USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. I > Part 20
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This last conveyance was for one undivided half-part of New Jersey.
The province was to be divided into two equal parts, separated by a straight line running north and south. That part on the east of this line was to belong to Sir George Carteret, and to be called East New Jersey, while that part on the west, was to be held by William Penn, Gawen Lawry, and Nicholas Lucas, in trust for Edward Byllinge.
They were to pay annually to the Duke of York the sum of twenty nobles, one-half of which was to be paid by Sir George Carteret, and the other half by William Penn, Gawen Lawry and Nicholas Lucas.
After the death of Sir George Carteret, on the first and second of February, 1682, his widow, Elizabeth Carteret, John Earl of Bath, Thomas Lord Crew, Bernard Greenville, Sir Robert Atkins, Sir Edward Atkins, Thomas Pocock, and Thomas Cremer, conveyed the eastern division of New Jersey, in fee simple, to William Penn, Robert West, Thomas Rudyard, Samuel Groom, Thomas Hart, Richard Mew, Thomas Wilcox, Ambrose Rigg, John Heywood, Hugh Hartshorne, Clement Plumsted, and Thomas Cooper.
These twelve proprietors the same year conveyed the land to twelve others, viz : Robert Barclay, Edward Byllinge, Robert Turner, James Brain, Aarent Sonmans, William Gibson, Gawen Lawry, David Barclay, Thomas Barker, Thomas Varne, James Earl of Perth, Robert Gordon, and John Drummond.
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The legal year in England began the 25th of March, but the historical year began the Ist of January following; and in Scotland they also began the year on the Ist of January, which accounts for the seeming impropriety of the dates of some of the foregoing, and other ancient records.
In the early days of the province the governor, six councillors and twelve assemblymen, constituted the law making power.
In 1668, we find two burgesses for Bergen, two for Elizabeth- town, two for Newark upon Pishawack river, two for Wood- bridge, two for Middletown, and two for Shrewsbury.
These met May 26th, 1668, and enacted laws for the punish- ment of different crimes in the province.
It was at this session enacted that the governor and his council, with the burgesses or deputies of the country, be called the general assembly of the lords proprietors. They were to meet on the first Tuesday of November annually, and the deputies of each town to be chosen on the first day of January annually. Any deputy being absent from the meeting was to pay a fine of forty shillings for every day's absence, unless he gave a reasonable excuse, which was satisfactory to the general assembly when in session, or at any other time to the governor and his council.
Previous to this general assembly the only laws they had were those made by the proprietors themselves, and called the grants and concessions of the lords proprietors. After Carteret's commission as governor, they were governed by his instructions, then by a constitution called the declaration of the proprietors. After the second grant to the Duke of York, and the grant to Sir George Carteret, they were governed by directions, instruc- tions, and orders issued by George Carteret, knight and baronet, vice-chamberlain of His Majesty's household, and one of His Majesty's most honorable privy council, and lord proprietor of the country or province of New Caesaria or New Jersey. But in 1668, Governor Philip Carteret, his council, and the deputies of the several towns, held a general assembly, and enacted laws for the province.
In 1675, an oath of fidelity to the King and the lords pro- prietors was established.
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They were required to swear to the allegiance they owed King Charles as the lawful and rightful sovereign, and that the Pope, neither of himself, nor by any authority of the church, or See of Rome, or by any other means with any other, had any power or authority to depose the king, or dispose of any of His Majesty's kingdoms or dominions, or to authorize any foreign prince to annoy him or his country, &c.
The next general assembly met at Elizabethtown, November 5th, 1675. They were called the governor, council, and depu- ties, or representatives of the country. They each took the oath, except one from Shrewsbury, who refusing to swear or sub- scribe, was dismissed.
Previous to the sitting of the general assembly, March Ist, 1682, all the laws enacted by that body were called acts of the general assembly, and were printed as though they were but one act, being distinguished in paragraphs by Roman numerals. But after the session of 1682, they were divided into chapters, and each act was designated by its title. There were at this session eighteen acts passed, the principal one of which was dividing the province into four counties.
Bergen county was to contain all the settlements between Hudson's river and Hackensack river, beginning at Constable's hook, and so extending to the uppermost bound of the province northward between the said rivers.
January 21st, 1709-10, the line was extended to the Pequanock and Passaic rivers, and the sound.
