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THE FIRST

SUSSEX CEITENNARY,

CONTAmiNQ THE

ADDRESSES

BENJ. B. EDSALL, ESQ.,

REV. J. F. TUTTLE.

WITH NOTES, APPENDIX, &C.

NEWARK :
PHINTED AT THB DAILY ADVEBTISEK OFFICE.
1858.

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-0 5

SUSSEX CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

At a pubhc meeting held pursuant to notice, in Newton, on Monday eve
ning, June 27th, to take measures in relation to the Sussex county Centen
nial Celebration, a large number of citizens being present, David Ryerson,
Esq., was called to the Chair, and the Rev. Nathaniel Pbttit appointed
Secretary. On motion, a committee of five was raised to report resolutions suggest
ing a hne of action upon the subject. During their retirement, there was a
general interchange of sentiment among the citizens favorable to the cele
bration. When the committee re-appeared, they reported the following
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, viz. :
Wheebas, This is the one hundredth year since the separation of Sussex
county from the county of Morris, and its organization during the reign of
George II., in the year of our Lord, 1753 — we, the inhabitants, bearing in
remembrance the deeds of our ancestors, and the various trials, vicissitudes
and labors which they underwent in the gradual progress of the county
to its present state of advancement ; in order to cherish those sentiments of
patriotism which every man, and especially every freeman, should have for
the place of his bu-th ; and in order, moreover, to an interchange of frater
nal feeUngs among our inhabitants, to unite us in still stronger bonds of
harmony by the recollections of the past ; to enable us more duly to appre
ciate our privileges and the present condition of our institutions ; and. be
sides, to afford a precedent to future generations, which shah, testify, that
we are not unmindful of the high privileges of our birthright : Therefore,
Sesohed, That wo cherish the profoundest feelings of patriotic regard for
the county of our nativity, whose historical reminiscences are so rich with
interest, and whose advantages and institutions are so worthy of our proudest
admiration. Besolterl, That on the- iifth day of October next, at Newton, we com
memorate the organization of the county.
Eesohed, That a Corresponding Committee of three be appointed to con
fer by letter or otherwise with such persons as are able and disposed to fur
nish any historical facts connected with the coimty, and to gather such tra
ditional or statistical information as may give interest to the proceedings,
and be worthy of preservation.
Hesolvcd, That an Executive Committee of thirteen be appointed to make
suitable arrangements for the Celebration, and to act as assistant Marshals
upon the occasion.
Besolved, That a Supervisory Committee of three from each township be
appointed, to procure a Marshal and an Orator, to exert their influence in

securing a co-operation in their various localities, and to take such a gen
eral oversight of the affairs connected with the Celebration as may tend to
its successful accomplishment.
Resol-ced, That the natives of Sussex county, both at home and abroad,
our adopted citizens, and the citizens of Warren county, once a part of Sus
sex, be cordially invited to join with us in the festivities.
After the adoption of the resolutions, the following gentlemen were se
lected to act upon the committees :
CoKKESPONDiNG COMMITTEE. — B. B. Bdsall, W. S. Johnson, D. S. Anderson.
Executive Committee. — George H. Nelden, John Linn, Daniel Baker,
John Kraber, Jonathan P. Shafer, John Townsend, Horace Warner, John
W. Lane, Henry W. Johnson, Eobert Hamilton, Thomas Anderson, James
R. Hull, John McCarter, Jr.
Sdpeevisory Co-mmittee. — Vernon — Lewis Dunn, Price Vanostrand,
Thomas T. Simonson. Hardyston — Thomas Lawrence, Dr. FrankUn Smith,
Richard E. Edsall. Wantage — Rev. Peter Kanouse, Edward A. Stiles, Dr.
Alexander Linn. Frankford — Alpheus Gustin, Charles Roe, Robert V.
Armstrong. Montague — John IL Nelden, Isaac Bonnell, Jacob Hornbeck,
Jr. Sandyston — John D. Bveritt, David Depue, Timothy E. Shay. Wall-
pack — Peter Dewitt, Elijah Roscnkrans, Benjamin Hull. Stillwater — Dr. C.
V. Moore, James Merkel, John W. Opdyke. Green — Isaac Shiner, Samuel
H. Hunt, Nathaniel Drake. Byram — Cyrus S. Leport, Andrew A. Smalley,
Peter Smith. Sparta — Richard R. Morris, Aaron H. Kelsey, Moses Wood
ruff. Lafayette — James B. Huston, John M. Kalts, John S. Brodrick.
Newton — Rev. Nathaniel Pettit, Dr. Anthony D. Morford, Edward C. Moore.
On motion of John Linn, Esq., the foUowing resolution relative to the
committee composed of gentlemen from all parts of the county, was passed,
viz. :
Eesohed, That it is desirable that the Supervisory Committee should act
as soon as practicable, and that they be requested to meet on Monday, the
11th of July, at the hotel of D. Cox, in Newton, at 12 o'clock, M., to organ
ize and enter upon their duties.
On motion of Col. Eobert Hamilton, it was unanimously resolved, that
the proceedings of the meeting be pubhshed in aU the newspapers in Sus
sex and Warren counties. DAVID RYERSON, President.
N. Pettit, Secretary.
The committees immediately entered upon the duties assigned them, using
the most laudable exertions to make such preparations as would be suitable
to an oooasion of so much interest to the inhabitants of Sussex county.
Gen. Lyman Edwards was appointed Marshal of the day, and Col. Simon
Kilpatrick, Col. John W. Nyce, and Maj. Peter B. Shafer, assistants. B. B.
Edsall, Esq., and the Rev. J. F. Tuttle were selected as Orators. Previous
to the celebration, in all parts of the county great expectations had been
raised, and it is to be recorded with pleasure, the most sanguine anticipa
tions were not disappointed. Both the county newspapers contained a full
description of the proceedings of the day, from which we shall make some
extracts. Says the New Jersey Herald: " Tho best and biggest day Old Sussex
ever saw was last Wednesday. The Centennial Celebration for which such
ample preparation had long been making, was duly ushered m on the morn-

ing of the ever memorable Fifth of October, by the ringing of bells from day-
hght to sunrise, the firing of artillery from the heights above the town, and
a display of the American banner from the flag-staff upon the Court House,
as well as from the balconies of numerous public and private dwellings.
The day dawned serene, clear and tranquil, and ere its close, thousands
upon thousands of citizens and strangers poured in as it were from the four
quarters of the earth to renew their allegiance, hke Pilgrims, to the land of
their paternal home, some to the land of their birth, and hundreds of others
rejoicing in their place of adoption.''
But the young, whose hearts were beating high with enthusiasm, and the
middle-aged, who were performing their duties patriotically, in various
states of life, were not the only persons who composed the vast assemblage.
Venerable men with whitened locks, and bending forms, and tottering steps
were there. They came to recount in memory the scenes of their childhood,
to meet each other once more and exchange congratulations, and to gaze for
the last time upon the immense throng of their children and their children's
children who were soon to flU their places.
Says the Sussex Eegister: "When the design of calling together so
many veterans of the county as might be possible was suggested, the im
portance of the occasion assumed its most interesting aspect. There were
venerable men scattered here and there throughout the county whose indi
vidual hves and scores of memories spanned three-fourths and more of the cen
tury whieh it was proposed to commemorate. The list of such has been ex
tended far beyond what the best posted of our local antiquarians anticipated
it could be. The catalogue is enumerated by hundreds, instead of scores.
And, moreover, when, after invitations had been very generally issued, intel-
hgence was received from time to time of the death of some of those whose
greater ages would have made their presence additionally dear, a saddening
intere st was given to the proceedings of the committee in this respect. Sev
eral of those who had received invitation circulars to attend the celebration,
have in the interim settled their accounts with earth, and passed away to
be known no more for ever. Nevertheless, the veteran array which was
actually elicited, was by far the most imposing and fitting feature of the oc
casion. Here rallied the pioneers of the wilderneSuS — the mon who had
opened these hill sides and vales to the glorious sunlight, who half a century
since in active life had been each to the other neighbors aud brothers, but
whom the retirement of enfeebling age had estranged, met once more to in
dulge a fraternal grasp — who had followed lonely and long-bridle-paths to
the mill, the church and the settlement along the inhabited and convenient
roadway which now opened before them.
'%' " The celebration proper commenced with the arrival of the Newark delega
tion on Tuesday afternoon. In the early part of the day the streets had been
generally cleared of rubbish, and we question if Newton ever manifested more
pride than she did iu view of this occasion. At noon-time flags were very gen
eraUy unfurled from our hotels, public buildings, and elsewhere — an augury
of the joyous event which was to follow. At 4 P. M., the Columbian Rifle
men and Newark delegation were announced, and the streets were quickly
thronged by those who were eager to bid them welcome. They were re
ceived amid the cheers of the assembled mass and a booming salute of can
non. Having paraded the principal streets, they were dispersed to their
several quarters, and in renewed communings and festive joy, the sun went
down on Tuesday.

" Bell chimes and cannon peals haUed the dawn of Wednesday. At a
very early hour commenced the flow of a human tide which long before
noon had swelled to the largest concourse ever assembled in our county.
We estimate that there were not less than 8,000 persons in attendance, and
the license which is usually indulged in such estimates, would easUy raise it
to 10 or 12,000. As soon after 11 A. M., as possible, the procession com
menced forming. It was headed by the Newark Brass Band and Columbian
Riflemen, after whom foUowed the several Committees, Clergy, Orators and
Veterans. In the procession we counted thirty distinguished by the badge
of the Newark delegation, and many others we know were at the time par
ticipating in pleasant greetings with thefr fi-iends and relatives throughout
the viUage and vicinity. A banner, bearing a fac-simfle of the county seal,
next appeared in the procession, followed by the Delaware Cornet Band of
Port Jervis. The five lodges of Odd FeUows of the county were represented
next in order by sixty of their members. The Sons of Temperance next
appeared, numbering two hundred, equipped with the regaha, banner,
staves, &c., peculiar to the Order. We only do justice when we give Wan
tage Division — one of the most distant of those in attendance, the credit of
appearing with the largest delegation of the eight Divisions represented.
The Temple of Honor of this village — an Order as yet in its incipient stages
among us — appeared with nearly twenty of its members. A band of mar
tial music next interspersed the moving mass, which was foUowed by the
citizens of Sussex and Warren under their several township banners. The
procession reached the speaking ground soon after 12 M. Judge William
P. Robeson, of Warren was appointed President, and Hon. George VaU of
Morris, and Joseph Greer, Esq., of Sussex, Vice-Presidents of the day."
Upon taking the Chair, Judge Robeson rose and thus addressed the as
sembly :
" PeUow-citizens of Sussex and Warren — Ladies and Gentlemen : The
unexpected honor of presiding over this vast concourse of people is received
with feehngs of profoundest gratitude. Although Warren county, in which
I reside, was set off from Sussex nearly thirty years ago, my earliest recol
lections as well as the history of my forefathers are connected with old Sus
sex. Every place upon which my eye now rests, from the fertile valley to
the towering mountain, is familiar and dear to me as the place of my na
tivity. Your county is a spot upon which God has showered the richest
blessings of nature ; such blessings as stir within our breasts the emotions
of affection and gratefulness. We may be impressed with wonder and awe
at the power of the Almighty as we behold the leaping cataract, but when
we cast our glance over this favored land, its mountains, rising sublimely
and rich with mineral wealth, its spreading plains and undulating hiUs,
beautiful and fertUe, and crowned with plenty, we recognize not only His
power, but also His benevolence. This land I am proud to say, is the land
of my birth. Yet in appearing again among you, I miss many of the citi
zens with whom I associated in early hfe. They are gone, but their sons
are around me. The fact that you are assembled here to-day, imbued with
patriotism and devotion to your native county, is a proof that you are wor
thy of your honored fathers. The duty you have placed upon me I will
endeavor to perform to the best of my abUity, and I beg you to accept my
thanks for the honor you have conferred."
A prayer was then offered by the Rev. Dr. Shafer. Solemn sUence

Teigned throughout the great multitude while the venerable man. lifted up
his voice to God in thanksgiving for the mercies of the past, and supplica
tion for blessings in the future. The act of worship having been concluded,
a choir of young ladies and gentlemen sang the foUowing
ODE FOR THE SUSSEX CBNTENNARY.
BY BEV. NATHANIEL PETTIT.
Dark was the day when our forefathers settled
On the wild banks of the bright Delaware,
The terrors and toils of the forest were round them,
But ne'er did their noble hearts yield to despair.
Hail ! to the beautiful land they have left us ;
HaU! to the mountain, the vaUey, the plain;
Bless'd be the homes which protected our childhood.
Where freedom and comfort and happiness reigns.
Then, brothers, hand in hand,
Think of the gaUant band,
Who won us our birthright in danger and toU ;
Deep in our inmost heart.
Their deeds shall have a part,
Long as thefr ashes shall hallow the soU.
Scarce had the war-whoop been hushed into silence.
The musket hung up on the rude cabin waU,
And peace and prosperity crowning their labors,
When war again sounded its terrible caU ;
Shoulder to shoulder they marched to the conflict,
TiU British invaders were driven afar ;
Brave were the men of Old Sussex before us.
True to their country, in peace or in war.
Then, brothers, hand in hand,
Think of the gallant band,
Defending our homes fi'om the grasp of the foe ;
Deep in our inmost heart
Thefr deeds shaU have a part.
While the mountains shaU stand or the rivers shall flow.
Look now around at the myriads of blessings
Heaven has poured ou us with bountiful hand ;
Labor protected, has yielded its harvest,
Plenty is crowning our beauteous land.
Treasures of wealth are enclosed in the mountains.
Health is pervading the bright balmy afr ;
Peace and contentment are smiling around us.
Blessings rest on thee, my country so fair.
Then, brothers, hand in hand.
Hail to our native land !
Dear is old Sussex, wherever we roam ;
God shelter thee from harm,
With His almighty arm —
HaU to Old Sussex ! Old Sussex, our home !

Mr. Edsall was then introduced, and commenced delivering the orationr
which wiU be found on the 12th page. The attention of the audience was-
riveted upon the speaker for two hours, when he announced an intermission
of fifteen minutes before dehvering the remainder of his address. During
the interval, the patriotic song " Our Flag is there,'' was sung by Mr. Ritter,
of the Columbian Rifles. A stfrring air from the Delaware Cornet Band
succeeded, when the President proposed three cheers for "Old Sussex."
Those who heard the loud huzzas which then arose from thousands of
voices wUl never forget them. They were the outbursting of those pent-up
feehngs of enthusiam which longed for an utterance ; and the hills gave
back the shout, and prolonged the echoes as if reluctant to let them die.
When the acclamations had ceased, the speaker gave the latter part of his
oration, which occupied in its delivery about an hour. At its conclusion,
three cheers were again given by the multitude with the same heartiness as
before. Previous to the retiring of the people, the Columbian Rifle Com
pany marched before the stage, and through General Edwards received the
thanks of our citizens for their attendance, and the assistance they had ren
dered upon this memorable occasion. A reply, brief, but chaste and beau
tiful, expressing the great satisfaction and gratification of the Company, was
made by Lieutenant Craven. After the following benediction by the Rev.
N. Pettit, the procession re-formed and returned to the viUage. "The
peace of God, which passeth aU understanding, keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord ;
and the blessing of God Almighty, the Pathek, the Son, and the Holt
Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always."
Although Newton never held so great a number of persons before, strict
order prevailed, and not an accident occurred to mar the pleasure of the
day. The sun went down amid the booming of cannon and the general con
gratulations of our citizens. Towards evening many of the inhabitants of
the surrounding viUages, who had participated in the festivities, returned to
their homes, yet stUl the town was iuU ; they seemed unwUling to lose what
yet remained of the celebration.
"The exercises of the evening were commenced with a torch-light pro
cession in much the same order as during the day. After proceeding
through the principal streets of the village, the procession halted in front of
the residence of W. S. Johnson, Esq., who in behalf of the ladies of Newton,
presented a floral wreath to the Columbian Riflemen. He trusted, he said,
that the Riflemen would ever display the spirit and skUl which they had
done in their target strife and evolutions of to-day, and with Virtue and
Honor as their aim they could not fail to achieve a merited and honorable
distinction. The wreath was received by J. J. Craven, who in behalf of the
Company, assured those present that it would be cherished as a pleasant
memento of the ladies of Sussex. Ho remarked in concluding, that the
tasteful and beautiful wreath, of which he was the recipient, was only em
blematic of the character and loveliness of its donors. A bouquet was pre
sented to the Captain of the Riflemen, as also one to the Delaware Cornet
Band, which was received by one of the Company with a neat speech of
thanks for the gift." The procession then moved to the Presbyterian
church, where the concluding exercises were held. The Rev. Thomas
Davis offered an appropriate prayer, after which the choir sang the fol
lowing

ODE.
BT GEORGE P. MORRIS, ESQ.
A rock in the wilderness welcomed our sires
Prom bondage, far over the dark rolling sea ;
On that holy altar they kindled the fires,
Jehovah, which glow in our bosoms for Thee.
Thy blessings descended in sunshine and shower.
Or rose from the soil that was sown by Thy hand ;
The mountain and vaUey rejoiced in Thy power ;
And heaven encircled and smiled on the land.
In church and cathedral we kneel in our prayer ;
Their temple and chapel were vaUey and hiU ;
But God is the same in the isle or the air.
And He is the Rock that we lean upon stiU.
After a piece of instrumental music by the Delaware Cornet Band, the
Rev. J. P. Tuttle, the orator of the evening, delivered his address, which is
printed in this pamphlet. It occupied an hour and a-half in its dehvery,
and was listened to throughout with the strictest attention by the auditory.
His address was succeeded by " HaU Columbia" from the band, when a
Doxology was read, and the crowded congregation rose, and with one heart
and voice joined in the devotion to the tune of Old Hundred.
" Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below ;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host ;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
The audience then retired with the benediction of the speaker. " The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Ghost, be with us aU, evermore."
It was not till after midnight that the festivities may be said to have con
cluded. The roar of cannon was heard, bonfires and torches illuminated
the darkness, and strains of vocal and instrumental music fiUed the afr.
Every house in town, both public and private, was gladdened by social en
joyment. Friends from a distance interchanged thefr greetings. The patri
arch of three-score-and-ten gazed proudly on his descendants, as they again
surrounded his fireside, and heai'd him recount the labors and privations of
his early hfe. Thus tho evening wore away, and many a bosom glowed
with generous emotions, and many a brother's hand felt the warm grasp of
friendship and affection as the celebration closed. None of the thousands
who joined in this centennial a,nniversary of Sussex county can expect ever
to join in another. But its beneficial effects wUl not be lost. The informa
tion it has elicited wUl be perpetuated. The various occurrences of the day
wiU hve in om- memory. And we trust, that our descendants of future gen
erations wiU not be unmindful of the example of their fathers.

