USA > New Jersey > The biographical encyclopaedia of New Jersey of the nineteenth century > Part 81
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apprenticeship, however, he gradually withdrew from the company of his former associates, became more widely ac- quainted with Friends, and was more frequent in his attendance of meetings; and although this was in some degree profitable to him, he, according to his own state- ment, yet made but slow progress in his religious improve- ment. " The occupation of part of my time in fishing and fowling had frequently tended to preserve me from falling into hurtful associations; but through the rising intimations and reproofs of divine grace in my heart, I now began to feel that the manner in which I sometimes amused myself with my gun was not without sin; for although I mostly preferred going alone, and while waiting in stillness for the coming of the fowl, my mind was at times so taken up with divine meditations that the opportunities were seasons of instruction and comfort to me; yet, on other occasions, when accompanied by some of my acquaintances, and when no fowls appeared, which would be useful to us after being obtained, we sometimes, from wantonness or mere diver- sion, would destroy the small birds which could be of no service to us. . . . . But I was led to consider conduct like this to be a great breach of trust, and an infringement of the divine prerogative. It, therefore, became a settled principle with me not to take the life of any creature, cx- cept it was really useful and necessary when dead, or very noxious and hurtful when living." In the spring of 1771 he settled on the farm of his wife's relations, and assisted in the cares and labors incident to agricultural life; with those worthy people he remained during their lives, and the place eventually became his settled residence. He had then the benefit of the company of several Friends, by whose example he was frequently incited to seriousness and piety ; "yet, having entered pretty closely into business, I was thereby much diverted from my religious improvement for several years." But about the twenty-sixth year of his age he was again, through divine grace, brought under deep concern of mind, and again permitted to see truly into the perilous state he had been approaching. " My spirit was brought under a close and weighty labor in meetings for discipline, and my understanding much en- larged therein. .. About this time I began to have openings leading to the ministry, which brought me under close exercise and deep travail of spirit ; for although I had for some time spoken on subjects of business in monthly and preparative meetings, yet the prospect of opening my mouth in public meetings was a close trial; but I cn- deavored to keep my mind quiet and resigned to the heavenly call, if it should be made clear to me to be my duty." The yearly meeting was held steadily during the revolutionary war on Long Island, where the royalists were in power; yet Friends from the Main, where the American army ruled, had free passage through both armics to attend it, and any other mecting they were desirons of attending, except in a few instances. " This was a favor which the
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warlike disposition; which shows what great advantages would redound to mankind were they all of this pacific spirit. I passed myself through the lines of both armies six times during the war, without molestation, . . . . and al- though I had to pass over a tract of country, between the two armies, sometimes more than thirty miles in extent, and which was much frequented by robbers, a set in gen- eral of cruel, unprincipled banditti, issuing out from both parties, yet, excepting once, I met with no interruption even from them." In consequence of sundry discussions, concerning the acceptance or refusal of a sum of money taken from the British by some Friends, as rent for the use as an arsenal of the cellar in the New York meeting house, he was, in 1779, appointed to act with others in settling the affair at the next yearly meeting of Pennsylvania. On the following September 9th he set out on his errand; pass- ingly attended meetings at Harrison's Purchase and Ob- long ; and after a short sojourn at Nine Partners attended also the meetings of New Marlborough, Hardwick and Kingwood, and arrived in Philadelphia on the 25th, on which day he presented himself at the yearly meeting of ministers and elders. A subsequent attack of fever pre- vented him from being present, however, when the subject that chiefly interested him was discussed, but the result was the advising of the return of the money whence it had come. He afterward attended successively the meetings of the following places: Byberry, Middletown, Wright's Town, Plumbstead, Buckingham, Drowned Lands, Nine Partners, Oswego, Appoquague, Peachpond, Amawalk and Purchase, thence proceeding to his home. March 4th, 1781, he went to Flushing, crossed the sound to Frog's Neck, on the ensuing day attended an appointed meeting at Westchester, and at the expiration of a fortnight arrived at Little Nine Partners ; thence set forward