By this act Bergen county was bounded from Constable's hook, along the bay and Hudson's river, to the partition line between New York and New Jersey ; thence along the partition line between the said provinces, and the division line of East and West Jersey to Pequanock river ; thence down that and Passaic river to the sound, and thence to the place first named.
Its situation on Hudson river, opposite and adjacent to New York, opened an advantageous intercourse with that market. Their lands are generally good for grass, wheat, or any other grain.
In the early days of the province the Schuyler's had here two large parks for deer and other game. The inhabitants of this
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section of the country being the descendants of the low Dutch or Hollanders, that originally settled there under the Dutch title, preserved the religion of their ancestors, and worshipped after the manner of the Reformed churches in the united provinces. They were in principal, Presbyterians, yet in sub- ordination to the classis of Amsterdam. Their language in general still bears the Dutch accent, nor have they forgot the customs of Holland. The county bordering on New York has an area of about three hundred and fifty square miles. It is bounded on the east by Hudson river, and is intersected by Ramapo, Hackensack, and Saddle rivers, which afford valuable water-power. The famous palisades of the Hudson are situated on the east border of the county. The surface is generally uneven, and in the west part mountainous. The soil is fertile, particularly along the valleys of the stream. Magnetic ore and limestone are found. The railroad connecting Jersey City with Binghampton, in New York, traverses the western part of this county. This, the Erie railway, is a broad gauge, double track, between the Atlantic cities and the south, south-west, and north- west. Its connection is 860 miles without change of cars between New York, Rochester, Buffalo, Dunkirk, Salamanca, Corry, Meadville, Akron, Mansfield, Galion, Urbana, Dayton, Hamilton and Cincinnati. The eastern termination is Long Dock, Jersey City.
This county was organized in 1682; reorganized in 1710, but the area was diminished February 7th, 1837, by the formation of Passaic county from Bergen and Essex counties ; and again February 22d, 1840, by the formation of Hudson county. This act set off into Hudson county the townships of Bergen, North. Bergen, and Harrison. The capital is Hackensack.
The present bounds are, north by Rockland county, New York, east by the Hudson river, south by Passaic and Hudson counties, and east by Passaic county. East and west it is about nineteen miles long ; the breadth on the east is fourteen, and on the west nine miles. The central part is generally level and undulating; on the west it is mountainous, and on the east bordering on the Hudson river, are the famous palisades composed of trap-ridge, which extend the whole width of the
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county. The soil, particularly in the valleys, is fertile, and productive of early summer vegetables-apples, strawberries, and other fruits, the city of New York furnishing an ample market for the productions of the county. There are many small and beautiful farms, with neat cottages, in the Dutch style of architecture, painted white, and being surrounded by shrub- bery; they present an air of comfort and thrift. These are principally in the valleys of the Hackensack or Saddle rivers, and on the adjacent hills. The population in 1738, was 4,095 ; in 1745, 3,006 ; in 1840, 13,223 ; in 1850, 14,725, of whom forty-one were slaves; in 1860, 21,618, of whom two were Indians-one male and one female, and in 1870, 30,122, divided in the nine townships, as follows: Franklin, 2,899, of whom seventy-two were colored ; Hackensack, 8,038, of whom three hundred and thirty-two were colored ; Harrington, 2,664, of whom two hundred and twenty-six were colored ; Hohokus, 2,632, of whom two hundred and forty were colored ; Lodi, 3,221, of whom one hundred and forty were colored ; New Bar- badoes, 4,929, of whom three hundred and thirteen were colored; Saddle River, 1, 168, of whom sixty-nine were colored ; Union, 2,057, of whom seventy-one were colored ; Washing- ton, 2,514, of whom one hundred and sixty-nine were colored, making the white population 30,122, and the colored 1,632 ; total in 1870, 31,754.