10

Newton, October 17th, 1853.
Benjamm B. Edsall, Esq.
Bear /Sir-— The undersigned committee, appointed to superintend' the
pubhcatlon of the proceedings of the late Sussex county Centennial Celebra
tion, respectfiilUy request a copy of the able and eloquent address deUvered
by you on that occasion. Yours, &c., WHITFIELD S. JOHNSON,
NATHANIEL PETTIT,
HORACE WARNER,
THOMAS ANDERSON.

Newton, October 17th, 1853.
To Messrs. Johnson, Pettit, Warner and Anderson :
Gentlemen — I comply with your flattering request, promptly and cheer-
fully; And remain. Your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN B. EDSALL.

TO THE READER.

In preparing the following address, I have been favored with items of in
formation by Dr. Caspar Schaeffer, of Philadelphia, H. D. MaxweU, Esq., of
Easton, Pa., William P. Robeson, Robert S. Kennedy, Caleb Swayze, and
James Wilson, Esqrs., of Warren county, and David Ryerson, R. R. Mor
ris, John H. HaU, Samuel H. Hunt, WiUiam H. Johnson, and John J.
Cooper, Esqrs., of Sussex county. Whitfield S. Johnson, Esq., of Newton,
has assisted me in coUecting materials, and I am under obligations to
Thomas Anderson, Esq., also of Newton, for kindly placing in my hands
such of his grandfather's papers as had escaped destruction. As a general
rule, every person of whom I requested information, or aid in procuring
materials, has cheerfuUy accommodated me so far as was in his power.
Samuel Lane, John S. Brodrick and Andrew Shiner, Esqrs., and Eev. Na
thaniel Pettit, deserve mention for thefr courtesy and assistance.
In returning my grateful acknowledgments to the above named gentle
men, however, it is proper to say, that the main portion of the address is
the fruit of my own researches. I am especiaUy indebted to Thomas I.
Ludlum, Esq., clerk of Sussex county, for giving, me fi-ee access to the books
and papers in his ofHce, and also to Daniel S. Anderson, Esq., clerk of the
Board of Chosen Freeholders, for a simUar favor. I have derived consid
erable assistance from Eager's "History of Orange county," Barber &
Howe's "Historical CoUections of New Jersey," Rev. Peter Kanouse's "His
torical Sermon," delivered at Beemersville in 1844, Smith's " History of
New Jersey," Allison's and Neville's " Laws of New Jersey,'' and other
works. The time aUotted for preparing the address was too short for one in my
situation. CompeUed to labor daily for a livelihood, I had my evenings only
to devote to the subject; nor had I leisure to travel from place to place to visit
aged men who possibly have treasured in thefr memories facts and incidents
of interest and value. So much "time was consumed in the collection and
examination of materials, that little was left for composition, and every page,
it is to be feared, bears in consequence the marks of undue haste. During
the three months I have been engaged in this investigation, an average of
two hours per day was aU I could devote to it ; and now, as I look back
upon the pUes of loose papers, the thousands of pages of musty records, and
the half dozen printed volumes through which I waded, I am thankful that
I found time to write out even so imperfect a sketch of Sussex county as is
herewith presented to the reader. Probably what I have with my limited
opportunities accomphshed, may induce some abler man to devote for a few
months his undivided attention to the subject, whereby a work much more
elaborate, interesting and satisfactory can most certainly be produced.
BENJAMIN B. EDSALL.
Newton, October 17th, 1853.

CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

BT BENJAMIN B. EDSALL.

Inhabitants op Sussex and Warben counties : In the spirit of filial af
fection and reverence you have come forward to pay the tribute of gratitude
to the memory of your forefathers. You are the favored members of a
happy and flourishing family, the possessors of a goodly inheritance ; yet,
unlike those upstart worldlings who are ashamed of the parents whose
" homely toil" enriched them, you feel it to be a privilege and a gratification
to look back and contemplate the small beginnings of that flood of fortune
upon whose topmcst wave you are nov,' floating. Although the hands
which laid the foundations of your prosperity, and tho stout hearts, which
dared, for your sakes, the perils of pioneer life, have long reposed nerve
less and pulseless in the grave, the blood which vitalized their action, now
courses in your veins, and imposes upon you the duty, not only of honor
ing their memory, but of vindicating their good names by your own deport
ment and conduct.
The early annals of Sussex county occupy but a brief space on the his
toric page. This, however, is to be accounted for without detracting in any
degree from the character or merit of your ancestors. Blood and rapine —
civil and ecclesiastical feuds — intrigue and usurpation — ^kingly duphcity and
aggression — are the prominent topics of history ; while the deprivations and
hardships endured in the suljugation of the wUdorness, the frequent en
counters with beasts of prey, the daily exposure to the vengeance of the
treacherous savage, and tho numerous other dangers which beset the path
of the pioneer, are matters which receive only a passing notice. Neverthe
less, these latter transactions have formed tho basis of all national super-
structra'cs, ever since the first couple were sont forth from Eden to people
the whole earth with their seed. The men who, from time immemorial,
have gone out to subdue the forests and reclaim the waste places, have dis
played greater courage than any of the titled warriors, who, at the head of
panophed hosts, have desolated the nations of the earth, and been deified in
marble. If the deeds of the first settlers of Sussex have not been preserved
in the pages of the annalist, they are engraven in more enduring characters
upon the hiUs and vales, and plains and promontories of our county. The
" continuous woods,'' which originally shadowed the fat soU, yielded acre
by acre, to their sturdy blows — the cabin of hewn logs replaced the first
rude hut — orchards were planted, and tho virgin soil clisplayed its strength
in its rich product of waving grain. The streams whieh had flowed for dten-
turies in the gloom of the o'cr-arching trees, were opened at intervals to the
light of day — the click of the busy mill in due time was heard upon thefr
banks, and the verdure which skirted their margins was cropped by lowing

13
herds. The unerring rifle drove the beasts of prey from the clearings, and
in thefr places flocks of sheep, whose fleeces were wrought by fair hands
into garments, disported upon the hUl sides. And, flnaUy, to complete the
picture, "Where prowled the wolf, and where the hunter roved,
Faith raised her altars to the God she loved."
One hundred and fifty years ago, the territory comprismg the counties of
Sussex and Warren was uninhabited by civilized men, except a small por
tion in the present township of Pahaquarry. The settlers in this secluded
nook were Hollanders, who had peneti-ated the country in search of minerals.
FoUowing the course of the Hudson from New Amsterdam northwardly,
they landed and entered the wilderness at or near Esopus, now caUed King
ston, in Ulster county. New York, and, exploring the Mamakating vaUey,
they discovered a mine of lead about fifty mUes fi-om the point of their de
barkation. Encouraged by this success, they continued their explorations,
and about fifty mUes further another mine, probably of copper, was found
' ' on the Delaware river, where the mountain nearly approaches the lower
point of Pahaquarry Flat"* This was within the limits of our territory ;
* The following, from Hazard's Eegister, throws some light on the early settlements
on the Delaware, in this section of country. It is extracted from the letters written
by Samuel Preston, Esq., and dated Stockport, June 6th and 14th, 182S.
Meekesink, Mike Holes, &o#-In 1787, the writer went on his first surveying tour
into Xorthampton county ; he was deputy under John Lukens, surveyor-general, and
received from him by way of instructions, the following narrative respecting the set
tlement of Meenesink, on the Delaware, above the Kittany and Blue Mountain :
That the settlement v/as formed a long time before it was known to tho Government
in Philadelphia. That when Government was informed of the settlement, they passed
a law in 1729, that any such purchases of the Indians should be void, and the pur
chasers indicted for "forcible entry and detainer," according to the law of England.
That in 1780 they appointed an agent to go and investigate the facts ; that the agent
60 appointed was the famous surveyor, Niohdas Scull; that he, James Lukens, was
theu N. Scull's apprentice to cany chain and learn surveying. That he accompanied
N. Scull. As they both understood and could talk Indian, they hired Indian guides,
and had a fatiguing journey, there being no white inhabitants in the upper part of
Bucks or Northampton county; that they had a very great difficulty to lead their
horses through the l-Vater Gap to Meenesink 'Fia.is, wliicn wire all sefllcl with Solland'
ers ; with several only could they be understood in Indian. At the venerable Samuel
Dupuis's they found jreat hospitality and plenty of the necessaries of life. J. Lukens
said that the first thing that struck his admiration was a grove ofa^U trets of size far
leymul any ri£ar Fldladelplda. That as N. Scull and him.self examined tlie banks,
they were fully of the opinion that all those flats had at some very former age been a
deep lake before the river broke through the mountain, and that tho best interpreta
tion they could make of Meenesink was, the water is gone. That S. Dupuis told them
when the rivers were frozen he had a good road to Esopus (now Kingston,) from the
mme Tioles, on the mine road some hundred miles. That he took his wheat and cider
there for salt and necessaries, and did not appear to have any knowledge or idea
where the river ran, Philadelphia market, or being in the government of Pennsylvania.
They were of opinion, that the first settlements of the Hollanders in Meenesink
were many years older than William Penn's charter, and as S. Dupuis had treated
them so well, they concluded to make a survey of his claim in order to befriend him if
necessary. When they began to survey, the Indians gathered around ; an old Indian
laid his hand on N. SculPs shoulder, and soaOl," Put up iron string, aiid go 'home f
then they quit and retumed. * * * * * * * *
I had it in charge from John Lukins f o learn more particulars respecting the mine
road fo Esopus, &c. I found Nicholas Dupuis, E.:fi., (son of Samuel,) living in a spa
cious stone house in great plenty and sffluence. The old mine holes were a few miles
above, on the Jersey side of the river, by the lower point of Pahaquarry Plat ; that the
Meenesink settlement extended forty miles or more on both sides of the river. That
he had well known the mine road to Esopus, and used, before he opened the boat
channel through Foul Eift, to drive on it several times every winter with loads of
wheat and cider; as also did his neighbors to purchase their salt and necessaries in
Esopus, having then no other market or knowledge where the river ran fo. That

14
and there are cogent reasons for fixing the date of the advent of these Hol
landers as early as 1650, fourteen years before the Duke of York became
the patentee of New Jersey, and twenty years before WUliam Penn secured
a patent for the flourishing commonwealth which bears his name. The first
great need of these enterprising men was a road to afford an ouflet for their
ores, and this they appear to have lost no time in supplying, although the
distance from Pahaquarry to Esopus was about one hundred mUes. This
road was substantiaUy built, and was in use some time before the EngUsh
took possession of New Amsterdam, now Icnown as the city of New York.
It is stiU a public thoroughfare, and bids fair to remain for ages an enduring
monument of the energy and perseverance of these hardy pioneers. It was
the first road of any considerable length made in North America ; it was
built without government aid ; though its course ran through a howUng
wUdorness, and its construction must have been attended with immense dif
ficulties and innumerable dangers, it owes its existence solely to the enter
prise of a few men who were stimulated to push it to completion by the
hope of acquiring personal emolument from thefr mineral discoveries. This
hope, however, was nipped in the bud. The conquest of the New Nether
lands by the British, in 1664, put an end to the enterprise of these adven-
after a navigable channel was opened through Foul Eift, they generally took to boat
ing, and most of the settlement turned their trade down stream, the mine road became
less and less traveled. # ., „
This interview with the amiable Nicholas Dupnis, Esq., was in June, 1787. He
then appeared about sixty years of age. I interrogated as to the particulars of what
he knew as to when and by whom tne mine road was made, what was the ore they
du" and hauled on it, what was the date, and from whence and how came the first set
tlers of Meenesink in such great numbers as to take up all the flats on both sides of
the river for forty miles.
He could only give traditional accounts of what he had heard from older people,
without date, in substance as follows :
" That in some former age there came a company of miners from Holland, supposed
from the great labor expended in making that road, about one hundred miles long,
that they were very rich, or great people in working the two mines, one ou tho Dela
ware where the mountain nearly approaches the lower point of Pahaquarry Flat, the
other at the north foot of the same mountain, near half-way between the Delaware and
Esopus. He ever understood that abundance of ore had been hauled on that road, but
never could learn whether lead or silver. That the first settlers came from Holland to
seek a place of quiet, being persecuted for their religion. I believe they were Armi-
nians. They followed the mine road lo the large flats on the Delaware; that smooth
cleared Und, and abundance of Large apple trees suited their views ; that they 'lona
fide' bought the improvements of the native Indians, most of whom then removed to
Susquehanna ; that with such as remained there was peace and friendship uuf il 1755."
I then went to view the Pahaquarry mine holes. There appeared to have been a
o-reat abundance of labor done there .it some former time, but the mouths of these holes
were caved full and overorown with bushes. 1 concluded to myself if there ever had
been a rich mine under tliat mountain, it must be there yet in close confinement. The
other old men I conversed with, gave their traditions similar to Nicholas Dupuis, and
they all appeared to be grandsons of the first settlers, and generally very illiterate as
to dates and any thing relating to chronology.
In the summer of 1789, 1 began to build on this place, there came two venerable
gentlemen on a surveying expedition. They were the late Gen. James Clinton, the
lather of the late De Witt Clinton, and Christopher Tappan, Esq., clerk and recorder
of Ulster county. For many years before they had both been surveyors under Gen.
Clinton's father when he was surveyor-general. Iu order to learn some history from
gentlemen of their general knowledge, I accompanied them in the woods. They both
well knew the mine holes, mine road, Ac, and as there was no kind of documents or
records thereof, united in the opinion that it was a work transacted while the State of
New York belonged to the government of Holland, that it fell to the English in 1664,
and that the change of government stopped the mining business, and that the road
must have been made many years before so much digging could have been done.
That it undoubtedly must have been the first good road of that extent ever made in
any part of the United States.

15
turous miners, as it did to many other schemes of 'aggrandizement devised
by the HoUanders. The main body of these men are behoved to have re
turned to their native land ; yet a few unquestionably remained, who settled
in the vicinity of thefr abandoned mines. In this county we may class
tho Dupues, Ryersons, and probably the Westbrooks and Schoonmakers as
among the descendants of those ancient immigrants.
Here then wo have the point at which the flrst settlement in Sussex
county was made, clearly estabUshed. Here log cabins were buUt and or
chards planted when the site of PhUadelphia was a wilderness. The Swedes
in West Jersey, and the Dutch and Norwegian settlers in Bergen, antedate
the pioneers of Pahaquarry but a very few years. The Ughfof civiUzation had
shone but for a brief period upon the eastern and southwestern borders of
New Jersey, ere it penetrated our northern wUds. Feeble at flrst, it grew
brighter as time advanced. News of the fertihty of the Delaware Flats was
doubtless carried to Esopus, whence it was taken to Communipaw, to the
island of Manhattan, and even unto Bushwick and tho vales of Mespat.
Esopus was a fevorite place of resort from 1660 to 1685, because of the
great sfrength and richness of its soU ; but immigrants, who came in there
from around the bays and inlets of New York, Bergen and Long Island, and
who found the best locations occupied, turned their thoughts to those bot
tom lands on the Delaware whereof many-tongued rumor had frequentiy
spoken ; and, led by necessity and curiosity, they followed tho Mamakating,
until at last the blue outUnes of the Pohaquolin mountain greeted thefr
vision, and the cabins of three or four hermit-like settlers were found repos
ing beneath its shadow. Here they met a hospitable welcome, and here
they made their locations, enlarging by thefr ingress the social circle, and
affording strength to the infant colony.
A great impulse to emigration from Europe was given by the efforts of
WiUiam Penn and other American landed proprietors, towards the close of
the seventeenth century. Hundreds also, who would have preferred to pass
thefr days in the lands of thefr fathers, were induced to cross the ocean to
escape persecution on account of their religious faith. Many of the French
Protestants who fled from Franco to HoUand and other European countries,
in 1685, when Louis XIV. exposed them to Papal vengeance by revoking
the edict of Nantz, found thefr way to America, and quite a number settled
at the mouth of the WallkUl, in Ulster county. New York. Thence they
spread inland, and the Huguenot names of Gumaer, Cuddeback, Dekay,
Dildine, Bevier, &c., appear upon the early records of the Minisink region,
in connection with the Van Campens, Van Aukens, Coles, Deckers, Win-
fields, WcstfaUs, Courtrights, Titsworths, Nearposses, Davises, Van Bttens,
Westbrooks, &c.
What was originally known as the Minisink* country, now forms a por-
* This name is a corruption of the Indian word Minsies. The tradition of the In
dians in this vicinity at the early settlement of the county was that their nation lived
at Kittatinny (now called Blue Mountains,) in Warren county. New Jersey, aud means
" main or chief town ;" that at an early period there was a difEculty or clisagreement
of some kind in the nation, and the discontented portion removed to the other or north
side of the mountain, upon the low lands along the Delaware. The tradition also was,
¦that long ago aud before the Delaware river broke through the mountain at the Water
Gap, these lands, for thirty or forty miles along it, were covered by a lake, but became
drained by the breaking down of that part of the dam which confined it. When the
discontented retired from the nation, they settled upon the lands from which the wa
ters had retired, and by others were called the "Mineies," because they lived upon

16
tion of the three States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. It
comprehended the soil upon both banks of the Delaware river, from the
Water Gap"^ to the Lackawaxon, and probably in common parlance was often
used to indicate a still greater extent of territory. That the early settlers
on the Delaware managed to live peaoefuUy with the Indians is apparent
from the feet, that no difiicultics with tho red men are of record before the
year 1755, or have been handed down by tradition. They appear to have
purchased their lands of tho Indians, and to have ensured the safety and
quiet of their httie community by dealing equitably with the aborigines, and
by according to them those privileges of hunting and fishing which were es
sential to their existence! Thus isolated from the busy world, they cleared
and cultivated the soU, and gradually augmented in numerical strength, bv
the addition of new settlers who came in between the years 1680 and 1720,
until both banks of the Delaware for many mUes above the Water Gap, as
well as the borders of the Mahackamack, or Navarsink, exhibited here aud
there the abodes of civilized men. The houses were not scattered, how
ever, promiscuously. Although upon good terms with tho Indians, there
was no security that the bonds of amity might not at some unexpected mo
ment be rudely broken. Hence, it was the custom for three or four neigh
bors to place their log dwelhngs as nearly together as practicable, so that aU
might be within haU, if cither required assistance. Loop-holes for musketry
were also provided, and not only the males but females were taught the use
of fire-arms. These arts and precautions were necessary on another ac
count. Wolves, bears aud panthers abounded in our wilds, and hunger oc
casionally drove them to the doors of the settiers. If the males were absent,
the wife or daughter would be at hand, and the musket be made to do swift
execution, with equally unerring aim, upon tho ravenous intruder.
AU the territory comprised in old Sussex was originaUy treated by our
Provincial authorities as belonging to West Jersey. By the Act of 1709,
which defined the boundaries of the several counties in the Province, our
soU was comprehended within the Hmits of Burlington. When Hunterdon
was erected into a county, in 1713, our section formed a part of it ; and in
1788, when Morris county was created, our hUls and v.alleys sh.wcdthe now
designation. Between the years 1738 and 1753, something like municipal
regulation was extended over the scattered population of this portion of the
State. Townships were formed, with metes and bounds very imperfectiy
defined, yet answering in some sort the wants of the people. These (own-
ships were WaUpack, New Town, Hardwick and Greenwich — one of which
(Hardwick) was erected by Royal Patent. WaUpack and New Town, at this
the land from which the water had gone. The name in the first instance was descrip
tive of the land from which " the water is gone," and afterwarda applied lo the Indians
who lived upon it.— JSager's Jiisi. of Orawje Co., -pp. 407, 408.
* Tho scenery in the vicinity of the Water Gap is grand and picturesque. "On the
Jersey side of the Gap is a place whore the ledge comes boldly down to the road side,
called Ihe 'Indian Ladder,' which a few yoars smco, before the road was construofed,'
came down perpendicularly to the water's edge, and prevented the inhabitants froni
having a free communication with other parts of the county. Iu olden times the In
dians had there a kind of ladder made of an upright tree ;" afterward a rope ladder
was made by the whites ; but it was a dangerous place to get over, being thii'ty or
forty feet in height, and only surmountable by foot passengers. On the summit of
the Blue (or Pohaquolin) Mountain are two beautiful lakes, probably on land 1,000
feet above the level of the Delaware. Near one of them is a chalybea'te spring, called
the ' Paint Spring,' which deposits a ferruginous oohie,"— Hist, C'olUdions, p, 505.

