USA > New Jersey > The New Jersey coast in three centuries; history of the New Jersey coast with genealogical and historic-biographical appendix, Vol. I > Part 54
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 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
Mr. Murray was reared a Roman Catholic, but became a Protestant when about twenty years of age. After entering the ministry he became an earnest opponent of the church of his youth, and antagonized it with his pen, yet was so liberal withal that he subscribed out of his private means to the building of a Catholic church in Elizabeth. In 1852 he published a volume, "Romanism at Home," and, in later years, "Parish and Other Pencillings," "Men and Things As I Saw Them in Europe," "The? Happy Home," and "Preachers and Preaching." He died in 1861, and late the same year was published a volume entitled "A Dying Legacy to the People of My Beloved Charge," containing a number of his undelivered discourses.
Before this, William A. Whitehead, at Perth Amboy, was industri- ously gathering historical material, and he was peculiarly favored in hav- ing access to the valuable papers of James Parker. In 1840 he began the publication of his sketches of the men, manners and customs of East Jer- sey, under the title "Glimpses of the Past," in the "Newark Daily Adver- tiser." He subsequently carefully edited these chapters and published them in a volume, with illustrations after his own pencil drawings (really works of art), of scenes in and about Perth Amboy.
In 1834 Thomas F. Gordon published at Trenton a "History of New Jersey From Its Discovery by Europeans to the Adoption of the Federal Constitution." This volume contained an appendix, "A State Gazetteer," the first local compilation of annals known. This was followed in 1837 by "The New Jersey Register," compiled by Joseph C. Potts, and which was published by William D'Hart, at Trenton.
Perhaps the most important work of this period was "Historical Col- lections of the State of New Jersey," by John W. Barber and Henry Howe, a volume of 519 pages, published at Newark, in 1844. The compilers were young men who had produced similar works in some of the eastern States. Gordon's "Gazetteer" was taken as the basis for its geographical and statistical data, and much use was made of newspaper files. It was
504
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
illustrated with wood cuts, quite creditable for the times. Thrown to- gether much after scrap-book fashion, it was marked by many imperfec- tions, and yet it contained much of value.
In 1848 the "Civil and Political History of New Jersey," a volume of 500 pages, was published by I. S. Mulford, at Camden, and it was re- published in Philadelphia in 1851.
The pre-eminent position occupied by New Jersey in the field of lit- erature, and notably in the departments of Colonial and Revolutionary annals, is largely due to the splendid work performed by the New Jersey Historical Society. Indeed, history worthy the name did not exist until it was brought into being through the stimulus and encouragement af- forded by the scholarly and patriotic men who, through pride in the achieve- ments of their illustrious ancestors, devoted their effort to the preservation of records and traditions, many of which were rapidly disappearing.
In 1841 the New York Historical Society began the publication of what are known as the "New York Colonial Documents," a collection of his- torical matter with reference to the New Netherlands. Daniel Haines, then Governor of New Jersey, was led by this example to recommend to the Legislature, in his annual message, a similar publication in his own State. In many important matters the New York annals related intimately to the Jersey colonies, and in so far are now of equal value in either State. But shortly prior to the Revolutionary war, and throughout that struggle, New York and New Jersey were absolutely separate fields, and the his- tory of the latter was unique in various phases of its resistance to crown oppression and in the splendid results of battles fought upon its soil. To rescue this history from oblivion was the purpose of Governor Haines and those who sought to aid in the enterprise.
The recommendation of Governor Haines was referred to a committee which made an admirable and comprehensive report prepared by the pen of William A. Whitehead. Miserable parsimony governed the assembly, and the measure was lost, to be annually renewed, and as often defeated, for many years afterward.
