USA > New Jersey > Cape May County > The history of Cape May County, New Jersey : from the aboriginal times to the present day > Part 9
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August 3, 1747. Ebenezer Swaine, Esq., to be captain of a company of militia.
August 3. 1747. Thomas Ross, Gent., to be lieutenant of a company for the lower precinct, of which Ebenczer Swaine is captain.
Ellis Hughes to be ensign in the same company.
Aug. 3, 1747. Jonathan Foreman, gent., captain of a company of foot militia for the middle precinet, of which Nicholas Gibbon is colonel.
John Leonard, gent, to be colonel.
George Hand to be ensign.
April 8, 1748. Henry Young to be colonel of militia.
The value which the West Jersey proprietors placed upon land in Cape May county at this time can be surmised in reading the instructions from a committee of the West Jei- sey Society to the agent of the Society, under date of London, August 16, 1749, a portion of which reads: "We desire you will endeavor to dispose of what quantity you can of our Lands at Cape May at Twenty Pounds or more p' hundred Acres New York Money but not under that price and not less than One thousand Acres to be located &c. all together and not in different parts and to be free of all charges of Conveyance &c."
CHAPTER IX. WEST JERSEY SOCIETY RIGHTS.
In the middle of the eighteenth century the two most prominent men of Cape May county were Aaron Leaming, Jr., better known as the second, and Jacob Spicer, 2d, who were also possessed of a reputation all over the province of New Jersey as brilliant men, with practical and methodical ways. Their fathers, Aaron Leaming and Jacob Spicer, had held many prominent offices before them, been in the Assembly, and paved the way for their sons to easily suc- ceed them. Aaron Leaming, 2d, first entered the Assembly in 1740, and remained a member for about thirty years, with but two or three short intercessions. He was born July 6, 1715, O. S., and was a general favorite of the people. He possessed a splendid education and was an expert and clear penman, being a voluminous writer, to whom pos- terity owes much for the records and diaries he kept. He was a man of considerable industry and acquired much land.
Dr. Beesley says he "was one of the most prominent and influential men the county ever produced. The family lost nothing in caste through him. He was a heavy land oper- ator, and a member of the Legislature for thirty years. From the manuscript he left behind him, which is quite voluminous, it would appear he was a man of great indus- try and much natural good sense, well educated for the times, and withal a little tinged with aristocracy; a trait of character not unexceptionable under the royal prerogative. No man ever received greater honors from the county, and none, perhaps, better deserved them."
Young Spicer was born the year after Leaming, and was also possessed of a good, practical education, and had the faculty of acquiring wealth and of grasping every opportu- nity which presented itself. He first entered the Assembly
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in 1745 and remained in it with Leaming for about twenty years. The Assembly about this time wanted the grants and concessions made to the lords proprietors and the laws of both East and West Jersey compiled, and Leaming and Spicer were the two men who finally compiled them. The Assembly's first act in this matter is recorded in Aaron Leaming's own handwriting in the State Library, and reads: "Upon Saturday, the second day of February, 1750, Rob- ert Lawrence, of Monmouth; William Cooks, of Burlington; William Hancock, of Salem; Jacob Spicer, of Cape May; Hendrick Fisher, of Somerset: John Wetherill, of Middle- sex, and Aaron Leaming, of Cape May, gentlemen, being of the House of Assembly," were selected a committee to inspect the "Laws, Records and other Fundamental Con- stitutions relating to the first Settlement of New Jersey in each Division." The "Pennsylvania Journal," of November 8, 1750, contained the advertisement that the laws of New Jersey from 1700 to 1750 would be published and that Leam- ing and Spicer would receive subscriptions for the same. This committee went immediately and diligently to work on its task. On the following Thursday Chairman Law- rence made a report, wherein were shown the grants of Charles II to James, Duke of Yorke, and from the Duke of Yorke to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Cartaret, and that there were "Certain Concessions and Agreements, Which Concessions and Agreements were esteemed the fun- damental Plan of Government." Lawrence also reported the scheme of the twenty-four proprietors of East Jersey and the plan of government for West Jersey, and showing that different laws were passed for the two divisions accord- ing to the concessions. The committee also said that as some of the laws, particularly those appertaining to the taxing of lands and "Securing of Men's Property in Lands," were "lodged in several difficult Hands and not come so ful- ly to the Knowledge of the Publick as could be desired." and recommended that all these things be published. The Assembly thereupon ordered them to be printed with "con- venient dispatch and collected in one Volume," and the law and matter were to be corrected by the originals. Another committee was subsequently appointed by the committee,
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
who could, if they wished, supervise this work. Speaker Nevill and Samuel Smith, the historian, were to have charge- of the printing, and 170 books were to be printed at two pence per sheet.