In Bergen county are the Schuyler mines. In this county was born the famous Peter Schuyler, who died in 1762, at the age of fifty-two years. He was a younger son of Aarent Schuyler, the discoverer, and first owner of the celebrated mines above mentioned. He had command of the provincial troops against the French in Canada, and was in several campaigns in two wars afterwards, and by judges of military merit, he was allowed to have ranked high. He had qualities besides, that greatly recommended him to his acquaintances, being of a frank, open demeanor, extensive generosity and humanity, and unwearied in his endeavors to accomplish whatever appeared of service to his country. He was taken a prisoner at Oswego when that post was given up to the French, and long detained as such in Canada, where, having letters of credit, he kept an
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open house for the relief of his fellow sufferers, and advanced large sums of money to the Indians in the French interest, for the redemption of captives, many of whom he afterwards, at his own expense, maintained while there, and provided for their return, trusting to their honor and abilities for repayment, in which way, although he lost much money, he considered it well bestowed. In person he was tall and hardy, rather rough at first view, yet a little acquaintance discovered his sincerity, and that he was ever ready to render any kind office in his power. In conversation he was above artifice, or the common traffic of forms and ceremony. He enjoyed friendship with a true relish, and in every relation what he appeared to be, he truly was.
Franklin township is five miles north and south, and ten east and west. On the north it is bounded by Hokokus township, east by Washington and Midland, south by Saddle river, Chester and Wayne, and west by Pompton and Wayne. On its eastern boundary is Saddle river, and the Ramapo on its west. The soil is well cultivated and productive. Its population in 1750 was 1,741 ; in 1760, 2,318 ; and in 1870, 2,899.
Hackensack, formerly a township of this county, was ten miles long, with a width varying from three to five miles. It was bounded north by Harrington, east by the Hudson river, south by North Bergen, in Hudson county, and west by Lodi and New Barbadoes. The famous Palisades were on its east, along the Hudson river. Many of its inhabitants cultivated truck for the New York market. Its population in 1850 was 3,506 ; in 1860, 5,488 ; and in 1870, 8,038. Fort Lee, a cele- brated military post during the Revolutionary war, was located in this township, on the Hudson river. It is now in ruins, but a village bearing the same name occupies the spot. Below it is a village called Bull's Ferry, named from the ferry that has ex- isted there more than half a century. Below this ferry there stood in the time of the Revolutionary war, a small block house, then in possession of the enemy, which was stormed by General Wayne, but he was unsuccessful in dislodging the enemy, though they were nearly conquered at the time he drew his men off, as it is said they had but a single round left, and had he have con- tinued a few moments longer, would have completely routed
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them. On the 22d of March, 1871, the townships of Engle- wood, Palisades, and Ridgefield, were formed from Hackensack township.
Harrington township was much reduced in 1840 by the forma- tion of Washington township, the latter taking off about one- half of its inhabitants. It measures about five miles each way, and is nearly square. Its bounds are Rockland county, New York, on the north, Hudson river on the east, Palisade township south, and Washington on the west. On the east are the famous Palisades, and the Hackensack river divides it on the west from Washington township. Population in 1850, 1,195; in 1860, 1,602; and in 1870, 2,664.
New Barbadoes is north of Lodi, east of Midland, and west of Englewood and Ridgefield townships. It is about five miles long, from north to south, and two wide from east to west. Its population in 1850 was 2,265 ; in 1860, 3,558 ; and in 1870, 4,929.
The town of Hackensack is the seat of justice of the county, and lies on the Hackensack river, in New Barbadoes township, about thirteen miles from New York city. Its name is derived · from the river. Its extent is more than a mile along two princi- pal streets. It contains nine churches, one of which (the Reformed Dutch) is a handsome stone building. It has two academies, a boarding school, classical institute, and more than · three hundred dwellings. Small vessels are constantly plying between this place and New York. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war, it contained only about thirty houses. It now has a population of about 2,000. The first house erected for public worship was in 1696, and the present stone edifice was built in 1791, being the third one on this site.
Saddle river township, before the formation of Passaic county, in 1847, comprised within its limits what is now the township of Manchester. Its form was at that time like a saddle, and. from thence it derived its name. It is seven miles long and two miles wide. On its north is Franklin, East Midland, and Lodi, South Lodi, and West Acquackannonck, and Manchester townships, the cities of Paterson and Passaic. In 1850 its population was 823 ; in 1860, 1,007; and in 1870, 1, 168.
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Hokokus was formed in 1849, and in 1852 part of it was set off to Washington township. Its population in 1850 was 2,274; in 1860, 2,352 ; and in 1870, 2,632.
Union was set off from Harrison, Hudson county, and an- nexed to Bergen county in 1852. Its population in 1860 was 957, and in 1870, 2,057.
