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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
The Passaic Valley
NEW JERSEY
IN THREE CENTURIES
Historical and Descriptive Records of the Valley and the
Vicinity of the Passaic j^ Past and Present a* Illustrated
By JOHN WHITEHEAD, LL.D.
The New Jersey Qpnealoglcal Company
136 Liberty Street ? New York 9 1901
a
i^ /^' '-'
./
THE WINTHROP PRESS
NEW TORK
DEDICATED TO THE
Memory of the courageous men and -women who,
for principle and conscience, abandoned home
and country, and founded an empire devoted to
human liberty in this Western World; and to
their descendants, who have preserved the virtues
and emulated the heroism of their ancestors.
JOHN WHITEHEAD.
Morristown, N. J.,
October, 1901.
" 1 see the white sails on the main ; I see, on all the strands,
Old Europe's exiled households crowd, and toil's unnumbered hands —
From Hessenland and Frankenland, from Danube, Drave, and Rhine,
From Netherland, my sea-born land, and the Norseman's hills of pine.
From Thames, and Shannon, and their isles — and never, sure, before,
Invading hosts such greeting fouud upon a stranger shore.
The Generous Genius of the AVest his welcome proffers free ;
'T is a good land to fall in with, men, and a pleasant land to see !
" They learn to speak one language; and they raise one flag adored
Over one people evermore, and guard it with the sword;
In gay hours gazing on its four and fourty stars above.
And hail it with a thousand songs of glory and of love.
Old airs of many a fatherland still mingle with the cheer.
To make the love more glowing still, the glory still more dear —
Drink up-seas out ! join hands about ! bear chorus all," chants he;
" 'T is a good land to fall in with, men, and a pleasant laud to see ! "
— Ancient Chronicles.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
The Passaic Eiver — Geological Formations. . . 1-14
General Description — The Seven Counties — Tributary Streams —
Dead River, the Whippany, the Rockaway, the Pequanuock, the Pomp-
ton, aud Others — Little Falls — Its Scenery — Nature's Changes — The
Great Falls — Gorge Formations — From Passaic to Newark — The
Hackensack River — The Salt Meadows.
CHAPTER II.
Paterson — Its Inception and Growth. . . . 15-28
Alexander Hamilton and his Great Project — The Society for Estab
lishing Useful Manufactures — Legislation — Governor William Paterson
— Incorporation of the City — Courts and Civil Government — Major
L'Enfant — A Ship Canal — Erection of Factories — Character of the
Inhabitants — Modern Paterson.
CHAPTER III.
Bernard Township and Its Noted Men. . . . 29-51
General Features — Madisonville-^The "Coffee House" — Bernards-
ville — Railroad Facilities — Vealtown — Basking Ridge — Churches —
Revolutionary Incidents — Charles Lee and Washington — Capture of
Lee — " White's Tavern " — William Alexander, Lord Stirling — His
Parents and Sisters — Wedding of William Duer and Lady Kitty —
Andrew Kirkpatrick — Samuel L. Southard — The Missouri Compromise
Resolutions — Williain Lewis Daytou — Judicial Changes — Organization
of the Republican Party — The Fremont and Dayton Campaign- — Lin
coln and Dayton — Dayton's Work and Death in Paris.
VI contents
CHAPTER IV.
Somerset County — Continued. ..... 53-69
The First Settlers of Bernard Township— James Pitney— The Alex
ander Family — (Joveruor Francis Bernard — Millington — Long Hill —
Some Geological Theories — Frederick Nishwish — Organization of
Somerset Coimty — Courts — Division of the State into Four Counties —
Middlesex County— Noted Families of Somerset— The Campbells,
Governor William Pinhorne, and the Duchess of Gordon — The Fre-
linghuysens — The Smith Family — Peter Sonmans — The Stocktons —
Garven Lawrie — The " Fundamental Constitution " — The Van _ Nest
Family — Revolutionary Memories — The Encampment at Somerville —
The Wallace House.
CHAPTER V.
Mendham and Other Towns. ..... 71-82
Physical Characteristics — Early Settlement — The Pitney Family —
Other Pioneers — Stirling and Gillette — The Lindsley Family — Long
Hill — Rev. James Caldwell, the " Fighting Parson " — Battle of
Springfield — The Ludlows — Myersville — Passaic Township in the
Revolution — The Wick House and Tempe Wick.
CHAPTER VI.
The Great Swamp — Passaic Lake. .... 83-89
Geological Formation — Professor George H. Cook's Theory —
General Features — State Geologists' Reports — Ice Movements.
CHAPTER VII.
Passaic and Chatham Townships. .... 91-106
General Features — William Pitt, Earl of Chatham — The Great
Swamp — Railroads — Stanley — George Shepard Page — Churches and
Schools — Chatham — The Lum and Other Families — Aftou — John
Hancock— Florham Park — Leslie D. Ward, M.D. — The Convent of
Saint Elizabeth — Union Hill, Green Village, and Other Places.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Borough of Madison 107-115
Hanover — Origin of " Bottle Hill '" — General Characteristics of
Madison — Churches — D. Willis .James — The Library — Jeremiah Baker
— Daniel Drew and Drew Seminary — Vincent Boisaubin — An Historic
Funeral.
contents vii
CHAPTER IX.
Morris Toavnship and Morristown. . . . 117-132
Early Settlers and Land Conveyances — William Penn — Rev. Timo
thy Johnes — Puritan Immigration — Discovery of Iron Ore — Churches
—New and AVest Hfinover — An Ecclesiastical Quarrel — Presbyterian-
ism — Church Records — The Condict and Mills Families Colonel
Jacob Ford — The Ford Mansion, Washington's Headquarters — The
Piersons, Johnsons, Whiteheads, and Others — Major Jacob Arnold —
The New Element in Morristown.
CHAPTER X.
Morristown — Continued. 133-143
Churches — The First and Seeond Presbyterian Societies — The Bap
tist Denomination — The Methodists — Protestant Episcopal Churches —
The Roman Catholics — Colored Congregations.
CHAPTER XI.
The Morristown Library — Revolutionary His
tory. 145-155
Chartered by the Legislature — William L. King — Morristown in
the Revolution — The First Winter — The Arnold Tavern — Colonel
Jacob Ford, Jr., and his Powder Mill — All Souls Hospital — The
Second Encampment — Continental Currency — Patriotic Citizens — The
Ford Mansion — Patriotism of the Women — The First Telegraph Line
— Speedwell and its Iron Manufactures.
CHAPTER XII.
Hanover Township. 157-174
Local Characteristics — Villages and Hamlets — Whippany — The
Whipanong Hall and Library Association — H. C. Reynolds — An Elec
tric Railway Project — Iron Manufacture — Morris Plains — The State
Asylum for the Insane — Mount Tabor and Methodism — Church Or
ganizations — -Rev. Jacob Green — Parsippany — The Kitchells — Rhoda
Farrand — Andrew B. Cobb — General J. Condit Smith — Beaverwyck
and the Boudinot Family — Old Boonton in the Revolution — A Cannon
Foundry — Hanover and Hanover Neck — David Young, the Almanac
Maker,
vill contents
CHAPTER XIII.
Montville and Vicinity. ..... 175-185
The Hook Mountain Rsiiige — Meadow or Swamp Lands — Mont
ville and the Uyle Kill — Churches — Holland Immigrations — The
Morris Canal — Distilleries and Other Manufactures — Stone Quarrying
— Taylortowii and Whitehall — Beavertown, now Lincoln Park — Pine
Brook — Dutch Families.
CHAPTER XIV.
Boonton Township and Borough. .... 187-197
The Iron Industry — Mine Ridge — William and John Scott — The
New Jersey Iron Company — Decline of Iron Manufacturing — Dudley
B. Fuller — An Era of Prosperity — In Revolutionary Times — Sheep
Hill — William Girard Lathrop and the Iron Interests — Modern Boon-
ton — Churches and Other Institutions — A Romantic Spot — John Jacob
Faeseh.
CHAPTER XV.
The Township of Pequannock 199-209
Descriptive Notes — Butler — Pompton Plains — Lincoln Park — Jack
sonville and Stony Brook — Railroads — Riverdale — Holland Settlers
and the ludians — English Land Claims — Grant of the Duke of York
— Berkeley and Carteret — Governor Richard Nicolls — Indian Laud
Titles — Arent Schuyler and Anthony Brockholst — Dutch Character
istics.
CHAPTER XVI.
Morris County — Concluded. ..... 211-225
Organization of Hunterdon County and of the Countv of Morris —
Local and Civil Affairs — First Court and Township Officers — Pioneer
Settlements — The Hollanders — English Immigration — The Germans
— Settlemeu., the Result of an Accident — Morris County iu the Revo
lution — First Demonstrations — Stamp Act Troubles — Patriotism of tbe
People — The Army Welcomed with Open Arms — \Vomeu in the
Struggle — Lewis Morris.
CHAPTER XVII.
Passaic County 227-237
Irregularity of Formation — Mountains and Streams — Greenwood
Lake — The Bearfoot Mountains — Lake Maccipin — Railroads — Dutch
Settlers — Incorporation of the Coimty — Paterson — Townships and
Boroughs — Little Falls, Passaic, and Acqiiackanonk.
contents IX
CHAPTER XVIII.
West Milford, Pompton, and Wayne. . . . 239-248
The Wanaqua Valley — Iron Manufactures — German Immigration —
The Kanouse Family — Schools and Churches — Agricultural and Mill
ing Interests — Kaolin Deposits — The Ringwood Mines — Dutch Settlers
— The Ryerson Family — Pompton Lakes — Wayne and its Villages —
Arent Schuyler and Anthony Brockholst — Manufacturing — Anthony
Wayne.
CHAPTER XIX.
Little Falls and Manchester 249-257
The Eight Acquackanonk ¦ Purchasers — Dutch Families — Singac —
Iron, Carpet, and Other Manufactures — Stone Quarries — Organization
of Little Falls — Schools and Churches — Manchester — Boroughs and
Schools — Manufacturing — Early Burial Grounds.
CHAPTER XX.
Acquackanonk Toavnship 259-268
Description and Orthography — Indian Names — First Settlement in
the County — The Acquackanonk Purchasers — Grant to Christopher
Hoagland — The " Landing " — In the Revolutionary Period — The
Famous Van Winkle Deed.
CHAPTER XXI.
Passaic County — Concluded. .... 269-278
Dutch Settlers — The Reformed Dutch Denomination — Methodism —
Other Religious Societies — Schools — Impressions of the People —
Development of Water Power — The City of Passaic — Paterson — Its
Churches, Schools, Newspapers, and Inhabitants — Cosmopolitan Fea
tures — Clifton, Athenia, Haledon, and Other Villages.
CHAPTER XXII.
Bergen County 279-292
Early Settlers^ — Townships — Original Boundaries of the County —
Indian Traders — Jersey City — Bergen in the Revolution — Raids and
Invasions — Washington and Lafayette — War Taxes — Hohokus — Rod
man M. Price — Ramsey's — Colonel Provost, Madam Jnmel, and Aaron
Burr — Allendale, Mahwah, and Darlington.
X contents
CHAPTER XXIII.
Bergen County — Concluded. .... 293-312
Franklin Township — The Wortendyke Family — Oakland, Crystal
Lake, Midland Park, and Wyckoff — William Franklin — Ridgewood —
Churches — Godwinville — Saddle River — The Doremus Family — Mid
land and its Revolutionary Interests — The Demarest Family — River
Edge — Lodi — Carlstadt — Woodridge — Union Township — The Penning-
tous and Sandfords — Rutherford — Kingsland and Lyndhurst — The
Schuyler Copper Mines.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Essex County and Elizabethtown. . . . 313-329
Organization of Courts and Counties — Old and Modern Essex —
Elizabethtown — Inducements to Settlers — Berkeley and Carteret —
Local Characteristics — Distinguished Citizens — Boudinot, Livingston,
and Others — Revolutionary Incidents — Elizabethport.
CHAPTER XXV.
The Puritan Settlers 331-346
Formation of Essex County — The Connecticut Immigrants — Their
Principles aud Characteristics — A God-fearing People — Berkeley and
Carteret's " Grants and Concessions " — Robert Treat — Arrival of the
Colony at Newark — The Fundamental Agreement and its Signers —
Troubles with the Indians — Robert Treat's Story — The Two Indian
Deeds — The Founding of Newark.
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Founding of Newark 347-357
Laying out the Town — Bounds Described by the Queen Anne Charter
— The First Settlers — Their Characteristics — Government of the
Colony — The Plotting of " Home " Lots— The Plume and Other Fam
ilies — Religious Matters — StreetSj^Parks, and Water Courses — Schools.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Newark — In the Revolution and the Rebellion. 359-372
Churches and Schools — Growth of the City — Manufaotiu'ing — Trade
with the Sonth — Revolutionary History — Prompt Response of the Citi
zens — Raids and Outrages — The Minutemen — Names on the Rolls —
The Civil War — -Patriotic Responses — Regimental Organizations —
General Philij) Kearney.
contents XI
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Ira'ington, Montclair, and the Oranges. . . 373-388
Camptown, now Irvington — Early Settlers — Tory Corner — Belle
ville, Bloomfield, Orange, and Springfield — Montclair — West Orange — ¦.
Llewellyn S. Haskell and Llewellyn Park — Thomas A. Edison — Saint
Cloud and George B. McClellan — South Orange — The Old Stone House
— East Orange.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Clinton, Franklin, Belleville, Verona, Caldwell. 389-406
The Township of Clinton — Camptown and its " Navy Yard " — State
Fair Grounds — Irvington — Franklin and Belleville — Ancient Dwell
ings — Nutley — A'eroua — Its Lake and Park — Caldwell.
CHAPTER XXX.
Essex County — Concluded 407-417
Livingston Township — The Teed Family — Milburn — Wyoming and
Short Hills — Stewart Hartshorne — Orange and the Mountain Society
— Development of the Town — Interesting Reminiscences.
CHAPTER XXXI.
The County of Hudson. ..... 419-433
The Village of Bergen — Grants of Stuyvesant and Carteret — Bergen
County as Originally Formed — Creation of Townships, Cities, and
Towns — Railroads — Hoboken Hacking and Ahasinius — Michael Pauw
and the Pavonia Colony — Planck's and Van A^orst's Plantations — Gov
ernor Kieft — The Massacre of Pavonia — Early Settlers — The Queen
Anne Charter — Common Lands — Hudson County Families.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Hudson County — Concluded. . . . 435-444
Captain William Sandford's Purchase — Nathaniel Kingsland — New
Barbadoes Neck — Colonel Peter Schuyler — " New Town" — Roads —
Kearney Township — The State Soldiers' Home — Harrison and East
Newark — Revolutionary Incidents — Lee's Attack on Paulus Hook —
Bergen Neck Evacuated.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The County of Union. 445-454
Scenery and Natural Features — Elizabeth- -New Providence — Mur
ray Hall, Berkeley Heights, aud other Towns — Summit — Jonathan C.
Bonnel — The Beacon and " Old Sow " — Finis.
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS
A patriotic barber 354
A Song for the Union 368
After a, blizzard 240
Alexander, James 34
Alexander, Mrs. James 35
Alexander, William 33
American Peace Commissioners. . 146
Amsterdam, Holland 64
Amsterdam, Holland, Street in . . 397
Amsterdam City Hall, Holland,
before 1615 215
An old house 41 1
Arms and autograph of Robert
Hunter 431
Arnold Tavern, Morristown 151
Arrival of Lafayette in 1824 ... 364
At a comity fair 246
Autograph and arms of Robert
Hunter 431
Autograph of Lord Berkeley .... 65
Autograph of Philip Carteret . 65
Autograph of Richard Nicolls . . 323
Autograph of William Bradford . 336
Baldwin homestead 383
Bellin's, S., map 72
Belt of wampum 266
Bergen and Buyten Tuyu in 1660 . 422
Bergen County, maps of . . .280, 289
Berkeley, Lord, autograph of . . 65
Bible, ancient 272
Block's " Figurative Map "... 7
Boston massacre l.'H
Boudinot arms 326
Boudinot, Elias 326
Boudinot house, Elizabeth . 446
Bows and arrows 23
Bradford house at Plymouth . . . 335
Bradford, William, autograph of . 336
Breukelen in Holland 244
British officers, uniforms of 153
British troops, departure of 159
British troops, entry of 140
Campaign medals 48
Carteret arms 206
Cateret, Philip, autograph of. 65
Castle Point, Hoboken 432
Central Part of Rahway 453
Charles 1 420
Chaves, Alonzo, map of 2
Church 257
Church at Bergen, 1680 143
Church, the first, in Newark. . . . 355
City Hall, Amsterdam, Holland,
before 1615 215
City Hall at The Hague 294
Clinton arms 391
Clinton, De AVitt 390
Cockloft Hall and summer house 351
Colonial chatelaine 409
Colonial coin 349, 372, 388
Colonial currency, 202, 237, 254, 350, 361
Colonial gentleman 20
Colonial Jack 82
llSTDEX -TO ILLUSTRATIONS
Xlll
Colonial pistol 277
Colonial silver 99
Colonial tea set of gold 30
Colonial vase 306
Colt's Hill, Patersoii 235
Conflict with the Indians 6
Congress, medfil of 28
Continental currency 268
Continental soldier 76
Country Club house, Hutton
Park 387
Country home, a 408
Country tavern, a 410
Crane Tavern, the 328
" Crazy " quilt 230
Crown of George II 59
Dayton, William L 43
" Deep a Voll " homestead. Mid
land Park 296
Departure of the British troops . . 159
Doremus house at Bloomfield. . . . 376
Dragoon officer 148
Duke of York's seal 207
Dutch Church 200
Dutch country people 180
Dutch courtship 219
Dutch house 19
Dutch patroon 247
Dutch town, showing crow-stepped
gables 299
Dutch windmill 106
E Pluribus Unum 357
East Jersey,- seal of 58
Eastside Park, Paterson 26
Edison, Thomas A 380
Edison, Thomas A., residence of. 375
Elizabethtown in 1840 316
" Figurative Map," Block's 7
First church in Newark 355
First State House at Trenton . . 212
First telegraph line 154
First view of New Amsterdam, . . 178
Flag of Holland 27
Flag of the Thirteen Colonies . . . 329
Flag of the West India Company 265
Ford Mansion, Morristown 130
Fort Lafayette 371
Fort Lee in 1776 263
Fort Wadsworth and the Nar
rows 436
Fort Washington and vicinity in
1779 284
Frelinghuysen, Frederick T. . . . 63
Frelinghuysen, Theodore, facing. 61
Frelinghuysen, Theodore 62
Fremont, John C, medallion .... 45
Gate-house and dam at Ursino
Lake 318
George I, Great Seal of 55
George II 109
George II, crown of 59
George II, Great Seal of 56
George II, shilling of 114, 433
George III 112
" Glenmont," residence of Thomas
A.Edison 375
Great Falls at Paterson 8, 9, 18
Great Seal of George I . . 55
Great Seal of George II 56
Great Seal of James II 205
Greenwood Lake, views at 228
Grenadier officer 80
" Half Moon," the 209
" Half Moon " leaving Amster
dam 183
Hall of the Knights, Binnenhof,
Holland 393
Hamilton, Alexander, facing ... 16
Hamilton-Burr duelling ground . . 424
Hamilton Grange, New York. ... 16
Hamilton's tomb in Trinity
churchyard 17
Hanging a Tory 223
Hasbrouck Institute, Jersey City 441
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS
Haskell, Llewellyn S., bust of . . . 379
Hessian hut 292
Highlander, a 442
Hoboken in 1770 423
Home for Aged Women, Eliza
beth 446
Homestead of John Mills 128
Homestead, the Baldwin 383
Horseneek Bridge, views near . . 25
House in Amsterdam, Holland . . 267
Hudson County, map of 429
Hudson in the Highlands 204
Hudson River, scenes on. . 281, 297
Hunter, Robert, arms and auto
graph 431
Indian ceremonial stone 262
Indian chieftains, 74, 196, 213, 260, 309
Indian group in Lincoln Park,
Newark 315
Indian king ... 341
Indian mortar and pestle 96
Indian Primer, title page of 343
Indian speciraens 86
Indian totemic signatures 87
Indian totems 342
Indian vase 344
Indian vessel 102
Indians, conflict with 6
Irving, Washington 352
Irving, Washington, home of . 392
James 1 334
James II, Great Seal of 205
Jersey prison ship 118
Kearney, General Philip, facing . . 370
Kieft's mode of punishment 426
King's statue, tearing down .... 81
Kirkpatrick, Andrew 36
Lafayette, General 287
Lafayette, arrival of, iu 1824. . . 364
Lexington, news of 136
Liberty enlightening the world . . 274
Liberty Hall, Elizabethtown . 324, 451
Liberty placard , 221
Lincoln, Abraham 50
Little Falls, view at 4, 252
Livingston arras 35
Livingston sugar house. New York 303
Llewellyn Park, entrance to ... . 378
Log cabin 14
Lower Green at Newark 333
Madison, James 110
Manhattan Island iu the sixteenth
century 270
Map of Adriaen Van der Donck 11
Map of Alonzo Chaves 2
Map of Bergen and Buyten Tuyn 422
Map of Bergen Coimty 280, 289
Map of Hudson County 429
Map of New Amsterdam 169
Map of New Jersey m 168C 84
Map of New York City, the earliest 282
Map, Popple's 12
Map of S. Bellin 72
" Mayflower," the 51
McClellan, George B 381
Medal of the Revolution 225
Mill on the Saddle River 300
Mills, .John, homestead 128
Monuraent at Springfield 78
Morris arms 132
Morris, Lewis 224
Morristown in 1828 123
New Amsterdam, first view ul'. .. 178
New Amsterdam in 1656 189
New Amsterdam, map of 169
New Amsterdam, seal of . . 182
New Jersey, map of, in 1680 .... 84
" New Netherland," the 217
New Netherlands, seal of 66
New York City, earliest map of . 282
New York City iu the Revolution
ary period 438
New York in 1673 305
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS
XV
New York in 1732 192
New York, part of, in 1666 339
New York, seal of, in 1686 ... 345
Newark iu 1832 348
Newark, Lower Green 333
Newark, view of old 321
News of Lexington 136
Nicolls, Richard, autograph of . . 323
North Park, Elizabeth 450
Ogden, Aaron 39
Ogden, Col. Josiah, saving his hay
on Sunday 338
Old farm house 398
Old house 250
Old print 163
Old residence 194
Ou the march 173
Orange orphan house .415
Palisaded village 88
Passaic River -1, 8. U, 13, 25
Paterson, Colt's Hill 235
Paterson, Great Falls S, 9, 18
Paterson, William 22
Peace Commissioners, American . 146
Penn, William 120
Pennington, William 47
Pitt, William 92
Pompton, old Revolutionary house
at 242
Popple's plan of 1733 12
Presbyterian Church in Newark 360
Rahway, central part of 453
Republican campaign raedals .... 48
Revolution, medal of 225
Revolutionary house at Pompton . 242
Revolutionary monument at Sum
mit 452
Rhinelander sugar house, Nevv
York 302
Rosa Americana coin 454
Royal troops entering New York . 140
Runyon, Theodore 369
Saddle River, mill on 300
Saint James's Church, Elizabeth. 448
Schnoering, John, property of . . . 296
Schuyler arms 208
Schuyler, Peter 437
Seal of East Jersey 58
Seal of New Amsterdam 182
Seal of New Netherlands . 66
Seal of New York in 1686 345
Seal of the Duke of York 207
Second PresbytfHnn Church, Eliz
abeth 447
Shilling of George II 1 14, 433
Ship 406
Silver dollar of 1794 125
Snufl' boxes 186
Southard, Sarauel L 38
Springfield, monument at 78
Stage coach, an early 94
Stamp-act stamp 222
State House, first, at Trenton. ... 212
Statue of Washington in Wall
Street 152
Stirling, Lord 33
Stone house at South Orange . . . 384
Street in Amsterdam, Holland . . 397
Stuyvesant, Petrus, grave of 283
Stuyvesant's Bowery house . . . 430
Stuyvesant's pear tree 322
Suburban house 261
Summit, Revolutionary monument
at 452
" Sunnyside," Washington Irv
ing's home 392
Tankard, ancient 89
Tearing down the King's statue
in New York 81
Telegraph line, the flrst 154
Thirteen colonies, flag of 329
Uniforras of British officers .... 153
Valley of the Roeks at Paterson. 18
Van Cortlandt Arms 395
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS
Van Der Donck, Adriaen, map. . 11
Van Wagouer horaestead at Pas
saic 276
Verona Lake and Park . ... 401
View 417
View of old Newark 321
" Vyyer " at The Hague 232
Wallace House, near Somerville . 67
Wampum, belt of 266
Washington chair, a 311
Washington, General, reconnoiter
ing 440
Washington, George, facing 150
AVashington, George (Peale's 150
portrait) 68
Washington, Martha 149
Washington, President, writing
desk of 443
Washington, statue of, in Wall
Street 152
Washington taking the oath as
President 365
Washington's bookplate 444
Washington's chair 363
W ashington's headquarters, 67, 130, 151
AA'ashington's writing table 304
Wayne, Anthony, note to Wash
ington 248
West India Company, flag of ... . 265
Whitehead, John, LL.D. .Frontispiece
Windmill 106
Winthrop, John, of Connecticut. 332
Winthrop, John, of Massachusetts 337
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CHAPTER I
THE PASSAIC RIVER — GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
HE PASSAIC RIVER in all respects is a NeAV
Jersey stream. It has its rise in this State;
its whole course is Avithin its borders; and its
journey is ended by its waters being poured
into Newark Bay a short distance south of the City of
Newark. It is the longest and most important river in
New Jersey; it turns more mills, operates more factories,
and furnishes more Avater poAver for the uses of man than
any other stream of its size. Ninety miles only in length
from its source to its final deposit, it drains eight hundred
and more square miles of seven counties and forms the nat
ural boundarj^ lines between parts of those seven counties :
Morris, Somerset, Union, Essex, Passaic, Bergen, and Hud
son. Its value to the State, and especially to these seven
counties, is beyond calculation, nor can it be estimated.
It rises in jMorris County, near Mendham, in swampy
ground, though in a mountainous region, at an elevation of
nearly nine hundred feet, and begins its race to the ocean,
running in a general course east of south for about ten
miles, receiving scA^eral small brooks, and draining a large
swamp, thereby increasing the volume of Avater sufficiently
to operate scAcral mills. For this distance it courses over
a very picturesque country, in some places presenting bold
and rather romantic landscapes, but forming no immediate
2 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
appreciable valley. It is for a part of this ten miles the
natural boundary line between Morris and Somerset Coun
ties. When it reaches a point almost directly south of Mil
lington, and Avhere it receives Dead River, it turns abruptly,
northeasterly, Avitli a horseshoe-like curve, still dividing the
two counties. It then, however, and almost immediately,
changes its sAvift movement and becomes exceedingly slow
Jounl» limTIariSt^
A SECTION OF THB
MAP OF
ALONZO CHAVES.
Showing the
Enstern Coast of the
United States.
Beconstructed frum the deecriptioD of Oviedo
in hia " Historia General," &c. 1537.
By B. F. De Costa.
To which is added an extract from the
Mqp of Ribero. , .
—tr'
— >/•
-«'
—if"
and sluggish, in which characteristic it is excelled by no
other stream. This lazy movement is retained until it ap
proaches Little Falls in Passaic County. The descent for
nearly the whole distance is only about four feet to the
mile. After receiving the waters of Dead Eiver, a Somerset
stream, near Millington, Union Tounty is soon found be
tween Warrenville and New Providence, and then the river
THE TASSj^aC RIVER 3
runs between Union and .Morris a short distance beyond the
bridge of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Kail-
road, just Avest of Sumndt, to Chatham Township, in the
last named county. Thence it flows, still slowly, in a north-
Avard direction to the extreme northwest corner of Caldwell
Township in Essex, near Montville, in Morris, dividing the
last tAvo named counties. In this course from Somerset to
the end of Essex the river follows every direction of the com
pass. When it reaches Passaic County, which it does al
most immediately after leaving Caldwell, it makes another
turn, this time eastward, and then it changes and becomes
an impetuous, turbulent, SAvift-moving body of water.
Between Somerset and Passaic its Avaters are largely aug
mented by many considerable streams which have joined it.
It also receives several brooks and creeks, some from Somer
set, others from Morris, Union, and Essex. The Whippany,
an important mill stream, and the EockaAvay, still more
important, and both from Morris, unite in Hanover Town
ship, a short distance from where their combined waters
are added to the Passaic. The Pequanock, the Wanaque,
or Wynockie, as it is sometimes called, and the Kamapo,
uniting near Pompton in Passaic, form a large stream after
that called the Pompton, and make great additions near
the boundary line between Essex and Passaic, and only a
few miles from Little Falls.
When the river was in a state of nature the scene around
it at Little Falls Avas grand and really sublime. The
stream broadened and deepened, and, gathering its waves
into one immense mass, as if preparing for the task before
it, plunged down two almost perpendicular descents with
a loud roar, dashing its foam up to the clouds. The fall
here was fifty-one feet in a half mile; the river was three
hundred feet wide and ten feet deep. The first descent was
CHANGES OF NATURE 5
in a measure more gentle as compared \\'ith the other,
Avhich Avas sixteen feet deep and much more grand and im
pressive. The hand of man has been industriously at work here,
and has materially changed the characti r and moA^ement of
the river; it has marred, but not entirely destroyed, the
natural beauty of the scene. Bi-fore man made his appear
ance on the spot and interfered Avith Nature's work great
changes took place. It is supposed by geologists that an
immense lalvc existed at one time on what are now both
banks of the ri\-er, extending from and involving the Avest-
ern part of Somerset County, northward to Little Falls, and
eastward and Avestward, including :Morris County and parts
of the adjacent country. At some time in the history of the
Avorld a mighty convulsion in the ice covering the land took
place, and the lake broke open the barriers Avhich confined
it and changed the Avhoh^ character of the land and water.
The surface of the fiood receded, the ri\-er cut through the
mountain, formed a channel for its fiow, drained the Avaters
of the la,ke, and created Little Falls. But their position
Avas ultimately changed and receded, perhaps, a distance of
seven hundred feet from the wall front, Avhere the falls were
three hundred feet broad and probably fifty feet deep. The
falls have been blasted aAvay and entirely obliterated.
The stream has been cribbed, confined, and made to play
an important part as an appliance in ministei-ing to th<'
Avants and demands of modern civilization. Large facto
ries have been erected on the banks of the river, and have
been supplied with a never failing and ahvays sufficient mo
tive power and an impetus given to manufactures. The
masterful mind of man has harnessed the Avaters, made
them subservient to his Avill, and utilized them for his X)ur-
poses. This motive power has moved many vast plants of
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
machinery, driven enormous wheels, and the builders of
these factories have been enabled to make them hives of
industry, employing hundreds of active, busy, intelligent
Avorkmen. Great channels of trade and commerce have
been opened, the community has been blessed, and thou
sands have been benefited by the change from the rough,
Avild scenes of nature to the peaceful evidences of man's in
genuity, enterprise, and perseverance. Just beyond
the falls the
river passes un
der the aque
duct of the Mor
ris Canal, with a
noble arch made
of cut stone
of very beauti
ful construc
tion. Thence it
makes its placid
Avay, occasional
ly agitated by a
few ripples, but
never disturbed
by any considerable rapids, until after a travel of about
five miles the Great Falls at Paterson are reached. The
descent, hoAvever, betAveen the tAvo localities is sufficient
at places to drive a few mills.
The general direction of the river is now northeast
erly, but as it reaches a point nearly, if not quite,
midway between Little Falls and West Paterson, it makes
a sharp turn to the southeast, and then about half a mile
beyond this point it again resumes the northeasterly course.
CONFLICT WITH THE INDIANS (dE BRY).
CHANGES OF NATURE
At West Paterson the Passaic crosses First Mountain
through a gap Iavo miles wide. In the bottom of this gap
the riA-er has cut a deep gorge, at the upper end of Avhich it
block's " FIGURATIVE MAP,'' 1614.
plunges over a narrow caiion seventy feet deep, and this is
the " Great Falls."
The ice, Avhen it moved and disappeared, undoubtedly
created great changes in this locality, as it did at Little
Falls; the bed of the river Avas lowered, the height of the
8
THE PASSAIC A^ALLEY
water flowing in the river was materially lessened, the
breadth, elevation, and location of the falls Avere changed,
and the whole appearance of the land greatly altered.
The original height of the descent of the Avater here Avas
probably from one hundred and tAventy-five to one hundred
and fifty feet, and the ledge over Avhich the descent was
made must have been at least three hundred feet wide. The
location of the falls, before this action of the ice movement,
Avas several hundred feet away from its jiresent position.
GREAT FALLS AT PATERSON.
Had all these remained as they Avere before the ice moved
such obstacles Avould have existed as Avould have obstructed
man in his utilization of the appliances Avhich nature in her
benevolence presented to him in this improved condition,
fitted for his use, in serving his needs.
How long a time Avas employed in arcompli-liing all these
stupendous results is left entirely to conjecture. It is sim
ply impossible to form any estimate whatever whether it
was millions of years or less. No diita have been afl'orded
10 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
by Avhich any proper judgment can be formed; no hand-
Avriting of the Deity has been traced on the rocks. The ice
has disappeared; it has left indubitable evidences of its
former presence and of its mighty works; the waters have
tunnelled the mountains, have cut great gaps in the earth,
have forced the stubborn rock to yield to their irresistible
power; the floods have receded from the earth, the dry land
has appeared, the peaceful river now flows in its appointed
course, and the heart of man has been gladdened by its
beneficent influence.
It is estimated that 1,493,100 cubic yards of trap rock
alone have been removed from the gorges opened by the ice
and water. Some idea may be formed of the amount of
this material thus removed hy a reduction of the mass to
feet. It Avill form a column three hundred feet long and
four hundred and forty-seven feet high. Even this calcula
tion will not enable us to estimate the time it took to remove
the rock. It must be remembered that this statement only
involves one kind of material which Avas removed. No esti
mate can possibly be made of other substances carried
away, such as shale, sand, gTavel, and earth.
As the stream approaches its last descent it again widens
as if preparing for its final and greatest effort, and then
Avith an impetuous foi^e is driven over a chasm sixty feet
in depth, in an unbroken sheet, into a narrow channel below
sixty feet Avide, where it foams and dashes between high
perpendicular, rocky Avails on either side, until it reaches
a calm and broad basin, Avhich it has carved for itself by
its OAvn inherent poAver out of the rock. From this reser
voir it again assunies a swift moving motion, caused by a
descent of twenty feet, and below the level of the plain
around Paterson. Beyond that city it makes another sud
den turn, this time southAvard, and then, pursuing a more
IVOVA BEL, G I C A
five N I E U W
Xa4owila.c
¦ifi,ft
Que!>ec^
a.,ufftn <© Colo iM'-it^f^wn ;i" ,
KeNSELAERS Tg-WTTCK „ ¦ ^
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TntyS . ,
y,^---,^
^^3^
i*«4
is,s.-*
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ts*^*-
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ftroech IconeJcf
' S,M:i:haricnioiuik
BOTUnS Kb
Conn
ik^l
4s*»'
'Warana..aii
"Kius £rlifnt
^
fe^k" ^-'"'
HORSI
a'x/J^i
_ rcfeii/i il I quapoekS p
--A^?
' ^ ^ i Sanlticaxis
MatavancoiLS ,<;«^
-^.^XjiK.id.'^-
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"C^^ I'AffuaiiacIiu^'mica
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-SnzLomex
Naraticons f 5 f .K S
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-'tdj'BeyeTiaveB'*^ -
O R
V
ADRIAEN VAN DER DONCK's MAP, 1056.
—- -»».-~-^ -.s —.^...¦¦¦.. . ¦g.^mv
•popple's plan of 1733
iii* >? '^ f 5cale of Miles
NEAVARli BAY AND N'IGINITV 13
peaceful movement for several miles, reaches the modern
City of Passaic, Avhere it meets tidcAvater from the sea.
Here, assuming moi-e and more the characteristics of a true
river, it moves ouAvard Avith Avidening stream and dignified
floAV until it unites its accumulated waters Avith those of
the Hackensack and forms NcAvark Bay. During this
course it receives several streams from Bergen County, of
AA'^hich Preakness and Saddle Bivers are the principal.
From Passaic to Newark the banks of the stream and its
immediate A'alley jDresent most charming natural scenery.
There are no high bluffs, no palisades, no mountain heights
frowning doAvn upon the fiood below; gentle declivities, en
livened by vale and valley, and occasional acres of woodland
brighten the scene. ^Man's ingenuity and ai-t havt' added
their charms to the work of nature; richly cultivated fields
and fruitful farms are found on either side; Avell built
villages, slioAving thrift and energy, elegant residences,
Avhere wealth and taste have embellished their surrounrl-
ings, are seen at every turn; occasional factories substan
tially built, Avitli neat cottages surrounding them for their
many employees and their families, evince by their appear
ance industry and prosperity, and please the ej^e and glad
den the heart of the utilitarian and economist. IMany
bridges, in some instances of excellent and artistic struct
ure, span the stream, affording facilities for travel by ordi-
narv carriage and for several railroads. Numerous vessels,
both steam and sail, ply up and doAvn, carrying merchan
dise to different points, and rejoicing the hearts of those
Avho delight in such evidences of enterprise.
After leaving Newark and before its entrance into the
bay the river passes through a fiat country extending east
ward for several miles between the Passaic and Hacken
sack Biver-*, and east of the last named stream and north-
14
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ward to the town of Hackensack in Bergen County. This
section of country, containing mau}^ thousand acres of land,
and called, generally, the " vSalt ^Meadows," Avas once cov
ered by a groAvth of scrub pines and cedars, Avhich have now
nearly all been cut off. It is intersected by numerous small
creeks and ditches affected by the tides of the ocean, and is
now covered by a growth of sedge, rushes, and salt grass. In
the summer season large patches of marshmallows and other
fiowering aquatic plants are scattered oA'er these low
grounds and add greatly to the beauty of the landscape.
The sea undoubtedly at one time flowed OA^er these acres.
Several railroads traA'erse these meadoAvs on their Avay to
the great metropolis of the republic, and near Newark many
factories have been erected upon them. It is possible that
in the near future they may be utilized for manufacturing
purposes. Just before the Passaic makes its great plunge at the
" Great Falls "an immense dam has been built across the
stream and its waters have beeu utilized for the purposes
of many large manufactories at Paterson.
CHAPTEE II,
PATERSON ITS INCEPTION AND GROWTH
LEX ANDER HAMILTON, the first Secretary of the
Treasury of the Unitcnl States under President
Washington, has not in one respect received the
aAvard of praise he deserves. His efforts to raise
the standard of American industry were unwearied and
were of the most practical character. He is remembered as
a financier, as a statesman, and as a soldier, but is seldom
if CA^er recognized as really the founder of protection to
American manufactures.
Late in the eighteenth century, at a time Avhen the manu
facturing interests of the republic Avere in a formative state
and the attention of statesmen was turned to that impor
tant subject, Colonel Hamilton conceived the idea of the
creation of an association which should. practically demon
strate that the American people need no longer be depend
ent upon foreign countries for manufactured products neces
sary for ordinary use. His capacious, far-reaching mind
embraced Iavo purposes in his scheme : First, that the citi
zens of the then struggling republic should be taught the
lesson of self-dependence and freedom from the thraldom
of foreign producers; and, second, the introduction of a prin
ciple of action into the policy of the country which would
insure for the future the application of American industrj'
16
THE PASSAIC A'ALLEY
to the manufacture of various kinds of goods which were
in common demand, and make the people of the United
States able not only to produce wliat was needed for home
consumption, but in time to coiii])ete Avith foreign countries
as exporters and cease alone to be importers. America,
tlirough its varied climate and by its manifold appliances,
could produce the raw material necessary for the manufac
ture of CAery article needed for the ordinary demands of all
classes in the cominunity.
HAMILTON GRANGE, NEW YORK.
The plan Avas a grand one, patriotic in all its aspects, and
worthy of the great man Avho conceiA'cd it. But to carry it
out to a practical result co-operation Avas needed. So Col
onel Hamilton sought aid in his great project. He submit
ted it to many leading cajiitalists and patriotic citizens of
the time, and finallA', after much toil and great exertion and
many discussions, a company Avas formed in the early part
of 1791, by the active eft'orts of this distinguished states
man, foi- establishing useful manufactures. Five thousand
shares of stock, at one hundred dollars per share, A\-ere sab-
scribed, but only 2,2GT shares Avere fully paid for. The ex-
Enghy WdhomaifewYsr]'
IIAAIILTON'S GREAT PRO.TECT
17
pressed iiurpose of the association was the manufacture of
"all articles not prohibited by law." At first, however, it
Avas determined that only cotton cloth should be made. At
that time the appliances for the making of this material
were very crude and imperfect as compared with those of
modern times. Sir Eichard ArkAA'right's process had been
iuA-ented, but it had not been submitted to any practical
test, suflieient at least to insure success. In fact it was
only partially liuoAvn in England. No cotton yarn even had
been spun in Amer
ica except by hand. /-Itr'^^5Sis,C ' ' "^
The price at which
cotton fabrics were
then sold abundant
ly showed the diffi
culty in its produc
tion. That price was
fifty cents a yard.
The purposes of
the originator of the
scheme and of the
first " contributors "
were grand and far-
reaching. Those plans embraced not only the manufacture
in time of many and varied products, but also the founding
of a vast emporium where innumerable factories should be
erected; where immense plants of machinery in all its vari
ous forms introduced; Avhere thousands of workmen should
be employed; and from whence the whole Avorld should
be supplied with Avhatever it inight need in the way of
manufactures. Verily no other genius than that of a Ham
ilton could have conceived so Avonderful a scheme, and it
is greatly to be regretted that his masterful intellect had
HAMILTON S TOMB IN TRINITY CHURCHYARD
BEGINNINGS OP PATERSON
19
not been employed in perfecting the plan and in securing
its perfect success.
New Jersey Avas selected as the State in which a site
should be chosen for this magniflcent enterprise, but the
exact j)lace Avas not designated. That Avas postponed until
some prior arrangements were carried out.
In the meantime an exhaustive examination was being
made of various localities where it was deemed that the
contemplated factory should be erected, and at last the
" Great Falls," as they were
then called, on the Passaic,
Avere selected.
Paterson at that time had
no existence, not even in
name. There Avas a small
hamlet on the opposite bank
of the river known then as
OttoAva, from the Indian
name of the falls, after
wards called jManchester.
A feAV small dwelling
houses Avere scattered
around the present site of Paterson. This very important
point, the selection of a locality for the practical operation
of the society, being settled, the next stej» Avas the forma
tion of an incorporation. For this purpose the promoters of
the enterprise turned toAvards the Legislature.
On the 22d of November, 1791, the Legislature of New
Jersey passed an act incorporating the new society. The
title of the law Avas this :
" An act to incorporate the contributors to the Society
for establishing useful manufactures, for the encourage
ment of the said Society."
A DUTCH HOUSE.
20
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
This title does not give any corporate name, but one of
the clauses of the act declared that the new corporation
should be knoAvn as " The Society for Establishing Useful
Manufactures." By this name its legal existence has been
recognized throughout the State and by the courts, where
it has been many times a suitor, either as plaintiff or defend
ant. In that name it has received its title to land pur
chased and by it it has made conveyance of real estate. But
in the City of Paterson, where
its affairs have been ccmducted
since its organization, and in
the surrounding country, it is
called " The Society."
The statute by A^ hich the Legis
lature granted corporate powers
to the " contributors " was the
most liberal ever enacted, and
abundantly manifested the esti
mation in Avhich the company
Avas held by the laAv-making body
and the community, and the
great hopes that Avere enter
tained of the immense advan-
to be gained from the
A COLONIAL GENTLEMAN.
tages
presence of such an organization. The act was most
elaborately drawn, aud A\"as, evidently, the work of an
intellect of the highest order. Alexander Hamilton
undoubtedly prepared it, or dictated its several clauses; he
certainly revised it; it bears the impress of his clear,
thoughtful mind, the caution and Avisdom of his judgment,
and the expression of his comprehensive, far-reaching fore
thought. The preamble gives the history, in the main, of the So-
INCORPORATION OF A COJIPANY 21
ciety, and also exhibits the motives whicli induced the Legis
lature to pass so generous an act of incorporation:
Whereas, It is represented to this Legislature that a subscription has been
made for the purpose of introducing and establishing usefid Manufactures, to an
amount which already exceeds Two hundred Thousand Dollars. And
AVhereas, the State of New Jersey having been deemed liy the Contributors
the most suitable for carrying the same into EfEect, the aid of this Legislature
has been requested in Promotion of the Views of the said Contributors. And
Whereas, it appears to this Legislature that the granting such Act will be
conducive to the Public Interest. Therefore, etc.
Then follow the several clauses defining the powers and
the restrictions and conditions imposed, and the rights con
ferred upon the corporation. The character of this statute
is so extraordinary, so exceedingly favorable to the enter
prise and its results to the locality Avliere the business of
the company was established, and so important, that it
seems proper that KOine of its salient features should be
noticed. The capital of the company Avas fixed at one million dol
lars, divided into ten thousand shares each of the par value
of one hundred dollars. The powers and privileges of the
Society were specified by the charter, among which were
the following:
To hold real and personal estate, not exceeding four mil
lions of dollars in value, with power of sale.
To manufacture and sell any article, not forbidden by
law, but Avith this restriction— that the " said Corpcjration
shall not deal, nor trade, except in such articles as itself
shall manufacture and the materials thereof, and in such
articles as shall be really and truly received in payment
or exchange therefor."
" And the more effectually to encourage so useful and
beneficial an establishment," no " taxes, charges, and im
positions " were to be levied on the real and personal prop-
22
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
erty of the company for ten years. Artificers and manufac
turers in the immediate serA'ice of the corporation were
exempted from all poll and capitation taxes and from taxes
and assessments on their " respective faculties and occu
pations." The company was authorized to dig canals and to clear
and improve the channels of rivers, " the advantages of
AA'hieh will not be confined
to the members of the said
Society, who ought there
fore to be authorized to re
ceive a reasonable toll to
defray the expenses of im-
proA^ements ultimately so
valuable to the State."
The fullest power possi
ble was granted to enter
lands for the purpose of sur
veying the same and locat
ing the lines of the proposed
canal. The company was
authorized to treat with the
owners of such lands for the
purchase thereof, and if nec
essary to take measures to
condemn the property. The
canal might be located
from river to river, to tide water, or on such lines as mio-ht
be deemed advisable by the corporation; toll might be col
lected on the canals, when constructed. The minutest de
tails of the proceedings for condemning the land necessary
to be taken for the proposed canals are given in the charter
with the greatest care and precision, and Avhile the rights of
FOUNDING OF THE CITY
23
the landoAvner Avere protected the corporation Avas afforded
every advantage in securing the land consistent with those
rights. The Ignited States, or any State, Avas authorized to be
come a subscriber to the capital stock, and the company was
authorized to raise money to the amount of ten thousand
dollars by the means of a lottery. But the most important
l)rovision of this charter Avas the one which led to the found
ing of the City of Paterson, Avhich at
that time had no existence whatever.