Leaming and Spicer were the two most active members; of the committee, and they had a great deal of research to do. The old State papers were not kept in the order in. those days and with the care that they are now, because. their value was not then realized. Some of the most im- portant instruments were the hardest to secure, and once the committee was ordered to search for the "Instrument or Record or the Surrender made by the Proprietors of this. Colony at the Surrender of the Government to the Crown; and also for what Concessions were entered into by the Crown at the Time of the Acceptance of Such Surrender in behalf of the People." On October 16, 1751, the com- mittee, or three of them, were given power to write to Lon- don, and ask the New Jersey agent to send attested copies of the surrender.
The work, which finally, by authority or not implicitly given, devolved upon the two Cape May members, pro- gressed until 1755. Aaron Leaming, in his diary, writes under date of the latter year, "Feb'y 2d. Spicer & I began compiling the New Jersey constitution," and again, under date of 1756 says: Nov. 29.Spicer & I began the Table of the Jersey constitution." In the meantime, when these men were compiling these laws, on August 20, 1755, an act for the support of the government was passed, in which it was: stated that Leaming and Spicer had been empowered to, print the laws at two pence per sheet, and binding allow- ances. They were to be bound in calfskin, and the details. of payment is here stated.
On March 27, 1758, 126 volumes had been printed, and on the following 15th of April the final settlement was made by ordering that Leaming and Spicer be paid "after Three. months Trial of the Sale," at the rate of £1 18s. 6d. per volume.
In 1750 Nicholas Stillwell. of Egg Harbor, took out a license to keep a house of entertainment; in 1752 Jacob. Spicer at Cold Spring; in 1761 Aaron Leaming on the sea-
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shore two miles above the court house; in 1763 Christopher Leaming: in 1764 Daniel Hand at the Court House, and in 1768 Memucan Hughes and James Whilldin at and near Cape Island.
The second church established within the county, or at least which had Cape May residents as communicants, by the Baptists was at Tuckahoe in 1751, of which Morgan Ed- wards says (1792):
"Tuckihoe.
"Church is distinguished from a river which runs near meeting house; the house measures 28 feet by 24; it was built 1751, in Egg Harbour township, and county of Glou- cester, 60 miles S. E. Philadelphia, lot on which stands con- tains about one acre, and was gift James Hubbard, deed dated May 15, 1750; house is now in ruinous condition, but the people talking of building another, in a more con- venient place; Alderman Benezet promises to give them land, timber, glass and nails; there is another house which the church occupies, but it is not their own; it stands on May's landing, about 12 miles off of this. The families which usually assemble at Tuckahoe are about 60, whereof 63 persons are baptised, and in the communion, here ad- ministered the first Sunday of every month. Salary about 20 pounds .- About present state of church Ap. 14, 1790.
"History.
