USA > New Jersey > Cape May County > The history of Cape May County, New Jersey : from the aboriginal times to the present day > Part 17
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On December 18th, an act was passed to raise £3.375,000; Cape May's lands were not to be assessed above £60 per 100 acres. The levy was £31,200.14.
On December 25 Parsons Leaming was appointed a contractor for supplying stores of war and settling State ac- counts.
The inhabitants of Cape May, to protect themselves from the incursions of the British and refugees, armed and manned a number of boats and privateers. They mani- fested great bravery, and address, and were successful in taking prizes. They had the most to fear from refugees- as their names were synonymous with burglary, arson, treachery and murder. Only two, as far as is known, were from this county. They were finally taken prisoners. About the middle of the year 1779 the incidents relating to these privateers are first recorded. A list of them follow:
"June ed, 1779. The brigantine Delight, Capt. Dawson, on the 20th ultimo, from Tortula to New York, mounting 12 guns, with 29 hands, came ashore on Peck's beach, in a fog, at Cape May. Her cargo consisted of 80 Hhds. of ruin,
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some sugar, &c. Soon after she came ashore, our militia: took possession of both vessel and cargo, and sent off the crew under guard to Philadelphia."
"About 1820, the tide being very low, one of the cannon thrown overboard, in the attempt of the British to get her off, was found by Mr. Uriah Smith, and placed at the corn- er of his yard for a fender. There were three bails in it."
"June 234, 1779. An open boat, called 'The Skunk,' mounting 2 guns and 12 men belonging to Egg Harbor,. sent in there, on Wednesday last, a vessel with a valuable cargo,-which was her nineteenth prize since she was fitted out."
"Upon one occasion this boat had quite an adventure, when commanded by Capt. Snell and John Goldin. They thought they had discovered a fine prize, off Egg Harbor, in a large ship wearing the appearance of a Merchantman. The boat approached cautiously, and, after getting quite near, the little Skunk was put in a retreating position, stern. to the enemy, and then gave him a gun. A momentary pause ensued. All at once, the merchantman was trans- formed into a British 74, and in another moment she gave the Skunk such a broadside that. as Goldin expressed it, 'the water flew around them like ten thousand whale spouts.' She was cut some in her sails and rigging, but by hard row- ing made good her escape,-with Goldin to give the word, 'Lay low, boys; lay low for your lives.'"
"Oct. 6. 1779. On Friday last. Capt. Taylor, of Cape May, sent into Little Egg Harbor, a transport from New York to Halifax, with a quantity of dry goods, and 214 Hessians, including a Colonel, who are properly taken care of."
"Feb. 7th, 1781. The brig Fame, Capt. William Treen, of Egg Harbor, about ten days ago took the privateer schooner Cock, Capt. Brooks, bound from New York to Chesapeake bay, and sent her into a port in New Jersey." "On the night of the 22d of the same month, the brig Fame, while at the anchoring point near Egg Harbor Inlet, in a heavy gale from the NW. with some snow squals, on the flood tide, was tripped and upset-by which sad mishap. some 20 lives were lost."
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"Capt. Treen, Wm. Lacke, and three others. were on shore. Thomas Adams, Eleazer Crawford, Jacob Corson, and Steelman, succeeded in landing on the point of the beach. The cold was intense. Steelman, who was most active in cheering his companions and freeing the boat. per- ished when near land. Four only of the crew left on board were rescued in the morning. the rest having perished by
CONGRESS HALL CAPE ISLAND IN 1859
the cold. These kept alive only by constant and unremit- ting exertion-that being the only method of shaking off the sleep of death.
"Capt. Wm. Treen was bold and fearless, and very suc- cessful in taking prizes. He was, however, run down on one occasion by two frigates, for not immediately answer- ing their summons to surrender. Both frigates passed quite
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
over his vessel. Treen and a boy, only, caught to the rig- ging of one of the frigates, and were saved. Others made the attempt, but had their fingers and arms cut off by cut- lasses. Treen implored for the lives of his crew-among whom was a brother of Jesse Somers, now (1842) living at Somers' Point. This being refused, he boldly upbraided them for their cruelty. They could not but admire his heroic bearing, and, while with them. he was well treated; but on their arrival at New York he was placed in that den of horrors, the New Jersey Prison ship, and was one of the few that escaped with life. In 1806 he went to the West. Nathaniel Holmes, who lived at the Court House, was at one time confined on board this prison ship."
