boats was the "Red Jacket," afterwards rebuilt and called the "Chancellor;" also the "Wyoming." Afterwards the "Kill von Kull," a large cattle, freight and passenger boat, was built and put in commission on this route. The latter boat continned to operate especially to accommodate the freight traffic of Bergen Point and Elizabethport long after the railroad was in operation. This boat was used during the War of the Rebellion to transport a troop of artillery from New York to Annapolis.
About 1850 a local stage route was established by Jacob Merseles and was operated by him and afterwards by George Anderson from Centreville, at the Mansion House, corner of the Hook Road and the Plankroad to Jersey City and New York. This was the only means of public conveyance between these sections in use until the construction of the "Dummy Railroad" by the Jersey City and Bergen Railroad Company, about 1860.
JERSEY CITY AND BERGEN RAILROAD COMPANY.
The following are extracts taken from a report of condition of the Jersey City and Bergen Railroad made to its stockholders in June, 1867:
The Jersey City and Bergen Railroad, from Jersey City Ferry to Bergen Hill, was incorporated in 1859 and construction was commenced in February, 1860, and opened for travel July 4th, 1860. The branch to Pavonia Ferry was built during the summer of 1863, and the cars placed on this line October 15th, 1863. The road to Bergen Point was commenced in the sum- mer of 1862, and opened for travel to Bayonne May 13th, 1863, and to Bergen Point October 14th, 1863. The distance from Jersey City Ferry to Bergen by either the Plank Road or Hud- son City route is about three miles. The distance from Newark Plank Road or Dummy Junction to Bergen Point is six miles. The act of Legislature compelled them to change their route from the Jersey City and Bergen Point Plank Road through Bayonne, to a line between Avenue C and Avenue D and run under the Central Railroad.
Quoting from the report: "According to agreement with the land owners, a substantial bridge was built over the Morris Canal, wide enough for double track railroad and the accom-
14
modation of vehicles. The cost of land to date is $60,732.16; of equipment $76,696.30,
"The stable, feed house and car house on Bergen Hill, and engine house at Bergen Point, are substantial and commodious buildings, built of brick. The passenger house and shops at Bergen Point, and house for employees at Bergen Point, are of wood. The repair shop at Jersey City is under the rear build- ing of Taylor's Hotel, this right having been reserved in the sale of the property to the Messrs. Taylor.
"The company have in their road 814 miles of track, laid with rails of the Philadelphia pattern, 45 lbs. per yard, 214 miles grooved rail, 27 lbs. per yard, laid on Pavonia avenue Line, Communipaw Line, &c., and 81/2 miles of saddle rail, 36 1bs. per yard, on Dummy Road and Bergen Hill.
"The company own
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.