^' •^- 4 O .-^V^i^riis:/''. * o „ O .t) ^K>- O V .■^'■\ O V > :% ^^'\ . ip-^^. •» -CL !>» • IS ail ■• . . o ' . 'V^ * " ^ • . V °^ * ° - ° ^° -^ THE ARNOLD TAVERN 1760 — 1903 MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY HISTORY OF - THE ARNOLD TAVERN. " MORRISTOWN, N. J. AND MANY INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH GENERAL WASHINGTON'S STAY IN THIS PLACE, AS HIS HEADQUARTERS IN WINTER OF 1777. WITH VIEWS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND PLACES OF REVOLUTIONARY INTEREST. ■J ■ CHRONICLE PRESS MORRISTOWN, N. J. THE LiUBAKY OF Two Copies R*c«iv»a Copyiifcnt Entiy ClXS^ O- XXe. No COPY B. COPVKICHT BY PHILir H. HOFFMAN 1903 o P-I PREFACE. The compiler of this pamphlet was one of the purchasers of the "Arnold Tavern" property in July, 1863. Afterward, finding he had a somewhat famous property, he commenced collecting and preserving all items of interest relating to the history of the " Tav- ern," and to General Washington's stay in it while occupying it as his Headquarters. After the removal of the old building and the erection of a new one on the same site, he was urged to put this material in perma- nent form for future reference. He then conceived the idea of pub- lishing with it illustrations of many old buildings, which are so rap- idly being removed, and will soon be lost to view and forgotten. Some of these, as the Old County Jail, O'Hara Tavern, Old Powder Mill Major Lindsley's House, and others, have been made espe- cially for this work, and have never appeared in print before, but may be relied upon as being actually correct. If the friends of the writer shall be as much interested m the reading of this fragment of Revolutionary history as he has been in Drenarintr it, he will feel abundantly paid for his trouble. ^ ^ P, H. H. Morris loivn, July, I go J. THK OLD ARNOLD T.\VI:RN. \Vashin},'ton's Hcadriuartcrs iluriiiK the WiiiUr of 1 777— Morrislow n, X. J. THE ARNOLD TAVERN. THIS famous building was situated on the north side of what is now known as the "Park," formerly known as the "Green," in the center of Mornstown. It was used as a tavern before and during the Revolutionary War. The many in- teresting and notable incidents and events connected with Wash- ington's occupancy of the "Tavern," as headquarters, and the patri- otic character and public career of the conductor and owner of the house, has made it worthy of more than a passing notice. Pre- vious to the breaking out of the Revolutionary W^ar, it was kept by Thomas Kinney, who was one of the most prominent men of Morris County, having been High Sheriff of the county, and a large land owner in and about Morristown. There was a large farm attached to the "Arnold Tavern" at that time, running back to the Jockey Hollow road, and across to Bridge street, now Speedwell avenue. Kinney, in connection with Colonel Jacob Arnold, built the "Slitting" mill at Speedwell and attempted there a new industry. At the commencement of the Revolution, Kinney at once organ- ized and equipped a company of Light Horsemen, with which he escorted the disloyal Governor Franklin (son of the patriotic Ben- jamin Franklin, but he, himself a notorious Tory) to Connecticut, and placed him there in the custody of Governor Trumbull, for w'hich service he was rewarded by the Legislature. A short time afterwards he turned over to his partner. Col. Arnold, both the "Tavern" and the command of the Troop; and what was formerly known as the "Kinney House," now became the famous "Arnold Tavern." The colonel was an ardent patriot, and his troop of horsemen were filled with the same spirit. His tavern became the rallying point and headquarters for many patriotic and loyal Amer- i"l THE ARNOLD TAVERN. ican citizens and officials of the surrounding- country before, and up to the time Washington sought its shelter and made it his headquar- ters during the disheartening and severe winter of 1777. This large and commodious building was the principal hotel of the place, and remained under the ownership and care of Col. Arnold during the continuance of the war, and until 1788. The precise time of the erection of this building, or by w hom it was built, cannot now be ascertained by public records or conveyances, as all deeds and mortgages for Morris County prior to 1795 or thereabouts, were kept in Trenton, or in the office of the Lords Proprietors at Perth Amboy. Tradition says that this honored building was erected by the Colonel's father, Samuel Arnold, some time between 1735 and 1750, and by him conveyed to Colonel Jacob, at a later date. It was an imposing structure, three stories in height, divided by a wide hall running through the centre, with a front and back par- lor on the south side, and barroom, dining room and kitchen