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 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
At the place where they landed the Swedes had erected some habitations, but they were not sufficient to accommodate all, and some of them were obliged to lay their beds and furniture in cow stalls, and the like places. Snakes were so numerous that they were frequently seen upon the hovels, under which they took shelter.
The commissioners having left before them, landed at Chygoes island,* (afterwards Burlington) their business being to treat with the Indians about the purchase of the lands, and arrange for the settlements. They had Governor Andross' commission as well as that of the proprietors, for the vessel upon which they were had dropped anchor at Sandy Hook, and remained there while the commissioners went to New York to acquaint the governor of their design.
The governor treated them civilly, but learning they had nothing from the Duke of York, refused to surrender the gov- ernment to them, and clapping his hand on his sword, told them he should defend the government from them till he received orders from the duke, his master, to surrender it. He, however, afterwards told them he would do what was in his power to make them easy till they could send home to get redress. He also granted a commission to the same persons mentioned in the paper produced by them from the proprietors. f
They accepted his commission, and acted as magistrates under him until they received further orders from England, but in matters relating to land, they proceeded according to the method prescribed by the proprietors.
When they arrived at their government they applied to the Swedes for interpreters between them and the Indians. The persons recommended to them were Israel Helmes, Peter Rambo, and Lacy Cock.
By the help of these interpreters, they made a purchase from
* From Chygoe, an Indian Sachem, who lived there.
t John Fenwick, having neglected this precaution as to the government of his tenth, was sent for as a prisoner to New York.
94
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
Timber creek to Rankokus creek, another from Oldman's creek to Timber creek. After this they procured the services of Henric Jacobson Falconbre as interpreter, and by his assistance they purchased from Rankokus creek to Assanpink creek. But after having agreed upon this last purchase, they found they had not sufficient Indian goods to pay the amount agreed upon, yet they gave them what they had to get the deed signed, but were compelled to agree with the Indians not to settle until the bal- ance was paid.
The deed for the lands between Rankokus and Timber creeks bears date September 10th, 1677; that from Oldman's to Tim- ber creek, September 27th, and that from Rankokus to Assan- pink creek, October 10th.
By the consideraton paid for the lands between Oldman's and Timber creek, a judgment may be formed of the rest. "It consisted of thirty matchcoats, twenty guns, thirty kettles and one great one, thirty pairs of hose, twenty fathoms of duffelds, thirty petticoats, thirty narrow hoes, thirty bars of lead, fifteen small barrels of powder, seventy knives, thirty Indian axes, seventy combs, sixty pairs of tobacco tongs, sixty scissors, sixty tinshaw looking glasses, one hundred and twenty awl-blades, one hundred and twenty fish-hooks, two grasps of red paint, one hundred and twenty needles, sixty tobacco boxes, one hun- dred and twenty pipes, two hundred bells, one hundred jews- harps, six anchors of rum."
In 1703 another purchase was made by the council of pro- prietors of West Jersey, of lands lying above the falls of Dela- ware ; also another about the same time of lands at the head of Rankokus creek, and several purchases afterwards included the whole of the lands worth taking up in West Jersey, except a few plantations reserved to the Indians.
Among the friends that arrived from Yorkshire in 1677, were Thomas Hutchinson, of Beverly, in the county of York, yeo- man ; Thomas Pierson, of Bonwicke, in the same county, yeo- man ; Joseph Helmsley, of Great Kelke, in the same county, yeoman ; George Hutchinson, of Sheffield, in the same county, distiller ; and Mahlon Stacy, of Hansworth, in the same county, tanner. These were all principal creditors to Edward Byllinge,
95
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
and to whom several of the other creditors made assignments of their debts, which together amounted to the sum of two thou- sand four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and who took in satisfaction of the said sum, seven full, equal, and undivided nine- tieth parts of ninety equal and undivided hundred parts of West Jersey, and the same was conveyed to them, their heirs and assigns, by William Penn, Gawen Lawrie, Nicholas Lucas, and Edward Byllinge, by deed bearing date the Ist of the month called March, 1676; and by another conveyance of the same date, from and to the same persons, in satisfaction for other debts to the amount of one thousand and fifty pounds sterling, . three other full, equal, and undivided ninetieth parts of the aforesaid ninety equal and undivided hundred parts of West Jersey, were also conveyed.
