USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > The history of Newark, New Jersey : being a narrative of its rise and progress, from the settlement in May, 1666, by emigrants from Connecticut to the present time, including a sketch of the press of Newark, from 1791 to 1878 > Part 9
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
Nothing could be more affecting than the story of Burr's declining years, and his death among strangers within a few miles of the place of his birth. He died in New York, September 14th, 1836, and was buried with suitable honors at the feet of his distinguished father in Princeton graveyard. The womanly sympathies of one whom Burr had befriended caused a plain slab to be erected to his memory. It is simply inscribed :
AARON BURR Born February 6th 1756 Died September 14th 1836 A COLONEL IN THE ARMY OF THE REVOLUTION VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1801 TO 1805.
79
THE LOST BURR PORTRAITS.
Among the papers in possession of the New Jersey Historical Society is an interesting account of the only existing portraits of the Burr family-of the Rev. Aaron Burr, his loving and beloved Esther, their extraordinary son, and his remarkably gifted and beautiful daughter, Theodosia, whose melancholy fate forms one of the saddest and most affecting pages of American family history. The account about the portraits runs as follows: Although it was known that several portraits of the Burr family were in existence, it was not until the year 1847 that the search for them proved successful. Prior to that time, Judge Ogden Edwards, of New York, a descendant of Esther Burr's father, made long and careful inquiry on the subject, but all he could discover was, that on the eve of Colonel Burr's disappearance from New York, he entrusted several family portraits, along with other family relics, to the care of a nurse named Keaser, who had served the Colonel faithfully for many years as a body-scrvant. Judge Edwards had given up all hope of tracing Keaser or his descendants. One day, however, while walking through Pearl street, New York, the attention of the Judge was suddenly arrested by hearing some one call to a drayman : " Keaser ! here Keaser, come here with your cart and take these boxes!" On questioning the drayman, the Judge discovered in him the son of Colonel Burr's body-servant. He knew nothing about any relics, but directed the Judge to the house of an elder sister. At first she was very reticent, but finally admitted that her father had been entrusted with certain relics by Colonel Burr. She did not know what had become of them, but suggested that her sister, residing in " the Short Hills of New Jersey," might know something of them. In company with a friend, Counsellor Chetwood, of Elizabeth, Judge Edwards visited the place indicated, and sought out the other daughter of Keaser. She lived on the hills to the west of Spring- field, in the township of Milburn. Immediately on entering the house the Judge recognized two Burr portraits hanging on the wall. One was that of Colonel Burr, the other that of Theodosia, taken when she was in the perfect beauty and freshness of her early womanhood. After some conversation with the woman, she gladly parted with the portraits for a few dollars. They were in excellent preservation, and are believed to have been painted by Stuart. The woman was asked if she had any other portraits. She answered "no ;" but one of her children, a bright-eyed boy, said that there
80
PRECEDING AND INCLUDING THE YEAR 1759.
were two others in the garret " that baby used to play with." The mother said, "Oh, yes; that's so; I forgot about them. But," added she, "they aint worth anything to anybody." They were doing duty in the broken windows of the garret, keeping out the wind and rain! The boy was sent for them, and presently he returned with two pieces of crumpled canvas. On spreading these out they proved to be very fine portraits of Colonel Burr's father and mother. Being already possessed of a portrait of Colonel Burr, Judge Edwards presented the one found at the Short Hills to Counsellor Chetwood. Upon his removal to California, the Coun- sellor presented it to the New Jersey State Historical Society. It was among the features of the Art Gallery at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, in 1876.
With that license which is the prerogative of authorship, we leave these highly interesting personal and special matters, leap backwards a century, and return to the period preceding and including the year 1759.
Other writers inform us that throughout the ministry and stay of President Burr in Newark, the prosperity of the town was without precedent ; that industry of all kinds-trade, manufactures and agriculture-spread out in every direction ; and that the presence of the College here assisted in every way the progress of the town. It grew, we are told, in population, wealth, respectability and reputation. There appears to be considerable exaggeration in this description. That the town grew in population, wealth and respect- ability is beyond doubt, but that its growth was such as to warrant the foregoing picture seems improbable. From the very beginning Newark was a community of the highest respectability, and always bore the reputation of being a thrifty, sober-minded, law-abiding, God-fearing place. Its population as early as 1682, as we have seen in earlier pages, was only about 400. The whole population of the Province at that time was only 10,000, and it is recorded that the older towns, such as Newark, Elizabethtown and Middletown, were constantly drawing people from New England and Long Island. Hither they came because of increased freedom from taxation and mercantile restriction. Such was the exodus hitherward from New York, that its Governors frequently made complaint with a view to checking it. The first levy in the Province to defray " the public charges," was £50, apportioned as follows : Essex, (including all the
81
NEWARK "CYDER" IN 1683.
country north of the dividing line between Woodbridge and Eliza- bethtown and west of the Hackensack,) £14; Bergen, £11 ; Middlesex, £10; Monmouth, £15. In 1693, the tax levy for the entire Province was £79 12s. 9d., apportioned as follows :
COUNTY.
