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 55
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To this ample fund of general history has been added much valuable information contributed by local annalists, who at various times have written of counties, towns, churches and the like, and few of these writers but have rescued from the past, through family traditions or private papers which had hitherto escaped without appreciation of their value, some im- portant fragment of history. Such discoverers are worthy of commenda- tion, and those who follow them are to be encouraged. History is con- stantly making, and it is due to posterity that its events should be written from time to time by its makers, and by those familiar with its incidents. Such labor is onerous. The intense commercial activity of the present day militates against the annalist, but that very fact only serves to emphasize the necessity for his effort.
Great honor is due the memory of Dr. Maurice Beasley, who, through current journals, made various valuable contributions to the his- torical literature of New Jersey, preserving to us the important facts per-
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taining to the development of the coast region, and presenting in full light the impressive personality of men of strong character who figured con- spicuously and usefully in a stirring period. He was contemporaneous with many of these, and he was of mature years and receptive discerning mind at so early a date that he was enabled to derive much valuable infor- mation from actors in the scenes of Colonial and Revolutionary times, and from family annals which have long ago disappeared. He also made industrious compilations from the diaries of Aaron Leaming and Joseph Spicer, which he communicated to the New Jersey Historical Society.
The most important work from the pen of Dr. Beasley was his "Sketch of the Early History of Cape May County," published in 1857, a volume of only fifty pages, but invaluable to the annalist of to-day, and one which is increasingly valuable with each succeeding year. He was a valued mem- ber of the New Jersey Historical Society, whose archives contain many erudite papers from his pen. One of the number, "Researches into the Origin of the Burned Juniper Forests of Dennis Creek," remains to this time the standard and undisputed authority upon that subject.
Dr. Beasley was born in Dennisville, Cape May county, New Jersey, May 16, 1804, son of Thomas H. Beasley. His grandfather, Jonathan Beasley, a patriotic soldier during the Revolutionary war, died in battle. Dr. Beasley's literary education was self-acquired, and he became a physi- cian under the preceptorship of Dr. Theophilus Beasley, of Salem. His practice extended over a period of fifty-four years, and all his professional life except the first year was passed in Dennisville. From 1840 to 1842 he served in the Legislature, and for two years following in the legislative council, and was actively interested in effecting salutary legislation for the public institutions for the care of the insane. In 1866 he was appointed superintendent of public instruction for Cape May county and he served efficiently in that capacity for fifteen years, and until failing health coni- pelled him to resign. He died January 13, 1882, aged seventy-eight years.
Students of history of the present day owe to Judge George C. Beek- man, of Freehold, a debt of gratitude for the large fund of historical mat- ter he has made available for their use, and the value of his labors will be more deeply apparent to the future historian in all time to come. For many years past he has led all students of Monmouth county history, among whom he has been the most industrious and persistent. Of old and honorable Monmouth county ancestry, he was born, educated and rose to eminence in the legal profession and in public station amid scenes about which cluster the most sacred and thrilling associations in civil and mili- tary affairs in Colonial and Revolutionary times. From early youth his
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mind was deeply permeated with a reverence for the sturdy men of old, many of whom he knew when he was a youth and they were of venerable age, and he made it his mission to preserve the narratives of their lives, and to trace their influence upon their descendants. At the same time his ju- dicial temperament and habits enabled him to weigh carefully the men whose lives he traced, and to measure the effect of their acts, "nothing ex- tenuating, nor setting down aught in malice," and the story he has told, in its essential facts, and in his statements and conclusions, are regarded, as they ever will be, with the weight that attaches to as nearly unas- sailable accuracy as can be arrived at by any human being.
Prior to 1877 he began to contribute to the "Monmouth Democrat" a scries of historical sketches relating to Monmouth county, beginning with the days when it practically comprised the entire New Jersey coast region. These papers related to the result of his researches into the history of the boundaries and townships of the county, and covered all phases of Colonial and Revolutionary history, events in many instances being rescued from oblivion through his deep delving into treasures of narrative where the immediate custodians of the facts, either by recollection of knowledge con- veyed to them orally by their ancestors, or by inheritance of valuable fan- ily records, were unaware of the great value of that which he discovered in their keeping. A notable instance of his careful research is one deserv- ing of national gratitude-that of discovering the missing link in the gene- alogy of Abraham Lincoln, and of tracing the ancestry of the martyr Pres- ident to New Jersey, and of establishing his relationship with two of the best families of Monmouth county, the Bownes and the Salters, and his lineal descent from the famous Baptist clergyman of Rhode Island, the Rev. Obadiah Holmes.