"Jan. 3. 1782. William Treen and Joseph Edwards, com- manders of the whale-boat Unity, captured the Betsey, which lately sailed from Jones' creek, Delaware, loaded with wheat, Indian corn and flour,-which was taken in the Delaware by a British cruiser, and retaken by said Treen and Edwards."
"Aug. 7. 1782. John Badcock took the Hawk, when commanding the Rainbow; her cargo consisted of spirits, tar, flour, coal and iron,-which was solt at James Willit's, (who kept tavern where Capt. John S. Chattin now does), for the benefit of those concerned."
"Capt. Hand, of the Enterprise, and Capt. Willits, of an- other boat, on the 5th of May, 1782, chased ashore, near Egg Harbor, the refugee boat Old Ranger, mounting 7 swivels and one three pounder, commanded by one Fryan, with 25 men, bound to the capes of the Delaware, and up the same as far as Christiana, with orders to take prisoners whom they pleased. They afterwards fell in with a schoon- er laden with corn, and another with lumber, which they took."
The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1780, "Ordered, That a special commission be granted to Mr. Abraham Bennett, pilot, to qualify him in and making reprisals on the enemy with an armed pilot boat called the Randolph." The same authority about this time gave Enos Schellenger a like commission.
Scraf and Westcott, in their history of Philadelphia. say:
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"In consequence of depredations committed in the Dela- ware Bay and River this year by picarooning boats belong- ing to Tories, Capt. Boys was sent down with one of the State galleys to chase off the marauders. The packet 'Mercury' was also ordered by Congress to assist in clear- ing the bay and river, and commissions were issued to the pilot boats 'Randolph,' Capt. Abraham Bennett; the George,' Capt. Daniel Hand; and the 'Hell Cat,' Capt. Joseph Jacques."
Turning back again to the year 1780 the operations of the war were confined to the territory of the Carolinas, and it was not until June of this year, after Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, had captured Fort Moultrie and Charleston, and, after hearing of the return to France of the French fleet, that he returned to New York by water, to begin again operations there. In the meantime the Conti- mental Congress called upon New Jersey for 1620 men to fill up the "Jersey Line," for the campaign of that year. On the IIth of March the Legislature, in accordance with this demand, ordered it filled, and offered a premium of $200 to each officer who would procure a recruit, and among those appointed "Muster Masters" was Captain John Cresse for Cape May. The bounty of State volunteers was fixed at $1000, exclusive of the Continental army bounty. On the 18th of March the various counties of the State were called upon for their quota of supplies for the United States troops. Cape May's share was 200 wght of beef or pork, propor- tionate to price. Beef at $240 per one hundred weight; pork 220 pounds net to the barrel $880; fresh pork $280 per hundred weight. 1389 bushels of salt, $120 per Solb. wghit. 692 bushels of corn, 30 cts. per bushel. Philip Godfrey was the contractor for the Cape May dealings.
This muster of March "not answering the ends desired," on June 14th the Legislature amended the act by calling for 624 more men to remain in service until the following Jan- uary. Cape May's apportion of this number was thirteen men, and Lieutenant Amos Cresse was chosen to recruit the men. This was the third or last "establishment" for the "Jersey Line" of the Continental troops. These thirteen men, of which one was an ensign, were to defend the fron-
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
tier, and ordered to march to Monmouth Court House to meet the recruits from the other counties. On the 9th of June Cape May was again called upon for money to help pay toward the Uilted States sinking fund, which was de- clared then at £39.000, 17s. 6d. On the 17th of the month Cape May was ordered to furnish 25 draught horses for the use ci the United States.
On August 28, this year, Aaron Leaming died, much lamented and full of honor. He was born July 6, 1715, and after reaching manhood had been constantly a public man, whom his neighbors loved to honor. He must have been a quiet sort of a man, and well deserved confidence and re- spect by his talents and many good qualities, and served them as their faithful representative for thirty years. He was a man of great industry, a large land holder, and a voluminous writer. He died the richest man in the county, leaving an estate valued at £181,000. He was a thorough patriot, although not serving in the Legislature after con- fict with Great Britain had begun. As chairman of the County Committee he did valued service to the patriot cause. He was buried two miles above the Court House, in Middle Township, in the old Leaming burying ground, and upon his monument were the following:
"In memory of Aaron Leaming, Esq., who represented this county in assembly, 30 years. Died Aug. 28th. 1780, aged 65 years, I mo .. II days.