Washington was formed in 1840, from the western part of Harrington. It is about seven miles long and five wide. Rock- land county, New York, lies on its north, Harrington on the east, Midland south, and Franklin and Hokokus west. Popula- tion in 1850, 1,807 ; in 1860, 2,273 ; and in 1870, 2,514.
Essex county was first formed in 1682, and contained all the settlements between the west side of Hackensack river, and the partition line between Woodbridge and Elizabethtown, and extended westward and northward to the utmost bounds of the province. The lines were changed in 1709-'I0, to begin at the Rahway river where it falls into the sound, and running thence up said river to Robinson's branch ; thence west to the division line between the eastern and western divisions, and so follow said division line to Pequannock river where it meets the Passaic river ; thence down the Passaic river to the bay and sound ; thence down the sound to where it began ; Elizabeth being at that time in Essex county.
November 4th, 1741, the lines were again changed, and part of the county was annexed to Somerset.
November 28th, 1822, the easterly bounds were declared to be the middle of the waters of the sound, as far as the limits of the county extended. They were again changed in 1847, when Union county was formed.
Smith, in his History of New Jersey, published in 1800, informs us that "in 1741, Essex county contained the well settled towns of Elizabeth and Newark .* In the latter, the courts for the county were held, and in the former those for the ancient borough. This being an old settled county and good land, was consequently thickly inhabited. Their plantations were too high in value to be generally large, and their improve-
* At each of these, there were at that time a public library.
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ments were greater than in many other parts. At this time the Presbyterians had seven places of worship, Episcopalians three, Baptists one, and the Dutch Calvinists two."
This county at the present time is about twenty miles long, with an average breadth of about twelve miles.
The county of Passaic, and a small part of Morris, bounds it on the north, Hudson county and Newark bay on the east, Union county on the south, and Morris county on the west. Its population in 1810 was 25,984; in 1820, 30,793 ; in 1830, 41,911 ; in 1840, 44,621 ; in 1850, 73,950 ; in 1860, 98,877; and in 1870, 143,839.
Belleville township was formed from the eastern portion of Bloomfield in 1839. It is about four miles in length and about two in width.
Acquackannonck, Passaic county, bounds it on the north, Union, Hudson county, from which it is separated by the Pas- saic river, on the east, Newark on the south, and Bloomfield on the west. It contains extensive manufactories. Population in 1850, 3,514 ; in 1860, 3,969 ; and in 1870, 3,644 inhabitants.
The town of Belleville is beautifully situated on the Passaic river, about three miles north of Newark. It was once called Second river, and had a large population as early as 1682. It contains over two hundred dwellings, and several large manufac- turing establishments. It is somewhat of a resort in the summer season by persons from New York city and vicinity.
Franklin, formerly called Spring Garden, is a flourishing little manufacturing village, containing about thirty dwellings.
Bloomfield township is five miles long by three wide. On its north is Acqackannonck, Passaic county, Belleville and thecity of Newark on the east, Orange on the south, and Montclair and Orange on the west. On the Second and Third rivers, there are numerous manufacturing establishments. The population in 1850 was 3,385 ; in 1860, 4,790 ; and in 1870, 4,580. The village of the same name extends about three and a half miles in a northwesterly direction, including West Bloomfield. It was settled in the early part of the colony by New Englanders.
Caldwell was formed from Newark and Acquackannonck in 1798. It is about seven miles long by four wide. On its north
Q
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is Little Falls and Wayne, in Passaic county, and Pequannock in Morris county, Montclair on the east, West Orange and Livingston on the south, and Hanover and Montville, Morris . county, on the west. In the eastern part are the First and Second mountains, and the remainder of the township abounds in hills. The population in 1850 was 2,377; in 1860, 2,688; and in 1870, 2,727.
The town of Caldwell is about ten miles northwest from Newark, and contains about thirty-five dwellings, and a Presby- terian church. Verona is about two miles east from Caldwell, and contains a Methodist church, and about twenty-five dwel- lings. Fairfield contains a Dutch Reformed church, lies in the northern part of the township, and is a rich agricultural district. Franklin is a thriving village, and lies about a mile west of Caldwell.
Clinton was formed from Elizabethtown, Newark and Orange, in 1834. Its length is about four miles, and breadth about two and a half miles. South Orange and Newark lies on the north of it, and Newark is also on its east, while the township of Union, in Union county, is on its south, and South Orange on the west. .