In 1887 the published papers of Judge Beekman were presented in a volume entitled "Old Times in Monmouth: Historical Reminiscences of Old Monmouth County, New Jersey; a Series of Historical Sketches Relating to Old Monmouth County, Now Monmouth and Ocean." .This volume also contains other papers of a similar nature from the pen of Edwin Salter, whose name appears first on the title page; and an appendix containing "The History and Centennial of the Battle of Monmouth," by James S. Yard.
Judge Beekman subsequently contributed to the "Freehold Tran- script" a series of articles on the "Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey." Aside from being an account of the most famous and useful of the Dutch colonists, and of their descendants to the present generation, these papers contained a remarkably vivid picture of the social 'life and customs of the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. These papers
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were placed in book form in 1901, and the volume was embellished with many excellent reproductions of old church edifices and homes of the same early days, after photographs taken by Mrs. L. H. S. Conover. In. loyal recollection of the ancestry of the people thus commemorated, the work is bound in the color known as that of the old Netherlands House of Orange.
Both volumes named were printed in extremely limited editions, that of "Early Dutch Settlers" numbering only one hundred and thirty-five copies. They were printed from the same type in which they originally appeared in the newspapers from which they were taken, the printer hav- ing from week to week made up pages of two newspaper columns width. and printing the sheets, which were laid aside until the series was com- pleted, when they were bound up, without any topical connection. Both works are quite rare and highly treasured, and extreme prices have been refused by persons having copies in possession. It is to be regretted that the authors did not realize the value of their work and procure publication in the usual book form. With better mechanical execution and properly indexed (an irksome labor which was not at all attempted) these works should have commanded a large general sale, nor have been restricted to a small local market.
While not affecting to pose as a literateur, Judge Beekman has ex- hibited a decided taste and ability for letters, and during his public career many of his utterances at the bar and in legislative assemblies found preservation in printed pamphlets. As chairman of the joint committee on the State library, in 1881, appointed by President of the Senate ( after- ward Vice-President of the United States) Garret A. Hobart, he rendered a signal service to the commonwealth by giving proper direction to the management of the State library, and laying its foundations as a deposi- tory for literature of permanent historical value, such as files of old news- papers and volumes of local history. This however, forms but a part of Judge Beekman's long and useful official life, which is more fully referred to elsewhere in this work. He has also at various times delivered addresses upon historical topics.
Edwin Salter was an industrious member of the New Jersey Histori- cal Society, and was particularly well informed with refence to the history of Monmouth county and the genealogy of its old families. He was the author of the greater part of the matter contained in the published volume. "Old Times in Monmouth." Death overtook him when he was preparing a connected historical work, and his abundant material, in part in readi- ness for the printer, was edited and published in the interests of his family
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by E. Gardner, of Bayonne, New Jersey, in 1889, under the title "His- tory of Monmouth and Ocean Counties."
Mr. Salter was born February 6, 1824, in Morris County, New Jer- sey, and descended from the Bowne, Lawrence and Hartshorne families. He made his home at Forked River, New Jersey, served in the State Leg- islature, and for some years occupied a position in the Treasury Depart- ment in Washington City.
James S. Yard, the author of the exhaustive article on "The Battle and Centennial of Monmouth," and of a "Memoir of Governor Joel Parker," an admirable paper of permanent value, was one of the leading journalists of the State, and had been a publisher for more than a half century, and from 1854 until the time of his death he was editor and publisher of the "Monmouth Democrat," of Freehold. He was industri- ous in collecting historical matter, and during many years he devoted much space in his newspaper to contributions from well known local historians and to articles from his own pen, on topics pertaining to Colonial and Revolutionary times. His press gave to the public, through his journal and afterward in book form, the papers of Judge George C. Beekman and Mr. Edwin Salter. He also printed in the "Democrat," and afterward in pamphlet form, "The Old Middletown (Monmouth county) Town Book," containing the records from 1667 to 1694. The records were nota- ble as being the first under the proprietary government in Monmouth county, and as containing the first protest against the conflicting grants of King Charles II, and the first formal assertion of the rights of actual set- tlers upon the ground.