17
period, comprised all the territory which now constitutes the present county
of Sussex, except so much as is comprehended in StiUwater and Green;
which two latter precincts, with all the present county of Warren, were
covered by Hardwick and Greenwich. The settlements at this time were
principaUy in WaUpack and Greehwioh, and at certain points on the WaU-
kiU, Papakating, PaulinskiU and Pequest. ' In 1738, the population of, the
whole Province of New Jersey was only 47,369 — of which amount Sussex
did not probably contribute more than 500 or 600. There was not at this
time a school nor a meeting-house within our hmits. Only one grist miU
was then in operation, so far as I can learn, which was located somewhere
near the confluence pf the Flatbrook and the Delaware. Neither this miU,
nor any which was erected for twenty-five years thereafter, performed any
Other operation than that of §i-inding ; the bolting being done by hand, for
which purpose sieves were an mdispensablo domestic utensU. There were
hardly any roads laid out, especiaUy in the country south-east of the Blue
Mountains. Wagons were unknown, save in the Minisink region, and there
they were mainly constructed of wood : the wheels were without iron tire,
but were composed of thick felloes, held together by wooden pins. Sleds
were in general use, rudely constructed, and shod with wood. Plax, tow
and rawhide were the materials of which harness was made. The plough
and the harrow diifered but little from those in use forty or fifty years ago,
and answered the purposes of cultivation very weU. A blade, some twenty
inches in length, fastened to a wooden handle, and somewhat resembling a
hemp-hook, was the instrument wherewith wheat and rye were cut. The
reaper .ilso carried with him a smaU iron hook to gather up the sheaves as
he toUed his weary way through the burdened fields. Flails were in use.
Point, another on the Flatbrook, and a third at the mouth of the PaulinskiU.
and horses were occasionally employed to tread out the grain ; whUe the
operation of cleaning was facilitated by fans composed of wiUow rods.
Scythes, cradles and fanning miUs came into use simultaneously about the
year 1750. The first saw-mUls erected were located, one at Carpenter's
"In the log cabins of the pioneers of this county," (says the Rev. Mr. Ka
nouse,*) "there was no furniture to dazzle without profit. Oiled paper
might serve for window-glass, a pail of water for a mirror, a pine-knot for a
candle, and the wheel and tho loom made the music of the family. The
father supplied the flax and thfe wool ; and the fair hands of our mothers
and thefr daughters furnished the thread, the cloth, and the ready-made
garment. They were rich in their own reso'urces. Their wants were few
and simple. The trencher and the wooden bowl were the china, and pew
ter was the silver- ware of the family, with milk and water for their tea, a
burnt crust for their coffee, and brown bread for their cake." Groceries
and merchandize figured small in the hst of family necessaries. Instead of
sUks, satins, cashmeres, gems, pearls and cosmetics, to adorn and beautify
the fair sex, their forms were clad in the flaxen tissues and hnsey woolseys
fiibrioated by their own industry. " Of course, with such a generation, the
physician had but little to do. If. privation and toil were their companions,
health was the reward."
•'• Historical Sermon, deUvered at Beemcrville, 1844.

18
The settlers in Minisink were the varfguard of our pioneers, and very
properly took the lead ua providing for the public ministration of the gospel.
Living for a considerable period without the advantages of the preached
word, they yet retained Christian feelings and principles. Some of them
had endured persecution for conscience sake, and had thus given proof of
the strength and vitahty of thefr professions. They eagerly looked forward,
from the beginning of thefr settlement, to the time when pubhc worship
could be instituted, and, as soon as possible, perfected arrangements for the
enjoyment of that invaluable privUege. Having no one among them prop
erly quaUfied to expound the SoriptuTes, they selected a young man named
John Casparis Fryenmouth, who had devoted himself to some extent to the
ological studies ; sent him to Holland, paid for his education, and upon his
return in 1742, had four buUdings provided for him to preach in ; one on
the Mahackemack, or Navarsink river, near where Port Jervis now stands ;
another called the Minisink church, located about a mUe fi'om the present
Dutch Refoi-med church, in Montague ; a thfrd caUed the WaUpack church,
in the bend of the river ; and the fourth in Smithfield, Pennsylvania. To
these churches, whose congi-egations emtircccd nearly all the inhabitants of
Minisink, Mr. Fryenmouth divided his time equaUy, giving one-fourth
thereof to each. In this way he labored faithfully, until the Indians invaded
that region in 1755. For nine years after this savage irruption, the church
es had no stated supply. Rev. Thomas Romeyn, of Bushwick, Long Island,
removed thither in 1764, and served seven years, when another interregnum
occurred, lasting, with occasional exceptions, untU 1780, when the Rev. Elias
Van Benschooten commenced his labors in that extensive parish.
It is not within the scope of the plan proposed in my address upon this
occasion, to go into a review of the estabhshment and progress of Chris
tian churches in Sussex. Fortunately, that interesting branch of our local
history is committed to abler hands. Jly object in alluding to the above
congregations, is simply to dfrect attention to the fact, that at this early
period, the population of so much of the Minisink region as was within the
bounds of our territory was equal to all the re.st ; for whUe one of the
four churches was in New York, and another in Pennsylvania, t(TAj were
in New Jersey. This fact would seem to indicate very .satisfactorily, that
the New Jersey portion of Minisink was first settled, as its population was
the most numerous ; and it gives force also 'lo the presumption that the an
cient miners of Pahaquany, who remauied in the vicinity after the downfaU
of the New Netherlands, very generally pitched their tents upon the Jersey
side of tho Delaware. It is well established, that in the year 1697 when
the Schuyler and Swartwout patents for lands in the Minisink country were
derived by purchase from the Indians, and by grants fi'om the Province of
New York, there were settlements south of the Navarsink, and so on down
the Delaware ; and unless"' those settlements were made by the miner.?,'or
by very early accessions, by way of Esopus, thefr origin is unaccountable.
I am of opinion that the eaily settlers upon the lands southeast of the
Minisink mountain, and west of 'the WallkUl, in the section now known as
Wantage, were regarded as inhabitants of Minisink. Thefr names are iden
tical with those of the Delaware and Navarsink borderers, and they unc;ues-
ionably by kindred and association, constituted one community. One of
the earhest settiements east of the Blue mountains was in the Papakating

19
valley, and was made by Messrs. Colt, Price* and Gustin, who were orig
inally from New England. Many of this class of emigrants, in their progress
westward from the land of the Puritans, had first settled upon Long Island,
but hophig to better their condition, they removed to Orange county. New
York, and Bergen, Somerset, Hunterdon, and other counties in New Jersey.
About tho year 1700, a great many of the settiers upon Long Island re
moved to the places indicated, because the land was cheaper and better than
that which they tilled upon tho Island. Hunterdon and Orango were the
favorite counties of this description of immigrants ; in these they estabhshed
homes, but their own cosmopolitan disposition was transmitted to their chil
dren, who iu thefr turn, plunged also in the wilderness, and entering Sussex
at her northern and southern oxtTemes, explored the various rivulets to
thefr sources, and upon the lands drained alike by the tributaries of the
Hudson and the Delaware, kin met with kin in the heart of our county, and
their blood, separated for fi-om tifty to seventy years, again commingled.
Of this class T venture to mention tho Greens, Hunts, BlackweUs, Blanes,
Browns, Brokaws, Howells, Hopkins, Beegles, Townsends, Stileses, Ketoh-
ams, Collard,s, MiUs, Havens, TrusdeUs, Moores, HiUs, Dontons, Cases,
Knapps, l'"oungs. Smiths, Coes, Johnsons, Pettits, WaUings, &c., &c.
Next to WaUpack, a part of the township of Greenwich is beyond ques
tion the earliest point of settlement. Just after the commencement of the
eighteenth century, land was patented and settied near PbUhpsburg, by
Messrs. I^ane aud MerriU, boDi of whom were Irishmen. In 1735, three
brothers named Green settled in that part of Greenwich now known as Ox
ford townshii), ¦^^•ho v.-crc soon followed by the McKees, McMnrtiies, Mc-
Crackciis, Axfords, Robesons, Shippens, Anderson,'*, Kennedys, Stewarts,
Loders, HuUs, Brands, Bowlby;, Swayzes, Scliackletons, Scotts, Armstrongs,
all of whom were Scotch- Irish Presbyterians, with the exception of Robeson.
the Greens, and pos'sibly one or two others. Here, as a consequence of
this con-ospondence of religious faith, the flrst Presbyterian church in the
county was erected, bearing date in tho year 1744, only two years after the
formation of the Minisink congregations. Rev. James CampbeU was the
first minister vdio officiated for this people. He was followed by the cele
brated missionary, David Bniinerd, wJioso labors .among the Indians called
him fi-equeutly in tlie vicinity. In fact, Brainerd hved for some time at the
Irish Settleaienl, hi Puniisylvania, now known as Lower Mount Bethel,
about five uiiles h-.fln Kelvidcre, aud the site of the cabin occupied by him
self and )us in'terproter, is stUl -,howu to the txaveler. The first furnace for
manufactm-hig iron in Su,-;ses county, was erected by Jonathan Robeson, in

* Eobert Price, one of the first settlers of Frankford, when a sm".!! boy, was taken
prisoner by the Indians at one of the massacres in tbe East3"a kj'.ates. Ho and his
mother were marched off together, and, she being somewhat conversant wil'.i tho lan-
gu4ige of the sr.vages, soon learned Irom their conversation and ge tui'e", iLai she her-
so-f wao to be despatched, ami immediately communicated the inLclligeuce to her con,
Bli^ told hio flat ho mu;t co'^ cry wbciii ihe;' kiUe.l her O'" they would kill him tro.
Shs marched but a few rods i',.irtb-r before aL, 5.';'.3 1- illed, cud th'2 b.3y WiS eventually
a:lo;'.ed by odo of the squ.iws as her child, she having lor:'« one ?, for.' cl.::y.j previous.
E, lived with th-i India,!: until ha vas over twenty-one yeara old, aud v."as then res-
Cl'. ,:' Irf I''s iiievid '. It was a,lon»tiD3.e t'^forohebecaT,.? tbov 'Ughiy reconciled to civ
il, i.;'.i .O'^iity, and he somel illius expressed a desire torolr.rn tu tho Indians; but tha
f ic.ing- £" If', rs.^j wore ar.Tiy. Several year,: after his rel.>a:je, he^rcmoved to this county.
—Jllk. O'lUscU'j.^s of I\'ew Jem^', pp, 4Co, iGG.

20
the then town of Greenwich. It was commenced in 1741, but iron was not
run until tho Gth of March, 1748. He called tliis " Oxford fia nacc," in com
pliment to Andrew Robeson, his father, who had been sent to England and ed
ucated in Oxford University. Prom this furnace the town of Oxford, which
was formed twelve years afterwards, took its name. Jonathan Robeson was
one of the first judges of Sussex county. His father and grandfather both
wore the ermine before lum in Pennsylvania ; while his son, grandson, and
great-grandson, each in his turn have occupied seats on the judicial bench.
WiUiam P. Robeson, of Warren county, is the sixth judge in regular descent
from his ancestor, Andrew Robeson, who came to America with WUham
Penn, and was a member of Governor Markham's Privy CouncU. In this
countiy, where the accident of birth confers no special right to stations of
honor, and where abiUty and honesty are, or ought to be, the only passports
to public distinction, this remarkable succession of office in one family af
fords a rare example of hereditarjr merit, and is, so far as I know, without a
paraUel in our judicial annals.
The "Quaker Settlement" was peopled, as its name imports, by members
of the Society of Friends, who came from Maiden's Creek, (now Attlebor-
ough,) Pennsylvania, and from Crosswicks, New Jersey, about the years
1735 or '40. They were the WUlsons, Lundys, &c., and must be set down
as among the very flrst settlers of ancient Hardwick. In the beginnmg,
these people ^^x•vc compelled to go to Kingwood, in Hunterdon county, to
have their grain ground ; a trip which was usuaUy performed on horseback,
and occupied when the weather was favorable, and the intervenmg streams
not too much swoUen, about two days. The fu'St frame house erected in
this region, is stiU standing, and is occupied by Samuel Cook. To raise its
timbers, so few were tho settlers, that help had to bo procured from Hun
terdon county. It is still a sound, substantial building, although it has en
dured the blasts of at least one hundred and ten winters. The deed for the
ground upon which tho old Quaker meeting-house stands, was given by
Richard Penn, grandson of WUUam Penn, and bears dato in tho year 1752.
It may not be out of place to state here, that a few miles from this locahty,
the flrst meeting-house in the county of Sussex of the Methodist Sccietj-,
was erected in the year 1810, upon land donated by John Cummins. The
Methodists were among the last to raise a house of worship in our countj-,
yet they are now probably tlie most numerous of any denomination of Chris
tians within our limits.
In that part of ancient Newton, now known as Vernon* townsliip, there
were some early settlements, principaUy consisting of those who had first
tried thefr fortune in Orange county. My information from this quarter is
very meagre. One Joseph Perry, who had prepared for the erection of a
* Near the south part of Vernon commences the marshy tract, known as " the
drowned lands of the WallkiU." The vaUey of the Walkill is narrow until it crosses
into the State of New York, where the marsh extends five miles in width, through
which the river flows, with a scarcely perceptible current. No successful eflort h'as
been made to wholly drain this tract. Wherever it has been done, it discloses a soil
of rich vegetable mould. The foUowing is an extract from a published article on the
mineral character of this region, by the late Hon. Samuel Fowler, who was a man of
science, and spoke from actual observation :
"Perhaps in no quarter of the globe is there so much found to interest the mineral
ogist as in the whita crystalline calcareous valley, commencing at Mount Adam and
Eve, in the county of Orange, and State of New York, about three mUes from the line

21
frame house there, about the year 1740, could not raise the timbers without
procuring help fi'om New Windsor. Colonel Do Kay settled in New York
upon the edge of this township in 1711 ; some of his lands, which ho then
held under a New Y'ork patent, now lie this side of the boundary line. The
McCamly's, Campbells, EdsaUs, Winans, Hynards, Sunonsons, &c., did not
come in until just before the Revolution, at which period a considerable
amount of population had spread not only over Vernon, but throughout Har
dyston. Joseph Sharp, the father, I behove, of tho late venerable Joseph
Sharp, of Vernon, who had obtained a proprietary right to a large body of
land sfretchuig from Deckertown to the sources of the WaUkiU, came from
Salem county a few years before tho Revolution, and erected a furnace and
a forge about one mile south of Hamburgh, which wero known for some
years as the " Sharpsborough Ironworks;" this was tho second furnace
erected in Sussex county. Sharp lost a great deal by this enterprise ; and
partly from the annoyance which he met with from the sheriff of the county,
who, under certain circumstances, is well known to bo a most unwelcome
visitor, he abandoned the works. A few years after a couple of men from
Trenton, named Potts, erected another furnace in this neighborhood, but
they soon "foUowed in the footsteps of their Ulusbious predecessor;" the
sheriff had a particular attachment for thefr property, and they wero finally
compelled to let that very oflBcious personage have his own way. Thence-
foi-th there was an ond to the iron manufacture in any considerable quanti
ties in that qUbrter, until the late Dr. Samuel Fowler and John 0. Ford,
Esq. commenced the business, and by superior activity and energy, derived
handsome profits from their weU directed enterprise. Among the earhest
settlers was Robert Ogden, who removed from Ehzabethtown in 1765 or '6'6.
He was a good man and a true patriot. He was long one of the judges of
our courts, and a leading citizen of our county. He sent forth three sons to
fight in the War of Independence, one of whom, Col. Aaron Ogden, com
manded that honored regiment which bore the name of the Life Guards of
the Immortal Washington.
From the year 1740 to the close of the Revolution, there was, in addition
to the .sources of increase which have heretofore beeh mentioned, a consid
erable emigration ft'om Germany. Among the first of this class of persons,
were John Peter Bernhardt and Caspar Shafer, his son-in-law. They had
purchased lands where Stillwater viUage is now situated, of persons in Phil
adelphia, and in the year 1742, by way of the Delaware, and the vaUey of the
PaulinskiU, they journeyed to their destination, and took possession of the
tracts indicated by their title deeds. They were followed in a few years by
the Wintermutes, the Snovers, Swartswelders, Staleys, Merkels, Schmucks,
Snooks, Mains, Couscs, and a large number of other Germans who princi
paUy settled in the vaUey of the PauhnskiU, although a portion branched off
in other directions. Mr. Bernhardt lived only a few years after his arrival ;
of the State of New Jersey; and continuing thence through Vernon, Hamburgh,
Franklin, Sterling, Sparta and Byram, a distance of about twenty-five miles in the
county of Sussex, New Jersey. This limestone is highly crystalline, containing no
organic remains, and is the great imbedding matrix of all the curious and interesting
minerals found in this valley. When burned, it produces lime of a superior quality.
Some varieties, particularly the granular, furnifeh a beautiful marble. It is often
white, with a slight tinge of yellow, resembling the Parian marble, from the island of
Pares; at other times clouded black, sometimes veined black, and at other times ar
borescent."