Camptown was a flourishing village, about three and a half miles from Newark, containing about fifty dwellings and three churches, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and what was called a Free Church. The name was derived from the fact that during the Revolutionary war, the American army was for some time en- camped here. The population of the township in 1850 was 2,508 ; in 1860, 3,659 ; and in 1870, 2,240.
East Orange was formed from part of the town of Orange, March 4th, 1863. Population in 1870, 4,315.
Fairmount was formed March 11th, 1862, from parts of the town of Orange, and the townships of Caldwell and Livingston, and on the 14th of March, 1863, the name was changed to West Orange. It is four miles long by two and a half in width, and in 1870 contained a population of 2,206.
Livingston was formed in 1812, is five miles long and four wide. On the north is Caldwell, on the east West Orange, on the west Chatham and Hanover, in Morris county, and on the
.
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south Millburn. It lies ten miles west of Newark, and contains the small settlements of Livingston, Centreville, Moorehous- town, and Northfield. Population in 1850, 1, 151; in 1860, 1,323 ; and in 1870, 1, 157.
Millburn was formed from Springfield March 20th, 1857, and February 25th, 1863, part of it was set off to South Orange. Population in 1860, 1,630 ; and in 1870, 1,675.
Montclair was formed from Bloomfield, April 15th, 1868. The first mountain forms its boundary on the west, and separates it from Caldwell township. Population in 1870, 2,853.
Woodside was formed from the township of Belleville, March 2 4th, 1869 and on the 5th of April, 1871, it was divided be- tween the city of Newark, and annexed to the Eighth ward, and the township of Belleville. Population in 1870, 1, 172.
Newark city was first settled in 1666, by emigrants from Con- necticut, two years after the first settlement of Elizabethtown. The streets are wide and well laid out. It was originally settled by thirty families from Guildford, a beautiful post borough and township in New Haven county, on Long Island sound ; Bran- ford, a post town and seaport of New Haven county ; Milford, another post village in the township and seaport of New Haven, on the Wopewang river, as well as from New Haven itself.
Governor Carteret upon his arrival here in August, 1 665, sent agents out to New England to publish the concessions, and to invite settlers to the new colony. These towns sent out Captain Robert Treat, John Curtis, Jasper Crane, and John Treat, to view the country, and ascertain more particularly the terms of purchase, and the disposition of the Indians in the vicinity. These agents upon their return, made a favorable report, and were at once deputised to bargain for a township, and select a proper site for a town, as well as to make immediate arrange- ments for a settlement.
The agents saw at once the advantages to be derived from a settlement where the present city of Newark stands for a town, and accordingly selected that spot.
After everything had been satisfactorily arranged, they set out under the guidance of their agents above named, and after a long and tedious passage, equal to crossing the Atlantic at the
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present day, they arrived early in the month of May in the Passaic river. Here their further progress was impeded by the Hackensack Indians, who claimed the soil which the Governor had granted, and opposed their landing, unless they were first compensated for the land.
An Indian by the name of Perro laid claim to the land where Newark now stands, and the emigrants were compelled to buy it of him before they were permitted to land.
The land purchased was set forth to be "a parcel of land lying and being on the west side of the Kill Van Coll, beginning at the mouth of a certain creek named Waweayack, (Bound- Brook) upon the side of Newark bay; then running up said creek to the head of a cove; and then in a westerly direction to the foot of the Watchung mountain, running along the foot of said mountain until it meets by an east line a small river coming from the hills into Passaic river, named Jantucuck (Third river) ; thence running down Passaic river and Arthur Kull bay, till it meets with the mouth of Waweayack, as above said."
This was the original township of Newark, and comprehended Bloomfield, Caldwell, Livingston, Orange, and Springfield, as well as Newark.
The price paid for this land was one hundred and thirty pounds, New England currency, twelve Indian blankets, and twelve Indian guns.
The settlers first located in separate neighborhoods, but being fearful of danger in being thus scattered about in different local- ities, they determined in 1666 to form one township, with specific rules for government, and "to be of one heart and hand in endeavoring to carry on their spiritual concernments as well as their civil and town affairs, according to God and godly gov- ernment." They appointed a committee of eleven to order and settle the concernments of the people of the place,
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