on the other. A l)road and winding stairway gave an easy ascent to the second floor. Washington slept in the second story, in the fronl room, over the bar-room; the room adjoining and back of it was used as his dressing room. Back of that, and over the diniug room and kitchen, was a com- modious ball room, in which the Assembly balls were held, and there the army Masonic lodge held its meetings during the time that Washington made his headquarters in this building, in the winter of 1777, and also agam in the winter of 1780. Bed chambers tilled up the rest of the house, live of which were in the third story. The building stood on a commanding position, facing the "Green," on which were situated the court house and jail, on the northeaSo corner in front of the present U. S. Hotel. On the other side of the road, and almost directly in front of the present parsonage, stood the old Presbyterian meeting house, afterwards utilized as a hospital for the sick and wounded soldiers. This "Tavern" building stood on the sajne spot for about 150 years, and until 1886 when it was bought by Mrs. Julia Keese Colles, a patriotic lady of Morristown^ as a genuine Revolutionary relic, and for its preservation, it was removed to another part of the town, where it now stands as the main portion of All Souls' Hospital, having been much changed in outward appearance and enlarged. THE ARNOLD TAVERN. The exig-encies of modern business demanded it-^ (the old Arnold Tavern) demolition or removal and it was obliged to give way notwithstanding the many memories that clustered around it. It was known in its earlier history as the "Kinney Hotel," but more familiarly throughout the days of the Revolutionary War, and until the present time as the "Arnold Tavern." In 1788. Benjamin Freeman was licensed to keep this hotel, and he l)ecame the pro- 'i.^-^ . <\'r: THIv old morris CorXTV COI'RT HOrSE .\XI) JAIL. Situated o!i the "Green" in 1777. The pillory and stocks appear under the tree. ))rietor in 1791. In 181 1 it passed into the possession of Lewis Hayden, who continued as its proprietor until 1834, when James Wood and Col. Joseph Lovell became the owners. From 1855 to 1863 it was kept by Capt. William Duncan, so that successive gen- erations have known it as "The Arnold, ' "Freeman," "Hayden," and " Duncan House." It is described in 1834, as of two parts; the Iront part, 43 feet along the street, 25 feet deep, and three stor- ies high; the back part (a vving) 63 feet long, 19 feet wide, and also THE ARNOLD TAVERN, three stories in heig-hth. Bancroft, in his history of the United States, speaks of it as the "Freeman House." Another author speaks of it as the "Free Mason House." The Marquis de Chas- tellux, in his "Travels in North America" refers to it, in describing his travels through New Jersey in 1780 as follows: "I intended stopping at Morristown only to bait my horses, for it was but half- past two, but in entering the inn of Mr. Arnold, I saw a dining room adorned with looking glasses and handsome mahogany fur- niture, and a table spread for twelve persons. 1 learned that all this preparation was for me, and what affected me more nearly was to see a dinner corresponding with appearances ready to serve up. ALL SOULS' HOSPITAL. Remodeled from the Arnold Tavern. I was indebted for this to General Washington, and the precau- tions of Colonel O'Mayland, who was sent before to acquaint them of my arrival. It would have been very ungracious of me to have accepted this dinner at the expense of Mr. Arnold, who is an honest man, and who has not a particle in common with Benedict Arnold. It would have been still more awkward to have paid for the ban- quet without eating it. I therefore instantly determined to dine in the comfortable inn." Mrs. Colles, in her "Historic Morristown" speaks of Washing- THE ARNOLD TAVERN'. ton's stay at the "Arnold Tavern" as follows: "\\'ashiny;ton tirst came to INIorristown with his staff and army, three days after the battle of Princeton, viz: on the 5th of January, 1777, and remained until May 7th, of that year. He made his headquarters at the 'Ar- nold Tavern' then kept by Colonel Jacob Arnold, a famous officer of the 'Light Horse Guards,' whose descendants are still residents of Morristown and vicinity, (1892). This historic building stood on the north side of the Green, where now a large brick building has been erected on its site. The old building with its many associa- tions was about to be destroyed, when it was rescued at the sug- gestion of the author of this book, and restored, on its present site, on the Colles estate, on Mt. Kemble avenue, the old Basking Ridge road of the Revolution. It has recently been purchased — 1892 — • and occupied by the 'All Souls' Hospital Association.' Though ex