for Saratoga- since called Easton-and upon arriving at his destination attended in succession the four meetings of that place, New Britain was next visited, also Shapaqua, Mamaroneck, and Westchester again. In the fall of 1781 he was pros- trated with sickness for three months, and when he was reduced nearly to the lowest state of bodily weakness a prospect opened on his mind to pay a religious visit to some parts of the island where no Friends lived, and among a people who were regarded by many as wanting in grace and godliness. Accordingly, upon recovering his health, he went to Jamaica in August, 1782, and there had a very favored meeting with a considerable number of the inhabi- tants, IIe also found a later field of labors at Flatlands, Gravesend, New Utrecht and Springfield; and in the fall of 1782 attended the quarterly and other meetings on the Main. Late in 1783 he was present with his brethren at Nine Partners, Oswego and Perquage; June 13th, 1784, he repaired to Herricks, thence to Success, Little Plains, Jamaica, Fresh Meadows and other places, and spurred himself to great exertions to win the native Indians from their perilous condition to a true and righteous life. New
York and Staten Island were visited by him in 1790; also Vermont ; in 1791 he returned to his native place; in the course of the same year he made a general visit to Friends of the New York yearly meeting; in 1792 he was an active spirit at various meetings of ministers and elders; and in 1793 he travelled in a proselytizing spirit and intent through New England and Vermont. July 26th, 1795, he left home in order to join a committee of Friends, appointed by the yearly meeting of ministers and elders, to visit the quar- terly and preparative meetings, and Friends individually, in those stations throughout the yearly meeting. "A con- cern having arisen in that meeting, occasioned by the many obvious deficiencies and departures amongst us as a people, from the purity and simplicity of our holy profession, a minute was issued and recommended to the inferior mcet- ings, setting forth the ground of this concern, and for the purpose of stirring up and encouraging Friends to a diligent search and labor, that the many hurtful disorders might be removed, and a right reformation, from these prevailing weaknesses, effectually take place." December 12th, 1797, he departed for New York, having in view the visiting of New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, etc .; and while on his way attended meetings at Shrewsbury, Squan, Squancum, Barnegat, Little Egg Harbor and Stephen's Creek. On Saturday he took part in a mecting at Cape May, New Jersey, thence rode to Morris river, and attended another appointed at the house of Isaac Buzby, a man inclining to Friends and their teachings. In the afternoon he visited Henry Rulon, where, on the next day, he was present at an appointed meeting. He then passed on to Greenwich, Cohansey Creek, Salem, Woodstown, Penn's Neck, Mullica Hill, Upper Greenwich and Woodbury; also Newtown, Haddonfield, and many other places in New Jersey, in all times and circumstances eminently exalting the truth, and holding forth the doctrines of the gospel in the demonstra- tion of the spirit. Sundry towns and villages in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia were then visited, and their inhabi- tants exhorted to lead pure and upright lives, fitting chil- dren of grace. In the meetings at Northwest Fork, Marshy Creek, Centre, Greensborough, Tuckahoe Neck and Tuck- ahoe, especially, was good seed sown and good fruit gathered. Three of the above meetings in New Jersey were held in meeting-houses belonging to a people under the denomination of Nicholites, who were noted for great self-denial, particularly in regard to dress and household furniture. " They appeared one in principle with us, their faith and doctrine being founded on the manifestation and influence of the divine light, inwardly revealed. Most of them, of late, have requested to be joined in membership with Friends, and have been received. . . . . They ap- peared to be a plain, innocent, upright-hearted people ; and I felt a concern lest they should be hurt by the great and prevailing deficiencies manifest amongst us, by many turning away from the purity and simplicity of our holy self-denying profession." He was afterward for some time
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zealously employed in pious labors in New Jersey, notably at Upper Evesham, Haddonfield, Moorestown, Rancocas, Mansfield Neck, Burlington, Mansfield, Bordentown, Stony Brook, Plainfield, Rahway and Newark. He was absent from home in this journey about five months and two weeks, rode over 1,600 miles of varied country, and at- tended about 143 meetings. In 1799 he travelled through Connecticut; in 1800 revisited Oblong and Nine Partners, also Long Island in certain neglected parts; and again, in 1801, stirred up by his eloquence and ardor the people of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1803 he performed a visit to Friends of Upper Canada, and some other of the northwestern parts of the yearly meeting, and attended meetings