"Beneath this stone, here lies a name
That once had titles, honor, wealth. and fame:
How loved, how honored, now avails thee not,
To whom related, or by whom begot;
A heap of dust remains alone of thee.
'Tis all thou art, and all the proud shall be."
He left a large posterity, one of whom. Dr. Coleman F. Leaming. in 1891, removed the twelve sets of head stones from the Leaming burying ground and placed them side by side in the Baptist Cemetery at Court House.
By the end of the year of 1780 Sir Henry Clinton cap- tured Fort Moultrie, and returned to New York, the treason of Benedict Arnold had become history and beyond these no decisive events had happened. On the 26th of Decem-
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"ber 820 men were ordered raised in New Jersey, and their terms of service were limited to January 1, 1782, but there were none from Cape May. On that very day, however, Lieutenant-Colonel Enoch Stillwell was made muster-mas- ter, and Henry Young Townsend bounty and subsistance master for Cape May by the Legislature.
In the beginning of the year 1781 the British were in the South principally, while the Continental troops under Washington were in Northern New Jersey and around New York. On the 8th of January the militia of the four south- ·ern counties of Cape May, Cumberland, Salem and Glou- cester were again formed in a brigade, known as the "lower brigade." Henry Young Townsend, on the same day, was appointed the Cape May agent for the loan fund, probably to succeed Aaron Leaming, who had died five months previous. He had to do with the management of the fund in discharging the bounty to be paid New Jersey's troops in the quota required by Congress. During the middle of the month there were some dissatisfied Jerseymen in the Continental ranks, and an open revolt was made by them at Pompton, which was quelled by force by General Wash- ington. These men were not Jerseymen, but non-residents serving in the Jersey Line.
As soon as spring opened the army of Washington moved to the Southern States, where they were joined by the Frenchmen who had come to aid the patriots. It was the intention this year of the British to compel the submission · of Virginia. Several battles occurred in the Carolinas, and while these events were happening the Jerseymen were still getting men to fight for the Independence soon to be a reality. In Cape May Lieutenant Amos Cresse, on the 25th of June. 1781, was appointed a recruiter of this county's share of the 450 troops, and for each man he obtained to serve throughout the war he was to receive 30 shillings.
The county tax was fixed then at £156 igd. On the 21st «of June an act was passed to raise in the State £150,000 for war and other purposes. Cape May's share on the first pay- ment of £100,000 was £2080. II pence, on the last payment £1040. 5} pence.
Six days later an act was passed authorizing the Governor
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
to grant commissions for guard boats and coasting vessels, the commander to give a $5000 bond, and it is believed that two Cape May men availed themselves of the act, but who they were is conjectural.
Owing to the isolated position of Cape May, on October 6th £3 was voted to pay for sending copies of the laws to Cape May with other adjoining counties.
The final struggles of the war in Virginia were being en- acted, and on the roth of October the British army under Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington as prison- ers of war. This news was received throughout New Jer- sey during the next fortnight, and there was great enthu- siasm among the patriots. On the 20th of December the Legislature appointed Jesse Hand, Eli Eldredge and Nich- olas Stillwell to assess damages occasioned by damage and waste on the part of the enemy, the Continental army or the State militia, and on the same day Jesse Hand was ap- pointed for Cape May to the end that the public accounts might the more speedily be settled.
On the 26th Cape May's levy of the State loan of £150,- 000 was changed to £1560. 53 pence.
On the 29th of December another call was made for troops to the number of 422 for the State, to do service until December 15, 1782. Humphrey Stites was made captain for the Cape May county company, which was to be com- posed of twenty men, and those of Cape May. Salem and Cumberland were ordered to do "duty on land and water."
In March, 1782, they were allowed to cruise on the Dela- ware bay, if necessary. between Cape May and Reedy Is- land and as far eastward on the ocean as Little Egg Harbor.
Mr. Andrew Higgins, of Cape May, was paid by the Con- tinental Congress on January 14, 1782, for "his services at Cape May in watching the British fleet out of New York." "The Pennsylvania Journal" of 29 May, 1782, contains the following:
"Captain Richard Grinnell who came to town last Satur- day, we are informed, that he sailed from Cadiz, the 27 of March last, in the ship Lady Jay, bound for this port (Phil- adelphia) and on the 16th instant came to anchor in Cape May road, and took a pilot on board; but there being there-
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six sailed English ships of war in sight, the pilot could not proceed, and the day following he was attacked by seven boats from the enemy, who boarded the ship, cut her cable, and towed her off under cover of the men of war, and the next day he had the mortification to see his ship in flame. Before he was boarded he got the ship within musket shot of the shore with a warpe, in order to ground her, but a brisk gale springing up from the eastward, the rope broke and prevented the accomplishment of his design.