" After the Directors had made
choice of the principal seat of their
manufacture," then the inhabitants
A\'ithin a space of " six miles square ''
were inc(irporated into a municipal
ity Avith the most extramdinary pow
ers. It Avas to be called " Paterson,"
iu honor of Governor Paterson, who
signed the charter after it had been
passed by the Legislature. The offi
cers were to be a mayor, recorder,
twelve aldermen, twelve assistant
aldermen, and a town clerk, AA^ho were
to be appointed by the joint meeting
of the Legislature; the otlier officers
were to be elected by the people at
their annual town meetings. The
mayor, recorder, aldermen, and assistant aldermen were
" seA-erally and respectively " made justices of the peace,
and any seven of them were empowered to hold a Court of
Quarter Sessions, with jurisdiction over all crimes cogniza
ble by the several Courts of Quarter Sessions of the State,
with full power to try criminals and punish such as were
BOWS AND ARROWS.
24 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
convicted with fine and imprisonment. The same offlcers
were also empowered to act as a Court of Common Pleas,
" Avitli poAver to hold pleas of all such civil actions, suits,
and controversies as are cognizable in the several County
Courts within the State; to summon and impanel juries, to
give judgment therein, and to carry such judgments into
execution in as full and ample a manner and by all such
ways and means as any Court of Common Pleas within
this State may or can do." This court should be a court
of record, haviug a seal and possessing all the powers of
other Courts of Common Pleas in the State. An amend
ment to this charter, passed in 1792, confined the poAver of
acting as Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas to
the twelve aldermen; the tAvelve assistant aldermen were
to act simply as members of the Common Council and were
to be elected by the people. Non-use of the charter Avas
not to work forfeiture, and the act of incorporation was to
be construed in the most liberal manner in all courts in
the State.
The district selected by the corporation was then situate
in the Counties of Essex and Bergen, and Avas thus de
scribed :
Beginning at the mouth of Third River, formerly called Yonteeaw, where it
empties into Passaic River, thence North 51 degrees 11 minutes. West 570
links, thence along marked trees, marked with a blaze, and the letters P. A., to
a stake and stones, thence North 50 degrees, East across tbe Passaic River,
above the upper reef to the Little Falls, 50 chains to n large chestnut tree
marked as before, thence North 49 degrees East 135 chains and 21 links, thence
due East 144 chains, thence South 10 degrees East 450 chains to near Saddle
River Bridge, thence South 19 degrees West 266 chains, thence North 51 degrees
and 16 minutes West 28 chains to the place of Beginning aud containing thirty-
six square miles equal to six miles square.
This Avas the foundation of the City of Paterson, then
really unknown, now recognized as one of the most impor
tant manufacturing centers in NeAv Jersey.
PASSAIC RIVER BELOW HORSENECK BRIDGE.
PASSAIC RIVER FROM HORSENECK BRIDGE.
26
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
The plan, however, as developed in the charter of the
Society for the government of Paterson as a municipality
and for the establishment of courts, Avas never carried out.
The present toAvn once formed a i.)art of the old township
of Acquackanonk, and was governed in the same manner
as most of the other municipalities of the same character
in the State. In 18-31 the Legislature of Ncav Jersey set
off Paterson from its old neighbor, under whose rule the in
habitants of the new toAvn had been restive for many years.
VIEW IN EASTSIDE PAEK, PATERSON.
Photo by Vernon Royle, Paterson.
The Society, unfortunately as it seemed at the time, be
came, notAvithstanding its magnificent prospects, embar
rassed and was obliged to abandon the enterprise of manu
facturing, to Avhich its great projector had given so much
thought and had made such elaborate preparations.
Most unfortunately it fell into the hands of a reck
less adventurer, a Frenchman, Major L'Enfant, who
launched out into the most extravagant undertakings,
among them the laying out and digging of a ship canal
from Paterson to tidewater on the Passaic Biver, below
MODERN PATERSON 27
what is now the City of Passaic. This and other almost
equally as chimerical plans undertaken by Major L'Enfant
iuA'olved the Society in enormous expenses, and finally
obliged its stockholders to abandon the main feature of the
enterprise for establishing manufactures. The plan, how
ever, had taken deep root in the minds of some of its sup
porters, and it was destined to develop into a substantial
and well-grounded system. The Society had erected a
small factory and had purchased a large amount of real
estate, much more in extent than Avas needed for tlieir pur
poses. The immense Avater j)0Aver and the nearness of ac
cess to the great market of New York invited manufactur
ers of difierent kinds of products, at first mostly of cotton
fabrics, but latterly of other goods, and Paterson Avas soon
filled with a population of busy
Avorkmen and their families,
Avho have added by tlieir industry
and thrift to the material pros
perity of this great manufactur
ing town. Many of these Avere of
foreign birth who left their native
'^ I FLAG OF HOLLAND,
countries to seek employment in
this Manchester of Ncav Jersey.
The various patronymics to be fouud in the directory of
Paterson indicate the different nationalities gathered with
in its borders, but the recurrence of many other names is
a sure evidence that the main element of the population is
of Holland origin.
The present prosperous condition of this fiourishing town
is undoubtedly due to the existence of the Society for the
Establishing of Useful Manufactures. It has noAV one hun
dred and twenty silk factories, producing as excellent fab
rics of that character as can be manufactured in any other
28
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
cimntry. These factories employ twenty thousand oper
atives. Besides these, many products of other kinds are
manufactured, such as machinery, locomotiA^es, and other
appliances into Avliich iron largely enters. The population
of this important manufacturing city, according to the last
census, is over 10.5,000. Among its most prominent and in
fluential citizens of to-day are many descendants of skilled
workmen who were invited from Europe at the close of the
eighteenth century to come to Paterson to aid in the de
velopment of the plan of the Society. They came from Eng
land, Scotland, France, and Germany, and a feAv from
SAvitzerland. They remained, and they and their children,
by their worth and industry, have materially aided the
manufacturing interests of the Avhole country and to make
Paterson what it is to-day.
CHAPTEE III
BERNARD TOWNSHIP ANI) ITS NOTED MEN
HE PASSAIC EIVEB, in its course southward from
its rise in Morris County, near Mendham, strikes
within a very few miles the northwestern corner of
Bernard Township, in Somerset County. The
ground changes materially from that in Avhich the river
rises. There it is marshy, although in an elevated region.
Here it becomes exceedingly picturesque and beautiful.
Many hills, several of almost sufficient elevation to be
classed aiuong mountains, are scattered in rich profusion,
with narrow vales and a fcAv broader valleys. Mountain
brooks, some mere streamlets, shine and shimmer in the
sunlight, and add grace and charm to the landscape. Most
of them unite Avith the Passaic, but some flow into a branch
of the Earitan.
MadisonAdlle, a small hamlet, known to the immediate
residents as the " Coffee House," is the first named locality
reached in Somerset. Just beyond this hamlet, a short dis
tance to the southeastward, Bernardsville, one of the most
iuAdting localities found in Ncav Jersey, lies nestled among
the hills, beautiful for situation, and presenting many at
tractions to families seeking rest and recreation during the
summer. Many such have located here and more are sure
to follow. The recent excellent facilities for travel afforded
by the Delaware, LackaAvanna and Western Eailroad
through its Passaic and Delaware branch have encouraged
this immigration, and now scattered among the valleys
30
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
and on the hillsides of this romantic region are to be seen
numerous dAvellings, where wealth and taste have revelled
in adding appliances for comfort aud ornament.
Bernardsville once rejoiced in the euphonious name of
Yealtown. By this name it was known during the Eevolu
tion. In Bryant's History of the United States it is so
called in the recital of the moA^ements of General Lee dur
ing Washington's retreat through Ncav Jersey. Old resi
dents in its A'icinity still know it only by its ancient title,
a n d w i t h
^^¦^¦^>,'i some diffi-
¦"* culty recog
nize its mod
ern appella
tion; they still
call it by the
name given to
it in the long
a go. Of
course, the
neAv element
of population,
now controlling the interests of the locality, could not toler
ate the old name and hence the chance.
Nearer to the river and a short distance from Bernards
ville is Basking Eidge, another charming village spreading
itself along the broad top of au elevated ridge rising sev
eral feet above the surrounding countrv. Baskins Eidoe
differs greatly from Bernardsville, mostly in this respect:
it is so situated that it may be C(unpactly built, Avith rcm-
lar streets, Avliile Bernardsville is so broken up by hills and
narrow vales that it is iin])ossible to preserve any regularity
in the erecticm of dAvellings or location of streets.
A COLONIAL TEA SET OF GOLD.
BASKING RIDGE AND CHARLES LEE 31
There are four churches at Basking Eidge: a Presbyte
rian, a Methodist, an Episcopalian, and one Eoman Catho
lic. The first tAVO congregations occupy very respectable
edifices, especially the Presbyterian, Avhich is large and I'oin-
modious; the other tAvo congregations are small and strug
gling. A noticeable fact connected Avith the Presbyterian
organization is that, in its history, it has been honored by
the ministrations of some of the most distinguished divines
of that denomination, mauj^ of whom have spent long pas
torates in that particular field. Trees on each side of the
main street add grace and ornament to the Adllage. It is
a busy, thriving small town, Avith possibilities of greater
prosperity in the future. A railroad — that impelling force
in securing success — uoav passes through the village, and
it probably Avill prove an appliance for the growth of popu
lation and of material benefit.
Like Bernardsville, Basking Eidge is a Avell-knoAvn local
ity spoken of in the history of the EeA^olutionary War. It
Avas here that Charles Lee, one of General AVasliington's
corps officers, Avas captured during the time of the com
mander-in-chief's retreat through Ncav Jersey before the vic
torious British army after the loss of the battles on Long
Island and the capture of Forts Lee and AVashington. Lee
was in command of a large force at North ('astle, near the
Hudson. While on his retreat AVashington's position be- ,
came exceedingly dangerous, and he sent four positive
orders within ten days to Lee to bring up his troops and
unite them Avith the retreating Americans. But that offi
cer disregarded these orders, lingered, delayed, and leis
urely marched at his own pleasure.
Lee was vainglorious, conceited, disliked AVashington, and
Avas insanely ambitious of displacing him, or at least of se-
curino' for himself an independent conimand. Sixteen days
32 THK PASSAIC A'ALLEY
after receiving these direct commands he crossed the Hudson
and moA^ed southAvard Avith his corps, ostensibly for the pur
pose of uniting with the commander-in-chief. Nine days aft
er he began his inarch he was no farther than A'ealtown, or
Bernardsville, as it is noAV called. LeaAdug his main army
there, he pushed on Avith his staff and about a dozen guards
to Basking Eidge, where he spent the night at a tavern kept
by a Mrs. White and known as " AVhite's Tavern," still
standing, somewhat altered, but not materially. A T(uy liv
ing in the neighborhood, learning of his presence and rest
ing place, rode twenty miles the same night that Lee arrived
to a British scouting party, Avhose commander, Avith a small
squad of men, hurried to Basking Eidge, reaching that place
at ten o'clock the next morning. Lee Avas still daAvdling
aAvay his precious time and Avas captured. Placed on horse
back, his arms pinioned, his legs tied under the animal, he
was conducted in this ignominious manner to the British
headquarters and detained as a ]3risoner of war. He was aft-
erAvard exchanged and returned to the army to renew his
ambitious designs against AVashington and repeat his
treason, committed in March, 1777, when he furnished a plan
of campaign to the British officers, pledging his life that it
would so isolate AVashington from his other commands that
he could easily be captured and thus end the Avar in the en
tire subjugation of the colonies. Lee Avas at the battle of
Monmouth, Avhere he Avas reprimanded by the commander-
in-chief. He Avas afterward retired from the army and died
in obscurity.
AVilliam Alexander, who idaimed to be the rightful heir
to the title and estates of the Earldom of Stirling in Scot
land, and who is called Lord Stirling in the history of the
day, was a resident at one time in the ToAvnship of Bernard,
near Basking Eidge. His father had purchased a large
LORD STIRLING
33
tract of land in Somers i^t County. The son had utilized
part of this purchase for a residence, and had formed
out of it one of the most elegant country seats in New Jer
sey, fitting it up with all the appliances of the times for
comfort and convenience. He built on it a large and com
modious mansion, Avith garden and grounds attached, filled
Avith fruit trees, shrubbery, and fiowers, and had added a
park stocked with deer, and
stables with blooded horses
and cattle of approved
breeds. The edifice used as a
dAvelling Avas standing until
sometime in the second quar
ter of the nineteenth century,
but the grounds, garden, and
Avell appointed stables have
disappeared. William Alexander ahvays
wrote his name " Stirling,"
disregarding his first name,
AVilliam, and his patronymic,
Alexander, after the style of
English noblemen. His signa
ture, " Stirling Maj'r Genl.," in bold characters, is still
preserved at Washington among the records of the great
struggle. He was the son of Jaines Alexander, a lawyer of
great distinction practicing at New York, and a Scotchman
who came to this country early in the eighteenth century,
fleeing from his native land to escape punishment for his
active exertions in the cause of the Pretender. This James
Alexander Avas one of the counsel in the celebrated Eliza
bethtown Bill in Chancery and prepared the bill in that
cause.
34
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
William Alexander, Lord Stirling, Avas bom in New York,
where his father was practicing. He espoused the patriotic
cause soon after the struggle began between the mother
country and the colonies. He Avas very much attached to
AA^ashington, became distinguished as an officer in the army,
and rose to the rank of major-general. He was present and
took a prominent part in the battles (jf Long Island and
other contests, especially at Monmouth, Avhere he com
manded one of the
wings of the army and
aided greatly in the
success of that decisive
conflict. Lord Stirling's sister
had married William
Livingston, first Gov
ernor of the State of
New Jersey, aud his
daughter, " Lady Kit
ty," as she was called,
was married July 27,
1779, with great festivi
ties at the Stirling man
sion, to AA^'illiam Duer,
a colonel in the Eevolu
tionary army, and Avas the ancentress of the Duer family
Avhich afterward became so conspicuous in the social and
political circles of Ncav York. The elder daughter, kuoAvn
at the time as " Lady " xMary, had married Eobert AA'atts, a
prominent citizen of New York.
The wedding of Lady Kitty and Colonel Duer Avas cele
brated with unusual pomp and ceremony. A large number
of army officers were present. The actual ceremony took
JAMES ALEXANDER.
ANDREAV KIRKPATRICK
35
place on the laAvn under a cedar tree in the presence of a
large concourse of people. Lord Stirling was a bounteous
host, and on this occa
sion he spared no ex
pense iu providing for
the entertainment of his
numerous guests. AYine
floAA'cd in abundance, a
Avhole ox Avas roasted,
and the other refresh
ments Avere equally lav
ish. Bernard ToAvnshi]3
has been prolific in its
;reat men, Avho have
added lustre to the his
tory of the State, and
some of AVhom became mrs. james Alexander.
conspicuous in the national councils of the republic.
Andrew Kirkpatrick, who
adorned the bench of the Supreme
Court as one of its associate justices
and as its chief justice for so many
years, Avas born near Basking Eidge.
His family claimed descent from
Scottish nobility. A representative
of it came to New Jersey in 1736,
from Belfast, Ireland. He was,
however, a Scotchman by birth, and
removed in 1725 from his native
country to Ireland. He and his
family wandered from Ncav Castle in Delaware, Avhere they
first landed in this country, through Pennsylvania to Mine
sPEHOMELijb^
LIVINGSTON ARMS.
36
THE PASSAIC A'ALLEY
Brook, about two miles west from Basking Eidge. The
site for a dAvelling Avas well chosen. It was picturesque,
romantic, and beautiful, but also well calculated for the
support of a family. Near the chosen spot a spring of pure
Avater, gushed out of the ground by the sid e of the stream,
affording an abundant and never failing supply of that nec
essary element. Enough water fiowed in Mine Brook and
the lay of the ground was such that a mill could easily and
Avell be supplied with power. Before them and around
them, on every side, spread out a
meadow of virgin soil, rich and
fertile and luxuriant in its native
groAvth. The hills in the imme
diate neighborhood Avere covered
Avith choice timber.
The sturdy Scotch family grew
in numbers and prospered. An
drew, a lineal descendant of
Alexander, the original settler
in New Jersey, Avas born Febru
ary 17, 1750. His father was a
strong-willed Scotch Presbyte
rian who believed in implicit
obedience by son to father. An
older brother of Andre av, the future chief justice, was a
clergyman, and the father destined his younger son to the
same holy calling. So the young man early in life entered
upon an educational career preparatory to his assuming the
dignity of a clergyman. He avus graduated from Prince
ton College, and then spent six months in the study of di-
A'iuity with the Eev. Dr. Kennedy, a Presbyterian clergy
man. But the young man did not believe that he Avas fitted
for a minister of the gospel, and he refused to proceed any
ANDREW KIRKPATRICK.
ANDREAV KIRKPATRICK 37
further Avith his studies in that direction, frankly inform
ing his father that he purposed abandoning the profession
selected for him and turning his attention to the law. The
elder Kirkpatrick was bitterly disappointed, and resented
the disobedience of his son to such an extent that he with
drew his support and turned the rebel from his home. His
mother, as he left the house, slipped into his hand a single
gold piece, a half " Joe," the savings of many years. The
son never parted with this testimony of a mother's devotion,
and this gold piece, still preserved with pious care by the
family, is now in possession of the Hon. Andrew Kirkpat
rick, the grandson of the chief justice and now judge of the
United States District Court of New Jersey.
Andrew Kirkpatrick, the elder, became associate justice
of the Supreme Court in January, 1798, and after serA'ing
in that capacity for six years became chief justice, acting
in both capacities for tAventy-one years. He was a most
accomplished jurist, not brilliant nor extraordinarily alert
in his mental perceptions, but of untiring industry, of pro
found learning, of keen discrimination, and of that charac
ter of intellect which enabled him to arrive at a result
which more brilliant men could not successfully attack.
His decisions were rarely if ever reversed. He has left be
hind him a most enviable reputation as an honest man, an
upright judge, and as one of the most accomplished jurists
AAdio ever adorned a Ncav Jersey court. One of his liu'-al
descendants is now a practicing lawyer in Ncav Jersey. An
other descendant has already been mentioned as now a
judge of the District Court of the United States for New
Jersey. Samuel L. Southard Avas a lawyer of great distinction in
his native State, and a statesman known all over the re
public. He was born in Basking Ridge, June 9, 1787, was
38
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
graduated at a very early age from the College of New Jer
sey, and very soon afterward Avent to Virginia, where he
began the study of the laAv, paying his own expenses by em
ploying his leisure time as a private tutor. After being
licensed to practice by the Virginia courts he returned to
New Jersey, and in 1811 began practice at Flemington, in
Hunterdon County. From that time his promotion was the
most rapid ever known in the State.
In 1813 the Legislature of New Jersey passed a statute
providing that Aaron Ogden and Daniel Dod, both Jersey-
men, should be vested Avith the ex
clusive right of navigating the wa
ters of New Jersey between this
State and New York with steam
vessels. Prior to that time New
York had, by direct law, granted
the monopoly of steam navigation
over its waters to the first inventor
of a steam boat of a certain re
quired speed. The New Jersey
statute was undoubtedly intended
as retaliatory for the passage of the
New York act, certainly as a check
to its operation. Serious doubts were entertained at the
time by laAvyers whether the New Jersey legislation was
constitutional. Its legality, certainly, Avas questionable.
Fulton and Livingston had succeeded in acquiring the
monopoly granted by the New York Legislature, and they
sought to have the Ncav Jersey statute repealed. This Avas
as early as 1815, Avhen Southard had been licensed only
four years. He was employed, in connection with Joseph
Hopkinson, to appear at the hearing before the Ncav Jersey
Legislature for Ogden and Dod. Thomas Addis Emmet
SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD
39
represented Fulton and Livingston. Mr. Southard failed
in conA'inciug the Legislature that the act should not be
repealed, but he succeeded in establishing a reputation for
clearness of utterance, for keenness in debate, for breadth
of intellect, for profound argument, for legal acumen, which
placed him in the front rank of the laAvyers of the country,
and he found it unnecessary thereafter to seek clients; they
sought him. In 1816 he Avas elected a member of the As
sembly, and during his term of office Avas chosen an asso
ciate justice of the Supreme Court, being one of the young
est men who ever held that position
in New Jersey. He Avas five years
on the bench, and in 1821 was
elected United States senator. Noav
Mr. Southard had reached the
sphere in Avliich he Avas most fitted
to act, and which he Avas eminently
capable of adorning.
He was made senator at a most
critical period in the political his
tory of the republic. The country
was in a ferment; the Missouri
question had been agitating the
public mind
for
three years, and Avas still unsettled. That State
had applied for admission into the Union, but the applica
tion had been rejected by a very large majority. The
Southern members of Congress were loud in their denunci
ations of this action of the majority. The Avhole South Avas
in a tumult and Avas stirred to the point of secession;
acrimonious debate followed; the Union was in peril; black
clouds lowered on the political horizon, and the hearts of
true patriots trembled at the imminent danger of disrup
tion and civil war. It is impossible fully to describe the
40 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
situation. ConservatiA'^e men Avere seeking some means by
Avhich the tumult might be stilled, and the terrible disaster
averted which so many deemed inevitable.
Henry Clay was then a member of the lower house from
Kentucky. He had moved that a joint committee should be
appointed from both houses of Congress. His motion was
adopted and a committee from the house was elected, of
Avhich he was the chairman. He was a veteran politician,
had been a member of the Senate, was then speaker of the
popular branch of Congress, and had the benefit of a long
experience in political life and the prestige of a past bril
liant career. He was a Southern man, born in a slave State,
Avas then a resident in and representatlA^e of another slave
State, and was a slaveholder himself. Mr. Southard was
a new member. He had had no experience in national
political affairs as they Avere conducted in Congress. He
lacked the infiuence gained by long service in the legisla
ture of the nation and the advantage of an acquaintance
Avith the manner and form of congressional procedure. He
Avas, however, a member of the committee appointed by the
Senate as a part of the joint committee, and was intensely
moved by the alarming exigencies of the occasion. New
Jersey, the State he represented, occupied a position in the
country with her territory near to both sections, and this
rendered her neutral betAveen the North and South. While
the majority of its citizens were opposed to slavery, still
that institution existed within her borders in full force.
Mr. Southard, therefore, was ready to support such
measures as would be conciliatory and would meet the ap
proval of the leaders of the contending parties. He had
prepared some resolutions and submitted them to Mr. Clay,
who at once approved of them. It Avas agreed then that
Mr. Southard should present them in the Senate. But on
SAMUEL I;. SOUTHARD 41
the morning of the very day that they were to be offered
in that body ^Mr. Clay urged that they should be presented
by him in the House. The Ncav Jersey senator yielded, and
the Kentucky representatiA^e brought them Avithout altera
tion before the lower branch of Congress, where, after a
severe struggle, they were passed, and then sent to the
Senate, Avhich approved them, and they became a part of
the law of the land. They ansAvered the purpose for which
they were prepared and passed. The danger, apparently
so imminent, was averted; the passions of men Avere
soothed, and the country Avas quieted for a time.
These Avere the celebrated Missouri Compromise Eeso
lutions for which Mr. Clay has been so much lauded. But
they were really the product of the great intellect of the
Ncav Jersey senator, Avho is entitled to the glory, whatever
it may be, resulting from their creation and effects.
A pleasing incident connected Avith this transaction arose
from the fact that the father of Senator Southard Avas a
congressman from Ncav Jersey at the time, and was also a
member of the joint committee.
While a tutor and student in Virginia Mr. Southard had
met James Monroe, and had become his Avarm friend and
ardent admirer. The friendship Avas reciprocated, and
AA'hen Monroe became President he remembered his youth
ful associate and made him Secretary of the Navy. This
was in 1823. On the accession of John Quincy Adams to
the presidency he continued Mr. Southard in the position,
thus giving testimony of the appreciation in Avhich the
Jerseyman was held by the Massachusetts statesman and
adding a high and merited compliment to the secretary for
his ability in the performance of duty.
In 1829 Mr. Southard Avas made attorney-general; in 1832
he was again returned to the Senate, and was re-elected in
42 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
1836. In 1841 AVilliam H. Harrison died, soon after being
inaugurated President. This event created a vacancy in
the Senate by the withdrawal of John Tyler from that
body as its presiding officer to assume the presidency. Sena
tor Southard, prior to the decease of Harrison, had been
elected president of the Senate, and this virtually made him
A^ice-President. He died in 1842, in Virginia, beloved by
his friends and associates and respected by all who came
within the circle of his influence. Among the eulogies de
livered in the Senate chambers Avhen his death was an
nounced to that body none was more feeling, warmer, or
more sympathetic than that delivered by Senator King,
from Alabama, one of his former political opponents.
William Lewis Dayton was another distinguished Jersey-
man who obtained honor in two widely different spheres
of action : as a jurist and as a statesman. He was born
at Basking Eidge in 1807, and Avas descended from a family
which has given scA^eral prominent men to the service of
their country. One of these Avas a general in the Eevolu
tionary Army; another was a member of the convention
which framed the Federal Constitution, afterward a repre
sentative and speaker of the House of Eepresentatives, and
subsequently senator from Ncav Jersey.
Young Dayton had excellent opportunities for obtain
ing academic instruction. Basking Eidge Avas remarkable
at that time for its schools, and some of the A'ery best talent
was employed in conducting them. He Avas educated in his
preparation for college at these schools, and after the
proper time entered Princeton University and was grad
uated, with no particular honor, in 1825. In fact neither
his academic nor collegiate life gave much promise of his
future greatness. He seemed dull, slow iu comprehension,
and not at all alert in his studies.
AVILLIAM L. DAYTON
43
He entered the office of Peter D. Vroom, one of New Jer
sey s most accomplished lawyers, as a student-at-law, and
was licensed in 1830, as an attorney, and as counsellor in
1833. He removed to Freehold, in Monmouth County, and
remained there until he Avas appointed justice of the Su
preme Court. His health Avas not robust, and at one time
he was quite slender in person. It is altogether possible
that this physical defect had some influence on his mental
activity. He required strong impulse to arouse him into
action. He was not what
could truthfully be called an
indolent man. His mind
certainly Avas alert enough,
but he did not, by any
means, assert his full poAV-
ers on every occasion, and
might be described as an
unequal man, sometimes ex
hibiting great powers of in
tellect, especially when
obliged to act, think, and
speak independently, at
other times disappointing
his friends. But he had
Avithin himself the elements of
aroused was equal to any emergency and competent to
grapple Avith the most abstruse principles.
A fortunate circumstance brought him into notice as a
laAvyer while practicing at Freehold. An indictment was
found against a client for assault and battery. After ex
amining into the case he feared that the defendant could
not be acquitted on the merits of his case, and therefore
strove to find some technicality upon which he might base
WILLIAM L. DAYTON.
greatness, and Avhen fully
44 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
a motion to quash the indictment. His examination re
vealed the fact that the grand jury Avhich retumed the in
dictment had not been legally summoned, and he chal
lenged the validity of its findings. His motion Avas suc
cessful and the indictment Avas quashed. Of course every
other criminal proceeding based on the action of the grand
jury at that term was dismissed.
This brought him speedily into public notice. Clients
flocked to his office and his practice Avas largely increased.
He was naturally an ambitious man, and, not satisfied with
the acquisition of legal honor, he longed for a more enlarged
sphere and sought political preferment. This was soon ac
corded to him. That was the day Avhen voters were di
vided into tAVO great parties, AVhig and Democrat. Mr.
Dayton was a decided AA^hig in politics. Monmouth Avas
overwhelmingly Democratic, and it seemed hopeless for him
to expect an election to any political office which was in
the gift of the people. But he was a born politician, and,
rising to the situation, entered into the contest with a de
termination to succeed. His party nominated him as a
candidate for the Council, as the higher branch of the Legis
lature was then called. He was at the head of his ticket,
and succeeded not only in securing his OAAm election, but
also carried Avith him his fellow candidates.
He had now found his proper sphere of action. ^ His am
bition Avas for a public life, and rightfully so. Such natures
as his must find their true position, and whatever trammels
might obstruct or obstacles oppose, the end was sure and
certain. A new field of endeavor Avas opened to his aspira
tions, and in this arena he Avas destined to gain his greatest
glory and Avin his greenest laurels. He was a young man,
just thirty, untried in politics as a legislator, for he had
never been in office. He at once becaine the leader of his
WILLIAM L. DAYTON
45
party in the Legislature, and prominent in every movement
in the Council. It soon became patent to every thoughtful
observer that the proper place for a man of Mr. Dayton's
consummate abilities Avas in the domain of politics, and
here there began for him a career of almost unexampled
activity and brilliant success.
Mr. Dayton's ambition Avas not that of the demagogue;
he was a broad minded patriot of high resolves and noble
aims. He never descended to the Ioav arts Avhich too often
characterize those
who seek political
preferment; he never
did a mean act; he
never sullied his life
by baseness. He
loved office, not so
much for the honor
gained by its pos
session as for the
opportunity it af
forded him of ac
complishing good
for the republic.
His merits com
manded that respect Avhich obliged his party to offer him
office that he had not sought.
AA'hile he was a member of the Council a radical change
Avas made in the jurisprudence of the State. The Courts
of Common Pleas of the several counties had, as they still
have, jurisdiction over all civil actions. Issues made up
in causes instituted in the Supreme Court were sent for
trial to the circuits of that court in the several counties.
These circuits were presided over by one of the justices of
46 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
the Supreme Court. But if the amount recovered diS not
exceed tAvo hundred dollars plaintiffs were obliged to pay
their own costs. The judges of the Common Pleas Courts
were generally laymen, uneducated and unfitted for their
position. A vicious system had obtained in their appoint
ment, which was given as reward for political activity. The
evils arising from this condition of affairs became unbear
able, and lawyers and litigants were anxiously seeking for
some relief. An acute minded laAvyer from Essex County,
Alexander C. M. Pennington, introduced a law which pro
vided for the establishment of Circuit Courts in the several
counties of the State, Avith statutory jurisdiction over civil
actions, giving costs iu cases Avhere one hundred dollars
were recovered. These courts took the place of the Com
mon Pleas and relieved litigants from the burdens incident
to the old system. The justices of the Supreme Court pre
sided over these ueAV tribunals, as Avell as in the old circuits,
so that laAvyers took the place of uneducated laymen as
judges. Mr. Dayton was chairman of the committee on the judi
ciary and aided greatly in the passage of the new laAV. It
is very doubtful whether it Avould have passed but for his
intelligent and effective assistance, as it met with consider
able opposition.
On the 28th of February, 1838, Avhile still a member of the
Council, he was made an associate justice of the Supreme
Court. He was then hardly thirty-one years old, but soon
manifested, notAvithstanding his youth, his entire fitness
for the position. He remained on the bench nearly three
years, resigning on the 18th of February, 1841, and returned
to the practice of his profession. The reason assigned for
this step was that the salary of the office Avas not sufficient
to support his family.
AVILLIAM L. DAVTON
47
At this time Mr. Southard AA'as senator from New Jersey,
but he died the next year, and this opened the Avay for Mr.
Dayton to reach that position for Avhich he seemed best
fltted, both by his inclination and by the bent of his intel
lectual nature. Governor AVilliam Pennington commis
sioned him, in the interim of the Legislature, to fill the va
cancy occasioned by jMr. Southard's death. His entry into
so important a body as the United States Senate was made
at a time A\'hen men of talent and Avisdom Avere needed in
the national councils. The AVhig party had succeeded at
the prcAious election in carrying their
candidate. General AVilliam Henry
Harrison, into the President's chair.
His death. Aery soon after his in
auguration, had elevated John Tyler
as his successor, but it was soon evi
dent that he Avas intending to prove
a traitor to the party which had
placed him in that position. The sit-
iiaticm presented embarrassments
whicli other men might have found
OA^erwhelming. Tyler's defection cre
ated a condition of affairs in connec
tion with other circumstances Avhich plainly indicated that
the AVhig party Avas fast losing its grip on the people, and
that the power which seemed assured by the election of
Harrison Avas slipping away from that organization. The
ucAV senator had no easy task before him, but his cool head,
his equable temperament, his calm foresight, and his great
ability enabled him to avoid the dangers Avhich a more in
ferior man could not have avoided. He spoke seldom,
and only when occasion demanded, but he then demon
strated that, though so silent, he was equal to any emer-
TMtUuum
48
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
gency. He soon impressed himself upon his fellow senators
and was placed upon several of the most important com
mittees. At the formation of the Eepublican party he took an act
ive and prominent part in shaping and moulding its i)olicy,
and soon became infiuential in that organization. In 1856
John C. Fremont Avas nominated for President, with Will
iam L. Dayton as Vice-President. These nominations were
not received with entire satisfaction by thoughtful Eepub
licans, many of whom believed that it would have been
much better if the names on the ticket had been reversed.
CAMPAIGN medals.
No one Avhose judgment was of any value imagined that
the candidates could be elected. They were not, but
through no fault of the candidate for Alce-President.
His term of office as senator expired in 1851, and, the
Democratic party being then in poAver, Commodore Eobert
F. Stockton Avas appointed his successor. AA'hile in the
Senate Mr. Dayton measured swords Avith some of the great-
est men in that body and did not hesitate to try his strength
with Daniel Webster himself. He lost nothing by the com
parison, Avhich, of course, Avas made betAveen his efforts and
those of his antagonists.
WILLIAM L. DAYTON 49
In 1857 Mr. Dayton was appointed attorney-general of
Ncav Jersey by William A. Newell, then governor. His
rival candidates for the position were Frederick T. Fre
linghuysen, afterAvards Secretary of State under President
Arthur, and Cortlandt Parker, one of the most distinguished
laAvyers the State ever produced.
In 1860 Lincoln was elected President, and the eyes of all
Jerseymen were turned to Senator Dayton as a proper mem
ber of his Cabinet. Lincoln desired to appoint him, and
would have done so, but it was thought that, under the cir
cumstances, other States had more powerful claims than
New Jersey in the selection of the members of his political
family. But he determined to show his appreciation of his
merits and ability by placing him in such a prominent posi
tion that there could be no question as to the opinion in
which he held him. To use his own words : " I then thought
of the French mission and Avondered if that would not suit
him. I have put my foot down and will not be moved. I
shall offer that place to jMr. Dayton."
He did make the otter to the senator and it Avas accepted.
The position, honorable as it was, Avas no sinecure; it was
at that time the most important and most embarrassing
embassy in the gift of the President. Civil Avar broke out
between the North and the South, the emissaries of the Con
federacy swarmed in Paris, and the Emperor of the French
was more than half inclined to throAV his infiuence in favor
of the Southern cause and to recognize the independence
of its government. He had actually accorded belligerent
rights to it. A\'ith consummate tact, and with far-reach
ing foresight, the American minister thAvarted the plans of
the Southerners, and finally succeeded in inducing the
French government tc^ adopt a policy materially crippling
the Confederacy and greatly aiding in the result. Mr. Day-
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
AAaLLIAAI L. DAYTON
51
ton lived long enough in Paris to secure the confidence of
the French Emperor and of his court, and to render the
most inestimable service to his country. He died very sud
denly, at Paris, on the first day of December, 1864, before
the war closed, but when it required very little sagacity to
understand that the end of the great struggle was near.
THE " MAYFLOWER.'
CHAPTEE IV
SOMERSET COUNTA' — CONTINUED
HE first settlers in Bernard Township were Scotch
Presbyterians, Avhich element, in some ineasure, is
still represented in the present inhabitants. The
first actual settler, so far as can be learned by
any records now in existence, was James Pitney. He was
an Englishman, a button maker, Avho had his shop on Lon
don Bridge. He came from England with James Alex
ander, the father of Lord Stirling, to Avhom he Avas in some
way related, either by blood or marriage. He Avent from
Ncav Brunswick in New Jersey to Somerset County and
took possession of some land there. He is mentioned in a
deed executed in 1720 as being in possession of some land
on the east side of the north branch of Dead Eiver. A re
cent author, Ludwig Schumacher, in his delightful book,
" The Somerset Hills," speaks of him as a squatter. This
can not be true, as his connection with the Alexander fam
ily Avould have enabled him to secure all the land he needed,
and his after history showed that it was not necessary that
he should adopt such measures for a livelihood. He was a
Presbyterian and connected with the church of that denomi
nation at Basking Eidge, and became a grantee, with other
persons, in a deed to the trustees of that church for a lot
for the erection of a building for worship and for a ceme
tery lot.
54 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Bernard ToAvuship Avas named in honor of Francis Ber
nard, colonial governor of New York and Ncav .Jersey in
1756. He held office for about two years, and was then
transferred to Massachusetts to become the chief magistrate
of that colony. He was very popular in New Jersey as gov
ernor, but Avas very obnoxious in New England. Some
doggerel of the time AAdll give an idea of the poetry of the
day and of the estimation in which he Avas held in the dif
ferent parts of the countrj^ Some student of Princeton Col
lege thus sang about him :
We sing great George upon the throne,
And Amherst, great in arms ;
While Bernard, in their milder forms.
Makes the royal virtues known.
A New England poet uses a different note :
And if suoh men are by God appointed.
The Devil might be the Lord's anointed.
Not many representatiA^es of the old families who origin
ally settled in Bernard remain, but some are still to be
found. Several of these original families are represented
by residents uoav in the toAvnship, not of the original name,
but descended from daughters who have married husbands
of different patronymics than their own.
Just below Basking Eidge the Passaic reaches Milling
ton, a small village stretching on both sides of the stream
with its larger part on the Morris County side. Here the
river assumes a character not found anywhere else in its
Avhole course. It has forced its way through Long Hill, at
Millington, forming a gorge of various depths and extend
ing for about a quarter of a mile. Through this gorge the
stream rushes with some velocity. The ravine is steep-
sided, about seventy-five feet Avide at the top, lessening quite
gradually in width before reaching the bottom. Although
THE GORGE AT MILLINGTON
55
the sides are so steep yet they are covered from the top to
the stream beloAV Avith a thick groAvth of trees and under
brush. Some theories have been advanced by geologists as to
Avhen and hoAv the river accomplished the feat of creating
this gorge, but their examination and research have not
enabled them to determine definitely the vexed question.
It was probably done during the time aa hen this part of
New Jersey Avas coA'ered with a heaA^y mass of ice. The
waters of the upper river were dammed by its immense ac-
GREAT SEAL OF GEORGE I.
cumulation, and in their efforts to escape they broke through
the hill and thus formed the ravine for the passage of the
Avater. A bridge of some artistic taste, used by the Passaic and
Delaware Eailroad, spans the river near Millington.
The pure air and beautiful sceneiy of this region have in
vited several summer visitors to locate their country resi
dences here, and more will surely follow. One of the most
notable of these residences is that built by Frederick Nish-
56
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Avish, now deceased. Mr. Nishwish was a man of prom
inence and influence. His i^oAver was manifested in public
affairs and in political circles. His energy was felt in all
matters relating to public interests. His honesty com
manded universal respect and inspired confldence. He was
the inventor of an improved harrow, which he called the
" Acme," and a manufactory of this useful agricultural im
plement Avas established by him at this village some years
before his death which is still in profitable operation, its
GREAT SEAL OF GEORGE II.
products being in great demand for their usefulness in all
parts of the country.
There is a Baptist Church of some antiquity at Milling
ton, but on the Somerset side, which is an infiuential factor
in controlling the religious sentiment of this part of the
State. After leaving Millington, and before reaching Union
County, there are some named localities in Somerset:
Mount Bethel, Warrenville, Coontown, Smalleytown, Mount
FORMATION OF COUNTIES 57
Tabor, and Union Village. These are small villages, or
hamlets, of inconsiderable size and in farming districts.
At Mount Bethel is another Baptist Church and at Mount
Tabor a jNIethodist, with a numerous congregation and very
commodious building.
Somerset County was named probably from Somerset
shire in England. This is conjecture, based somcAvhat on
tradition and on one or tAVO significant facts conflrmatory
of this tradition. There were undoubtedly some eariy
settlers in the county Avho immigrated from Somersetshire.
An imaginative resemblance between the scenery of their
former home and that found in their new abode, or per
haps a desire to perpetuate in New Jersey a name left in
England, led them to call that new home Somerset. It can
not be ascertained when that name Avas flrst applied to any
locality in New Jersey. It Avas not probably knoAvn until
the creation by statute of the county. The first mention by
the colonial Legislature of any division of the colony into
counties is to be found in an act passed November 13, 1675,
by the Assembly of the whole province held in Elizabeth-
town; but that mention is exceedingly indeflnite. It ap
pears in this manner in the preamble of an act :
Having taken into serious consideration the great Change, that hath been oc
casioned by a Necessity of keeping Courts within the Province as also the Ne
cessity that Courts of Justice be maintained and upheld amongst us, whieh said
Courts may go under the denominations of County Courts.
Therefore it was enacted :
That there be two of the aforesaid Courts kept in the year, in each respective
County, viz. . Bergen and the adjacent plantations about them, to be a County
and to have two Courts in a Year, whose Sessions shall be the flrst Tuesday in
September; Elizabethtown and Newark to make a County and have two Courts
in a Year, whose Sessions shall be the first Tuesday in March and third Tuesday
in September ; Woodbridge and Piscataqua to be a County and to have two
Courts, the first of them the third Tuesday in March and the second Tuesday in
58
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
September. The two towns of Nevysink to make a County, the Sessions to be
the last Tuesday in March and first Tuesday in September.
There Avas no legislation prior to this time relative to
the creation of counties. It is not probable that the Legis
lature by this act intended to set apart any particular sec
tion of the colony for the purposes of a county. It would
have been exceedingly difficult at that time, in the then un
settled state of the country, with so much uninhabited land,
with no kuoAvledge of what might be taken for boundary
lines, to have defined Avith any exactness any region of
country for the creation of a county. But at a session of
the Legislature of East Jersey held in March, 1682, at Eliza
bethtown, four counties were created, their boundaries
very imperfectly described, and
their powers somewhat de
fined. These four counties were
Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and
Monmouth. Middlesex County
was thus described in that act:
Middlesex County to begin from the part
ing line between Essex County and Wood-
bridge line, containing Woodbridge and Pis
cataway and all the Plantations on both sides
the Raritan River as far as Chesequake Har
bor Eastward, extending South West to the utmost bounds of the Province.
This description is most indefinite, but a glance at it re
veals the fact that, indefinite as it is, it contains much more
territory than is uoav found in the modern county. It is
quoted here because Somerset County, when erected, was
taken from Middlesex. " Chesequake" Harbor is now known
as Cheesequake, a small stream flowing from near Jackson
ville, in Middlesex County, into Earitan Bay, a fcAV miles
south of Amboy.
On the 11th day of May, 1688, the Legislature for East
SEAL OF EAST JERSEY.
ERECTION OF SOMERSET COUNTY
59
Jersey met at Perth Amboy. The third act passed at that ses
sion was one Avhich erected Somerset County, and Avas thus
entitled: ''An act for dividing the County of Middlesex
into two Counties.'' The preamble Avhich recited the reasons
for passing the statute is too curious to be omitted:
Forasmuch as the uppermost Part of Earitan River is settled by persons whom
(sic) in their Husbandry and manuring their land, forced upon quite different
ways and methods from other Fanners and Inhabitants of the County of Middle
sex because of the frequent Floods that carry away their Fences on their
Meadows the only arable land they have and so by consequence their interest is
divided from the other Inhabitants of said County.
It Avas therefore enacted that the
Said uppermost Part of the Raritan beginning at the mouth of the Bound
Brook, where it empties itself into the Raritan River and to run up the said
CROWN OF GEORGE II.
Brook, to the meeting of the said Bound Brook with the Green Brook and from
the said meeting, to run upon a North West line into the Hills, and upon the
South West side of the Raritan to begin at a small Brook, where it empties
itself into the Raritan, about seventy chains below the Bound Brook and from
thence to run upon a South West line to the uttermost line of the Province, be
divided from the said County of Middlesex and hereafter to be deemed, taken
and be a County of this Province; and that the same County be called the County
of Somerset. It would have been very difficult at the time this act was
passed to have located the boundaries of the new county;
it would be impossible to do so now. Very soon it became
necessary to secure further laAvs to remedy the many evils
60 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
caused by such a crude method of legislation. There is no
county in the State which has been the object of so many
statutes of the Legislature passed for the purpose of alter
ing, changing, defining, and settling its boundaries as
Somerset. It was not until 1876 that the county's bounda
ries were deflned and it became finally established in its
present territory with certain defined division lines be
tween it and the adjoining counties.
For twenty-five years after its creation Somerset had no
independent courts; in fact it had no entirely independent
existence as a municipality. For courts it Avas dependent
upon Middlesex, and it Avould seem also that it had no
county offices of its own. Certainly up to 1710 it had no
township. In 1693 an act was passed providing for the di-
Adsion of the several counties into tOAvnships, but by the
same act it was enacted that " the County of Somerset, as
it is already bounded by a foriner act of Assembly," shall
be a toAvnship. There are noAV nine toAvnships in the coun
ty : Bridgewater, Bedminster, Bernard, Branchbiirg, Hills
borough, Franklin, Montgomery, Warren, and North Plain-
field. Of these Bernard and Warren are directly connected
Avith the Passaic, which forms the boundary line between
them and Mendham and Passaic ToAvnships in Mori'is.
Somerset County has ahvays been remarkable for its cul
tured and educated people. Early in its history, even be
fore the Eevolution, many families of this class were num
bered among its inhabitants. The residence of Lord Stir
ling, his bounteous hospitality, and his charming and beau
tiful daughters attracted many visitors. Several pur
chases of land in different parts of the county had been made
by Avealthy individuals, and some of the nobility of Scot
land had been induced to become proprietors. Among these
was Lord Neil Campbell, brother of the Duke of Argyle,
H-AHPEB, fc BB-OTHEHS.
THE FRELINGHUYSEN FAMILY 61
Avho bought an extensive tract of several hundred acres on
the Earitan and settled there with ninety-five servants. Two
sons of Argyle, John and Charles Campbell, and a cousin,
Archibald Campbell, all of whom had participated in the
attempt to seat the Pretender, Charles Edward, on the
throne of England, fled from their native land to escape
death, and settled also on or near the Earitan. Each was
accompanied by a retinue of followers more or less in num
ber. William Pinhorne, at one time governor of the colony,
was also a purchaser, but he never resided in the county.
The Duchess of Gordon was led, probably by the presence
of so many of her countrymen in Somerset, to invest in the
purchase of land in that county. Her title of " duchess " is
still attached to this day, by the old inhabitants in its
neighborhood, to the land she bought.
The Frelinghuysen family has been and is now prominent
in social and religious circles. The Eev. Theodoras Jacobus
Frelinghuysen, the flrst of the name known in Ncav Jersey,
came to this country in 1720. He Avas a Dutch Eeformed
minister, educated at Amsterdam in Holland, and preached
the gospel in Somerset, Middlesex, and Hunterdon Counties.
His wife was the daughter of an eminent and Avealthy mer
chant in Holland, and Avas a marked character of pro
nounced piety and great intellectual ability. One of their
grandsons, Frederick Frelinghuysen, became a represent
ative in the Provincial and Continental Congresses and a
senator in the United States Senate from New Jersey. He
was a captain of artillery early in the War for Independ
ence and rose to the rank of general before its close. He
was present at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Mon
mouth, and other great confiicts. Another grandson, Theo
dore Frelinghuysen, was eminent in church and State. He
was licensed as a lawyer early in life, was appointed attor-
62
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ney-general of the State, and was offered a seat on the Su
preme Court bench, which he declined. He became United
States senator and was the candidate of the Whig party for
Vice-President with Henry Clay as President. Later in life
he accepted the chancellorship of the UniA-ersity of New
York and subsequently was president of Eutgers College.
He was also president of the American Bible Society, and
held the same executive office in the Board of Foreign
^Missions, the Tract Society, and the Temperance Union.