tended and enlarged, it is still the same building, retains many of the distinctive features that characterized it when it was the resi- dence of Washington. Here is still the bedroom which Washington occupied, the parlor, dining room and the ball room, where he re- ceived his generals, Green, Knox, Schuyler, Gates, Lee, DeKalb, Steuben. Wayne, Winds, Putnam, Sullivan and others, besides dis- tinguished visitors and one of our authors, the Marquis de Chas- tellux. In one of the bedrooms of the 'Old Tavern' has been seen, within a few years, between the floor and ceiling below% a long case for guns, above which was painted on the tloor in large squares, a checker board, about which in an emergency, evidently the soldiers expected to sit, and so conceal from the enemy, the trap door of their arsenal. About this ancient building many traditions linger, and from it have gone forth, Washington's commands, and some of his important letters." The chief interest connected with this building centers on that period of our national history when the patriot army was encamped on the hills, and in the valleys about Morristown. Washington fought the battle of Trenton, began his retreat with masterly strategy from before Cornwallis, engaged the British at Princeton on the 3rd of January, and then made his way to Morristown, reaching that inspiring place January 5, 1777, en- camping his army in winter quarlers.and using the "Arnold Tavern" for his own head(]uarters. It was then owned and conducted by his aide and paymaster, the intreijid Colonel Jacob Arnold, who. GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON. THE ARNOLD TAVERN. with his 6(iuadron of Li^ht Horse, rendered most efficient service during the Revohitionary War. VVashini,'ton remained here from the time of his arrival on Januarys, 1777, until the 7th of May. His army was located on and about Fort Nonsense, and scattered from Loantaka Valley to the farm houses near Mendham. The weather of this winter was severe in the extreme. The soldiers suf- fered greatly from the excessive cold, the want ot food, and lack of clothing. TheCommander-in Chief was keenly alive to the priva- tions of his soldiers, as is fully shown by a private letter, doubtless written after his arrival at the "Arnold Tavern." In it he says: •' Sometimes the soldiers have been five or six days without bread, at others, as many without meat, and two or three times without either."' The importance to the young Republic of the many con- sultations between Washington and his generals, held in this his- toric building cannot be estimated. It is much to be regretted no historian with graphic pen was present to reconl the scenes that transpired within the walls of tiie " Arnold Tavern" during that memorable winter. From this house issued many letters written by Washington to Congress, to the Governors of the newly made States, to the patriots scattered over the land, urging, persuading, rebuk- ing, inspiring, and using every argument within the range of his capacious mind to rouse the people to the discharge of duty, and to prepare for the opening campaign. It was here that he wrote those noble letters to Baron Steuben, Count Pulaski, and the Cheveli-r Lu Cerne. Momentous subjects were here debated, great ques- tions, affecting the future of the new-born Repul)lic, raised and left for settlement in the coming time, for there were wise men gathered there who forecasted the ai)pr()aching glory of the United States, and fore-saw iheir needs, anticipated their extendetl empire, and made provision at that early period for the growth of the Nation which should one day hold in its hands the destinies of the world. Doubtless here was begun the negotiations which resu led m the acquisition by the infant States of the vast Fmpire beyond the Al- leghanies. and of the free navigation of the Mi>sissippi. Lu Cerne, with teeming brain, was there, even at that early period, with in- structions from Spain to negotiate with the American Congress on that subject. Here Washington met daily with his aides and otticers to consult about the army, to advise with Steuben about its dis- THE ARNOLD TAVKRN. cipliiie and tactics; with Lafayette, how to briny^ France and the revolted colonies nearer to^jfether. Here also came Alexaiuler Hamilton, who, though one of the youniifest otlhcers c^f the armv, had already been advanced to the rank of colonel, and j^-ave promise of g, brilliant future. Dr. J. F. Tnttle, in his "Annals of IM<>rris County in the War of the Revolution,'' mentions an anecdote, told by Mr. George P. INIcCullough, who had it directly from General Doughty, a Revolutionary officer residing in Morristown : '-While Washington was residing at the 'Arnold Tavern, 'he had a ned himself, saying he would