USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Paper read before the historical society of Hudson County. 1908 > Part 26
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Newark and New York were the custodians of such surplusage as accumulated. In 1839 the Provident Institution for Savings was incorporated and regularly organized September 29, 1843. The beehive was adopted as its insignia, by which name it is still known. The first deposits were received only in the evening, and the money received, placed in the safe of Dudley S. Gregory, whose office was located in the Darcey Building, corner of Hudson and Montgomery Streets, now known as the Fuller Building.
The Hudson County Mutual Insurance Company was also organized, and having no local habitation, the applications and policies were sent by messenger, for investigation and signa- ture, to the officers at Bergen, where they resided.
A cosmorama was erected near the ferry landing at Hud- son Street which, by a proper adjustment of mirrors, present- ed a moving panorama of the river with all its activities, and views of the adjacent territory.
In 1851 the Hudson County Bank was organized as a bank of deposit and discount, and in 1853 the Mechanics and Traders followed, which in 1864 became the First National Bank, and on the extension of Exchange Place built on the s. e. corner of Hudson Street, its present location, and one Davidson erected a row of brick buildings adjoining on the east.
Even as late as September 22, 1849, we find route for "a canal from a point near "Strawberry Hill" and contiguous to the Morris Canal, and from that to continue in a northeasterly direction to the railroad and under the same near the Point of Rocks on the east side of Bergen Hill, thence continuing along the foot of the Hill to the Arch Bridge (on Newark Avenue near West Shore R. R. crossing) which should be enlarged and the Turnpike Road raised so as to admit of large boats navig- ating the canal, to pass under the same, thence continuing along the foot of the Hill to near the Hoboken Road, and so on to the bay between Hoboken and Coles Street wharf."
In 1849 an epidemic of cholera in New York caused pre- cautionary measures to be adopted in Jersey City, and notwith- standing the virulence with which the disease raged in the neighboring city (June 25th to 30th, 208 cases and 89 deaths), none were reported in Jersey City.
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Until a comparatively recent time a not inconsiderable portion of the territory of old Jersey City was devoted to farm- ing and trucking, and the editor of the Jersey City Gasette under date of October 23, 1838, thus launches forth in praise of the accomplishments of two of the prominent citizens of those early days.
"Mr. Mills of Harsimus has an assortment of vegetables at the American Institute Fair in Castle Garden, New York, sufficient to supply the larder of a Granum boarding house for one-half year. Among the items is a pumpkin weighing 163 pounds and of just right color and shape. We should like ex- ceedingly to be sentenced to starve upon it for a week, proper- ly condimented and culinated."
"Charles F. Durant exhibited the different stages of silk manufacture, from the egg of the worm, through all its trans - formation to the perfect silk, and also some beautiful twist prepared with common rope walk machinery. Both of above secured prizes for their proficiency."
In those early days the water supply was limited and pro- cured only from wells, the cost of which was assessed on the property in the immediate neighborhood, contained within a circle, the radius of which extended half way to the next pump. So that the water should be kept free from pollution a keeper of the pump was selected from among the nearby resi- dents, and while operating under no enacted ordinance, it was considered that the preservation of his own health would cause him to exercise due watchfulness against contamination or pollution. Water was also carted about the streets in casks and sold at the rate of one penny a pail.
March 18, 1839, the westerly boundary of the city was ex- tended to Grove Street from First Street on the north to Com- munipaw Cove on the south. The territory north and west of these division lines remained a part of Bergen township until March 11, 1841, when by act of Legislature it became separate and distinct under the name of Van Vorst Township, with fol- lowing boundaries : On the north by a creek following from the bay, separating it from Hoboken. On the west and south by Mill Creek, following to Communipaw Cove to Grove Street and on the east by Grove Street and Harsimus Cove. The
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first township commissioners being Cornelius Van Vorst, Thomas Kingsford, Matthew Erwin, Jeremiah O'Hara and Elias Whipple. Owing to the inconvenience of reaching the norther- ly section of Van Vorst Township its growth was slow, and until the establishment of the Erie Ferry in 1861, attracted no particular attention.