In the records of the council of proprietors, the following entries relating to the purchases from the Indians are made :
"At a meeting of the council of proprietors at Burlington, the 2d day of November, Anno 1703, present, George Deacon, president ; Samuel Jennings, Thomas Gardner, Christopher Wetherill, John Reading. Ordered, that John Wills, William Biddle, Jr., and John Reading, or any two of them, do go up to the Indians above the Falls, and particularly to Caponocus, in order to have the tract of land lately purchased of the Indians marked forth, and get them to sign a deed for the same ; as also to receive the residue of the goods as yet unpaid, or so many of them that can be had, and to give him an obligation for the payment of the remaining part next spring. Ordered, likewise, that the persons abovesaid do go to Nimhammoe's wigwam, in order to treat with him, to see the bounds of the land lately purchased of him, to mark the same if it may be, and to pay him what part of the goods is already procured in part toward the said purchase, and to do what else may be necessary towards perfecting purchases of the concerns with the said Indians, and completing of the aforesaid ; the said persons also taking with them Thomas Foulke and Andrew Heath, or some other proper person, to be an interpreter between them and the Indians."
At a meeting of the council of proprietors held at Burlington, June 27th, 1703, there were present Mahlon Stacy, Thomas
.
96
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
Gardner, John Wills, George Deacon, Christopher Wetherill, Samuel Jennings, and John Reading. At this meeting the persons appointed to treat with the Indians at the Falls re- ported, "that they met with the Indians, and made a full agreement with them, with Nimhammoe, for one tract of land adjoining the division line, lying on both sides of the Raritan river ; also, with Coponnockous for another tract of land, lying between the purchase made by Adlorde Bonde and the bounds of the land belonging to Nimhammoe, fronting upon Delaware river."
At a meeting of the council of proprietors held at Burlington on the 28th, application was made by many of the proprietors of land that they might be allowed a third dividend or taking up of land in proportion to their particular and respective rights in the province, notice was thereupon ordered to be given that a purchase had been made of lands situate above the Falls of Delaware, and requesting all proprietors who were concerned in the same, or expected to receive benefit thereby, to meet with the council at Burlington, on the 19th day of July next, in order to receive more particular information upon said subject, and. concerning said purchase, and upon what terms and conditions it was made, and to deposit their respective proportions of said purchase, and all charges accruing thereby,
In accordance with the above order, the council of pro- prietors met again on the 19th of July. Present, Samuel Jen- nings, Thomas Gardner, George Deacon, Christopher Wetheril', John Hugg, Isaac Sharp, and John Reading, the president being absent.
It was ordered that the proprietors be informed-
First. That the council had made two Indian purchases, amounting to, according to their best computation, the number of one hundred and fifty thousand acres, at the least, the cost whereof to the Indians, with other incidental charges, will amount to about the sum of seven hundred pounds.
Second. That it is the design of the said council to give pub- lic notice to the proprietors in England and elsewhere, what purchase is already made, of the opportunity of purchasing more lands that may be sufficient to allow the number of five thous-
97
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
and acres for each dividend to a propriety, and of the cost there- of, which, by as near an estimation as they could make, will be about twenty-four pounds propriety for each dividend, and that if the said proprietors will appoint their agents, and defray their proportionable part of the charges on or before the 20th day of July, 1704, that then they shall receive their respective rights, after the same method that the rest of the proprietors do, at any time after the 18th of October, 1704.
Third. But if the said absent proprietors shall neglect or re- fuse to pay their parts of the said charge, then that the said Indian purchase already made, shall be taken up by such proprie- tory residents in these parts that shall deposit their respective parts of the said purchase, which at five thousand for the divi- dend to a propriety, will amount to about thirty proprieties, which we judge will nearly answer all the proprietors who are or have agents in these parts.