"When the gospel began to be preached at Dividing creek, by Rev. Nathanael Jenkins, several from these parts repaired thither, and received serious impressions; the con- sequence was, that said Jenkins was invited to preach among them; he came, and notwithstanding his age, and Morris river, stood in the way; and baptised some, who joined Di- viding-creek; Mr. Sheppard, of Salem, visited these parts and baptised others; and after their deaths, Mr. Kelsey preached here and baptised. In 1770 Rev. James Sutton came hither with a view to settle among them: this put them on thinking of becoming a distinct church; according- ly, they were, July 23. 1771. incorporated, by the assistance of Rev. Mess. Vanhorn and Heaton; the names were, Rev. James Sutton. Joseph Savage, Esq., Jonathan Smith, Wil- liam Goldin. Jacob Garrison. Joseph Ingersol, Thomas Ire-
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
land, Elias Smith, John Ingles, Esq., Lemuel Sayres, Lem- uel Edwards, John Scull, Isaac Scull, Katharine Garrison,. Mary Goldin, Jaen Ingersol, Debora Lore, Tabitha Scull, Mary Ireland, Elizabeth Garrison, Jaen Camp, Mary Camp, Abigail Scull and Catharine Weaver."
Rev. James Sutton was pastor until 1772; Rev. William Lock, 1773 to 1779, and Rev. Isaac Bonnell from 1783 to date (1792).
There has been found in the old burying ground of the Baptist church at the head of the Tuckahoe River these cor- roborative fac-similes of biographies and epitaphs:
Robert Campbell son of Henry and Ellen Campbell. Died March 20-1754.
Rev. Isaac Bonnel Departed this life July 25-1794, His age 64 years.
Ann Groom the wife of Rev'd Peter Groom, Departed this life May 4-1796, 46 years old.
Millicent Price, Departed this life July 28-1826, Age 56. years and 4 months.
An extremely interesting tomb is that of the Reverend Peter Groom, pastor of the Baptist Church at West Creek.
The following mortuary lines show his worth:
"The friend of man The friend of truth The friend of age The guide of youth."
He departed this life January 16, 1807.
In the year 1752 an association of persons was formed for the purpose of purchasing of the West Jersey Society their interests in the county, in order to procure the natural priv- ileges of fishing and fowling and all the articles of luxury and use to be obtained from the bays and sounds, which were held in high estimation. The agreement reads as follows:
"Whereas, The West New Jersey Society once Stood seiz- ed in their Demense as of Fee of a certain Ninety Thousand acres of Land Situate at, and containing the chiefest part of that Island or Tract of Land called Cape may between Delaware Bay and Great Egg harbour River, which said.
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WEST JERSEY SOCIETY RIGHTS.
Society having sold and Transferred the greatest and most valuable parts of the said Ninety thousand acres to divers persons; And Whereas there is yet remaining unsold a par- cel of broken and sunken marshes, sounds, creeks, barren Lands &c as of very little value, which never the less if the Same Should be purchased by any particular person or per- sons in large Tracts it might be an inducement for such pur- chaser to endeavour to monopolize the Fishery, oystering &c which nature seems to have intended for a General blessing to the Poor, and others who have bought the Lands and settled contiguous thereto And many of us the Subscrib- ers having already given advanced prices for our Lands by reason of the vicinity of the said priviledges, are now unwil- ling to be deprived thereof; Wherefore we the Subscribers each and every of us do each of us seperately for our selves and for each of our heirs, Executors Administrators & as- signs associate covenant Grant Bargain and agree to and with all and every other of the said Subscribers their heirs and assigns in manner and form following-To Wit-That we will each and every of us associate and Join in the pur- chasing of the Said Society the aforesaid unsold parts of the said Land which when So purchased To be holden in equal Shares amongst all and every of us the Subscribers Our heir and Assigns in common and undivided forever, as Ten- ants in Common, Except such parts thereof as we Shall Sell and Separate off as hereafter is mentioned And that Due Justice may be rendered unto all persons we do hereby cov- enant and agree that if any particular person or persons whither Subscriber or not hath actually a Survey made by Henry Young, Esqr. upon any part which we Shall So pur- chase, or if any Tract that is unsurveyed Shall lie within the inclosures or at the head or foot of any particular persons Land or Plantation Situate within the Said County if Such' person discovers the Same to be there and will first consent to give the price the Said Society now Sells at In that case we will Sell the Same to Such person at a price not higher than the said Society hath immediately before this time been used to Sell for; The purchase money whereof shall be put into the General Stock and applyed towards the payment of the consideration that we Shall be obliged to Give for the