TOWN.
L. S. D.
Acquackanonck 1
6
15 0
Essex.
New Barbadoes
Newark.
6 15 0
Elizabethtown II 2 0
Total County 624
12 0
Bergen.
II
8 3
Middlesex
15
II 0
Monmouth
25
8 6
Somerset.
2 13 0
Total.
£79 12 9
These figures indicate that Monmouth was in the vanguard of wealth and population, and prove that in eleven years both it and Newark had nearly doubled their value and importance. Population, however, appears to have been a plant of slow growth. In 1759 the number of people resident in Newark could not have been much more, if any, than 800, showing an increase in seventy-seven years of only a few hundred persons.
As regards industry, trade and manufactures, it is to be regretted, that there are extant no data which would enable us to determine accurately their extent or character. At a very early period in its history Newark acquired fame far and near for the excellent quality and abundance of its cider. As early as May, 1683, we find Deputy- Governor Thomas Rudyard writing from New Jersey to a friend in London : "Our countrey here called Bergen is almost [all] Dutch men. At a place called Newark, 7 or 8 miles from here, is made great quantities of Cyder exceeding any we can have from New England or Rhod Island or Long Island. I hope to make 200 or 300 barrels out of our orchard next year." A year later, in 1684, John Reid, a gardener, wrote to a friend in Edinburgh : " Newark made about a thousand barrels of Syder last year (a barrel is 8 scots gallons.") Again, in the same year, David Barclay, Arthur Forbes and Gawen Lawrie, dating from Elizabethtown, for the Scots Pro- prietors of New Jersey, said : "There are many good orchards of fruit trees and they make abundance of good Cyder, especially at one town called Newark, which is esteemed at New York and other
82
EARLY ARTISANS, &C .- ALEXANDER MACWHORTER.
places that it is sold beyond any that comes from New England." Likewise, a few years subsequent to the settlement, there appears to have been some trade here in timber and "pipe staves." The Town Records of 1670 show that the town prohibited "the making use of or selling any timber for pipe staves or headings, except for the town," under the penalty of the transgressors losing all their labor. At the outset, nearly all trades and callings necessary to the convenience and comfort of the community were represented. There was a millwright-our ancient friend, Samuel Swaine, the father of pretty Elizabeth. He built the first corn-mill, or rather superintended its erection, for the whole town had a hand in putting it up. It stood on "Mill Brook," a short distance from what is now known as the "Stone Bridge." Samuel Whitehead was the first shoemaker in Newark. Hither he came from Elizabeth. Weaving was followed by Benjamin Baldwin. There was a turner in the person of John Ward, nephew of the venerable Deacon Lawrence Ward; a pair of tanners, Hans Albers and Hugh Roberts ; a "merchant" (also a preacher), Patrick Falconer; a builder, Humphrey Nichols, who, in 1738, was paid by the town ten shillings and six-pence " for making the gallows and setting it up," and who was also employed in erecting the first structure of Trinity Church and in repairing the County Court House out-buildings; "a stone church builder," David Ogden; and a combined school-master, lawyer and town attorney, John Catlin. In 1698 the first tannery was established "at the swamp or watering-place." It is recorded, also, that Newark won some fame for its excellent quality of freestone, a quarry of which was first worked in 1721. It long continued to be an article of export. But it was nearly half a century later than 1759 before the real foundation of Newark's industrial greatness was laid.
During the fifteen years preceding the outbreak of the Revolution, the most notable local event was the installation and settling here of Rev. Dr. Macwhorter, as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. This was in the summer of 1759.