23
he died in 1748, and was the first person buried in the cemetery of the old
German Church. It must not be understood, however, by this statement,
that there was a church erected there at that period. The gi'ound only for
such an edifice, and for burial purposes, had been set apart, but the buUd
ing itself was not constructed untU 1771. Mr. Shafer, in the beginning of
his experience of hfe in the backwoods, found himself under the necessity
of crossing the Pohoqualin mountain to get his grain ground ; which was
performed by following an Indian ti'ail, and leading a horse upon whose
back the sack of rye or wheat was borne. This was an inconvenience that
he was not disposed to endure, and he determined to construct a mill upon
his own property. This project he carried into effect; but his mill, to tell
the truth, was a perfect curiosity. It was peculiarly of domestic manufac
ture. He constructed it in tho foUowing manner : flrst, throwing a low
dam made of cobble stones, filled in with gravel, across the kiU, to create a
small water power ; he next drove piles into the ground to su.stain the su-
persfa'ucture ; upon these he erected a little frame or log mill-house, in
which he placed one small run of stones, with water-wheel and gearing in a
corresponding style of simplicity. This diminutive concern was capable of
grinding not more than from three to five bushels of grain per day; yet it
answered the demands of the sparsely settled country for the time, and was
resorted to from far and near. In a few years he erected a better mUl, and
commenced shipping flour to Philadelphia. He loaded a flat-boat at his
mUl, which floated with the current down the PaulinskUl t(fthe Delaware,
and thence to its destination. The PaulinskiU was thus proved to be navi
gable ; but it was much more valuable as a mill stream, and soon became so
obstructed by dams, that Mr. Shafer was compeUed to relinquish the use of
his boat. Shad were caught in this stream originally, but the same causes
which shut off the passage of boats, operated to exclude the periodical as
cension of this migratory species of fish. Mr. Shafer was the flrst man in
this region who opened a business intercourse with Ehzabethtown ; he heard
from the Indians in his vicinity, that there was a large place far away to tho
southeast, which they called " Lispatone," and ho determined to ascertain
the truth of this assertion ; he traveled over mountains and through bogs
and forests, and after a rough journey of some flfty miles, he arrived at the
veritable " Old Borough." He opened a traffic in a moderate way at this
time, and thus laid the foundation of that profitable intercoui-se between the
S0uthea,stern towns and cities and Northern Jersey, wh ich has augmented from
that time to the present, and has almost entirely excluded Philadelphia from
participation in the trade of this section of tbe State.
Peter Decker buUt the first house'^ in Deckertown in the year 1784. He
* This house stood near the site of the present residence of Jonathan Whitaker, Esq.
A short time after Decker, two other individuals of the Navarsink settlement also
crossed ihe Blue mountain in pursuit of tillable land; these were named Winfield and
Cortracht. After makin.^ diligent search throughout the Wantage valley, they could find
as they suppoesd but little land fit for cultivation ; exhibiting an instance of the Holland
er's error in judging of the quality of land in a country different from his own. It seemed
that these people, on coming to this country, thought no land worth cultivation but level
flats. Winfleld selected a spot of about eleven acres on the farm now owned by
Thomas I. Ludlum, Esq. ; this he supposed might be worth clearing for the purpose
of growing grain. Cortracht found five acres nearer the mountain which he thought
might also pay the labor of cultivation. From this time immigrations continued to be
made iuto this valley, acd additions to the infant settlement. — Blst Coll. p 484.

23
was I behove, the son of John Decker, of Minisink, and was among the ear
liest of the pioneers who crossed tho mountain, and founded the township
of Wantage. He was a man of enterprise and energy, and served the county
for many years as a magistrate.
Robert Paterson was the flrst settler* of Belvidere ; and Samuel Ilackett,
an early explorer of the Musconeteong, founded the flourishing borough
which bears his name. Henry Hairlocker, a HoUander, about the year
1750, settled near the present site of Newton. His cabin was buUt where
Maj. John R. Pettit's dwelling now stands. There was then not another
cabin visible for mUes around. The village of Newton was unthought of,
and probably would never have been founded, but for the act of 1761, es-
tabhshing the county seat on the plantation occupied by Hairlocker. This
made a market for buUding lots, and houses for public accommodation were
put up without delay. In 1769, Newton contained an Episcopahan congre
gation, the flrst formed in the county ; about the same time a German con
gregation was gathered, and a Presbyterian congregation was soon brought
together. That " long, low, rakish" looking building which is driven end-
foremost into the gentle accUvity of our pubhc green, and which is used as
a HaU of Records for the county, is not coeval with the existence of the vil
lage. It is more weather-beaten than ancient : though it looks as if it were
almost crushed by the weight of ages, its years number bare flfly-one. It is
a product of the nineteenth century ; and we point it out to strangers as the
finest specimen of the cow-stable order of architecture to be found in the
Union. The man by whose genius it was designed is not laiown^ — that is,
no one wants to know him ; the universal desire is, that his name, like that
of the architect of the temple of Diana at Ephesus, may rest for ever in ob
livion. The Greens, Armstrongs, Kennedys, Pettits, Van Horns, Linns, Hazens,
Dyers, Cooks, and Shaws, settled the region around the present vUlage of
Johnsonsburgh. Here Dr. Samuel Kennedy, the flrst practising physician
we have any record of, flxed his location. His practice extended so far over
the county, that professional visits of twenty or thirty miles were common
events in his career. He was an able practitioner, and prepared a great
number of students for the profession. Drs. Linn, Everitt, and several other
physicians of the last generation, derived thefr first knowledge of the heal
ing art fi-om this Esculapian veteran of old Sussex. Dr. K. died at an ad
vanced age, in the y^ar 1804. I may as well remark here as elsewhere,
that the practice of medicine has never been a very lucrative business in
this county. The afr of our mountains is peculiarly favorable to health and
* Paterson settled ou the site of Belvidere, about the year 1755. "Shortly after, a
block house was erected, on the north side of the Pequest, some thirty or forty yards
east of the present toll-house of the Belvidere Delaware bridge. Some time previous
to the Kevolutionary War, a battle was fought on the Pennsylvania side of the river,
between a band of Indians, who came from the north, and the Delawares, residing in
the neighborhood, aided by the whites, in which the latter were defeated and driven
to the Jersey aide." 'The village was named " Belvidere," by Maj. Robert Hoops, be-
cai*e of the beauty of its situation. "In 1824, Belvidere was chosen as the county^
seat for the newly-formed county of Warren, and the court house and offices were,
during the year 1825, built on land granted for the purpose by Garret D. Wall, Esq.
The commissioners assigned by the Legislature, to locate the county buildings, were
Nathaniel Saxton, Esq., of Hunterdon, Col. McCourry, of Morris, and Thomas Gordon,
of Trenton." — Bist. Oollections, p. 503.

24
longevity. The multitute here assembled afford living proofs of the salu
brity of our geographical position. Here may be seen at a glance, in any
direction, fine specimens of physical vigor in all their gradations, from
chubby infancy to robust old ago. The average of human life in this county
must greatly exceed that attained in cities, from the fact thai deaths in in
fancy are far less frequent here than there. The proportion of old men to
the whole population is also very considerable. Seventy, eighty, and ninety
years are not uncommon ages among our citizens. Yet one hundred years,
it must be confessed, is very seldom reached. The greatest age ever at
tained here was by Matthew Williams, who died in the township of Frank
ford, on the 3d of January, 1814, in his one hundred and twenty-fourth
year. He was a native of Wales, born in 1090; he served in the British
navy and army for thirty years, and was in numerous bati'es ; ho was with
Wolfe at tho taking of Quebec ; and after that event he retired from the
service, and took up his residence in Sussex. Hero he married, when a lit
tle over seventy years of age, but lost his \^•ife after she had borne him two
sons. Upon tho brealdng out of the Revolution, he enlisted in the Conti
nental army, although eighty-six years of age, and fought through the
whole war with tho vigor of a man of forty. He survived tho Peaco of
1783, more than thirty years, and died a pensioner of tho United States.*
Peter B. Shafer, the son of Caspar, con,5tructed a large mill near the
present village of PauUna, about the close of the Revolutionary War. Col.
Mark Thompson subsequently buUt a mUl higher up tho stream, which
formed the nucleus of the viUage of Mark,3boro'.t Col. Thompson was a
meritorious officer in tho war of the Revolution, and served two terms in
Congress under the administration of President Washington.
The first fulUng miU in tho county was erected about the year 1775, by
Peter Wintermute, half a milo below Stillwater viUage, the water power
being obtained from tho " big sprmg" at that place. This, in its day, served
a most useful purpose, and accommodated tho inhabitants scattered over a
large extent of country. The first forge erected lor the purpose of making
refined iron from pig metal, was in 1790, on the PauhnskiU, below FaU miUs.
Judge Armstrong was the proprietor, but the business proving unprofitable,
he abandoned it.
In 1709, the Moravian Brethren from Bethlehem, Pa., purchased 1600
acres of land of Samuel 'Jrcen, for the sum of £563, or about $1500, and

* As a counterpart to this instance of longevity, it may not be out of place to state,
that Sussex county is the place of nativity of ihe fattest person over known. Mrs.
Catharine Sohooley, who is now exhibiting herself in the principal cities of tho Union,
waa born in Greenwich township, Sussex county, in the year 181C. She weighs seven
hundred and sixty-four pounds, about one hundred pounds more than the far-famed
Daniel Lambert, of England. Her arm is three feet two inches in circumference, and
her waist is nine feet six inches around it. Her parents, Anthony and Catherine
Learch, were Germans. Her mother died when she was but a few days old, and her
father says he " rniseil her mit der spoon." At the age of nineteen she married Wil
liam Schooley, also of Greenwich, and soon after removed to Ohio.
t Near this place is the " Wldte /^c;?,/," a great natural curiosity. Its sides and
bottom are covered with small white sheila, which are cast up from some subterranafa
deposit by an agency unknown. ^ The^-c shells contain a large percentage of phosphate
of lime, and are used for fertilizing lands. Various theories have been formed to ac
count for this phenomenon, but none that ] have heard is satisfactory. I shall not
therefore, recapitulate any speculations which have been offered upon the subject, con
tenting myseU' with a simple statement of the fact.

25
founded the viUage of Hope. This Samuel Green was a deputy-survoyor
for tho West Jersey proprietors, and owned several largo tracts of land in
ancient Hardwick and Greenwich. The Moravians remained at Hope some
thirty-five years, when they commenced seUing their property, and returned
to Bethlehem. Sampson Howell, who settled at the foot of the Jenny Jump
mountain, near Hope, a year or two before the Moravians arrived, erected a
saw-mUl, and supplied the lumber for the construction of the very substan
tial buUdings erected by the United Brethren. The present " Union Hotel"
at Hope, was buUt for a meeting-house, in 1780, and is stUl a firm sb'ucture.
Sampson HoweU has a large number of descendants, who cherish his mem
ory, and who preserve many anecdotes iUustrative of his energy and ac
tivity. He was a man of great vcrsatUity. Ho drove his farm and saw-miU,
preached the Gospel, &c., and yet found time to kill more doer and trap a
greater number of wUd turkeys than any hunter in that region.
The viUage of Hamburgh* possesses considerable age, though I cannot
trace any mention of it prior to the year 1770. The first meeting house of
the Baptists, in this county, was erected there in 1777. Sparta also dates
its foundation, prior to the Revolutionary War ; but I am unable to give
any particulars of its early history. In this place the First Presbyterian
Church of Hardyston was located, and was tho first to avail itself of the Act
of 1786, providing for the incorporation of religious societies.
There are a few other vUlages and hamlets in Sussex and Warren which
I cannot spare time to notice. Most of them, however, have been built
within the memory of men of middle age, and special reference to their ori
gin would be neither novel nor instructive.
In order to satisfy myself as to tho Eiu'opean nations to which Sussex is
chiefly indebted for her original population, I have compUed a list of aU the
names of persons to be found upon the public records for the first six years
of tho existence of our county. This list contains 402 names, of which
those indicating an Enghsh and Scotch origin are the most numerous ; those
pertaining to Holland and Germany foUow next, and the residue are derived
from France, Ireland, Wales and Norway.
As early as the year 1715, when there were but two or three points of
our territory occupied by the cabins of white men, surveyors penetrated the
heart of our county, and established the butts and bounds of many tracts of
land, which the sagacious proprietors of West Jersey foresaw at that early
day would ultimately be valuable. Among others, WiUiam Penn located
three tracts of land containing 10,000 or 12,000 acres, in and around this
immediate vicinity. In' this way the best locations were generally entered
before any immigrants had arrived in tho central portions of our county,
and they had to cultivate the soil when they did come as tenants or tres
passers. When Morris county was set off in 1738, Northern Jersey began
to attract attention. It was then ascertained, that, althoug-h this section
* In the year 1770, a few Baptist families from New England settled where Ham-
t)urgh now is, and built the first houses there. Their names were Marsh, Hart and
Southworth. They selected one of their number, Mr. Mar.ih, to bo their preacher,
and thus laid the foundation of the first Baptist Church in the county. In the year
1777, Rev. Nicholas Cox, from Philadelphia, became the preacher in thia Baptist
Church.

36
had at a remote period eviden'dy been a favorite resideiico of the Indians,'''
most of them had departed, and occupied hunting grounds farther to the
north. Littie danger was, therefore, to be apprehended by those who set
tled in the central portions of our territory from the red men ; for even if
they should become hostile, the line of settlements on tho Delaware from
the Musconeteong to tho Navarsink, would be most apt to bear the brunt.
Hence immigrants fiowed in, and by the year 1750, they had become so nu-
' merous, and had experienced so much inconvenience from being compelled
to go to Morristown (o attend to public business, that they very generaUy
petitioned the Provincial Assembly to " divide the county," and allow them
"tho hberty ofbuildiug a court-house and gaol."
The request was deemed a reasonable one, and on the 8th day of June, in
the year of our Lord, 1753, the Assembly passed "An Act for erecting the
upper part of Morris county, in New Jersey, into a separate county, to be
called the county of Sussex, and for buUding a court-house and gaol in
each." The designation which our county bears, was bestowed by Jonathan
Belcher, Esq., then governor of the Province, in compliment to the Duko of
Newcastle, whoso family seat was in the county of Sussex, in England. By
this Act, Sussex was allowed all the rights and privUeges enjoyed by
other counties, except the choice of representatives in the General As
sembly. It -was provided, however, that "all her citizens, legally quaUfied,"
might at the proper time, "nppear at Ti'onton, or elsewhere in the county
of Hunterdon, as occasion should be, and there vote in conjunction with the
Freeholders of Morris and Hunterdon for two persons to serve as members
of the said Assembly.'' As Trenton was very distant from Sussex, and the
road thither a most forbidding one, it is reasonable to presume that this
privilege of voting was not often exercised. In fact, our county, in this
way, was practically deprived of direct representation in the Assembly ; and
so she continued for a period of nineteen years. By an act, passed May
loth, 1768, she was authorized to clioose two rcpi-esentat;ves for herself.
This was confirmed by the King in Council, on the 9Lh of December, 1770,
the conflrmation proclaimed in New Jersey, in 1771 ; and on the 17th of
August, 1772, Thomas Van Horne and Na'uhaniel Pettit were elected the
flrst representabves of the county of Sussex. Pettit served until the Royal
authority was .suspended in this Stale by the adoption of a Republican Con
stitution on the 2d of July, 1770. Van Horne died in 1775, and Joseph
Barton was elected i;o fill the vacancy. The new Constitution cut him off
also. Under the new order of affa.'.s, Sussex was allowed thi'oe members
of Assembly and one member of tho Legislative Council. John Clove
Symmes m'h.^ the first Counc>lloj-, and Casper Sha"eiy|- Abia Brown and
* There were in early times several Indian settlements iu Sussex, viz. : one iu
Greenwich township, near Phillipsburg; another upon the present site of Belvidere;
a third near Greensville, in Green township, ou the farm now owned by Charles Kel
sey ; a fourth near the village of Lafayette, io Lafayette township ; a fifth on the north
west side of the Big (.Swartwout's) Pood ; a sixth in Pahaquarry, near the Water Gap ;
and o'thers, at two or three points which are not now recollected. The Minisink re- .
gion was originally peopled with Indians, of whom the earlier settlers procured their *
lands, the red men removing further north as thev parted with their possessions. All
t'nese points of Indian settlomeot were well chosen, as tbey were each and all very fa
vorable for hunting, trapping and fishing.
+ Mr. Sbafer was a member of the Ijegisiatui'e several years. He was a man of few
words, buj clear-headed and energetic, aod wie'ded much influence iu the House.