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
Said Land So by us intended to be purchased. And Fur- ther if any particular person who is a Subscriber hereto liath by himself, or his Predecessor in Title hath, actually made a Purchase of any of the Said Societys Said Lands and Such person Shall Doubt the validity of his Title to the whole or any part thereof In that case a Deed of confirma- tion and Release Shall be Granted Gratis to Such Subscrib- ers he being at all charges-And for the Raising a Fund for carrying the Said undertaking into execution we each and every of us for and on behalf of ourselves Our heirs Executors and administrators and Assigns Do Consent- associate covenant Grant Bargain & agree to and with all the rest of the Said Subscribers their heirs & Assigns that the said money requisite for Such consideration. Shall be raised levyed and Assessed upon us our heirs Executors and Administrators according to the Several Estates that we Severally hold in the manner that other Taxes are usually raised by Law in New Jersey And Further that we will at some General Conference or meeting on the Said Subject chuse Such officers & persons as are or Shall be necessary for laying and raising the Said Intended Tax. and also chuse (when necessary) Such and So many persons as we Shall think Suitable and convenient to go and agree for the Said unsold Lands from the agents of the said West Jersey So- ciety Provided never the less that if thirty Persons Free- holders of the County of Cape May do not Sign this Asso- ciation the whole and every part thereof, Shall be void and of no effect -- And Further that the above said Commonages of Fishery oystering & Shall be construed to remain and extend to all the Children of us the Subscribers & all their children & children's children and so forever-And in any marshes that we Shall Sell the aforesaid commonages Shall be reserved thereout and not transferred but remain and above. And in case of any Doubts in Titles, when we Grant Releases, they Shall be so worded as to confirm the Same Estate as if the original purchase had been good & value- And that no Resurveys on any Persons Land whatever Shall be claimed or allowed on any pretentions whatsoever. Provided always that if any consideration Money Shall be paid for any Lands to be Sold by virtue of the directions
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«of this agreement, after the consideration for the aforesaid Land Shall be fully paid, then Such money to be equally Divided amongst the Subscribers hereto in proportion to the respective Shares the Said Subscribers hereto Shall Sey- erally pay towards Such consideration.
The instrument was dated November 20, 1752, and was ·signed by the following persons: James Edwards, James Hedges, Samuel Bancroft, Jonathan Fourman, Recompence Hand, William Matthews, Jacob Spicer, Ebenezer Swain, Nathaniel Foster, Richard Stillwell, Ephraim Edwards, Isaac Whilldin, Jacob Hughes, John Hase, Daniel Cresse, Benjamin Laughton, James Whilldin, Thomas Bancroft, Jacob Hand, Jere Leaming, Jacob Richardson, Joshua Shaw, Samuel Crowell, Cornelius Schelinks, Barnabas Crowell, Eleazer Crawford, Isaac Newton, George Stites, William Stites, Richard Shaw, Downes Edmonds, John Bancroft, Ebenezer Johnson, Uriah Smith, Aaron Leaming, Thomas Hand, Jonadab Jenkins, Carman Smith, Daniel Swaine, Jeremiah Hand, John Chester, John Smith, Elihu Smith, Marcy Ross, Thomas Leaming, Joseph Hewit, Wil- liam Robenson, Joseph Hewit, Elisha Crowell, John El- dredge, Robert Parsons, William Simpkins Reuben Hew- it, Amos Johnson, Timothy Hand, Ezekiel Hand, Daniel Hand, Silas Hand, Isaiah Hand, James Hand, Richard Stites, Caleb Newton, Caleb Newton on behalf of Thomas Page, Christopher Lupton, Ebenezer Newton, Henry Hand, William Flower, Eleazer Hand, Samuel Eldredge, Daniel Eldredge, Nezer Swain, George Taylor, Lewis Cresse, James Cresse, Shamgar Hand, Jonathan Smith, Daniel Hand, Robert Cresse, Benjamin Johnson aty of ye seaside, Henry Leonard, Annanias Osborne, John Leonard, Michael Iszard, Richard Smith, David Corson, Zebulon Swaine, Nathaniel Jenkins, Junr., Benjamin Johnson of Goshen, Richard Swain, Silas Goff, David Hildreth, Christopher Foster, Joshua Hildreth, Joseph Hildreth, Samuel Foster, Jolın Hughes, Edward Church, Jeremiah Hand, John Willets, Joseph Corson, John Scull, John Van Gilder, Samuel Town- send, Daniel Townsend, Arthur Cresse, Esaiah Stites. Josiah Edwards, Jacob Corson, Andrew Corson, William Robin-
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HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY.