As early as 1733 Archibald Kennedy received from George III the "sole right to run ferry boats or scows and to erect wharves for same between a place called Pavonia, alias Aharsi- mus, on the New Jersey side of the Hudson and the New York side of the river." He forfeited this right through his neglect to carry out the provisions of his grant. Twenty years after, May 23, 1753, a petition was submitted to the Common Council of New York for a ferry from "the west end of Pearl Street to Harsimus," but no action seems to have been taken. February 28, 1849, the Pavonia Ferry Company was incorporated, but it remained for the Erie Railway Company to establish and operate the Pavonia Ferry on the completion of the Bergen tunnel in 1861. The first three boats on this ferry were secured from the Brooklyn Ferry Company and were named the Niagara, Onalaska and Onata.
The terminus of the Erie R. R. was at Piermont on the Hudson, whence passengers and freight were conveyed by boat to New York, a long and tedious route. An increasing demand for adequate transportation urged the establishment of a more expeditious route.
In the winter of 1855 the New Jersey Legislature granted two charters, one, empowering the New York and Erie R. R. Companies to purchase land in New Jersey and to complete the Paterson and Hudson River R. R. The other, incorporat- ing The Long Dock Company, with "the right to construct a railroad to connect with any other railroad then constructed or organized to be constructed according to law," and granting certain ferry privileges. Under these grants steps were at once taken to secure an outlet on the lower Hudson for the traffic of the Erie. A large tract of unoccupied land between Jersey City and Hoboken was purchased. It consisted of 212 acres and is the property now occupied by the Erie R. R. at Long Dock.
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The Long Dock Company was formed and under an arrangement with the Erie began the improvement of the property. The Paterson and Hudson R. R. terminated at Marion, and at this point connected with the tracks of the New Jersey Transportation Company (now Penn. ) and continuing to the depot at Exchange Place.
To avoid this detour the tunnelling of Bergen Hill was determined upon, and at that time was a tremendous under- taking. Meanwhile the work at Long Dock was pushed for- ward and at the completion of the tunnel the present route came into full operation and the adjacent property rapidly de- veloped.
In the very early days, Bergen was the principal settle- ment in what is now Hudson County, and the only place offer- ing religious and educational advantages. Until about 1830 the old Dutch Church at Bergen was the only organized con- gregation, and the Columbia Academy, located at Bergen Square, was justly noted for the excellence of its training, and many of those who went forth from its walls became promin- ent in various lines of activity. Among its regular attendants were many of the residents of Paulus Hook and Van Vorst Township. All the doctors lived at Bergen, and when there was any need for medical attendance in old Jersey City, a mes- senger was sent to the Hill to procure it. Doctors Horn- blower, Gautier, Cornelison and Cadmus were all clustered about the Square, while the lawyers naturally gravitated toward lower Jersey City, and "there were giants in those days." A. O. Zabriskie, J. D. Miller, Peter Bentley, Edgar B. Wakeman, Jacob R. Wortendyke, were able representatives of the legal fraternity. Among the names enrolled on the records of the old Bergen church, were the Van Vorsts, Traphagens, Garretsons, Van Kleecks and others.
For the convenience of the residents of Aharsimus a road was constructed from about present Henderson and Fourth Streets, crossing the marsh at about Monmouth to Railroad Avenue, following its route to the mill and connecting with the old post road and along this route many of the residents of Van Vorst Township wended their way to the old church. Even after nearer facilities for worship were offered, the older
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generations continued their connection with the old church, and some of their descendants were regular attendants at the weekly services after the establishment of churches at Paulus Hook and Van Vorst.
The growing population of Van Vorst Township encour- aged the attempt to form a local religious organization, and in January, 1846, a movement to that end was instituted. Corne- lius Van Vorst offered a suitable plot of ground on Wayne Street, together with a contribution of $1,000. The following March a regular organization was effected under the title of "The First Reformed Church of the Township of Van Vorst."
The next year an Episcopal Church organization was start- ted on Grove Street near Newark Avenue, afterward in 1853 erecting the present Grace Episcopal Church building. Other denominations followed.
In 1844 the Presbyterian organization secured a plot of ground on the northeast corner of Washington and Sussex Streets and removed to that location "the stone steepled meeting house" that stood on the north side of Wall Street, New York City. This building was demolished and removed with such care that it was possible to reconstruct it on the identical lines and plan on which it was first designed, thus presenting in its new location the same appearance as the original building.