27
Thomas Peterson the first Assemblymen, who represented Sussex in tho
new government founded undei' and by virtue of the authority of the people.
On the 20th day of November, 1753, 'ihe first Court of Justice held in the
county of Sussex was opened in the house of Jonathan Pettit, in Hardwick
townsMp. His Majesty's Ordinance,* constituting the Courts of Common
Pleas and Quarter Sessions was rend ; as also were the commissions of Jon
athan Robeson, Abraham Van Campcn, John Anderson, Jonathan Pettit,
and Thomas AVoolverton, Esqrs., Judges of tho Pleas. These men were
likewise empowered to act as Justices of the Peace, in connection with
Richard Gardiner, Obadiah Ayres, Japhet Byram, and Petrus Decker.
Jeremiah Condy RusseU was appointed Clerk, and Joseph Brackenridge
was duly qualified to serve as High Sheriff of the county. Joseph Perry,
of New Town, was sworn as Constable, and the organization of the Court
was completed with the exception of the attendance of Grand and Petit
Jurors, who nocessarUy had not been summoned for lack of officers duly
empowered to select and notify them. Nothing was done at t'nis term ex
cept to grant tavern licenses, and affix the rates at which inn-keepers should
dispose of thefr hquors, provender, &c. The persons thus licensed wero —
Thomas Woolverton, Joseph Carpenter, Jonathan Pettit, Isaac Bell, Abra
ham Cannan, Homy Hairlocker, and Casper Shafer. Tlie business of
tavern-keeping at this time, and for at least fifty years afterward, was a
stepping-stone to public distinction, as woU as a source of pecuniary profit.
Nearly aU the early Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Chosen Pivcholders, &c.,
were inn-keepers. The number of hostelries continually augmented, in
consequence of the repute and influence which they gained for their pro
prietors ; but wh.-,t was little to the credit of the fraternity was the fact that
When matters appeared to him to be going wrong, his usual mode of expressing dis
sent, as I ara informed, was to rise in liis seat, aud with considerable vehemence, and
in a strongly-marked German accent, exclaim, "Tas is nicht recht! Tas is nicht
recht!" and then he would briefly give his views aud explanations; wha'cby the at
tention of members would be arrested, and not unfrequently the current of the pro
ceedings be changed.
* The following is a verbatim copy of the Ordinance :
" George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Brittain, France and Ireland,
King, Defender of the Faith, &c., To all whom these presents may in anywise con
cern, Sendeth Greeting : Whereas by a late Act of our Governour, Council and Gen
eral Assembly of our Province of New Jersey, Made iu the Twenty-sixth year of our
Eeign, the upper Parts of our Count'- of Morris, waa se parated from said County of
Morris and erected into a distinct County and called the County of i^ussex ; and
Whereas, the several times for the holding our Court of General Sessions of the Peace
and Inferiour Gourt of Common Pleas for our sii County of Sussex are not as yet
fixed. Wherefore for Ascertaining the same, xVow ICnow Ye that of our especial Grace
and meer motion, we have Constituted, Ordained & Appointed, and by these presents,
Do Constitute, Ordain & Appoint, that our Courts of General Sessions of the Peace
and Inferiour Court of Common Pleas, for our said County of Sussex be held on the
days and times following, to wit : One of the times for holding said Courts for our said
County to begin on the third 'Tuesday in November, another on the third Tuesday in
February, another on the fourth Tuesday in May, and the other on the fourth Tuesday
in August, in every year, Each of which Courts shall continue and be held for any
time not exceeding four days in Each Term. M'e, also, Will, Ordain & Appoint that
our Several Courts for our said County of Sussex, shall be held and kept at the DweU
ing House of Jonathan Pettit, Esqr. at the place now called Hardwick iu said County
of Sussex, until there shall be a new Court House built & Erected in & for said Coun
ty, pursuant to the Act of our Governour, Council & General Assembly made in the
Twenty-sixth year of our Reign, and no longer, and when said Court House for our
said County of Sussex shall be built & erected, then We Will, Ordain & Appoint that
our s"" several Courts of General Sessions of the Peace and Inferiour Court of Common
Pleas shall hereafter be held at the times herein before appointed at s' Court House to

28
some of them, in order to increase their profits, would use diminutive meas
ures in selling liquors, oats, ifcc. The Court felt itself scandalized by this
mode of doing business, and by way of repressing it, took the precaution,
for several successive years, to add to the annual Rate BiUs, which it made
out, an ofiicial notification, in these words : " Liqiuors and Oats, when called
for, are to be dehvered in full measures." Great inducements to wholesale
lodging wore also held out in those days, the charges being, for one man in
a bed, 5d. ; for two in a bod, 3d. each ; and for three in a bed, 2d. each.
Hence, when three men chose to bundle together instead of sleeping singly,
they saved 3d. each by the operation — just enough to buy a gill of New
.England rum for thefr respective stimulation, provided they had a partiality
for that most pungent and odoriferous of aU alcoholic liquids.
Upon the formation of the county, one of the first and most pressing
needs to be supplied was the erection of a gaol. Accordingly, on the 21st
day of March, 1754, the Board of Justices and Freeholders (the first body
of the kind ever convened within the limits of Sussex,) met at the dweUing-
house of Samuel Green, in Hardwick, (near where the vUlage of Johnson-
burg now stands,) and appointed a meeting of all qualified persons in the
county to be held at the house of said Greon, on the 16th, 17th and 18th days
of April, 1754, "to elect a place to build a Gaol and Court House." This
meeting of the citizens was duly hold — the gaol was ordered to be built
near Jonathan Pettit's tavern, and tho county to bear the expense. Jona
than Pettit and Richard Lundy, Jr., superintended the erection, &c., of the
buUding ; and Samuel Green, upon whose premises it was located, gave
an obligation in the penalty of £500 to secure the county of Sussex "the
uninterrupted liberty and use of the ground where the gaol is buUt, by
be built as af '' in and for sii County of Sussex. We also Will, Give & Grant that the
Justices of the Peace of our s" County of Sussex, and the Judges of our s"" Inferiour
Court of Common Pleas for curs'! County of Sussex do Exercise, use & have all such
Powers and Jurisdictions in the s'' several Courts at the times herein Appointed as by
Law they may & ought to Exercise, use and hold. In Testimony whereof we have
Caused the Great Seal of our s" Province of New Jersey to be hereunto Affixed.
Witness our trusty and well Beloved Jonathan Belcher, Esqr. our Captain General &
Commander in Chief of our said Province of New Jersey and Temtories thereon de
pending in America, Vice Admiral & Chancellor in the same, Ac, at our Borough of
Elizabeth, the thirteenth day of October in tho Twenty-seventh year of our Reign.
1763. " Bead."
" Let the Great Seal of the Province of New Jersey be affixed to the within Commis
sion. "To the Secretary of State ) , t,vt nm^r. »
of New Jersey, f J- BELCHER.
The following is the form of the " Oath," which all our early civil and military offi
cers were required to take and subscribe ;
"I, A. B., do sincerely Profess and Swear, That I will be faithful and bear true Alle
giance to His Majesty King George the Second. Sohelp me God,
"J, A. B., do swear. That I from my Heart, abhor, detest and abjure, as impious and
heretical, that damnable Doctrine and Po.-ition, that Princes, excommunicated or
deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome, may be deposed or mur
dered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. Aud I do declare that no Foreign
Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate, hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction,
Power, Superiority, Preheminence or Authority, Ecclesiastical or Spiritual, within
the Realm of Great Britain. Ho help im <,'iod.
"I, A. B., do heartily and sincerely Acknouledge, Profess, Testify and Declare in
my Conscience before God and the Woild, That our Soverigu Lord King George the
Second is lawful and rightful .King of Great Britain, and all other His Majesty's
Dominions and Countries thereunto belonging. And I do solemnly and sincerely

29
Jonathan Pettit's, wlule the court is continued there ; and, when removed
from thence, the liberty of taking away the iron in said gaol, whenever the
Board of Justices and Freeholders shall see fit to do so." In the course of
a few weeks the buUding was completed, and the Board of Freeholders met
in Pahaquarry, to examine the expenditures for materials and labor. Tho
cost was ascertained to be £32 2«. lOd. The gaol, however, was not con
sidered to bo properly finished, and the Board directed Samuel Willson, Esq.,
and Richard Lundy, Jr., to agree with workmen to complete it " as they
should deem needful." This additional work sweUed the total cost of the
buUding to the sum of £41 3s. Id. ; about £30 whereof were expended
for iron and blacksmithing, leaving for logs, boards, labor, &c., only about
£11. It may well be imagined that a building thus cheaply conslTucted,
was not very well adapted to the safe-keophig of prisoners ; and so it proved
in the sequel. Escapes from it were fi'oquent ; notwithstanding that it was
guarded from time to time by a watchman who was paid the sum of 5s. for
every twenty-four hours he was on duty. During tho nine years it was
used as a place of pubhc detention, the county became responsible, on
account of tho flight of imprisoned debtors, tcf tho amount of nearly £600,
or fourteen times the sum expended in erecting it. The different Sheriffs
protested to the Board and the Court, at every available opportunity,
" against the insufihcioncy of the Goal for the safe keeping of prisoners,"
and in this way exonerated themselves from personal and official responsi
bility.
declare, That I do believe in my Conscience that the Person pretended to be Prince
of Wales during the Life of the late King James and since his Decease, pretending
to be and taking upon himself the Stile and Title of King of England by the Name of
James the Third, or of Scotland by the Name of James the Eighth, or
the StUe and Title of King of Great Britain, hath not any Right or Title
whatsoever to the Crown of Great Britain or any other the Dominions thereunto
belonging. And I do renounce, refuse and abjure any Allegiance or Obedience
to him. And I do Swear, That I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to His Majesty
King George the Third, and him will defend to the utmost of my Power against all
Traitorous Conspiracies which I shall know to be against Him or any of Them. And
I do faithfully Promise to the utmost of my Power, to Support, Maintain, and Defend
t'ne Succession of the Crown against him the said James and all other Persons what
soever. Which Succession by an Act entitled An Act for the further Limitation of
the Crown and better securing the Bights and Liberties of the Subjects ; is and stands
limited to the Princess Sophia, Electress and Dutchess, Dowager of Hanover, and the
Heirs of her Body, being IProtestants. And all these things 1 do plainly and sincerely
Acknowledge and Swear acceding to the express Words by me spoken, and according
to the plain and Common Sense Understanding of the same Words, without any
Equivocation, mental Evasion, or secret Reservation whatsoever. And I do make this
Eecognition, Acknowledgement, Abiuration, Renunciation and Promise, heartily,
willingly aud truly, upon the Faith of a Christian. So help mt God,
" I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely in the Presence of God, Profess, Testify and
Declare, That I do believe that in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, there is not
any Transubstantiatiou of the Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood
of Christ, at or after the Consecration thereof by any Person whatsoever. And that
the Invocation or Adoration of the Virgin Mary or any other Saint and the Sacrifice
of the Mass as they are now used in the Church of Rome, are Superstitious and Idol
atrous. And I do solemnly iu the Presence of God, Profess, Testify and Declare, That
I do make this Declaration, and every Part thereof, in the plain and ordinary Sense of
the Words read unto me as they are commonly understood by English Protestants,
without any Evasion, Equivocation or mental Reservation whatsoever, and without
any Dispensation already granted me for that Purpose by the Pope or any other Au
thorized Person whatsoever, or without any Hope of any such Dispensation from any
Person or Authority whataoever, or without thinking that I am or cau be acquitted
before God or Man or absolved of this Declaration, or any Part thereof, although the
Pope or any other Person or Persona or Power whatsoever should dispense with or an
nul the same, or declare that it was null and void from the beginning. iSo help ms
Goi."

30
The names of the Freeholders, who, in connection with the Justices, di
rected the construction of the log gaol, were Derrick Westbrook, Cornelius
Westbrook, Joseph Hui', Joseph WUlets, Richard Lundy, Robert WUlson,
WiUiam Henerie and James Anderson. The taxes cohcoted during the
years 1754 and 1755, furnished the means of defraying the expense. The
sum of £100 was asses;,ed upon the county each year, throe-fifths of which
were applied to paying bounties for the destruction of wolves. It is a notable
fact, and one also which shows how plentiful those ferocious beasts were in
the county, that in these two years, about £120 were paid for wolf scidps, or
nearly three times as much as it cost to erect the gaol. Thomas Wolverton,
the first county Collector, received for his services an average of £2 lis. per
annum ; so that lliis office was no sioecurc, wli;itever it may be now. Tills
cfrcumstance shows very strikingly the change that the lapse of a hiindred
years has occa.sioned. The ofiice was quite as onerous then »:; now ; yet at
the present day the fees of the CoUector exceed in amount the whole sum
assessed upon t'ne county in the early years of its existence.
Immedialely after the county was formed, great anxiety was manifested
to have the limits of the old townships defined, and now ones .¦¦et off. To
such a pitch did this impatience reach, that the Court, in (he term of Feb
ruary, 1754, had to interfere, and authoiitatively direct, "That the town
ships of WaUpack, Greenwich, Hardwick and New Tovyo, shall remain and
continue in tho county of Sus.sex, as they fonneily were in tho county of
Morris, until further orders." In the term of iliiy, 175.!, Benjamin Smy'ch,
WUliam Schooley, John Depue, Johannes Cornelius We,stbrook, Joseph
HuU, Richard Gardiner, and Richard Lundy, Jr., who Tvere appointed to
divide the county into precincts, made a report, which was adopted, and
which added three prechicts to the original townships, vi;i. : Wanttigo was
formed from a part of Newtown, and Oxford and Man? field Woodliotise from
parts of Greenwich; Hardwick and WaUpack retaining thefr original limits.
The townships thus defined, continued unaltered a few year.s, when the in
crease of population led to further divisions. In 1759, Montague was erected
from WaUiT.ick, by Royal Patent. In 1762, another shco was taken from
WaUpack, and christened Sandyston, and in the same year Hardyston was
formed from tho northern portion of Newtown. Knowliou was set off fi-om
Oxford in 1TC4; Independence fi'om Hardwick in 1782; Vernon fi-om Har
dyston in 1792 ; Pranliford from Newton in 1797; and Byram also from
Newton in 1708. The e divisions multiplied the four original townships to
fifteen ; and there was no further alteration of tho mujiicipal landmarks
until the county of Wairen was set od'from Sussex in the year 1824.
The Courts wero held at the house of Jonathan Pettit, near tho log gaol,
in Hardwick, from Novemboi-, 1753, to February, 1753, when they were
opened in tho house of Thomas Woolverton, in Newtown. ATooIverton
hved on t'ne borders of the Pequest, where Hiintsville now is. A forge v.-as
erected there soon after the removal of the Courts, which obtained its ore
from the present Andover mine ; a furnace was also buUt and put in opera
tion at the mine, and the iron manufactured there was hold iu high reputa
tion as t!:3 best lor general pui-po.o.s th;-.t could bo prociJid pt heme- or
abroad; anoihc-r fo"£c, v.hicli u,sod t'le same ore, was buUt on tl.e Mr."c-o-
netccng, near the pre.sent site of Waterloo. The iav.-s of tho Tritish Pjj-lip.-
ment designed to suppress American manufactures, bore hard upon the

31
Andover furnace, as they did upon all similar enterprises, yet it withstood
aU opposition, and not untU tho year 1795, or thereabout, when the wood
for coaling in the -vicinity of the works had mostly been cut off, was the bu-
sines of smelting ore finally relinquished. Thenceforth the rich deposits
in this mine remained undisturbed untU Messrs. Cooper & Hewitt, of Tren
ton, purchased tho property a few years ago, and again made its ores com
mercially available. During the Revolutionary War, the Provincial Con
gress had it in contemplation to di-aw fi'om this mine a portion of the muni
tions necessary for mUitaiy operations, but nothing decisive appears to have
been accomplished in the premises.
During the brief time the Courts were held in Hardwick, the business
mainly related to the coUection of debts; some cases of assault, and a few
offences against chastity, were reached and punished by indictment, but no
crime of special magnitude required to be judicially investigated. The
Grand Jm-ors appeared to be vigilant — probably a little too much so; in
deed, some of their presentments would be regarded, at the present day, as
trifling and frivolous. In searching out .sma^ offences, upon one occasion
they pounced upon a luckless wight, namedf(Kchard Duddy, and formally
presented him "for damning his Grace, the Duke of Cumberland!" This
certainly was manifesting an excess of loyalty. The Duko had never set
his foot upon American soU ; he was merely a leadinggeneral in the British
army, who was defeated at Fontenoy by the French, but who had balanced
that misfortune by defeating the forces of the Pretender, in Scotiand, on the
field of Culloden, where he infamously signalized himself by inflicting the
most savage cruelties upon the poor Scots whom he had vanquished.
Duddy was doubtless a Scotchman, and the cbuUution was entirely natural.
The Duke wUl certainly have escaped -nell, if, after " life's fitful fever " he
experienced no other damning, in righteous expiation of his crimes at Cul
loden, than that denounced against him by the irascible Richard Duddy.
Upon the assembhng of the Court at Woolverton's, in February, 1756
the Grand Jurors appeared, but were not sworn, " by reason," as the record
says, " of troublesome times with the Indians." The term of May, 1756
found the condition of affairs in our county equaUy alarming, and the
Grand Inquest was again dispensed with. The "ti-oublesome times" here
spoken of, were times of massacre and piUage. Tho people were filled with
consternation. They ,saw at a glance that the Indians with whom they had
long maintained friendly intercourse, had suddenly become their enemies
and no wonder that a deep sense of danger pervaded the minds of the scat
tered settiers of the county. When they beheld the tribes of Indians,
known as the Chihohookies, or Delawares, tho Wapings and the Minsies,
who constituted a part of the Six Nations, and who, as such, had ever been
friendly with the inhabitants of the Briti.sh Colonies — who had waged re
lentless war against the French for nearly seventy years — who had never
forgiven the French general, DenonviUe, for brutally massacreing, in 1687,
their brethren, the Senecas — who had not forgotten Frontenac, who, six
years afterwards, entered the valley of the Mohawk, and moistened the soil
with the blood of slsAightered red men — and who had, nioreovc}-, in 1746,
at Albany, by aU the CliieS cf the Six Nations renewed tho bond of friend
ship with thcij old English allJcc, and repeated their vows cf eternal enmity
against the GaUic executioners of thefr bretiiren ; when our citizens beheld

these very Indians pouring from the North into the valley of the Minisink,
murdering and plundering the inhabitants, and burning and destroying thefr
property, it certainly was an event peculiarly alarming ; for perfidy was evi
dently at the bottom of the bloody foray, and imparted a deeper hue to its
atrocity. The settlements on our northern borders were the most exposed, and
preparations for thoir defence were made without delay. The mUitia of the
county, or so many of them as were not occupied in conveying thoir fami
lies to places of safety, gathered on the frontier. Judge Van Campen re
paired to Elizabethtown by express, to acquaint the Provincial authorities
¦with the calamities which had befallen, or were impending over the inhabit
ants of Sussex. Tho Legislature promptly passed an act authorizing the erec
tion of four block houses, at suitable distances from each other, near the river
Delaware, in the county of Sussex, under the direction of John Stevens and
John Johnston, Esqrs., (" who had voluntarily offered themselves for that
service gratis ;") also ordering the enlistment of two hundred and fifty men
to garrison said block hous^and providing for the issue of bUls of credit
to the amount of £10,000," pay the expense of protecting the frontier.
Jonathan Hampton was appointed commissioner of supphes for the troops,
and John WetheriU, commissary and paymaster. These troops were to
serve one month, and untU their places could be supphed by others. To
encourage enlistments, exemption from arrest upon civil process, for debts
of less than £15, as weU as tho protection of property from execution, was
tho immunity guaranteed to recruits ; the wages of the soldiers, too, was
increased beyond the ordinary average, although, to us, the per diem al
lowed them appears very small at the best, viz. : the commander-in-chief of
the block houses, was to be paid Os. per day ; each captain, 4s. ; lieutenant,
3s. ; sergeant, corporal and drummer, 2s. 6«?. each ; and privates 2s. per
man. This act was passed on the 27th of December, 1755, at which time,
according to its preamble, tho Indian atrocities were confined to that portion
of Pennsylvania " which bordered upon the upper limits of New Jersey,"
(probably in the valley of the Laxawaxon,) but it was apprehended that
they would cany their cruelties and devastations into Sussex county. This
apprehension proved too true. Our frontiers were, in thefr turn, invaded ;
and by the month of February, 175^, as I have heretofore stated, so great
had become the .alarm in the county, that the administration of justice was
obstructed. No time was lost in erecting the block houses, and procuring men to gar
rison them ; the preparations for ilefenoe, in fine, were such as to give as
surance that the interior of the county was in all probability safe from any
formidable savage irruption, whatever might be the imminence of such a ca
lamity upon tho frontiers; and in the autumn of 1756, the public business
of the county was resumed and transacted without hindrance or molesta
tion, save that an occasional tragedy or sanguinary skirmish on the borders
of the Delaware or Navarsink, during the eighteen months wherein the con
flict fitfully continued to rage, would cast a momentary gloom upon the
brows of our citizens, or inspire them with a burning desire to retaliate
upon the aggressors. The ranks of the troops on the frontier were in con
sequence augmented by a succession of recruits, who thirsted to revenge