son, Isaac Luldam, Abraham Van Gilder, Isaac Willetts, John Goff, Isaac Baner, David Corson, James Godfrey, Isaac Townsend, John Corson, John Machey, Stephen Young, Thomas Hewit, Wm. Smith, James Hildreth, Thomas Tay- lor, Seth Bowen, Franc's Crandol, John Hand, alias Willet,. John Shaw, Jacob Smith, Henry Fisher, John Smith, Na- than Johnson, Thos. Johnson, Thomas Smith, James Mil- ler, John Isard, Abraham Hand, James Townsend, Silva- nus Townsend, Junr.
It was difficult to name a valuation upon a right so en- deared to the people as this. This association being slow and cautious in its movements was no doubt astounded, in the year 1756, to find that Jacob Spicer, upon his own re- sponsibility, had superseded them, and had purchased the right of the society, through their acknowledged agent, Dr .. Johnson, of Perth Amboy, not only in natural privileges, but in the unlocated land in the whole county. Spicer, al- though he did not attempt or desire to prevent the people from using these privileges as they had heretofore done, re- ceived for his share in the transaction a large amount of obloquy and hostile feeling, which required all the energy and moral courage he possessed to encounter.
In 1756 the time had come when the remaining West Jersey proprietors were to at last dispose of their rights. As heretofore mentioned, an association had been formed in the lower precinct to purchase them. Dr. Coxe, who originally held most of the soil, made five sales altogether through his agent, George Taylor, to the West Jersey So- ciety. The latter had by 1756 carried on the sale of its lands. for about sixty-four years, and had nothing much left by this time excepting "vacant lands," and the natural privi- leges which they possessed of the sounds and bays. For the "vacant lands," Aaron Leaming, 2d, and Jacob Spicer, 2d, were competitors, but as the latter overreached his col- league he secured them. While they, two of the most pop- ular men of that time, were opposed to each other at home in consequence of their land speculations, yet when at Tren- ton, as representatives of their county, they united their en- ergies and were faithful and efficient public servants. In the sale of lands by the West Jersey Society they always in-
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WEST JERSEY SOCIETY RIGHTS.
cluded what was termed "vacant lands." Fifteen per centum. over what was actually purchased was conveyed for the- building of roads, and when these proposed roads were not constructed the land became vacant.