"Captain Grinnell returns his sincere thanks to the inhab- itants of Cape May who came to his assistance with their arms, but in a particular manner to the gentlemen who had the field piece and fought till all the powder was gone."
Cape May required, in 1782, to furnish £156. Ild. for frontier defense. On June 22nd Cape May was apportioned to pay £936 of a State levy of £90,000.
By the end of this year, and the defeats of the British arms becoming unpopular at home, negotiations for peace had been commenced between the two countries, which cul- minated in England the next year virtually acknowledging the independence of America.
On the 20th of January, 1783, the articles of agreement were signed. and on April 11th Congress declared a cessa- tion of hostilities. On the 9th of June a tax levy of £90.930 was ordered, and Cape May was to pay f926 of this. In October Congress ordered the army disbanded on Novem- ber 3rd, and about two weeks later the British army evac- uated New York, and America was a free country. In De- cember. 1794, the Legislature ordered a tax levy of £10,000, of which Cape May was required to pay £149 15s. 9d, and two days after the county was ordered to raise £468:4:64 toward a levy of £31,259 and 5 shillings.
The rise of Methodism did not begin in Cape May until 1781, under Rev. James Crowell. He was succeeded by Revs. John Fidler, John McClosky, Benjamin Abbott and others; and ever since this denomination has been rapidly growing in numbers in the county, now having the largest society membership in the county.
The estates of Tories all over New Jersey were confiscated by the patriots during the Revolution. There is one re-
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
corded confiscation from Cape May county. That was the property of John Hatton, who was an ardent Tory, and who was Collector of the Ports of Salem and Cohansy in 1770 and 1771, who had much trouble in trying to enforce the odious duties imposed by the British Parliament. The record of this event in the Adjutant-General's office shows that Jesse Hand, agent for forfeited estates, paid into the treasury of the State on May 9. 1785, the sum of £125, 13 shillings and 4d., which was the money derived from the sale of Hatton's property. The account was sworn to before James Mott, State Treasurer, and those who had a part in the sale and settlement of the affair were Daniel Marsh, Philip Godfrey, David Smith, Salanthiel Foster, James Rob- inson, Jesse Hand, Thomas Shaw and Memucan Huwes.
A letter of the Port Wardens of Philadelphia, of Novem- ber 12, 1785, shows that a lot had been bought at Cape May, on which a Beacon or light house was to be erected.
On the 21st of August, probably this year, the Council of Safety in Philadelphia directed its treasurer "to pay Dr. Frederic Otto for attendance on a man wounded at Cape May in the service of the State, £6:11:13." This was prob- ably for attending Thomas Godfrey, who was wounded at a training on the 3d of May, 1777.
Jonathan Hand, County Clerk of Cape May from 1840 to 1890, says that it was in the year 1785 that the regular recording of deeds were begun for Cape May county in the Clerk's office. Some were recorded from 1694 to 1726.
On November 26, 1785, Cape May county was taxed by law for State expenses £149:15:9. By act of May 26, 1786, Cape May was to have £1497 17s. 6d. of the £100,000 State bills of credit, which were to be "let out on loan" by the commissioners for . that purpose. On November 21, this year, the Legislature levied a tax of £59:17 upon the county to pay State expenses. The next year, on June 7th, Cape May was taxed £187:5 for State expenses.
On the 30th of October an act was passed empowering James Godfrey, Thomas Leaming and Christopher Lud- lam to bank, dam and erect other water works at Mill creek, a branch of Dennis creek, which was extended from the fast land of Thomas Leaming's across the meadow and
-
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Mill creek to the fast land of Christopher Ludlan. In the fall of this year Jesse Hand, Jacob Eldredge and Matthew Whillden were elected delegates to the State Convention to act on the ratification of the Constitution of the United 'States, which had been unanimously agreed upon by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17th. The State Convention met at Trenton on the second 'Tuesday of December, and on the 19th unanimously adopted it, when the members went in solemn procession to the 'Court House, where the ratification was publicly read to the people. New Jersey being the third State to ratify. At- tending this convention was the last public act of Jesse Hand.