January 13, 1845, a number of gentlemen met in Trenton with the purpose of organizing a historical society. Peter D. Vroom, then but re- cently retired from the gubernatorial chair, presided, and the Rev. Eli F. Cooley served as secretary. On February 27 following, the New Jersey His- torical Society was organized, to be located at Newark. Its roll of mem- bers contained but a score of names, but each was that of a man of dis- tinction. The first volume of published proceedings was issued in 1845, the year of organization, and comprised 62 pages. In succeeding years the annual volumes assumed the dimensions of a considerable work, and their
505
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
contents were remarkable for their great value. In a way, the word "Pro- ceedings" which forms the caption is a misnomer, inasmuch as but few pages are given to the narrative of routine business, almost the entire space being occupied with original papers and addresses upon topics of his- toric worth, based upon documents and narratives of unassailable authen- ticity. The first series, from 1845 to 1866, comprised ten volumes; the second series, from 1867 to 1895, comprised thirteen volumes; and of the third series have been issued four volumes, from 1896 to 1900. This work was most usefully supplemented in early years by another entitled "Col- lections of the New Jersey Historical Society," comprising papers of vast importance relating to the Colonial period. The first volume was prepared by William A. Whitehead, before the Historical Society was organized, and was published in 1846. The seventh volume, with a separate sup- plemental volume, was published in 1872. The great value of the "Collec- tions" consisted in the way it prepared for that monumental work, "New Jersey Archives," printed under legislative authority, at a later day.
The library of the Society is a veritable mine of invaluable material and is of first importance to investigator or writer when dealing with the history of New Jersey, even to its remotest parts and its most humble interests. It is within truth to say that in few instances is it possible for a county, town, church or old civic or military society to find in its own possession so much matter pertaining to its own history as is possesscd by this library. It contains some 15,000 bound volumes, many thousand pamphlets and many ancient newspaper files. Among its most important possessions are one hundred and sixty-four bound volumes of "New Jersey Pamphlets," containing more than one thousand titles, comprising tracts and other ephemeral publications of Colonial, Revolutionary and later days, touching upon every topic which in their time commanded the attention of the people. It also contains among other priceless manu- scripts, the journals of the Provincial Congress in Revolutionary times. and the journals of the convention which framed the first constitution of New Jersey, and many maps and portraits pertaining to the same days. In its museum may be traced every step in the pathway to liberty, beginning with the odious "stamps" issued by the crown, and continuing with relics from every hard-fought battlefield on New Jersey soil.
A splendid achievement of the New Jersey Historical Society was in formulating and effecting the enactment of legislation authorizing the compilation and publication of the "New Jersey Archives," being a series of documents relating the Colonial history of what is now the State of New Jersey, and kindred matter. The first eight volumes of the first scries were edited by W. A. Whitehcad: of the remaining thirteen volumes,
506
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
five volumes were edited by Frederick W. Ricord and William Nelson, five volumes were edited by William Nelson, and three volumes were editd by Frederick W. Ricord. Volume I, of the second series ( 1901) was begun by General William S. Stryker, who died before the completion of his task, which was taken up and finished by Mr. Nelson. A second vol- ume, comprising newspaper extracts for the year 1778, is now in prepa- ration, edited by Mr. Francis B. Lee.
The Presidents of the Society which has performed so useful a work are worthy of more extended mention than can be made in this narrative. The first, whose period of service covcred nearly a score of years, was Joseph C. Hornblower, the distinguished jurist who became Chief Justice of the State: he was a son of that Josiah Hornblower who set up the first steam engine in America. The second President was Richard S. Field, another great jurist. Succeeding him in the presidency were in order, John Rutherford, who was a State Senator; that scholarly divine, the Rev. Ravaud Kearny Rodgers, D. D. ; Henry W. Green, a former Chief Justice of the State, and afterward Chancellor ; the Rev. Samuel M. Hamill, D. D., a noted divine and educator ; the Hon. John Clement, a fine jurist and the author of a nota- ble work, "Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Town- ship, Old Gloucester County, West Jersey ;" and the present President, Samuel H. Pennington, M. D. LL. D., a capable man of affairs, a WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD. brilliant scholar and an earnest friend of education.