ALEXANDER MACWHORTER was born in Newcastle County, Delaware, July 15th, 1734, and had just about reached his twenty- fifth birthday when he was unanimously called by the Newark con- gregation. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. In 1641, during the
-
Ala. Macohortes
83
PASTOR MACWHORTER INSTALLED.
civil wars of the first Charles, both his grandparents on the maternal side perished by violence ; they were hanged on a tree in front of their own door, it is stated. His grandmother on the paternal side was then an infant. A faithful nurse hid the little one, and so saved it from butchery-the only survivor of the family. His father was Hugh Macwhorter, a prosperous linen-draper of Armagh, in the North of Ireland. At the solicitation of his oldest son, he emigrated to this country about 1730, settling in Delaware upon a large farm. He had two sons named Alexander, the oldest and the youngest. The oldest, after being educated for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh, died soon after the arrival of the family in America. About the same time the youngest son was born and inherited his brother's name. He was the " nest egg" of eleven children born to his parents. Very early in life he evinced a disposition for the ministry. In 1756 he entered the College of New Jersey, which had not yet been removed from Newark to Princeton, and studied under the learned and kindly eye of President Burr. In the Autumn of the same year the College was removed to Princeton. There, a few days after President Burr's death, Mr. Macwhorter graduated. Owing to the unexpected death of his widowed mother, Mrs. Jane Macwhorter, the young student abandoned his design of settling in North Carolina. He completed his studies at Freehold, under the guidance of Rev. William Tennant, and in 1758 was licensed to preach. Soon afterwards he married Mary Cumming, daughter of Robert Cumming, a highly respectable merchant of Freehold. He was ordained to the ministry at Cranberry, July 4th, 1759, and was ordered to go to North Carolina and Virginia, there to labor for destitute congregations. He happened to preach once in Newark, and that settled his fate here. The Newark Presbyterians fixed upon him as their future pastor, and induced the Presbytery to cancel its order otherwise. The same summer he was duly installed here. The chief town authorities at the time of Dr. Macwhorter's installation were, John Ogden, Esq., Moderator; Elijah Crane, Town Clerk, " and also clerk for the strays ;" John Crane and Joseph Camp, freeholders; John Treat Crane, Benjamin Johnson, Ezekiel Johnson and Jedediah Crane, Surveyors of the Highways. These worthy Town Fathers had their own troubles. The question as to the rightful ownership of the church property in the town broke out anew. Four distinct congregations now existing within the
84
THE PARSONAGE PROPERTY DISPUTES.
town limits claimed shares. Two, the Mountain Society (now the First Presbyterian Church of Orange), and the Church of England (now Trinity Episcopal Church), demanded equal shares with the parent religious society. This claim was based upon the fact that the congregations of all four were descended from a common · ancestry, the founders of the town. The parent organization demurred to this, and insisted that they were the true and only legal owners, being the lawful representatives of the old Town of Newark, ecclesiastically considered. The grant from the l'roprietors expressly set apart so much land "for each parish." The old church being the only parish in the town at the time of the grant, insisted that it had an exclusive right to the church property. Being now incorporated, it sought to hold and control in its own name what it considered its right. The original patentees, members of the church, were all dead ; and David Young, the heir-at-law of the last survivor, lived away from Newark. Hence there was a demand for a permanent settlement of the parsonage property question. But it was many years before this settlement was reached.
On March 12th, 1760, a town meeting was held, Joseph Camp being Moderator and Samuel Hayes Town Clerk, when "it was voted, unanimously, that the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church be authorized to procure a deed of conveyance from David Young, heir-at-law of the last surviving patentee, for the said Parsonage lands, in trust, in order that they may be the better enabled to take care of the same for the said church." The very next day this deed was obtained according to due legal form. At the town meeting next year, however, this action was reconsidered and reversed. Resolutions were passed, directing that the lands should "be equally divided in quantity and quality" among the congregations named above, and appointing a committee of six to proceed with the work. Accordingly, a plan of division was drawn up by " the Hon David Ogden Esq" at the request of the com- mittee, but when submitted to the next meeting it was rejected by the majority. In this matter there seems to have been considerable attempted over-reaching by the respective opposing parties. It was charged on one side that the rates cited were not conducted with fairness. Those dissatisfied with the first rate alleged that it was obtained at a time when small-pox prevailed in the town, so that
85
THE BATTLE OF THE WOODCHOPPERS.