The first school was started in the Town Hall in Sussex Street west of Washington in 1809. In 1838, William L. Dick- inson opened a classical school on the south side of Grand Street and about the same time the Catholic Parochial School was opened almost directly opposite. This latter organization de- veloped into St. Peter's Parish with its splendid equipment, much of whose success and growth being due to the wise fore- sight and prudent initiative of the Rev. Father Kelly, whose energies were freely given to the civic as well as moral develop- ment of our city. The first school of Van Vorst township was located on Third Street near Grove with Isaac Coriell as principal.
We learn from the message of Mayor Peter Martin in 1840 "That a public school has been established on such liberal principle that any resident of the city, however poor, may avail himself of its benefits. The highest price for tuition per
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quarter is $1.00, the lowest 50 cents, but children whose parents or guardians are not able to pay for their tuition, are not on that account debarred from the privileges of the school."
July 23, 1843, an ordinance was adopted by the Council of Jersey City which recites "That all monies that may hereafter be received from tavern licenses, the city quota of the surplus revenue, the interest of the city proportion of the Bergen Cor- poration Fund, be and the same are hereby appropriated to the support of Public School No. I, kept in the Town Hall, and such other public schools as the Common Council may from time to time erect and establish."
Albert T. Smith was the first teacher of the school in the Town Hall, and February, 1847, he became principal of the first free public school in Jersey City, and George H. Lindsley his first assistant. In 1851 Mr. Smith resigned and he was succeeded by Mr. Lindsley, who held the position continuously until the time of his death, a period of over 50 years.
The early mayors of Jersey City were as follows :--
Dudley S. Gregory, serving 1838-39.
Peter Martin, 1840.
Dudley S. Gregory, 1841. Thomas A. Alexander, 1842.
Peter Bentley, 1843.
Phineas C. Dummer, 1844-47.
H. J. Taylor, 1848-49. Robert Gilchrist, 1850-51.
The disadvantage under which the people labored before the advent of this age of luxury and conveniences, is alluded to in a communication published in the Jersey Sentinel November 20, 1846, as follows: "You would confer a great favor on the undersigned, if you would call the attention of the Com. on Pumps and Wells to that section of our city west of Warren Street. We have been sadly neglected all Summer and Fall. Our pumps are nearly always out of order, and most of us have to go to Van Vorst Township for water, when by a little atten- tion and expense we might have an abundant supply.
We in reality pay a great deal more than our proportion of taxes and have the least done for us. We therefore claim as a
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right that our City Fathers take more care of their children in this community.
Many Taxpayers-Sundry Housekeepers-Justice demanded."
John D. Ward, whose stately figure made him a marked man wherever he appeared, was particularly insistent that some provision should at once be made for a sufficient supply of good wholesome water. Time and again he urged upon the Common Council the necessity of immediate action. October 4, 1844, he presented a plan for the erection of water works at Belleville, on the Passaic River, the waters of which at that point was clear and free from all impurities and the supply abundant. Finally, March 25, 1852, the Legislature authoriz- ed the work, and the reservoir was completed June 30, 1854, and the following August the city mains were supplied.
One of the most noted characters of Van Vorst Township was Robert Harriott, more familiarly known as "Micky Free." He was a firm believer in squatter sovereignty and provided his house with wheels to facilitate the practical carrying out of his peculiar doctrine. He finally settled permanently among the rushes on the south side of Newark Avenue near Sixth Street, where he ended his days in contentment surrounded by his ducks and myriads of mosquitoes.
Another individual who made himself well known was one Ashcroft, who constituted himself a prophet, foretelling the dire calamities to befall the people of Jersey City on account of their wickedness, and standing, sometimes at the street cor- ners, often on the brink of the high Point of Rocks (where the P. R. R. round house now stands) with hands outstretched over the city, his voice was frequently heard crying out "Woe, woe, woe to Jersey City, the day of vengeance is at hand."
Among the industries established during the infancy of our city and still continuing are Colgate & Co. Soap Works, Joseph Dixon Crucible Co., J. H. Gautier & Co. Crucible Works, and Steele & Condict. The products of these firms are scattered world wide and have probably located Jersey City in the minds of foreign nations more effectually than any other influence.
March 18, 1851, Jersey City absorbed Van Vorst Township, the first step to the general consolidation. that has resulted in our present city of such magnificent possibilities.