For nearly two score years William Adee Whitehead was recognized as the potential spirit of the Society, and he was its corresponding secretary from the time of its organization until his death. His initial work. "Glimpses of the Past," has been previously referred to. The first twenty volumes of the Society proceedings are adorned with his papers upon his- torical events and persons. Among these may be named, as indicating the lines of his investigation, "William Franklin, Governor, 1763-1776;" "Thomas Boone, Governor, 1760-61 ;" "Robbery of the Treasury of East Jersey in 1768;" "The Facilities for Traveling, and the Transportation of
507
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
Mails and Merchandise before the Revolution;" "The Origin, Practice and Prohibition of Female Suffrage in New Jersey ;" "The Circumstances Leading to the Establishment in 1769 of the Northern Boundary Line Between New Jersey and New York;" "Answer and Explanation Concern- ing Certain Documents with Reference to the Title of New York to Staten Island;" and "The Resting Place of the Remains of Christopher Columbus." To the monumental work thus but partially mentioned, are to be added more than six hundred articles and letters printed in newspapers between the years 1837 and 1882. His "History of East Jersey Under the Proprietary Governments from the Settlement of the Province Until the Surrender to the Crown in 1702," formed the first volume of the "New Jersey Archives." In 1852 he edited the papers of Lewis Morris, Governor of the Province of New Jersey. In 1856 he published a volume of 428 pages, "Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and Adjoin- ing Country, with Sketches of Men and Events in New Jersey During the Provincial Era." He subsequently performed the great task of editing an "Analytical Index to the Colonial Documents of New Jersey in the State Paper Offices of England," compiled by Henry Stevens. In 1864 he was collaborator with Samuel H. Congar in writing "The Records of the Town of Newark, New Jersey, from its Settlement in 1666 to its Incorporation as a City in 1836." His last work, and one of paramount importance to the student of history, was one involving immense labor and close application, in editing and publishing seven volumes of the "New Jersey Archives." The seventh volume appeared in 1883, another was ready for the press, and yet another was in course of preparation when increasing infirmity compelled him to cease from the labors in which he had delighted through many years. A voyage to Europe failed to reinvigorate him, and he died at his summer residence in Perth Amboy, August 8, 1884.
An eloquent tribute to his memory was paid by Samuel Irenaeus Prime, in a memorial address delivered before the New Jersey Historical Society, May 21, 1885. " He was named as one of the most exemplary of men. His habit of mind was accuracy, particularly with reference to statistics, and he accepted no statement as correct unless he knew it to be unassailable. He devoted the greater part of his life to historical research for the sake of truth, practically without compensation, and certainly with- out the public recognition his unselfish labors deserved.
William A. Whitehead was born February 19, 1810, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He was educated in his native town, and when eighteen years of age went to Key West, Florida, where he remained for nearly ten years, during which time he made a survey and map of the town, was Collector of the Port before he attained his majority, and afterward served
508
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
as Alderman and Mayor. From 1838 to 1843 he was engaged in business in New York City. In 1843 he removed to Newark, and for many years afterward was engaged in railroad and insurance affairs. In 1871 he be- came connected with the American Trust Company, with which he re- mained until 1879, when he resigned his position as treasurer, and devoted his attention exclusively to historical and literary pursuits during the brief remainder of his life. The Newark Library Association, with its building and book treasures, remains a conspicuous monument to his zeal for liter- ature, his public spirit and his energy. Its conception and successful estab- lishment was pre-eminently due to him. He was the first secretary of the Association, and for thirty-three years prior to his death he was Presi- dent of its board. His wife was formerly Miss Margaret Elizabeth Parker, a daughter of James Parker, of Perth Amboy.
Frederick William Ricord, who collaborated with William Nelson in the "New Jersey Archives," was a man of splendid literary attainments, and a fine linguist. In 1852 he published "A History of Rome," and in 1853 "The Youth's Grammar." He made a number of excellent transla- tions from the French, among them Victor Cousin's "Life of Madame de Longuerville," in 1854, and Voltaire's "The Henriade," in 1859. In 1879 he published "English Songs from Foreign Tongues," and in 1885 "The Self-Tormenter," from the Latin of Terentius, and "More English Songs." In the two volumes last named were contained translations from fourteen different languages and dialects. When in his seventy-eighth year, Mr. Ricord completed a metrical translation of Terence's "Phormio." He contributed numerous articles to encyclopedias from time to time, and very many historical and biographical sketches to magazines, newspapers and local histories. During his later years he was ably assisted in his literary labors by his daughter, Miss Sophia B. Ricord.