83
themselves upon the savage bands, which had ruthlessly severed the ties
of kindred, or carried friends and relations into captivity.
One of tho most audacious acts in the whole series of predatory aggres
sions, was the incursion of a party of Indians into the township of Hard
wick, the very heart of the county, where they captured a boy named
Thomas Hunt, and a negro belonging to Richard Hunt ; and on their re
treat, by way of the Big Pond, they surprised and made prisoners a man
named Swartwout, and two of his chUdren, a son and a daughter, having
flrst shot his wife who stood in the door when they reached his house.
Swartwout lived on the tract now occupied by the vUlage of New Paterson.
Near him there had been an Indian settlement, which was abandoned but
a short time pre-vious to the occurrences I am now relating. The band
whieh assaUod him wore composed of only five Indians, all of whom had
been his neighbors ; they knew him weU, as they also did the white settlers
generaUy m that region. When they went to the house of Richard Hunt,
(an elder brother of the boy Thomas,) they found young Hunt and the ne
gro alone. The latter wore enjoying themselves |is youngsters are wont to do
when their seniors are absent ; tho negro was fiddling and dancing, and the
boy a gratified spectator of Cuffy's accomplishments, as well in sawing the
strings as in rattUng off a double shuffle. In the midst of thefr hilarity, the
Indians wore discovered close at the door and just about to enter. Quick
as thought, the boys sprang to the door, closed and bolted it. The intruders
bore this rebuff apparently with philosophy, and soon disappeared, but re
turned m about an hour. Their footprints indicated that they had recon
noitred in their absence, the house of a Mr. DUdine, where Richard Hunt
happened to be at the time ; but they evidently dared not make an attack
at that place. They returned to Hunt's house, and made a movement to
set it on fire, as the surest method of making the boys open the door. This
stratagem succeeded ; the boys yielded, and were forced to accompany the
savages. At Swartwout's house, after murdering his wife, they attempted
to enter, but he seized his rifle and held them in check. Finally he agreed
to surrender, if they would spare his life and the lives of his son and daugh
ter. They consented to this proposition; but they either violated thefr
pledge themselves, or permitted, or what is worse, procured, a white man
to take his life, for Swartwout was undoubtedly murdered. His two chil
dren were taken to an Indian town on the Susquehanna, situated some
where near the present borough of Wilkesbarre ; whUe Hunt and the negro
were conveyed to Canada. Hunt was sold by his captors to a French mih-
tary ofiScer, and accompanied him as his servant. His mother, anxious for
his deliverance if ahve, attended the General Conference at Easton, in Octo
ber, 1758, where a Treaty was made with the Six Nations, and finding an
Indian there who knew her son, she gave him £60 to procure his freedom,
and return him to his friends. This proved to be money wasted. Hunt
was soon after hberated under that provision of the Treaty of Easton which
made a restoration of prisoners obligatory upon the Indians, and reached home
in 1759, after a servitude of three years and nine months.
Swartwout's chUdren must have been freed in about a year after their
capture, for we find his son in New Jersey in 1757, active in causing the
arrest of a white man named Benjamin Springer, whom he charged with
8

34
being the murderer of his father. Springer was apprehended, and confined
in the jail of Essex county. An act was passed by the Provincial Assembly
of New Jersey, on the 22d of October, 1757, authorizing his trial to take
place in the county of Morris, " because the Indian disturbances in Sussex
rendered it difBcult, if not dangerous, to hold a Court of Oyer and Terminer
there." The Act also ordered that the expense of tho prosecution should
be borne by the Province. "Pursuant to this Act, (says AUison,*) Springer,
on the positive testimony of Swartwout's son, and the contradictions in the
¦ prisoner's own story, after a full and fair hearing, at which an eminent coun
cillor attended in his behalf, was convicted, to tho satisfaction of most all
present, and was executed in Morris. He declared himself innocent of the
crime ; and on the return of Thomas Hunt and a negro who had been taken
a few mUes distant by the same party that captivated Swartwout's family,
(with which party it was proved at the trial Springer was, and that he
kiUed Swartwout,) it appearing by their declarations, that they did not see
Springer until they got to tho Indian town, some inclined to believe that ho
might not have been guUty. Thus the question seemed obscured. It is,
however, agreed (continues AUison) that his trial was deliberate and impar
tial, and many stiU think that his life was forfeited to the laws of his coun
try." Springer was a Virginian ; he declared on the scaffold that Thomas Hunt
knew him to be innocent ; and his parents, after Hunt's return, came on to
this county, to learn if their son was really guilty. Hunt assured them, as
he did every one else to the end of his days, that he considered him inno
cent. He did not see Springer until he arrived at the Susquehanna Flats,
where he found him, like himself, as he supposed and believed, a prisoner.
Neither did he see Swartwout murdered ; but he was confident that the
deed was done about one mile north-west from his own house ; he and the
negro at the time were guarded by two Indians, the others being busy not
a great way off despatching Swartwout ; ho heard his cries — heard him beg
for his life, and promise to go with them peaceably, if they would spare
him. He was an athletic, resolute man ; and the Indians were afraid of him,
and therefore, as Hunt always declared, they murdered him ; they tied him
to a tree, tomahawked him, and loft his body to the wolves and birds of
prey. Altogether, this incursion of Indians into our county, was, in its results,
one of the most remarkable occurrences of those "troublesome times;"
and in attempting to describe it, I have discarded the many exaggerations
long current in reference to the matter, and stated nothing but what may be
relied upon as authentic. Whether Springer was guilty or innocent, always
has been a subject of dispute, and so it must forever remain. For my own
part, I must say, that Hunt's statement casts a strong shade of suspicion
upon the "positive testimony" of Swartwout's son; yet it does not over
throw it. As for Springer, if he did really kiU Swartwout, let us hope, in
charity, that ho was compeUed to do the deed by his savage captors or asso
ciates. One thing which boro hard upon Spiinger was the fact that when
apprehended, his hafr was dyed black. Young Swartwout, in the outset,
* Allison Laws, p. 215.

85
described the murderer of his father as a man whose hair was red, and the
prisoner when first taken, did not answer tho description in this particular.
This discrepancy would have proved fatal to the boy's credibUity, had not
the lapse of a few weeks revealed the fact, and afforded "confirmation
strong as proof of Holy Writ" that the prisoner had at a recent period so
disguised himself as to render his personation of an Indian a very easy mat
ter. It is to be regretted that few of the names of those citizens of Sussex whp
distinguished themselves during the Indian war of 1755 have been pre
served. Col. Abraham Van Campen, of WaUpack, was actively engaged in
defending the frontier. Capt. James Anderson, of Greenwich, was also in
the service. It is possible that Anderson was the leader in a skirmish
which took place at Westfall's block-house, or Port, on the Navarsink. It
seems that a party of Indians, at one time in the course of the war, lay in
ambush, watching an opportunity to take the Fort. "They sdlit two of
their party to espy it ; who discovered only two women there. WhUe the
two spies returned to inform the party, a small company of soldiers, march
ing from New Jersey to Esopus, accidentally came along, and stopped at the
Port. They were scarcely seated before the Indians rushed in, and when
they unexpectedly found a number of men in theJiouse, they immediately
fired their guns, and fell on the men with tomahawks. The soldiers fled to
the chamber and other parts of the building, from which they shot at the
Indians, and after a desperate fight, compelled them to retfre without taking
the Port, though several of the soldiers were kiUed.'"'' To silence the cavil
that these could not have been Jersey soldiers, because they were on thefr
way to Esopus, it is only necessary to state that the militia of this Province
* A little boy, a son of Mr. Westfall, was taken prisoner during the war, near this
fort, and remained among the Indians till after the war of the Revolution. When in
formed that by the death of his father he had become heir to a part of his estate, he
came to the town with an interpreter to get it. He was taken to the premises where
hia father had lived, and where he had been taken prisoner, and he said he had no re
collection of any object there, except a little pond of water near the house where he
was captured. His mother was then living, and being satisfied that it was her son,
endeavored by personal appeals and every maternal and filial consideration to persuade
him to stay and abide with her ; but he would not. His residence with the Indians
had steeled his heart and feelings against all those considerations which actuate the
conduct of civilized men ; he sold his estate, and joyfully returned tb Indian life,
among his friends in the wilderness.
Wliile the war lasted, the Indians continued their aggressions during the open
winters, in one of which they attacked the upper fort on the Navarsink, the inmates
of which at the time were principally soldiers. During the assault, the house took
fire, from the burning of the barn, as was supposed, and the heat soon became so in
tense that the occupants were obliged to flee or perish. In their flight they were all
killed but one. A woman — the wife of the Captain of the garrison— and a black wo
man went into the cellar and remained there until the fire began to fall through the
floor, when the white woman ran out and round the house, and the Indians followed
and killed her. The black woman got out unperceived by them, and secreted herself
on the hank of the river till dark, when by a circuitous route through the fields and
woods she gained the fort at Gumaer's, the only survivor to tell the tale of Indian
horror. The Captain was not at home at the time, but when he came and learned the
history of the sad catastrophe, grieved much at the loss of his wife.
The 'day the fort was attacked, two women had been there, and while they remained
the soldiers were quite merry, and told the black woman, who was very fieshy, among
other things, that they soon expected an attack, and that as she was so fat as not to bo
able to run, she must not expect to escape, &e. The race was not to the swift, in this
instance.— ^a^w's Eist. of Orange Co.,pp, S81, 382.

86
were authorized by law to march into contiguous Provinces, if deemed ad
visable, but not to remain absent fi-om our soU more than twenty days upon
any one excursion.
On the 3d of June, 1767, the General Assembly of New Jersey, after re
citing that "the savage Indian enemy have lately perpeti-ated cruel murders
on the frontiers of this Colony ; and the inhabitants there have, by their
petitions, set forth their distresses, and supplicated a number of troops for
_ their Assistance and Protection," enacted, that one hundred and twenty men
be immediately raised, with the proper number of officers ; that Jonathan
Hampton be appointed Paymaster and Victualler for the Compaiiy, and that
ho provide and allow unto each officer and soldier the following provisions
every week, viz: 7 lbs. of Bread, 7 lbs. of Beef, or in lieu thereof, 4 lbs. of
Pork, 6 ounces of Butter, throe pints of Peas, and half a pound of Rice.
Neither tea, coffee nor sugar appear in these rations, for the very sufiioient
reason that they were all luxuries at that day, and fe.w could afford to use
them. It was also enacted that all persons imprisoned for debt should be
set at liberty, because they might, "in this time of common danger, suffer
for want of persons to look after them." This JubUee of tho prisoners was,
however, limited to six months ; after which, the Sheriff had authority to
recover and incarcerate, them. A subsequent Act extended non-imprison
ment for debt, in Sussex, six months longer ; at the expiration of which
time the system of immuring a man to gratify a merciless creditor was re
sumed in full, and this disgrace of civilization was suffered to continue in
this State for more than eighty years. HappUy, it is now exploded. The
kindred barbarism of tho whipping-post was the first to fall before an en-
Ughted public opinion ; imprisonment for debt followed ; and lastly the prop
erty qualification for voters and officers was swept away ; and now the citi
zens of Now Jersey, standing upon the platform of the Declaration of Inde
pendence, are indisputably endowed with those " inalienable rights" which
the patriots of 1776 shed their life's blood to secure.
Upon the first breaking out of hostihties, in 1755, most of the settlers, as
weU upon the south-east as upon the north-western slope of the Blue Moun
tain, fortified their houses by building stockades around them. Casper
Shafer, in the StUlwater vaUey, was one who took this precaution. There
wore at that time a few Indians living in his neighborhood, and, though not
previously hoslUe, it was not known that thoir conduct would continue to be
pacific. At Mr. Shafer's house it was common for the neighbors to congre
gate upon each recurring alarm. One night, however, when Mr. S. -\vas
alone, the Indians showed signs of hostihty by yeUing around the house and
threatening violence. Mr. S. thereupon fastened up the house and started
across the fields to procure neighborhood assistance. Soon he found him
self hotly pursued by one of the enemy, and likely to be overtaken by his
more agUe adversary ; whereupon, he turned upon his pursuer, and being
an athletic man, he seized, threw, and with his garters bound him hand and
foot, leaving him prostrate, whUe he went on his way, and procured the de
sired assistance. A Mr. Depue, in WaUpack, had also a narrow escape from
the tomahawk and soalping-knife. A party of Indians broke into his house
at midnight, with murderous intent, and he, being aroused from slumber,
seized his loaded gun, and levelled it at the foremost aggressor, who, real-

37
izing his danger, uttered the pecuhar Indian exclamation, "ugh!" dodged
away and fled ; so acted the next, and another, and another ; and thus, with
out firing his gun, he succeeded in driving the whole gang from his dwell
ing. At a time when the frontier was believed to be well protected, four block
houses having been erected and garrisoned, the family of Nicholas Cole, of
WaUpack, was attacked by the Indians, and most of them mm-dered, wliUe
the remainder were carried into captivity. Other murders foUowed ; and
the Legislature, on the 12th of August, 1758, in compliance with the peti
tions of the inhabitants on tho frontier, praying "further Defence and Pro
tection against the hostile attaclis of the Indians," ordered an additional
levy of one hundred and flfty men, none of whom, with the exception of the
oificers, should be recruited from the mihtia of the county of Sussex, as
"the whole of said mUitia might be wanted in case of any formidable at
tack." A new block-house was also ordered to be erected " below Pohoqua-
hn Mountain, near the mouth of the PaulinskiU, or between that and the
said Mountain." Twenty guides, woU acquainted with the country, were to
be hfred by the commanding officer to conduct the troops through the wilds
and fastnesses of our county ; and it was further provided, that, inasmuch
as the Indians (to use the words of tho Act,) " are a very private and secret
enemy ; and as it has been thought Dogs would be of great service not only
in discovering them in their secret retreats among the swamps, rocks, and
mountains, frequent in those parts ; therefore, bo it enacted, &c., that it
shall and may be lawful for the Paymaster aforesaid to procure, upon the
best terms they can. Fifty good, large, strong and fierce Dogs ; and the
same so procured to supply with food necessary for their subsistence, equal
to ten men's allowance in quahty ; which said Dogs shall be disciplined for,
and employed for tho service, in such manner as the said Major, in conjunc
tion with the commission officers, or the major part of them, shall think
proper." This provision shows that the Provincial authorities had determined to as
sail and drive out the savages, by any and every means avaUable, -without
regard to those humane considerations which in all ages have had more or
less influence in mitigating the ferocity and horror of war. The fact that in
neither of the former Acts passed for raising men and moans for the protec
tion of the frontier, dogs were resorted to as effective agents for driving out
the ambushed Indians, shows that the General Assembly regarded them as
of questionable propriety, and not to be employed while a,ny other mode of
accompUshing the expulsion of the enemy remained untried.
In this act of the 12th of August, 1758, is embodied tho first expression
of Legislative thanks — the first tangible Legislative recognition of personal
bravery — that appears upon our Provincial records. It is a matter, too,. of
some local pride that the objects of this oflBcial compliment and reward, -were,
so far as I can fix the location of the men, inhabitants of Sussex. As this
part of the act is especially interesting, I shall quote it precisely as it stands
upon the statute-book :*
" Whereas, it's not only strictly just, but highly prudent, to reward and
* Neville's Laws, p. 202, vol. II.