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By the subsequent absorption of the neighboring munici- palities of Bergen, Hudson City, and Greenville, its territory was greatly enlarged, and its growth and development will doubtless continue until the whole county will be united as one great city, a consummation to be hoped for, as a community of interest and a consolidated government will tend to a more economical government and uniform development.
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The Historical Society of Hudson County.
No. 10.
Organized January 17, 1908.
OFFICERS
President : DANIEL VAN WINKLE.
Vice Presidents : Ist-REV. CORNELIUS BRETT. 2d-JOHN W. HECK.
Treasurer : NELSON J. H. EDGE.
Librarian :
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.
Corresponding Secretary :
Recording Secretary :
LOUIS SHERWOOD.
GEORGE W. CASE.
Assistant Librarian : EDMUND T. MILLER.
Board of Governors :
ALEXANDER MCLEAN M. J. CURRIE J. W. MCKELVEY
1916
WM. R. BARRICKLO CHARLES W. CARRICK VREELAND TOMPKINS
1918
DEWITT VAN BUSKIRK DAVID R. DALY SAMUEL DRAYTON
1917
Library Rep. :
DR. G. K. DICKINSON
DAVID W. LAWRENCE
1/42 H8H6
GIFT SOCIETY APR 7 127
7. B.M. 1927-4-26
THE CLERGY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
Paper read before The Historical Society of Hudson County January 25th, 1915
No. 10 by Rev. Cornelius Brett, D.D. 11
I offer another paper in the historical series of Hudson County because several of our members who are gathering material have not yet had the time to put their data into shape for this annual meeting of the Society.
In telling the story of the men who have ministered in spiritual things to successive generations in our churches, you may omit names which are deserv - ing of a place in the annals of our religious life. If, therefore, any of you miss the mention of men whose names are as household words in your own families, please pardon the omission. I shall care- fully exclude from consideration all my contemporaries who are still living.
During my first pastorate on Long Island, the father of a large family brought a son for baptism, REV. CORNELIUS BRETT when by request of the parents I gave the name of Abraham Lincoln to the babe, the ladies of the congregation turned one to the other, wittily saying, he has run out of family names and has begun on great men. As I was a very intimate friend, I told him of the criticism, and he replied, "Some of the family wished me to give the boy the name of Lincoln Grant, but I made up my mind that I would never call a child of mine after a great man, until he had passed away".
We must expect to find the early members of the clergy in what is now Hudson County, among Dutch dominies. The church of Bergen was not only the first church in the County and State, but for 150 years it continued to minister to this community in dignified solitude. Until the year 1771 the
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Dutch Reformed churches were missions under the care of the Classis of Amsterdam, in Holland. The church of Bergen, al- though organized in 1660 with a Consistory, was under the charge of ministers of the church of New York.
As there was no road in the early days between Paulus Hook and Bergen, these distinguished gentlemen were ferried from the Battery to Communipaw, and thence over the old road following Communipaw to Summit, and Summit Avenue to an extension of what is now Foye Place to Bergen Avenue, where they found themselves at last enjoying the hospitality of one of the pioneers of the Village of Bergen.
Among these dominies from New York, two are worthy of special mention as the earliest clergymen of Hudson County, Henry Selyns and Gualtherus Du Bois.
Henry Selyns was one of the most distinguished ministers of the church of New York. After spending a short time in the service of the church of Holland, he was called to the new church of Brooklyn, on a four-year contract. At the end of his term he insisted on returning to his native land to gladden the hearts of his aged parents. He was chaplain in the Dutch army and pastor of another church in Holland, when in 1671 he returned to New Netherland and became pastor of the church in New York. He was for several years all alone in this most important charge. He was a statesman as well as a minister, and when the English governor opposed the treaty rights of the Dutch Church, he stood nobly for religious liber- ty, and finally secured the first charter given to a church in the province of New York. He was officiating during the Leisler episode, which time forbids us here to rehearse. He opposed Governor Leisler and exulted in his downfall, With all his ex- acting duties in New York he found time to cross the river and look after the affairs of the little colony of Bergen. The first "List of members" of that church is in his handwriting. The page photographed by the Holland Society, which will be pub- lished in the Year Book of 1915, is a replica of his own hand- writing.