"He created," says Dr. Beesley, "great astonishment with the people, when he presented to their wondering eyes the first top-carriage (an old-fashioned chair) that was ever brought into the county. The horse cart was the favorite vehicle in those times, whether for family visiting, or going to meeting purposes, and any innovation upon these usages, or those of their ancestors, was looked upon with jealousy :and distrust."
"Pennsylvania Gazette." of February 6. 1788, contains the following account of how Matthew Hand saved "the life of Capt. Decatur": "Sunday last Capt. Decature, in the Sloop Nancy, got safe into Hereford Inlet, (about twelve miles N. E. of the Pitch of Cape May) after a passage of 72 days from Demarara. He has been on the coast since the 25th of December, and fifteen times blown off. His mate and one of his hands were washed overboard, but the mate was fortunately saved by catching hold of a rope; another of his men had an arm broke by the same sea. The vessel be- ing leaky, and his provisions expended. Capt. Decature al- most despaired of being able to make any port, when fortu- nately fell in with Mr. Matthew Hand of the Cape May Pi- lots, who made it a rule to go out in his boat every fair day. To this vigilant Pilot Capt. Decature feels himself greatly indebted for the present safety of himself and vessel. As 'soon as the sloop was got into a place of safety, Mr. Hand went out in quest of two sloops then in the offing."
On November 27, 1788. an act was passed by the Legisla-
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
ture for the appointment of managers to build a bridge over Cedar Swamp Creek from the lands of Job Young on the southeast to the lands of John Van Gilder on the northwest .. The bridge was to be twelve feet wide. Cranberries are first mentioned in the official records as being an important ar- ticle, which, if then encouraged, might be profitable for ex- portation.
By this time the habit of pasturing cattle on Peck's Beach generally prevailed, and the owners of the Beach objecting to fences marking the property of each owner, petitioned the Legislature for allowing its use in common. The Legislature, on November 10, 1789, passed an act authoriz- ing the pasturing of ten head of horses or cattle on every 100 acres. For allowing horses over 18 months or any hogs, sheep or goats to graze on the beach fines were to be im- posed, as well as for the violation of more than ten head for each 100 acres. On the following day the Legislature pass- ed an act authorizing David Townsend, Thomas Shaw, Henry Ludlam, Christopher Smith and Jacocks Swain to build a bridge over the north and south branches of Dennis Creek, and to claw out a public road from Thomas Leam- ing's ship yard. The road was to extend from the ship yard to the main road leading from Great Cedar Swamp to David Johnson's saw mill. Vessels were not to moor to the bridge nor take the planks from it.
Pastor Watt, of the Cold Spring Presbyterian church,. died this year. On his tombstone are these words:
"In Memory of the Rev. James Watt, who departed this life 19th Nov'br. 1789 Aged 46 years. If disinterested Kindness, Integrity, Justice and Truth Deserve the Tributary Tear, Here it is claimed."
By act of June 12, 1790, when £30,000 was raised in the State, Cape May was to pay toward it the three separate sums of £182:15:4, £146:4:3, and £109:13:3. On November 25 the county was again taxed £219:6:6 for a State levy.
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The first general census of the United States was taken this year, and there were in the county, according to it, free white males of sixteen years and upwards, 631; free white males under sixteen, 609; free white females, including heads of families, 1176; all other free persons, 14; slaves, 141; total number, 2571.
The first case of freedom of slavery from Cape May county was that adjudged in the Supreme Court of the State in 1790, which was the case of the State against John Ware on habeas ' corpus proceedings of Negro Jethro, whose history is given in the following abstract from the decision of the court:
"It appearing to the Court that the said Negro Jethro was born on the 8th day of September, 1768, in county of Cape May," and that his mother, Charity Briggs, a Mulatto wom- an, was free at the time of birth, and that Jethro was bound by the overseer of the poor to Nathaniel Foster. In 1768 the mother was purchased by John Connell, with the infant Jethro at the breast. Connell sold her time of service to Jonathan Jenkins, who brought up the child Jethro. Jenk- ins then sold Jethro to Christopher Leaming, who sold him in 1788 to John Ware, and on motion of Joseph Bloomfield, Attorney-General, Jethro was freed.
David Johnson, James Ludlam and others petitioned the Legislature in 1792 for the right to construct a grist mill at Dennis Creek, and that body passed an act on May 26, al- lowing the mill to be erected at Dennis Creek, provided it was finished in two years' time. The flood gate was to be fourteen feet wide, and always to be ready to open for nav- igation. The land owners above the mill were to build dams to protect their property.
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