Fourth. It is expected that all such proprietors, who design to be interested for the Indian purchase, do in some short time, advance their particular parts of the said costs, in order to pay the Indians off, according to agreement made with them. Jeremiah Basse, attorney to the West Jersey Society, made a purchase on their behalf, in 1693, of the lands between Cohan- sick creek and Maurice's river. Many other Indian purchases were before and afterwards made, from time to time, as the lands were wanted, in both East and West Jersey.
G
CHAPTER V.
1680-1703.
Settlement of the first, or Yorkshire tentn-Settlement of the second, or London tenth-The first carpenter that came to this country- John Kinsey-His account of the country-Thomas Hooten's ac- count-Mahlon Stacy's account-West New Jersey-First As- sembly.
Having traveled through the country and viewed the land, the Yorkshire commissioners, Joseph Helmsley, William Emley, and Robert Stacy, on behalf of the first purchasers, chose from the Falls of Delaware down, which was hence called the first tenth. The London commissioners, John Penforde, Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, and Benjamin Scott, on behalf of the ten London proprietors, chose at Arwaumus, (in and about where the city of Gloucester now is;) this was called the second tenth.
In order to begin a settlement there, Olive sent up servants to cut hay for the cattle he had bought, but when the London com- missioners found the others were likely to settle at such a dis- tance, they told them if they would agree to settle near them, they would join in settling a town,* and that they should have the largest share, in consideration that they, (the Yorkshire com- missioners, ) had the best land in the woods. Being few, and the Indians numerous, they agreed to it.
The commissioners employed Richard Noble, a surveyor, who came in the first ship, to divide the spot.
After he had ascertained the main street, he divided the land
* In pursuance of the charter brought with them from England.
99
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
on each side into lots, those on the east among the Yorkshire proprietors, the other among the London proprietors.
In order to begin a settlement, ten lots of nine acres each, bounding on the west, were laid out ; that done, some passen- gers from Wickaco, chiefly concerned in the Yorkshire tenth, arrived in the latter end of October.
The London commissioners also employed Noble to divide the part of the island yet unsurveyed, between the ten London proprietors, in the manner before mentioned.
The town thus laid out by mutual consent between the York- shire and London commissioners, was first called New Beverly, afterwards Bridlington, but was soon after changed to Burling- ton, its present name.
Some who came in the ship last mentioned and settled in the neighborhood of Burlington, were Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, William Peachy, William Clayton, John Crips, Thomas Harding, Thomas Nositer, Thomas Fairnsworth, Morgan Drewet, William Pennton, Henry Jenings, William Hibes, Samuel Lovett, John Woolston, William Woodmancy, Christopher Saunders, and Robert Powell.
John Wilkinson and William Perkins, were likewise with their families passengers, but died on the voyage. Perkins was early in life convinced of the principles of the Quakers. He was from Leicestershire, and was in the fifty-second year of his age when he started with his wife and four children and some ser- vants for this country.
There also came over a man by the name of Marshall, a car- penter by trade, whom they found particularly serviceable in fitting up the habitations of the new comers, but it was late in the fall when they arrived, and the winter was much spent be- fore they had commenced their habitations ; during which time they lived in wigwams, built after the manner of the Indians. They were supplied with Indian corn and venison by the natives. These people were not much then corrupted with strong drinks, and in their general conduct they proved themselves very friendly, and rendered every assistance in their power to the English.
They were told that the English sold them the small-pox in
100
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
their matchcoats .* This distemper was among them, and a company getting together to consult about it, one of their chiefs said : "In my grandfather's time the small-pox came. In my father's time the small-pox came; and now in my time is the small-pox come." Then stretching his hands towards the skies, said : "It came from thence." To this the rest assented.