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen
was the grandson of General
Frederick Frelinghuysen and
the nephew of the senator, by
Avhom he was adopted when
only three years old. He also
was licensed as a lawyer, and
practiced his profession at
Newark. He was appointed
attorney-general of the State,
became a member of the Peace
Congress, as it was called, then
United States senator, and
flnally Secretary of State under
President Arthur. Eepresent
atives of this family are still to be found in Somerset and
elsewhere. Three sons of the late Secretary of State are
living, two of whom are lawyers : Frederick, now president
of the Howard Savings Institution at NcAvark, one of the
1 argest and most prosperous institutions of the character in
the State; George, a successful lawyer practicing his pro
fession in New "York City; and Theodore, treasurer of the
Coates & Co.'s thread business in New York City.
Other families also prominent in social life, in ecclesias-
(j^%^-«'r:?72wwy5'.4-»->-v/^-»<-'-
OTHER OLD FAMILIES
63
tical and political circles, are still represented in Somerset
County. Among them may be mentioned thcjse bearing the
names of Dumont, Elmendorf, Vanderveer, Veghte, Stelle,
Gaston, Bergen, NcAdus, A'room, A'oorhees, Schenck, and
AVyckoff. In 1876 two members of the Smith family, Abraham
Smith and Peter Z. Smith, resident in Bernard ToAvnship,
in connection with some other members of that largely scat
tered and very numerous family knoAvn by the name of
Smith, formed an association called " The Smith Family
and Friends Eeunion.'' Since
that time these " reunions " have
been regularly held on the Smith
farm in Bernard ToAvnship, near
Peapack. This association has
proA'ed to be one of the most
popular of the kind in the coun
try. It is estimated that ten
thousand Smiths have attended
at one of these meetings.
Somerset County at one time
incorporated within its bounds
Ncav BrunsAvick and Princeton
and a large part of Middlesex County. Then the Stockton
family were resident at Princeton, so that Eichard Stock
ton, the signer, can be said to have belonged to Somerset.
Several men distinguished in the colonial history of New
Jersey were either residents in Somerset or largely inter
ested in its affairs. Among these was Peter Sonmans, a
Hollander, who went to England under AAllliam and Mary,
and came from there to this country, settling in New Jersey.
He was for many years surveyor-general of the province,
became a member of the Governor's Council, and was one
Cf-tL/ . Z72.i^^..^.....-t>/C«.<..«. cTo
64
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
of a committee to prepare an ordinance for a " High "
Court of Chancery. He purchased land in Somerset Coun
ty, and, although a member of the Church of England, do
nated valuable tracts to aid in erecting both a Presbyte
rian and a Eeformed Dutch Church.
Garven Lawrie was also prominent in Colonial history.
He was a merchant in London before he became interested
in the new Avorld. He was appointed one of the trustees of
Edward Byllinge, an original proprietor of West Jersey.
AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND,
William Penn and Nicholas Lucas were associated with
him in this trust. He succeeded Thomas Eudyard as gov
emor of New Jersey. He brought with him a new code of
laws called the " Fundamental Constitution." This code
Avas c(msidered at the time as superior to the far famed
" Concessions " of Berkeley and Carteret, but they do not
seem to have been put into operation. It is quite doubtful
Avhether Lawrie was its author, as he was not supposed to
have possessed the ability to have prepared so excellent a
THE VAN NEST FAMILY 65
system. He was one of the Council of Lord Neil Campbell,
Avho succeeded him as govemor. Like his successor, he
owned land in Somerset.
The Van Nest family at one time exercised considerable
influence in the county. It had been exceedingly useful in
public affairs in Holland, especially during the time of Will
iam the Silent. One of the name became attached to the
Court of Philip II as his private
secretary Avhile the great stadt-
'U/J'TO'^U^ holder was carrying on his
-^ terrible struggle for freedom
and religious toleration with
the Spanish tyrant. He then became acquainted with all
the plans and purposes of the monarch. Philip was a most
voluminous writer, scratching in his miserable chirography,
on the margins of every state paper or other document com
ing into his hands, notes and annotations, generally of the
most frivolous character.
Van Nest copied at night every thing which came under
his notice during the daytime, and transmitted his work to
AVilliam, who in this manner was enabled to thwart many
of the plans of his antagonist.
Strange to say, after many years of ^ ^^ /V
this wonderful activity on his part M/T^S^^J^Tti^T^*
Van Nest escaped from Spain and <7 (^
returned to Holland. Another of
the family was in conimand as vice-admiral Avith Admiral
de Euyter in one of those terriflc sea engagements between
the English and Dutch Avhich added so much renown to the
sea " beggars " of Holland.
The flrst Van Nest in America came here in 1647, and
settled in Ncav Amsterdam, as New York was then called.
66
THE PASSAIC Valley
His name was Peter, and he was the ancestor of all of his
patronymic in this country. About thirty years afterward
an immigrant of the same name, probably his son, came to
Somerset and settled on the Earitan Eiver.
The presence of so many names in the records of the coun
ty denote that its population has been derived from many
sources; Dutch, Scotch, and English j)atronymics are most
numerous, but other names are found, evincing that there is
a strain of other blood from other sources.
The Eev. Mr. McCrea, the father of the unfortunate
Jane McCrea, was at one time
pastor of a church at Lamington.
The house in Avhich he resided
Avas still standing a fcAV years
ago. Somerset is not without its
Eevolutionary memories. It gave
many distinguished men to the
Councils and to the army of the
country in that time Avhen men
Avere needed. Besides General
Frelinghuj'sen and Lord Stirling,
already noticed, Hendrick Fisher, John Mehelm, John Bay
ard, Peter D. Vroom, and others Avere among the offlcers
from Somerset Avho were honorably mentioned from time
to time during the Avar.
A very large majority of the people of Somerset County
AA'cre true to the cause of American Independence, and did
not fail in showing their patriotism by their services iu the
field, by their sufferings from the i)resence of the patriot
army, and from the inroads made b.v the enemy while they
were near and at Ncaa' Brunswick. In the Avinter of 1778
and 1779 the Eevolutionary Army Avas encamped near
SEAL OF NEW NETHERLANDS.
THE AVALLACE HOUSE
67
Somerville and Washington occupied the Wallace house
at that place as his headquarters. This house is still stand
ing, in most excellent condition, having been bought by
" The Eevolutionary Memorial Society of New Jersey," a
patriotic association of ladies and gentlemen formed in
1897 under the leadership of General Eichard F. Stevens,
Avho is still its president. The Wallace house is so called
because it was built by AA'illiam Wallace, a merchant, of
THE WALLACE HOUSE, NEAR SOMERVILLE.
New York, Avho inherited the land upon which it was built
from his father, John Wallace, who bought the property in
1775 from the Eev. Dr. Jacob E. Hardenburgh. Peter Van
Nest, already mentioned, had purchased, in 1693, a larger
tract of which the land sold to .John AA'allace formed part.
The house at the time of its erection Avas deemed to be the
most elegant edifice in Somerset. It certainly was erected
in the most substantial manner, as its present condition
GEORGE WASHINGTON (PEALE's PORTRAIT).
THE WALLACE HOUSE 69
fully proves. It is a tAvo-story frame dwelling, with a wide
hall passing through its center, AAitli two rooms on each
side. One of these, in the front, Avas occupied by Washing
ton as a parlor, and that in its rear for a bed chamber, the
front room on the other side of the hall being used as a re
ception room. The house is built on a massive stone founda
tion, with thick oak-hewn timbers and large chimneys. The
hall is entered through a Avide double door, on Avhich is the
old fashioned brass knocker. Several small buildings near
the mansion Avere once the slave quarters, but they have now
disappeared. On the laAAm in front of the dwelling stood a superb live
oak tree, eight feet in diameter, the largest of its kind and,
perhaps, the oldest in America. Beneath it, in its shade,
Avhenever the weather permitted, " Lady " Washington Avas
fond of sitting with her book and work. From this house
Avere issued all the general orders of the Commander-in-
Chief in the Avinter of 1778-79 and spring of 1779 and dated
" Head Quarters, Middlebrook." Here, too, Washington
planned one or two important campaigns.
Eooms in the building have been surrendered to several
local loyal societies which have ornamented them with
patriotic designs and many mementoes of Eevolution
ary times. The grounds have been put in excellent order,
and Avith the beautiful trees found there, and the many
memories clustering around the house, invite all lovers of
their country to become pilgrims to this reminder of the
virtues and services of the great leader in the struggle for
American independence.
CHAPTER V
MENDHAM AND OTHER TOWNS
ENDHAM, near Avhich locality the Passaic Eiver
rises, is a beautiful, thriving village situated in
the southern part of Morris County, immediately
adjoining Somerset. It is placed on a command
ing position, some six hundred feet above mean tide. The
township, also called IMeudham, is one of the smallest in the
county, containing 14,764 acres. Its land is mostly hilly,
some of it being almost mountainous. A small extent of
its surface near the source of the Passaic is marshy, but all
the rest of it is free from swamp. Many streams drain the
whole county, and springs of pure, fresh w.ater are found in
almost any direction. The brooks which fiow over the west
ern part of the toAvnship add their waters to the Earitan;
those from the eastern side empty into the Passaic. The
soil, as a general rule, is fertile, and almost any product of
the temperate zone can be raised at any point within its
borders. It Avas established as a township in 1749, being
among the earliest to be formed. The north branch of the
Earitan rises only a short distance from the source of the
Passaic, but the two rivers diverge immediately after leav
ing their natal springs.
When and by Avhom Mendham Avas first settled cannot be
definitely ascertained. It is quite difficult for those who live
at the present time, enjoying the comforts and often the
72
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
luxuries of modern life, to understand or appreciate the in
ducements which led the first white man to select an un
broken wilderness as a dAvelling place for himself and his
family. Even the impulse which drove those who sought
8. BELLm'S BA.BE itxF OF VIU.
refuge from religious persecution is not always nor ever,
perhaps, properly estimated. This im])iilse did not send the
first settlers to Mendham, and it is a matter really of con
jecture as to what was the impelling force which sent the
FIRST SETTLERS OF MENDHAM 73
first immigrants thither. That part of the countiy where
Mendham is situated is remarkably Avell Avatered. Numer
ous streams run over it into both the Passaic and Earitan.
The trapper and hunter may have found peltry and game
in abundance in the forests and Avaters of this region Avhen
there were no settlements to disturb the solitude or to
frighten aTsay the objects of their pursuit. The alert and
quick-eyed Anglo-Saxon, ever since he has been known to
history, has been fond of adventure, eager to explore other
lands than his own, sometimes not over honest nor careful
to regard the rights of others in the possession of country
and home, and never has he more manifested his restless
energy than in his migrations in this western continent.
Perhaps the fertile soil, the pure air, the healthful climate
may have induced immigration to the beautiful mountain
land. The trapper and the hunter never kept Avritten rec
ords of their genealogy, of their race, or lineage, nor noted
upon the written page the births of their children, the mar
riages of their maidens, the death of their ancestors. They
did not trouble themselves about Autal statistics; the
stern realities of their rude life, of their present wants,
simple thougli they might be, were the objects of their con
sideration. The warlike Anglo-Saxon carved his record Avith
his sword, so the brave men who went out into the wilder
ness and helped found an empire of freemen have given no
information of who they Avere, what was the place of their
nativity, or what was their race or lineage.
The ea.rliest date which can be established by any record
is about 1738, and the first settler known by name was
James Wills, who bought land at Ealstonville from the Pro
prietors. He was succeeded by some Scotch and Irish
Protestants, who erected a log church near Indian Brook,
which flows into the Earitan, Avest of the village. In 1740
74
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
v.'
the population had largely' increased, among Avliom were
found families named Cook, Beach, BaldAvin, Thompson,
Condict, Cooper, AVick, Loree, Cary, Smith, Dod, Clark, and
HoAvell. James Pitney's name appears there in 1740. He was a
son of the James Pitney AA^ho is spoken of as being in pos
session of some land in Somerset County on the east side
of the north branch of
Dead Eiver. He became
a large landoAvner in
and near Mendham. A
farm once OAvned by him,
between Mendham and
Brookside, is still in the
family, being now the
property of the Hon.
Henry C. Pitney, one of
the vice-chancellors of
New Jersey' and uoav re
siding at Morristown.
•James Pitney's brother,
Jonathan, also settled
at Mendham. From these
tAVO brothers are de
scended the large and re
spectable Pitney families
in Morris. The vice-chancellor has three sons, laAvyers,
one of whom has recently been appointed an associate
justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey; another is a
civil engineer.
The names of Axtell and Losee apj)ear among the early
settlers or soon after they came. If the names of the first
recorded inhabitants are any indication of the locality from
AN INDIAN CHIEFTAIN.
MENDHAM FAMILIES 75
Avhence they came, those Avho aro familiar with the nomen
clature of the families in l]ssex County would conclude that
they undoubtedly migrated from that county. They were,
hoAvever, all of English origin. At the present time the
names prominent in Mendham are Losee, Phoenix, Gara-
brant, Quimby, Sutton, Bockoven, Oliver, Drake, Menagh,
Thompson, Stiger, Nesbitt, and Cooper. The names of Ax
tell, Mcllraith, Dod, Sanders, Pitney, Stevens, Eiggs, and
Marsh, once prominent here, have now few, if any, repre
sentatives. The Axtell faniily Avere once quite numerous,
but they haA^e disappeared from this locality. A meniber
of it, the Hon. Charles F. Axtell, a lawyer and formerly a
inember of the State Legislature from Jlorris County, re
sides at Morristown, and others are found scattered over
the country.
Stephen Dod, a remarkable mechanic and mathematician,
was the ancestor of several distinguished clergymen, one
of whom was a professor in Princeton College. He himself
was a descendant of Daniel Dod, one of the first immigrants
from Connecticut to Newark.
After leaving Mendham, and before reaching Union Coun
ty, several small villages in Morris County are included
within the range of the Passaic Valley: Brookside, once
called Water Street, and AVashington Corners in Mendham
Township; Logansville, Green Village, AAliite Bridge, Pleas
ant Plains, Pleasantville, Green Village, Long Hill, Meyers-
ville, Stirling, and Gillette in Passaic ToAvnship. Stirling
and Gillette are new localities; the others are of some an
tiquity. The Passaic and Delaware Railroad passes
through or very near Gillette and Stirling. This fact and
the beauty of the surrounding country have induced specu
lators to purchase many tracts of land on the line of this
railroad in the hope of securing immigration of summer
76
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
residents and permanent settlers. At Stirling the land has
been mapped and laid out into city building lots. Silk
mills have been established and a. population of about 900
have been gathered here. A large proportion of these are
foreigners of different nationalities : many Italians, some
Armenians, and a fcAv SAvedes. The other localities are
small villages, hamlets, insignificant centers of agricul
tural interests, Avith no manufactures.
With some very few exceptions there
are no representatiA^es of old families
in this region. A very distinguished
Morris County family was found at Ncav
Vernon before and during the Eevolu
tion, one of whom, perhaps more, served
in the patriot army. This family was of
the Lindsley race, descended from Fran
cis Linle, one of the first settlers of New
ark in 1666, and whose descendants are
scattered in different parts of the coun
try. Eleazar Lindsley, one of this fam
ily, became a colonel in the Eevolution
ary Army. He is represented to-day by
many descendants in Morris County and
elsewhere. Philip Lindsley is another
of the same blood, avIio made himself
distinguished, early in the nineteenth
century, as a theologian and college and seminary professor.
He was born at New Vernon in 1780, was graduated from
Princeton in 1804, was licensed to preach in 1810, became
a tutor and professor in his alma mater, Avas its vice-presi
dent, refused the position of president, and finally ac
cepted the chancellorship of the University of Nashville,
Tenn., after three times refusing the proffered honor. His
A CONTINENTAL SOLDIER.
LONG HILL AND VICINITY 77
son, John Berrien Lindsley, has secured distinction as a
physician, and became the successor of his father as chan
cellor. He held the position from 1855 to 1S70, with great
credit for his admirable performance of its duties. He and
his father were both voluminous authors, he Avritiug upon
medical and germane subjects and his father on theological
themes. A grandson of Philip Lindsley bearing the same
name is uoav a distinguished laAvyer at Dallas, Tex. Oscar
Lindsley, who recently died at Pleasantville, Avas a mem
ber of the same family, as is also J. Frank Lindsley, editor
and proprietor of the Morris County Vliroiiicle, an able and
successful ncAVspaper published at MorristoAvn,
(lillette is a small hamlet Avhere .-ire several summer resi
dences. The name of Long Hill can hardly be given to auy
certain locality, although there is a postoffice called by that
name, near Meyersville, affording postal facilities for the
region adjacent. But what is knoAvn as Long Hill is an ele
vation, in some points nearly 500 feet above the tide, ex
tending from Chatham for ten miles and ending in Somer
set County. Although no village nor hamlet exists Avhich
can be called Long Hill, yet there has been quite a numer
ous population, mostly agricultural in its character, living
for the last century and more on farms in and about this
elevation. Among this population were several families of
historical fame. A reference to only one or tAVo of these
can be made. Eev. James Caldwell, the Avell knoAvn chap
lain and quartermaster in the Eevolutionary Army, be
longed to one of these. He took a very prominent part in the
Eevolution and Avas a participant in many battles, not only
as chaplain, but as an actual combatant. His courage gave
him the name of the " Fighting Parson." At Springfield
he shoAved the greatest intrepidity, mingling in the thickest
of the contest, and encouraging the soldiers by voice and
78 THE PASSAIC A^ALLEY
example. At a critical moment when the cartridges were
exhausted he rushed into the church, near at hand, gathered
up the hymn books, and gave them to the men with the ex
clamation " Give them Watts, boys! " Many amusing anec
dotes are related of him and of his ready answers. It was
MONUMENT ERECTED BY THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE PATRIOTS WHO
FELL AT SPRINGFIELD, JUNE 23, 1780.
at the time of the battle of Springfield that his wife, Avhile
standing in a house at Connecticut Farms, Avith a babe in
her arms Avatching the British Army as it passed by, was
shot and killed by a soldier in the invading ranks. He
himself Avas murdered, in 1781, by a drunken soldier near
Elizabethtown. He Avas greatly respected by the officers in
RE\-. .I.AMES CALDAVELL AND THE LUDLOAVS 79
the patriot army and beloved by the men. His murderer
Avas promptly tried and as promptly executed. His virtues
and patriotism have been the theme of many poets and ora
tors since his time, and his name Avill ever be spoken Avith
reverence by all Jerseymen. His oavu immediate descend
ants Avere numerous, nine sons and daughters having been
born to him before his brutal murder. These children were
all provided for immediately after his death. Afterward
they became leaders in societ}- in one direction or another.
The daughters Avere well married, one son was carried to
France by Lafayette, two became employes in governmental
departments, and one Avas a judge of the county courts in
( rloucester County. A lineal descendant, a great-grandson,
Noel Eobertson Park, is uoav a inember of the New Jersey
Society of the Sons of the American Eevolution, claiming
eligibility for membership hj his descent from this distin
guished ancestor. In the graveyard of the First Presby
terian Church at Elizabeth is a monument Avith this in
scription :
This monument is erected to the memory of the Rev. James Caldwell, the
pious and fervent Christian, the zealous and faithful minister, the eloquent
preacher, and a prominent leader amongst the worthies who secured the independ
ence of his country. His name will be cherished in the Church and in the State
as long as virtue is esteemed and patriotism is honored.
The Ludlow family Avas once prominent in this section
of Morris County. Cornelius and Benjamin Avere conspicu
ous during the Eevolutionary times, and foremost in the
politics of their day. Benjamin became a major-general
in the patriot army. One of their descendants, George H.
Ludlow, was at one time clerk of the County of Morris, and
then became its sheriff. Another, George C. LiidloAV, Avas
governor of the State for one term and afterAvard an asso
ciate justice of the Supreme Court.
80
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Other families of note were set:tled along Long Hill,
bearing the names of Eunyon, Carle, Little (Littell), Con-
net, Moore, Badgley, Baker, Elmer, and others. Very few
of these are to-day represented by actual residents.
Meyersville was originally settled by Germans, who es
tablished here a Lutheran Church. These sturdy men have
become entirely Americanized, although retaining many
customs of their forefathers and clinging to their beloved
church. The Campfield family origin
ated, so far as Morris County is con
cerned, at New Vernon, once called
South Hanover. The first of the name
was Abraham, who settled here in the
eighteenth century. He Avas an active,
intelligent citizen, conducting an iron
manufactory in connection with a coun
try store, sending pack-horses to the
mines near Dover, and thus bringing the
needed material to his blacksmith shop.
His descendants removed to Morristown
and added their influence to the progress
and prosperity of that locality.
The people of Passaic Township early
provided religious appliances for their
OAVU benefit and for their families and
neighbors. Besides those at Millington, Stirling, and
Meyersville, Methodist Churches have been established at
Pleasant Plains and Green Village and a Presbyterian at
New Vernon.
Passaic ToAvnship has some Eevolutionary reminiscences.
In 1780-81 the patriot army was encamped in Morris Coun
ty, a large part of it being located in the northern and north
western parts of the township, where the soldiers built huts
A Ol.LNADIEROFFICER.
o
H-<
W
O 0
agS
82
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
for their accommodation. An abundance of chestnut trees
grew in the locality and these were used for the erection of
these huts, whicli were made as comfortable as possible.
The winter, hoAvever, was one of the severest ever known in
the county and the men suffered severely. In addition to
the cold there was a lack of clothing and food, and the pa
triotism of the sufferers was severely tried. They were
true, howcA'er, to themselves and to their country, and did
not murmur.
The Wick house, celebrated in Eevolutionary history, is
situated in this township. It is still standing, in good
preservation, on the road from Mendham to what was
knoAvn a few years ago as Hoyt's Corners. Its architecture
is of a style well knoAvn at the time of its erection — long,
low, one story and a half in height, with a narrow hall pass
ing through the center of the dwelling and tAvo rooms on
each side. It was in one of these rooms that Tempe Wick
secreted her pet horse to save it from being taken for the
use of the army.
COLONIAL JACK.
CHAPTEE VI
THE GREAT SAA^A.JIP — PASSAIC LAKE
N THE southeastern part of Passaic Township is a
large extent of country called the Great Swamp,
tomprising many thousands of acres. It borders
directly upon the river and extends quite a distance
into the country. A very large part of it is as level as a
XJarlor fioor and not a stone of any considerable size can be
found anywhere on its surface. Undoubtedly an extensive
swamp once existed at this spot, having all the characteris
tics of a marsh. But the ground has now become hardened,
houses are built upon it, roads ruu across it, every acre of it
can be cultivated, and all the products of the temperate
zone can be grown in its fruitful soil. This Great SAvamp
was probably at one time part of the bed of the immense
lake to which some reference has already been made. This
imaginary body of water has received from Ncav Jersey
geologists the name of the " Passaic Lake." Several theories
have been advanced by scientific men as to its origin, nature,
and final obliteration. Whether such a body of water did
ever actually exist has not been definitely settled. Pro
fessor George H. Cook, for many years State geologist of
New Jersey, first noticed, in 1880, the apparent former ex
istence of a large body of fresh Avater. He fixed its date
during the latter ice age, when, as Avas supposed, the whole
or nearly the whole of the State Avas coA^ered with ice. He
JJ ^ to 1^ ao- ^ jg JS- jo 4i >" fi-ji) s- i> is- go qa J
L ICll COURTSHIP
220 THE PASSAIO VALLEY
But there was another element in the population of Mor
ris County which must not be overlooked, although not so
important so far as its numbers are concerned as the others
already mentioned. Early in the eighteenth century a
small band of immigrants founded a settlement at German
Valley, in the southwestern comer of the county. This
was only a small part of a large volume of immigration
which left Germany early in the eighteenth century for this
western world and spread from the Mohawk and Hudson
Valleys in New York as far south as Savannah in Georgia,
leaving large numbers, however, in Pennsylvania.
The settlement in Morris County was the result of an acci
dent. The design of this particular band was to reach the
Mohawk Valley, but the vessel which brought them across
the Atlantic was driven by stress of weather into Delaware
Bay, and, landing at Philadelphia, the colonists, strangers
in the country, unacquainted with the routes of travel,
resolved to make their way overland to their original place
of destination. When they reached the locality afterward,
and by them, called German Valley, attracted by its
goodly situation, its fertile soil, and its delightful climate,
they determined there to fix their habitation. The land
was before them; there were no inhabitants there except,
perhaps, a few whites and some straggling, wandering In
dians. A beautiful stream making its way to the Raritan
passed through the valley. The hillsides were covered with
timber suitable for the erection of their dwellings. There
they remained, and there are their descendants to this day.
They reared their church, in which they worshipped accord
ing to the faith of their fathers. The log edifice has given
l>lace to a substantial and commodious structure, where
godly men have ministered to them from generation to gen
eration.
MORRIS OOUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION 221
Such are the elements which have peopled Morris Coun
ty, and such are the men who laid the foundations of its
prosperity and made it what it is to-day. They little knew
and in their wildest imagination never dreamed what were
to be the mighty results of their labors. They builded
deeper and stronger and reared, a structure more colossal
in its proportions than their fancy even conceived.
The part which the citizens of Morris County took in the
Revolutionary War is deserving of the highest commenda
tion. The whole population with exceedingly few excep
tions were loyal to the cause of freedom. Their women and
children manifested this loyalty in the strongest manner
possible. Prior to the actual beginning of hostilities be
tween the colonies and the mother country, as early as
1772, full evidence was
given of the restive spirit of
the people under the op
pressive acts of the King
and Parliament of Eng
land. Morris County was
too far removed from the
actual scenes of oppression,
and its situation was such
that its people could be lit- a liberty placard.
tie affected by the laws
which were intended by the English authorities to strike
at the seaboard towns and commercial and navigating in
terests. But beneath all the events which were agitating
the colonists there were involved certain principles which
their intelligent minds and consciences could and did ap
preciate. These principles were attacked by the action of
the mother country, and that affected the patriots of Mor-
222
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ris County to such an extent that they were ready to make
common cause with their fellow citizens in other colonies.
The first public demonstration of the patriotic feeling of
the community was made on the 27th day of June, 1774,
when a public meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants
of the county was held, pursuant to prior call, at the court
house in Morristown, Jacob Ford acting as chairman. Reso
lutions wei'e passed expressing the sentiments of the meet
ing. These avowed loyalty to King George, but at the same
time gave vent in the strongest terms to the indignation of
the .people and at the attempted invasion by the English
Parliament of the rights of the colonists. They repudiated
the action of the authorities in shutting up the port of Bos
ton, in raising a revenue by taxing the
colonies; they protested against the Bos
ton port bill, and all other acts at all sub
versive of the rights of the people. They
promised unqualified assistance to their
oppressed fellow citizens of other colonies,
declared that no purchase should be made
of any articles imported from Great Bri
tain or the; East Indies, and provided for
the appointment of committees of corre
spondence in different parts of the country.
From the time when this meeting was
held the people of the county were ablaze
Avith patriotism; the very best men in the county came to
the front, and by the appointment of the people assumed
the control of public affairs, and the communities in all
parts of the county followed these leaders. Committees of
correspondence and safety were appointed. It was unsafe
for a knoAvn and recognized Tory to remain in the county.
A most excellent man, respected and beloved by his neigh-
STAMP-ACT STAMP.
MORRIS COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION
223
bors and who had been elected to the office of sheriff, was
an outspoken adherent of King George. He Avas at once
notified that he must change his principles or leave the
county. He was conscientious in his convictions and re
fused to submit to the dictation of his fellow citizens, and
was obliged to leave.
The patriotism of the inhabitants of Morristown was so
well assured that political prisoners who had been arrested
for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the new gov
ernment were sent to be confined in that town. A single in
cident Avill show the universality of the patriotism which
actuated all classes. In July, 1776, in a remote part of the
county at a small hamlet, a Mr. Gaston conducted a
country store, where could be found all the articles neces
sary for the simple wants of his
customers. His book of accounts
kept at that time is in existence
and in the possession of one of his
descendants, preserved Avith filial
reverence. On the Fourth of July,
1776, page after page records the
sales made of the ordinary articles
required for household purposes.
But on the day succeeding that,
on which the news of the Declara
tion of Independence was received, the entries in this old
day book are all made up of charges for poAvder and ball
and shot, and the persons so charged covered nearly all the
inhabitants of the hamlet.
When the army visited Morristown in 1777 and again
in 1780 and 1781 the people met them with open arms, wel
comed them to their homes, gave them gratuitously of their
substance, and unmurmuringly bore all the burdens conse-
HANGING A TORY.
224
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
quent upon the presence of so many additions to their num
bers. The Avomen of the county were not behind the men in
their patriotism. They sustained and encouraged their
husbands, brothers, and sons in their devotion to the public
cause; they tilled the farms while the men were away with
the army; they ministered to the wants of the sick and
wounded, manufactured clothing for the soldiers, opened
their doors to them as they passed, fed the hungry, and suf
fered privations and sacrificed much for their country. Said
Anna Kitchell, wife
of Uzal Kitchell and
sister of Captain
Timothy Tuttle,
when by a timid
friend urged to ac
cept British pro
tection : " I have a
husband and five
brothers in the
American Army; if
the God of battles
does not care for us
we will fare with the
rest." Morris County is
named after Lewis
Morris, the first inde-
pendent colonial
governor of New Jersey, and who was instrumental in se
curing the creation of the county.
More space has been given to this history of Morris Coun
ty and its subdivisions than perhaps may be deemed by
^:^^^&mJ y^ffv-r^^
MORRIS COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION 225
some it deserved, but it is hoped that it will be remembered
that that county is one of the historic counties of the Valley
of the Passaic, connected with the war Avhich secured for
this great republic its independence and its present proud
position in the world; that around it and its history cluster
memories dear to every American heart; and that it was
natural for a citizen of the county and a descendant of
heroes who perilled all for independence, and were resident
in this memorable locality at the time, to believe that all
who are now the recipients of the privileges of freedom
gained by the struggles and sacrifices of patriots of the
olden time would rejoice in the recital of some of the events
Avhich transpired in that day of the country's peril.
MEDAL OF THE REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER XVII
PASSAIC COUNTY
ASSAIC COUNTY is the most irregularly shaped of
all the counties in Ncav Jersey, and in this respect
it almost defies description. It is difficult to un
derstand how it was possible that in the division
of the State into counties one so irregular, so ill shaped,
as is Passaic could possibly have been formed. It has its
northern boundary on Orange County in New York; its
westerly line impinges on Sussex and is drawn southward
nearly to Stockholm in that county, at right angles with
the division line between New Jersey and New York; its
eastern boundary is also at right angles, or very nea.rly so,
with the same division, so far as it extends southward be
tween Passaic and Bergen to Pompton. At this point the di
mensions of the county are so compressed that the northern
and southern sides approach each other with hardly a mile
distance between them.
This singular formation divides the county into two un
equal parts. The northerly part is considerably larger than
the other, three sides of it being square — the side next to
New York and those bordering on Sussex on the
west and Bergen on the east. The other division
broadens as it passes southeasterly from this compressed
part, but again lessens until it reaches a sharp point at the
end of Acquackanonk, between Essex and Bergen. As laid
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 229
out on the maps the county has the appearance somewhat
of an old fashioned hour-glass, very unsymmetrical, how
ever, and with ill shapen sides.
A large part of Passaic is mountainous, especially at the
north and west. A range of mountains of small height
come up from the south below Paterson and seem to stop
abruptly at the Passaic River. In and around Pompton
are several hundred acres of very level land, composing part
of what is called Pompton Plains, the larger portion of
which, however, is located in Morris County.
Passaic is well watered. Besides the river from which it
takes its name, and which has already been described, the
Pequannock, its noble tributary, skirts the southern boun
dary of the county while making its way to its final resting
place. The Wanaqua, or Wynockie as it is called by the in
habitants in its vicinity, has the whole of its course in the
county. The Ramapo comes from Bergen and crosses Pas
saic at its narrow part, near Pompton, and a considerable
stream from Greenwood Lake makes its entire way in Pas
saic until it finds the Wanaqua Valley near Boardville.
A stream called the Singac is of some importance in drain
ing the surrounding country.
There are numerous other small streams and streamlets,
tributaries of the Pequannock and other rivers, and some
that run into Greenwood Lake. That beautiful sheet of
Avater, called also Long Pond and better known by that
name to those Avho live near it, extends from New York
into the northern part of West Milford, nearly one-half
lying south of the dividing line between the two States. It
is well stocked with fish of various kinds, and for genera
tions has been the resort of fishermen. But of late years
it has been much sought by summer visitors, both in New
Jersey and in New York. The Greenwood Lake Railroad
230
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
has made its banks easy of access. Its location is charm
ing, and all lovers of wild scenery must delight in the land
scapes around it which meet their eyes.
The Bearfoot Mountains, the roughest, wildest, and most
rocky in the State and th(^ dread of explorers who seek to
A " CRAZY QUILT.
mount their rugged sides, enter New Jersey from New York
at the northern t-xtremity of West Milford and pass south
ward. They are covered Avith a thick growth of laurel and
other gnarled bushes, of scrub oaks, and some chestnut.
They lie on the Avest side of Greenwood Lake aud cover its
western banks with a thick shade in the brightest of sum
mer days.
Some twelve or more ponds and larger bodies of water
RAILROADS AND AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS 231
Avhich may be called lakes are found in the county, mostly
in West Milford, the largest of which is Macopin, an exceed
ingly beautiful body of water covering two hundred and
ninety-nine acres, which seems to have hitherto escaped the
attention of summer visitors. Greenwood Lake has one
thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of land lying be
neath its Avaters.
Numerous railroads intersect the county in almost everj^
direction, giving easy access to travellers into other parts
of the country. The DelaAvare, Lackawanna and Westem
runs from Hoboken northward, enters the county near the
City of Passaic, then passes to Paterson, and from thence
to Morris County, crossing the Pequannock at what was
once called Mead's Basin, but is now known as Mountain
View, and where there is a station on the railroad. The
New York and Erie also starts from Hoboken, goes direct
to Paterson and then into Bergen County, and after travers
ing a portion of that county makes its way into New York.
The New Y^ork, Susquehanna and Western also reaches
Paterson, finds its way from that city with a rather cir
cuitous route to the Pequannock, which it crosses at Pomp
ton, and then follows the last named river along the south
ern boundary of the county. The New York and Green
wood leaves the New York, Susquehanna and Western
about midway betAveen Pompton and Bloomingdale and
finishes its course at Greenwood Lake, traversing Pompton
and West Milford Townships.
The agricultural interests of Passaic are considerable.
There are some excellent farms within its boundary, espe
cially in the vicinity of Pompton, some of which are culti
vated with profit. West Milford, although so wild and
forbidding, has some good arable land near Macopin Pond,
232
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
and the Dutch farmers on the Pequannock, for two centuries
and more, have cultivated most excellent farms.
Passaic County has 128,100 acres within its bounds : 126,-
454 of land and 1,646 water; 1,346 acres of the land covered
with water lie within West Milford. Of the land 50,284 ,
.^-=??^^
THE " VYVER " AT THE HAGUE.
acres are cleared; the balance is still covered with forests.
Some idea of the growth of the population may be gained
from these facts : in 1840, three years after the county was
formed, its population was 16,734; in 1880 the combined
population of the cities of Paterson and Passaic was 59,900;
the whole population then of the county was 60,805. By
EARLY SETTLEMENTS 233
the census of 1900 the people in Paterson alone numbered
somewhat over 105,500.
In the rural districts outside of the two large cities, where
the people are engaged in agricultural pursuits, they are
permanent in their residences. This is especially applicable
to the localities Avhere Dutch immigrants settled in the
early history of the county, and Avhere many of their de
scendants are still found living on the same farms occu
pied by their ancestors. This, hoAvever, does not apply to
all who have Holland blood in their veins. Many of them
of the present day have been impelled by the energy of their
neighbors of other kin, have caught their spirit and prog
ress, and have mingled Avith the people and rivalled them in
their application to other pursuits than agriculture and in
their efforts to serve the community as citizens.
In the early records of the county, in the lists of civil
officers, names of undoubted Dutch origin so often occur
that it may be asserted without fear of contradiction that
more than three-fourths of those officers were of Holland
descent. This state of affairs continued for many years, but
of late the infiux of men of foreign blood has turned the
scale, and now these Holland names, so often once recorded,
seldom appear.
At one time the very great majority of the people of the
county were devoted to agriculture; now nearly all give
their attention to mechanical and manufacturing pursuits,
and in this respect it is not excelled by any other county in
the State.
Passaic had no independent history of its own prior to
tbe time of its incorporation as a county. Up to that period
it had been so intimately connected with Essex and Bergen
that it could have had no separate historical record. The
Dutch had come over first from Manhattan to Bergen Coun-
234 THE PASSAIO VALLEY
ty, and then gradually they pushed their way in their slow,
systematic manner into Acquackanonk and Pompton,
occupying the lowlands found in those localities. There
they built their substantial stone dwellings of one story,
with outreaching eaves, cultivated their farms with perse
vering industry, living quiet lives, rearing their children,
and teaching them the virtues which have so adorned the
character of these phlegmatic men. Suddenly they were
confronted by a new order of things. They were awakened
by the splash of water wheels, by the clatter and swing of
machinery, by the rush of a new, busy life. Their young
men began to appreciate this great change going on around
th(;m, they aAvakened from their apathy, and soon learned
that this new, busy life was before them, that it was for
them, and that it meant something better, nobler than the
dreary monotony of a farm. So they began to keep step
with ihe push of this new existence and soon found that
they had possibilities within them of Avhich they had never
dreamed, and took their proper place in the great battle
around them.
Passaic County was incorporated by an act of the New
Jersey Legislature approved on the 7th of February, 1837.
In this act the county is thus described:
All those parts of the Counties of Essex and Bergen contained within the
following boundaries and lines : Beginning at the mouth of Yantakaw or
Third River, at its entrance into Passaic River, being the present boundary of
the township of Acquachanuck; running thence northwesterly along the course of
the line of said Township to the corner of said line, at or near the Newark and
Pompton Turnpike; thence in a straight line to the bend of the road below the
house now occupied by John Freeman, iu the township of Caldwell, being about
one and a half miles in length ; thence to the middle of Passaic River; thence
along the middle of said River to the middle of the mouth of the Pompton River
by the two Bridges; thence up said River along the line between Bergen and
Morris Counties to Sussex County; thence along the line between Sussex and
Bergen Counties to the State of New York ; theuce Easterly along the line be-
236 THE PASSAIO VALLEY
tween the two States to the division line between the townships of Pompton and
Franklin; thence along said line dividing said townships and the townships of
Franklin and Saddle River to where it intersects the road commonly called
Goetchius' lane; thence down the center of said road or lare to the Passaic River;
thence down the middle of Passaic River to the plaee of Beginning.
When Passaic was first organized it had five townships :
Acquackanonk, Manchester, Paterson, Pompton, and West
Milford. Of these Acquackanonk was the oldest, having
been made a township as early as 1693, when it formed a
part of Essex, to which it continued to belong until the
creation of Passaic, when it was added to the new county.
Manchester was included in Saddle River, one of the town
ships of Bergen, but was transferred to Passaic in 1837.
Some reference has already been made to the early his
tory of Paterson in connection with the Society for the Es
tablishment of Useful Manufactures. A large part of it
was originally severed from Acquackanonk in 1831, when it
became an independent township, and was afterward, in
1851, incorporated as a city, but since that time has re
ceived large additions to its territory in its first and second
wards by some part of Little Falls and a further portion
from Acquackanonk. Pompton was also an ancient munici
pality, founded in 1797 from part of Bergen, from which
county it was transferred to Passaic in 1837. West Milford
belonged to Pompton until 1834, when it was made a town
ship, an.l three years afterward added to Passaic Oounty.
Since the formation of Passaic three new townships have
been erected Avithin its bounds: Little Falls, Passaic, and
Wayne. Little Falls was once within the bounds of
Acquackanonk, but in 1868 was made an independent town
ship. Passaic was taken from Acquackanonk in 1866 and
made a township; three years later it became a village; and
it Avas incorporated as a city in 1873. In 1847 Wayne was
set off from Manchester.
BOROUGH ORGA^^ZATIONS
237
Five boroughs have been created in Passaic; three, Pomp
ton Lakes, Totowa, and Hawthorn, were incorporated prior
to 1901. In 1901 two others were formed by the Legisla
ture : Prospect Park, by act approved March 13, and Hale
don, on March 20. Both were taken from the Township of
ISIanchester.
l«, '^ ¦WP* i^ <* ^ ^ 4^ ^ C^ 1^ .5v .^ • •>*
S?0 N' F P ENNr.^
0 jre SPt/^jry).
:^Pne]?^^^4g^^?[ Penny.'
CHAPTER XVIII
WEST MHjFORD, POMPTON, AND WAYNE
EST MILFORD TOWNSHIP is situated in the
northwestern part of the county and is its largest
municipality. There are few townships in the
State that have so large an acreage and not
many that have so few inhabitants. It is bounded on the
north by Orange County in New York, on the east by
Pompton Township, on the south by Morris County, from
which it is separated by the Pequannock River, and on the
Avest by Sussex County. Almost the whole of the township
is covered by mountains, whose summits are bare of vegeta
tion and covered by scraggy rocks. The valleys of the Ring-
wood and Wanaqua Rivers, which extend through the whole
length of West Milford from north to south, and occasional
valleys on the tributaries of these and other rivers, are
filled with fertile farms, which in a measure compensate
for the sterility found in other portions of the township.
The Wanaqua Valley, which begins at Pompton Plains, is
beautiful and picturesque. More beautiful landscapes can
not be found elsewhere. Iron ore of the very best quality
has been mined in various parts of the township. The
rich deposits of this metal, found in Morris County and at
Ringwood and other parts of what is now Passaic, invited
eariy in the eighteenth century immigration and capital
frora England and Europe. Large tracts of land were pur
chased, mines opened, and iron ore mined in great quanti-
240
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ties and of excellent quality; forges and furnaces were
erected and iron manufactured. Germans came over from
Hesse-Cassel and other parts of the Fatherland. Of course
all these facts led to explorations for the precious metal
in parts of the country adjacent to the mines already
opened. This led explorers into West Milford, and there
iron was found of a superior character and in quantity.
West Milford was settled as early as 1720 by immi
grants from Germany amd other parts of Europe, some
AFTER A BLIZZARD.
coming
from
Holland.
A
few of
the
names
of
these
early
settlers
still
survive in
the township.
such as
Stru-
bel, Schuls-
ter, V
r e e-
land.
and
Kanouse.
The
Kanouse family is of Holland descent, the ancestor, John
George Kanouse, coming here about 1720. He was unable
to pay his passage, and, like many others, was sold on his
arrival here to pay the amount due. His descendants have
ramified into many of the most respectable families in the
county. One of them was the mother of John P. Brown,
Avhose father, Peter P. Brown, and himself kept the famous
hotel at New Foundland for more than seventy years. This
lady survived until a few years ago.
There are several school districts in the township, but
the sparsity of the population necessarily obliges the extent
RELIGIOUS AND AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS 241
of these districts to be large; the children as a general rule
attend and much interest is manifested in the care and sup
port of the schools.
There are five churches in the township : a Roman Catho
lic and a Baptist at Echo Lake, two Presbyterian — one at
New Foundland and one at the village of West Milford, — •
and a Methodist at New Foundland. Of these the Roman
Catholic at Echo Lake is the oldest. It was established
to meet the wants of the German population, who were
Roman Catholics in their religious views. It has not, how
ever, been well supported, as the number of its attendants
has not warranted the settlement of a regular priest. The
other churches are well attended and well supported.
Agriculture is the principal pursuit of the inhabitants.
The iron interests have not been sustained of late years,
as formerly. In 1840 the town had ten forges, two tan
neries, two gristmills, five sawmills, and a population of
2,108. In 1880 it had as many mills and as many forges,
but these last were not in active nor continual operation,
and its population was about 2,500. In 1900 it cast less
than five hundred and eighty votes. The introduction into
the township of railroad facilities has added greatly to the
convenience of its citizens in the quick transportation of
the products of the soil to good markets. Great quanti
ties of milk are daily sent to the City of New York.
Near Macopin, at the foot of a hill, is quite a large deposit
of kaolin of excellent quality. The depth of this deposit
has not been ascertained, but the earth in wells dug in the
vicinity, fifteen or twenty feet in depth, is discolored by the
kaolin. The deposit seemed caught up between the roots
of the hill and a ledge of rocks running parallel with the
elevation from which this material seems to proceed.
There are some small aud unimportant hamlets in West
242
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
Milford: Uttertown, Postville, Clinton, Cooper, Upper Ma
copin, and Hewitt. New Foundland and West Milford are
more important villages. West Milford has 51,326 acres,
of which 1,346 are covered by water and 37,363 by forests.
Pompton Township contains 34,172 acres, of which two
hundred and four are under water and 26,433 uncleared.
Like West Milford, its territory extends from the northern
'J^-^ii^C-i. - >.'"^ ft"-"-
OLD REVOLUTIONARY HOUSE AT POMPTON.
to the southern lines of the county. It is bounded on the
north by New York, on the east by Bergen, on the south by
Morris County with the Pequannock River as a dividing
line, and on the Avest by West Milford. In its western por
tion it is quite hilly, but the valley of the Wanaqua, where
is found some excellent cultivable land, fills up almost its
entire western part. Large quantities of iron ore have
been mined in different parts of Pompton in years gone by.
The celebrated Ringwood mines are situated very near to
the New York line. These mines at one time were very
EARLY SETTLERS 243
successfully conducted under the management of members
of the Ryerson family, who were influential and successful
in this township. They belonged after they went out of
the control of the Ryersons to the Trenton Iron Company,
owned by the philanthropist, Peter Cooper, and his son-in-
law, Abram S. Hewitt, formerly mayor of New York City,
who is still living at a very advanced age. Many years
ago Mr. Hewitt, Avho was an accomplished expert in all mat
ters relating to iron from the ore to the finest steel fabric,
declared that more than five hundred thousand tons of first
rate ore had been taken from this Ringwood mine.
Pompton was one of the localities which early attracted
Dutch immigration, and many descendants of these Holland
immigrants abound here and in its vicinity. Such names
as Van Ness, De Bow, Mandeville, Ryerson, Roome, Van
Saun, De Baun, Doremus, Bertholf, Van Wagenen, Rb-
maine, Mead, Berdan, and others, all undoubtedly of Hol
land origin, still are found here. Those who bear these
names Avho are past middle life are all able to speak the
Dutch language, and in many old dwellings, some built by
the original ancestors, that vernacular is the only mode of
conversation in their households.
The Ryerson name was borne by some of the most noted
men in the State. Martin J. Ryerson, who for many years
conducted and was the owner of the Ringwood mines, was
State senator from Passaic for three successive years.
Martin J. Ryerson, his uncle, was the owner of a large
furnace at Avhat is now called Pompton Lakes, was a very
successful iron manufacturer, and a judge of the Court of
Common Pleas of Bergen County. His son, Peter M. Ryer
son, succeeded him in the business, and was for many years
the largest iron manufacturer in the United States. At the
age of fifty-seven he entered the Union Army as captain in
244
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
a New Jersey regiment of infantry, was afterward promoted
to major, and was killed at the battle of Williamsburg, May
5, 1862. On the day he left for the front he expressed to an
intimate friend his conviction that he would be killed,
and expressed the hope that he would be in the command
of his regiment. His hope was realized, for on the day of
the battle both his colonel and lieutenant-colonel Avere ab
sent, and he necessarily
took the command. His
son, David A. Ryerson, now
a successful lawyer in
Newark, after his father's
death raised a company
from the hardy mountain
eers of West Milford and
Pompton, and entered the
service as captain with his
brother, Peter M., Jr.,
then a cadet at West
Point, as one of his lieu
tenants. Peter M., Jr.,
was killed in Tennessee,
and David A. was
wounded at Gettysburg.