be back in a few minutes. Apparently in his haste, he had left his report lying on the table, and no sooner was he gone than the fellow glanced over its pages, and sure that he had an invaluable document through the most fortunate chance, pocketed it and left for the enemy."' General Doughty said it was Hamilton's opinion that this happy stroke did not a little to keep the enemy from Morristown at a time when the American army was in no condition to receive them. It was in this "Arnold Tavern" that Washington wrote those noble letters to General Howe, the British commander, denouncing the inhuman treatment which patriot officers and men who were ub- happy enough to fall into their hands received on board the prison ship in the harbor of New York. "And," he said, "did not the writer endeavor to obtain a redress of their grievances, he would think himself as culpable as those who inflict such severities upon them." Their sufferings were really dreadful. One of the prisoners on the ship wrote as follows: "The distress of the prisoners can- THE ARNOLD TAVERN. not be communicated by words. Twenty or thirty of them die every day. They lie in heaps unburied; what numbers of my countrymen, by cold and hunger, perished for want of the common necessaries of life, I have seen. This is the boasted British clem- ency. Rather than again experience their barbarity, may I fall by the sword of the Hessians." The sufferings of these men received 3"^ -^ THE OU) PRIvSON SHIP "JERSEY." She was known as "The Hell," and ii,ooo Americans perished in her of star- vation and disease during the Revolution. Washington's immediate attention after his arrival in Morristown. Many other weighty matters were pressing on the heart and mind of the Patriot Commander during that memoral)le winter, most of them discouraging and disheartening. Very little sunlight penetrated into that building and reached him as he brooded over the perils that surrounded him; but he never hesitated, he never quailed, yet seldom, very seldom, did he feel disposed to write encouragingly. More fre(juently was he compelled to exclaim, as he did on the 26th of January: "Reinforcements," he said, "come in so extremely slow that 1 am afraid that before they arrive I shall be left without any men. The enemy must be ignorant of our numbers, or they have not horses to move their artillery, or else they would not suffer us to remain undisturbed." Gordon, the English historian, writes as follows: " By the time that the rebels arrived at Morris- THE ARNOLD TAVERN. town, they were so extremely fatigued that a fresh and resolute body of 500 men might have demolished the whole army. Num- bers of them laid down in the woods and fell asleep, regardless of the cold weather. At this time the Royal Army in New Jersey consisted of at least 10,000 men. And this fatigued and wornout army of Washington, consisting of less than 4,000 men at the time when they reached Morristown, was the only army that Congress then had. And yet no attempts were made to beat up their quar- ters, disperse them, and put an end to the rebellion." Gordon did not know of what stuff the American army was made. While living in the Arnold Tavern, Washington was visited by most of the Generals of his army. Hither came Generals Sullivan and Lee, "Old Put" as Israel Putnam was familiarly called, came also; Gen- erals Wayne and Maxwell here met the commander-in-chief and talked over the battle of Trenton and Princeton, from which Wash- ington had come directly to Morristown, and discussed that fearful march, truthfully named the "Mud March." Here were assem- bled those foreign oiticers whose love of liberty had imxpelled them to offer themselves for service in the patriotic army, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron Steuben, Count Pulaski, and the Chev- alier De LuCerne. Here, m this "Arnold Tavern," Washington participated in the rites of Free Masonry, so dear to all the lovers of the craft, and here he often assisted in conferring the Degrees of the Order upon his companions in arms. It has been claimed that the General was "made" a mason in the "Arnold Tavern," but this is a mistake, and the claim must be abandoned. Mr. Sidney Hayden has made a thorough and exhaustive examination of this subject, and has settled the question beyond controversy. Wash- ington was made an entered apprentice in the Masonic Lodge at Fredericksburg, Va., Nov. 4, 1752; passed to the degree of Fellow Craft by the same lodge, March 3, 1753, and received the degree of Master Mason, Aug. 4th succeeding. The old records of the Lodge which contain these facts, the Bible on which he was obli- gated, and the seal of the lodge are still in existence. The Bible on which his oath of office as the first President of