88
encourage such acts of martial Bravery, as have a tendency to distress the
Enemy, and defend Ourselves : And whereas it's credibly reported, that
John Yantile, a Serjeant in the Pay of this Colony, with a party of nine
more under his command, have lately exerted themselves against the com
mon Enemy upon the Frontiers of this Colony in a signal Manner; and
that a Lad, aged about seventeen years, sirnamed Titsort, when pursued
by the Enemy, shot one of them, and secured his Retreat from the immi
nent danger with which he was tlireatened, losing his gun ; Therefore, as
a just Reward to those Persons, and to excite others to imitate their heroic
Example, Be it further Enacted, ly the Authority aforesaid, That it shaU
and may be lawful for the Paymaster aforesaid, and he is hereby directed,
to pay unto the said John Vantile, the sum of Twenty Spanish DoUars, and
to each of the Party under his Command the sum of Ten Dollars a piece ;
and to the said Lad, sirnamed Titsort, as aforesaid, the sum of Thirty
Dollars ; And shaU also procure for, and present the said John Vantile,
and the said Lad, sirnamed litsort, with a Silver Medal each, of the size
of a Dollar, whereon shall be inscribed the Bust or Figure of an Indian,
prostrate at the feet of the said Vantile and Lad aforesaid, importing their
Victory over them, and to commemorate their Bravery, and the Country's
Gratitude upon the Occasion. Which Medals, the said Vantile and Lad
aforesaid, shall or may wear in view, at all such public occasions which
they may happen to attend, to excite an Emulation, and kindle a martial
Fire in the Breast of the Spectators, so truly essential in this Time of Gene-
eral War."
If this enactment shows more warmth that the Colonial Assembly were
wont to exhibit, tho solution of their zeal is to be found in the fact, that
from May, 1757, to June, 1768, no less than twenty-seven persons were
murdered on the frontiers of Northern Jersey. They felt that it was time
to be in earnest ; and yet -with a humane desire to stop the effusion of blood,
they took measures to procure a Conference with the Indians, and made
appropriations to defray the expenses of the delegations from each tribe in
travehng to and from the point proposed for the meeting. Prancis Bernard,
Esq., who succeeded John Reading, as Governor of the Province of New
Jersey, in tho spring of 1758, was indefatigable in procuring a conference
-with the hostile Indians, and this object, in conjunction with Gov. Denny
and Gen. Forbes of Pennsylvania, he was enabled to carry into effect.
After a preUminary consultation with the Indians at Burlington, the final
Conference was held at Easton, Pennsylvania, in October, 1758, and the
grievances and complaints recited and preferred by the sons of the forest,
were explained and liberally redressed.* From this time untU the period
* In June, 1758, Gov. Bernard, of New Jersey, consulted Gen. Forbes and Gov.
Denny, of Pennsylvania, as to the measures best calculated to put a stop to the un
pleasant warfare ; and through TeeA/escun^/, King of the Delawares, he obtained a
canference with the Minisink and Pompton Indians, protection being assured them.
(Smith's New Jersey, p^. 447, 448.) It shows no little regard for truth and the preva
lence of a humane aud forgiving spirit on the part of the whites, as well as confidence
on the part of the Indians, that the one party should venture, after what had passed,
to place themselves so completely in the hands of their enemies, and the other to
profit not thereby.
The conference took place at Burlington, August 7th, 1758. On the part of the
province, there were present, the Governor, three Commissioners of Indian affairs of

39
of the Revolutionary war, our long distracted and harrassed frontier enjoyed
exemption from savage aggression. The Indians in the Conference at Eas
ton assigned several reasons in justification of their hostUe acts — some of
the House of Assembly, and six members of the Council. Two Minisink or Munsey
Indians, one Cayugan, oue Delaware messenger from the Mingorans, and one Delaware,
who came with the Minisinks, were the delegates on the part of the natives. The
Conference opened with a speech from the Governor, He sat, holding four strings of
wampum and thus addressed them : " Brethren, as you are come from a long jour
ney, through a wood, full of briers, with this string I anoint your feet and take away
their soreness ; with this string I wipe the sweat from your bodies ; with this string I
cleanse your eyes, ears and mouth, that you may see, hear, and speak clearly; and I
particularly anoint your throat that every word you say may have a free passage irom
your heart. And with this string I bid your welcome." The four strings were then
delivered to them. The result of the conference was that a time was fixed for holding
another at Easton at tho request of the Indians ; that being, as they termed it, the
place of the " old council."
The act passed in 1757, appropriated £1600 for the purchase of Indian claims ; but,
as the Indians living south of the Raritan preferred receiving their proportion in
lands specially allotted for their occupancy, 3044 acres in the township of Evesham,
Burlington county, were purchased for them. A house of worship and several dwell
ings were subsequently erected, forming the town of Brotherton ; and as the seUing
and leasing of any portion of the tract was prohibited, as was also the settlement upon
it of any persons other than Indians, the greatest harmony appears to have prevailed
between its inhabitants and their white neighbors. — Allison's Laws, p. 221.
On the 8th October, 175S, the Conference commenced at Easton. It was attended
by the Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, six of his Council, and an equal number
of the House of Representatives ; Gov. Bernard, of New Jersey, five Indian Commis
sioners, George Croglian, Esq. (deputy Indian agent under Sir William Johnson,) a
number of magistrates and freeholders of the two provinces, and five hundred and
seven Indians, comprising delegates from fourteen different tribes. Gov. Denny being
obliged to return to Philadelphia, the business of the Conference was mainly con
ducted by Gov. Bernard, who, in its management, evinced no small degree of talent
and tact. It was closed on the 26th October, and the result was a release, by the
Mmisink and Wapping IndiaJs, of all lands claimed by them within the limits of
New Jersey, for the sum of £1000. Deeds were also obtained from the Delawares and
other Indians, and they were all desired to remember, " that by these two agreements,
the Province of Kew Jersey is entirely freed and discharged from all Indian claims."
At least such was the opinion of Gov. Bernard and the Indians; but the Assembly
the ensuing March, in answer to the Governor's speech, mention a small claim of the'
Totamies, and some private claims,' stiil outstanding. The minutes of this interesting
Conference are printed at length in Smith's History. The Governor recommended
to the succeeding Assembly the continuance of a guard and the establishment of a
regular trading house; but neither measure was adopted. The amicable relations,
thus happily begun, remained undisturbed for several years. In 1764 a frontier guard
of two hundred men was again kept up for some time, ' in consequence of disturb
ances in Pennsylvania, but the alarm soon subsided. In 1769, Gov. Franklin attended
a Convention held with the Six Nations by several of the Colonial Governors, and
informed the Assembly, on his return, that they had publicly acknowledged, repeated
instances of the justice of the New Jersey aushorities in bringing the murderers of
Indians to condign punishment ; declared that they had no claim or demand what
soever on the Province ; and in the most solemn manner conferred on its government
the title of Sdgorighiviyogsiha, or the great arbiter, or doer of justice — a name which,
the Governor truly remarked, reflected high honor upon the Province. — Kew Torh
Journal, October 2St7t.
In 1802, the small remnant of the original possessors of the soil, remaining in
Burlington County, obtained permission to sell their lands, and remove to a settle
ment on the Oneida Lake, in the State of New York, where they continued until 1824:
when with other Indians, they purchased from the Menominees a tract bordering
upon iLake Michigan, and removed thither. In 1832, the New Jersey tribe, reduced to
less than forty souls, applied to the Legislature cf the State for remuneration on
account of their rights of hunting and fishing on uninclosed lands, which they had
reserved in various agreements and conventions with the whites. Although no legal
claim could be substantiated, yet the Legislature, in kindness, and through compassion
lor the wanderers, directed the treasurer to pay to their agent two thousand dollars,
upon filing in the office of the secretary a full relinquishment of all the rights of his
tribe. — (Gordon's Hist, of New Jersey.) Thus was extinguished every legal and
equitable claim of the Indians to the soil of New Jersey— a fact which must gratify
¦every citizen of the State.—" Glimpses of the Fast," in (lie Newark Daily Advertiser.

40
which, to civilized men, would appear to be far-fetched and untenable. They
complained that a party of Shawanese, in passing through South Carohna,
to make war upon their enemies, wero taken up and put in prison, whereby
one of the head men of the tribe lost his life ; that a party of eight Senecas
returning from war, through Virginia, had been inveigled by some white
soldiers to march in company with them, whereupon the soldiers suddenly
made an attack upon them, kUling two of the eight warriors, and kidnapping
a boy ; that after the French had settled near the Indian wigwams on the
Ohio river, they (the French) artfully dUated upon the wi-ongs suffered by
the red men, and incited them to hostUe acts, and to appeal to their breth
ren, the Delawares, to assist them ; that when the French first came among
them, the Senecas sent word to the Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania
to supply them with arms to repel the intruders, but those Governors did
not heed their request, and they had to be friendly and trade with the new
comers ; that the Minisinks were wronged out of a great deal of land by the
Enghsh settlers, and their reserved liberty of hunting abridged and denied,
&c., &c. Upon these grounds, the Indians contended that the white mea
had given the first offence, and claimed that what they had done was only
in accordance with their notions of a righteous retaliation.
Prom this statement of the subject, it is evident that the Indians of the
Six Confederated Nations were not, as is often flippantly asserted, acting in
1755 and the two or three succeeding years, as the compacted allies of the
French, but only incidentally aided the latter against the English, in so far
as the redress of their own grievances was concerned. After the Treaty of
1758, tho Six Nations buried the hatchet, though the war between the
French and English continued in full vigor until the sceptre of Gallic power
upon the American continent was forever broken by Gen. Wolfe's defeat of
Gen. Montcalm on the plains of Abrahani.
There can be no doubt that tho prosperity of our county was greatly re
tarded by the "troublesome times'' which I have briefly and imperfectly
described. But the men of that day were made of " stern stuff," and al
lowed no amount of misfortune to paralyze their energies. The projects
which they had formed prior to the war, both of a private and public char
acter, were resumed as soon as a comparative condition of peaco would ad
mit. When the Courts were removed to Woolverton's, it was with the in
tention of holding them there no longer than until such time as they should
be enabled to erect county buildings suitable for the transaction of public
business. Accordingly, at the eariiest convenient period, Abraham Van
Campen, Esq. was despatched to Perth Amboy with the petition of the peo
ple to the General Assembly, piaying for authority to erect a Court House
and Gaol; and on the 12th of December, 1761, that body passed an Act
granting the privilege sought, and ordering that the building required should
be erected " on the plantation in possession of Henry Hairlocker, or within
half a mile of said Ilairlocker's d\veUing-house ; the particular spot to be
fixed, with the consent of the owner of the land, by a Majority of the Jus
tices and Freeholders of said county.''
Tho " owner of the land " occupied by Hairlocker, was Jonathan Hampton,
a citizen of Essex county ; and he, in conjunction with the Board, took the
matter immediately in hand, and decided that the course from Ilairlocker's

41
dwelHng should run south, which brought the site of the Court House, at
the termination of the half mUe, directiy in tho hollow in tho rear of the
present residence of Daniel S. Anderson, Esq. However, by stretching the
chain, they managed to crowd the site partly up the hUl, and there it re
mains to this day ; upon a spot altogether unfavorable for architectural dis
play, where taste and skiU have been exerted to no purpose, and where the
most faultless Doric temple would challenge admiration in vain. I have been
particular in looking into this question, because whenever the disadvanta
geous location of our Court House is commented upon, tho fault is invaria
bly attributed to a blunder of the Legislature. This is not true. The Leg
islature did not require the Board and the " owner of the land " to take any
particular course in runjiing out the half-mUe from Ilairlocker's dwelling,
and consequently if our local authorities so managed the matter as to land
in a ditch, they alone are to blame.
The site of the Court House being fixed, the next step was to raise means
for its consb'uction. This was begun by authorizing the levying of a tax of
£500 upon the county for the year 1762, and following it up for two or
three years by additional assessments, until the whole amount required for
the construction and equipment of the building was raised. As nearly as I
can ascertain, from an examination of the books, the total cost of the buUd
ings- and tho furniture necessary for the purposes to which it was dedicated,
was £2,100, proclamation money — equal to $5,600. The Managers under
whose direction the building was erected, were — Abraham Van Campen,
Jacob Stam and John Hackett. In 1763, the ceUs, or that portion which
was devoted to the purposes of a Gaol, were so far completed as to admit of
the confinement of prisoners therein. In the term ot May, 1765, the Courts
were opened in the buUding, and the Managers dehvered it to the care of the
Board of Justices and Freeholders as a finished edifice. Por a period of
seventy-nine years this sohdly eonstructed Temple of Justice, unaltered in
its external appearance, Ifrmly resisted the "corroding tooth of time," and
retained its identity amid surroimding change and innovation. Venerable
men, tottering under the weight of four-score years, gazed upon its familiar
front, and the days of their youth rose up before them. When the phrase
" Old Sussex" was uttered, we had only to glance at the antique proportions
of our time-honored Court House, to feel its full force and significance.
Around and -within its hoary walls the recoUections of thousands still cluster,
and the household memories of nearly every family in the county are fuU of
its history. Devoted originaUy to the conservation of Royal authority, it
became in a few years the agent and exponent of Republican equality and
justice. Opened under vice-regal auspices, it survived the expulsion of its
patrons, and became an heir-loom of Freedom : as such it was endeared to
us, arid as such it was enjoyed, untU, in tho lapse of time, and by the in
crease of population and business, its accommodations, once ample and con
venient, became year by year relatively more contracted, and finaUy, in the
year 1844, the old edifice was enlarged. Its steep, angular roof disappeared
— its gray waUs, which had withstood the blasts of eighty winters, received
a coating to cover their nakedness, and massive pillars, surmounted by a
corresponding entablature, adorned its front, entirely obscuring the familiar
outUnes of the ancient buUding. Thus enlarged and renovated, it stood un-

42
tu Thursday, the 28th day of January, 1847, when it was destroyed by fire.
Immediate measures wore taken for its re-construction, and the present com
modious Court House arose ujion its ruins.
The names of the lawyers who first practiced in our Courts were Ber-
nardus Lagrange, John Smith, Abraham Cottnam, John DeHart, WilUam
Pidgeon, Jasper Smith and Aaron Doud. None of these practitioners re
sided in our county, except Doud, who acted as Deputy to DeHart, whUe
the latter held the office of County Clerk. DeHart belonged to Elizabeth-
town, and there, I believe, he remained, notwithstanding his official position
in Sussex. The Attorney General of the Province, Cortlandt Skinner, at
tended our Courts pretty regularly. In his absence, Aaron Doud or Jasper
Smith acted for him. This Skinner was a zealous Royalist, and became a
Brigadier General under Sir Henry Clinton in the war of the Revolution —
in which position he rendered himself forever infamous by his attempts to
procure the kidnapping of WUliam Livingston, the first Republican Gover
nor of New Jersey. About the time the Court House was completed in
this town, Thomas Anderson, a young lawyer, who studied under Abraham
Cottnam of Trenton, came to Newton and settled here permanently, and
proved himself a useful and patriotic citizen. Robert Ogden, Jr., another
man of merit and public spirit, subsequently became a resident of Sussex
and a practitioner in our Courts. Judges NeviUe, Saltar and Read, of the
Supreme Court, attended in this county when it was necessary to hold
Courts of Oyer and Terminer, and the county paid their biUs for food, lodg
ing and drink — the latter item being by no means the smallest in the "ac
count rendered." I mention this last matter in no invidious spirit. It was
the custom in those days for Judges to imbibe strong drink ; and the rec
ords of our county show frequent instances wherein the Court adjourned to
meet at the tavern, for no other purpose than to moisten their judicial clay
with milk puncli or rum toddy. Excess, however, appears to have been re
garded as disgraceful, especiaUy by men in authority. Drunkenness, in
deed, was then, as it is now, held to be disreputable ; and the early laws of
tho Province are full of provisions for its discouragement and suppression,
by the old-fashioned " moral suasion'' of pains and penalties. Nevertheless,
the vice of intemperance became for too common in this county. It dead
ened the consciences of men, invaded tho family circle, and surrounded
many a hearth-stone with want, misery, suflering and degradation. Just
before the Revolutionary war, this hideous evU had sweUod to gigantic
proportions, yet it continued to expand untU the whole frame-work of society
was shattered by its destructive energy. For fifty years this pestilence
raged unchecked, displaying iu its train the kindred vices of gambling, riot
ing and blasphemy. It was a terrible ordo.al for our county to pass tiirough ;
yet we were not alone in our debasement ; the evU extended over the whole
country ; and, though a few good mon hore and there labored to resist the
tide, the current was not measurably stayed, until the truth was, brought
homo to tho public conscience, that civil and religious liberty was of little
value so long as our citizens aUowed their appetites for alcoholic stimulants
to imbrute aud enslave them. The first settlers of this county, and of the
Colonies generaUy, were pre-eminently temperate, honest and God-fearing ;
and had it not been that, amid all the degradation in which too many of

43
their descendants voluntarily wallowed, there yet remained in the body
politic some portisn of the old leaven, the work of reform would have been
infinitely more diflicnlt than the laborers in the cause of temperance have
hitherto found it. But let us rejoice that the day of more perfect liberty is
dawning, and tho hour of general emancipation from debasing indulgences
draws on apace ; for when the "fires of the still" shaU be quenched, and
soul and body cease to be sacrificed to the Moloch of Intemperance, then
-wiU the beauty of our Republican institutions shine forth in full lustre, and
the whole Christian world be constrained to acknowledge that CivU Free
dom and Religious Liberty are not hollow mockeries, but vital immunities,
of abounding beneficence, essential to the prevalence of social happiness,
and best calculated to promote the vital interests of mankind.
The land upon which our court-house stands, with tho public green an
nexed, containing two acres and eight-tenths, was conveyed to the Board of
Chosen Freeholders of the county of Sussex, on the 31st day of August,
1764, by Jonathan Hampton, of the county of Essex and Province of East
Jersey. The deed of conveyance for this tract is addressed " to all Chris
tian People," and is given " for divers just and good causes, and especially
for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings la-wful monej^ of said
Province to him in hand paid." The deed was acknowledged by Abm. Van
Campen, one of the Judges, and sealed and delivered in the presence of
Ephraim Darby and Isaac Winans.
This donation of land for public use was the finale of Mr. Hampton's ef
forts to secure the erection of the county buildings in this place. Through
his exertions, mainly, the Legislature was induced to select Newton instead
of the -vUlago of Stillwater, which latter place, by its then central position in
the county, was our most formidable competitor. Mr. Hampton also con
veyed land to this village for an academy, being the same ti'act which now
forms the larger portion of the Newton Cemetery. He also endowed the
Episcopal Church of this place, with the lands which it now holds, and
which to this day afford the main support of the rector of the parish. From
these facts it will be readily inferred that Mr. Hampton was a man of activ
ity and pubhc spirit, and especially a benefactor of this vUlage. I regret
that I have not been enabled to coUect materials for a brief sketch of his
life. Ho appears to have been well known to the Provincial authorities of
New Jersey, and was" honored with thefr confidence in the Indian war of
•1755, having been appointed to disburse the pubhc moneys and procure
supplies for our troops on the frontier ; an ofiice which he filled with fidelity,
and upon the final settlement of his accounts, unlike too many of our mod
em occupants of responsible stations, who manage when they handle the
public money, to have a portion stick to their fingers, he had due from tho
treasurer of the Province tho sum of £230 lis. I trust I may say, in this
place, without offence, that it is far from creditable to the citizens of this
county, that the name of Hampton has been suffered by them to pass into
comparative oblivion ; not a town, village, hamlet, literary institution, or in
corporated company, within our confines, having ever, by the designation
bestowed upon it, been made available for the perpetuation of his memory.
In taking a brief survey of the transactions -within the waUs of our court
house, we may felicitate ourselves upon the fact that crimes of the first mag-