at Adolphustown, Sophiasburg, Hal- lowell, West Lake, Kingstown, Earnest and Palmyra; also in Pleasant Valley, the Branch, Chestnut Ridge, Poquague and New York. Three months were consumed in this journey, and in that time he rode about 1,575 miles. In the spring of 1806 he again set out on a proselytizing tour through Long Island, Staten Island and New York; and on the following December 8th started for Brooklyn, where he was present at an appointed meeting, "which was a solemn comfortable season ; " thence he passed on to Mamaroneck, etc., and attended an appointed meeting at Peekskill. Meetings were subsequently had at Troy, Al- bany, Otego, Cazenovia and Woodstock; also in various parts of New Jersey, where the good work met with de- sirable encouragement, notably at Burlington, Dernyter, Bridgewater and Brookfield. February 9th, 1807, he rode to New York, and from there returned to his home and fireside, having been absent about two months, attended forty-five particular meetings, nine monthly meetings, one quarterly meeting and two meetings for sufferings, and travelled upwards of 700 miles. October Joth of the same year he again set out on his errand of righteousness, and from that time forward, until 1810, went about, on foot or in the saddle, or wagon, as itinerant missionary, through the cities and rural places of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, everywhere accomplishing great good and leading his kind into the path of virtue and uprightness. The year 1810 he spent mostly at home, except performing 'a visit to some of the neighboring inhabitants, " not in mem- bership with us." He was absent in this service a few weeks in the spring, and in the summer performed a visit to the half year's meeting at Canada, by appointment from the yearly meeting. The year 1811 also was passed at or , near his home, in attending local and adjacent meetings; and the winter and spring of 1812 were consumed in visit- ing the neighboring inhabitants, not of his society, holding in all twenty-eight meetings in private houses. Early in 1813 he once more left his family, and, after holding several meetings in different parts of Long Island, travelled through the bordering parts of Connecticut, where none of his society resided. The concluding months of this year were occupicd in fulfilling engagements at or about
his home, and in visits to Friends in the Middle and Southern States ; also especially in laboring in New Jersey, at Newark, Elizabethtown, New Brunswick, Plainfield, Rahway, East Branch and the Mount; and at Rancocas, Burlington and Newtown. During the years 1814 and 1815 he was variously occupied in Long Island, New Jer- sey and New York. January 3d, 1816, he set out for New England, and upon arriving at Bridgeport, Connecticut, " had a small though comfortable meeting; " afterward meetings were held successively in Seabrook, Epping, Lee, Dover, Berwick, Portland, Falmouth, Windham, Gorham, Durham, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Rochester, ctc .; also at Newport, Rhode Island, Tiverton, Swansey, Provi- dence, etc. In this journey he was from home nearly three months, travelled upwards of 1,000 miles, and attended fifty-nine particular, three monthly and two quarterly meet- ings. Engagements at and about home, and within West- bury quarterly meeting, fill the year 1816 and part of 1817 ; also a visit to some parts of the yearly meetings of Pliila- delphia and Baltimore. " First day, the 31st, we attended Pearl street meeting in the morning, and that at Liberty street in the afternoon. On second day afternoon we pro- ceeded on our journey to Newark, New Jersey, . . .. where we attended a meeting at the fourth hour. . . . I had had several meetings there before; but this was larger than usual for the place. There is no member of our society residing in the town, the inhabitants being principally of the Presbyterian order. The next day we attended a meet- ing appointed for us in Elizabethtown, New Jersey," and later one at Plainfield, one at Rahway and one at Mend- ham. He afterward journeyed through Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland and Delaware, where his presence and example proved of bencficent and enduring value to all that were brought within the radius of his influence. The major portion of the year 1818 was devoted to spiritual and temporal affairs in the vicinity of his farm in Long Island, within the limits of Westbury quarterly meeting, and in a visit to some parts of the yearly meeting of New York. He then continued at or about home until the opening of 1819, attending the meetings as they came in course. About this time, at the meeting at Westbury, he was led to open to Friends " the three principal requisites to the being and well-being of a Christian : The first being a real belief in God and Christ as one undivided essence, known and believed in, inwardly and spiritually. The second a complete passive obedience and submission to the divine will and power inwardly and spiritually manifested. . . . . The third, it is necessary to meet and assemble often together for the promotion of love and good works, and as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." In January, 1819, he proceeded to New York, and thence to West Farms, Mamaroneck, White Plains, Purchase, etc .: also to Poughkeepsie, Hudson, Claverack, Kline Kiln, Troy, Pitts- town, etc., and to Tappan on the way home : on this jour- ncy he was absent fourteen weeks, attended seventy-three