Another son, Richard W.,
physically unable to enter
the ranks, went into the quartermaster's department and re
turned safely to his family.
There are several villages and hamlets in Pompton. The
villages are all important, and are Bloomingdale on its
southern border, where there are several churches and a
postoffice; Pompton in the southeastern corner Avith an old
Reformed (Dutch) Church and a postofflce; and Ringwood
BREUKELEN IN HOLLAND.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP 245
in the extreme north, where are situate the Ringwood mines
and a postoffice. The hamlets are Boardville, Stonetown,
Midvale, and Wanaqua.
Pompton Lakes, one of the five boroughs of Passaic, is
situate in Pompton Township, near and around the spot
where once stood Judge Martin J. Ryerson's furnace, and in
cludes the ponds used by him in connection with his iron
manufactures. These collections of water give name to the
borough. Pompton derives its title from the Pompton In
dians, who frequented this region.
Wayne Township is situate in the central part of the
county, is of irregular shape, and extends southerly from
the locality where the county is compressed into narrow di
mensions, as already described, until it reaches Little Falls.
Its boundaries can not be very accurately defined in conse
quence of this irregularity of formation. It is narrow at
each end and broadens out in its center, and is bounded
north by Bergen, east by Bergen, Paterson, and Little Falls,
south by Essex and Little Falls, and west by Morris and
Essex. It is mostly level, and excellent and well culti
vated farms abound within its territory. Several small
streams fiow over its southem part into the Pequannock,
which passes along the western boundary, dividing the
township from Morris. It contains 17,107 acres, ninety-six
of which are covered by water, 9,488 are cleared, and 7,523
are still forest land. It has a few hamlets and villages —
Preakness, Wayne, and Mountain View or Mead's Basin,
where there is a station on the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad, which traverses the southwestern part
of the township on its way from Paterson to Boonton. The
New York, Susquehanna and Western also passes over a
small portion of Wayne with a station at the village of
Wayne. The township is divided into two undefined dis-
246
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
tricts called Preakness and Pacquanack. These divisions
are arbitrary and denote no particular peculiarity either of
locality or of interest.
This township has an exceedingly interesting history. Its
earliest settlement was the second oldest in the county. It
had then no municipal organization, but afterAvard it
formed a part of Manchester, from which it was taken Feb
raary 17, 1847, and created an independent township by an
act of the Legislature. It was settled more than tAvo cen-
AT A COUNTY FAIR.
turies and a half before that date, when Arent Schuyler and
Major Anthony Brockholst, the original grantees of the title
for five thousand five hundred acres in Passaic, covering a
large part of Wayne Township, immigrated to Wayne and
lived on a part of their purchase. The settlement prior to
this was in Acquackanonk. These first two settlers, Avho
were Hollanders, although Schuyler was born in Albany
in New York, Avere soon followed by numerous permanent
immigrants of the same race, whose descendants to-day com-
WAYNE TOWNSHIP
247
pose the majority of the citizens of Wayne. This Arent
Schuyler was undoubtedly the ancestor of the numerous
and infiuential family of Schuylers scattered all over New
Y''ork and New Jersey. An examination of the list of offi
cers of the township shows that much more than one-half
are of Holland descent. The names most prominent are
Schuyler, Ryerson, Berdan, Doremus, Mandeville, Van
Riper, Kip, and Demarest.
The manufacturing interests of Wayne are inconsider
able, the people being mostly engaged
in agriculture. Some years ago a
large powder mill was established at
the village of Wayne under the man
agement of the Lafiin and Rand
Powder Company. Several brick
yards have been very successfully con
ducted at Mountain View and other
points. The first school in Wayne, accord
ing to tradition, was opened as late as
1776, in a " dug out " at the bottom of
a hill near Mead's Basin or ^lountain
View. This dug out had a substan
tial roof, and was used by General
Anthony Wayne as a stable during the Revolutionary War
and while he was stationed in the vicinity. There are now
five school districts, each with a comfortable house.
The old Reformed Church at Preakness was established
in 1798, when a small church edifice was built. The con
gregation was poor, and for years struggled against great
disadvantages, unable to secure the services of an independ
ent minister of their own and depending for such religious
instruction as they could obtain from the pastors of the
DUTCH PATROON.
248 THE PASSAIO VALLEY
neighboring churches. But in 1843 they were able to call
to their aid the Rev. John A. Staats, who ministered to them
for nearly twenty years. In 1852 they were enabled to re
build, and are now an active, progressive congregation, with
Sunday school and other organizations.
During the Revolutionary War portions of both contend
ing armies at times visited the township, but no particular
incidents connected with their presence are of any interest.
The township is named in honor of Major-General Anthony
Wayne.
A
-¦^¦^^^^w^
^^-'-^.
ANTHONY WAYNE'S NOTE TO WASHINGTON ON THE
CAPTURE OF STONY POINT.
CHAPTER XIX
LITTLE FALLS AND ilANCHBSTER
ITTLE FALLS is the smallest township in Passaic
County, having only 3,175 acres, none of which are
under water; 2,589 are cleared and the balance is
still covered by the forest. The importance of this
township is centered in its manufacturing interests at the
town of Little Falls.
The land is of good quality in certain portions, but at
the southern end of the township there is a small extent of
swampy ground and some mountains, through one of which
an extensive gap or notch has been cut by some convulsion
of nature, affording a passage for the Greenwood Lake Rail
road. The township is well watered. The Passaic runs
through the western portion of Little Falls and Peckman's
River traverses the central part. Both these streams afford
excellent water power, especially the Passaic.
By no possibility can any information be given as to the
first settlement of this part of the county. It seemed to
have had no iron mines to be explored, its great advantages
in the possession of immense water power on the Passaic
were overlooked, and it was not until 1711 that any records
can be found giving any definite knowledge as to the immi
gration into this section of Passaic. It is altogether prob
able, however, that its contiguity to Acquackanonk must
have induced some of the population of that locality to have
250
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
turned their attention to the advantages of the country so
near their own residence. In 1711 a purchase was made
by eight Acquackanonk farmers of two thousand eight
hundred acres. These eight farmers all bore Holland
names; they were Francis Post, John Sip, Harmanus Gar-
retse (now written Garretson), Thomas Jurianee (now
called Van Riper), Christopher Stynmets or Steinmetts,
Cornelius Doremus, Peter Poulesse, and Hessel Pieterse,
now modernized into Peterson. The land thus purchased
extended from the " Great Falls " at Paterson, up the Pas
saic to Peckman's
River, and over to
the summit of Gar
ret Mountain, and
included a large
part of Little Falls,
and was afterward
divided into tracts
ten chains wide
passing from river
to mountain. From
this time onward
immigrations were
frequent, and at first generally of those bearing Dutch
names and undoubtedly of that race. Those names were
Board, Van Ness, Brower, Riker, Jacobus, Dey, and
Messeke, noAV written Masker, but a very uncommon name
and not found elsewhere. Most of these names have now
disappeared and have given place to new comers. In the
list of officers of the township for the year 1881 only one
Holland name appears, while in 1868, the first year of the
independent history of Little Falls as a township, nearly
one-half of these offices were filled by men of Dutch origin.
AN OLD HOUSE.
LITTLE FALLS AND ITS INTERESTS 251
but they gradually disappear, their places being taken by
new settlers.
The township is bounded on the north by Paterson, on
the east by Acquackanonk, on the south by Caldwell in
Essex, from which it is separated by the Passaic, and on
the west by Wayne.
Besides the town of Little Falls there is a small hamlet in
the township named Singac, taking its title from the stream
of that name situated in the extreme northwest of the town
ship. This locality was settled by a Hollander called John
Riker, but at what date can not be easily ascertained; prob
ably, howeA'er, in the early part of the eighteenth century.
He OAvned most of the land in the immediate vicinity, and
his descendants are still in this locality, some of them very
recently living on a part of the land purchased by their an
cestor. This is a Adllage of some importance. Singac gate,
for the collection of toll on the Newark and Pompton Turn
pike, was a landmark in this part of the country early in
and until the middle of the nineteenth century. A post-
office is placed at Singac.
Mention has already been made of Little Falls and its
great advantages for the establishment of factories arising
from the great water power found there. These advantages
seemed to have remained unnoticed until 1772, when
Thomas Gray €'rected a foundry and a mill on the ground
afterward occupied by Beattie's carpet factory. Mr. Gray
built a dam across the streani which excited some oppo
sition from the Legislature, but not serious enough to pre
vent the completion of the dam. The title to this property
of Gray passed through other owners, one of whom was a
clergyman named John Duryea, until it became the prop
erty of Robert Beattie, who in 1846 established an exten
sive carpet and woolen factory. The first building used
252 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
for his purposes was of wood, but owing to the increased
demand for the products of the factory the appliances have
been largely increased by the erection of brick buildings.
The enterprise has been very successful, and several hun
dred employees have daily crowded within the walls of the
buildings. In 1850 George Jackson established the Little
Falls mills for the manufacture of hair and wool felt and
carpeting. Other factories for the manufacture of many
VIEW AT LITTLE FALLS.
aiticles in demand all over the country have been estab
lished here from time to time until Little Falls has become
a hive of industry.
As long ago as when Trinity Church of New Y''ork re
built their church edifice search was made by the architect
employed to conduct the erection for the proper kind of
stone, and after considerable search he found it at Little
Falls. A quarry of brown stone was developed there and
leased by that wealthy organization for five years. At the
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION 253
expiration of these five years it Avas leased to William H.
Harris, of Montclair, and afterward bought by Robert Beat-
tie. Professor George H. Cook, State geologist of New
Jersey, speaks thus of the stone quarried at Little Falls at
page 505 of his annual report for 1868 :
The color of this stone is from a light gray to red. It comes in thick beds,
and stones seventeen by twelve by four feet are sometimes got out. Most of it
is very flne grained, and is styled by the workmen " liver rock." The quarry
has furnished stone for several of the finest brown stone structures of New York
and the adjacent cities. For any architectural purposes it is certainly a very
superior material. It has been successfully used for sculpture.
Little Falls Avas organized as a township by act of the
Legislature approved April 2, 1868. In the act of incor
poration its territory is thus described :
All that part of the township of Acquackanonk, in the County of Passaic, lying
westerly of the line running from the line of the City of Paterson along the
steep rocks and mountains southerly to the line of the County of Essex, being
the same line known as part of the westerly line of the old Acquackanonk patent,
as described in an indenture made by the Proprietors of East New Jersey to
Hans Diederick and others, dated March fifteenth sixteen hundred and eighty-
four, and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State of New Jersey in
Liber A of Deeds page one hundred and sixty-four.
The earliest school in the locality now knoAvn as the
Township of Little Falls Avas conducted under an apjile
tree, so says tradition. The tree was large, its branches
outspreading, and its hollow trunk, five feet in diameter,
Avas used as a cloak and hat room. The appliances after
Avard used for some time were no very great improvement
on the first. The apple tree gave way to the ravages of
time, and then the school met in an old distillery and there
a room seven by twelve was utilized. In 1850 there was
only one school district in the township. Now there are
several, and excellent school facilities are provided for the
young.
254
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
In 1825 services after the form of the Methodist Episco
pal Church were first held in a school house at Little Falls.
The congregation then gathered was very small. It
struggled, however, against many disadvantages, and after
a season, receiving in the mean time, in connection with
three other parishes, the ministrations of a pastor until
1860, it was able to secure the services of a regular minister
of its own. In 1839 an edifice was erected for the purposes
T W O P O UN D S. No. ^/^/"
/>ra i^ato of tfie Coionyof'^
^ Nivi-rork, tl»ij!f Bui. V)tA\\it\
recei-veJ lit all Paytnints in fhe Trea/ury^
for TWO POUNDS.
N^ir-roKK, TT f
Fetauaty 16, 1771, ^^^f^^ iX.JLtt
COLONIAL CURRENCY.
of the congregation. On the 17th of October, 1837, a Re
formed (Dutch) Church was organized at Little Falls by a
committee of the Classis of Bergen. The congregation was
obliged to share with the church at Fairfield, in Essex
County, in the care of a minister. But in 1844 the Rev.
Edwin A''edder was installed as pastor and devoted his
whole time to the pastorate. This organization is now a
strong and vigorous body.
MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP 255
Manchester Township was once a part of Bergen, but on
the formation of Passaic on February 7, 1837, it was annexed
to that county. In the act of incorporation Manchester is de
scribed in these few words : " That part of Saddle River
lying east of the middle of Gaetchiu's road or lane." It
contains 6,998 acres, none of which is under water; 4,556
are cleared, and the balance is still forest land. It is
bounded north by Bergen Oounty, south by Little Falls, east
by Little Falls and Paterson, and west by Wayne.
As it was originally incorporated in the bounds of Saddle
River it has no independent history prior to the time of its
annexation to Passaic, Avhen it became a township. It Avas
settled as early as 1706 by immigrants of Holland descent.
The names of the first pioneers, who were also the owners
of the land on which they settled, determine that fact.
Those names were Ryerson, Westervelt, and Van Houten.
From the time that Manchester became an independent
township up to 1881 one or more of these three names ap
pear nearly every year among the township officers, but
after that date they are seldom found. Other Dutch fam
ilies settled in that part of Saddle River now Manchester
soon after the advent of the persons bearing the three names
just mentioned. Prominent among these were Van Winkle,
Brockholst, Roclofse, Van Saun, Van Allen, Merselis, and
the strange one of Helmeghee, undoubtedly now modern
ized into Halmagh.
The surface of the land is various : in the center and to-
Avards the south it is rolling, with valleys of fertile and
level land; to the north and northwest some ranges of hills
are found called Deer Hills.
Two of the new boroughs of Passaic, Haledon and Pros
pect Park, were taken from Manchester. Totowa and
256 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Hawthorn Boroughs, created some years ago, were also
carved out of this township.
The first record of schools appears as late as 1822. A
man named John W. House, who taught this first school
for foar years, was succeeded by his son, then a youth of
only seventeen, who successfully taught in Passaic and
Bergen for many years. His term of service in these schools
Avas so long that in the last years of his life he not only
met those who had been his pupils, but had also taught
their children and even their grandchildren. The township
is now divided into several districts.
The manufacturing interests of Manchester are over-
shadov/ed by those of its greater neighbor, but it has many
'.m.iiortant and interesting manufactures carried on within
its territory. A large factory for the manufacture of toys
was established in 1875 by G. W. Knight. Two Italians
named Gannetti and Gazzara, in the same year, began the
business of making silk throwsters on commission. In 1879
the jute print Avorks were removed from Paterson and car
ried to Manchester. Carpets were manufactured from this
product, which was imported mostly from Dundee, Scotland,
although the plant from which it was stripped was grown
in India. A wax bleaching factory was removed from
Westchester in New York to Haledon as early as 1850.
Other industries have been introduced and successfully con
ducted, so that Manchester can be ranked as a manufactur
ing center of some importance.
A survival of an ancient custom in many of the old set
tled localities, especially where the first settlers Avere of
Dutch origin, is still in existence at Manchester. In the
times of the early settlements, when cemeteries and even
graveyards had not come into existence, it was customary
for some part of the ancestral farm to be selected where
EARLY BURIAL PLOTS
257
the dead were deposited with pious care. When sales were
made of the farms where any of these sacred spots existed
they were excepted from the operation of the deed and spe
cial conditions inserted permitting burials to be made by de
scendants of the original owners in these family burial lots.
An inclosure of this kind is to be found on the farm formerly
owned by John Ryerson at Manchester, where there are sev
eral graA'es with headstones, some marked only by dates and
initials, others by quaint poetical inscriptions.
' .r:r^'.'Ti..i"<<>ii,i
¦ ' I • ' I' -' III 1 1 ¦¦ '(- •¦ '-' ' '
'Mim
CHAPTER XX
ACQUACKANONK TOAVNSHIP
CQUACKANONK is the most southern township in
Passaic County and the one earliest settled. It
has been very largely diminished by much of its
territory being taken from time to time and added
to other townships or to create new municipalities. It be
longed to Essex County when it was first created in 1693,
and continued to form part of that county until 1837, Avhen
Passaic was created and Acquackanonk annexed to the new
county. At the time when it Avas an integral part of Essex
its territory extended to the Passaic and embraced all that
lay southwest of that stream now contained in the County
of Passaic. In 1831 Paterson was dissevered from it; in
1S54 and 1855 the territory now known as the first and sec
ond Avards of Paterson Avas talcen from it; in 1866 Passaic
Township Avas carved almost from its very center; and again
in 1868 the whole of Little Falls was made up of part of
Acquackanonk. In 1869 Paterson was again enriched by
another portion of this ancient municipality. In its shape
it assumes some of the peculiarities of the county to which
it now belongs, having been cut and carved Avithout much
regard to symmetry of sides or of formation. It is bounded
north by Paterson and Little Falls, east by Paterson and
Bergen County, and south by Essex. It runs southward to
almost a sharp point between Essex and Bergen.
260
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
It has 7,256 acres, none of which is under water, and
nearly all of Avhicli is cleared. The land is largely a
sandy plain, Avith some hills of no great elevation in its
western part and near the Passaic River. Nearly the whole
of this land is in actual cultivation, being susceptible of a
very high degree of culture.
Its singular name is undoubtedly derived from the title
formerly bestowed upon it by the Indians. Some theories
have been advanced as to its meaning, but they are
all so fanciful that nothing Avould be gained by an ex
amination. The name is spelled
in the ancient records in various
modes. As the aborigines could
not write the word the only way
in which it could be recorded was
by adopting the phonetic system.
It is found in these different
modes : Hockquackanong, Ha-
quequenunck, Achquackununk,
Hockquackanung, Achquege-
nouch, Acquequenoung, Aqiiiko-
noug, and Aqueyquinunke.
The first settlement made in
Avhat is now Passaic County was in this township, probably
in 1678. In that year an Indian chief sold Dundee Island
to Hartman Michielsen, who came from Bergentown.
Michielsen secured a title to his purchase from the pro
prietors in 1686 for the consideration of the yearly payment
of one " fatt henn." From this time onward immigrations
of Holland stock gradually came. The nature of the coun
try, so like that left by ihem in their native land, invited
them, and they came and settled on their farms. A large
extent of country in the deed conveying it Avas said to con-
AN INDIAN CHIEFTAIN.
THE ACQIIACKANONK PURCHASERS
261
tain 5,520 acres, but really by the description twice that
number was bought from the Indians. That description
in the deed was as follo^vs : " From the Third River up the
Passaic to the falls, thence to Garret Rock, thence along the
face of the steep rock soutliAvesterly to the present county
line, and thence to the mouth of Third River." This Avas
called by the Indians at the time of this conveyance, as
their pronunciation of the word was understood by their
white grantees, Haquequennunck, and the bounds as de
scribed in the
deed corre
spond almost
exactly with
those of the
township of
A c q u acka-
nonk as es
tablished in
1693. The names
of these pur
chasers were
Hans Died-
ricks, Hart
man Michielsen, Johannes Michielsen, Adrian Post, Uriah
Tomassen, Cornelius Roelofsen, Symon Jacobs, John Hend
rick Speare, Cornelius Lubbers, Abraham Bookey, Garret
Garretson, Walling Jacobs, Elias Michielsen, and Cornelius
]Michielsen — fourteen in all and every one a Dutchman.
This property along the line of the river was divided by
mutual agreement into fourteen farms of one hundred acres
each, and the other portion, as the demand of new immigra
tions and the growth of the population made necessary, was
A SUBURBAN HOUSE.
262 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
allotted to various persons, all of Holland stock, until 1714,
when the last division was made.
Among these fourteen purchasers were representatives
of some of the very best blood in Holland, and with very few
exceptions they are represented amoug the present inhabi
tants of Acquackanonk. Some of the names have been ma
terially changed, but those living can trace their genealogies
back to the original settlers, though the present holders
bear different surnames from those ancestors. The Van
Wagenens descended from Garret Garretson, who was
sometimes called Van ("from") Wageningen, the locality
in Holland from where he emigrated. His descendants
gradually became Van Wagenens or Van Wagoner, as the
name is often writ
ten in Passaic.
The Yan AVinkles
come from Walling
and Symon Jacobs.
The Vreelands
trace their geneal
ogy back to the Michielsens. The Van Ripers find their
ancestor in Uriah Tomassen, while the Van Houtens claim
descent from Roelofsen.
In 1680 Sir George Carteret granted a patent to Christo
pher Hoagland for two hundred and seventy acres now cov
ered by the City of Passaic. The name " Stofl:el " is obtained
from the Dutch, being used by them as the diminutive for
Christopher. The patent from Sir George Carteret for this
tAVO hundred and seventy acres is sometimes called Hoag-
land's and is also known as Stoffel's Patent.
Acquackanonk Avas located at the head of tidcAvater in
the Passaic River, and sloops and schooners of considerable
burthen were able to pass up that stream for the purposes
INDIAN CEREMONIAL STONE.
MERCANTILE INTERESTS
263
of commerce. There were no railroads to disturb the scene
until near the middle of the nineteenth century. Merchants
in the northern part of New Jersey and even as far as
Orange County found it convenient to transport their goods
purchased in New York City by vessels sailing from that
emporium to Acquackanonk, and from that point transport
ing them by wagons. In this manner a large trade sprung
up at the " Landing," as the wharf at Acquackanonk was
called. In the meantime many of the old Dutch desceudants
remained on their farms, toiling on in their quiet, indus
trious manner,
seemingly sat-
i s fi e d with
the products
of their la-
b o r s. But
gradually a
t 0 A\' n was
gathered o n
the Avest bank
of the river
and in the
neighborhood
of the " Landing." The shriek of the car Avhistle had not yet
aroused them from their apathy. But at last it came;
the iron horse dashed through their sleepy toAvn, by their
farms, and past their scrupulously dean farmhouses, orna
mented by their antique, cumbrous furniture of the fashion
of a century and more ago. In 1832 the Paterson and Hud
son Railroad was built, and this long established trade was
gone. Goods could be carried longer distances and more
quickly than by the old fashioned, dilatory sailing vessel.
The Passaic was crossed by General Washington at
FORT LEE IN 1776.
264 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Acquackanonk when he made his wonderful retreat before
the victorious veteran army of England after the disastrous
battles on Long Island and the loss of Forts Lee and Wash
ington, and the exact place where he crossed is pointed out
by patriotic citizens of the town of Passaic, who have made
a full examination of the subject. In 1778 an officer of the
Continental Army who passed through Acquackanonk and
Paramus thus writes about these two localities:
These towns are chiefly inhabited by Dutch people. Their churches and dwell
ing houses are built of rough stone, one story high. There is a peculiar neatness
in the appearance of their dwellings, haviug an airy piazza supported by pillars
in front, and their kitchens connected at the ends in the form of wings. The
latad is remarkably level and the soil fertile, and being generally advantageously
cultivated the people appear to enjoy ease and happy competency. The furni
ture in their houses is of the most ordinary kind, and such as might be supposed
to accord with the fashion of the days of Queen Anne. They despise the super
fluities of life, and are ambitious to appear always neat and clean and never to
complain of an empty purse.
Mr. Abraham Van Winkle, of Newark, a lineal descendant
of the Jacobse Van Winkle who came into Acquackanonk
from Holland, has in his possession the original deed from
Symon Jacobs Van Winkle, son of Symon Jacobs, one of
the fourteen grantees already mentioned, to Jacob Van
Winkle and others. Mr. Van Winkle has very kindly per
mitted a copy to be made of this ancient and interesting
deed for this Avork, as follows :
THIS INDENTURE made on the twenty ninth day of July in the seventh
year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George the second by the Grace of God
King of Great Brittain, France and Ireland, Defend''' of the Faith &c An-
noque Dom 1728, Between Symon Jacobs van Winckle of Aghquachanunck in
the County of Essex in the Eastern Division of the Province of New Jersey,
husbandman, of the One Part, and Jacob van Winkel, Simeon van Winkel,
Marinus van Winkel and Abraham van Winkel of the County and Province
aforesaid. Husbandmen of the other Part. WHEREAS the Lords Proprietors
of the Province of East New Jersey (now called the Eastern Division of the
Province of New Jersey) by Certain Indentures under the Common Seal of the
ACQUACICANONK DEED
265
said Province and signed by the Deputy Governor and the major Part of the
Councill of the same bearing Date the .sixteenth day of March in the year of Our
Lord One Thousand six Hundred and Eighty Four and in the Seven and
Thirtieth year of the Reign of the Late King Charles the second for and in the
Consideraion therein mentioned and Exprest did grant, bargain and sell unto
Hans Diderik, Garrit Garritsen, Waling Jacobs, Elias Michielsen, Hartman
Michielsen, Joannis Michielsen, Cornelis Michielsen, Adrian Post, Jurian
Thomas, Cornelis Roelofsen, Symon Jacobse (being the abovenamed Symon
Jacobse van Winkel), Jan Hendricks Spier, Cornelis Lubbertse and Abraham
Booke their heires and assignes forever A Certain Tract of Land Situate lying
and being upon Pesaick River in the County of Essex and Called and known by
the name of Aghquachanunck. Beginning at the Northernmost bounds of the
Town of Newark and so running from the Lowermost part to the uppermost
part thereof as farr as the Steep Rocks or
mountains And from the said Lowermost
Part along Pesaick River to the great falls
thereof and so along the Steep Rocks and
mountains to the uppermost part of Newark
bounds aforesaid As it is more Particularly
or Plainly demonstrated by a Chart or Draft
thereof made by the Late SurveyC GeneraU
Together with all the Rivers Ponds Creeks
Isles Islands (Hartmans Island which Particu
larly belongs to Hartman Michielsen and a
Neck of Land within the bounds aforesaid
Conteining Two Hundred Seventy Eight
acres Called and known by the name of
Stoffells Point formerly Patented to One
Christopher Hoogland and Siiise sold to the within named Hartman Michielsen
and Company always Excepted) and allso all Inletts Bays Swamps Marshes
Pastures fields fences woods underwoods fishing Hawking fowling hunting and
all other appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging and appurteining (half
Part of the Gold and Silver Mines and the Royalty of the Lords Proprietors
allso Excepted). To Have and to Hold the said Tract of Land and premisses
and every part and parcell of the same to them the said Hans Diderik, Garrit
Garritsen, Waling Jacobs, Elias Michielsen, Hartman Michielsen, Johannes
Michielsen, Cornelis Michielsen, Adrian Post, Jurian Thomas, Cornelis Roelof
sen, Symon Jacobse (the before named Symon Jacobse van Winkel), Jan Hen-
drikse Spier, Cornelis Lubbertse and Abraham Booke their heires and assignes
forever and to the use of them their heires and assignes forever as in and by the
said Deed Recorded in the Records of the said Province in the year One Thou
sand Six Hundred and Eighty Four Lib A. T. Belaion thereunto being
FLAG OF THK WEST INDIA
COMPANY.
266
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
had may more fully and at Large appear. And Whereas the abovenamed Hans
Diderik, Garrit Garritse, Waling Jacobs, Elias Michielsen, Hartman Michiel
sen, Joannis Michielsen, Cornelis Michielsen, Adrian Post, Jurian Thomase,
Cornelis Roelofse, Jan Hendriksse Spier, Cornelis Lubbertse and Abraham
Booke Thirteen of the grantees in the said Deed named are long sinse deceased
whereby all the Right and Title to the said Lands in the said Deed mentioned
are become the Right and Title of him the said Symon Jacobse van Winkel by
the name of Symon Jacobse aforesaid. Now this Indenture Witnesseth That he
the said Symon Jacobse van Winkel for and in Consideraion of the naturali Love
and affection which he hath and beareth
unto his Sonns the abovenamed Jacob
van Winkel, Simeon van Winkel, Marinus
van Winkel and Abraham van Winkel
Hath given granted Released Enfeoffed
and Confirmed and by these presents doth
fully and assolutely give grant Release
Enfeoff and Confirm unto the said Jacob
van W^inkel, Simeon van Wiukel, Marinus
van Winkel and Abraham van Winkel
their heires and assignes for Ever All that
the beforementioned Tract and Parcell of
Land and Premisses with the hereditaments and
appurtenances Scituate lying aud being and but
ted and bounded as iu the before in part Print
ed Deed is Exprest (always Excepting out of
this present Deed the Island Called Hartmans
Island thereby granted to Hartman Michielse And the Neck
of Land Conteining Two hundred Seventy Eight Acres Called
and known by the name of Stosstells Point formerly Patented
to Christopher Hoogland and sinse sold to Hartman Michielse
and Company as allso all the Royalties in and by the said
Reserved to the Lords Proprietors of the said Provinoe and
allso Excepted out of this present grant all other the Lands
and premisses which as Part and Parcell of the abovemenioned Tract of Land
were at any Time or Times heretofore granted Conveyed or Released by the
said Simon Jacobse van Winkle by himself sold under his hand and Seal or
Joyntly with the otlier or any of the grantees in the said Deed from the said
Lords Proprietors named under his and their hands and Seales to all or auy of
the said grantees their Respective heires and assignes or any of them or to any
other Person or Persons whatsoever anything herein conteined to the Contrary
hereof in any wayes notwithstanding) and all the Estate Right Title Interest
Possession Property claim and demand of him the said Simon Jacobse van
A BELT OF
WAMPUM.
ACQI'AOK.VXONK DEED
267
Winkel of in or to the same or any part and Parcell thereof And the Reversion
and Reversions Remainder and Remainders R ^iits Issues and Profitts thereof
and of evei-y Part and Parcell thereof To Have and to Hold the above-
mentioned and hereby granted or meant mentioned or Intended to be hereby
granted Lands and Premisses with the hereditaments and appurtenances unto
them the said Jacob van Winkel Simeon van Winkel Marinus van Winkel and
Abraham van Winkel their heires and assignes forever (always Excepted as be
fore Excepted) unto the sole and only proper use benefit and behoof of them the
said Jacob van Winkel Simeon van Winkel Marinus van Winkel and Abraham
van AA^inkel their heires and assignes for ever aud to no other use and Pur
pose whatsoever the Interest due and yearly to become due to the Lords Pro
prietors of the said Province their heires and assignes acording to the First in Part
Prented Deed alwayes Excepted and Reserved. In witness whereof the Parties
to these present Indentures have Interchangeably set their hands and seales the
Day and year First abovewritten.
Symon Jacobs van Winkel.
On the back
of this document
are the follow
ing official en
dorsements :
Be it Remembered
that on ye 21st (Jay of
September Anno Dom.,
1732, there personally
appeared before me
John Cooper, one of
his Majesties Judges of
the Inferiour Court of
Common pleas for the County of Essex in New Jersey, the within Named Jacob
Vauwinkle, and acknowledged the Within W^ritten Instrument to be his free and
Voluntary Act and Deed. Jno Cooper.
Datd 29 July, 1728.
Received in the Office June 22"^, 1802, and recorded in Book G. ... of
Deeds for Essex County pages 16 and 17 and 18. J. Parkhurst, Clk.
Recording paid.
The deed from which this copy is taken is a genuine docu
ment, and it confirms the history already given of Acquack-
HOUSE IN AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND.
268
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
anonk. The land described and intended to be conveyed
by it relates beyond a question to that contained within
the bounds of Acquackanonk when forming part of Essex
County. The method used in it of identifying the grantor,
formerly Symon Jacobse, but Avho when the deed was exe
cuted was known as and called Van Winkle, gives informa
tion of the manner in which the Holland immigrants were
the ancestors of descendants who were known by other
names than those once held by the original settlers from
whom they claim descent. The syllable se simply means
son, and its addition to Jacob or Garrit or Michiel meant
the son of Jacob, Garrit, or Michiel.
CHAPTER XXI
PASSAIC COUNTY CONCLUDED
HE first Dutch settlers at Acquackanonk were firm
believers in the Christian religion, as its doctrines
were taught by the Reformed Church of Holland.
The first church organization of any character in
Passaic County was of that denomination, and was estab
lished at that locality as early, certainly, as 1686. The Hol
landers in Acquackanonk undoubtedly followed the ex
ample of their co-religionists elsewhere, and their first ef
fort after their settlement was to make provision for the
religious interests of their community. This date of 1686
is stated in this connection because in the records of the old
Reformed Church at Hackensack, in Bergen County, an
entry appears in the Dutch language, " Anno 1686," to the
effect that Dominie Petrus Tassemaker had found there
at Hackensack, or " Ackensack " as the name is written,
certain members of the church whose names are given in
the minutes.
In 1679-80 some Labardist missionaries visited Ac
quackanonk and the Great Falls. They met Tassemaker
at New York in September, 1679, and then had a conversa
tion with him relative to his antecedents and present pros
pects. In the same year (1679) he preached at Bergen. He
labored among his people, the Dutch, at various points until
1682, Avhen he accepted a call at Schenectady in New York,
pnd while there visited Hackensack and preached there
270
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
and at Acquackanonk. In the bloody attack by the In
dians on the whites at Schenectady he and his wife and two
colored servants fell victims to the rage of the savages.
It is doubtful Avhether a church edifice was erected at
Acquackanonk as early as 1686. It is not altogether prob
able that these enthusiastic supporters of their national
MANHATTAN ISLAND IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY,
church — and all Dutchmen in the early history of this
county were — would have lived in their new home for eight
years without some recognition of the claims of their com
munity to the comfort and solace of religious worship in a
sanctuary dedicated to Almighty God. But after all that
can be said, and all conjecture exhausted, it must be ad-
RELIGIOTTS INTERESTS 271
mitted that there is no exact date of the first organization
of a church or erection of a church building which is relia
ble. No records are in existence prior to 1726. There is,
however, or Avas a few years ago, a volume of memoranda
going back to as early a date as June, 1693, in which was
kept a record of the Aveekly collections in the Sunday serv
ice; aud in a lease made by Walling Jacobse to his son-in-
law, Hermanns Garritse, dated April 10, 1693, a reference
is made in the description of the leased land to the " pub
lick Church Yard." It is supposed that the expression
" church yard " must refer to a graveyard, but as the expres
sion " church " is used the inference is plain that there must
then have been some sort of a church building. However
that may be, there was no regularly ordained minister of
either the church at Acquackanonk or at Hackensack, for
in 1693 Guillaume Bertholf was sent to Holland to receive
ordination. There could be no valid ceremony of that char
acter outside of the ecclesiastical authority in the Father
land. Bertholf returned in 1694, aud then became the pas
tor of both churches. This church organization is still in
force, a strong and vigorous society, and during its history
has received the ministrations of some of the most talented
and godly clergymen of the denomination.
In 1822 dissensions arose in the Reformed Church of
America on the doctrines of the atonement and natural
ability. The modified Calvinism on the great doctrine of
election and kindred dogmas which began to be preached in
nearly all Protestant denominations about that time, ex
cept the Methodist Episcopal, did not meet the views of
the conservative members of the Reformed Church, and
those who held to the strictest Calvinism of their fathers in
many cases separated from existing churches and formed
272
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
other organizations. In 1825 the True Reformed Church
of Acquackanonk was constituted and is still existing.
A Methodist Church Avas established at Acquackanonk
in 1840. Other denominations since the creation of the
City of Passaic have established churches under the care
of their different ecclesiastical organizations, and other
1^
AN ANCIENT BIBLE.
societies of the Reformed Church have also been formed.
As Passaic is really a part of Acquackanonk these churches
may be mentioned in this connection. They are the Bap
tist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, German
Presbyterian, First Holland, Washington Place Holland,
and First Reformed Churches of Passaic. All of these have
church edifices and are well supported.
KDUCVriON AND TRADE 273
The education of their children was not neglected by the
early Dutch settlers at Acquackanonk. A school seems to
have been established there very early in the history of the
town. Guillaume Bertholf, avIio was sent to Holland to
be ordained as a minister, Avas a school teaidier at Ac
quackanonk. The school system of that locality Avas not
very aggressive until Passaic came into existence. The
Dutch appreciated good instruction, but they were not pro
gressive in their ideas on that subject and did not keep up
with the progress of the times. Thev desired the substan
tia] results, however, of what they considered necessary
educational facilities and gave particular attention to their
schools, established a fund for their support, and set apart
land for the sites of the school houses. There was a disposi
tion to connect school and church. The school house and
church were erected side by side, and it was often the case
that the good dominie was obliged to teach as wvW as
preach. These impassive people of Ac(iuackanonk, AA'hen they saw
the river trade, the source of so much profit, slipping from
their grasp, overlooked a natural appliance for greater re
muneration than the riA-er trade for any labor they might
bestow upon it, and which Avas lying before their very eyes
ready at hand to be utilized. For two hundred years the
people had lived on their farms on the banks of the Passaic,
and had not discovered the immense water poAver there
gathered in the rapids of the river fiowing before them.
An occasional saw or gristmill had been built by some one
more enterprising than any of his neighbors, but it was not
until 1828 that the idea seems to have been entertained that
the river might be dammed and then utilized for manufac
turing. In that year two inhabitants of Acquackanonk, de
scendants of the original settlers, John S. Van Winkle and
LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD.
DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER 275
Brant Van Blarcom, obtained a grant by act of the Legis
lature of the right to dam the river above tidewater. The
dam was to be erected eight feet high at the site of an old
dam, or between that point and the island above. The
rights of owners of other land than that belonging to Van
Winkle and Van Blarcom were guarded by the act, and the
State was protected in any endeavor which it might make
to open navigation to Paterson.
Little effort was made, however, by the beneficiaries un
der the act to secure the great advantages afforded them.
An inefficient dam was constructed, but the project lan
guished and finally was abandoned, and other parties sev
eral years afterward secured another act from the Legis
lature which resulted in the establishment of the Dundee
Manufacturing Company. This Avas in 1832. This last
named enterprise seemed still to languish. Additional and
supplementary acts were passed from time to time granting
fuller powers to the company until 1870, when the name
was changed to the Dundee Water Power and Land Com
pany. From this time success followed and the corporation
seemed founded upon a sure basis. Its works consist of a
substantial dam across the river, with a canal used to con
vey water to the various mills on the banks by an ingenious
system of locks. This canal is a mile and a half in length.
The dam is four hundred and fifty feet in length, forty-
five feet wide at the bottom, and six feet at the top. The
expansion of water above the dam is called Dundee Lake,
and by a system of most admirable engineering a head of
water of twenty-five and a half feet is obtained for the
mills. This is the foundation for the wonderful success and en
during growth of Passaic City. It has taken only a quarter
of a century to change this quiet, sleepy locality into an
276 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
active, stirring, bustling city of several thousand inhabi
tants, where enterprise and energy have been masterful,
Avhere manufactures of many varieties are successfully con
ducted, and where intelligent Avorkmen and their families
find happy and comfortable homes. The population of
Pass.aic, according to the census of 1900, is over 27,000.
Paterson iu its inception and rise has already been
THE VAN WAGONER HOMESTEAD AT PASSAIC.
(Erected in 1778.)
noticed, but it deserves some further mention, certainly as
to its appliances for the religious aud educational inter
ests of its inhabitants. It has fifty established churches :
Ten Presbyterian — seA'en English, one German, and one col
ored; four Baptist, one of which is colored; uiue IMetho
dist — tAVO African IMethodist, one Zion .Methodist Episco
pal, and one non-Episcopal; five Episcopalian; Iavo Lu
theran — one German and one Swedish; one SAvedenborgiau ;
CITY OF Paterson
277
one Christian Science; six Reformed; nine Roman Catholic
— six English, one German, one French, and one Italian;
and three synagogues — two English or German and one
Italian. There are twenty-three commodious buildings in
the city devoted to the purpose of education in Avhich the
children of the town are gathered. There are ten news
papers — three issued in the afternoon for English readers,
two in the moming (one English aud one German), three
weeklies (one German, one Holland, and one Italian), and
one English Sunday paper.
The news
paper issues
will give some
idea of the
proportion of
the native
born and for
eign popula
tion. It is es-
timated by
good judges
that these are very nearly equally divided, with the pre
ponderance in favor of the native born. The foreigners are
divided among Irish, German, French, Holland, Italian,
Swedish, Russian, Polish, and English nationalities. For
the most part these people are intelligent, peaceable, and
law abiding. There is, however, a sprinkling of agitators,
social reformers, and a few anarchists, who are all of for
eign birth. The Dutch blood descending from the first set
tlers is largely represented in the city, and they are to be
found among the very best members of society. The names
of many of the business men and officers of the county found
in the civil list which were borne by the Dutch settlers of
A COLONIAL PISTOL.
278 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
the county fully attest this, such as Quackenbush, Hopper,
Garrison, Van Winkle, Van Blarcom, Post, Van Riper, Van
Houten, and many others which might be mentioned.
There are three hospitals: one for orphans under Protes
tant management with one hundred and twenty-six beds;
Saint Joseph's, under the care of the Sisters of Charity; and
the Isolation Hospital for Contagious Diseases. There are
four asylums : the Paterson Orphan's, under Protestant
management; Saint Joseph's, under the Roman Catholics;
the Fisher Home, a private institution for homeless waifs;
and the Florence Crittenton Home for fallen women.
There is also a Women's Christian Home for the immediate
aid of needy women, a children's day nursery, and a mission
for fallen women.
There are several villages in Passaic Oounty, most of
which are the result of the great facilities afforded by the
several railroads crossing the county, and which are se
lected in many instances lor residences as well as for manu
facturing purposes. Five of these have been incorporated
into boroughs, as already mentioned. Clifton is a small
village on the line of the railroad between Passaic and Pat
erson. It has some important mills and several elegant
residences. Athenia is on the line of the Paterson and New
ark Railroad near Clifton. It is a locality of some im
portant manufactures and has several handsome dwellings.
Richfield is the center of a large agricultural district. These
three — Clifton, Athenia, and Richfield — lie in Acquack
anonk Township. Haledon is a suburb of Paterson, of large
interests, mostly in silk manufacture. North Paterson, or
Hawthorne, is a residential suburb of Paterson. Delawan-
na is a small station on the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad.
CHAPTER XXII
BERGEN COUNTY
ERGEN COUNTY was the first settled by Euro
peans in New Jersey. Very soon after the lodg
ment made by the Dutch at Manhattan, or New-
York, and as early as 1618, some Hollanders with
a fcAv Danes and Norwegians crossed the Hudson and set
tled in the lowlands on the Hackensack and its tributaries.
The Dutch element remained and became dominant in all
this part of Northern Ncav Jersey. Those of other nation
alities who came with them were absorbed or returned; not
a trace of them can be recognized at the present.
A small part only of this county can, with propriety, be
claimed as belonging to the Valley of the Passaic. Its rela
tive position to the two rivers, the Hudson and the Passaic,
necessarily divides it into two valleys, that of the Hudson
and that of the Passaic, the Hudson being much the larger
and important of the two. A range of hills occupies the
northern part of the county, and the picturesque Palisades,
which add so much beauty and grandeur to the scene,
toAver up on the eastern boundary from the west bank of
the Hudson. Thousands of acres of low, level, marshy
ground called the Salt Meadows extend northward from
Newark Bay through almost the whole length of the center
of the county, and were once undoubtedly the bed of an in
let from the ocean.
280
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
The county is well watered with the Hudson on its east-
e r n bounds
the Pas-
L., Pequan-
and sale,
nock, and
Pompton on
its west. The
H ac ken sack
flows from
its northern
b oundary
south through
the county,
emptying into
Newark Bay.
Saddle River
is an impor
tant stream
in its north
western part,
draining sev
eral square
miles and
flowing into
the Passaic.
Bergen
County has
several town-
ships, of
Avhich the fol
lowing only
have any con
nection with the Passaic Valley : Hohokus, Franklin, Ridge
wood, Saddle River, Union, and Lodi.
/
MAP OP BERGEN COUNTY IN 1693.
ORGANIZATION OF BERGEN COUNTY
281
The territory of Bergen was once much larger than it is
at present. It Avas one of four counties organized in 1682
by the Legislature of the whole Province Avhich met at
Elizabethtown in iMarch of that year. The other three
counti(^s Avere Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth. The terri
tory of Bergen, as then described by the act of incorpora
tion, was included Avithin these bounds : " All the settle
ments between Hudson's River and Hackensack River begin
ning at Con
stable's Hook
and so to ex
tend to the
u p p e r m ost
bounds of the
p r o V i n c e."
Cons table's
Hook is now
the extreme
southem end
,0 f Hudson
County. Con
stable is an
English tra
vesty of the
Dutch word
" Konstapel," used to designate the locality, which means
gunner or hunter, so that the translation really should have
been gunner or hunter. Additions were afterward made
to this territory so that the county embraced all the land
between the Hackensack and the Passaic and the township
of Manchester, Avhich was taken from Bergen and added
to Passaic in 1837. The county has also been reduced by
the creation of Hudson, all of which was taken from Bergen.
SCENE ON THE HUDSON.
282
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Prior to the exodus of the first settlers from Manhattan
into New Jersey a trading post protected by a stockade
had been established near Jersey City, at what was called
Bergen. This was simply for the purpose of trade with the
aborigines by the way of bartering such commodities as
had been ascertained were prized by these simple hearted
men for peltry and furs. The stockade was not far from the
settlement on the island of Manhattan. These merchants
found it more con
venient, or perhaps
more prudent, to
meet their custom
ers at this place
and in this manner
than to invite them
to visit the Adllage
occupied by the
Dutch on the is
land. The stockade
was a rude fortifica
tion, not intended
for residential pur
poses. The build
ings, whatever they were, were built closely together, their
roofs touching each other.
When this event took place it is impossible to ascertain.
In process of time, however, a change came and the stock
ade assumed the appearance of dwellings. The traders car
ried their families there, and a town sprang up and in
creased so greatly that in 1661 it Avas deemed necessary to
provide it with a municipal government, and on the 4th of
August of that year a request was forwarded to the au
thorities at New Amsterdam for the appointment of a schout
EARLIEST MAP OF NEW YORK CITY.
TERRITORIAL CHANGES
283
for the town. The office represented by this name is equiva
lent to that of the sheriff of the shires in Scotland. It com
bined the duties somewhat of an ordinary sheriff of modern
times as well as those of judge and prosecuting attorney.
The appointment was made, and the commission to Tillman
Van Vleck as schout was signed by the redoubtable Petrus
Stuyvesant as director-general.
The first provincial Legislature met at Elizabethtown on
the 26th of May, 1668. Two out of its ten members were Gas
per Steenmetts and Baltazar Bayard, representing Bergen.
But this town
i^^fejST-
AZ)
..fjETRUS STUYVESANT
[ft.UC*bt4 are covered with water, and about 20,000 are
still forests. It has thirteen toAvuships, three cities, and sev
eral boroughs and villages.
The territory of Essex, as at first formed, was much larger
than it is at present. It was created by act of Legislature
in IMarch, 1682, and, according to that act, comprised all the
land within these bounds :
All the settlements between the west side of the Hackensack River and the
parting line between Woodbridge and Elizabeth Town, and so to extend west
ward and northward to the utmost bounds of the Province.
This included all of the present Counties of Essex, Union,
and Passaic, a large part of Bergen, and some of Somerset.
If there had been no division of the Province into East and
^A^est Jersey at that time it would have taken in the whole
of Morris and Sussex, most of Somerset, and a large portion
of Hunterdon.