the United States was taken in New York, on April 30, 1789, was brought from the altar of St. John's Lodge, of New York city, for that purpose. Washington loved the Order of Masonry, and met THE ARNOLD TAVERN. his brother masons at the Lodge as frequently as circumstances would permit. While Washington and the other army officers were domiciled at the "Arnold Tavern," a grand ball was given by them, and the General was the largest subscriber towards defray- ing the expenses. It was a high-priced affair, each ticket cost $300 in Continental money, (which had become much depreciated at that time). The ball was held in the ball room of the "Arnold Tavern," and caused considerable comment. Tradition informs us that the patriotic elders of the Presbyterian Church, shocked by the painful contrast between the bare-footed and starving soldiers and the festivities of the dancing assembly, remonstrated with the Commander-in-Chief for the apparent inconsistency. They were, however, silenced by being told that the ball was a grave strategical move intended to deceive the British General as to the true situa- tion of the American Army, for it was argued that the Royalists would say. "if the rebels can be so gay, and at such expense, how can they be on the verge of starving, and suffering as has been reported to us.'" The elders might have ceased criticising, but it is not to be believed that they were satisfied, for the contrast between the poor suffering privates and the gay dancers who thronged the famous ball wa9 too great to be overlooked. It must not, however, be for- gotten that the otificers shared with the men in their privations, and in the loss and misery occasioned by the depreciation of the paper currency issued by Congress. A remark made by a writer of the time, fully exhibited the miserable state of the otificers. He said: " Many of the otificers look like beggars in their faded and worn- out uniforms." Thatcher, in his Military Journal, writes thus in a memorial, addressed to the New Jersey Legislature by the officers of the line of that State : "Four months' pay of a soldier would not procure for his family a single bushel of wheat. The pay of a colonel would not purchase the oats for his horse to feed on. Com- mon laborers or an express rider receive four times as much in reality, as do the American otificers." The influence of Washington was constantly exerted to prevent disastrous results to the cause of American liberty which was threatened by the need and suffering which all the officers experienced We can but wonder continually at Washington's courage and serenity, in the midst of such over- THE ARNOLD TAVERN. ^3 Whelming difficulties. He had hardly settled himself in his winter quarters when the death of Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., was announced to him This loss, great as it was to the public service, was peculiarly severe to Washington. Col. Ford was a citizen of Morristown, high in the esteem of all, a brave, efficient officer, and of the greatest aid to Washington in dealing with any question in which the relations between the inhabitants of Morris county were involved. He was a valued friend and a trusted adviser of the Commander-in-Chief, who sincerely mourned his death. The deceased officer was by the ex- press order of his Chief, buried with the honors of war. The descrip- tion of these, and of the funeral cortege, is one of the most pic- turesque of traditional history. Then came that dreadful scourge, the smallpox, which so alarmed the people, and carried off so many of the soldiery. The science of that day seemed unable to cope BAPTIST CHURCH IN 1776. With the terrible disease, and hundreds of brave men fell beneath the dreadful plague. The two churches, the Presbyterian and Bap- tist, were utilized as hospitals. A large trench was dug in the rear of the Baptist Church, where many bodies were buried. Within recent years, in the course of the improvement and grading of these grounds, the trench was opened and the bones found there were carried to the new cemetery and reverently placed in the earth con- secrated by this patriotic deposit. On the same day of Col. Ford s funeral Washington was taken ill, so says tradition, with quinsy sore throat, a malady to which the General was subject, and of which he finally died. It was greatly feared that he would not sur- vive Mrs. Washington was sent for, and arrived March 15th and remained with him until his recovery. When the disease was !4 THE ARNOLD TAVERN at its worst, and a fatal termination was feared, he was asked who should succeed him in command of the army in case he did not recover; unable to speak, he at once pointed to Gen. Nathaniel Greene. It was during the residence of Washington at the "Arnold