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meetings, and three quarterly and four monthly meetings, | was engaged in his room, writing to a Friend, until a little and travelled 1,084 miles. From this time to 1823 his life after ten o'clock, when he returned to that occupied by the family, apparently just attacked by a paralytic affection, which nearly deprived him of the use of his right side and of the power of speech. Being assisted to a chair near the fire, he manifested by signs that the letter which he had just finished should be taken care of." He then signed to all to sit down and be still, seemingly sensible that his labors were brought to a close, and only desirous of quietly waiting the final change. His theological writings were principally in an epistolary form; " Elias Hicks: Journal of his Life and Labors," was published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1828; and in the same year also a volume entitled " Sermons." and career is summed up succinctly thus: "Journey to Ohio, in 1819. Visit to the neighboring inhabitants in the same year. Visit to Farmington and Duanesburg quarterly meetings, in 1820. Visit to some parts of Pennsylvania, and to Baltimore, in 1822. Visit to some of the lower quarterly meetings, in 1823." Then comes this significant entry in his " Journal : " . It was a time of deep exercise to me, being led in the line of searching labor, pointing to a reform in manners and conduct ; and showing the fallacy of all ceremonial religion in the observation of days, and complying with outward ordinances; which do not in the least tend to make the comers thereunto a whit the better, as it respects the conscience, but lead the ob- servers thereof into a form, without the power." Then ensued : " Visit to Baltimore to attend the yearly meeting, in 1824. Visit to the inhabitants of the eastern part of Long 'AYLOR, GEORGE W., Brigadier-General, was the third son of Archibald S. Taylor, and was born, November 22d, 1808, at Fairview-the family seat - Hunterdon county, New Jersey. When fifteen years old he entered the celebrated military school of Colonel Allen Partridge, an institution that had very much the reputation thien that West Point has now, and three years later graduated with credit. He entered the navy as a midshipman, November Ist, 1827, and made a cruise of three years up the Mediter- ranean in the sloop-of-war " Fairfield," Captain Foxal A. Parker. Returning to the United States, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted, December 19th, 1831, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. Love of adventure was with him, however, an engrained instinct, and when war was declared against Mexico he offered his services to the government, notwithstanding the fact that his political opinions caused him to condemn the war on the double ground of right and policy. He was commissioned First Lieutenant of the Ioth Regiment United States Infantry, and while in Mexico, serving with the army of General Z. Taylor, he was promoted to and commissioned Captain. After the surrender of the city of Mexico he returned to his home, but only for a short period. In February, 1849, he sailed for California as President of the New Jersey Trading & Mining Company, and for three years remained upon the Pacific coast. Returning in 1852 he took a prominent part in politics, being a Whig of the straitest sect, and in 1858 was strongly urged for the Congressional nomination. Im- mediately upon the call for troops, in May, 1861, he vigor- ously bestirred himself in raising companies in Hunterdon county ; and having been in this matter highly successful, he himself started-with a patriotic heroism singularly pic- turesque as relieved against the prosaic formalism of this nineteenth century-alone to offer himself, mounted and equipped, as a volunteer upon the staff of some general al- ready at point with the enemy. Governor Olden, however, Island, in 1825. Visit to Scipio quarterly meeting, in 1825. Visit to Southern and Concord quarterly meetings, in Penn- sylvania, in 1826. Visit to the families of Friends in Jericho and Westbury monthly meetings, in 1827. Visit to Friends in some parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio, in 1828. On this journey, in New Jersey, at New Garden, Friends had a trying time, as those called Orthodox, al- though they were but a small part of the meeting, had undertaken to disown a number of Friends; but Friends did not acknowledge their authority, nor consider their dis- ownments of any effect, and they all came together as usual in the quarterly meeting. The Orthodox strove hard to get Friends to withdraw, but they refused, and proceeded with the business of the meeting, which those called Orthodox interrupted for a time; but finding that Friends would not give way, they finally left the meeting and retired to a school-house, and Friends had a comfortable season to- gether, and conducted their business in much harmony and condescension, and were evidently owned by the Head of the Church." Subsequently : "Continuation of his visit to Friends in some parts of New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Mary- lind and Pennsylvania, in 1828. Decease of his wife in 1829. Visit to Friends in the yearly meeting of New York, in 1829. Letter to Hugh Judge, in 1830."