A great amount of the territory of Essex as it was orig
inally formed has been taken in the creation of other coun
ties. When the boundary lines of Somerset were finally
determined Essex was obliged to surrender some of its land.
The large and important Township of Acquackanonk, in
332
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
1837, Avhich since 1682 had been incorporated within Essex,
was added to Passaic. The whole of Union, in 1857, was
separated from Essex. Notwithstanding these changes it
is now the second most populous and influential county in
the State.
At the time when the Duke of York made his grant of
New Jersey to Berkeley and Carteret the English colonies in
Connecticut began to assume great importance and exer
cised a dominating in
fluence in the public
affairs of that Prov
ince. Several towns
had been settled, scat
tered in the Valley of
the Connecticut River.
New Haven, Guilford,
Milford, and Brand-
ford were some of
these localities. Their
inhabitants were all of
the same religious be
lief, all enthusiasts,
and tenacious of their
rights, whether civil or
religious. These peo
ple were bigoted and intolerant according to modern notions
of tolerance. They were strict in the performance of every
duty incumbent upon them, but they demanded the right
to judge of their own liability as to duty, claiming that their
conduct was to be governed by one infallible guide, and that
was the revealed Word of ¦ 1. In construing that Word
they strangely mingled the severity of the Old Testament
with the requirements of that divine love which Christ,
JOHN WINTHROP, OP CONNECTICUT.
334
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
their only acknowledged leader and guide, proclaimed to
be the sole foundation of His church upon earth. Implicit
obedience was demanded from all Avho were within their
jurisdiction. They loA^ed their families, and guarded and
cherished them with never failing tenderness, but within
the family circle and in the household the head of the house
was supreme, and he must be obeyed Avith instant and
reverential submission. They were merciless to the unie-
pentant sinner, in
flicted the harshest
punishments for
crime and contu
macy, and never for
gave those who con-
t e m n e d authority.
They Avere the Saints
of the Lord, and as
sumed the right to
dominate over the
Ha'CS and opinions of
those who dwelt
among them, and
who sought shelter
JAMES I. in thdr homes or iu
their community.
They required the strictest conformity with the opinions
they cherished and commanded all to abstain from auy
transgression of the rules they established or the laAvs they
enacted. They were superstitious, aud hung poor girls and
Avomen for alleged AAdtchcraft.
But they were honest in all their dealings with their
neighbors aud lived unblemished lives. They feared God,
had faith in His promises, and Avorshipped Him lovingly
THE PURITAN SETTLERS
335
and faithfully. They erected churches for His honor and
glory and filled them Avith His praise. By the side of the
church edifice they built the school house and college, and
made sacrifices to support their institutions of leaming.
While they refused liberty of thought or tolerance of opin
ion to others they claimed the right of exercising their oavu
liberty of thought, of opinion, and action, and they laid
broad and deep in their ucav home, and for all time, the
foundations of freedom.
When judging of these men it must be remembered that
they lived in an
age Avhen intoler
ance Avas uniA'ersal
and tolerance
the exception to
the general rule.
This, too, must be
said in their be
half : they had
braved the dan
gers of the ocean;
they had fronted
the priA^ations and
hardships of a ucav life iu a sterile land, under an unfriendly
sun, Avhere savage beasts and more savage men surrounded
them; they had surrendered the delights of civilized life, the
comfort and solace of home, the associations of country, the
protection and guardianship of organized government, so
that they might isolate themselves and enjoy in their own
way their peculiar notions of religious liberty. Having
braved all this with a common purpose, with united hearts
and minds, they claimed the right to select from those who
sought admission to their communities such as would com-
THE BRADFORD HOUSE AT PLYMOUTH.
336 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ply with the rules and ordinances they had established for
their oavu government. In making this claim they asserted
nothing more than the head of any family who had estab
lished a home and rules for its guidance might properly de
mand from any stranger who should seek a permanent shel
ter under his roof.
Impressed with the idea that all things must be made sub
servient to religion, jmre and undefiled, and to the glory of
Almighty God, they deemed it a sacred duty to bring
family, communit3% and State into conformity with this
ruling ])rinciple dominating their Avhole lives, public and
private : that the Creator must be made the first object of
their influence. So they enacted a law in their colonies
along the Connecticut that no one in those colonies should
hold office or OAvn land or vote
unless he were a member of som<-
M. 'PXaujO^VL Congregational Church, uor
should any be admitted as set
tlers unless they could pass the
scrutiny of the town meetings. These laAVS Avere annulled,
and the sterner souls, Avho believed in such legislatiou, re
solved to seek another home where they could enforce this
rule to its fullest extent.
About this time the " Grants and Concessions " of Berke
ley and Carteret were scattered abroad in Ncav England, aud
the attention of the Connecticut people Avas directed to the
glowing accounts they contained of NeA\' Jersey and the
promises of toleration made by them. But these men AAcre
prudent, and undertook no hasty, impulsiAe action. A dele
gation of some of their very best men, with Robert Treat at
its head, was sent to New Jersey to view the land, to m_ake
negotiations with Governor Philip Carteret, the agent of
the lords proprietors, and if expedient to make the neces-
ARRIVAL OF THB PURITANS
337
sary arrangements for a purchase. Robert Treat resided
at Milford, and Avas at that time one of the most prominent
men in Connecticut. He afterward became governor of
that colony and died while in ofiice.
The delegation came to New Jersey, saAv Governor Car
teret, explored the country as far as Burlington and the
DelaAvare River, and finally fixed upon the land on the
Passaic where soon afterAvard were laid the primitive foun
dations of the goodly City
of Newark.
These were the men
who settled in NcAvark,
and these are the circum
stances under which that
settlement was made.
These immigrants came
from Milford, Branford,
and Guilford, and some
from New Haven. The
first movement for the
contemplated exodus
seems to have come from
Milford. It is evident
from all the records that
the people of that locality were prominent in the enterprise.
Before the initiatory step Avas taken the blessing of God
was invoked. No important action, indeed no action what
ever, of any character, could have beeu taken by those pious
men Avithout first seeking counsel with their Father in
Heaven and fervently praying for His blessing.
Before starting on their hazardous journey it was agreed
that certain fundamental agreements should be made.
These were signed on the 13th dcxy of October, 1666, by
JOHN WINTHROP, OF MASSACHUSETTS.
338
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
twenty-three heads of families, and on the 24th of June fol-
loAviug by forty-one more, aggregating sixty-four signers —
all, as is supposed, heads of families. No record of the
number of these immigrants can be found, but, taking the
usual average number of persons in families, it is probable
that Terj nearly three hundred people, men, women, and
COLONEL JOSIAH OGDEN SAVING HIS HAY' ON SUNDAY".
children, Avere gathered together in " our Town on the Pas-
saick " A\ithin a year after the first settler landed.
The fundamental agreement is so peculiar that it is given
in full for the benefit of the reader: October 30'h, 1666.
At a meeting Touching the Intended design of many of the inhabitants of
Branford the following was subscribed:
1=". Tliat none shall be admitted as freemen or free Burgesses
Deut1.2Si . .... ?-.,
Bxod 18. 31 within our Town upon Passaic River in the Provinee of New
Jersey but such Planters as are members of some or other of the
Congregational Churches, nor shall any but such be chosen to Magistracy, or to
THE FUNDAMENTAL AGREEMENT
339
Jerem. £6. 21.
carry on any part of Civil Judicature, or as deputies or assistants, to have power
to Vote in establishing Laws, aud taking or Repealing them, or to
any Chief Military Trust or Office. Nor shall any but such Church
Members have any A^ote in any such elections; Tho' all others admitted to Be
planters have right to their proper Inheritance, and do and shall enjoy all other
Civil Liberties and Privileges, According to all Laws, Orders, Grants which are
or shall hereafter be made for this Town.
s*^-
2nd. We shall with Care and Diligence provide for the maintenance of the
purity of Religion professed in the Congregational Churches. Whereunto sub
scribed the inhabitants from Branford.
This is signed by the folloAving:
Jasper Crane, Abra Peirson, Saml Swaine, Laurance Ward, Thomas Blatchly,
Ebenezer Camfield, John Ward, Senior, Ed. Bull, John Harrison, John Crane,
Samuel Plum, Josiah Ward, Samuel Rose, Thomas Peirson, John Warde, John
Catling, Richard Harrison, Thomas Huntington, Delivered Crane, Aaron Blatchly,
Richard Laurance, John Johnson, Thomas L. Lyon.
On the 24th of Juue, 1667, the same fundamental agree
ment Avas signed by the following:
Robert Treatt, Obadiah Bruen, Matthew Camfleld, Samuel Kitchell, Jeremiah
Peeke, Michael Tompkins, Stephen Freeman, Henry Lyon, John Browne, John
340
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Rogers, Stephen Davis, Edward Rigs, Robert Kitchell, J. B. Brooke, Eobert
Lymens, Francis F. Linle, Daniel Tichenor, .John Bauldwin, Senior, John Bauld-
win. Junior, Jona Tomkins, Geo. Day, Thomas Johnson, John Curtis, Ephram
Burwell, Robert R. Denison, Nathaniel Wheeler, Zachariah Burwell, William
Campe, Joseph Walters, Robert Daglish, Hanns Albers, Thom: Morris, Hugh
Roberts, Eph'm. Pennington, Martin Tichenor, John Browne, Jr., John Sear-
geant, Azariah Crane, Samuel Lyon, Joseph Eiggs, Stephen Bond.
Most of these names are represented in the present resi
dents of Newark, aud many citizens of the State of New Jer
sey can trace their
genealogies back to
one or more of
these original set
tlers. The lords pro-
prietors, av h o
claimed to own the
land where the im
migrants purposed
to locate their ucav
colony, had fully
a gree d that the
landing might be
made and a certain
extent of country
used for the ucav
settlement. The colonists, therefore, supposed they would
have uo difficulty iu landing. But as they came to the bank
of the river aud Aveut on shore tliey Avere met by some of the
Hackensack Indians, AA'ho hunted oAcr the lands in the north
ern part of New Jersey aud fished in its rivers. These Indians
refused to alloAv the immigrants to remain, and demanded
that the goods Avhidi had been brought upon the land should
be returned to their vesscds. Governor Treat Avas armed
AN INDIAN CHIEFTAIN.
ARRIVAL OF THE PURITANS
341
Avith a letter from Governor Carteret to the chiefs of the
tribe, but they insisted that the land was theirs, that it
had not been bought from them, and disclaimed auy author
ity of Berkeley and Carteret to sell, and still Avarned the
ncAvcomers to return. A fcAv years afterward Robert Treat
thus told the story in his own quaint way :
But no sooner was the Company present got on the Place and landed some of
their goods than I, with some others,
were by some of the Hackensack In
dians warned off the Grounds, and
(they) seemed troubled and angry
that we landed any of our goods
there, tho' first we told them we
had the Governor's order, but they
replied the land was theirs and was
unpurchased, and then we put our
goods on board the vessels again,
and acquainted the Governor with
the matter.
Subsequently p e a c e
was made Avith the Hack-
ensacks, their claim Avas
honestly met by the colo
nists, and the land deed
ed from the river to the
foot of the Orange Moun-
tains, and extending
southward to the boundary line of Elizabethtown and
northward in an indefinite manner, but sufficiently
described so as to include the modern cities of Newark,
Orange, and East Orange, the boroughs of Glen Ridge,
Irvington, and Vailsburgh, the towns of Bloomfield, Mont
clair, and West Orange, and the townships of Belleville,
Clinton, Franklin, Livingston, and South Orange. Other
purchases were subsequently made from the Indians which
AN INDIAN KING.
342
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
included the rest of the present County of Essex. The con
siderations paid to the aborigines for these purchases were
ridiculously insignificant according to modern ideas of
values, but at the time, taking into consideration all the
circumstances surrounding the transactions, they were
abundant and the sellers were entirely satisfied.
The second purchase was confirmed by a deed so quaint
and so interesting, and giving a specimen of the mode of
conveying in those days, that it is copied into these pages
and given verbatim et literatim, et puncteratim:
Know all men by these presents that Wee, Wapamuck the Sakamaker, and
Wamesane, Peter, Captamin, Wreaprokikan, Nasseam, Perawac, Seasom, Mamus-
INDIAN TOTEMS.
tome, Cacanakque, and Hairish, Indians belonging now to Hackinsack, the known
acknowledged proprietors of a certain tract of Land Lying on the west of
Pesayak River, being parties on the one side, and Mr. Obadiah Bruen, Mr.
Samuel Kitchell, Michael Tomkins, John Browne and Eobert Denison, with the
consent and advice of Capt'n Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of New
Jersey, and in behalf of ye Inhabitants now being or to be, ye possessors of the
tract of Land Inserted in this Deed of Sale the other parties. Doe make tliis In
denture the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord 1667 (being the en
larging and perfecting of a deed of Sale made With the Indians, the year before
the present) in manner and form following, viz. :
That Web, the said Wapamuck the Sakamaker, and AVamesane, Peter,
Captamin, Wreaprokikan, Nasseam, Perewac, Sessom, Mamustome, Cacanakque,
and Harish, doe for ourselves and with consent of the Indians, Bargain, Sell and
Deliver, a certain tract of land. Upland and meadows of all sorts. Wether
Swamps, Rivers, Brooks, Springs, fishings, Trees of all sorts, Quaries and Mines
or Metals of what sort soever, With full liberty of hunting and fouling upon the
THE INDIAN DEED
343
Am OR, ^-i.
"t^ kno.vkdge nfGo(», in ihc ^?^
ttj^' knovvilcdgc.fdicSciiprunc' ^3^
j^J andin an alvliiy tn Pfi'a.ie. *^<*
same E.xcepting Liberty of huntirg for ihe above said proprietors, that were upon
the upper eommons and of flshing in the above said Pesayak River, which said
tract of Land is bounded and Limited with the bay Eastward and the great
River Pe.sayak Northward, the great Creke or River in the Meadow running to
the head of the Cove and from theuce bareing a West Line for the South bound
wh. said Great Creek
is commonly called and
ItnowTi by the name ^^a]/'
Wecquachick, ou the .J
West Line backwards
in the Country to the
foot of the great moun-
taine called Watchung,
being as is Judged
about seven or Eight
miles from Pesayak
towne; the said Moun-
taiue as AA''ee are in
formed hath one branch
of Elizabeth Towne
River running near the
above said foot of the
mountaine; the bounds
northerly, viz, Pesayak
River reaches to the
Third River along-
above the towne, ye
River is called Yan-
takah, and from thence
upon a northwest line
to the aforesaid moun
taine; all which before
mentioned Lands for
the several kinds of
them, and all the sin
gular benefits and Privileges belonging to them, with ye several bounds affixed
and expressed herein, as also free liberty and range for Cattle, horses, boggs,
and that though they Range beyond any of the bounds in this deed Expressed, to
feed and pasture Without Molestation of or damage to the owners of the cattle
&c aforesaid. AVee the above said Indians, Wapamuk &c. doe sell. Alienate
and Confirm all our Right, Title and Interest of us, our heirs aud Successors for
ever Unto the said Lands &c as above mentioned to Mr. Obadiah Bruen, Mr.
1 fim. 3 14,15. .^it l^e,:i!.ig. ^,^
¦iviittlifi,ic.i,nan'h, wr.kxdt^'^ i
^objicibUihtaxonidt ^J» \
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.FAC-SiMILE OF THE TITLE-PAGE QEJilE_EaJMEBJDJE-1669,j
344 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Samuel Kitchell, Michael Tomkins, John Browne, and Robert Denison, townsmen
and agents for ye English Inhabitants of Pesayak, to them their heirs and associates
for Ever, to have, hold and dispose of. Without Claim, let or Molestation, from
ourselves or any other Whatsoever. These Lands &c are thus solde and deliv
ered for and in consideration of fifty double hands of powder, one hundred barrs of
lead, twenty Axes, twenty Coates, ten Guns, twenty pistolls, ten kettles, ten swords,
four blankets, four barrells of beere, ten paire of breeches, fifty knives, twenty
howes, eight hundred and fifty fathemof wampem, two Ankors of Liquers or .some
thing Equivalent and three troopers Coates; these things are received, only a small
remainder Engaged by them by bill. To the true and just performance accord
ing to ye true intent of our bargain. Wee ye said Obadiah Bruen and the rest above
said doe for ourselves and our heires, Ex'tors, Adm'n'tors, or Assigns, to the said
Wapamuk &c the true proprietors of the said Lands doe bind and Covenant.
Wee the said Wapamuk and the rest of the Indians above said doe fully sur
render, pas over and Yield up all our Eight, privilege and
power in the same, and to free the above said Lands from
Claim, Incumbrances of What kind soever, all the above
mentioned purchase Wee doe grant and deliver to Oba
diah Bruen and ye rest above said to them, their associ
ates, heires and all the lawful possessors. And for the
full Eatiflcation and testification of the above said bargain
and agreements about the aforesaid tract aud parcells of
Land so bounded. Wee the said parties above mentioned
bave hereunto Enterchangeably, sett our hands and seales,
the day and year above said in the presence of Us Wit
nessing. Moreover Wee doe grant them free liberty to take what timber and
stones they please in any of our Lands where Wee the above said Indians have
propriety. Obadiah Bruen, Michael Tomkins, Samuel Kitchell, John Browne, Eobert
Denison, Wapamuk, his marke, Harish, his marke, Captamin, his marke, Mamus
tome, his marke, Peter, his marke, Wamesame, his marke, Wekaprorikan, his
marke, Caecanakrus, his marke, Sessom, his marke, Perawae, his mark.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of Samuel Edsall, Pierwim Sachem
of Pan, his marke, Edward Burrowes, mark of Richard Fletcher, Classe, his
marke. In 1677-8 another deed was made by the Indians which ex
plains itself, as will appear by the following copy:
Whereas by the original deed of sale made by the Indians to the inhabitants
of the town of Newark, bearing date the Eleventh day of July, 1667, it is said to
the foot of the Great Mountaine, called Watchung, alias Atehunck, Wee Win-
ocksop and Shenoektos, Indians, and owners of the said Great Momitaine, for and
THE SECOND INDIAN DEED
345
in consideration of two Guns, three Coates, and thirteen kans of rum to us in
hand paid, the receipe Wereof Wee doe hereby acknowledge, doe Covenant and
declare to and with Mr. John Ward and Mr. Thomas Johnson, .Justices of the
peace of the said towne of Newark, before the Right Hon'ble Philip Carteret,
Esq. , Governour of the Province of New Jersey and the other witnesses here
under written, that it is meant, agreed and intended that their bounds shall
reach or go to the top of the said Great Mountaine and that Wee the said In
dians will marke out the same to remaine to them the said inhabitants of New
ark their heires or assignes forever. In Witness W^hereof Wee the s'd Indians
have hereto set our hands and seales the 18th of March, 1677-8.
AVinocksop, his marke, Shenoektos, his marke, Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in the presence of James Boiler, Secretary, Hendrik Drogestadt, Samuel Har
rison. This acknowledge before me the day and yeare above vsritten.
Ph. Cartarett.
By these two deeds it is apparent that the settlement on
the Passa.ic had no name at the time of the execution of +he
first deed, and that it had received the name of Newark be
tween the time of the date of the first deed and that of the
second. It is generally supposed that the toAvn was named
after the city of that name in Yorkshire, England, where
the Rev. Mr. Pierson, the first pastor of the church at New
ark, once lived.
SEAL OP NEW YORK IN 1686.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE FOUNDING OF NEWARK
N THE 13th of October, 1676, a warrant was issued
by the proprietors " to lay out for the use and bene
fit of the ToAvn of Newarke so much Land as shall
be convenient for Landing places within the said
Towne, Land for a School House, for a Town house, Meeting-
House, a Market Place or Market Places, and two hundred
Acres of Upland and Meadow in proportion for a Parson
age." This Avarrant Avas confirmed by a deed dated Decem
ber 10, 1696, which conveyed several other tracts besides
the several parcels of land mentioned in the warrant, and
also made this other conveyance : " the streets of th,e sayd
towne of Newarke as they are now layed out, viz : the high
street to remaine about two chaine more or less in breadth
and in length from Hugh Roberts brooke to the mill brooke
thorow the Middle of the Towne; and the rest of the streets
to be as they are uoav in breadth."
This street described as running from Hugh Roberts's
brook north to Mill Brook or First River is undoubtedly
Broad Street. Hugh Roberts's allotment was at the end
of what is now Lincoln Avenue at the bifurcation of the
road, where one highway goes to Elizabethtown and the
other to Irvington. A small brook once ran across the street
at his lot and made its way to the Salt Meadow.
348
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
On the 7th day of " Apreill," 1713, a charter was granted
by Queen Anne to NeAvark. In that charter the bounds of
Newark are thus described :
All that Tract of Land uow known by ye name of Newarke, Bounded Easterly
by a Great Creek that Runs from Hackinsack Bay through ye Salt Meadow
called by the Indians Wequahick and now known by ye name of bound Creek,
and Continuing from j'e head of Said Creek to tbe head of a Cove to a Markt
Tree, from theuce it Extended Westerly upon a Straight line by computation
seven miles be the same more or Less to the End or foot of the Great Mountain
and with Ridge thereof Called by the Indians AVaechung, Near where runs a
branch of Raway River, from thence extending on a Northerly course along the
NEWARK IN 1832.
Ridge of the said Mountain to a heap of Stones Erected to Asertain the Bound
ary between the s'd Town of Newark and the Town of Acquickatnunck, from
thence Eunning a South East Course by Acquickatnunck Bound to where the
brook or Eivolet Called by the Indians Yantokah, but now known by the name
of Third Eiver, Emptieth itself into Pasayack Eiver, and from thence Continu
ing Down along by the said Pasaiack and Hackingsack Bay to tbe mouth of said
Bound Creek.
This Bound Creek was at one time navigable for small
vessels, sloops, and periaguas of light burthen. A dock
had been built on the east side of the road to Elizabethtown,
THB FOUNDING OF NEWARK
349
from Avhich, in the early part of the nineteenth century, con
siderable trade with New York was conducted in wood, hay,
and farm products. It also then abounded with fish of sev
eral varieties, but it is uoaa' shrunken in its proportions and
its waters are so polluted that all fish have been driven
aAA'ay. When the first settlers in Newark left their Connecticut
homes and came to their new habitation they brought with
them their beloved pastor, the officers, records, and com
munion service of their church, their wives and little ones,
their old men aud white-haired women. These they com
mitted with prayer
to some rude vessels
of the day, sailed
down the Connecti
cut River to Long Is
land Sound, then out
into East River and
to New York Bay,
then through the Kills into Newark Bay, and thence up the
Passaic River to their destination.
A romantic incident is connected with the debarkation.
A young maiden, the daughter of Lieutenant SAvaine, one
of the prominent men of the company, and A\'ho afterward
Avas honored bv the colony with appointments to posts of
honor, had promised to become the Avife of Josiah Ward,
one of the passengers. The young lover had determined
that his promised' bride should be the first to put foot on
the land of thdr new home. He so arranged matters that
she Avas the first to land. She became the ancestress of the
numerous and highly respectable family of Wards who are
scattered .all over the United States.
These first settlers in Newark were all men of substance.
350 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
according to the notions of those days, and brought consid
erable wealth with them into their new home. Strange to
say their minister, the ReA'. Abraham Pierson, was the
wealthiest man among them.
The site of the new town was soon settled, and then the
colonists were confronted Avith the question as to what mode
should be adopted for making a proper and honest division
of the land among themselves. This problem seemed to
have been solved without any great difficulty.
The method of governing the colony by the system of
town meetings Avas introduced at once. These meetings
were considered of the
greatest importance.
ONE CEIVT. i Every citizen was
I The Carpora'licm of the city of % oViTrr rl + q++o 1 Tf
L OfewVoTkjffonase lopaYllieJEearer ^S ODllgeO. tO atteUfl. II
I ONE J CENT. ^1 sent ees they were
I JVewYork eSth J)eeem/>e?;l8Lt Wl SOUght OUt by a COm-
^j Order afjlie-fiiirjarotion , i^m pointed for the pur
pose, and if no suffi
cient excuse could be
given by the absentee he was promptly fined. Two persons
were employed, one at the north and the other at the south
end of the settlement, whose especial duty it was the day be
fore each meeting to give notice to all the inhabitants. At
these assemblages all business relating to the colony and its
interests, of every nature, was transacted, their ministers
were called, their salaries settled, the schoolmasters were
employed and their compensation fixed, plans for the erec
tion of school houses and church edifices were discussed
and determined, courts of justice established, their judges
aud officers appointed and their fees limited, township offi-
ICeirt OM5 CE?«^T ICent
WARD DIVISIONS
351
cers elected and their duties prescribed. This mode of gov
ernment Avas retained in Newark until 183G, when the Legis
lature granted a charter whicli provided for the election
of a mayor and common council. In 1832 the township had
COCKLOFl II All AND
SUMMER HOUSE. '
been divided into four
Avards, Avhich were each
represented by four alder
men. This arrangement of
A\'ards was retained in the charter;
but now (1901) there are fifteen Avards in the city,
and many of these contain more population than there was
in the Avhole citv in 1832.
1 During the flrst decade of the nine
teenth century this property was owned
by Gouverneur Kemble. It was a fav
orite resort of its young owner, the
Irvings — Washington, Dr. Peter, and
VVilliam, — James Kirke Paulding, Cap
tain Porter (father of Admiral Porter),
Henry Brevoort, and others, who made
the ancient mansion gay with their fun
and frolic. It was christened " Cock
loft Hall " by Washington Irving, and
called Mount Pleasant. The house was
built by Nicholas Gouverneur, grand
son of Abraham Gouverneur, who mar
ried the daughter of Governor Jacob
Leisler.
352
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
At the first regular town meeting held October 30, 1666,
partial arrangements as to the future govemment of the
colony were made and the mode of dividing the land among
the colonists discussed and settled. Streets were laid out,
of which there were four principal ones : the broad street,
running nearly north and south and as near the center
of the prospective town as could be, with two parallel
streets, one on
the east and
the other on the
west. The broad
street is now
called Broad,
that on the east,
first known as
the east back
lane, was named
Mulberry, and
that on the
west, first desig
nated the west
back lane, was
named Wash
ington. There
was also a road
running to the
three highways, whicli A\'as
the ferry, but now known
as Market Street. The land on these principal streets Avas
then plotted into " Home " lots of about six or seven acres
each. The land outside the town, that is the Salt Meadow
and that on the hill, was thereafter to be partitioned
into what were called " out " lots and dlA'ided, It was so ar-
river,then
'^fl,
WASHINGTON IRVING.
crossing the other
called the road to
DISTRIBUTION OF HOME LOTS 353
ranged by a vote of the toAvn meeting that the inhabitants
of the several towns in Connecticut from whence they came
should have thdr " home " lots together, in the same neigh
borhood, and adjacent to each other.
On a certain day fixed by the town meeting the inhabit
ants came together, and after a devout prayer to God for a
blessing on the undertaking it was determined by lot to
whom the home lots should be awarded. Every one inter
ested was obliged to submit to this plan, the one exception
being Robert Treat, who, by a unanimous vote, was per
mitted to make his selection without being subjected to the
uncertainty of chance. With becoming attention to his own
interest he chose the southeast corner of Broad and Mar
ket Streets, the most valuable property in the whole town.
There is only one descendant of an original settler now
residing on any part of the land thus gained by the ances
tor. William Camp received the lot on the east side of
Broad Street, adjoining Chestnut and Camp Streets, and
running to ^Mulberry Street. One of his descendants in a
direct line, a lady, uoav lives in a house built on a portion
of the property on Broad Street, between Chestnut and
Camp. Her father, John J. Camp, who died several years
ago, formerly owned nearly the Avhole of the original lot.
.Mr. William Plume, a descendant of Samuel Plum, one
of the original settlers, occupied a part of his ancestor's
allotted land on Bridge Street until about ten years ago, and
prior to his time an unbroken line of lineal descendants from
the original settler lived on the same lot. Mr. William
Plume Avas born about eighty years ago in the house still
standing, and died in the same room in which he was born.
The Plumes, as the name is now written by some of the
family, are still abundant in Newark. The Camps have al-
354 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
most entirely disappeared from Newark, although some are
to be found in other parts of the State.
A PATRIOTIC BARBKR.
The first settlers in Newark Avere no common men despite
their intolerance aud bigotry. They Avere mindful of the
future in providing for the wants of their descendants.
THE FIEST MEETING HOUSE
355
They laid out broad streets for their travel, but that was
not their first care. Their church and its blessings were
the first objects of their protection. They had brought with
them their pastor, so that prime necessity, as they properly
deemed it, was supplied. Their next care Avas to erect a
meeting house for divine worship. At a town meeting held
September 10, 1668, it " Avas ordered and Agreed to Build a
fleeting House as soon as ;May be; of Four or Six and
Twenty Foot
wide, and thirty-
four Foot Long
and Ten Foot Be
tAveen Joints." At
the same town
meeting it was
agreed that their
minister should be
freed from all
" common rates ''
during the time
he ministered to
them, that he
should receive
eighty pounds for
the first year of his ministry, to be paid " yearly at two sev
eral times," in October and March, and " they " (the inhabit
ants) " do agree to pay him Yearly a pound of Butter for
every milk's cow in the town in part of his pay." When it
is remembered how cheaply a minister or any one could live
in those days this salary Avas certainly munificent.
In the laying out of the town a site for the erection of a
church edifice was not forgotten, nor were the future wants
of the church overlooked. A lot on the broad street was
THE FIRST CHURCH.
356 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
set apart for the erection of a meeting house and extensive
grounds excepted from the general division and devoted to
the support of the sanctuary. Two parks, as they would
be called to-day, Avere laid out: one in the center of the
town for military evolutions, then called the " Training
Place," now known as Military Common, the other in the
more northerly part of the toAvn for a market place, now
called Washington Park.
The dead must be cared for and reverently buried, so a
portion of land opposite the present First Presbyterian
Church was devoted to the purposes of a city of the dead.
There were then two streams running through the town,
one issuing out of a beautiful large spring on the hill back
of the town, called First River or Mill Brook, which was
utilized in the early history of the colony for mill purposes,
another sm.aller stream, rising in the western part of the
town near the head of Market Street, where at one time
there were two small ponds caused by this last named
brook, from which it ran down the center of the town, form
ing on the south side of Market Street a marsh, called " the
Swamp," where in early times the tanners and curriers con
gregated, and where many of them are still to be found.
This stream, leaAdng the " SAA^amp '' and a small pond on
Market Street, continued its way southAvard, sometimes ou
the line of the streets, but most of the way between Broad
and Washington Streets, forming another portion of marshy
ground between what is now Halsey Street and Washing
ton, extending almost to Spruce, where it made an abrupt
turn eastAvard and crossed Broad Street a short distance be
low where Halsey joins Clinton Avenue. Thence it made its
way across the ground where Lincoln Park is located to the
Salt Meadows. Both of these streams have disappeared, the
two marshes are gone, and the pond called the " Watering
THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSES
357
Place " by the early settlers, and set apart for the purposes
of supplying Avater to the cattle, is also gone. Their places
are covered by dAvellings and shops and factories.
School houses Avere built, one in the north end, one in the
center, and one in the south end of the town. When the
first building for school purposes was erected can not be
ascertained. Tavo sniall edifices of this character were
standing until recently — one on Market Street and one on
Orange Street — small, modest buildings of stone, evidently
ancient in tlieir history. The one on Orange Street was de
stroyed some ten or fifteen years ago, the other was de
molished in 1900.
CHAPTER XXVII
NEWARK IN THE REA^OLUTION AJSTD THE REBELLION
HE first Christian assemblage in Newark was Con
gregational in its creed, government, and ecclesias
tical affinities, but in the eighteenth century it
transferred its relations to the Presbyterian de
nomination and is now recognized as the oldest organization
of that sect in New Jersey.
In 1845 there was only one public school house in New
ark, costing less than |4,000 to build — a very plain edifice
situated within the square bounded by Washington, Hill,
Halsey, and Court Streets. Now there are fifty-one scattered
all over the city, elegant in their architecture, commodious
iu all appliances for the purposes of such erections, supplied
with the very best teachers, and filled with thousands of
scholars who can receive a substantial training in all the
ordinary and even higher branches of an English education.
There are also two normal or high schools meeting in two
large edifices, where education in the languages, modern
and classic, and in the very highest mathematical studies,
can be obtained and students prepared for college or pro
fessional life. There are to-day no better schools with more
complete arrangements for the education of youth, with
more accomplished teachers and better equipped for their
duties, than those which the noble liberality of the citizens
of Newark has provided for the educational interests of the
young.
360
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
" Our town on the Pesaiack," thus begun with such en
vironments, has now become a city of 250,000 inhabitants,
and the descendants of those courageous men and women
who found a home in the unbroken wilder
ness have gone all over the republic and,
discarding the harsh, illiberal principles
of their ancestors, have perpetuated their
virtues. Wherever they have gone their
infiuence has always been masterful for
the right. Their sturdy independence,
their integrity, and their consistent lives
have won for them the respect and confi
dence of the communities where they have
lived. Several of the names of the Connec
ticut immigrants have disappeared from
Newark, but the
~ ^ , this growing city is
-¦¦^i..* ..'. to be found among
the representatives
of those who first
laid its foundations
upon the eternal
principles of free
dom and the im
perishable laws of
justice and right.
The colonists
from New England
were a busy people. No drones were allowed a lodgment
in the new settlement. Industry Avas the rule. While the
town remained in a formative state the preservation of life
made it a necessity for all to Avork. The habits of industry
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS 361
thus formed were never relaxed, but continued all through
the history of the village, the toAvn, and the city, and New
ark has ahvays been the foremost locality in the nation in
its manufacturing interests. Its prosperity has arisen al
most wholly from the attention its inhabitants have be
stowed upon the varied objects of its many industries. A
significant fact in the very early history of the town ex
hibits the estimation then held by the citizens of the value
of manufactures. Samuel Whitehead applied for admis
sion into the town as an inhabitant. At the town meeting-
held June 30, 1680, it was resolved " that the town is will
ing Samuel Whitehead
should come and Inhabit "NEV1ER DESPAIR
among us, provided he
will supply the town with
shoes." The great manufactur
ing prosperity of Newark
began in the eighteenth
century, and continued
with increasing and un- T &."w.:MerLeiiiPmit93GoMSt.
varying success until the
terrible disasters of 1836-37, when, with one single excep
tion, every important establishment in the then city failed
in meeting its financial engagements. The banks sus
pended spede payment, and trade and business were com
pletely paralyzed. Skilled workmen, mechanics, and ar
tisans walked the streets day after day seeking in vain for
employment. The distress among all classes was inde
scribable. For many years prior to that time the exporta
tion of goods of various kinds into the Southem States
had steadily increased until the volume had swollen annual
ly into many millions of dollars. The principal products
362 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
furnished for this Southern trade were boots, shoes, cloth
ing, carriages, and saddles and harness. This trade in a
measure was renewed many years after the catastrophes
of 1836, but it never rose to the same magnitude it had be
fore assumed. Large fortunes were made and lost in these
Southern transactions, but the Civil War finally broke up
the trafl&c and it has never regained its hold on the South
em people.
Other channels for the sale of the ever increasing prod
ucts of the industry of the manufacturers of Newark have
been successfully utilized by them, and the producers of
the almost endless variety of goods sent out from the work
shops of NoAvark are reaping large rewards for their energy
and enterprise. The growth of the city has been marvel
lous. At the time of the Revolution the population was
only a foAV hundred people scattered over a large extent of
land. Between 1890 and 1900, only a decade, the increase
in the population has been more than sixty thousand, and
it is still increasing. The people are the most cosmopoli
tan in the State, representatives from almost every country
in the world being found here.
The record of Newark and Essex County in the Revolu
tion is one to be held in the greatest honor and remembered
with pride by every citizen. When the oppressive acts of
king and parliament attacked the liberties of some of the
other colonies the sympathies of the people were at once
aroused, and those sympathies given practical utterance.
^leetings were held at which the best and most prominent
men were present and added their voices and influence to
swell the popular sentiment. Committees of safety and
correspondence were appointed, offers of aid were made,
aud the whole body of the people aroused to instant action.
There were a few who still held to their allegiance to the
DUEING THE REVOLUTION
363
English king, but the overwhelming majority of the com
munity placed themselves in unmistakable opposition to
the parliament. AV^hen the demand came from Congress
for troops volunteers from all classes in society sprang at
once to fill the ranks of the Continental Army. New Jer
sey was the theater of the contest. The British, soon after
war began, occupied New York and Staten Island, and in
cessant raids were
made from those two
localities upon the in
habitants of the adja
cent parts of New Jer
sey. Newark, Eliza
bethtown, and the in
habitants of Essex
County were the espe
cial objects of attack.
Dwelling houses were
burned, the furniture
and other property
found in them de
stroyed or carried
away, cattle, sheep,
and other domestic
animals were driven
off to provide food for the assailants. The outrages and
insults inflicted upon non-combatants were disgraceful to
humanity. Instances of brutal treatment of prisoners who
were captured in battle or taken from their peaceful homes
were too frequent to be repeated in these pages.
Amid all the loss and privation occasioned by these out
rages the patriots stood firm and only increased their ef
forts to rid themselves and their country from the rule of
WASHINGTON'S CHAIR.
(Used by him ou the occasion of his inauguTation
as President.)
364
THE PASSAIO VALLEY-
a government which countenanced, or at least permitted,
such deeds of infamy to be committed by its soldiers and
hirelings. A few honest men, sincerely believing that the
future prosperity of their country depended upon its contin
ued connection with the home government, deserted the pa
triot cause. Some of these joined the British army and
fought against their old friends and neighbors; some seized
ARRIVAL OF LAFAYETTE IN 1824.
the opportunity afforded them by the constant raids, which
they more than willingly joined, to despoil former asso
ciates, and committed such fiendish deeds as have handed
their names down to posterity with never to be forgotten
infamy. Throughout the county bands of minutemen were banded
together, formed into regularly organized companies, well
officered, who were bound by solemn agreement to be ready
VOLUNTEERS IN THE REVOLUTION
365
to move at a moment's notice, given by sound of signal can
non or by blaze or smoke of beacon fires. These minute
men did excellent work at Springfield and in defense of
homes and families when Hessian and Briton invaded
Newark and the county. They were organized early in
1775 by an act of the Provincial Congress and Avere author
ized to choose their own officers, but by an amendatory act
passed in August, 177."i, these officers thus chosen must be
commis sioned by
the Congress.
In the list
of volunteers
into the ranks
o f privates
and among
the oflficers of
the patriotic
army are to
be found hun
dreds bearing
the names of
the original
settlers.Scores of Wards, Oanes, -Johnsons, Dodds, Piersons, Harri
sons, Camfields, Wheelers, Ticheuors, and others, lineal de
scendants of the patriots Avho signed the "¦ fundamental
agreement," a]ipear of record. William S. Pennington, al
ready mentioned in connection Avith his uncle, William
Sandford, served when a mere youth in the artillery and was
found by a general ofiicer at one of the battles of the war
alone, firing his gun Avith coolness and precision, and was
brevetted first lieutenant on the spot. Many of these min-
WASHINGTON TAKING THE OATH AS PRESIDENT.
366 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
utemen, at times Avhen men were called for to fill up the
regular army, volunteered and proved their patriotism on
many a battlefield.
Several of these privates, after peace was declared, rose
to eminence in the history of the State. The character of
these A'^oliinteers eminently fitted them for the performance
of their duties. They were intelligent, thoughtful, judi
cious, and wise. They knew hoAV to command and how
to obey. They were privates in the ranks because duty de
manded tlieir presence there. Such men could not but suc
ceed, and the independence of the country is due to their
intelligence and wisdom. Many of them sleep in unhonored
graves. When the war closed the surviA^ors returned to their
families and their humble homes, to their farms and Avork-
shops, seeking no reward for their privations except the
consciousness of well-performed duty, and that the countrv
they loved so wdl and for which they had braved so much
Avas free.
The peculiar and intimate relations between the citizens
of Essex County and most of the Southern States, involving
not only ties of friendship, but also business interests ex
isting between them during the years just before the break
ing out of the Civil W^ar, rendered the situation most embar
rassing. The feverish sentiment so prominent in all the
Southern communities, the threats of secession AA'hieh meant
civil war if the threats Avere carried into execution, were
AdcAved with the greatest alarm in all commercial and manu
facturing circles in Newark. The South Avas many millions
in debt to the people of Newark alone. Civil war meant
ruin to the manufacturer and consequent distress and loss
to the whole people. The universal sentiment was that
peace, if possible to be obtained without the loss of honor,
must be restored. All just claims of the misguided people
WAR OF THE REBELLION 367
of the South must be recognized if that could be accom
plished without disgrace. In this sentiment the whole com
munity united.
But when the crash came, Avhen Fort Sumter was fired
upon, when the laAvful government of the country was put
at defiance and secession became a materialized fact, then
all Avas forgotten, loss accepted, and the whole people, with
some very fcAV and most extraordinary exceptions, rose in
one acclaiming body and proclaimed allegiance to the gen
eral government and opposition to the demon of rebellion.
The uprising of the North in one solid, united mass was
the grandest event in the history of any country. Political
differences were thrown aside. Some of the most decided
opponents of the governing party, and who, before actual
secession took place, had antagonized the Republican party
and had striven to defeat it in the election, now were equally
as pronounced in their allegiance to the general government
as were any who had aided in elevating a Republican candi
date to the presidency. From the hills of Sussex to the
seashore of Cape iMay there was one burst of heroic patriot
ism. In this acclaim Essex County and Newark, whose citi
zens, if war should really come, Avould be the greatest losers
of property and income of all concerned, joined with almost
unanimous accord. When the President made his demand
for volunteers they were furnished with astonishing-
alacrity, and from the beginning of the terrible contest until
its close Newark and Essex County steadily and persistently
followed the fortunes of the Union cause, and gallantly and
unselfishly supported the government. The descendants
of the heroes of the Revolution emulated their sires in de
votion to country.
The first call for troops was made by President Lincoln
on the l.Sth of April, 1861. On the 6th of May following
(T'M.X. .C-d.-^'-J'^-'^'^t. ^^ S'Z^i.-te^ ,-y-i^e^-x.^.. y^yy-^c.,.^ s^e-i-i^£Ji-
e:^-^-e. M'-^^-^^iJ-x- ^/-^ ^ZS^^-=/ ^¦p-2..e.r?^i.e. ^^^3-j_^«^:-^ ..f.a-i^A^^a- —
GENERAL THEODORE RUNYON
369
the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Regiments of New
Jersey troops, except four companies of the Second Regi
ment, which had been detained at Baltimore for special
service by General Scott, reached Washington ready for
duty. The First Regiment had in that short time been
clothed at the expense of the State. General Theodore Run
yon Avas in command of these troops, and through him New
Jersey and Newark had the honor of having one of its citi
zens in the field as the first commissioned general ofiicer of
the volunteer force. General Runyon Avas then in full prac
tice of the law at Newark. He was
one of the most brilliant lawyers of
the State, afterward chancellor for
three terms, and died at Berlin
while there representing the United
States as ambassador. Charles S.
Olden, of Princeton, Avas governor,
and was called the " war governor.''
He aided greatly in this prompt
compliance with the orders of the
President, and was indefatigable in
the performance of his duties as
governor, relaxing during the
whole of the term of his office no effort whatever to se
cure the success of the Union Army.
This AA'onderful achievement in the enlisting of four thou
sand troops, clothing and arming them, and fitting them
for actual and immediate service in the fleld is unequalled in
the history of all military affairs, and is an example of the
action of Essex County and Newark during the whole con
tinuance of the war. Hundreds of these citizens lie in un
known graves in the Southern land; hundreds more came
home, scarred and wounded, with empty sleeves, and hob-
370 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
bling on crutches, giving certain evidence of their undying
patriotism. Among the brilliant men identified most closely with
Newark Avho sacrificed their lives during this terrific strug
gle Avas General Philip Kearney, whose bronze statue, in
life size, adorns the Military Common at Newark. He was
a Jerseyman of four generations, a great-grandson of Mich
ael Kearney, the first of the family to come to America, and
who settled in Shrewsbury in the early part of the seven
teenth century. This Michael Kearney was of noble line
age, a descendant of the Earl of Thomond, and became dis
tinguished in colonial history, being at one time secretary
of state of the colony.
General Philip Kearney on his mother's side is descended
from Huguenot stock, and was born in New York City
June 2, 1815. He was educated at Columbia College and
then studied law. His inclination always was for a mili
tary life. It is related of him that, as a boy, he delighted
in fighting battles with wooden soldiers, which were ar
ranged under his command against each other in mimic
warfare. He sought for and obtained a commission as lieu
tenant in a company of dragoons in the United States army,
under Jefferson Davis as captain. In 1839 he was sent by
the government to France to study the science of war in
the French Military School. While there engaged in this
occupation the war between France and Algiers broke out,
and he became attached to a branch of the French army in
Africa and won distinction by his gallant behavior in some
battles. Five years afterward he returned to his native
land and became a member of the staff of General Scott in
the Mexican War. He exhibited great skill and courage
in this service, and at Cherubusco he lost his left arm.
After the close of the war Avith Mexico he fought in the
^ilvM Vl CB^ttK, fam ^V^''^"'^^
luLAJ. aUS. PHILIP -KEJ^RMY.
GENERAL PHILIP KEARNEY
371
regular army against the Indians, but this service was dis
tasteful to him, ana he resigned. In 1859, while he was at
Paris, the Austro-Italian war was in progress. Impelled by
his love for arms, he became aide-de-camp to General Mor
ris and fought at Solferino. Napoleon III adorned him
with the Cross of the Legion of Honor. In 1861 the Civil
War broke out, and General Kearney offered his services to
the governor of Ncav York, but for some unexplainable rea
son was repulsed. Through the infiuence of some New
Jersey friends he was commissioned brigadier-general of
the First New Jersey Regiment of Volunteers. This was
FORT LAFAYETTE.
on the 25th of July, 1861. He instantly went to the front
and remained with his New Jersey troops, who became in
tensely attached to him, until March 25, 1862, when he was
offered the command of a division vacated by General Sum
ner's promotion. He declined the promotion because he
could not take his Jersey troops with him. This act of self-
denial still more strongly intrenched him in the hearts of
his command. He soon afterward, however, accepted the
command of a division in Heintzelman's corps.
Now came the opportunity for which he had longed with
an intensity which could hardly be understood by a civilian.
372
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
and that was the presence of actual fighting. He partici
pated in all the battles of the Peninsula. At Williamsburg
he saved his old New Jersey command and Hooker from
ruin. On September 1, 1862, just at the close of the day, at
ChantiUy, after having saved Pope's army from destruction
and after driving Lee's army back from its forward move
ment on Washington, he rode out to reconnoiter the enemy's
position. Unexpectedly he came upon the enemy's lines
and was ordered to surrender. He turned his horse and
leaned forward to save himself from the bullets of the
Confederates. He was too late, and was killed by a ball
entering his thigh or hip and passing out at the breast. He
had acquired among the Union forces from his great cour
age the name of " Fighting Phil.," the Confederates hon
oring him by naming him the " One-armed Devil."
COLONIAL COIN.