Having traced this ship's company into winter quarters, the next in course was the Willing Mind, John Newcomb, comman-
* Thomas Budd, who owned a share of a propriety in West Jersey, and was ancestor to a large family there, arrived at Burlington in 1768, in a pamphlet describing the country about nine or ten years afterwards, says :
"" The Indians told us in a conference at Burlington shortly after we came into the country, that they were advised to make war on us, and cut us off while we were but few, for that we sold them the small-pox with the match- coats they had bought of us, which caused our people to be in fears and jealousies concerning them. Therefore, we sent for the Indian Kings to speak with them, who, with many more Indians came to Burlington where we had a conference with them about the matter. We told them we came amongst them by their own consent, and had bought the land of them, for which we had honestly paid them, and for what commodities we had bought at any time of them, we had paid them for, and had been just to them, and had been from the time of our first coming, very kind and respectful to them ; therefore, we knew no reason that they had to make war on us, to which one of them, in behalf of the rest, made this speech in answer : 'Our young men may speak such words as we do not like nor approve of, and we cannot help that ; and some of your young men may speak such words as you do not like, and you cannot help that. We are your brothers, and intend to live like brothers with you. We have no mind to have war, for when we have war, we are only skin and bones ; the meat that we eat doth not do us good; we always are in fear; we have not the benefit of the sun to shine on us; we hide us in holes and corners ; we are minded to live in peace. If we intend at any time to make war upon you, we will let you know of it, and the reasons why we make war with you; and if you make us satisfaction for the injury done us, for which the war was intended, then we will not make war on you ; and if you intend at any time to make war on us, we would have you let us know of it, and the reason; and then if we do not make satisfaction for the injury done unto you, then you may make war on us; otherwise you ought not to do it. You are our brothers, and we are willing to live like brothers with you. We are willing to have a broad path for you and us to walk in, and if an Indian is asleep in this path, the Englishman shall pass by and do him no harm; and if an Englishman is asleep in this path, the Indian shall pass him by and say : " He is an Englishman; he is asleep; let him alone; he loves to
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
der. She arrived from London in November, and dropped anchor at Elsingburg. She brought about sixty or seventy pas- sengers. Some of these settled at Salem, others at Burlington. Among the former were James Nevill, Henry Salter, and George Deacon, with their families.
In this year, also, arrived the fly-boat Martha, of Burlington, (Yorkshire), sailed from Hull the latter end of summer, with one hundred and fourteen passengers, designed to settle the York- shire tenth.
sleep. It shall be a plain path. There must not be in this path a stump to hurt our feet. And as to the small-pox, it was once in my grandfather's time, and it could not be the English that could send it to us then, there being no English in the country. And it was once in my father's time, they could not send it us then neither ; and now it is in my time, I do not believe that they have sent it us now. I do believe it is the man above that hath sent it us.'
"Some are apt to ask, how we can propose safely to live amongst such a heathen people as the Indians, whose principles and practices leads them to war and bloodshed, and ours, on the contrary, to love enemies ? I answer, that we settled by the Indians' consent and good liking, and bought the land of them that we settle on, which they conveyed to us by deeds under their hands and seals, and also submitted to several articles of agreement with us, not to do us any injury. But if it should so happen that any of their people at any time should injure or do harm to any of us, then they to make us satisfaction for the injury done; therefore, if they break these covenants and agreements, then in consequence of them, they may be proceeded against as other offenders, viz. : to be kept in subjection to the magistrate's power, in whose hand the sword of justice is committed, to be used by him for the punishment of evil doers, and praise of them that do well.
" Therefore, I do believe it to be both lawful and expedient to bring offenders to justice by the power of the magistrate's sword, which is not to be used in vain, but may be used against such as raise rebellion and insurrections against the government of the country, be they Christians or Indians, (now that these have so far agreed to abide by the laws of civil government,) other- wise, it is in vain for us to pretend to magistracy or government, it being that which we own to be lawful, both in principle and practice. The Indians have been very serviceable to us by selling us venison, Indian corn, pease and beans, fish and fowl, buck-skins, beaver, otter, and other skins and furs. The men hunt, fish, and fowl, and the women plant the corn and carry burthens. There are many of them of a good understanding, considering their education, and in their public meetings of business they have excellent order, one speak- ing after another; and while one is speaking all the rest keep silent and do not so much as whisper one to the other.