James S. Yard was born in Trenton, New Jersey, April 20, 1826, and died in Freehold, April 30, 1900. He was connected with the State militia for several years 'prior to the Civil war and during that struggle he rendered valuable service in raising troops and rose to the rank of brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. He occupied many important civil positions, serving as postmaster, as a member of the board of chosen freeholders, as commissioner of railroad taxation under Governor Parker, and as deputy Quartermaster-General under Governor Mcclellan. He was active in all concerns for the advancement of the interests of his community and of the State.
Dr. J. E. Stillwell, now a resident of New York city, has for some years past made interesting historical contributions to the press, particu- larly to the "Monmouth Democrat," and these have been placed in pamph- let form for better preservation. Among these papers were "Quaker Rec- ords of Shrewsbury," "The First Families of Old Monmouth-The Sal-
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ter Family," "The Town of Old Middletown," and "The Burying Grounds of Old Monmouth."
"Woodbridge and Vicinity, the Story of a New Jersey Township," was the title of a volume from the pen of the Rev. Joseph W. Dalley, printed in New Brunswick, in 1873. This work, embracing the history of Woodbridge, Piscataway. Metuchen and contiguous places, from the earliest times, was based upon early manuscript records of the town and its churches, and presented the development of its civil and religious institutions, and a graphic picture of social life in Colonial and Revolu- tionary times.
Mrs. Mary Crawford Murray Hyde, of New York City, has for sev- eral years past been an industrious student of the history of New Jersey, and particularly of Monmouth coun- ty. She descended from two promi- nent Colonial families of that region (Murray and Morris) and her par- ents were the Hon. George Craw- ford and Mary C. (Cooper ) Murray. She inherited a rich store of histori- cal works which had been gathered and carefully preserved by her grand- parents and parents. Her great . grandfather, William Murray, and his son, William, were original sub- scribers for a number of works pub- lished about the beginning of the nineteenth century, among which were Ramsey's "History of the Rev- olution." Jefferson's "Notes on Vir- ginia," and they also purchased Gor- don's "History of New Jersey," MRS. M. C. MURRAY HYDE. Howe & Barber's "Historical Collec- tions of New Jersey," and many others. Mary Crawford, wife of William W. Murray, inherited from her father, George Crawford, the rare Collins Bible, "The Legacies of Washington," subscribed for by her grandfather; Richard Crawford, and other works. Mrs. Hyde also received large num- bers of valuable volumes through her father, and through his sister, Lavinia M. Hoagland. Her husband, Dr. Ovid A. Hyde, similarly inherited equally valuable works. All this material, besides various English and Scotch historical works relating to families which emigrated to Monmouth county, and many old newspapers, pamphlets, maps and manuscript diaries and
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letters, have been diligently studied by Mrs. Hyde, and she has founded upon them numerous valuable papers, which she has read before historical societies and which have been published in various journals. Among these were the following :
"Battle of the Navesink," in the "New York Times," February 23, 1896, from an account found in "The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury" of February, 1777, confirming pension records and family tradi- tions, being the first written account of this battle.
"Jersey at Germantown," in the "New York Times," May 2, 1896, based upon an unpublished letter written by Colonel Asher Holmes to his wife.
"July Fourth, 1781," in the "New York Times," from old news- papers.
"Morristown, New Jersey, as Winter Quarters for the Army of the Revolution," read before the New York City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, April, 1897.
"Captain Joshua Huddy and the Fall of the North Ministry," in the "Spirit of '76," November, 1898.
"Captain Joshua Huddy," read before the Historical Association of Monmouth County, New Jersey.
"Treaty of Alliance and Commerce with France," in the "Spirit of '76," December, 1897, and in January and March, 1898, being three pa- pers, "The Treaty of 1778," "First Anniversary, 1779," and "Anniversary Celebration of 1783." written by request.