Tavern" that he joined the members of the Presbyterian Church The spot in the dell in rear of Parson Johnes' house, where relij^ious services were held and the communion administered to General Washington. The churches were used at that time as Army Hospitals. in the observance of the Lord's Si.ii:)per. He had asked "Par- son Johnes," as he was familiarly call.'d, whether he would be permitted to join in the Lord's service, and was assured by the min- ister that "Our table is the 'Lord's table,' and we give the invitation to all his followers of whatever name." The answer being satisfactory to the General. he reverently united with the con- gregation in their Sfmi-annual communion service. It is said that this was the only occasion in his public career, where he partook THE ARNOLD TAVERN. 15 of the communion outside of liis ov/n church. The Presbyterian Church edifice being used at this time as a hospital for the sick soldiers, the congregation was accustomed to meet for divine ser- vice in a dell in the rear of the parsonage, then occupied by Rev. Dr. Johnes, on Morris street, on the grounds where now stands the Memorial Hospital. A group of trees sheltered this dell, and the hardy people braved the cold and snow and storm to praise God, and invoke His blessing. The fact that Washineton The parsonage of Rev. Timothy Johnes, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown while Washington and his army were encamped there in 1777 and also in 1779-80. had partaken of the Communion in this manner, or even at all, has been doubted by some, but its authenticity is abundantly proved by evidence which must be admitted to be incontroverti- ble. Dr. Johnes confirmed it by direct statement to his grand- daughter, who was still living at an advanced age, as recent as the summer of 1900, and she has often repeated what her grand- father has stated, in conversation with his family and friends, in regard to this incident. A prominent citizen of Morristown, de- 1 6 THE ARNOLD TAVERN. scendedfrom one of the leading Revolutionary families, now living, adds his testimony. He says: "My aunt, Mrs. Huldah Lindsley, a sister of Judge Silas Condict, gave me, in the most distinct and definite manner, an account of the communion of General Wash- ington with the Presbyterian Church, while the soldiers were en- camped at Morristown in 1777. She said that the congregation sat out of doors even in winter but were shielded from the winds by the surrounding high ground. Benches were placed in a circle, the Pastor occupying a central point. In this out-of-door place, muffled in their thickest clothing, many of them warmed by foot stoves, or other arrangements, with nothing over their heads but the winter's sky, the congregation, and among them General Washington, partook of the Lord's Supper." The question whether Washingto-n did really partake of the communion at Morristown, having l!>een a matter of considerable discussion, a well known writer took up the matter, in a serids of articles published in the New York Independent, February 17-24, 1898, from which we quote some facts additional to those already related. The writer there says : '■' Samuel H, Cox, D. D,, first attracted attention to this subject, having received the account from the Rev. Dr. Hillyer, who had it from the lips of Dr. Johnes, himself ; who was pastor of the Church at that time. Tlie only denominations, having church organizations there, were the Presbyterian and the Baptist. It was the custom of the Presbyterian Cliurch to observe the communion semi-annually. The church building was used at that time as a hospital for the small pox patients The disease being alarmingly prevalent in the army and the church having been given up to this purpose, the religious services of the con- gregation were held on the grounds of the parsonage. According to Dr. Hillyer, during the week previous to the communion. Gen- eral Wa&hington visited ' Pastor Johnes,' and said to him, ' Do I wnderstand the lord's Supper is to be celebrated with you next Sunday ? I would learn if it accords with the canons of your church to admit communicants of another denomination.' The doctor replied; ' Most certainly, ours is not the Presbyterian, but the Lord's table, and we hence give the Lord's invitation to all his followers of whatever name.' The General replied: 'lam glad ©f it^ that i& as it ought to be,, but 1 was not quite sure of the fact. % The old Presb3'terian Church of Morristown as it appeared in the time of the Revolutionarj War. 1 8 THE ARNOLD TAVERN. aiul thouo:ht I would ascertain it from yourself, as I propose to join with you (Ml that occasion. Although a member of the Church of England. I have no e.xclusive partialities." On the ne.xt Sabbath the General was present, seated