CHAPTER XXVIII
IRVINGTON, MONTCL.\IR, AND THE ORANGES
ERY soon after the date of the settlement of New
ark the colonists began to immigrate into the ad
jacent country. One of the descendants of Will
iam Camp, an original settler, went two or three
miles southAvesterly from Newark and founded what from
his time until fifty years since was called Camptown, but
is now knoAvn as Irvington. Land at the foot of the Orange
Mountain Avas plotted and divided to some of the original
settlers. ^Vs early as 1667 widow Hannah Freeman had a
farm of forty acres allotted to her. By the description of
jMrs. Freeman's lot it is learned that other lands had been
apportioned to Richard Harrison, one of the original set
tlers. In August, 1675, Robert Symon, as the name ap
pears, received a lot of forty-four acres bounded by the
mountain and by the lands of John Baldwin, Samuel
Swaine, and Richard Harrison. Baldwin and Swaine were
also of the original immigrants. This name Symon is un
doubtedly an error. No such name appears among the
signers of the fundamental agreement, but the name Rob
ert Lymens does.
In the same month of August, 1675, John Baldwin ob
tained forty acres " near the mountain," bounded by lands
of John Ward, Captain Samuel Swaine, John Catlin, and
374 THE PASSAIO VALLEY
Richard Harrison. These undoubtedly were divisions
made subsequently to the first allotment, as all of these
men appear as settlers who had received lots within the
bounds of Newark proper. It is quite certain that before
the beginning of the eighteenth century dwelling houses
had been built at what was known during the Revolution
as Tory Comer, now within the bounds of West Orange.
Among these later divisions were some which are described
as being on the upper branch of Rahway River. The set
tlers on these and other lots in the vicinity of the mountain
were some of those who founded the localities now known
as Orange and West Orange. The Harrisons, Dodds, and
Williams have always abounded in all the Oranges.
These outside settlements gradually increased until Belle
ville, Bloomfield, Orange, and Springfield became well
known and recognized localities. But when they were first
settled can not be accurately ascertained. They were all
of gradual growth — first, a solitary settler reared his log
cabin, a beginner, perhaps, in his manhood career and plan
ning for the future; then came another until at last the set
tlement assumed such proportions that it required a name.
One of these had its origin in the erection of a dwelling
near the east side of the mountain, between Bloomfield and
Caldwell, by a descendant of Azariah Crane, a prominent
first settler in Newark. Others of the same patronymic
gathered around him, and the name Cranetown adhered to
the locality for more than a century. It has now spread,
and a beautiful town has climbed up the east side of the
mountain and occupied the valley beneath. Newcomers of
taste and wealth appreciated the desirable sites for resi
dences and utilized them for their permanent homes. It is
now called Montclair, and has grown from the insignificant
hamlet to a town numbering, as will appear by the last
ort Hb<
O aAMCQEd PdMH
OH
376
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
national census, 13,962 people, living in four wards. It is
a toAvn of residences mostly, with no great manufacturing
interests. The facilities of travel afforded by the two rail
roads which reach it from New York, its beautiful situation
and healthful air, make it a desirable place of residence,
«J ^-h'm -^ •
7*'f
THE DOREMUS HOUSE AT BLOOMFIELD.
and many have availed themselves of the opportunity thus
given. Between Montclair and Newark, in an extensive valley
spreading over nearly its whole surface, more than a hun
dred years ago was a small village peopled largely by Dodds
and Baldwins, all descended from the Baldwins and Daniel
Dod, Avho came to NcAvark in 1666. The name Bloomfield
Avas given to this village in 1796 in honor of Governor
MONTCLAIR AND BLOOMFIELD 377
•Joseph Bloomfield, one of the most distinguished men of
his time in New Jersey.
Governor Bloomfield was an officer in the Revolutionary
Army, a lawyer of excellent reputation, the compiler of
a volume of the statutes of Ncav Jersey, and govemor and
chancellor of the State for several years. Bloomfield is
still strongly controlled by the element representing its
first settlers, who possess the uprightness and adherence
to principle and right of their ancestors.
Montclair has received so large a volume of immigration
of other blood than that found in its early settlers that the
infiuence of the ancestors has in a great measure given
place to that of the newcomers. But this has occasioned
no loss of benefit to the interests of the municipality or of
its citizens. Bloomfield in 1900 had a population of 9,668,
and is divided into four wards.
The representatives of the first immigrants into Bloom
field are permanent in their habits and residences, and hold
fast to the sturdy characteristics of their progenitors. They
are steady supporters of their church organizations and
gladly maintain their institutions of learning. The Pres
byterian denomination has sustained successfully for many
years a seminary at this place for the education of German
young men for the ministry. There are some manufactures
in the town which have interjected an element possessing
several qualities of mind and action somewhat foreign to
those of the majority of the people, but there has been no
serious clashing of the two classes. Bloomfield was, until
the year 1812, a part of Newark, and was known as Bloom
field Ward.
In 1806 its southem line was established, but it was not
until 1812 that it became an independent township. In all
378
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
its history, especially prior to 1812, it was closely identified
with Newark.
West Orange was incorporated in 1862, and was formed
by adding together portions of Orange, Caldwell, and Liv
ingston. In the act of incorporation it was first called Fair-
ENTRANCE TO LLEWELLYN PARK.
mount. In 1863 its boundary lines were altered and its
name changed to West Orange. It is situated very nearly
in the center of the county, and has within its bounds the
beautiful residential locality known all over the country as
Llewellyn Park, established many years ago by Llewellyn
S. Haskell, now dead, whose first name was adopted as its
title. Llewellyn Park is beautiful for situation, and is embel-
LLEWELLYN PARK
379
lished by many dwellings of a very high order of archi
tecture, both as to erection and as to details. The park
contains over eight hundred acres, and is situated in the
eastern part of the township near the line of Orange. Mr.
BUST OF LLEWELLYN S. HASKELL.
Haskell came to New Jersey in 1855, and surveyed the
ground now covered by the park. He appreciated at once
the great natural beauties of the locality, and understood
how it might be utilized by art combined with its natural
aspects into one of the most desirable situations for the
380
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
erection of residences. Every possible detail of an inviting
landscape was there — mountain, brook, vale, copse, forest,
ground rising from the valley up the side of the mountain,
rock, and springing grass.
Mr. Haskell mapped out in his artistic fancy the future-
of the scene, the creation of lake, winding roads, laby
rinthine paths, vine-clad rocks, sheltered nooks, and the
necessary adjuncts to homes of
taste and elegance. He first
bought five hundred acres and
afterward three hundred more,
and at once began his oper
ations. The result has been the
creation of one of the most won
derfully complete and romantic
grounds, fitted exclusively for
the residences of those who de
light in such scenes as there
surround them.
Mr. Haskell died in 1872, but
he lived long enough to see his
dream fully realized in the lo
cation he had so beautified by
his artistic taste. It is now
filled with the happy homes of those who haA^e profited by
the forethought and wisdom of the founder of Llewellyn
Park. The dwellers in this fairylike scene have mani
fested their gratitude to Mr. Haskell by placing his life-
size bust on a granite pedestal at its entrance.
Thomas A. Edison, the famous inventor, has a residence
here, and many Avealthy business men of New York have
reared their permanent homes and adorned them with all
that wealth could procure or taste invent.
Jyvwru^A Oj Cctia
&>\
SAINT CLOUD AND WEST ORANGE
381
Saint Cloud, a small hamlet situated on a high elevation of
First Mountain, was the residence of General George B. Mc
Clellan for several years and at the time of his death.
Through his exertions a handsome church edifice devoted
to the worship of God according to the forms of the Presby
terian denomination was erected at this place and a con
gregation gathered within its walls. The general contribu
ted largely to the erection of this building and to the sup
port of the services
of the sanctuary,
and was one of the
ruling elders of the
organization. The population
of West Orange is
somewhat scat-
tered over its
northem part, but
at its southern end
there is a compact
ness of buildings,
once part of Orange
proper, but taken
from that city
when West Orange
was incorporated.
At this southern extremity is the Episcopal Church of Saint
Mark's, whose congregation have experienced many vicissi
tudes in their history. Beginning with a very small member
ship, they have now become one of the strongest and most
prosperous organizations of their denomination in New Jer
sey. The Rt. Rev. William R. Whittingham, for many years
Bishop of Maryland, was in his early manhood the rector
GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN.
382 THE PASSAIO VALLEY
of Saint Mark's, receiving a salary of four hundred dollars.
The Williams and Harrison families, many of whom resided
in this vicinity, were its liberal supporters and really its
founders. One of the Williams family, the Rev. James A.
Williams, D.D., for many years, from the time he was or
dained deacon and up to his death, was its rector.
There are some manufacturing interests in West Orange,
but outside of the vicinity of Saint Mark's Church the peo
ple are agricultural and residential. A branch of the Rah
way River rises in its northem part and runs through the
valley between the two ranges of mountains in the township
of Milburn, affording at one time, when water power was
more desirable than at present, large facilities for mills.
West Orange is divided into four wards, and in 1900, ac
cording to the census, had a population of 6,889. It was
the home of Anthony Thompson, the last slave in Essex
County. He was born in Raritan, Somerset County, in 1798,
and was sold when an infant with his mother to Samuel
M. Ward, of Montclair, who freed him by his will. He
bought his mother's freedom for one hundred dollars when
he was twenty-six years old. He lived with the Williams
family at Tory Comer, and died in 1884, near Eagle Rock.
At nineteen years of age he united with the Presbyterian
Church and continued his membership until his death. He
lived and died respected and beloved.
South Orange was identified with Newark, forming part
of that town, its inhabitants voting with the other inhabit
ants of that very large township, until 1806, when Orange
Ward was created, but the ground covered by that Avard
was still a part of Newark. The elections during many
years prior to 1806 were held at different places in the
township — one day at Orange or at some other locality out
side of Newark, and the other day at Newark, generally
DIVISION OF NEWARK INTO WARDS
383
at some tavern, but in later times one day at the court
house. It will probably be interesting to readers to know the
division of Newark into these wards. At the town meet
ing held April 14, 1806, it was resolved that the " Township
Committee, together with the Assessors, be authorized to
divide the Township into three districts, for the purposes
THE BALDWIN HOMESTEAD.
of Assessment and collection, and that each person be taxed
in the Destrict where he resides for all his taxable property
in the Township." On May 9, 1806, this report appears in
the town records:
Agreeable to the fifth Resolve passed at the last annual Town meeting, a
meeting of the Township Committee and Assessors was held at the house of
Samuel Munn in Orange on the ninth day of May 1806 — when it was agreed
that the following should be the division lines.. Beginning at the Green Island
in Pasaik River; and running from thence to the Boiling Spring on lands of
Phinehas Baldwin, Dec'd and from thence to the Bridge of the Slough between
384
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
the houses of Jonathan Baldwin and Elihu Pierson and from thence to the Bridge
near Silas Dodd's, and from thence to the Bridge near Martin Richards, and
from thence to Turkey Eagle Rook on the top of the first Mountain, which we
agree shall be the division line between the Bloomfield Ward and the Wards of
Newark and Orange. And also that the line between Newark Ward and
Orange Ward shall begin at the af'd Boiling Spring; and from thence run
ning to Pecks Bridge on Green Meadow Brook ; and from thence to the
Bridge called Coleman's Bridge, and from thence following the River called
Elizabeth or Elizabeth River to the line of the Township of Elizabeth. Wit
ness our hands this ninth day of May 1806.
D. D. Crane, Thos. Baldwin, Stephen Hays, Stephen D. Day, Township Com
mittee. Elias A. Baldwin, John Dodd, Nathan Squier, Assessors.
-^^~3i ..a^ -'ll;^ ¦\ .
STONE HOUSE AT SOUTH ORANGE.
South Orange was undoubtedly settled by immigrants
from Newark. In 1680, September 27, the town meeting
made this resolve :
Item: Nathaniel Wheeler, Edward Riggs and Joseph Riggs have a Grant to
take up Land upon the upper Chestnut hill by Raway River near the Stone
House, provided they exceed not above fifty Acres a piece.
This certainly was within the bounds of what is now
Milburn, or near there in South Orange. A very ancient
stone house is still standing on the line of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad, near Maplewood, at
which sixty years ago there was a stopping place. It seemed
SOUTH AND EAST ORANGE 385
no older then than it is noAV. Whether this is the edifice
referred to in the description just quoted can not be ascer
tained. The existence, however, of a stone house in that
part of the township of NcAvark so early as 1680, only four
teen years after the settlement at Newark, proves satis
factorily that the migrations from the parent colony had
already reached a point distant several miles from New
ark, and gives some eA'idence of the time when South
Orange began to be peopled. That date can be reached in
no other waj". This old stone house in one point answers
the description of the one mentioned in the record of the
toAvn meeting of September 27, 1680. It is situated near
a brook, and a stream called the Stone House Brook is
mentioned in an old description of some land in that vicin
ity. The names most prominent in the early settlement
of South Orange are Ball, Brown, BaldAAdn, Pierson, Tillou,
Moore, Freeman, Riggs, Tichenor, and Tompkins, all New
ark names.
South Orange village is a portion carved out of the town
ship immediately surrounding the toAvn, and was incor
porated with village poAvers. The toAvnship in 1900 had a
population of 1,630, and the town numbered 1,608 in the
same year.
East Orange is only a continuation of the City of Orange,
the two cities being so intimately connected and identified
in their history and progress that it is difficult to separate
them historically. East Orange is not a suburb of Orange;
it is really physically a part of it. The streets of each are
common to both, and run from the territory of one into that
of the other Avith the same names, continuing their
course in the same directions until they end. Fifty years
ago the country of this municipality was pastoral in its
appearance, being occupied mostly by farmers. The ground
386 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
was undulating, well adapted for agriculture. The dwell
ings were comfortable, but of ordinary architecture, and
farmlike. In 1863 the bounds of the township as defined
by its act of incorporation were these :
Beginning at a line between the town of Orange and the Township of South
Orange, where the centre of Centre Street in said town of Orange would inter
sect said line, thence in a Northerly or Northeasterly direction to a point in the
north side of Main Street in the said town of Orange where the line between the
land of Caleb G. Harrison and Nathan W. Piersen near the corner of Baldwin
and said Main Street would intersect the north side of said Main Street,
thence in a North or Northwesterly direction to a large oak tree, on
the lands and near the residence of William Patterson, thence in a North
erly or Northwesterly direction to a point on the East side of Park Street in said
town of Orange, where the angle in said street near the residence of Aaron Will
iams would intersect said point, thence on in the direction of the last mentioned
line to the west side of said Park Street, thence in a Northerly or Northeasterly
direction to a point in the centre of the bridge over the Nishayne brook, where
the south side of Dodd Street (or the street running from David Riker's store
to the Orange Cemetery) would intersect the said point; thence in a Northerly
or north Easterly direction to a point in the centre of the North side of the
bridge near the residence of Henry Stickney aud thence to the line of the last
mentioned line to the line between the town of Orange and the township of
Bloomfield, thence along the line between the said town of Orange and the town
ship of Bloomfield to the line between the town of Orange aud the City of New
ark, thence along the line between the said town of Orange and the said City of
Newark to the line between the town of Orange and the township of South
Orange, thence along the line between the said town of Orange and the said
township of South Orange to the plaee of Beginning.
The population formerly resident here is now represented,
and the infiuence of these representatives is still felt and
felt for the right.
For some time after the incorporation of East Orange as
a township a large majority of its officers bore names which
were unmistakably those of the flrst settlers in this part
of Essex County, such as Munn, Harrison, Crane, Williams,
Condit, Peck, Hedden, Ward, Doremus, and others. It is
however, very doubtful whether these descendants of the
old stock would have awakened to the beauty of situation
EAST ORANGE
387
of East Orange, or to its desirability as a place of residence,
had it not been for the impetus given to a new order of af
fairs and for the wisdom and forethought of the new ele
ment interjected into the town during the last years of the
nineteenth century. That element was progressive, wisely
COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE : HUTTON PARK.
SO, and under their guidance an unparalleled stride in im
provements has been made. East Orange has become one
of the most beautiful and best regulated municipalities in
the State, and it may be safely said in the whole country.
The improvements introduced have been made in the most
388 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
judicious manner, with no mad, impulsive rush, but with
forethought and judgment. Streets have been laid out and
bettered for the beneflt of the public; school houses and
churches have been erected which are ornamental to the
city, and at the same time have served the purposes of their
erection; pure water has been introduced and placed with
in the reach of all; private dwellings have been built with
taste and with all appliances for household purposes. Some
of these have been noble, stately structures, equalled by
very few in the State. It is apparent that the aim in all
these improvements for city and public jmrposes has been
made by practical and sagacious men.
East Orange is remarkable for the elegance of its church
ediflces, many of which are models in architecture and ap
pliances for the uses to which they are devoted. The city
is unsurpassed in the facilities provided by the generositj'
of its people for the education of its youth and for the re
ligious needs of its citizens.
From a few farm houses it has stretched its mass of com
pact buildings, public and private, over almost the entire
surface of the city. It is divided into five wards and has
a population, as indicated by the census of 1900, of 21,506,
showing an increase in ten years of nearly forty per cent.,
the people in 1890 numbering 13,282.
COLONIAL COIN.
CHAPTER XXIX
CLINTON, FRANKLIN, BELLEVILLE, VERONA, CALDWELL
LINTON TOWNSHIP Avas so identified with New
ark until 1835 that it is diflficult to write of it his
torically prior to its creation. All the interests of
the smaller corporation were merged in those of
the larger. The territory now belonging to Clinton was
controlled and parcelled out by the town meeting of New
ark precisely as that of any other part of the colony, and
the oflficers of NcAvark governed the people of Clinton pre
vious to 1835.
The name Clinton was bestowed on the new township in
honor of De Witt Clinton, the progressive governor of New
York and the projector of the Erie Canal. But prior to the
incorporation and for some time after that event the name
Camptown had been appropriated by the small settlement
made by immigrants from Newark in its early history. It
Avas easy for anj^ who desired to go out from among the
first colonists in " our tOAvn on the Pesaiack " to reach the
beautiful rolling grounds and the fertile valleys found only
two miles southward.
There has been an attempt made to derive the name
Camptown from some imaginary fact connected with the
presence of Washington in Essex County during the Revo
lution. But the attempt is not sustained by evidence. Will
iam Camp, one of the signers of the fundamental agreement,
and who became prominent in the new colony, was granted
390
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
land now lying within the bounds of Irvington, and many
members of his family were born in this vicinity and became
influential iu public affairs. The name undoubtedly is de
rived from these circumstances. But it became unsavory.
Some v/ags who delighted in mischief invented jokes and,
perhaps, some alleged facts Avhich rendered the name odious.
Youug bloods did visit the tavern at Camptown for a frolic
or a dance, and might
have indulged in some
scenes worse than frolics
or dances; but the inhabit
ants of the village and
the adjacent country were
sober, sedate, and Chris
tian men and women, and
ought not to huA^e suffered
from the misdeeds of oth
ers. "Camptown Navy
Yard" Avas burlesqued
and laughed about and
fiouted and jeered until
discreet men, who really
knew nothing about the
facts, began to believe that
no locality deserving the name really existed. In fact there
was no real navy yard, but there Avas a veritable manufac
tory where sloops and periaguas Avere certainly built for
a trade of some magnitude between New York and New
ark and the surrounding country. These vessels were
manufactured at Vinegar Hill, near Bound Brook, carried
from there to that stream, and launched on its AA^aters to
freight wood, hay, and farm produce to Ncav York and bring
'^^ <^:^^>t---2^^^
CLINTON TOWNSHIP
391
from there goods in exchange. This trade has long since
been destroyed by the Avater in Bound Brook becoming too
shallow to fioat the vessels.
The first settlers in Clinton came undoubtedly from New
ark, their names being Camp, BroAvn, Pierson, Harrison,
Riggs, Tompkins, Lyon, Roberts, and Johnson. Many of
these first settlers were men who aided in establishing New
ark and actually signed the fundamental agreement. One
of these had granted to him a lot of land lying on Elizabeth
River, which runs through the
township from north to south and
in the immediate vicinity of Ir
vington. This stream fifty years
ago was largely utilized for Avater
power. Three large i^onds were
dammed up on its course and
quite extensive factories and mills
established. The eastern end of the toAvnship
runs into the Salt MeadoAvs and
envelops 628 acres of tide marsh.
From this extent of country
Bound Brook fiows into the up
land. This stream is historical.
It forms the boundary between Newark and Elizabeth-
town. Just south of its entrance into Clinton upland is
found, where the State fair grounds are established. On
the west of these grounds it has been proposed to gather the
waters of the brook into a lake, which has already been
named Weequahick. A few houses and one or two hotels
have gathered around the fair grounds and the title Waver
ley has been given to it.
In November, 1852, the name Camptown was obliterated
CLINTON ARMS.
392
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
and Irvington took its place in honor of Washington Irving,
the accomplished American author, who has done so much
to raise the standard of American literature in England and
elsewhere. Irvington is uoav incorporated with town pow
ers, and is governed by trustees elected by the people. It
has three churches : the Reformed, Christian, and Methodist
—all Avdl organized and flourishing. A school house of
excellent proportions and Avell supplied with teachers and
'SUNNYSIDE": WASHINGTON IRVINGS HOME.
other appliances for educational purposes Avas erected in
1870, at a cost of fourteen thoiisaud dollars. Irvington has
a populaticm of 5,255 and Clinton 1,325.
Franklin and Belleville are the two northeastern toAvn-
ships of Essex, and are both washed on the whole length of
their eastern boundaries by the Passaic River. Franklin is
situated in the extreme northeast, and is bounded north by
Passaic County, east by Passaic River, south by Belleville,
and west by Bloomfldd. The landscapes presented in this
township are delightful to one sailing up or down the river.
A rolling couutry is presented to the vicAV, Avith two or
three ranges of slightly elevated eminences. It is a resi-
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
393
dential locality, although at one period in its history its
manufacturing interests Avere large, but those are now in a
great measure abandoned from circumstances which could
not be con- _^
trolled, appar- ~ '"
ently, by the *
owners. The changes
AV h i c h meet t
the eye from
farm and com
fortable farm
house, with its
surroundings, to the
beautiful
country seat,
a d o rued by
taste, nestling
amid trees and
foliage, front
ing on the riv
er, from the
beautiful vil
lage Avith its
snug, conven
ient dwellings
for workmen
and their fam
ilies, to the oc
casional forest, all delight and charm the beholder.
The history of Franklin is so recent in date that very
little can be said about it. It once, in the very early history
HALL OF THE KNIGHTS, BINNENHOF, HOLLAND.
394 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
of Newark, was attached to that colony. In 1812 Bloom
field was separated from Newark, and then incorporated
within its bounds both Belleville and Franklin. In 1839
Belleville Avas created, being then separated from Bloom
field, and included Franklin, which was taken by an act of
the Legislature passed February 18, 1874, from Belleville,
and made an independent township. It was then that its
separate history began.
There does not seem to have been an immigration from
Newark, certainly not from the first settlers, into this part
of the territory of that colony. But immigrants came from
Acquackanonk and perhaps from Bergen. This supposition
is supported by the quaint character of many old residences
still standing and some of which Avere in existence fifty
years ago. They Avere of the character usually adopted by
the early Holland immigrants — structures of massive stone
walls, one story, in some instances a story and a half, high,
with a piazza or porch across the whole front of the build
ing. Several of these dwellings had the date of their erec
tion carved into a stone tablet over the front door. One
of these is dated 1702, another 1738, and one of these tab
lets, on a house which took the place of a very old edifice,
bears the date 1788. The presence of Dutch names borne
by residents many years ago in the territory of Franklin
also testifies to the truth of the assertion that this part of
the country was settled by former citizens of Acquackanonk
and Bergen. Occasionally, after the time that Franklin be
came a township, some of these names appear in the list of
township officers, such as Van Winkle, Van Riper, Post,
Garrabrant, Kierstead, and Hopper.
There are three villages or hamlets in the township:
Avondale, Nutley, and Franklin. Avondale Avas once called
North Belleville, and is situated a short distance above
AVONDALE, FRANKLIN, AND NUTLEY
395
Belleville and on a declivity near the river. Here there are
extensive quarries of red sandstone of the very best quality,
large quantities of whicli have been excavated and sent in
many different directions. Avondale is a ucav locality, and
with Nutley and Franklin is indebted for its growth to the
Erie Railroad, which passes through the entire length of
Franklin. Stations have been established at each of these
localities, affording such easy and prompt facilities of travel
that many citizens of Ncav York and other business centers
have been induced to build dwellings in this section of New
Jersey. Franklin lies more to the west and
farther north in the county, and in the
valley of Third River, sometimes
called Yanticaw, which at this point
has quite a descent and Avas once
largely used for Avater power for mills.
Here many years ago were the Dun
can woolen mills, conducted by the
Duncan brothers, Scotchmen, — excel
lent, worthy citizens, who desired to
make more of their employees than
mere workmen. They provided schools
for their children, erected a church, and in the Avinter sea
sons they asked men of talent and leaming to come and
lecture for their benefit. They are all now dead, their
works are abandoned, but Franklin still thrives.
Nutley is nearer to the Passaic River, and is a thriving
residential locality. It OAves its existence to Thomas W.
Satterthwaite, a wealthy gentleman, Avho many years ago
erected a stately residence on the banks of the river now in
corporated Avithin the bounds of Nutley. He OAvned many
hundred acres here, and he and his family divided the
VAN CORTLANDT ARMS.
396 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
property into building sites, and, offering inducements to
those disposed to settle here, in this manner formed the
nucleus for a thriving, jiopulous toAvn. Nutley was the name
given by Mr. Satterthwaite to his counti-y seat, and it was
adopted by the citizens as the title to the new toAvn thus
reared. It has a population of over three thousand. Some
idea may be gained of the progressive spirit and liberality of
its citizens from the fact that a school house costing thirty
thousand dollars has been erected in the village.
Belleville is an old town, being in existence long before
the tOAvnship bearing its name was incorporated. It has a
large infusion of Holland stock, as is witnessed by the pres
ence for so manjf years of a strong and fiourishing Reformed
congregation and also by the presence uoaa' and for several
generations of so many Dutch names, such as Jerolamon,
Schuyler, Rutgers, Spier (or Speer as it is noAv written). Van
Cortlandt, Coeyman, and Ackerman. The tOAvn Avas a bust
ling, active community more than fifty years ago, and it
has retained those characteristics to the jiresent. Docks
were built on the river and craft of quite large draft were
coming and going, passing to and fro up and doAvn the
stream, carrying the manufactured products of the mills
and factories in the town and in the surrounding country
to market and goods of different kinds for home consump
tion. But the steam whistle of the locomotiA^e A\'as heard,
the river trade gradually died out, and the freight was
brought in and carried aAvay by the railroad. The town,
however, has steadily increased and is still increasing. The
population of the whole township iu 1890 Avas 3,487; in 1900
it had groAvn to 5,907, an increase of forty and more per
cent. The people outside of the town number very few, aud
this increase is due almost entirely to the toAvu. A pecul
iarity not often found in a locality AAdiere the increase in
f.,l^[*t
¦J~^ul
-
r.#
¦¦ . V < <
->
STREET IN AMSTERDAM: HOLLAND.
398
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
population is due to immigration more than to natural
causes exists here in the permanence of the inhabitants. The
people, especially the representatives of the old element,
rarely change. The town is mostly situated between the
river, and quite an extensive range of eminences lying west
ward and running north and south nearly parallel with the
stream. The houses were chiefiy confined a few years ago
to one single street, running along the west bank of the
river and not far from it, spreading north and south for
more than a
mile. But now
they have
climbed the
eminences and
nearly covered
their heights.
A very large
part of the
population of
Belleville is
engaged in
manufac
turing. The
Hendricks
copper works are situated near the west side of the town
on Second River. These works are very extensive, have
been established for more than seventy-five years, and are
still in successful operation. John Eastwood and others
are engaged in large manufactures in the town. For a cen
tury and more an important industry in Belleville has been
connected with the quarries of red sandstone. This has
been extensively and profitably followed.
The Reformed Church at Belleville is one of the oldest
AN OLD FARM HOUSE.
BELLEVILLE AND VERONA 399
in the State. It was organized certainly prior to 1725, as
is proved by the fact that in the records of the church in
that year it is recorded that measures are being taken to
secure the building of a " new church " for worship. From
that date until now this organization has been in operation
Avith unvarying success. About fifty years ago the church
Avas rebuilt, and in this substantial stone building the con
gregation gathers from time to time. A commodious par
sonage has also been erected. These two buildings are
situated on the main street in the center of the town, and
add much by their presence to the beauty of the locality.
The Rev. T. De Witt Talmadge was at one time a pastor of
this church. There are three other churches at Belleville :
a Methodist, an Episcopalian, and a Roman Catholic.
Belleville is situated on the Second River, and in its early
history was called after the name of that stream. Its pres
ent title is truly descriptive of the town and its situation.
Nestled in the valley of Peckman's River, between the
First and Second Mountains, lies the township of Verona,
the last municipality created in Essex. It was taken from
Caldwell in 1892 and made an independent township. Its
population in 1900 was 2,137. It has two villages within
its borders: Verona and Cedar Grove. In the vicinity of
Verona village during the eighteenth and nineteenth cen
turies there were several families of the Condit stock, who
were mostly agriculturists. Some of the race still remain
here. Jonathan Condit, a captain in the Revolutionary
Army, resided here on a farm at the breaking out of the war.
Near him were other families of the same name, all of whom
were infiuential members of the community. A small in
fusion of Dutch blood found its way here about a hundred
years ago, the most prominent name being that of Jacobus.
Verona village was until a few years ago a quiet hamlet
400 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
of a few dwellings, inhabited by a staid and steady popula
tion, mostly farmers. A large factory for brushes of all
varieties, conducted by a member of the Jacobus family,
gave some life to the place. Some enterprising citizens of
other localities awoke to the desirability of the village for
residences, and a few built dwellings here, among whom
may be mentioned the Hon. John L. Johnson, formerly a
judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Essex and now a
prominent lawyer with his oflfice in Newark. Others have
followed his example and have become permanent residents
of this community.
Cedar Grove is a small hamlet in the northern part of the
township. Peckman's River, a tributary of the Passaic,
emptying its waters into that river at Little Falls, runs
through the entire length of the township and forms the
valley. At the southem end of the township this stream
has formed a lake covering many acres. In the beginning
of the nineteenth century this sheet of water, called Verona
Lake, was utilized for milling purposes, and was much re
sorted to by the farmers of the vicinity. But now it is a place
of resort for pleasure seekers, who find there cA^ery appli
ance for their delight and recreation. The water is of pure
spring origin, unpolluted as are so many of the streams of
the State for sewage purposes. It lies sheltered by the sur
rounding hills from storm and destructive winds, so that
tourists who seek its quiet waters are safe. It is nearly
a mile in length, and every drop of its pellucid waves comes
from mountain springs issuing from the eminences which
surround it and seem to be the guardians of the spot. The
park and lake are under the most excellent management,
while every possible appliance is furnished for the pleas
ure of those who come there for rest. The most fastidious
may be assured that nothing will be found to offend or
VIEW OF VERONA LAKE AND PARK.
402 THE. PASSAIC VALLEY
molest. It is under the charge of an association of gentle
men, residents of the village and its vicinity, who, them
selves fully alive to the importance of the preservation of
good morals and purity in the community, have adopted
such rules for the regulation of the conduct of visitors and
for the preservation of the quiet of the place that no offence
can possibly be given to any one. The lake is easily reached
by trolley cars from all parts of the adjoining country. Art
has aided nature and, combining the natural scenery of the
lake and its surroundings with other environments, has
made this beautiful sheet of water most desirable. It is
fitted up with boat houses, a lawn decorated with shrub
bery, tables for picnics, and settees for the weary. Con
venient boats, safely arranged so as to prevent accident,
are always at command. For Sunday schools and other
like associations this is a most desirable resort. The names
of its managers, David H. and John W. Slayback, Charles
A. Williams, and Anson A. Voorhees, are guarantees that
every promise made will be faithfully performed.
There are three churches at Verona : a Presbyterian, Con
gregational, and Methodist.
Caldwell is the largest township in the county, and in
some respects it is one of the most interesting. It was the
gateway for immigration from Essex into Morris County
at the beginning of the eighteenth century. An adven
turous man climbed to the top of Second Mountain, looked
down upon the scene spread out before his feet, and took
in some of its beauty. But the men of his time were more
realistic and utilitarian in their views than those of this
age, and this particular adventurer partook of the char
acteristics of his time. He returned to Newark, informed
the town meeting of what he had seen, and advised that
an instant purchase should be made of the land. This was.
CALDWELL TOWNSHIP 403
so near as can be ascertained, about the year 1700. The
purchase was made, and into Horseneek, as the locality
was at first called from its fancied resemblance to a horse's
arched neck, flowed, slowly at flrst, but in larger volume
afterward, an immigration which later appropriated the
Avhole valley. Soon it was intimated that iron was to be
found over the river beyond its western banks, and before
the flrst quarter of the eighteenth century Morris County
began to be peopled by hardy settlers from Essex. Prior to
this time, in 1679, an Indian deed was made to some Hol
landers of land, a portion of which by its description was
clearly within the bounds of the present toAvuship of Cald
well:
Lying west and north of a straight line drawn from the mouth of Pine Brook
a little to the north of Cedar Grove extending to the village of Acquackanonk.
This includes only a small portion of the northern ex
tremity of Caldwell. The deed was signed by Captahem,
whose name often appears in deeds of that time, and was
conflrmed by the lords proprietors. Within its bounds is
now to be found the hamlet of Fairfleld, where is an old
established Reformed Church. Several Dutch families set
tled at this locality soon after the making of this deed, and
quite a large number of the descendants of these Hollanders
are to-day to be found among the residents of Caldwell.
In 1699 two citizens of Newark were appointed a com
mittee by the town meeting to negotiate the purchase of
the " tract lying westward of our bounds to the Passaic
River." The purchase, however, was not then made. In
1701, June 10, Sir Thomas Lane and others, representing
the West Jersey Society, obtained letters patent for " land
lying at Horseneek." How definite was the description
of the land intended to be granted by these letters patent is
not known, but as indefinite as that just given may be
404 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
it is evident that it refers to land west of First Mountain
and extending to the river. Nothing, however, seems to
have come out of this conveyance, and it also appears by
subsequent events that all parties acquiesced in the title
acquired by Newark except the proprietors.
In 1702 the lords proprietors surrendered the right of
sovereignty over New Jersey, secured to them by the orig
inal grant to Berkeley and Carteret by the Duke of York,
but retained the title to the land. The independent colo
nists of NeAvark frequently disregarded the claim set up by
the proprietors to the exclusive control over the land within
the Province, who insisted that any Indian titles acquired
by any purchase should be confirmed by them. The set
tlers in Newark claimed that the Indians were the sole own
ers of the country. Accordingly in 1702, setting at naught
the proprietors, they bought from the Indians this land
" Avestward or northward of Newark within the compass
of the Passaick river and so southward unto Minisink path,
viz : all lands as yet unpurchased of the heathen."
The deed was executed by several chiefs of the tribes resi
dent within New Jersey, was dated March, 1701-02, and was
afterward, on the 14th day of March, 1741-42, confirmed by
some Indians calling themselves kings, and others as chiefs,
of the tribes, heirs and successors of the grantors of the deed
executed in 1702. The proprietors claimed that the settlers
should pay them for the lands they occupied. This was
sturdily disputed and the demand denied except by one in
dividual. This led the proprietors to take legal measures to
secure what they considered were their just dues and lawful
rights. Defendants in these suits were committed to prison
and the jails Avere stormed by the citizens headed by some
of the most respectable inhabitants. In the end the pro
prietors Avere successful. Many purchasers who had paid
CALDWELL TOWNSHIP 405
for their property were dispossessed, several Avere reduced
to poverty, aud great distress and loss Avere sustained. The
controversy lasted several years, aud Avas fought with great
pertinacity by both parties. This statement of facts does not
apply alone to Caldwell, but to other parts of the county.
Caldwell Township is situated in the northwestern part
of Essex, and is bounded north and west by the Passaic
River, which separates it from Passaic and Morris, east by
Verona and West Orange, and south by Livingston Town
ship. It contains 18,194 acres, of Avhich about 7,000
are still forest. The whole western portion bordering on
the river is enveloped by SAvampy land. That in the north-
Avest of the township, at the loop of the river as it turns to
fiow towards Little Falls, is called the Great Piece; the oth
ers are knoAvn as Little Piece and Hatfield Meadows. These
meadoAVS cover many hundred acres. They are useful,
however, to their owners, and are being gradually drained.
They are sometimes entirely submerged by the overfiow of
the river, but they rarely fail to render to their OAvners some
remuneration in their crops of hay and in the pasturage
tliey furnish for cattle. Some timber is grown upon them
and of good quality. The flow of the riA-er at this point is
exceedingly sluggish, the descent in some instances being
only one inch to the mile.
The township was incorporated on the 16th of February,
1798, and the following bounds defined :
Beginning at Cook's bridge on Passaic River then running down the old Canoe
brook road along the Springfield line until it eome to where said line turns off to
Keen's Mills, from thence on a straight line to within flve chains to the west of
Joel Condit's quarry on the Springfield road near the top of Second Mountain,
thence north flfteen degrees east tw'eiity chains along said mountain, thence on a
straight line to the top of First Mountain to where a certain road laid out along
the line of lands of Stephen Crane, deceased, intersects the top of said mountain,
thence along the same until it comes to the Paterson line, thence along the said
406
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
line to the Passaick Biver, thence up the middle of the stream to the place of
Beginning. This territory since the formation of the township has
been depleted by the creation of other municipalities. The
township was named in honor of the Rev. James Caldwell,
the " fighting parson " of the Revolutionary Army. Two
boroughs, Caldwell and North Caldwell, have been carved
from the township, both of small extent. The population
of the township proper in 1900 was 1,619, of Caldwell bor
ough 1,367, and North Caldwell 297.
The village of Caldwell is beautiful for situation. It has
three churches : a Presbyterian, a Baptist, and a Methodist.
There are four hamlets in the township : Fairfield, Clinton,
Franklin, and Westville, of which Fairfield is the oldest.
The Reformed Church at Fairfield was organized nearly one
hundred and fifty years ago, and has aided many struggling
churches of the same denomination in its vicinity. It was,
of course, supported by the Holland immigrants who early
in the eighteenth century made their way across the Pas
saic into Caldwell.
CHAPTER XXX
ESSEX COUNTY — CONCLUDED
IVINGSTON TOW^NSHIP has no peculiariy striking
history. It was a part of NcAvark until 1797, Avhen
it was separated from that town. Its population
has been and is uoav almost entirely devoted to
agriculture. There are, hoAveA^er, a few hat factories of
limited facilities situated on the river. The permanency
of the iuhabitants is quite remarkable. They generally live
on, generation after generation, in the same locality, fre
quently in the same house. A single case is perhaps one of
many. T. RoAvland Teed, a lad of fourteen years of age,
Avas born in the same house iu which his great-great-grand
father was born, and in which every successive generation
down to this youth was also born, many of them in the
same room. The Teed family for many decades have been
prominent and infiuential in public affairs, many of them
filling township offices, several acting as county officials,
and some as members of the Legislature.
The township is bounded on the north by Caldwell, on
the east by West Orange and Milburn, on the south by
Milburn and the Passaic, and on the west by the Passaic.
The low grounds which envelop so large a part of Caldwell
pass over into the territory of Livingston on the bank of the
river. The names which haA-'e always been prominent in the his-
408
THE PASSAIO VALLEY
tory of this township denote quite conclusively their origin.
The most of them came from NcAvark and settled in the
fertile fields of this municipality. They are Ward, Tomp
kins, Harrison, Williams, Dodd, Condit, Teed, Force, and
others. A few influential names can not be traced to the
parent colony. Some undoubtedly came from Elizabeth-
town. There are five villages and hamlets in the township : Liv
ingston, West Livingston, Northfield, Squiertown, and Rose-
laud, formerly called Centerville. Of these Roseland is the
largest and
most prosper
ous. It is near
a railroad with
a station, and
bids fair to be-
c ome m o r e
populous i n
the future.
Roselaud has
two churches:
P I- e s b y t e -
rian and jMethodist. AVest Liviugstou also has a Methodist
Church, and there are Iavo Baptist Churches, one at North-
field aud one at Livingston.
Liviugstou Avas named in honor of William LiAungston,
governor of Ncav Jersey during the Revolution. It has
11,148 acres, of Avhicli about 5,000 are still forest laud. Its
population in 1900 was 1,412.
Milburn is situated iu the southern part of the county on
the line of Uniou. It formed at one time part of Spring
field when that township Avas united Avitli Essex County,
but Avhen Union was created Milburn Avas separated from
A COUNTRY HOME,
MILBURN TOAVNSHII' AND VILLAGE
409
Springfield and remained united to Essex. This was in
1852. It is bounded north by Livingston and West Orange,
east by Springfield and South Orange, south by Union Coun
ty, and Avest by the Passaic River, Avhich separates it from
Morris County. It is much broken by different ranges of
hills — the White Oak Ridge in its central part, a higher
elevation in its northern part near Livingston, and Short
Hills in its southern portion. On
the Passaic there are some loAvlands,
and toward Springfield there is quite
an extent of level plain. The Passaic
River washes its western side, Canoe
Brook comes into the tOAVuship from
Livingston, and the east branch of
the RahAvay RiA'er rises iu West
Orange and fiows through jMilbiiiu
into Springfield.
Sixty-five years ago Milburn vil
lage AA'as a mere hamlet, and Avas
known by A^arious names, such as
Rum Brook, Riverhead, V^auxhall,
and Croton. There Avas au attempt
ma,de at one time to call it Millville,
but when it was incorporated and a
postoffice established there the name
was definitely settled as Milburn,
and very appropriately, as it Avas situated on a stream fully
entitled to that name for its facility in affording mill sites.
It became at one time a large manufacturing center, de
voted particularly to papermills and hat factories. Shortly
after the Revolution Samuel Campbell, a Scotchman, estab
lished a papermill a short distance above the village of
Milburn on the Rahway RiA-er, which continued to be oper-
A COLONIAL CHATELAINE.
410
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ated by him and, after his death, by his son John. It has
been claimed that this Avas the first papermill of its kind
in the United States. Several other papermills have been
established since that time below the Campbell plant. Hat
factories of various kinds were scattered along the Rah
way River. Fifty years and more ago Israel D. Condit,
who lived at Milburn, when it was just emerging from its
hamlet state, until his death a few years ago, at the age of
ninety-two, was largely engaged in the hat manufacture at
Milburn. He was a public benefactor in his day and fore
most in all efforts to
aid the community
in Avhich he lived.
He largely assisted
iu the erection of the
Episcopal Church at
Milburn aud Avas
prominent in the es
tablishment of a
c e m e t e r y at this
place. There are three
villages and ham
lets in Milburn Township : Milburn, Short Hills, and Wyo
ming. The village of Milburn extends on both sides of the
Rahway River from the railroad to Springfield. It has two
churches, an Episcopalian and a Baptist. The manufac
turing interests of this locality have almost wholly disap
peared. It is still a Adllage of enterprise and progress.
Wyoming is a thriving hamlet Avith large possibilities.
It is of very recent date, and is fed by immigrations from
the cities of families of moderate means who have sought
country homes.
A COUNTRY TAVERN.
SHORT HILLS
411
Short Hills is a very remarkable locality, entirely resi
dential in its character. It is the result of the fertile brain
of Stewart Hartshorne, the proprietor of the famous Harts
horne rollers. He appreciated the location of the broken
terraces, the ending of the First Mountain, and determined
to utilize the land for the formation of a most unique set
tlement. It was to consist entirely of residences — no
stores, nor factories, nor any erection of any kind Avere to
be permitted to mar the symmetry of his plan. He accord
ingly purchased a plot of several hundred acres, admirably
located for his pur
pose, in one mass, of ^^i^^fc^Vr^--^- -^ ^=^-^ _
the proportions ex
actly needed to ac
complish his plan.
This was plotted
and laid out in
building sites. Ten
ants and purchasers
were invited to set
tle there. Their
wishes as to the
kind of erection they
desired were respected aud the quantity of land needed
was sold or rented on the most advantageous terms, but
scrutiny of an exhaustive character Avas used in the selec
tion of proposing residents. The consequence of the sys
tem rigidly carried out by Mr. Hartshorne has been the
gathering together in this beautiful spot of the completest
and most elegant residences ever brought into one locality
of such an extent, and the grouping of inhabitants rarely,
if ever, found in a village of this kind. It is an ideal project,
never before so fully accomplished nor carried out to such a
AN OLD HOUSE.
412 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
satisfactory result. Homes so commodious, with every ap
pliance for all demands for securing health and obtaining
ease, so elegant in their architecture, so practically orna
mental, can not be found dseAvhere. No community with
higher, better characteristics was ever gathered together
in the same locality. Several similar attempts have
been made in this country, but they have proved unsuccess
ful. It is due to the good judgment of its founder that this
has been so eminently successful.
Short Hills is historically connected with the Revolution.
It was near here that the battle of Springfield was fought.
The results of that confiict were far reaching in their in
fiuence in the future of the struggling colonists. It Avas
during a memorable crisis of the war, when all hearts were
filled with sad forebodings. Washington and his famished,
ragged army Avere encamped at Morristown, and a powder
mill was established there. It was of the utmost impor
tance to the British, if possible, to secure the capture of the
one and the destruction of the other. Several attempts
had been made by the enemy to secure both of these objects,
but they had signally failed. A full force was sent out
from New York under the command of experienced A^eteran
officers with high hopes of success.
Alarm Avas given by beacon and signal cannon from an
eminence to the west of the present Adllage of Short Hills.
The minutemen swarmed to the rescue from their homes.
General Maxwell, a Jerseyman, Avas in the command of
the regular troops, the invaders AAere driven back with loss,
and the attempt was never renewed. Brutal outrage and
unnecessary devastation marked CA^ery step of the adA^ance
of the British; farm houses Avere burned, farms pillaged,
Avoineu insulted, and a scene of outrage spreading all along
their course. ]Mrs. CaldAvell, the wife of the Rev. James
ORANGE AND THE MOUNTAIN SOCIETY 413
Caldwell, then quartermaster as well as chaplain in the
patriot army, Avas shot while standing at an upper win
dow with an infant in her arms. The Presbyterian Church
at Springfield was destroyed.
It was at this battle that occurred the incident, so often
related, of how Caldwell, when the soldiers ran short of wad
ding, rushed into the church, came out with his arms full of
the old-fashioned hymn books, then in universal use in the
Presbyterian Churches, and, distributing the leaves among
the troops, cried out: " Give 'em Watts, boys!"
Orange can not, properly, be claimed to be within the
bounds of the Passaic Valley, but it is too important a local
ity not to receive some mention. Like all the rest of Essex
County it formed in the early history of the colony a part
of Newark, and was settled by immigrants from that town.
The exact time when these first settlers came there can not
be definitely determined, but it may be readily approxi
mated by the time of the formation of the " Mountain So
ciety." The first care of these conscientious Puritans, after secur
ing a resting place for their families, was to rear the church
and by its side the school house, Avherever they went.
If the date of the establishment of the church can be ascer
tained it is entirely safe to record the beginning of the set
tlement. But undoubtedly the immigration into Orange
Avas a gradual one, not involving at first any great number
of settlers. The restless activities of the Anglo-Saxons im
pelled them to migrations from place to place. Ncav fields
invited, more fertile land encouraged, and fairer skies beck
oned them on from their residences. Adventurous souls
were found among these men from Connecticut. So they
left, perhaps, comfortable homes and braved the untried
dangers of an unbroken wilderness. The young men who
414 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
had assumed the responsibilities of wife and children
sought a lodgment where there was a broader field for their
families, where more acres could be granted, to be divided
among the sons and daughters to be bom to them; and so
they went out into the broad, beautiful Valley of Orange,
and Avith characteristic energy and industry they reared
their humble homes and cleared the land and prepared for
the future. The Wards, the Piersons, the Harrisons, the
Williamses, and the Condits came and spread themselves all
through this portion of the country and honestly bought
from the aborigines.