On August 2, 1756, Jacob Spicer, 2d, also purchased of the West Jersey Society (for £300) all the remain lands .. and privileges of that organization in Cape May county, consisting of uplands, beaches, swamps, savannahs, cripples, marshes, meadows, oyster beds, oyster grounds, clam flats,. shores, bays, sounds, thoroughfares. creeks, guts, rivulets, brooks, runs, streams, pools and ponds of water, and finally all fast lands and waters, etc., woods, trees, mines, minerals, royalties, quarries, hawkings, huntings, fishing, fowling,. etc." Dr. Maurice Beesley says :
"It has been handed down that Spicer obtained the grant for the proprietary right in Cape May, of Dr. Johnson, agent of the society at Perth Amboy, at a time when the in- fluence of the wine bottle had usurped the place of reason, or he could not have obtained it for so inconsiderable a sum as three hundred pounds; and that the Doctor, sensible he had betrayed the trust reposed in him, left the society at his death a thonsand pounds as a salvo."
Spicer, while a man who believed in thrift, had a sympa- thetic side to his nature, which is revealed by a record in his diary, under date of October 6, 1756, concerning the result of a missionary meeting. It reads: "We the subscribers do promise to pay the Rev. John Brainard, missionary among the Indians at Cranbery, or to his order, the sum affixed to our names for the purchase of lands for the uses of the mis- sionary society: Charles Read, £2 14s .; Jacob Spicer, £2 os .;: Joseph Yard, f1 17s .; Robert Ogden, £3; Stephen Cresse, £I IOS."
CHAPTER X.
JACOB SPICER AND HIS SAYINGS.
The accounts of the treasurer of the division of West Jer- sey for the year 1754 show that Aaron Leaming on April 27 turned in a bundle of canceled money from Cape May to the amounts of £154:02:06, f1:0:0, and October 21, £1:17:6, and that Jeremiah Leaming paid for the support of the gov- ernment, November 24, taxes amounting to £33:08:04, and on the same date other money, viz., £25:11:052. During the same year Leaming and Spicer, who were members then of the Legislature, received on April 15 these amounts: Leaming, £22:10:0; Spicer, £33:10:0.
In 1754 the French and Indian War broke out on the frontier of the English colonies and lasted until 1763. It was to decide the question whether France or England should rule over the American continent. The English out- numbered the French colonists ten to one, but the latter got possession of the two chief rivers of the country-the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. To clinch their hold they built fort after fort, until by this date, 1754, they had a chain of them extending from Quebec, in Canada, to the Great Lakes, and thence down the Wabash, the Illinois and the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. The principal scenes of the conflicts of this war, in which the English were finally successful, were upon the Ohio River and the Canadian borders.
Matters looked so serious just at this period that a con- vention of the northern colonies met at Albany to consider what mode of defense should be made. Most of the Indians were aiding the French, but the Iroquois Indians, who were staunch friends of the English, sent some of their tribe to the convention and warned them that if the colonists did not take up arms the French would drive every English- man out of the country. This same year the Assembly of
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JACOB SPICER AND HIS SAVINGS.
New Jersey passed a bill making current £70,000 in bills of credit for a fund to assist in dispossessing the French on the frontier near the Ohio River, and Cape May's share in this expense was f1002. the raising of which was given in charge of the Loan Office Commissioners, who were to have an annual salary of fio. The bills, when paid by the colony, were to be cut and burned.
West Jersey was to furnish sixty men to go to the New York frontier, but whether Cape May sent any we do not have record to show. But we find that Aaron Leaming, with two other non-residents of the county, as a Colony Committee, was paid £171:10:0 to transport Captain Wood- ward's company and others, and for clothing for the same. This was New Jersey's first expedition. Aaron Leaming was during the period quartermaster-general of the prov ince.
The next year England sent over General Braddock to operate on the Ohio, and the Jersey troops were sent north into New York and destined for Eastern Canada. At home in Cape May there were faithful Lenni-Lenapes, who were free from barbarities. Jacob Spicer, who was appointed by the colony commissioner for purchasing provisions for five hundred troops on the Canadian expedition, rallied the peo- ple of Cape May "to meet the great demand of the time," and demanded "a thousand pounds of stockings" " for our men in the field." Concerning the feeling in the county at the beginning of this last inter-colonial contest, Jacob Spi- cer, in his diary, under date of November 1, 1755, says:
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