on his own camp stool, brought over from the house ('The Arnold Tavern' ) for the purpose, and communed with those who were present. The Rev. Nicholas Chevalier, of Virginia, stated that some years ago, he was informed by Dr. Johnes, a son of Rev. Timothy Johnes, that the services were held in an orchard in the rear of the parsonage. A great granddaughter of Rev. Timothy Johnes now living m Morristown (1898) in a letter to Dr. Buckley says: 'Tt has always been the tradition in our family that Washington took the communion with the church in a hollou' back of the parsonage during the ministry of my great grandfather. Dr. Timothy Jones, pastor of the church." An aged and honorable gentlemen now living in Morristown, writing on the same subject (January 1898) says: "^'An aged lad)', a representative of one of our most respected families, iniormed me many years ago that her father, who was then a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, told her that he was present on the occasion when General Washington partook of the elements at the table and that he himself assisted in the services when Washington communed with them. (See N. Y. Indepen- dent, January 17-24, 1899, also First Church Record page 42. ) The "Arnold Tavern" received its name and acquired its fame from its well known and honored proprietor and owner. Col. Jacob Arnold, the patriotic captain and aide to General Washington. His descendants are numerous and still residents of Morris- town and the surrounding country. One of his sons, Mr. Silas H. Arnold Ii\ed in Morristown and tlitl business until 1883. He is well remembered by the older citizens of this place. In speaking of his father he said: "My father resided m Morristown as early as 1772, and kejit the "Tavern" during the Revolutionary War, and while it was oc- cupied by Washington as his headquarters. He said that his father often related incidents that occurred there in 1777 in connection with the soldiers when they were encamped about Morristown. When the war closed, the Cf)lonel had a large amount of Continen- tal money stored away, which had been received at the Tavern. THE ARNOLD TAVERN. I 9 He was a man of substance, highly respected, and had served in several ot^ces of trust and honor, being at one time High Sheriff of Morris County, and for many years a trustee of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown. He was also a member of St. Tammany Society (an army organization) as is proven by his certificate of membership, now (1894) in the possession of his grandson, Mr. Isaac G. Arnold, a copy of which is here given: ST. TAMMANY SOCIETY, NO. i. This is to certify that Capt. Jacob Arnold, is a mem- ber of the Society of the Sons of St. Tammany. , In witness of which, I have hereunto ( I affixed my hand and Public Seal at "j ( Jersey Camp, the first day of May, in "- — t • the year of our Lord 1782. Attest: J. W. CUM MINGS, Eben Elmer, President. Secretary. His father, Samuel Arnold, emigrated from Connecticut in 1730 and settled in Washington Yalley three miles north of Morris- town, where he bought three hundred acres of land from William and Richard Penn. This purchase included the farm where Silas H. Arnold (his grandson) now lives (February 1886). It is said that he brought from Connecticut the first sleigh ever used in New Jersey. Among his chattels which came with him, was a slave, known as "Aunt Jenny," who lived to be over one hundred years old. Col. Jacob Arnold was twice married, and had a large familv of children. He was buried in the graveyard of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, where the head stone at his grave, together with that of his father and his grandfather and those of his wives, may still be seen (1900). The Arnold family are of English origin, tracing their ancestry to Somersetshire, as far back as 1460. The family name is very extensive in this country, being found in all states of the union. Col. Arnold was born Dec. 14, 1749, married, — first to Elizabeth Tuttle of Morris County, Oct. ist, 1770. She died May 7th, 1803. The Colonel's second wife was Sarah H. Nixon, born Oct. i, 1783. They were married Dec. 14, i8i 7. The Colonel died March i, 1827, his second wife surviving him until April 19, 1843. Col. Jacob's 20 THE ARNOLD TAVERN. father, Samuel Arnold, was born Nov. 5. 