"Steve Seabrook's Curse," a story based upon a tradition, in "Spirit of '76," August, 1898.
"The Queen's Birthday," celebrated January 18, 1780, in New York, especially in honor of the Hessian troops quartered there after the battle on Monmouth, in "Spirit of '76," January, 1899.
"James Rivington," a sketch in the "Spirit of '76," March, 1899.
"Retreat after the Battle of Monmouth," Traditions, etc. (contain- ing some errors due to misinformation), in the "Spirit of '76," August. 1899.
"Liberty of Conscience," in the "Spirit of '76," November, 1899.
"The Evacuation of Philadelphia," read before the Historical Asso- ciation of Monmouth County, New Jersey, in Old Tennent Church, Mon- mouth County, New Jersey, June 28, 1901, and presented to the Society with a copy of a report of the "State of the Forces Under the Command of His Excellency, General Sir Henry Clinton, Camp Navesink, New Jersey, July 3, 1778," obtained by Mrs. Hyde from the Public Records Office in London, England.
"Middletown, 1830-1840," a paper read before the Monmouth His- torical Association, November, 1901, from Family Diaries.
Mrs. Hyde's latest work is the excellent chapter on "Early Families," which appears in this volume.
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The most unique of all publications along the coast of New Jersey is "Heston's Hand Book of Atlantic City," a literary gem and a beautiful piece of typography and illustration. This has been issued annually for sixteen years past by Alfred M. Heston, an author who has given much at- tention to historical and antiquarian studies, and who is recognized as the most accomplished historian and statistician of Atlantic county. The "Hand Book" is much more than its title would indicate. It does not con- fine itself to the mission of the ordinary guide book which portrays the advan- tages of a pleasure or health resort, which is little more than an advertising medium for its places of entertainment. The "Hand Book" is a full and accurate local directory, containing all information useful to the sojourner during his immediate stay, but this is a small portion of its contents. It is also, in its various issues, an epitome of the history of the city and its vicinage, covering all events of note from the original white occupation down to the present time, together with traditions of the Indian, Colonial and Revolutionary periods, all narrated with the facile grace of a finished writer of genuine poetic temperament. Much of the contents of these annual volumes has been derived from original sources through laborious investigation, and appears here in print for the first time, a fresh store of valuable information being presented in each succeeding volume. In 1901 Mr. Heston published a forty-page booklet entitled "Three Hundred Years of New Jersey History," an historical calendar exhibiting the correct dates and admirably condensed and clear statements of important incidents in the history of Atlantic City and county, and memorable events in the his- tory of New Jersey during the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries ..
Mr. Heston published in 1883 an exhaustive history of the "Heston Family in America." Excepting the copies owned by members of the family, this book is now out of print, and it is highly valued by those hav- ing it in possession. Other works from the pen of Mr. Heston are "Out- ing by the Sea" and "Atlantic City, Queen of the Coast."
Mr. Heston's literary tastes and ability have led him into various other interesting fields of research, and he has contributed numerous papers to the New Jersey State Historical Society, and to other similar bodies in which he holds membership. He read before the Monmouth County Historical Association, at its meeting in Red Bank, July 26, 1900. a paper which was a careful study and a vivid piece of word painting, being a true account of the gallant "Defence of Fort Mercer by Colonel Christopher Greene" and his band of four hundred patriots against an assault of two thousand Hessians under Count Donop, on October 22, 1777. This ex- cellent paper was requested for publication, and it was placed in neat
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pamphlet form, containing, in addition to the text, a portrait of Colonch Greene never before published, a map of the "Operations of the British and Rebel Army" reproduced from a Tory print of Revolutionary days, and an engraving representing the mutilated and neglected monument to the memory of the patriot soldiers who fell in the battle, erected October 22, 1829. The pamphlet gained a wide distribution, and copies are to be found in the archives of many historical associations.