The Mountain Society was established probably about
1719. In that year a deed for twenty acres was made by
Thomas Gardner to Samuel Freeman, Samuel Pierson,
Matthew Williams, and Samuel Wheeler, and the Society
at the Mountain was associated with them. A meeting house
Avas erected by the settlers at the mountain, and a separate
and distinct community Avas gathered together. In 1702 the
proprietors surrendered the right of government to Queen
Anne, but reserved the title to all land within the Prov
ince, and the crown disclaimed " all right to the province of
New Jersey other than the government and owns the soil
and quit-rents, &c., to belong to the general proprie
tors." A few years later the proprietors made demands on
these settlers for payment for the lands they held, AAdth the
results described elsewhere.
This Mountain Society Avas composed of one hundred and
one persons from NcAvark, and around their dAvellings and
the church they erected grew a larger settlement where
clustered the high hopes of the founders. The church was
their tabernacle in the wilderness. It is represented to-day
by the First Presbyterian Church of Orange, the parent of
the many religious organizations of the Presbyterian de-
ORANGE WARD AND TOAVNSHIP
415
nomination of Christians in and around Orange. The old
deed made by Thomas Gardner is preserved Avith pious
care among the archives of the parent church.
Orange was one of the three original wards into which
Newark was divided, as has already been mentioned, and
once contained a much larger extent of country than is now
within its borders. East, West, and South Orange have
THE ORANGE ORPHAN HOME.
been taken from it. It was created an independent town
ship on the 27th of November, 1806. This is the descrip
tion of the territory included within the bounds of the new
township as established by the act :
Beginning at a spring called the Boiling Spring, on the land of Stephen D. Day,
running thence in a straight line southwardly to the bridge in the highway near
David Peck's ; thence running southwardly in a straight line to a bridge in the
highway near Sayres Roberts in Camptown; thence southwardly in a straight
line to Elizabeth township in the line of Springfield township ; thence along the
line of the same to Caldwell township ; thence along the line of said township to
a point in the first mountain, called Stephen Crane's notch; thence Southwardly
416 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
to Turkey Eagle rock; thence Eastwardly to a bridge on tbe highway near Phineas
Crane's ; thence Eastwardly to a bridge on the highway between the house of
Silas Dod and Nathaniel Dod ; thence in a straight line to the Boiling Spring, the
place of Beginning.
Different localities within the bounds of this territory
were called at first by the names of the families who were
resident there. Thus the vicinity of Saint Mark's Church
was called Williamstown, afterward Tory Corner. Part of
the eastern side of East Orange was known as Pecktown. A
settlement between East Orange and Bloomfield received
the name of Dodtown. The Freemans gave the title of
Freemantown to South Orange.
The name Orange is traced to a joke. At a meeting of
the people it was suggested that the locality should be
named Orangedale. The suggestion, though made as a
jest, Avas accepted, but for several years the word Orange
was coupled with another until at last the matter was set
tled in the act of incorporation, which styled the township
by its present name. It is now a city, being incorporated
as such on the 3d of April, 1872, by the name of the City of
Orange. Its surface is almost one unbroken level plain, inter
sected by some small rivulets, but by no important stream.
Sixty years ago it was a long, straggling town of about
flve hundred inhabitants, its dwellings mostly small and in
significant in their architecture, the abodes of sturdy, in
dependent people, who spoke and thought for themselves,
conscientious in their lives, tenacious of their rights, and
religious in their modes of action. The village then extended
nearly from the western boundary of Newark Avestward for
about three miles. The inhabitants were an industrious, fru
gal race, a.large majority of them being small shoemakers,
Avho had learned that trade and manufactured boots and
THIfl CITY OF ORANGE 417
shoes in a small way for the larger manufacturers of New
ark. This mode, however, ceased long since, and the atten
tion of the citizens of Orange has been turned in other di
rections. The manufacture of hats has been a very impor
tant industry in this thriving city.
The whole character of the town has been practically
changed during the last half century. A new element has
made its way into this region. While it has in a very great
measure dominated by the sheer force of its push and en
terprise the public affairs of the community it has not an
tagonized the representatives of the old settlers, who have
been properly recognized.
Orange is a progressive town. The new comers have in
terjected a spirit of enterprise and awakened the staid
representatives of the old element of population into an ap
preciation of the possibilities of the locality. Elegant
churches, school houses, a public library, and a music hall
now adorn the streets. It had a population in 1900 of
21,741.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE COUNTY OF HUDSON
UDSON COUNTY lies directly south of Bergen,
Avhich forms its northerly bouudary. The Passaic
River and Newark Bay separate it from Essex and
Union ou the Avest, Avhile its southern point lies
opposite Staten Island and is washed by the waters of New
York harbor. It is the most populous county in the State,
having about three hundred and eighty-six thousand inhab
itants. It contains the toAVUships of Harrison, North Bergen,
Weehawken, and Guttenberg, the towns of West Hoboken,
Union, Kearney, West New York, and East Newark, the
borough of Secaucus, and the cities of Jersey City, Hoboken,
and Bayonne.
The first municipality Avithin the limits of New Jersey
Avas erected by order of Director-General Stuyvesant and
his council on September 5, 1661, and christened " The Vil
lage of Bergen." The origin of the name " Bergen " rests
in some doubt. Some writers confidently claim it to have
been derived from " Bergen," the capital of Norway, while
others as confidently assert it to have been derived from
Bergen op Zoom, an important town on the River Scheldt,
in Holland. The evidence, however, seems to favor those
Avho claim the name to have been derived from the Holland
toAvn. During the seven years folloAving the christening new set-
420
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
tiers rapidly purchased and located on lands outside of the
" Village " limits. These, with a view to more effectually
protecting themselves from the savages, asked that tliey
might be annexed to the main settlement. Accordingly,
on April 7, 1668, Governor Philip Carteret and his council,
of East New Jersey, granted to the settlers of Bergen (then
comprising some forty families) a charter under the cor
porate name of " The Towne and Corporation of Bergen."
This neAV " Towne " comprised the present Oounty of Hud
son as far west as the
Hackensack River.
The line on the north,
as described in the
charter, started " at
Mordavis meadow, ly
ing upon the west side
of Hudson's River;
from thence to run
upon a N. W. lyne by
a Three rail fence that
is now standing to a
place called Espatin
[The Hill] and from
thence to a little creek
[Bellman's Creek] sur
rounding N. N. W. till
it comes unto the river Hackensack [Indian name for ' Low
land'], containing in breadth, from the top of the Hill, 1^
miles or 120 chains." During the next sixteen years new
settlements sprang up north of Bergen, but in matters of
government these were termed " out lands " or " precincts,"
without any corporate poAver whatever, and subject to the
jurisdiction of the authorities of the " Towne."
CHARLES I.
FORMATION OF COUNTIES 421
As population increased courts became necessary; and
as all the colonial officials were Englishmen, and many Eng
lish immigrants had settled in the colony, it was natural
that they should desire the adoption of the English system
of county government. On the 7th of March, 1682, the
proAdncial Legislature passed, and Deputy Governor Rud-
yard approved, an act under which New Jersey was divided
into four counties : Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Mon
mouth. Bergen County, as then defined, contained " all the
settlements betAveen Hudson's River and the Hackensack
River, beginning at Constable's Hook and so to extend to
the uppermost bounds of the Province, northward between
the said rivers Avith the seat of government at the town of
Bergen." Essex County comprised " all the settlements be
tween the west side of the Hackensack River and the part
ing line between Woodbridge and Elizabethtown, and north
ward to the utmost bounds of the Province." By this di
vision the greater part of the present County of Bergen as
well as a part of Hudson fell within the limits of Essex.
On the 2d of January, 1709-10, an act was passed and ap
proved directing a redivision. By the terms of this act the
boundaries of Bergen County were fixed as follows :
Beginning at Constable's Hook, so up along the bay to Hudson's River, to the
partition point between New Jersey and the Province of New York; thence
along the line and the line between East and West New Jersey to the Pequan
nock and Passaic Rivers ; thence down the Pequannock and Passaic Bivers to the
sound; and so following the sound to Constable's Hook where it begins.
In the northwestern part of the county, as above de
scribed, was included the County of Passaic, and on the 22d
of February, 1840, all that part of it lying south of the
original north bounds of the " Town and Corporation of Ber
gen," together Avith a considerable area of territory west of
the Hackensack River known as New Barbadoes Neck, were,
422
THE P.4lSSAI0 A'^ ALLEY
by legislative enactment, erected into the County of Hudson.
A part of this Avas annexed to Bergen County in 1852, leav
ing the boundaries of Bergen and Hudson Counties as they
are to-day.
The first division of the counties of the State into town
ships was made pursuant to two acts of the colonial assem-
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"y-
BERGEN AND BUYTEN TUYN IN 1660.
bly, one approved in September, 1692, and the other in Octo
ber, 1693. The reasons for this division were set forth iu
the jireamble to the second of the above mentioned acts, as
foUoAvs :
Whereas several things is to be done by the inhabitants of towns, hamlets
tribes, or divisions within each county, as chusing of deputies, constables &c., tax
ing and collecting of several rates for publick uses and the making orders
amongst themselves respectively about swine, fences &c.
Whereas, a great many settlements are not reckoned within any such town
OLD BERGEN COUNTY
423
or division, nor the bounds of the reputed towns ascertained, by means thereof
the respective constables know not tlieir districts, and many other inconveniences
arising from them, and forasmuch as the act made in Sept 1692, for dividing
the several counties and townships, the time for the returns of the said divisions,
being too short and the method of dividing by county meetings inconvenient.
Therefore be it enacted, etc.
Tender these acts Bergen County (then including the pres
ent Counties of Bergen and Hud
son) was divided into three toAvu-
ships : Hackensack, New Barba
does, and Bergen. Of these
Hackensack comprised '' all
the land betwixt the Hacken
sack River and Hudson's
River, that extends from the
corporation town bounds of
Bergen to the partition lino
of the Province." New Bar
badoes cimiprised " all the land on Passaic River, above the
third river, and from the mouth of the said third river north
west to the partition line of the Province, including also all
the land in New Barbadoes neck, betwixt Hackensack and
Passaic rivers, and thence to the partition line of the Prov-
HOBOKEN IN 1770.
424
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ince." Bergen comprised that part of Hudson County now
lying east of the Hackensack River.
Out of Bergen Township were carved Jersey City, January
28, 1820; Van Vorst Township. March 11, 1841; North Ber
gen Township, February 10, 1843; Hudson Township, March
4, 1852; Bayonne Township, February 16, 1861; Union Town
ship, February 28, 1861; the Town of West Hoboken, Febru
ary 28, 1863 ; and Greenville Township, March 18, 1863. Har
rison Township
was taken from
Lodi, Bergen
County, Febru
ary 22, 1840,
and out of
North Bergen
AA' e r e created
Hoboken TovvU-
ship, March 1,
1S41, and the
City of Hobo
ken, March 28,
18 5 5. ^^' e e-
hawken Town
ship, famous as
a duelling ground in times gone by, Avas organized frora
Hoboken, March 15, 1859; the Town of Union was created
from Union, March 29, 1864; Kearney was formed from Har
rison, March 14, 1867, and made a '' town " March 23, 1898;
and the City of Bayonne was incorporated March 10, 1869.
Oiittenberg ToAvuship Avas formed from Union, April 1, 1878,
and on March 21, 1898, the remainder of Union was ab
sorbed by the ToAvnship of West Ncav York. The Town of
East NcAvark was created in 1898, and the Borough of
HAMILTON-BURR DUELLING GROUND: WEEHAWKEN.
SETTLEMENT OF HUDSON COUNTY 425
Secaucus was organized from North Bergen, March 12, 1900.
Van Vorst and Greenville have both been absorbed by other
municipalities, tliough the latter locality retains its name.
The county is watered chiefly by the Hackensack River,
Avhich flows along the northwestern border of North Ber
gen Township and thence southward into Newark Bay.
Along this river are extensive meadows, which, between
Jersey City and NcAvark, have been partially improved and
utilized for manufacturing, railroad, and kindred purposes.
To the northward lies the " Island " of Secaucus, a strip of
upland surrounded by marsh and devoted to agriculture
aud truck gardening.
The Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Pennsylvania
Railroad, the Lehigh Valley, and the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western all traverse the county from east to west, Avhile
the Erie and West Shore lines run northward and north
westerly. The pioneers of Hudson County were largely immigrants
from Holland or desceudants of the early settlers of Man
hattan and Long Islands. The rest were English, French,
Germans, and Scandinavians. Under the stimulus of the
bill of " Freedoms and Exemptions " Michael Pauw, then
burgomaster of Amsterdam, was impelled, for speculative
purposes no doubt, to obtain from the director-general of
New Netherland, in 1630, grants of two large tracts, one
called " Hoboken Hacking " (Land of the tobacco pipe) aud
the other " Ahasimus." Both of these tracts were parts of
what is now Jersey City. These grants bore date, respect
ively, July 13 and November 22, 1630. The grantee gave
one place the name of " Pavonia."
PaiiAV failed to comply Avith the conditions set forth iu
his deeds and was obliged, after three years of controversy
with the West India Company, to convey his " plantations "
426
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
back to that company. Michael Paulesen, an oflficial of the
company, was placed in charge of them as superintendent.
It is said he built and occupied a hut at Paulus Hook early
in 1633. If so, it was the first building of any kind erected
in either Bergen or Hudson County. Later in the same
year the com
pany built two
more houses : one
at Communipaw,
afterward p u r-
chased by Jan
Evertse Bout, the
other at Ahasi
mus (uow Jersey
City, east of the
Hill), later pur
chased by Cor
nelius Van Vorst.
Jan Evertse Bout
succeeded Mich
ael Paulesen as
superintendent of
the Pauw planta-
t i o n June 17,
1634, with head
quarters at Com
munipaw, then
the capital of the Pavonia colony. He was suc
ceeded in June, 1636, by Cornelius Van Vorst, Avith head
quarters at Ahasimus, where he kept " open house " and en
tertained the New Amsterdam officials in style.
In 1641 Myndert Myndertse, of Amsterdam, (bearing the
ponderous title of " Van Der Heer Nedderhorst,") obtained
KIEFT S MODE OP PUNISHMENT.
THE BERGEN PLANTATIONS 427
a grant of all the country behind (west of) Achter Kull
(NeAvark Bay), and from thence North to Tappan, including
part of what is uoav Bergen and Hudson Counties. Accom
panied by a number of soldiers, Myndertse occupied his pur
chase, established a camp, and proceeded to civilize the In
dians by military methods. It is needless to say that he
failed. He soon abandoned the perilous undertaking of
founding a colony, returned to Holland, and the title to this
grant was forfeited.
Early in 1638 William Kieft became director-general of
NeAV Netherland, and on the first day of May folloAviiig
granted to Abraham Isaacsen Planck (V^erplanck) a patent
for Paulus Hook (uoav loAver Jersey City).
There were now two "plantations" at Bergen, those 'if
Planck and Van Vorst. Parts of these, hoAvever, had been
leased to, and were then occupied by, Claes Jansen "S"au
Piirmereud, Dirck Straatmaker, Barent Jansen, Jan (_'or-
ndissen Buys, Jan Evertsen Carsbon, Michael Jansen, Jacob
Stoffdsen, Aert Teunisen Van Putten, Egbert Woiiterseu,
Garret Dirckse BlauAV, and Cornelius Ariessen. Van Putteii
had also leased and located on a farm at Hoboken. All
these, Avith their families and servants, constituted a thriv
ing settlement. The existence of the settlement of Bergen
was now imperiled by the acts of Governor Kieft, whose idea
of government was based mainly upon the principle tliat
the governor should get all he could out of the governed.
His treatment of the Indians soon incited their distrust and
hatred of the whites. The savages, for the first time, began
to shoAv symptoms of open hostility. Captain Jan Petersen
de Vries, a distinguished navigator, Avho Avas then engaged
in the difficult task of trying to found a colony at Tappan,
sought every means in his power to conciliate the Indians,
428 THE PASSAIC VALLEY
and to persuade Kieft that his treatment of them would re
sult in bloodshed.
GoA'^ernor Kieft turned a deaf ear to all warnings and ad
vice and continued to goad the Indians by cruel treatment
and harsh methods of taxation. In 1643 an Indian — no
doubt under stress of great provocation — shot and killed a
member of the Van Vorst family. This first act of murder
furnished a pretext for the whites and precipitated what is
called " The Massacre of Pavonia," on the night of February
25, 1643, when Kieft, with a sergeant and eighty soldiers,
armed and equipped for slaughter, crossed the Hudson,
landed at Communipaw, attacked the Indians while they
were asleep in their camp, and, without regard to age or
sex, deliberately, and in the most horrible manner, butch
ered nearly a hundred of them.
Stung by this outrage upon their neighbors and kinsmen,
the northern tribes at once took the warpath, attacked tho
settlement, burned the buildings, murdered the settlers,
Aviped the villages out of existence, and laid waste the coun
try round about. Those of the settlers who were not killed
outright fied across the riA-er to New Amsterdam. Nor was
peace restored betAveen the savages and the whites until
August, 1645, when the remaining owners and tenants of
farms returned to the site of the old village, rebuilt their
homes, and started anew.
Petrus Stuyvesant was made director-general July 28,
164(i. Under his administration the settlement at Bergen
was revived, grew rapidly, and prospered. Between his ar
rival and the year 1669 the following named persons pur
chased or leased lands, though all of them did not become
actual residents:
Michael Pauw, Michael Paulesen, Jan Evertse Bout, Cornelius Van Vorst,
Myndert Myndertse, Van Der Heer Nedderhorst, Abraham Isaacson Planck
MAP or
HUDSON COUNTY
/900
430
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
(Verplanck), Claes Jansen Van Purmerend (Cooper), Dirk Straatmaker, Barent
Jansen, Jan Cornelissen Buys, John Evertsen Carsbon, Michael Jansen (Vree
land), Jacob StofPelsen, Aert Teunisen Van Putten, Egbert Woutersen, Garret
Dircksen Blauw, Cornelius Ariesen, Jacob Jacobsen Boy, Francisco Van Angola
(negro), Guilliaem Corneliesen, Dirk Sycan, Claes Carsten Norman, Jacob Wal-
lengen (Van Winkle), James Luby, Lubbert Gerritsen, Gysbert Lubbertsen, John
Garretsen Van Immen, Thomas Davison, Garret Pietersen, Jan Cornelissen
Schoenmaker, Jan Cornelissen Crynnen, Casper Stimets, Peter Jansen, Hendrick
Jans Van Schalckwyck, Nicholas Bayard, Nicholas Varlet, Herman Smeeman,
Tielman Van Vleeck, Douwe Harmansen (Tallman), Claes Jansen Backer, Egbert
Steenhuysen, Harmen Edwards, Paulus Pietersen, AUerd Anthony, John Vigne,
P a u'l[u s Leendert-
sen, John Verbrug-
gen, Balthazar Bay
ard, Samuel Edsall,
and Aerent Lau
rens.
All these
persons re
ceived their
deeds, or such
titles as they
i h a d, from
the Dutch,
through the
different direc
tor generals.
The titles of the settlers were confirmed by Governor Philip
Carteret and his council in 1668. In 1669 Carteret also
granted other portions of the lands in Hudson County to
the following persons:
Maryn Adrianse, Peter Stuyvesant, Claes Petersen Cors, Severn Laurens,
Hendrick Jansen Spier, Peter Jansen Slott, Barent Christianse, Mark Noble,
Samuel Moore, Adrian Post, Guert Coerten, Frederick Phillipse, Thomas Fred
erick de Kuyder, Guert Geretsen (Van Wagenen), Peter Jacobsen, John Berry,
Ide Cornelius Van Vorst, Hans Diedrick, Hendrick Van Ostum, Cornelius Ruy-
8TUYVE8ANT S BOWERY HOUSE.
1i». -
THE QUEEN ANNE CHARTER
431
" The ToAvn and Corporation of Bergen," as appears by
Carteret's charter, had an area of 11,500 acres. Up to the
end of 1669 scarce one-third of this area had been patented
to settlers. The balance, more than 8,000 acres, was used
in common by the patentees, their heirs, devisees, and
grantees, for nearly a century before it was finally divided
and set off to those entitled to it. Many of the patentees and
their descendants and grantees encroached upon these com
mon lands. A number caused surveys to be made, pre
sumed to " take up," and used divers parts of the public
domain " without any warrant, power, or authority for so
doing, without the consent of the
majority of the other patent own
ers," so that in the course of time
it could not be known how much of
these common lands had been taken
up and appropriated.
This state of things caused great
confusion and numerous violent dis
putes between the settlers, who, in
January, 1714, petitioned Governor
Hunter for a new charter empower
ing them, in their corporate capacity, to convey or lease
their common lands, in fee, for one, two, or three lives or
for years. Governor Hunter accordingly procured a new
charter for the town and corporation, known as " The
Queen Anne Charter." The power given by this charter
had little or no effect in putting a stop to encroachments
upon, and disputes between, the settlers. Thus matters con
tinued until 1643, when another effort was made by the set
tlers to protect their rights in the common lands. An agree
ment was made, dated June 16th, of that year, providing for
a survey of the common lands and a determination of how
432
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
much of the same had been laAvfully taken up, used, or
claimed, and by whom.
For some reason this agreement was not carried out, and
matters continued to grow worse until December 7, 1763,
when the settlers appealed to the Legislature for relief.
That body passed a bill, which was approved by Governor
Franklin, appointing commissioners to survey, map, and
CASTLE POINT.
divide the common lands of Bergen among the persons en
titled thereto. These commissioners, seven in number,
made the survey and division and filed their report and
maps on the 2d of March, 1765, in the secretary's office at
Perth Amboy, copies of which report and maps are also
filed in the oflflces of the clerks of both Hudson and Bergen
Counties. In the division thus made by the commissioners the com-
EARLY SETTLERS
433
mon lands were apportioned among the patentees, herein
before named, and their descendants, as Avell as among the
following persons :
Michael de Mott, George de Mott, Gerebrand Claesen, Joseph Waldron, Dirk
Van A'echten, James CoUerd, Thomas Brown, Andries Seagaerd, Dirk Cadmus,
Zackariah Sickels, Job Smith, Daniel Smith, .Joseph Hawkins, John Halmeghs,
Philip French, Ide Cornelius Sip, Herman Beeder, Nicholas Preyer, Sir Peter
Warreu, Anthony White, Michael Abraham Van Tuyl, Walter Clendenny, John
Cummings, David Latourette, John Van Dolsen.
Other families, those of Day, De GrauAV, De Groot, Hes
sels, Hopper, Banta, Huysmau, Van Giesen, Earle, Franzen,
Morris, and SAvaen, had become residents of the county with
out having lands granted them. It may therefore be safely
said that the families aboye named constituted nearly all
of the original settlers of Hudson County east of the Hack
ensack River.
SHILLING OF GEORGE II.
ifTr^Wi'!''^^^
CHAPTER XXXII
HUDSON COUNTY — CONCLUDED
HE AV(^sfisouers.
Ou July 28, 177S, the Americans retaliated, coming doAvn
as far as Bergen Point, visiting Roebuck on thdr Avay, and
carrying off' " a great number of Cattle from the Inhab
itants."
PRESIDENT WASHINGTON S DESK.
But the most brilliant episode iu conuedion Avith Paulus
Hook occurred iu the autumn of 1779, Avheu 3Iajor Henry
Lee (" Light Horse Harry "), stationed at New Bridge, made
a spirited attack ou the post, capturing one hundred and
fifty-nine of the garrison, including officers. This was early
in the morning of August 19. The alfair was very galling to
the British and Tories, but the Americans Avere overjoyed,
and Major Lee recdA'ed the thanks of both Congress and
Washington, the former placing in Lee's hands |15,000 to
be distributed among the soldiers engaged iu the attack
and also aAvarding him a special medal coiiiiiieiu orating the
event.
444
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
Early in September, 1782, Fort de Lancey on Bergen Neck
was evacuated and burned, and on October 5 Major Ward
embarked for Nova Scotia with his despised and motley
crew of refugees. From this time until the close of the war
Paulus Hook was the only foothold which the British had in
New Jersey, and from here they continued to forage and
raid over the county. But this, too, was evacuated by the
enemy on the 22d of November, 1783, and a few days later
General Washington passed through the Hook on the way
to his home at Mount Vernon.
WASHINGTON'S BOOKPLATE.
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE COUNTY OF UNION
NION COUNTY Avas taken from Essex and incor
porated by an act of the Legislature dated March
19, 1857. Up to that time it was an integral part
of the mother county, allied to it by the close con
nection extending over a long series of years, by the com
mon bond of the hardship and struggles incident to a new
life in the wilderness, and by the brotherhood arising from
a union of hearts and hands in the vicissitudes of the stmg
gle for independence. What has been said historically of
Essex can be said, therefore, for Union. The one is the
child of the other, which has gone out from the home to take
up an independent life for itself.
Union County is a locality of residences. The capital,
Elizabeth, has a special history of its own, different from
that of any other town in the State. That history has, in
part, been written on these pages. Plainfield is one of the
most sightly and beautiful cities in the State, and deserves
better mention of it than can be given in this volume, but
it is entirely outside of the Valley of the Passaic. There
are really only two municipalities in the county Avhich are
connected in such a manner with the river that they ought
to be noticed. Of one of them very little can be said.
The small township of New Providence is intimately con
nected with the Passaic. Its whole western boundary is
446
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
washed by that stream. It Avas a locality of quiet neigh
borhoods, made up mainly of descendants of the original
settlers Avho are still fouud there. But the introduction of
the DelaAvare and Passaic Railroad, now a branch of the
THE KOUDINOT HOUSE: ELIZABETH.
(Now the Horae for Aged Women.)
LackaAvanna, has introduced a ucav order of affairs. Vil
lages for residences have sjiruug up along the line of this
road, su( h as IMurray Hill aud Berkeley Heights. Fdtville,
on the border of ^^'estfiel(i, Avas at one time a scene of great
activity. Ncav Providence, the most ancient hamlet in the town-
NEAV PUOVII>ENCE
447
ship, is situated on the east side of the Passaic and has two
churches, a Presbyterian and a Methodist. The iuhabit-
8EC0ND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: ELIZABETH.
ants are mostly agricultural iu their pursuits aud make
very few changes.
nP3
-< N
13
H
a
oas
0ow
NI'JAV PROVIDENCE AND SUMMIT 449
It once was conuected Avith ElizabethtoA\'u until lY-bru-
ary 4, 1794, Avheu it was annexed to Springfield, but iu 1804
Avas made au iudepeudent toAvnship. At one time it had
some industries of importance. It OAves its settlement
mainly to the ElizabethtoAvn associates, a compauy of dti
zens Avho took up a large extent of laud here aud induced
others to join them in inhabiting it. Besides the Iavo
churches at Ncav Providence the Roman Catholics have es
tablished a congregation at Stony Hill.
The names most prominent among the early settlers were
Bonnel, Littell, Day, Stiles, Wilcox, Lyon, Elmer, 'N^alen-
tine. Roll, Bailey, and Carll. jMany descendants of the early
settlers have gone out from thdr natiA^e seats, united them
selves with other families, aud the industry aud thrift of
those early comers into this beautiful country have been
preserved. While NeAV Providence Avas couueded Avitli Essex it gaA^e
many of its citizens to the good of the public, in coiiutj^ of
fices and as members of the State Legislature, aud all of
them performed the duties of their respective offlces with
fidelity. Summit is so called from the fact that Avhen the Morris
and Essex Railroad Avas constructed, aud before its con
nection with the Lackawanna I'oad, this locality Avas the
highest ground reached. It Avas the summit of the road,
hence the name. In 1837, when the ^lorris aud Essex Com
pany began running trains, Summit could hardly be called
even a hamlet. It had very fcAV dAvd lings situated Avithin
any near distance of the station there established.
Jonathan C. Bonnel, known better as Crane Bonnel, was
a large laudoAvuer at this jioiut aud iu its immediate vicin
ity. He lived on the Avest bank of the Passaic, in a large,
commodious, old-fashioned dwelling, like many of the farm
121
.lONATIIAN C. BONNEL
4.51
houses of his day. He Avas a man of great energy and perse
verance, and keenly alive to the benefits to be derived from
the existence of a railroad running over his large estate.
It is asserted by many engineers that the proper route for
the road was to leave IMilburn at the road running Avest
ward from the station, to foi Ioav the ravine extending along
the northern side of Short Hills, and so to reach Morris
County at the eminence knoAvn as Hobart Hill. That plan
would have saved
tAVO or three miles to
the company, but it
did not suit the far
reaching views of
Mr. Bonnel. So he
bent all the strength
of his determined
Avill to the laying of
the road over the
hill lying east of his
land. In the end he
succeeded, and the present flourishing toAvu of Summit is
the result.
Like many other localities of its kind it is a town of resi
dences, Avitli broad avenues lined with dwellings of the
veiw best architecture aud elegant and commodious in all
their appliances. In 1900 it had a population of 5,302,
a large proportion of Avhom are business men of New York,
AA'ho haA^e added moral strength and the sinews of wealth
to this city on a hill. It has six churches: Presbyterian,
Episcopalian, jMdhodist, Lutheran, Baptist, aud Roman
Catholic. Its people are alive to all modern demands for
improvement, sanitary and otherwise, They have built
LIBERTY HALL: ELIZABETH.
..' i HrRtlMHf TIMEOf THERtVOlU
. I STOOD THE SIGNAleEACaNANDBV iTS
M SIDE.THECANNOM KNOWN AS
IJ " "THE OLD SOW
f-i WHICH m TIME OF DANGER ANO INVASIO'i
if SUMMONED THE PATRIOTIC
;i MINUTE MEN
4 I OF THIS VICINITY TO THE DEFENSE OF THE
¦^1 COUNTRYAND THE REPULSE OF THE INVADER
? THIS MOBtlMfNTISCmcrcOBy THl N.-i nf.-: ¦ -a-- : -V- n-
7.-iE SD\SOrT)i£aMf^)l>:ANR
TO THt ff^TMORV OF
REVOLUTIONARY MONUMENT AT SUMMIT.
TIIE BEACON ANI) SIGN.VL GUN
453
school houses, churches, a town hall, a public library, ma
cadamized their streets, sunk sewers in their thoroughfares,
adorned their toAvn Avith shade trees, and placed substan
tial sidcAvalks for the comfort of pedestrians.
^^"ithin the bounds of this miiuidpality, on its easteru bor
der and on au eminence overlookiug the valley spread out
from the foot of the commanding elevation on Avhich Sum-
CENTRAL PART OF RAHWAY.
(From an Old Print.)
mit is situated, is the spot Avhere, during the Revolution, a
beacon aud a signal gun knoAvn by the pleasant name of
" Old SoAV " Avere placed to Avaru the minutemen of the vi
cinity of approaching danger from incursions of the enemy.
The New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revo
lution have placed au appropriate monnmeut ou the identi
cal spot once occupied by these interesting memorials of the
times when the minds of the people Avere at tension heat.
Leave is uoav taken of the Passaic A'alley with very great
regret. The task undertaken Avith great reluctance, but
with the hope that some justice might be done to the sub-
454
THE PASSAIC VALLEY
ject, has been imperfectly accomjilished. It has grown in
interest as it progressed. Mines of historical Avealth have
been discovered; traits of characters of the former and pres
ent inhabitants developed which have increased the high
respect before entertained for them; the memory of the
heroic people Avho Avent out from their homes and con
fronted the dangers and hardships of a new habitation in
the Avilderness, and laid broad and deep foundations of
human liberty, will be held more dear and more enduring
by the revelations evolved out of the inquiries into their
lives aud history.
While such men aud such women exist the Republic will
ever be safe.
GENERAL INDEX
Abingdon 125
Achquackununk 260
Achquegenouch 260
Achter Kull 427
" Ackensack " 269
Ackerman, Alexander 216
family 2SS, 310, 396
Acquackanonk, 180, 227, 234, 236, 246,
249, 2Sfl, 251, 253, 262-264, 269-275, 394
deed of 264
purchasers, the 261, 262
Township 26, 259-26S, 278, 305, 331
Acquequenoung 260
Acquickatnunck 348
Act of Succession lOS
Adams, John 14f;
John Quincy 41
Adrianse, Maryn 430
African Methodist Episcopal
Church at Morristown 138,143
Afton 92, 101-102, 106
Aghquachanunck 264, 265
Ahasimus 425, 426
Albers, Hanns 340
Albright, James P 110
Alden, John 127
Priscilla 127
Alexander, James 33, 53
William 32-35
All Souls Hospital 150
Allen family 126
Allendale 292
Altomatonck River 212
Amboy 58
American Bible Society 62
Board of Foreign Missions 62
Temperance Union 62
Tract Society 62
Amsterdam 61
Andre, Major 287
Andries, Lawrence 438
Anthony, Allerd 430
Aqueduct, the Morris Canal 6
Aqueyquinunke 260
Aquikonoug 260
Areola 304
Argyle, Duke of 60, 61
Ariessen, Cornelius 427, 430
Arkwright, Sir Richard 17
Arlington 439
Armenian immigrations 76
Arnold family 126, 131
Major Jacob 131, 14R
Tavern 131. 148, 150
Arthur, President 49, 82
Assanpinck Brook 211
Asylum for the Insane 164-166
Athenia 278
Attack on Paulus Hook 443
Avondale 394, 395
Axtell, Charles P.
family
... 75
.74, 75
Backer, Claes Jansen
Badgley family
Bailey family 126,
Baker family
Jeremiah
Baldwin, Elias .\
family 74, 170,181,376,
John
Jonathan
Phinehas
Thomas
Ball, Caleb
family
Banta family 297,
Baptist Church at ('aldwell
at Echo Lake
at Livingston
at Milburn
at Millington
at Morristown 133, 136, 139,
at Mount Bethel
at Northfield
at Passaic
at Paterson
at Summit
Barbadoes, Island of
Barber, Francis
family
Basking Ridge. .. .30-32, 35, 36, 37, 42,
53, 54, 87, 119, 125, 142,
Bates family
Battin, Rev. Samuel Z
Battle of ChantiUy
of Long Island 261.
of Monmouth 32, 34,
of Princeton 61, 148,
of Springfield
of Trenton 61, 148,
of AA^Uiamsburg 244,
Bauldwin, John, Jr
John, Sr
Bayard, Balthazar 283,
family
John
Nicholas
Bayless, John
Bayley, Rt. Rev. James Roosevelt.
Bayonne 419,
Township
Beach family 74,
Meadows 93, 101,
Beacon and signal gun at Summit.
Beam family
Bearfoot Mountains
Beattie, Robert 251,
Beauplain family
Beavertown 176, 179, 183,
430 80
449 SO
lit384
385373384
216385433406241
408 410 56
143 57
408272
276 453435
327 323149
164 137372285 01
149 413149372340340430208 66
430323103 424424126
157 453202230253
115184
456
GENERAL INDEX
Beaverwyck 173
Bedminster Township 60
Beeder, Herman 433
Beginnings of Patterson 15-28
Bellman's Creek 420
Belleville.... 312. 374, 395, 396-399, 437, 439
Township 317, 341, 392, 394
turnpike 442
Berdan family 243, 247, 293
John 301
Bergen 282, 283, 438
County....!, 13, 14, 24, 57, 58, 85,
88, 204, 217, 227, 229, 231, 233, 234,
236, 242, 245, 255, 256, 259 269, 279-
292, 293-313, 317, 331, 394, 419-433,
435, 436, 443
family 63
Four Corners 283
Neck 440, 441, 444
op Zoom 419
plank road 438
Point 283, 442, 443
town of '. 431
Township 423
village of 419, 420, 421
Bergentown 260
Berkeley, Lord John. 64, 206, 207, 313,
320, 322, 332, 336, 341, 404
Heights 446
Bernard, Francis 54
Township 29-51, 53-57, 60, 63
Bernardsville 29-30, 31, 32, 87
Berry family 202, 208, 306
John 430, 438
Berry's Creek 306. 309
Bertholf family 243
Guillaume 271, 273
Black Brook 92, 93, 94,158
Meadows ,SS. 93, 101, 157
Blatchly, Aaron 339
Thomas 339
Blauw, Garret Dircksen 427, 430
Bloomfield 121, 341, 374, 376-377, 416
Gov. Joseph 377
Township 317, 386, 392, 394
Ward 377, 381
Bloomingdale 85, 231, 244
Board family 250
Boardville 229, 245
Bockoven family 75
Bog Meadows 175, 184, 200
Bogert family 288
Boiling Spring... 311-312, 383, 384, 415,
416, 435, 436
Boisaubin, Vincent 113-115
Bollen, James 322, 345
Bond family 97, 323
Stephen 340
Bonnel, Crane 449
Jonathan C 449, 451
Bonnell family 323, 449
Booke, Abraham 265, 266
Bookey, Abraham 261
Boonton., 85, 102, 157, 158, 162, 171, 173,
176, 182, 187-197, 245
Bulletin 196
Times 196
Township.... 175, 176, 179, 187-197, 199
Boston port bill -. 222
Bottle Hill 95, 107, 108
Boudinot, Elias 327
family 173
Bound Brook 59, 390, 391
Creek 348
Boundary between East and West
Jersey 316
Bounds of Bergen County 421-427
of Newark 348
Bout, Jan Evertse 426, 428
Bovie, Jacob 180
Bowlsby family 170
Branchburg Township 60
Brevoort, Henry 351
Brick manufacture 99
Briddin, Joseph 214
Bridgewater Township 60
Brinckerhoof family 306, 310
Brockholst, Anthony 207, 208, 246
family 255
Brook A^alley 203
Brooke, J. B 340
Brookside 74, 75
Brower family 250
Brown family 385, 391
John P 240
Peter P 240
Thomas 433
Browne, John ...339, 342, 344
John, Jr 340
Bruen family 97, 106
Obadiah 339, 342. 343, 344
Bryant 150
Buckley, James M., D.D 166
Budd family 98
John 214
Bull, Ed 339
Burlington 337
County 211
Burnham, Frederick G 127
Burr, Aaron 286, 292, 327
Burrowes, Edward 344
Burwell, Ephraim 340
Zachariah 340
Butler 200-201
Buttz, Henry A., D.D 113
Buys, Jan Cornelissen 427, 430
Byllinge, Edward 64
Cadmus, Dirk 433
Caldwell.. 85, 102, 1.57, 162. 163, 175, 181,
234, 251, 317,-374. 37S. 406
Mrs. James 412-413
Rev. James 77-78, 327, 406, 412-413
Township... 3, 317, 399, 402-406. 407. 415
Camfield, Ebenezer 339
family 365
Matthew 339
Camp family 391
Gaw 295
John J 353
William 353, 373, 340, 389
Campbell, Archibald 61
Charles 61
General 442
John 61. 410
Lord Neil 60, 65
Samuel 409
Campfield, Abraham SO
family ' so
Camptown 121, 373, 3S9, 390, 391, 415
"Camptown Naw Yard" 390
Canal projects 22, 26, 190-191
Canoe Brook 409
Cape May County 367
Capital at Elizabethtown, the. .. .324-325
Captahem 403
Capture of General Charles Lee. .. .31-32
Carle family sO
Carll family 440
Carlstadt 306, 307, 308
Carpet manufacturing 251-252, 266
Carsbon, Jan Evertsen 427, 430
GENERAL INDEX
457
Carter family 106, 323
Carteret, Elizabeth 329
Philip.... 313, 320, 322, 333, 325, 326,
336-337, 341, 342, 345, 420, 430, 431, 435
Sir George 64, 206, 207, 262,
313, 320, 322, 329, 332, 336, 341, 404
Cary family 74
CatJwlii- Gliurcli — see Roman Catholic.
Catlin, John 373
Catling, John 339
Cedar Grove 85, .399, 400
Cemeteries, early 256-257
Cemetery in Newark 350
Centerville 85, 408
Central Railroad ot New Jersey 425
Changes of nature 3, 5, 7, 8, 10
ChantiUy, battle of 372
Charles II 205, 206, 265, 319
Charter of Bergen 420
of Queen Anne 348, 431
Chatham 77, 92, 93, 94-101, 105, 106,
157, 158
Township 3, 91, 92-106
Cheesequake 58
Chegary mansion 103-104
Cherry Hill .304
Chesequake Harbor 58
Chestnut Hill 384
Christian Church at Irvington 392
Science Church at Paterson 277
Christianse, Barent 430
Church of the Assumption at
Morristown 141
of the Redeemer at Morristown. 138
Churches.... 31, 56, 57, 64, 80, 94, 95-96,
110, 120, 122-126, 133-143, 164, 167,
168, 170, 176-177, 184, 196, 201,
241, 244, 247, 254, 269-272, 276-
277, 291, 292, 294, 298, 302, 304,
307, 355, 377, 381, 392, 395, 396,
398, 399, 402, 403, 406, 408, 410,
413, 414, 417, 447, 449, 451
Circuit Courts 46
Civil War, the 49, 366-372
Claesen, Gerebrand 433
Clark Abraham 327
family ,...74, 126
Clarke, William 327
Clay, Henry 40, 41, 62
Clendenny, Walter 433
Cleverly, John 124, 125
Clifton 278
Clinton 242
De Witt 389
General 286, 328
Sir Henry 442
Township 317, 325, 341, 389-392
Cobb, Andrew B 172
Andrew Lemuel 172
family 170
George T 138, 143
Col. Lemuel 172
Cockloft Hall 351
Coe family 126, 131
Joseph, Jr 214
Coerten, Guert 430
Coeyman family 396
"Coffee House," the 29
Coleman' s Bridge 384
Coles, J. Ackerman, M.D 315
College of New Jersey 38, 168
Collerd, James 433
CoUinsville 119
Colonial governors, influence of.. 325-327
Columbia 92, 100
College 370
Committees of safety and corre
spondence 362
Common lands 431
Communipaw 426, 428, 438
"Consessions of Berkeley and Car
teret" G4
Condict family 74, 127, 170
Lewis, M.D 127
Silas 127, 168
Mrs. Silas 152
Condit, Aaron 168
Aaron P 102
Benjamin S 173
family 98, 126, 137, 174, 181,
386, 399, 408, 414
Israel D 410
Joel 405
Jonathan 327, .399
Conger family 126
Congregational Church
at Newark 336, 338-339, 359
at Stanley 94
at Verona 402
Connecticut Farms 78, 162
immigrants, the 332-345
Connet family 80
Constable's Hook 281, 421
Constitution, State 168
Controversy over division lines 316
Convent ot Saint Elizabeth 103-105
Cook family 74, 164, 174, 181
George H 83, 85, 86, 87, 253, 312
Michael ISO
Cook's Bridge 171
Coontown 56
Cooper family 74, 75, 170, 242, 303, 430
John 267
Peter 243
Copper mines 312, 398, 437
Corneliesen, Guilliaem 430
Corona 308
Cors, Claes Petersen 4,30
Cotton manufacture 17, 27
Course of the Passaic 1-14
Countess of Stirling 118
Counties formed into townships 60
County Courts 57-58, 313-314
organizations.... 57-60, 313-314, 421-422
Courts, creation of 313-314
of Chancery 64
of Common Pleas 24, 45-46
of Quarter Sessions 23, 24, 214
Crane, Azariah 340, 374
D. D 384
Delivered 339
Edward 216
family 323, 365
Jasper 339
John 3.39
Phineas 416
Stephen 405, 415
William 328
Cranetown 374
Creation of Little Falls 5
Croes, Rev. John 141
Cross of the Legion of Honor 371
Croton 409
Crown lands 206
Crynnen, Jan Cornelissen 430
Crystal Drop 295
Lake 295
Cummings, John 433
Cummins, Rev. Mr 139
Currency, condition of 151-152
Curtis, John 340
Cushing, Caleb 290
458
GENERAL INDEX
Cutler family 126, 131
William W 131
Daglish, Robert 340
Danish immigration 279
Darlington 292
Davenport, Humphrey 179
John 214
Davis family 126
Jefferson 370
Stephen 340
Davison, Thomas 430
Dawson, Thomas W 99
Day family 97, 126, 131, 433, 449
George 340
Stephen D 384, 415
Dayless, Williani 216
Dayton, Elias 327
Jonathan 327
William Lewis 42-51
De Baun family 243, 288
De Bough, Garret 214
De Bow family 202, 208, 243
De Chastellue 150
De Grauw family 433
De Groot family 433
De Hart, William 327
De Kuyder, Thomas Frederick 430
De Lancey, Oliver 442
De Mott family 208
George 433
Michael 433
De Ruyter, Admiral 65
De Vries, Jan Petersen 427
Dead River 2, 53, 74, 87, 88
flats 87
Declaration of Independence 223
Deeds from the Indians 341-345
Deed of Acquackanonk 264
of John Kay 119
Deep Brook 317
Deer Hill 255
Delawanna 278
Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad.... 29, 55, 75,
91, 93, 178, 183, 184, 203, 231, 245,
278, 310, 384, 425, 446, 449, 451
Delaware and Passaic Railroad 29, 55, 75, 91, 446
Demarest family 247, 303
John 285
Democratic party, tbe 44, 48
Demont, Frederick 214
Denison, Robert 342, 344
Bobert R 340
Denmark 162
Des Marest, David 303
Description of the Passaic 1-14
Dey family 250
Dickerson family 126
Philemon 327
Diederick, Hans 253, 261, 265,
266, 430, 438
Discovery and exploration 205
Dissensions in the Reformed
Church 271
Distilleries 179, ISO
Distribution of home lots 353
Division of Newark into wards.. 383, 415
of the colony into counties 57-60, 313-3U
Dod, Daniel 38, 75, 376
family 74, 75, 181
Nathaniel 416
Silas 416
Stephen 75
Dodd family 365, 374, 376, 408
John 384
Silas 384
Dodtown 416
Doremus, Cornelius 180, 250
family 178, 181, 243, 247, 302, 386
John 302
Doughty, General 119
Douw's Ferry 439, 442
Dover 80, 162
Drake family 75
Drew, Daniel 112, 113
Seminary 111-llS
Drogestadt, Hendrik 345
Drummond, Captain 442
Duchess of Gordon 61
Duelling ground 424
Duer, William 34
Duke of Argyle 60, 61
of Tork 205, 206, 319, 332, 404
Dumont family 63
Duncan brothers, the 395
Woolen Mills 395
Dundee Island 260
Dake 275, 301
Manufacturing Company 275
Water Power and Land Com
pany 275
Duryea family 178
John 251
Dutch characteristics 264
East India Company 205
immigrations 27, 66, 176, 177,
180, 181, 183, 184, 185, 202, 203, 204,
208, 209, 216-218, 233, 240, 243, 246-
247, 250, 255, 261, 262, 264, 269, 277,
279, 388, 293, 294, 301, 303, 306, 310,
394, 396, 399, 403, 406, 420, 425-433
land claims 205
Eagle Rock 382, 384,
Earl of Chatham
of Stirling
of Thomond
Earle family
East Hanover 107,
Jersey 58, 59, 211, 253, 264, 313-
316, 331, 420,
Newark 419, 424, 435,
Orange 341, 385-38S, 415,
Orange Township ¦
Easton family
Eastwood, John
Echo Dake
Educational interests 31, 95, 96,
103-105, 111-113, 184, 194, 196, 240-
241, 247, 253, 256, 273, 291, 292, 307,
357, 359, 392, 395, 413, 417,
Edison, Thomas A
Edsall, Samuel 344,
Edwards, Harmen
Electrical enterprises 161-
Elizabeth 79, 205, 314, 319-329,
River 322, 384,
Township 384,
Elizabethport
Elizabethtown 33, 57, 5S, 78, 95,
111, 121, 135, 163, 207, 281, 283, 286,
313, 314, 319-329, 331, 341, 343,
347, 348, 363, 391, 408, 421,
Point
Elmendorf family
Elmer family SO,
Bly, A. K
Ely family lOO,
Emmet, Thomas Addis
416 92
lis370433123
421439416317126
398241
430430
162445391415329
449328 63
449
161174 38
GENERAL INDEX
459
Encampment at Morristown. 14s. 17n-172
at Somerville 66-69
Englewood 303. 305
English Creek 308
immigrations 2s. 61,
66, 75, 97, HIS, 191, l'.i3. 218-
219, 325-326, 332-345, 421, 425
land claims 205
Neigborhood 442
Eiiiseitpul Chun-hsee Protestant
Episcopal.