Mr. Ricord was born October 7, 1819. His parents were Dr. Jean Baptiste and Elizabeth (Stryker) Ricord, both of whom were highly edu- cated and possessed of excellent literary ability. Dr. Ricord, who was a medical graduate, was the author of "An Improved French Grammar," and of several treatises on natural history, and was a contributor to various scientific and literary journals. His wife was the author of "Philosophy of the Mind," and of a dramitic poem, "Zamba, or the Insurrection," and was a contributor to various magazines and journals. She was founder of the Newark Orphan Asylum in 1848, and was its first directress until the time of her death in 1865.
Frederick W. Ricord, son of these talented parents, was educated at Hobart and Rutgers Colleges. He read law but did not engage in the profession, preferring educational work. From 1852 to 1869 he was a
509
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
member of the Newark Board of Education, and during the last three years of that term he was President of the body. He was State Superintendent of Public Schools from 1860 to 1863, Sheriff of Essex county from 1865 to 1877, Mayor of Newark from 1870 to 1873, and Associate Judge of the various courts of Essex county from 1875 to 1879. He was Treasurer and Librarian of the New Jersey Historical Association until his death, which occurred August 13, 1897.
General William S. Stryker, who died before the completion of his editorial work on the "New Jersey Archives," performed splendid service to the State in the compilation of the "Register of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War," the first work of its class pub- lished in the United States, and in the compilation of the "Register of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War." During his time he wrote many valuable monographs on historical subjects, among the most important of which are to be named: "The Reed Controversy," "Trenton One Hundred Years Ago;" "The Massacre Near Old Tappan;" "The Princeton Surprise;" "Washington's Reception by the People of New Jer- sey in 1789;" "Capture of the Block House at Toms River;" "The Battle of Trenton :" "The Heroes of the Rev- olution;" "A Study of George Wash- ington ;" "Lee's Conduct at the Battle of Monmouth," and "The Battles o. Trenton and Princeton." In prepar- ing for the two papers last named Gen- eral Stryker made an exhaustive search among the military archives of Germany for facts concerning the Hessian con- tingent, and with much success, and these monographs received warm en- coniums from historians throughout the country. Of interest with refer- ence to a later day, his article in the "Century War Paper Series" on "The Swamp Angel," used in the siege of Charleston, was a valuable contribution GEN. WILLIAM S. STRYKER. to the literature of the Civil war period.
For thirty years prior to his deatlı, General Stryker was engaged in compiling material to form a large volume of records of the Colonial Provincial wars, the whiskey insurrection of 1794, the War of 1812, the Mexican war and the Spanish-American war. This work, which is be-
510
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
lieved to be the most exhaustive of its class ever issued by any State in the Union, is to have early publication. Other works from the pen of General Stryker which were not quite completed at the time of his death were a comprehensive "Account of the Battle of Monmouth," and another on "The Battle of Red Bank." He had edited for the "New Jersey Archives" a volume of newspaper extracts relating to the Revolution in New Jersey, and had supervised the printing of about one-half the book when ill health obliged him to lay the work aside.
William S. Stryker was born in Trenton, New Jersey, June 6, 1838, and he there died October 29, 1900. He was of Dutch descent, and his ancestors were early settlers in New Amsterdam, and others of a later gen- eration were prominent during the Revolutionary war. His grandfather fought in the battle of Springfield, and his great-grandfather in the battle of Monmouth. Colonel Nathaniel Scudder and Lieutenant-Colonel William Scudder, brothers of his great-grandmother, also fought at Monmouth, and the former named was the only member of the old Continental Con- gress who was killed in action during the war.
William S. Stryker was graduated from Princeton University when twenty years of age, and entered upon the study of law in Trenton. The opening of the rebellion turned him aside from the profession upon which he was about to enter, and April 16, 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier and aided in organizing the Fourteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers. In 1863 he served upon the staff of General Quincy A. Gilmore, with the rank of Major, and participated in the operations against the defenses of Charleston, South Carolina. He was incapacitated for field service by reason of ill health, and he was attached to the army pay department and placed in charge of the disbursing corps in the Columbus (Ohio) district. He was brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel by the President "for meritorious service," and resigned June 30, 1866, the war having ended. Returning home he was admitted to the bar, and became connected with various financial institutions in an official capacity. April 12, 1867, he was ap- pointed Adjutant General of the State, with the rank of Brigadier-General, and served in that position until his death. He was brevetted Major-Gen- eral in the National Guard of New Jersey, in February, 1874, in recogni- tion of long and meritorious service. His studious interest in American history and his notable contributions to historical literature gave him wide acquaintance with investigators and writers, among whom he was held as an honored associate. He was a member of numerous State historical societies, a Fellow of the American Geographical Society and of the Royal Historical Society of London, a member of the American Historical Asso- ciation, and President of the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati. In
5il
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
1899 he received from Princeton University the degree of doctor of laws.