-" In the twenty-second year of my age, apprehending it right to change my situation from a single to a married state, and having gained an intimate acquaintance with Jemima Seaman, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Seaman, of Jericho, and my affection being drawn toward her in that relation, I communicated my views to her, and received from her a corresponding expression of affection ; and we, after some time, accomplished our marriage at a solemn meeting of Friends, at Westbury, on the 2d of First Month, 1771." His mental powers continued strong and vigorous to the end of his labors, and during the last two years of his life he travelled extensively in the work of the ministry. "On First day morning, 14th of Second Month, 1830, he spoiled this gallant romance by calling the errant soldier
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to a halt, and commissioning him Colonel of the 3d New Jersey Regiment, then in course of organization at Trenton. He accepted the commission, rapidly reduced the raw mass placed under his orders to a seemly military body, and on the 8th of June marched with his command to Washington. Consolidated with the three other New Jersey regiments raised at the same time, his force became a part of that hard-fighting organization, the First New Jersey Brigade- the brigade that, at the very outset of its career, helped to check the fleeing troops and reform the shattered divisions after the first battle of Bull Run. He was the first to dis- cover the retreat of the Confederates from Manasses, and with the 3d New Jersey was the first to occupy this strong- hold. In the early summer of 1862, the brave Kearny having been promoted to be an officer of division, Colonel Taylor, as senior officer, assumed the command of the brigade ; and on the 10th of June in that year he was com- missioned Brigadier-General. Seventeen days later the brigade was engaged in the desperate fight of Gaines's Mill, occupying the centre of the line of battle, and holding its ground for at least an hour after both flanks had been driven back by the enemy. The action, although ending in defeat, was one of the most honorable of the war, the cool heroism of the New Jersey troops-shown in contend- ing single-handed against an entire army-being in every way worthy of veteran soldiers, and quite unprecedented when it is remembered that but a little time before they had been utterly untrained to the ways of war. Without sup- port, and unable even to procure orders, the brigade fought on alone, and three times charged and broke the enemy's lines. The battle lasted until nightfall, and only when further resistance became hopeless did General Taylor draw off his men, leaving more than 1,000 dead or wounded upon the field. Nearly as many more were taken prisoners, 500 men of the 4th Regiment, refusing to retreat, being sur- rounded and captured in a hody. The next day the brigade fell back to Harrison's Landing, remaining in that vicinity until McClellan effected his change of base in the following August. On the 24th of that month it took up position at Cloud's Mills, and three days later it was sent forward by rail to Bull Run bridge, and thence advanced for the pur- pose of dispersing a rebel force, reported to be small, con- centrated near Manasses Junction. Instead of a few regi- ments, General Taylor found himself confronted with the whole of "Stonewall" Jackson's command. The action that followed lasted for more than an hour, during the whole of which time the brigade was exposed to a steady fire from in front, and to a raking cross fire from batteries masked until the engagement began. Compelled to retreat, the troops fell back in good order until they reached the bridge, where the reserves -- the 11th and 12th Ohio Regi- ments-were stationed, and here another stand was madc. But Jackson's forces still pressed forward; the brigade was without artillery, without cavalry, the men were cxhausted by forced marches and by the excessive heat ; finally, Gen-
eral Taylor was himself severely wounded in the leg. A retreat was ordered. The command retired to Cloud's Mills, and the general, leaving his brigade for the first and last time, continued on to Alexandria. At the hospital there his leg was amputated; but he was broken down by all that he had passed through, his constitution was shat- tered by malaria contracted during the peninsular cam- paign ; and although the operation was successfully per- formed, it sapped the last remnant of his vital force. On September Ist he died, and in his grave lies buried as brave a soldier as ever drew a sword.
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