An indefatigable worker, Mr. Heston is now engaged in collecting material for a "History of Atlantic City and County" from the earliest settlements about the middle of the seventeenth century to the present time, which will comprise the most complete history and sketch-book of Atlantic City and the adjacent coast region that has ever been given to the public. Its publication will be in 1904, commemorating the semi-cen- tennial anniversary of the founding of Atlantic City.
A. M. HESTON.
Mr. Heston's life has been one of industry and usefulness. For seventeen years after completing his education in the Central High School in Philadelphia, he was engaged in journalism. He was for a time city editor of the "West Jersey Press," of Camden, New Jersey. In 1878-9 he edited the "Salem Standard," and in the latter year he purchased the "Bridgeton Chronicle" which he con- ducted until early in 1884. He then removed to Atlantic City, and hought the "Review." Three years later he closed his connection with this paper, and after resting for a year he purchased the "Atlantic Journal," which he conducted until 1890, when he abandoned newspaper work as an avocation.
In 1896 Mr. Heston was elected comptroller of Atlantic City, and he was twice re-elected, his last term of office beginning January 1, 1902. Coincident almost with his first election was his appointment by the Su- preme Court of New Jersey to the position of commissioner of the sink- ing fund of Atlantic City, and he discharged the duties of that important trust with such eminent success that in 1902 he was reappointed for a second term of five years. He has afforded useful service to the community
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in various capacities. He was the principal organizer of the Atlantic City Hospital, and has been a member of the board of governors from its found- ing, and is now its secretary. He is also secretary of the Public Library Trustees, and has been a member of the board from its original organiza- tion. He has always been an active and useful member of the Republican party. In 1890-92 he was clerk to the committee on manufactures in the House of Representatives. He was married in 1875 to Miss Abbie L. Mitchell, of Camden, New Jersey, and three daughters were born of this marriage.
Mr. Heston is descended from Zebulon and Dorothy (Hutchinson ) Heston, both of whom came from England. Zebulon Heston landed at Barnstable, Massachusetts, whence he was driven out by the Puritans be- cause of his being a Quaker. His wife came as a child with her father, John Hutchinson, son of Thonias Hutchinson, of Hutchinson Manor, England. The pair settled in Trenton, New Jersey, at the close of the seventeenth century, and in 1707 removed to Pennsylvania. One of their descendants was Isaiah Heston, who lived near Valley Forge, where he witnessed the sufferings of the patriot army, which so filled him with horror that he quieted his antipathy to war, and became a "fighting Qua- ker," marching with Washington to Monmouth, where he was severely wounded. From this illustrious ancestor, Alfred M. Heston, a great- grandson, derives his membership in the New Jersey Society of Sons of the Revolution. Three other descendants of Zebulon Heston were promi- nent officers of the Revolutionary army-Colonel Edward Heston, founder of Hestonville, now a part of Philadelphia ; Colonel Thomas Heston, foun- der of the Heston Glass Works, near Glassboro, New Jersey; and Gen- eral John Lacey, who enjoyed the intimate friendship of General,Anthony Wayne, upon whose staff he served.
The "Daily Union History of Atlantic City and County," published by John F. Hall, in 1900, is a beautiful printed volume of more than five hundred pages. It contains a comprehensive account of the founding of that region, and depicts the rise of the various towns in a spirited manner. tracing every line of development and portraying the splendid work ac- complished down to the date when publication was made. An admirable genealogical and biographical appendix serves well in identifying the fam- ilies and individuals who were instrumental in making the waste places one of the garden spots of America. The value of the work is enhanced by numerous maps and illustrations specially prepared for its pages.
The author has been a resident of Atlantic City for a full quarter of a century, and during that period he has been actively identified with every movement tending to its advancement in moral and material ways. He is
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a native of Maine, born in Peru, in 1857, and his education was completed at Bowdoin College, with the class of 1878. For about ten years prior to. leaving college and afterward, he was engaged in educational work. Shortly before attaining his majority he removed to Atlantic City, where for two years he served usefully and acceptably as principal of the high school. In 1879 he purchased the "Atlantic Times-Democrat," and in 1888 he began the publication of the "Evening Union" as a daily edition of the former named paper. After twenty-two years' service as editor and pub- lisher, he recently retired, having sold the plant to the Evening Union Printing Company.
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