Erdman, Rev, Albert, D.D 135
Ericksen, Reinhart 29s
Erie Canal 3S9
Railroad 231, 288, 291, 292, 297,
299, 311, 395, 425, 439
Espatin 420
Essex County 1, 3, 24, 46, 58,
75, 85, 87, 92, 157, 162, 175, 181,
184, 199, 227, 233, 234, 245, 251, 253,
254, 259, 264, 265, 267, 268, 2S1, 309,
312, 313-329, 331-345, 347-357, 359-
372, 373-388, 389-406, 407-418, 419,
421, 437, 443, 445, 449
Evacuation of Bergen Neck 444
Evans, B. D., M.D 166
Evergreen Cemetery 119
Everitt, Moses K 166
Faeseh family 173
John Jacob 197
Fair grounds. State 391
Fairchild family 126, 170
Zachariah 214
Fairfleld 254, 403
Fairmount 378
Farm of Peter Schuyler 437, 438
"Farmer's Almanac," the 174
Farrand family 170
Nat 171
Rhoda 170-172
Farrelly, Patrick 166
Felch, George E 102
Feltville 446
Ferguson, Rev. J. A., D.D 17')
Ferris family 97
"Fighting Parson," the 77-79, 327
"Fighting Phil." 372
Financial conditions 151-152
First call for troops 367
First church in Newark 353
in Passaic County 269
First county organizations 57-60
court at Morristown 214
Holland Church in Passaic 272
Mountain 7, 381, 399, 404, 405, 411
First Presbyterian Church at
Morristown 125-126, 130, 133-134
in Newark 35C
at Orange 414
First Reformed Church at Hacken
sack 287
at Passaic 272
First Regiment, the 369, 371
River 347. 356
First settlers of Elizabethtown. .319-323
of Morris Township. .118, 120-122, 126
of Newark 131
First steam engine 312
telegraph, the 154-155
winter at Morristown 148, 170-172
Fish, Lyman J 103
Fisher, Hendrick 66
Home in Paterson 278
Flemington 38
Fletcher, Richard 344
Florence Crittenton Home in Pater
son 278
Florham Park, borough of 92, 101-103
Ford family .• 126
Gabriel H 129
Henry A 129, 130
Henry W 130
Jacob 129, 14S, 214, 216, 222
Jacob, Jr 129, 150
Mansion 129, 150-154
Mrs. Theodosia 129, 150
Samuel 216
Force family 40s
Port Clinton 284
de Lancey 441-442, 444
Knyphausen 284
Lee 31, 264, 285, 286, 304
Sumter 357
Washington 31, 264, 284, 285
Fossil fish 187
Founding of Newark., 325, 331-345, '347-357
of Paterson 15-28
Fourth Regiment, the 369
Franklin 236, 394, 395, 405
Benjamin 1415, 295
Township 60, 280, 2ss 293-
395, 297, 300, 301, 303, 317, 341, 392-396
William 295 432
William Temple ' in;
Franzen family 433
Fredericks, Peter isi) 2] I
"Freedoms and Exemptions," bill
of 425
Freehold ' " 43
Freeman family 126, 131, 164, 'sssi 416
Hannah 373
John 234
Sarauel 41 J
Stephen ' ' '. '.216, 339
Tavern 150
Freemantown . 416
Frelinghuysen, Frederick 61, 62, 66
Frederick T 49, 62
George ' C2
Theodore 61-62
Theodorus Jacobus 61
Fremont, John C 45
French immigrations 82, 97 113
322, 325, 326,' 425
Philip 433
Frost family 12(5
Fuller, Dudley B 191, 192' 193
Fulton, Robert 35, 39
Fundamental agreement, the 337-'
340, 389, 391
Constitution, the 64
Funeral of Vincent Boisaubin 115
Game preserve at Florham Park... 103
Gardner, Thomas 414, 415
Garrabrant family 75' 394
Garret Mountain 250
„ Rock 261
Garretse, Harmanus 250 271
Garretson family 250, 293
Garret 261, 262
Garrison family 278, 288
Garritsen, Garrit 265 266
Lubbert .'430
Gaston family js' 223
Genung family 97] 101
Geographical description '.1-14
Geological formations 6, 55 83-89
George I io7-108
George II 264
Geretsen, Guert 43Q
460
GENERAL INDEX
German immigrations 28, 80, 220,
307, 340, 425
Presbyterian Church at Passaic. 272
Valley 220
Gibbons, William Ill, 112
Gifford, Janies M 98-99
Sanford B 201
Gillette 75, 77, 91
Glen Ridge 317, 341
Gloucester 79
Goble family 126
Godwinville 299
Goetchins family 388
lane 336
Gofle 302
Gold, Robert 214
Gordon, Duchess of 61
Gorges, formation of 3, 5, 7, 8, 10
Gouverneur, Abraham 351
Nicholas 351
Granniss, R. A 164
Grant of Duke of Tork 332
of Richard Nicolls 323
"Grants and Concessions," the 336
in Hudson County 425-427
Graveyards, early 256-257
Gray, Thomas 251
Great Falls 6, 7, 14, 19. 350, 269
Mountain 343, 344, 345, .318
Piece Meadows... 175, 184, 199, 317, 405
Piece Swamp 88
Swamp, the 83-89, 91, 92
Green, Ashbel 168
Brook 59, 317
Charles H 166
Island 383
Jacob 167, 168, 171
Mountain Brook 384
Robert Stockton 168
Village 75, 80, 92, 106
Greenville Township 424, 425
Greenwood Lake 229, 230, 231
Lake Railroad 223
Guttenberg Township 419, 424
Hackensack 14, 269
271, 285, 286, 287, 298, 310, 442
Indians 308, 341, 342-345
River 13, 279, 280,
281, 300, 302, 304, .305, 306, 308,
309, 314, 317, 331, 348, 420, 431,
423, 424, 425, 433, 435, 436, 439, 442
Township 423
turnpike 438
Valley 184
Hackingsack Bay 348
Haines family 126
Haledon 236, 237, 255, 256, 278
"Half Moon," the 205
Halmagh family 255
Halmeghs, John 433
Halsey family 126, 131
George A 163
Hamilton, Alexander 15-2S
Hancock, John 95, 100
William F 101
Hanover 107, 121, 158, 161, 162, 167,
171, 172, 174
Creek 158
Neck 167, 174
Township.... 3, 92, 93, 100, 101, 157-
174, 175, 176, 187, 188, 195, 208, 211
Haquequenunck 260, 261
Hardenburgh, Rev. Dr. Jacob R 66
Harlem 304
Harmansen, Douwe 430
Harrington Township 303, 308, 424
Harris, William H 253
Harrison 439
family.... 365, 374, 383, 386, 391, 408, 414
Caleb G 386
John 339
Richard 339, 373, 374
Samuel 345
William Henry 42, 47
Hartley, D 146
Hartman's Island 265, 260
Hartshome, Stewart 411
Haskell, Llewellyn S 378-380
Hat manufacturing 407, 409, 410, 417
Hatfield family 323
Meadows 405
Swamp 88, 157, 175, 184, 317
Plathaway , Abraham 214
Benjamin 214
Benoni 127
family 136, 127
Hawkins, Joseph 433
Hawthorne 237, 256, 278
Hays, Stephen 384
Haze, John 295
William Van Voors 295
"Hazelwood" estate 291
Headley family 323
Headquarters of Washington at
Morristown 129, 130, 148-154
at Somerville 66-69
Hedden family 386
Heintzelman, General 371
Helby, Joseph 118, 119
Helmeghee family 255
Hendricks copper works.
Herriman, Joseph
Hessels family
.Hewitt
Abram S
Hibbard, Rev. Charles H, D.D.,
"Hielawith of Pequannock"
Hillsborough Township.
398
316 433
242343138204 60
Hoagland, Christopher 262, 265, 266
Hobart, Bishop 139
Hill 451
Hoboken 231, 419, 424, 427
Hacking 425
Township 421
Hockquackanong 260
Hockquackanung 260
Hohokus Brook 288
River 291, 297
Township 280, 288-292, 293, 301
Holland immigrations 27, 61, 65-
66, 176, 177, 180, 181, 1S3, 184, 185,
202, 203, 204, 208, 209, 316-218, 333,
340, 243, 346-247, 250, 255, 260, 261,
262, 264, 269, 277, 279, 238, 293, 394,
301, 303, 306, 310, 394, 396, 399, 403,
406, 430, 435-433
Holloway family 126
Holsman family 310
Home lots, distribution of 353
Hook Mountain 85, 176, 199
Hooker, General 372
Hopkinson, Joseph 3.S
Hopper family 278, 288, 394, 433
Hoppertown 291
Hopping, Clinton C 103
family 100, 174
Horse Neck 121, 163
Plorseneck River 403
Horton, Nathaniel 214
Hospitals in Paterson 27S
House, John W 256
GENERAL INDEX
461
Howard family
Savings institution
Howe, Lord
Howell famib- 74, i(;4,
Hoyle, Nicholas '
Hoyt's Corners
Hudson Countv 1, 162, 281. 3116,
30s, 419-133, 435-
River 31, 32,
204, 207, 217, 21s, 220, 279, 280,
281, 285, 308, 4211, 421, 423,
Sir Henry
Township
Hughes, Rev. William M., S.T.D...
Huguenot immigrations 97,
Hunter, Robert
Hunterdon County 38, 61, 107,
157, 211, 212, 213,
Huntington, Thomas
Huysman family
Hyler, Nicholas
42S
2ori 42)
139113431
331339433180
Ice formations 5, 7, s, 10, 55, 83
Incorporation of the Citv of Pater
son 33
of Passaic County 234
of the Society of Establish
ing T'seful Manufactures 19, 21
Indian affairs 437-428
Brook 73
claims 341, 342-345
deeds 403, 404, 436-437
land titles 204-295
names ¦ 260
Indians 341-345
Industrial development of Pater
son 15-28
Influence ot colonial governors.. 325-327
Inhabitants of Paterson 277
Insane, care of 164-166
Invention of the telegraph 154-155
Irish immigrations 73
Iron interests 155, 163
187, 191, 194, 195, 239, 240, 241, 242
Irving, Dr. Peter 351
Washington 351, 392
William 351
Irvington 121, 317, 341, 347, 390, 391, 392
Island of Secaucus 425
Italian immigrations 76
Ives, C. B 315
Jackson, George 252
Jacksonville 58, '202
Jacobs, Svmon 261, 262, 364
Walling 261, 262, 265, 266
Jacobse, Symon 265, 266, 268
Walling 271
Jacobsen, Peter 430
Jacobus, Brant 214
family 181, 183, 350, 399, 400
James, D. Willis Ul
James 1 107, 108
James II 205, 207, 319
Thomas L 201
Jansen, Barent 427, 430
Michael 427, 430
Peter 430
Jay, John 146
Jefferson Township 199
Jerolamon family 396
Jersey Citv 161, 190, 282, 285,
419, 424, 425, 426, 427, 438, 439, 440
Jewish Synagogues at Paterson 277
Johnes, Mrs 152
Rev. Timothy 120, 125-126, 129, 133
Johnson family 97, 126, 130, 365, 391
John {3;(
John L 400
Rev. John .Alills 170
Thomas 340, 345
Jones family 208
Joralemon ramll\' 310
Judicial changes 45-41;
Jumel, Madam 292
Jurianee, Thomas 250
Kanouse family isi 240
John George ' •>4o
Kaolin deposits 241
Kay, John iis.'iig' 122
I^earney.. 419 434
Michael 370
Gen. Philip 370-37>
Township J31-; '^-y,
Keasbey families '17s
Keen's Mills 405
Kelley, Charles L 99
Frank L. & Co ''' 99
Kemble, Gouverneur 351
Kennedy, Archibald 437' if
Rev. Dr ' ^r,
Kennedy's farm 43S
Keyes, Jesse S ]02
Keys, John 1 ix
Kieft, William 427-4''S
Kierstead family 394
King, Frederick 147
Vincent B 147
William L 145' 147
Kingsland ' 311
family 310,' 31]
Manor ' 435
Nathaniel .' 4.35
Stephen '.''.'' .3]!)
Kinney, John 2I6
Kip family 247, 310
Kipp family 303
Kirkland, Rev. Orlando C " 135
Kirkpatrick, .Alexander 36
Andrew 35.37
Kitchell, .Aaron 170
Abraham 170^ 214
Anna ' 224
family '.'.'.'.'.¦.'.170! 174
Robert 310
Samuel 339, 342, 344
Uzal 224
Klein, Carl .' ~m\
Knight, G. W '. 256
Kuemmel, Henry B ss
Kuyper family '/^ 303
Ijabardist missionaries 26!)
Lafayette, General 79, 2S?
Lafiin and Rand Powder Company. 247
Lake Hopatcong 162
Lamington 0!i
Land controversies 431-433
grants 205-207
titles 204-208
"Landing," the 263
Lane, Sir Thomas 403
Lanning, George M 101
Lathrop, Francis S 165
William Gerard 193, 194
Latourette, David 433
Tjaurence, Richard 339
Laurens, Aerent 430
Henry 146
Severn 430
462
GENERAL INDEX
Lawrie, Garven 64
Lee, Charles 31-32
General 30, 372
Henry 443
Meadows 88, 157
Leendertsen, Paulus 430
L'Enfant, Major 26-27
Legion of Honor 371
Lehigh Valley Railroad 425
Leisler, Gov. Jacob 351
Leonard, Paul 216
Library at Boonton 194
at Madison Ul
at Morristown 145-148
at Orange 417
at Summit 453
at Whippany 160-161
"Light Horse Harry" 443
Lincoln, Abraham 49, 367
Park 176, 179, 183, 202, 203, 315, 356
Lindley family 126
Lindsley, Eleazar 76
family 76, 131
J. Frank 77
John 214, 216
John Berrien 77
Philip 76, 77
Daniel 214
Linle, Francis 76
Francis F 340
Littell family 449
Little Palls 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 24, 87,
336, 245, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253,
254, 259, 400, 405
Township 249-254, 255
Little family SO
Ferry 308
Piece Meadows 317, 405
Littleton 158
Livingston, 38, 39
Livingston 341, 378, 408, 409
Township 317, 405, 407-408, 409
William 34, 327-32S, 408
Llewellyn Park 378-380
Locomotive industry, the 28
Lodi 306, 307, 438
Chemical Works 306
Township 280, 301, 303, 305-
308, 309, 424, 435
Logansville 75
Long Hill 54-55, 75, 77, 80, 91
Long Island, battle of 264, 285
Long Pond 229
Lord, James Couper 192, 193
Loree family 74
Losee family 74, 75
Losey family 126, 131
Louis XVI 114
Louis XVIII 114
Lubbers, Cornelius 261
Lubbertse, Cornelis 265, 266
Lubbertsen, Gysbert 430
Luby, James 430
Lucas, Nicholas 64
Ludlow, Benjamin 79
Cornelius 79
family 79
George C 79
George H 79
Lum family 07
Frederick H 97
Matthew 214
Sir Charles 97
Lutheran Churches at Paterson.... 276
at Summit 453
Lutkins family 303
Lymens, Robert 340, 373
Lyndhurst 311
Lyon family 391, 419
Henry 339
Samuel 340
Thomas L 339
MacCullough, George P 178, 181
Macopin 241
Lake 231
Madison 85, 93, 95, 100, 105, 106, 141
borough of 92, 93, 101, 107-115
James 109
Madisonville 29
Mahurin family 136
Mahwah 292
Malapardis 15S, 167
McClellan, Gen. George B 381
McCrea, Jane 66
Rev. Mr 66
McCullough, George P 139
McCurdeg, Richard A 164
Mcllraith family : 75
Manchester 19, 236, 237, 246, 257, 302
Township 237, 355, 281
Mandeville family... 183, 202, 208, 243, 247
Giles 214
Manhattan Island 184, 216, 217,
233, 279, 282, 303
Manufactures, development of 5,
14-28, 56
Manufacturing. ...76, 98, 99, 155, 159,
163, 179, 180, 188, 191, 192, 194, 196,
200, 201, 247, 251, 252, 256, 275,
306, 307, 319, 361-363, 377, 382, 391,
395, 398, 407, 409, 410, 416, 417, 439
in Paterson 15-28
Maplewood 384
Marsh, Charles M 164
family 75, 323
Martin, William A 99
Masker family 250
Massacre of Pavonia 42S
Maurisson, Hendrick 214
Maxwell, General 413
Mead family 308, 243
Hall U2
Mead's Basin 231, 245, 247
Meeker, Carnot B 101, 102
family 100, 323
William J 101
Mehelm, John 66
Menagh family i5
Mendham 1, 82, 142, 16i
Township 60, 71-75
Mercer, Hugh 440
Merritt, Rev. Robert N., D.D 138
Merselis family 255
Messeke f amil y 250
Methodist Episcopal Churches 31.
57, 80, 95, 101, UO, 112, 113, 133, 137,
159, 167, 170, 176, 183, 196, 241, 254,
273, 376, 392, 399, 402, 406, 408, 446, 451
Meyersville '75, 77, .80
Mexican War, the 370
Michielsen, Cornelius 261, 365, 366
Ellas 261, 365, 266
family 262
Joannis 205
Johannes 261, 265
Hartman 260, 261, 263, 261.
Michielson, Enoch 438
Middlesex Countv. .. .58, 59, 60, 61,
63, 281, 421
Midland Park 295, 297
Township 297, 301, 302-304
GENERAL INDEX
463
Midvale 245
Mighectlick 308, 436
Milburn 3,84, mt, 410, 431
Township 317, 319, 382, 407, 408-413
Military Common 354, 370
Mill Brook 347, 356
Miller family 178, 181
Millington 2, 54-56, 80, 91
Mills, Alfred 12!)
Alfred Elmer 12!)
Edward K 12!)
family 126, 127-129, 164
John 128
Timothy 127
Millville 409
Mine Brook 36
Mountain 119
Ridge 1.87
Minising -lOt
Indians 205
Minton family 97
Minutemen, the 364-365, 413, 453
Missouri Compromise, the 39-11
Mohawk Vallev 320
aionmouth, battle of 32, 34, 61
County 43, 44. 58, 281, 421
Monroe 158, 167
James 41
Montclair.,.. 162, 353, 341, 374, 376, 377, 382
Township 317
Montgomery Township 60
Montville 3, 85, 157, 176, 179, 303
Township 175-185, 187,
199, 300, 202, 208
Moon family 323
Moore family 80, 126, 383
Samuel 430
Mordavis Meadow 420
Morris and Essex Railroad. . .93, 449, 451
Canal 6, 178, 181
Countv 1, 2, 3, 5, 29, 60,
71, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 87, 91, 95, 101,
106, 107, 118, 120, 121, 126, 129, 130,
145-155, 157-174, 175-185, 187-197,
199-209, 211-225, 239, 231, 234, 239,
242, 245, 325, 331, 402, 403, 405, 409, 451
Coimty f'hirtiilrl'- 77
County Light Horse Dragoons.. IIS
family 133
General 371
George P 368
Green 164
Lewis 224
Plains 85, 158, 161, 164, 165
Staats L US
Thom 340
Township 91, 92, 101, 103,
117-132, 1.57, 164, 167, 345
Morristown 74, 75, 77, 80,
85, 93, 94, 97, 98, 101, 107, Ul, 115,
117-143, 145-155, 157, 159, 161, 162,
166, 170, 173, 178, 214, 216, 222, 223, 412
Aqueduct Company 145
flrst postmaster of 117
Library and Lyceum 145-1^8
Morse, Professor 154, 1.55
Mount Airy U9
Bethel 56, 57
Hope 197
Kemble 149
Kimball 119
Pleasant 351
Tabor 57, 158, 166
Mountain Society, the 413, 414
View 203, 231, 245, 247
Muchmore family 97
Muir, Josiah F
Munn family
Dr, Jephtha B....
Samuel
Murniy Hill
Muskenetcong River.
Myndertse, Myndert..
9S
.97, 3S0
!)S
446
213
.426, 427, 428
Napoleon III 371
Nationalities in Paterson 27
Navigation in New Jersev 38-39
Nesbitt family 75
Neshaminy 125
Nevins family 63
Nevysink ,5s, 314
New Amsterdam.. 65, 21S, 2.S2, 303, 426, 428
Barbadoes 294, 300, ,301, 302,
306, 308, 310
New Barbadoes Neck 421, 423, 437
Township 423
New Bridge 286, 442, 443
New Brunswick 53, 63, 66
New England immigrations 95,
121, 319-324, 325, 332-345, 349, 360, 413
New Foundland 240, 241
New Hanover 107, 122, 123
New Jersev Iron Companv 191
Society lands 313
State Asylum for the Insane. 164-166
State Soldiers' Home 439
New Netherland 320, 425, 427
Providence 2, 95
Township 445-44')
New Vernon 76, 80, 136
New Tork 27, 33, 34, 38, 54, 62,
65, 67, 87, 109, 110, Ul, 112, 114,
1,31, 132, 161, 181, 188, 191, 192, 204,
306, 220, 227, 229, 239, 241, 243, 247,
252, 256, 263, 269, 285, 295, 297, 300,
301, 302, 310, 311, 320, 323, 328, 349,
363, 370, 371, 376, 380, 389, 390, 395,
412, 421, 439, 440
and Erie Railroad 231, 311
and Greenwood Lake Railroad,
203, 229, 231, 439
harbor 419
Susquehanna and Western Rail
road 203, 231, 245, 297
Newark 1, 13, 14, 57, 62, 75, 76, 93,
95, 97, 99, 121, 132, 162, 163, 182,
184, 185, 190, 218, 244. 264, 365, 313,
315, 317, 335, 359-373, 373, 374, 376,
377, 378, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 389,
390, 391, 394, 400, 402, 403, 404, 407,
408, 413, 414, 416, 417, 425, 437, 439, 442
and Pompton Turnpike 234
Bay 1, 13, 279, 280, 319,
349, 419, 435, 427, 442
division into wards 415
founding of 331-345, 347-357
plank road 438
Ward 384
Newell, William A 49
Newspapers in Paterson 277
Newtown 294, 438
Nicolls, Gov, Richard 306, 307, 333
Niles, Nathaniel 106
Nishwish, Frederick 55-56
Noble, Mark 430
Norman, Claes Carsten 430
North Belleville 391
Bergen Township 419, 424, 425
Caldwell 317, 406
Castle 31
Paterson 278
Plainfield Township 60
464
GENERAL INDEX
Northfield 408
Norwegian Immigration 279
Nutley 317, 394, 395-396
Oakland 85, 295
Ogden, Aaron 38, 327
family 97, 323
Rev. Joseph M., D.D 95
Matthias 327
Old Boonton 158, 171, 173, 176,
ISS, 195, 196
"Old Sow," the..
Olden, Charles S.
Oldis family.
453369303
Oliver family 75, 323
"Onageponck' ' 204
Oradell 304
Orange 121, 341, 374, 378,
379, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386
Mountains 341, 373
Township 317, 319, 413-417
Ward 382, 384
Orangedale 416
Organization of Ac(|uackanonk 359
of counties 57-60
of courts 24, 26, 45-46, 57, 60
Orphan asylums in Paterson 278
Orvill 397, 303
Osborn, Jonas 214
Ottowa 19
Outwater family 310
Pacquanack
Page, George Shepard.
Palisades, the
Township
Panic of 1836-37
Paper maufacturing.
246
94
279
303
361
409-410
Paramus 264, 2S7, 298, 304
Park, Noel Robertson 79
Parker, Cortlandt 49
family 323
Parkhurst family 126
J 367
& Muir 98
Parks In Newark 3.54
Parsippany 158, 162, 167, 168, 170, 172
Brook 158
Passaic 13, 27, 231, 232,
236, 255, 262, 272, 275, 276, 278
and Delaware Railroad.. .29, 55,
75, 91, 446
County 1, 3, 3,
87, 199, 200, 203, 203, 227-237,
239-248, 249-257, 259-268, 269-278,
281, 288, 293, 317, 331, 332, 392, 405, 421
Lake, the 83-89, 92
River, description of 1-14
Township... 60, 75, SO, 83, 88, 91-92, 259
Passamisk River 119
Paterson 6, 10, 14, 15-28, 87,
229, 231, 232, 333, 336, 345, 350, 251,
253, 255, 256, 259, 275, 376-278, 303, 405
and Hudson Railroad 363
and Newark Railroad 278
Orphan Asylum 278
William 23, 386
Patriotism of women 152
Paulding, James Kirke 351
Paulesen, Michael 426, 428
Paulus Hook. 285, 426, 427, 440, 441, 443, 444
Pauw, Michael 425, 4'26, 428
Pavonia 425, 426
Massacre of 42s
Peace Congress, the 62
Peapack 63
Peck, David 415
family :...126, 386
Pecke, Jeremiah 339
Peckman's River. .. .249, 250, 317, 399, 400
Peck's Bridge 384
Pecktown 416
Peirson, Abra 339
Thomas 339
Penn, William 64, 119, 208
Pennington, Alexander C. M 46
Ephraim 340
family 309
William 47
William S 309, 365
Pennsylvania Railroad 425
Pequannock 175, 180, 182, 183,
201, 203, 203
Indians 205
River 3, 157, 158, 175, 199,
200, 201, 203, 208, 331, 329, 231, 232,
239, 343, 345, 380, 295
Township 179, 187, 188, 199-209, 314
Perth Amboy 59, 432
Petersborough 437
Peterson family 250
Philip II 65
Phillips, Edward L 99
Phillipse, Frederick 430
Phoenix family 75
"Phoenix," the 440, 441
Piersen, Nathan AV 386
Pierson, Rev. Abraham 345, 350
Benjamin 314
Elihu 384
Elijah 214
family 97, 126, 130, 181, 365,
385, 391, 414
Samuel 414
Stephen, M.D 139
Pieterse, Hessel 250
Pietersen, Garret 430
Paulus 430
Pine Brook 175, 176. 184, 185, 308, 317
Pinhorne, William 61
Piscataqua 57, 313
Piscataway 58
Pitney family 74, 75
Henry C 74
James 53, 74
Jonathan 74
Pitt, William 92
Plainfield 445
Planck, Abraham Isaacsen 427. 42S
Plantations in Bergen, the 425-433
Pleasant Plains 75. SO
Pleasantville 75, 76
Plum, Samuel 339, 353
Plume, William 353
Political incidents 44, 47, 48
Pompton 201, 203, 227, 229, 231, 236, 244
Furnace 85
Indians 205. 245
Lakes 237, 243, 245
Plains.. 85, S7, 1.84, 199, 200, 201, 229, 239
River 3, 199, 200, 201, 203, 2.'i4, 280
Township 3. 231, 234, 239, 242-245
Poor, Gen. Enoch W 287
Pope, General 372
Population of Newark 360, 362
of Paterson 27-28
Porter, Admiral 351
Captain 351
Post, Adrian 261 , 265, 266, 430
family 202, 278, 394
Francis , S50
GENERAL INDEX
465
Postville
Poulesse, Peter
Powder manufacturing ]
Powder mills 150,
Powerville I,s7, Iss,'
Preakness 245,' 246,'
Presbyterian Churches 31, 53
80, 95, UO, Ul, 120, 122, 123, 124-
126, 130, 133-134, 135, 139, 159, 164,
167, 168, 170, 196, 241, 272, 276, 359,
3T7, 381, 4)12, 406, 408, 413, 414, 446,
Preyer, Nicholas
Price family
Rodman M 2SS-
Princeton .' 63, 148, 149,
battle of
College 36, 38, 42, 54, 75, 76,
Prospect Park 236, 237,
Protestant Episcopal Churches,., 31,
110, 133, 138, 139, 141, 196, 373,
276, 381, 399, 410,
Provost, Colonel
Pruden family 126,
Purchases from the Indians 260,
Puritan immigration 95, 99, 121,
319-324, 325, 349, 360,
settlers, the 331-
342 250247 412
190247
451433323291369 61
288255
451291131
261413345
Quackenbush family 378, 388
Quarries 252-253, 395, 398
Queen Anne 414
charter 348, 431
Quimby family 75
Rahway 319
River 317, 319, 348, 374,
382. 384, 409, 410
Raids of the British.... 286, 363, 412, 442
Railroads.... 29, 31, 55, 75, 91, 93, 159,
162, 178, 183, 184, 203, 229, 331, 345,
363, 278, 288, 291, 292, 395, 297, 299,
310, 311, 384, 394, 396, 408, 425, 446, 449
Ralstonville 73
Ramapo Mountains 295
River 3, 229, 28.S, 291, 292, 293
Ramsey's '291
Raritan 383
Bay 58
River 29, 58, 59, 61, 66, 71, 73,
313, 213, 220, 325
Raymond, George B 164
Rebellion, the 49, 366-372
Recapitulation 453-454
Red Mills 300
Reformed Churches 176, 184,
196, 201, 202, 244, 247, 254,
269, 271, 272, 277, 294, 298,
303, 304, 393, 396, 398-399, 403, 405
Religious interests 31, 53, 56,
57, 64, SO, 94, 95-96, 108, UO, 120,
123-126, 133-143, 164, 167, 168, 170,
176-177, 184, 196, 201, 241, 244, 247,
254, 369-273, 276-277, 291, 292, 394,
398, 302, 304, 307, 332-338, 355, 359,
377, 381, 393, 395, 396, 398, 399, 402,
403, 406, 408, 410, 413, 414. 417,
447, 449, 451
Rennie, Robert 307
Republican party, the 48, 367
Retreat of Washington 285
Revolutionary incidents 30, 31-32,
34, 61, 66-69, 77-79, 80-82, 92, 97,
127, 129. 131, 133, 147-154, 170-172,
173, 193, 196-197, 311, 221-225, 247,
248, 263, 283-287, 302, 303, 304, 326-
328, 362-366, 389, 453, 412, 413, '440-444
Revolutionary Memorial Society
of New Jerse\' 66
Reynolds, H. C 160, 163
Richards family loo
Martin 3S4
Richfield 278
Ridgewood 'ig'?, 298-299
Township 280, 288, 393.
^ 295-300, 301, 303
Riggs, Edward 384
family 75, 335^ 391
Joseph 340, 384
Righter family 170
Rigs, Edward 340
Riker, David 386
family 250
John 251
Ringwood 239, 244
mines, the 242-243, 245
River 239
Rise of the Passaic 1
River Edge 304
Riverdale 203, 204
Riverhead 409
Roads in Hudson County 43S
Roberts family 391
Hugh 340, 347
Mrs. J. W., Memorial, the 160
Jonathan W 161, 164
Sayres 415
Rockawack Indians 205
Rockaway 157, 163
River 3, 173, 175, 176, 185,
187, 1S8, 196, 193, 195, 203
Township 187, 188, 199
Roclofse family 255
Roebuck 443
"Roebuck," the 441
Roelofsen, Cornelius 261, 262, 265, 266
Rogers, John 339-340
Roll family 449
Romaine family 243, 306
Roman Catholic Churches 31, 95,
96, 110, 133, 141, 142, 143, 159, 196,
241, 272, 277, 399, 449, 451
Roome familv 202, 208, 243
Rose, Samuel 339
"Rose," the 440
Roseland 408
Roy, Jacob Jacobsen 430
Royal governors, the 206
Royle, Vernon 36, 300
Rubber Comb and Jewelry Com
pany 300
Rudyard, Thomas 64
Deputy Governor 421
Rum Brook 409
Runyon family 80
Gen. Theodore 369
Rutgers College 62
familv 396
Rutherford 311-312, 435
family 310
¦ Park 436
Ruyven, Cornelius 430
Rycker family 20S
Ryerson, David A 244
family 202, 208, 243, 247, 255
John 257
Martin 301
Martin J 243, 245
Peter M 243
Peter M., Jr 244
Richard W 244
466
GENERAL INDEX
Saddle River 24, 236, 255,
280, 288, 397, 298, 307, 441
Township. 280, 294, 397, 300-303, 303, 306
Saint Cloud 381
Saint Elizabeth, Convent of 103-105
Saint Joseph's Hospital in Pater
son 378
Orphan Asylum in Paterson 278
Saint Margaret's Roman Catholic
Church at Morristown 142
Saint Mark's Church, Orange 416
West Orange 381-382
Saint Peter's Church at Morris
town 138, 141
"Sajapogh of Minisink" 204
Salisbury, Rollin D ., 88
Salt Meadows, the 14, 279,
305, 308, 347, 348, 352, 356, 391, 425
Sanders family 75
Sandford family 310
Spring ..435
William 308, 309, 310, 365, 435, 436
Satterthwaite, Thomas W 395-396
"Savannah," the 155
Saw Mill Creek 309
Sayre family 97, 100
Scandinavian immigration 425
Scenery at Little Palls 3
at Long Hill 54-55
Schenck family 63
Schnoering, John ' 396
Schools 95, 96, 139, 167,
170, 184, 193, 340, 341, 353, 356, 273,
391, 292, 307, 357, 359, 392, 395, 417, 451
Schoenmaker, Jan Cornelissen 430
Schoonmacher family 306
Schraalenburgh 298
Schulster family 240
Schumacher, Ludwig 33
Schuyler, Arent 204, 207, 208, 246,
247, 312, 437
copper mine.
312
family 247, 293, 310, 396
John .313, 438
Col. Peter 437
Schuyler's Ferry 286
Landing 442
Scotch immigrations 28, 60, 66, 73
Scott, Col. John 190, 191
William 188, 190, 191
Winfield 328, 369, 370
Seagaerd, Andries , , . 433
Seargeant, John 340
Secaucus 419, 425
Second Mountain 85, 319, 399, 402, 405
Presbyterian Church at Morris
town 135
Regiment, the 369
River 317, 398, 399
Seminary at Bloomfield 377
Sergeant, Jonathan D 168
Seton Hall College 103
Settlement of Bergen 420-433
of Chatham : .97-99
of Elizabeth 319-323, 325
of Essex County 331-345
of Hudson County 425-433
of Morris County 118, 120-123,
126, 316-221
of Newark 331-345
of Somerset County 61
Sheep Hill 193, 194, 195
Sherman, Byron 164
Gordon 127
Shipbuilding 390
Ship .canal projected , ,.. 26
Shipman, Benjamin
family
Short Hills 162, 409, 410, 411-412,
Shrewsbury
Sickels, Zackariah
Signal gun and beacon at Sum
mit
Signers of the fundamental agree
ment 337-
Silk manufacture 27, 76,
Singac
River
Singer Sewing Machine factory. 328,
Sip, Ide Cornelius
John
Sisters of Charity 103-105,
Slater, Joseph
Robert
Slayback, David H
John W
Slingerland family
Slott, Peter Jansen
Smalleytown
Smeeman, Herman
Smith, Abraham
Daniel
family 63, 74,
Family and Friends Reunion,
the
Gen. J. Condit
Job
Michael
Peter Z
Society for Establishing Useful
Manufactures, the 15-38,
of the Mountain
Somerset County 1, 3, 3, 5, 29-
69, 71, 74, 77, 87, 91, 316, 325, 331,
Sonmans, Peter
Sons of the American Revolution, 79,
Source of the Passaic River
Southard, Samuel L 37-42,
Southern trade 361-362,
South Hanover
Orange 317, 341, 382, 384, 385,
386, 409, 415,
Orange Township
Street Presbyterian Church at
Morristown
Speare, John Hendrick
Speedwell 199,
Speer family
Spencer, Oliver
William
Spier family 185,
Hendrick Jansen
Jan Hendricks 265,
Spinnage, Mary
Spring Garden Brook
Valley
Springfield 77, 78, 162,
319, 365, 374, 405, 408, 409, 410, 413,
battle of
Township
Squier, Nathan
Squiertown
Staats, Rev. John A
Stagg family
Stamp act, the
Stanley 92, 93-94, 99,
State Asylum for the Insane 164
constitution, the
fair grounds
Soldiers' Home , , .
316164451370433453
•340 256251
229 329433
250278 203
303 403
402208430 56
430 63
433170 63
172433438 63
336414
453 1
47
366
416317135261155 396337 98
396430
366214 93
304449412415384408248 222106
•166 168391439
GENERAL INDEX
467
Statenlsland 363, 419, 442
Sound 319
Steam navigation 38-39, 155
Steenhuysen, Egbert 430
Steenmetts, Gasper 2S3
Steinmetts family 250
Stek family 293
Stelle family 63
Stephenson, Thomas 118, 119
Stevens family 75
Gen. Richard F 66
Stickney, Henry 386
Stiger family 75
Stiles family 126, 131, 449
Stimets, Casper 430
Stirling 75, 76, 80, 91
Countess of US
Lord 32-35, 53, 60, 66, 118, 440
Stockade at Bergen 282
Stockholm 227
Stockton, Richard 63
Robert F 48
Stoffells Point 365, 366
Stoltel's patent 262
Stoftelsen, Jacob 427, 430
Stone quarries 182, 253-353, 395, 398
house at South Orange 384-385
House Brook 385
Stonetown 245
Stony Brook 168, 188, 202, 203
Hill 449
Straatmaker, Dirck 427, 430
Streets in Newark 352
Strubel family 340
Stuyvesant, Peter. .. .383, 330, 419, 428, 430
Stynmets, Christopher 230
Succasunna 163
Suff ern's 286
Summit 3, 85, 162, 449-453
Sumner, General 371
Supreme Court 45-46
Sussex County 313, 227, 331, 334,
239, 288, 367
Sutton family 75
Swaen family 433
Swaine, Samuel 339, 349, .373
Swamp, the Great 83-89, 91, 92
Swede immigrations 76
Swedenborgian Church at Pater
son 276
Swesy, Samuel 214
Swinefield Bridge 174
Sfwiss immigrations 28
Sycan, Dirk 430
Symmes, John Cleves 168
Symon, Robert 373
Synod of Philadelphia 123-125
Tallman family 340
Talmadge, Rev. T. De Witt 399
Tappan 286, 387, 427
"Tartar," the 441
Tassemaker, Petrus 269
Taylor, Rev. William P 138
Taylortown 176, 182
Teed family 407, 408
T. Rowland 407
Telegraph, first experiments of.. 154-155
Terhune family 297, 306
Richard 307
Thebaud family ; 115
"The ForesC" Ul
Third Mountain 319
Regiment, the 369
River.. 34, 234, 261, 317, 343, 348, 395, 433
Thomas, Jurian 265, 266
Thompson, Anthony 382
family 74, 75
Tichenor, Daniel 340
family 365, 385
Martin 340
Tillou family 385
Tomassen, Uriah 261, 262
Tomkins, Jona 340
Michael 342, 344
Tompkins family 126, 385, 391, 408
Michael 339
Tories, the 222
Tory Corner 374, 382, 416
Totowa 237, 255
Towakhow Mountain 175
To-wn and Corporation of Bergen, 420, 421, 431
meetings in Newark 350, 352
of Newark laid out 347
Township organizations 60
Toy manufacturing 356
Trade with the South 361-362, 366
Trading post at Bergen 282
Transportation, early 263
Treat, Frederick 99
J. Mortimer 99
Robert 99, 325, 336, 337,
339, 340, 341, 363
Trenchard, Capt. Edward 290
Trenton 125, 148, 149, 165, 182, 213, 214
battle of 61
Iron Company 243
Trinity Church corporation 252
Troy 158
Brook 158
Hills 158, 167
Meadows 88, 157
True Reformed Dutch Church.. .177, 272
Tucker family 323
Turkey Eagle Rock 384, 416
Tuttle family 164, 170, 174
Joseph 216
Silas 161
Timothy 214, 216, 224
Twombley, Florence 101
Hamilton 101
Tyler, John 42, 47
Union 312, 419, 424
County 1, 2, 3, 56,
75, 87, 91, 92, 95, 162, 316-317, 319-
329, 331, 333, 408, 409, 419, 445-454
Hill 93, 106-106
Township.. 280, 305, 306, 307-312, 424, 436
Village 57
University of New Tork 62
Upper Macopin 242
Preakness 85
Ursino Lake 318
Uttertown 342
Uyle Kill 176, 180
Vail, Alfred 154, 155
George 165
Stephen 155
Vailsburgh 341
Valentine family 449
Van Allen family 255, 293
Van Angola, Francisco 430
Van Blarcom, Brant 275
family 378
Van Boskerck family 438
Van Buren, President 290
Van Buskirk, Abraham 441
Van Cortlandt family 396
Van Der Heer Nedderhorst 426, 428
468
GENERAL- INDEX
Van Dien family 297
Van Dine, Isaac 214
MatthciW 314
Van Dolsen, John 433
Van Duyne family 178, 183, 185
Harrison 318
Van Duyre family 181
Van Gelder family 208, 288
Van Giesen family 433
Van Houten fapiily 255, 262, 278
Van Immen, John Garretsen 430
Van Ness family 178, 185, 203,
208, 243, 250
Van Nest family 65
Peter 66, 67
Van Ostrum, Hendrick 430, 438
Van Purmerend, Claes Jansen. . .427, 430, 438
Van Putten, Aert Teunisen 427, 430
Van Riper family 178, 247,
250, 262, 378, 310, 394
Van Schalckwyck, Hendrick Jans.. 430
Van Schanck family 306
Van Saun family 202, 243, 255
Van Tuyl, Michael Abraham 433
Van Vechten, Dirk 433
Van Vleeck, Tielman 430
Van Vleck, Tillman 283
Van Vorst, Cornelius... .285, 426, 427, 428
Ide Cornelius 430
Township 424, 425
Van Wagenen family 243, 262, 430
Van Wagoner family 262
A'^an Winckle, Symon Jacobs 264
Van Winkel, Abraham 264, 266, 267
Jacob 264, 266, 267
Marinus 264, 266, 267
Simeon 264, 366, 367
Symon Jacobse 265, 266, 267, 368
Van Winkle family 355, 262, 278,
310, 394, 430
Jacob 264
Jacobse 364
John S 273, 275
Van Worth family 185
Vanderbeck, Cornelius 298
family 208, 288
Vanderhoof family 178
Vanderveer family 63
Vanquellin, Robert 322
Varlet, Nicholas 430
Vauxhall 409
A^ealtown 30, 32
Vedder, Rev. Edwin 254
Veghte family 63
Verbruggen, John 430
Verona 317, 399-400, 402
Lake 400-402
Park 400-402
Township 399-402, 405
Verplanck, Abraham Isaacsen. ..427, 428-429
Vigne, John 430
Village of Bergen 419
Vinegar Hill 390
Vly Meadows 175, 184, 200
Voorhees, Anson A 402
family 63
George E 161
Voorhis family 288
Vreeland familv 178, 183,
185, 240, 262, 310, 430, 438
Hartman 182
John H 182
Vroom family 63
Peter D 43, 66
Waechung Mountain.,
Wagenen family
Waldron, Joseph
Wallace house, the —
John
William
William C
Wallengen, Jacob
Walters, Joseph
Wanamaker family.
.. 348
. . 262
.. 433
.66-69
66
95
430
34028S
AVanaqua River. ..,".. .3, 229," 239," 242,' 245
"War governor," the 369
War taxes 287
Ward family 97, 100, 365, 386, 408, 414
John 345, 373
John, Sr 339
Josiah 339, 349
Laurence 339
Leslie D., M.D 103
Major 444
Samuel M 382
Stephen 316
Warde, John 339
Wards, creation of 351, 389, 415
Warrant to lay out the town of
Newark 347
Warren County 213
Sir Peter 433
Township 60
Warrenville 3, 56
Washington Corners 75
Washington, George. . ..15, 30, 31, 33,
66-69, 139, 131, 148-154, 171, 173, 363,
285, 287, 303, 304, 328, 389, 412, 440, 443
Mrs. George 69
Park 356
Place Holland Church at Pas
saic 272
Township 2SS, 293, 303
Valley 119
Watchung Mountain 343, 344
Water power, development of 5,
6, 15-28, 273-275
"Watering Place," the 357
Watts, Robert 34
Waverley 391
Wayne 245
Gen. Anthony 247, 248
Township 202, 336, 345-248, 251, 255
Webster, Daniel 4S
Webb, James A UO
Weehawken Township 419, 424
Weequahick Lake 391
Welsh immigration 193
Wequahick River 348
West, Benjamin 146
Hanover 107, 122
Hoboken 419, 42 1
India Company 425
Jersey 64, 119, 211, 313-316, 331, 421
Jersey Society 403
Livingston : 408
Milford 229, 230, 331,
232, 236, 241, 242, 244
Milford Township 239-342
New A'ork 419, 424
Orange.,., 317, 341, 374, 378, 381, 382, 415
Orange Township 317, 405, 407, 409
Paterson 6, 7
Shore Railroad 425
AA'estervelt family 255
AVestfield 446
Westville 405
Wheeler, David 216
family 126, 365
Nathaniel 340, 384
Samuel 414
GENERAL INDEX
469
Whig party, the 44,
Whipanong
Hall and Library Association, 160,
Whippany.... 107, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125,
158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 167,
River 3, 87, 122, 117, 119,
White, Anthony
Bridge
James L
Oak Ridge
White's Tavern
Whitehall 175, 176, 179,
Whitehead, Aaron P
Asa
Charles R
family 131,
Ira C
Isaac
Isaac N
John 131,
Samuel
Whitnev, Mrs. Stephen
Whittingham, Rt. Rev. William R..
AVick family
house, the
Tempe
Wigger, Bishop
AA'iggerville
Wikhoof
Wilcox family
William and Mary 63,
the Silent 65,
Williams, Aaron
Charles A
family 374, 382, 386, 408,
Rev. James A., D,D
Matthew
47
158
170 158433 75
102 409 32
183131131 131323131216 131
148 361164381 74 8282
142142 295449 108209386 402
414382 414
Williamsburg, battle of 244, 372
Williamson, Matthias 327
Williamstown 416
AVills, James 73
John 119
Women, patriotism of 152, 224
Wood family 126
Woodbridge..., 57, 58, 308, 313, 314, 331, 421
Woodruff family 97, 100, 323
Wortendyke 295
Abram C 295
Cornelius 294
Cornelius A 295
family 294
Woutersen, Egbert 427, 430
Wyckoff 295
family 63
Wynkoop, Johannes 29S
Wynockie River 3, 229
Wyoming 410
Xavier, Mother Mary 103
Tantakaw River 234
Tanticaw River 395
Tantokah River 348
Toutecaw River 24
Toung, David 174
Edward F, C 161
family 164, 174
Robert 216
Stephen Lyman 101
Zabriskie family 181, 288, 297
John, Jr 285
Peter 285
Zeliff family 178, 183, 184
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