the meeting was slenderly attended. In turn it was alleged that the second vote was not fairly obtained, that a majority were actually in the negative, although recorded otherwise. Meanwhile the Trustees consulted such eminent counsellors-at-law as William Patterson, William Livingston, William Smith and others. These agreed that the title to the property was legally vested in the First Church Trustees. "I take it for granted," said William Patterson, " that the old settlers mentioned in the letters patent, and the Society incorporated and known by the name of the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, are the same persons under different descriptions. I am of opinion that the Trustees hold in fee for the use of the old settlers, or First Presbyterian Church, in exclusion of all others. This is the specific use carried out by the original proprietors and this use must be religiously observed. They have indeed designated the use and identified the persons who should take it, in a very clear manner, and their reasons for both are too obvious to stand in need of recital." Although this had the effect of measurably discomfitting the claimants to share and share, it did not entirely quiet the subject. The Church of England was the first to demand a portion of the parsonage lands and to actually take possession of and enclose a portion of the woodland. The "Mountain Society " people were not slow to help themselves in the same way. It is traditionally stated, in this connection, that on a certain occasion, about this period, there came very near being a pitched battle between the Newark inhabitants and those of Orange, touching this parsonage property. A report was spread in Orange, it seems, that the Newarkers were coming in force to cut wood from a piece of land claimed and appropriated by the Orange people. The latter sprung to axes and to teams, and ranged themselves in battle array to meet the coming army of wood-choppers from Newark. In due time the latter arrived. Then followed a war of words, and after that came a conflict of a more serious character, the result of which was that the Newarkers were driven ingloriously from the field. Whether the result was due to superior numbers or valor on the part of the sturdy moun- taineers, the tradition does not say. From forcible weapons the parties finally resorted to legal arguments, and here again the Orangemen triumphed, and were secured in their parsonage wood- land possessions. But it was not until after the Revolution that
7
86
ECHOING PATRICK HENRY'S GRAND SENTIMENT.
the whole subject of the disputed parsonage lands was definitely disposed of, and then the settlement was virtually in accordance with Ogden's plan, The mother church apportioned shares to her offspring.
Meanwhile " there was tumult in the air." The gathering clouds of civil strife had already overspread the Anglo-American horizon. The "times that tried men's souls" were at hand. There was about to begin-nay, there had already begun-a moral and physical struggle between the Mother Country and her Colonies, the issue of which was destined to shape and mould the future, not alone of a mighty continent, but of the great family of European nations. The momentous question of popular rights, as against the doctrine of "the divine right of kings," was about to have passed upon it a judgment enormously important to the cause of human liberty and freedom, for all time, and among all free people. A people, small numerically but great in resoluteness, and sublimely grand in heroic love of heaven-given liberty, had even now solemnly resolved to grapple with the powerful British Empire for their inalienable rights and privileges. Three millions of Americans were echoing at the moment the grand sentiment of the Virginian Demosthenes- "Give me Liberty or give me DEATH" While, out of the chaos of Revolution, there was preparing to spring, Minerva-like, the greatest of Republics, what did the people of Newark do in the mighty struggle, actually beginning with the odious Stamp Act and ending with the surrender at Yorktown ? Let us pass to another chapter and witness.
CHAPTER V. 1775 TO 1783.
Before and During the Revolution-Newarkers Loyal to England, but Jealous of their Liberties-What Governor Belcher and Col. Barre Said-Newark Espouses the Cause of Boston, and Leads New Jersey in Opposition to the Stamp Act-A Committee of Safety Appointed-Local Public Opinion-George Washington in Newark-His Headquarters -Pastor Macwhorter and Washington-Cornwallis in Newark-British Incursions- Martyrdom of Hedden, the Patriot-The Hedden Family-Thomas Jefferson on Corn- wallis's Cruelties-Wanton Murder of Hannah Ogden Caldwell-Battle of Springfield- General Washington's Tribute to the Valor of the Jersey Brigade -. Pastor Caldwel, " The Rebel High Priest "-His Character, Services and Tragic Fate-The Newark Revolutionary Roll of Honor-Daring Exploits-Littell and his " Jersey Blues "-Cudjo the Slave-Patriot-The Penningtons and Ogdens-Judge David Ogden, the Loyalist- His Memorial to the British-Rev. Mr. Brownc, of Trinity Church-Newark Memorials of Washington-" Old Nat " -- Captain Levi Holden -- Bearing of Newarkers throughout the War.
PRIOR to the outbreak of the Revolution, and to the opening of the memorable Stamp Act controversy, its virtual origin, the people of New Jersey were most loyally disposed towards the government of the Mother Country. During England's war with France touching possession of Canada, England's hands were by no colony more generously strengthened than by New Jersey. Upon the call of the illustrious Pitt to the colonial governments for aid, New Jersey's Assembly promptly responded by raising a thousand troops and maintaining them during the years 1758, 1759 and 1760. Her average annual expenditures during these and the following years, for the support of the troops, was about £40,000 -- a goodly sum in those days. "Such was the aid furnished an administration which respected colonial liberty." From our acquaintance with the good people of Newark, it is safe to assume that they cheerfully bore their full share of loyalty's burden, but the people of the colony were nowhere disposed to quietly submit to wrong, outrage or injustice. Their habits of thought and education tended in an entirely opposite direction. Years before, Governor Belcher, the friend of Burr and the patron of learning, described his charge as "a touchy people," "very rustical " and deficient in "learning ;" but, nevertheless, it was conceded that they knew their
88
STEERING BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.