Gualtherus Du Bois, having been ordained by the Classis of Amsterdam, came to New York as a colleague of Selyns during the last year of the 17th century. He is described as a man of purely wise judgment, whose conciliatory dealings with
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the many opposing interests added greatly to the establishment of the Reformed churches in the Province of New York and New Jersey. He was more like a bishop than a pastor of a single church; and he gave to Bergen more than its share of devoted ministry. He entered upon his ministry as a bachelor, but found a helpful spouse in Helene La Boelen, a half sister of that Catherine Rom- bout who is the mother of all the Bretts of New York.
Although a Dutch minister, his family were probably refugees REV. GUALTHERUS DU BOIS from France. His father, Peter Du Bois, served in the old Church of Amsterdam. Many of his descendants are to be found in this country.
A paper on the Clergy of Hudson County would be in- complete without the mention of the faithful Voorlezers, who kept alive the church of Bergen in the absence of the ordained ministers. The Voorlezer was a regularly licensed lay min- ister. His duties were enormous. Every day, except Satur- day and Sunday, he taught the children of the Dutch in the common school. On Sunday he gathered the faithful in the old Octagonal church, led them in singing a psalm to the wor- ship of God, offered prayer, read The Law, and a sermon from an approved collection of Dutch homilies. He kept the rec- ords of the church, which are still in existence, and have been printed by the Holland Society of New York. The Voorlezer also officiated at funerals, he was custodian of the two palls, one large enough to cover a man's coffin as he was carried to the tomb, and a smaller one for the dear children who from time to time might be taken from their earthly homes. When the dominie finally arrived in Bergen, the name Voorlezer was dropped, and that official was called the clerk of the church.
Under such administration, with the help of the visiting clergy from New York, the church of Bergen continued to live and thrive for about ninety years. They had failed to secure a pastor not because the congregation was unable to contribute
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to his support, but because it became almost impossible to per- suade the worthy dominies of the old country, so comfortably settled in their luxurious homes, to endure the privations of the new settlements. About the year 1750 the little commun- ity of Bergen was greatly rejoiced to hear of the arrival of the Rev. Peter DeWint, and the willingness of the clergy of New York to install him as pastor of the church. DeWint came over with full credentials of ordination from the Classis of Am- sterdam. He took up his residence in Bergen and immediately became immensely popular. He is described as a man of great eloquence in the pulpit and winning manners in social life. But the voice of scandal followed him from his old home, and it was openly charged that DeWint had forged his certificates of license to the Classis of Amsterdam, and the Classis had therefore declared his ordination void. A letter from the church of Bergen to the Classis of Amsterdam had been print- ed, in which they asked that their beloved pastor be permitted to remain with them. They speak of their love for him, and his usefulness to the church, as he not only preached on Sun- day, but during the week on Wednesday. It is interesting with this letter in evidence, to carry back the beginning of our mid- week service, which has become so universal in all the churches of our county, and which is almost as universally ignored by the people. The Classis of Amsterdam, however, denied the petition of the church, and insisted on maintaining its discip- line. DeWint was obliged to retire, and the Voorlezer re- sumed his duties.
The first regular minister was called in 1753. Wm. Jack- son was the son of Patrick Jackson, a Scotsman, who found his way to New York early in the 18th century, married a Dutch lady and, in the absence of a Presbyterian church, became identified with the Dutch church of New York. He brought with him the stalwart piety of his native land, and when Pres- byterian preaching was reckoned a crime in New York, he in- . curred the risk of fine and imprisonment by opening his own house for the services in English, of Presbyterian ministers. He was a successful man and left a goodly heritage to his only son, William.
A generation before, Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen had left a comfortable settlement in Holland to enter the ser-
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vice of the Dutch communities of America, and tucking his saddlebags over his horse's neck, plunged into the forests along the Raritan, where a few clearings had been already made, and a scattered group of churches awaited the service of preachers of the Gospel. He found piety at a low ebb, and immorality dominant among the youth of his large parish. He opened his home for students of theology, as no theological seminary had as yet been established, and when his son, the Rev. John Fre- linghuyson, took his father's place, he continued his efforts to instruct consecrated young men in theology, and the duties of their noble ministry. Wm. Jackson was one of the students of John Frelinghuysen, at Raritan, which is now the village of Somerville, N. J. William found opportunity in the intervals of his study to pay his devoted attentions to the daughter of the household, Anna Frelinghuysen, whom he afterwards married.
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