William Nelson, surviving editor of the "New Jersey Archives," be- came a member of the New Jersey Historical Society in 1872. He was its Recording Secretary for ten years from 1880 to 1890, and since then he has continuously been its Corresponding Secretary. During all these years he has, devoted much of his attention to historical and literary subjects, and he has collected a fine library of about ten thousand volumes, one-third of the number relating to New Jersey. This splendid collection is assem- bled in his residence, and escaped the great conflagration which early in the year 1902 destroyed the business portion of Paterson and swept away his excellent law library.
In addition to his arduous labors in connection with editing the "New Jersey Archives," Mr. Nelson has written some fifty monographs on his- torical, literary and legal topics, and their importance warranted the nam- ing of those written prior to 1894 in the Report of the American Histori- cal Association for that year. Among the most important of his papers written for and read before the New Jersey Historical Society were "Joseph Coerton Hornblower, Chief Justice of New Jersey, 1832-1846;" "Clifford Stanley Sims-Soldier, Statesman, Jurist ;" and "List of Early New Jersey Newspapers." He is an acknowledged authority upon aboriginal history, and he made a notable addition thereto in his "The Indians of New Jersey ; Their Origin and Development, Manners and Customs, Language and Re- ligion; with Some Notices of Indian Place Names," an octavo volume of 170 pages, published at Paterson, in 1894. This is conceded to be the most authentic publication extant upon the subjects of which it treats, and has been made the basis for all subsequent works in those lines. Of particular historical value was his address delivered May 16, 1895, before the New Jersey Historical Society, upon the occasion of the semi-centennial anniversary of its founding. This splendid effort, summarizing the history of the Society, was printed in a handsome volume which also embraced appendices containing minute references to its bibli- ography, all the work of this busy and careful writer. Among his papers of wide interest to the legal profession were "Summary of the Law of New Jersey in Relation to Public Bridges," and "Fees of Justices and Constables in Criminal Cases." In 1869 he drafted a supplement to the city charter of Paterson, which materially altered and broadened its pro- visions with reference to the powers of the board of education, and in : 871 he drew up a new charter for the city, on broad and novel lines, which has proven so salutary in effect that it has been retained in greater part to the present time. He is also the author of some one hundred important
.
512 HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
laws now embraced in the statutes of the State, principally relating to State, county and city administration. In recognition of his great usefulness as a literateur, Princeton University in 1896 conferred upon him the hour- orary degree of Master of Arts.
Mr. Nelson is a native of New Jersey, born in Newark, February 10, 1847. His education was limited to that afforded by the high school of that city, and his extensive literary knowledge has been wholly self-ac- quired. In his earlier years he was at various times engaged as a news- paper reporter and a school teacher. While pursuing these occupations he was also a law student, beginning his reading when fifteen years of age. but his occupations deferred his admission to the 'bar until 1878, since which time he has practiced his profession in Paterson. He had barely attained his majority when he was elected a member of the board of edu- cation in the same city, and during a three-year term of service he was instrumental in reorganizing the public school system and in advancing it to a far higher state of efficiency. In 1871 he was elected clerk of the county board of chosen freeholders, and he served in that position until 1894, by successive re-elections, which were usually without opposition. From 1877 to 1887 he was also clerk of the Paterson district court. He has always been an active Republican, attending nearly all national and other conventions of his party, and until 1890 rendering efficient service in campaigning before the people. He is a member of the Washington Association of New Jersey, of the Revolutionary Memorial Society of New Jersey. and of various other historical, literary and benevolent so- cieties.
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.