THE
102
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
Some masters of families who came in this ship were, Thomas Wright, William Goforth, John Lynam, Edward Leason, William Black, Richard Dungworth, George Miles, William Wood, Thomas Schooley, Richard Harrison, Thomas Hooten, Samuel Saylor, Marmaduke Horsman, William Oxley, William Ley, and Nathaniel Luke, the families of Robert Stacy and Samuel Odas ; Thomas Ellis and John Batts,* servants, sent by George Hutch- inson, also came in this ship.
" We had several meetings with them. One was in order to put down the sale of rum, brandy, and other strong liquors to them, they being a people that have not government of themselves so as to drink in moderation.
ยท " At this time there were eight kings, (one of them was Okanickon, a noted friend to the English,) and many other Indians. The kings sat on a form, and we on another over against them. They had prepared four belts of wampum, (so their current money is called, being black and white beads, made of a fish- shell,) to give us as seals of the covenant they made with us. One of the kings, by the consent and appointment of the rest, stodd up and made the following speech :
" The strong liquor was first sold to us by the Dutch, and they were blind, they had no eyes ; they did not see that it was for our hurt. The next people that came among us were the Swedes, who continued the sale of those strong liquors among us ; they were also blind, they had no eyes, they did not see it to be hurtful to us to drink it, although we know it to be hurtful to us. But if people will sell it to us, we are so in love with it that we cannot forbear it. When we drink it, it makes us mad. We do not know what we do. We then abuse one another. We throw each other into the fire. Seven score of our people have been killed by reason of the drinking of it, since the time it was first sold us. Those people that sell it are blind-they have no eyes. But now there is a people come to live amongst us that have eyes. They see it to be for our hurt, and we know it to be for our hurt. They are willing to deny themselves the profit of it for our good.
. "These people have eyes. We are glad such a people have come amongst us. We must put it down by mutual consent. The cask must be sealed up. It must be made fast. It must not leak by day nor by night-in the light nor in the dark ; and we give you these four belts of wampum, which we would have you lay up safe, and keep by you, to be witnesses of this agreement that we make with you, and we would have you tell your children that these four belts of wampum are given you to be witnesses betwixt us and you of this agreement."
* Many that came over as servants succeeded better than some that bought estates. The first, inured to industry and the ways of the country, became wealthy; while the others, obliged to spend what they had in the difficulties
103
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
In one of these ships, about this time, arrived John Kinsey, then a young man. His father was one of the commissioners pre- viously mentioned, but dying on his arrival, the care of the family fell to the son. He was afterwards a man of distinction in several public stations, and his son after him, of the same name, held many public offices, and was at one time chief justice of Pennsylvania. There were three of the family bearing the name of John.
Those of the settlers who came here were so much pleased with the country, that they wrote glowing descriptions of it to their friends at home.
John Crips, in writing to Henry" Stacy, gave the following account :
"From BURLINGTON, in Delaware river, the 26th of the 8th month, 1677.
" DEAR FRIEND:
"Through the mercy of God, we are safely arrived at New Jersey. My wife and all mine are very well, and we have our healths rather better here than we had in England. Indeed the country is so good, that I do not see how it can reasonably be found fault with. As far as I perceive, all the things we heard of it in England are very true, and I wish that many people (that are in straits) in England, were here.
" Here is good land enough lies void, would serve many thou- sands of families, and we think if they cannot live here, they can hardly live in any place in the world. But we do not desire to persuade any to come, but such as are well satisfied in their own minds. A town lot is laid out for us in Burlington, which is a convenient place for trade. It is about one hundred and fifty miles up the river Delaware. The country and air seems to be very agreeable to our bodies, and we have very good stomachs to our victuals.
" Here is plenty of provision in the country. Plenty of fish and fowl, and good venison very plentiful, and much better than ours in England, for it eats not so dry, but is full of gravy, like
of first improvements, and others living too much on their original stock, for want of sufficient care to improve their estates, had, in many instances, dwin- dled to indigency and want.
.
104
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
fat young beef. You that come after us need not fear the trouble that we have had, for now here is land divided ready against you come. The Indians are very loving to us, except here and there one, when they have gotten strong liquors in their heads, which they now greatly love. But for the country in short, I like it very well, and I.do believe that this river of Delaware is as good a river as most in the world. It exceeds the river Thames by many degrees.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.