1727- and married Phehe Ford, dauK^hter of Colonel Jacob Ford, Oct. 16, 1748. She died in her 91st year Auj:ust 2, i8ig. The date of the birth of the j^^rand- father, Stephen, cannot be ascertained. He died February, 1754. His wife. Rachel , was born Feb. 21, 1697, and died July ist, 1786. He. with his family, came from Woodbridge, N. J., to Whippany, (then called Whippanong) in 1715, and buying- a farm, they became permanent residents in their new home. Col. Jacob Arnold lived to a good old age, and passedaway. His life had been an eventful one ; he had survived many a battlefield, where he had battled, risking his life for liberty and his country. The Colonel being a member of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, they were in the habit of meeting at his "Arnold Tavern," for the transaction of their regular business while the church was used as a hospital for the soldiers. Some matters of importance connected with the church and in which the general government was interested were transacted at some of these meetings. At one time Moore Freeman, Deputy Quarter M ister General of the State, applied for leave to erect a storehouse for the use of the continental army on the parsonage lot, "next to Dr. TuthilTs," which was granted. In 1781 at a meeting of the Board of Trustees, at the same place, it was agreed to purchase the "Continental House," at a vendue on the next Thursday, for the use of the parish, and to settle with the deputy Q. M. G. for the rent of the lot on which this house stood. (See First Church Record.) The Brit'sh army had long been desirous (jf reaching Moriis- town. There were several inducements that had led their leaders greatly to desire possession of Morris County. Farly in the year 1776 Colonel Jacob Ford. Jr., had built a powder mill on the Whip- ponong (Whippany) river, ami was making considerable quantities of this much needed article. The Provisional Congress endeavored to have him increase his supply — as we learn from the "Boteler papers" in the possession of the New Jersey Historical Society. They agreed to loan him /'2,ooo of the public money for one year (on his giving satisfctory security for the same), to be repaid in "good merchantable" powder at the rate of one ton per month. His "good powder " did good service in many a battle, arid that THE ARNOLD TAVERN. was one reason why the enemy was so anxious to reach Morris- town. Colonel Benoni Hathaway, who was in charge, took good care to give the impression to the British emissaries and Tories in and about Morristown that great quantities of powder were daily being carted from the mill down by the river to the Government Magazine by the "Green" at the head of South street. It is said that when the powder ran short, Colonel Hathaway filled his kegs and barrels '■■A FORD'vS POWDER MILL— 1776. with sand and sent them under a strong guard to the Store-House, to keep up the appearance of the usual supply. At the head of the foot road, or bridle-path, leading from the powder mill to Morris avenue (the "old Elizabefh-Town Pike")., stood the Major Lindsley house. Attached to this was a large, old- fashioned Dutch bake-oven, where the good patriotic women of the household furnished great quantities of good, wholesome bread daily to the hungry and faithful soldiers stationed as guards about the Headquarters. The men at the mill and the women at the house were always fearing a raid from the British. They were greatly surprised one night to hear the tramping of horses, and on THK ARNlM.I) T.WKR.V. looking out were alarmed at seeing- a large company in full uniform surrounding- the house, and on incjiiiring what was wanted, they ilemanded to be shown the way to the powder mill. 'I'he men of the household being in the army, these patriotic women were in a quandary. But after considerable parleying they were satisiied that the horsemen were fiiends, and not foes, and had really been sent by General Washington to guard the mill and the bake-house from the dreaded British raiders. One of the women, on being urged by -_.. .^^Lj7:fx-_:jk_i-A^^ A.. I ;i" "--^ ijXDSijvv iiorsiv— xi-:ar powdi-ir mill. the horsemen, bravely consented to go ahead on foot ami lead them through the dark and almost imi^enetrable thicket to the mill. The friendly guard proved to be a jiortion of Colonel Jacob ArnoUl s "Flying Horsemen," who were acting as Washington's l)<)dy-guard, and had been sent by him to lll^4'^ The Speedwell Iron Works where Col. Jacob Arnold and Kinney estab- lished their iron works in 1776-7, and where the first steam engine was built that crossed the ocean, and where the first telegraph was made and operated by IMorse & Vail. At vSpeedwell, near Morristown, N. J. '^^' W w o *• III > 03 ^ OJ *-. *J u S ii •s ^ z =• ■3 3= :- - Q - ^ >> r! ii ^ '/; 1/ -o 11 T° 1 I I Si S P.1; u •- ^ ILI Qj - •- - ■S Sf O J= - S = IT -O o ra 3 tr. P5 to ^ " o o ™ C W ^ Tj- ^ 2 X E I 1 I (3 i; c •" X > ca • ffi »j *j •— C ^ y} u^ •^ ^ O 1- I- CQ a. a. I I t-- CO ON is be .5 J' 6. tc a -- eg L3 . 11 re s . ^ t*- re a o > 1- _S ai V, «; C ^ B ?. ^ ;; re (K a: "o u 11 o re .^ re u O _re r- c •o 2 c n s < < t-- i :? Tf If? 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