rights, and knowing dared maintain them. "I have to steer between Scylla and Charybdis," wrote Belcher; " to please the King's min- isters at home, and a touchy people here ; to luff for one and bear away for another." Likewise, what was said of the colonies in general by Major Isaac Barré, the soldier-statesman and compatriot of Wolfe at Quebec, was substantially true of this " touchy people." Said Barré, in his seat in the British Parliament, at the close of an eloquent and impassioned speech in favor of the Americans, and in opposition to the Stamp Act : "The people, I believe, are as truly loyal as any subjects the King has; but a people jealous of their liberties and who will vindicate them if ever they should be violated."
It may readily be imagined from such a general outline of popular character as this, as well as from the closer knowledge we already possess of the manner of people inhabiting this community, that they were the reverse of indifferent to the important events which occurred at home and abroad, during the period immediately fore- running the Revolution. While, as has been made apparent, the people here were thoroughly British in their governmental ideas and aspirations, even to the liberal and voluntary expenditure of their means, and the shedding of their blood in England's service, it is unquestioned, nevertheless, that the temper and spirit of the settlers of 1666 were by no means extinct. The forefathers were almost if not quite as willing to be subjects of Holland as of Britain, provided they were protected in their originally guaranteed rights and liberties, civil and ecclesiastical. Doubtless their descendants felt with James Otis, one of the 'earliest and ablest of Massachusetts' patriots, that "it would be of little consequence to the people whether they were subjects of George or Louis, the King of Great Britain or the King of France, if both were arbitrary, as both would be, if both could levy taxes without Parliament."
As regards the public opinion of this community touching the passage and repeal of the odious Stamp Act, an exciting scene is said to have taken place at the November (1774) term of the Supreme Court, held in the Court House here in Newark, which indicates accurately how the popular pulse throbbed, and which, at the same time, furnishes an interesting moiety of local and State his- tory. In charging the Grand Jury of Essex County, Chief Justice Smyth referred to the questions then agitating the British Empire, and, as tradition informs us, said: "The imaginary tyranny three
89
A BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC GRAND JURY.
thousand miles away, is less to be feared and guarded against than real tyranny at our own doors." With a spirit and a patriotism worthy of American freemen, the jury thus addressed made reply-pre- sumably through their foreman, Uzal Ward-in the following brave and manly words: " No bias of self-interest, no fawning servility to those in power, no hopes of future preferment would induce any man to lend his helping hand to the unnatural and diabolical work of riveting chains forging for them at a distance of three thousand miles!" With such a Grand Jury Roland as this for the ermined Oliver, it is risking little to say that Newark mingled her sentiments, . her sorrows and her joys in common sympathy with those of her New England sister, Boston. This, certainly, was the case in 1774, when the foolishly advised George crowned his tyrannous conduct towards America, by the enactment of that bill of iniquity and abominations known as the Boston Port-bill. In common with the towns and villages of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Vir- ginia, South Carolina, and, indeed, of all the colonies, Newark felt that the blow dealt Boston was aimed at all America; that the insid- ious stab at the freemen of one section was a venomous thrust at the rights and liberties of all. On June 1, 1774, the Port-bill went into effect. Massachusetts having proposed the meeting of a General Congress in Philadelphia, in September, Governor Franklin was vainly requested to convene the New Jersey Legislature for the purpose of appointing delegates thereto. His refusal incensed the people, and here in Newark, soon after, a meeting of the people of Essex County was held, which directed the issuance to the several counties of a circular letter, requesting delegates to be chosen to meet a general committee at New Brunswick, on the twenty-first of July ensuing. The meeting likewise passed resolutions in strong disap- probation of the aggressive acts and spirit of the home government. When, a year later, an appeal to arms was forced, and the memorable affairs of Lexington and Concord precipitated the Revolution, a Committee of Safety was appointed in Newark, the members of which were Dr. William Burnet, Justice Joseph Hedden, and Major Samuel Hayes. The committee held daily sessions and was presided over by Dr. Burnet. The doctor was a grandson of the distinguished English prelate, Bishop Burnet, and, like the grandsire, was a man of great decision and force of character. To serve his country, he promptly relinquished a lucrative medical practice, and abandoned
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.