44
nitude have occupied but.asmall portioli of judicial attention. The doom
of death has been denounced against only six persons since our county had
an existence, and two of these had not committed murder. The two who
were thus executed with hands fortunately unstained by human blood, were
named MaxweU and McCoy, and were the first victims to capital punish
ment in the county. They were hung on the pubhc g^een in the year
1781, for breaking into tho house of John Maxwell, of Greenwich township,
robbing the same, and severely beating aud bruising the owner. They pro
tested their innocence to the last ; and it subsequently was made manifest
that their dying asseverations were true. Though two girls, -vyho were
in the plundered house, and were compelled to light the robbers through
the apartments, swore positively to the identity of MaxweU and McCoy, it
was nevertheless discovered that the crime was committed by a party of to
ries, who a few years afterwards, returned the property stolen to the
owner.* Thus, the first use of the gallows in Sussex was most unfortunate,
and is still treasured in the memory of aged citizens not as an event in
which justice was vindicated, but as a most deplorable judicial tragedy.
The main business of our county cdurts from the beginning, has heea the
collection of debts, and the settlement of disputed land titles. The adjudi
cations of all matters in dispute have been treated with respect. Impartial
justice has been administered from the first by our courts, and never were
any people more distinguished than those of Sussex for an abiding reve
rence for the precepts and principles of public law. No difficulty has ever
been experienced in executing the decrees of our courts. Insubordination
and contempt of the constituted authorities are not among the characteris
tics of our citizens, and never have been. Our courts of justice from the
very outset have so acted as to secure the respect of the people. Guarding
the rights of others, they have never permitted thefr own immunities to be
infringed without stern and dignified rebuke. At a very early period, a cer
tain hot-headed person who mistook.th^ simplicity with which our Judges
administered the law, for a lack of self-respect, ventured to pronounce them
in open court a pack of rascals : but he found the joke a costly one ; he was
made to pay instanter the sum of £20 for his temerity, and was glad to es
cape as cheaply as that, when he saw the' spirit which his insolence had
* Robert S. Kennedy, Esq., of Greenwich, a great-grandson of John Maxwell, writes.
me that the family never believed that the evidence, afterwards discovered, was sufiS
eient to establish the absolute innocence of the men executed. Besides the testimony
of the two girls, there was a great deal of strong circumstantial evidence; one point
in particular Mr. K. regards as very decisive, viz.: in the desperate struggle, old Mr.
Maxwell placed lis hand, which was bloody, upon the back of ontof the robbers, and
by the mark on his coat thus made, he was apprehended next day. This was certainly
strong proof, but we are informed that the man proved on the trial that upon the eve
ning. in question, he visited a girl whom he was courting, and the family, when he ar
rived at her house, were cleaning a quantity of shad. He took a knife and assisted
the party, and while their hands were bloody from handling fish entrails, some play
ful scuffling took place, in the course of which he must have received the mark on his
garment. John Maxwell, «-hose life came very near being sacrificed in this affair, was
the first settler of that name in Greenwich; he was one of the first elders and founders
of the Presbyterian Church in that township ; he was the father of Gen. Wm. Maxwell
and Capt. John Maxwell, of the Revolutidnary Army, both of whom were absent in
the service of their country, when the robbery was committed. He had one son,
Eobert, at home, at the time, who waa assailed in the beginning of the aflfray, knocked
senseless, and left for dead. He did not revive until the plunderers had accomplished
their work, aud left the premises.

45
evoked, not only from the bench, but from the spectators in the court-room.
Another individual, summoned as a grand juror, made his appearance at the
proper time, but refused to be sworn or affirmed, and thought by his obsti
nacy to weary the patience of the Court. - But he took nothing by his mo
tion, unless, in journeying home, he found it facUitated locomotion to travel
with pockets pretty effectuaUy emptied.
Prior to the Revolutionary War, as I have before stated, there was no
execution for murder or other crime. Neither was there any trial had for
an offence involving the forfeiture of life upon conviction of the defendant,
except in the case of one Charity Moore, a woinan, who was indicted for
murder in 1767, but was not hung. The next nearest approach to a trial
for a capital crime, was in reference to one Robert Seymour, who was ap
prehended upon a charge of murdering an Indian ; but by the assistance of
three friends he broke jail, and fled to parts unknown. His three ftiends
were indicted for aiding his escape, but I have been unable to find in the
Court minutes any record of ^their conviction and punishment. The of
fence next in magnitude to that perpetrated by Seymour, was committed
by one WUUam Atkinson, in the year 1775. He stole a horse, was pursued,
-taken, found guUty, subjected to thirty-nine lashes, and imprisoned until
the costs of his prosecution should be paid. Here he remained 418 days,
running up a board bill with John Pettit, gaoler, of £15 3s. Qd., being an av
erage of about 9 da day. The county paid the biU, and also £7 to Thomas
Anderson, for prosecuting him to conviction, but was loath to incur expense
any longer, and so upon application to the Court, an order was made to put
up Atkinson at pubhc sale, and dispose of his eervicos for what they would
bring. He was struck off for the sum of £11, to one Hugh Quig, of Morris
county, who gave his note, payable a few days after date, and departed
with his purchase. Before the note became due, Quig went over to the
British army, and forgot to leave funds behind to pay the county of Sussex.
This was an unexpected turn of the wheel, and puzzled our worthy Board
exceedingly. They hated to be outwitted in this way, and so upon taking
legal advice, they authorized Thomas Anderson to bring suit for the amount
of the note against " The Morris County Commissioners for seizing abscond
ing tories." The only result of this step was an increased expenditurfe, and
at last they gave up the chase, satisfied that as the matter thus far had
been without profit, its further pursuit would be equally unproductive of
honor. In the year 1765, it was represented to the Provincial Legislature, by the
Board of Justices and Freeholders, that " the inhabitants of the county of
Sussex were reduced to great distress for want of bread-corn," and that the
Board " were incapable of administering to the relief of, the sufferers for
want of money to enable them to purchase grain for their present exigen
cies." In consequence whereof, the Legislature, on the 20th of June, passed
an act, authorizing the Treasurer of the Pro'sdnce to pay to Abm. Van Cam-
pen, John Hackett, Jacob Starn, Richard Shackleton, Samuel Lundy, Rich
ard Bowlby, Hendrick Kuykendahl, and Henry Winter, or any three of
them, a sum not exceeding £200, to be disposed of "to the best advantage
in purchasing bread-^corn for the inhabitants of said county," or to "distrib
ute the said money to such persons and in such proportions as they or the

46
majority of them should think fit." It was also provided that said money
should be returned to the Provincial Treasurer within two years after the
publication of the Act. I have searched the records of the county in vain
to ascertain the causes of this scarcity of breadstuffs, nor can I obtain any
information by inquiry of old men. It could not have resulted from the in
terruption of agricultural operations in the Indian war, for that contest had
been ended six years previously. The only solution that I can give to the
mystery is, that population flowed into Sussex about that period to such an
extent, as to consume all the surplus grain, &c., and produce a scarcity. A
simUar occurrence took place in Michigan a few years ago ; though a large
producer of wheat, that Stale, at the time alluded to, was forced by an ex
cess of immigration, to become a heavy purchaser of flour for home con
sumption. What particularly fortifies this conjecture is the fact, that Sus
sex, when her agricultural advantages flrst became known, attracted an
immediate influx of population. In 1753 she had less inhabitants than any
of her sister counties. In 1790 she had outstripped them all except Hun
terdon.''' Another cause of the rapid settlement of Sussex, is to be found
in the fact, that large quantities of her soU were owned by non-residents,
who were anxious to effect improvements, and engaged persons to occupy
thefr lands at cheap rents. This system of settlement would have been well
enough, if the land-owners had been wiUing to sell small tracts to such of
thefr tenants as wished to purchase ; but this they decUncd to do ; and thus,
although the county augmented in population, it increased but littie in
wealth. I am told by an aged citizen, that within his recoUection nine-
tenths of the land in the township of Newton was held in large tracts by
non-resident owners, and other portions of the county were more or less
subjected to the paralyzing influence of a simUar monopoly. But the own
ers finally took a different view of their duty, as well as interest. Instead
of holding on, in the hope of ultimately getting large prices, they sold out
to as good advantage as they could, ere the virgin soU of their respective
tracts should become completely exhausted; and every portion of our
county soon felt tho beneficial influence of the change. Much of our pros
perity is undoubtedly due to the improvements in agriculture within the
last forty or fifty years; nevertheless, it is undeniable, that the first grand
impulse to enterprise and thrfft, was given when the fee-simple of our lands
passed fi-om non-residents, and became vested in the same hands which
guided the plough. Every man who ceased to be a tenant at wiU, in order
to take position as an undisputed lord of the soU, formed a fresh spoke in
the wheel of progress ; and now tho car of prosperity rolls along with a
steady and gratifying motion. Tho plough-sharo has been yearly driven
into newly cleared acres ; pestilent morasses have been converted into beau
tiful meadows ; and tiho pursuit of wealth has been made subsidiary to the
promotion of pubhc health. The system of leasing lands whieh has been
thus happily supplanted, is an immitigable curse wheresoever it exists.
Under its lethargic influence the community is benumbed; a " stupor set-
* The following is the Census of New Jersey, by counties, for the year 1790, viz:
Hunterdon, 20,158; Sussex, 18,500; Burlington, 18,095; Essex, 17,785; Monmouth,
16,918; Morris, 16,216 ; Middlesex, 15,956 ; Gloucester, 13,368; Bergen. 12,601; Som
erset, 12,296 ; Salem, 10,437 ; Cumberland, 8,248 ; Cape May, 2,571. Tota), 184,189.

47
ties on the arts of life ; the dispirited and discouraged tenant reluctantly
drags the plough and harrow to the field only when scourged by necessity ;
tho axe drops fi-om his nerveless hand the moment his own fire is supplied
with fuel ; and the fen, undrained, sends up its noxious exhalations, to rack
with cramps and agues, the frame already too much enervated by a moral
epidemic, to creep beyond the sphere of the material miasm."
At tho time the county of Sussex was set off from tho county of Morris,
and for at least half a century before that period, the settlors and land-hold
ers near and upon the division Une between New Jersey and Now York,
had occasional quarrels in reference to thoir rights, and acts of violence
were not unfrequent. The first record of this conflict of title to lands, dates
as far back as November 1, 1700, and is to be found upon the Journal of
the Colonial Assembly of New York. Disturbances in consequence of an
unsettled boundary had at that early period taken place, and a recommen
dation was made to the Governor to take measures for having the line of
partition defined. Nothing decisive, however, flowed from this notice of the
subject,'*' and the people were left to fight their own battles until immedi
ately after tho erection of the county of Sussex. The fact is, untfl the lat
ter event, the New Yorkers appear to have committed their infringements
upon New Jersey rights, without any further resistance than a few scattered
settlers upon our northern extremity could themselves exert, unaided by a
municipal organization. But the erection of the county of Sussex put a
different face upon tho matter. Civil jurisdiction, through tho county author
ities, was extended by the Province of New Jersey over this long neglected
portion of her territory ; and the arrest and imprisonment of several of the
infruders who had covered New Jersey rights by New York land grants, gave
convincing evidence to aU concerned that farther aggression would not be tole-
rated.t Tho officers of the county charged with the duty of preserving the in-
* Iu October, 1748, an act for running and ascertaining the line between the Prov
inces, passed hy the Assembly of New Jersey, was laid before the Assembly of New
York, for their objections if any. Before the House had acted upon it, the inhabitants
of Orange all along the line, got up a petition againat the act, which they presented to
the House, and desired to be heard by counsel. This was granted, and on the 28th of
October, 1748, the petitioners were heard by their counsel against the New Jersey Act.
On the 29th, the House.considered the objections against the act, and
"Sesohed, That they were strong and well-grounded; that the petitioners tako
measures, if they think fit, to oppose il; and that the Speaker transmit their objec
tions to Mr. Charles, agent for the Colony in Great Britain, with directions to oppose
said act, when it shall be transmitted for His Majesty's royal assent."
Mr. Charles wrote back to know whether the expenses of opposing the law were to
be borne by individuals or the public; whereupon the House "resolved, that they be
paid by the public." — Eager's Hist, of Orange county, p. 372.
•(• The foUowing is an extract from the Minutes of the General Assembly of the
Province of New York :
" April 24, 1754. — The Hon. James De Lancey, Esq., Lieut. Governor, communica
ted as follows :
" Gentlemen — The division line between this Government and the Province of New
Jersey, not being settled, has given rise to great tumults and disorders among the
people of Orange County, and the adjacent inhabitants of New Jersey, and may pro
duce worse evils, unless prevented by a timely care. Nothing can answer this pur
pose so efifeotually, I think, as the fixing of a temporary line of peace between us,
until his Majesty's pleasure shall be known in the matter. Gov. Belcher assures me
of his sincere desire that amicable and conciliatory measures may be fallen upon by
the Governments to make the borders easy ; and I have proposed to him the running

48
violabUity of our soil, acted with spirit and energy, and if the Provincial As
sembly of New Jersey had foUowed up these initial proceedings with equal
boldness and determination, there is every probability that the partition hne
would have affixed the northernmost hmits of our county at Cochecton, in
stead of Carpenter's Point, and a scope of 200,000 acres of good land been
saved for tho use of our citizens. But New Jersey unfortunately dozed
over her rights, whUe New York was wide awake. The county of Sussex
liad been organized barely eleven months, before the New York Assembly
had an elaborate report drawn up, giving its own 'version of the boundary
difiiculties, and artfully setting forth the facts so as to exonerate its own
citizens and throw all tho odium of all the breaches of the peaco upon the
persons who held their lands by -vfrtue of Jersey grants. In this Report,
after befogging the case as much as possible, in reference to what stream
might be regarded as tho " most northwardly branch of the Delaware," or
what part of that river is in latitude 41 degrees 40 minutes ; the main "con
sideration" upon which New York rested her claim, is acknowledged to be
tho location of the Minisink and Wawayanda patents, both of which had
their boundaries so imperfectly described, that the holders thereof treated
them as " fioating patents," to be run out with a gum elastic chain ; and ac
cordingly located them to suit their fancy, caring little how distances were
stretched, or upon what territory their measurements trenched, so long as
their very fiexible consciences did not recoil before the magnitude of their
own greediness. The southward bounds of tho lands thus located, the Re
port assumes to be the rightful boundary between the two provinces, and
takes it for granted that the Jersey settlers, who were remote from the seat
of their Colonial Government, isolated, and practicaUy without any repre
sentative in thefr Provincial Assembly, and who consequently were com
peUed to submit to what they could not prevent, concurred in so regarding
it. But this was not, and could not be true.'^ Even in the final settlement
such line conformably to the opinion of his Majesty's Counsel, signified in their report to
me, which I shall order to be laid before you, and if it receives your approbation, I
shall forthwith appoint Commissioners for running such line of peace, and apply to
that Government to do the like on their part."
* As a specimen of the complaints made against Jerseymen, we extract the follow
ing paragraphs from the report to the New York Assembly, on the 29th of October,
1754: " That the people of New Jersey have from time to time for a considerable time past,
collected themselves in large bodies, aud with violence have arrested divers of his Ma
jesty's subjects, holding lands under this Province to the Northward of said bounds,
and taken pos.session of their lands and do now forcibly hold the same.
" That the Government of New Jersey hath, wit'ain a few years past, erected a new
county called Sussex, a great part of which they have extended many miles Northward
of the bounds aforesaid.
" That Justices of the Peace and other officers have been and are from time to
time, appointed iu the said county, and do from time to time exercise authority and
jurisdiction over the persons aud possessions of a great number of his Majesty's sub
jects, holding their lands under and paying submission to the Government of thia
colony. " That, in consequence of the exercise of such authority and jurisdiction, his Ma
jesty's Justices of the Peace and other subordinate ofiicers and ministers, in and for
Orange county have been frequently beatenj insulted, and prevented in the execution
of their respective offices, taken prisoners and carried into parts of New Jersey remote
from their habitations and the opportunity of being relieved, and have been thrown
into jail and held to excessive bail, and prosecuted by indictments, and that others of
His Majesty's subjects belonging to Orange county have also met with similar treat
ment.

49
of the controversy, when New York obtained aU that the Commissioners
could with the least approach to decency award her, her Une did not come down
as far South as the boundary of those famous patents. I have a map pub
lished by Lewis Evans, in PhUadelphia, in 1755, one year after the date of
this Report, a map drawn by an impartial man, and approved by the best
geographers of that day as a correct delineation of the Jliddle Colonies of
Great Britain in North America, and in this map the line ft'om the Hudson
to the Delaware is run direct to Cochecton, or Station Point, whereby the

" That the people of Jersey have also, from time to time, and as often as they are
able, possessed themselves of the vacant lands in Orange County.
" That they frequently beset the houses of his Majesty's subjects in Orange Connly
by night, and attempted to seizej and take prisoner3,'_such of his Majesty's subjects,
and are encouraged to do this by the offer of large rewards made to them, and are

the people of New Jersey, is almost, if not entuely, reduced to a subjection to the
government of New Jersey.
" That the public ofificers of New Jersey assess and raise taxes upon the people
dwelling to the Northward of said bounds hy which means many have been prevent
ed from paying their proportion of the taxes of Orange County for more than a year
past. Some of them have been obliged te desert their possessions and retire in the
Northwardly parts of Orange County, while a few, more resolute than the rest, are
reduced to the necessity of converting their dwellings into places of defence, and go
armed for fear of some sudden attack.
" That though the Committee conld produce many instances of this kind, they
confine themselves to one which happened very lately. Thomas DeKey, Colonel of
the militia and a Justice of the Peace for Orange County, whose plantations are
claimed by New Jersey fo be within the aforesaid new county, though he, aud thos»
under whom he claims, have held them and been settled upon them under New York
nigh fifty years, finding himself extremely vexed, disturbed at d disquieted by the
people of New Jersey, went to James Alexander, Esq., one of hia Slajesty's Council
for this Province, and also for New Jersey Province, and who is one of the proprietors
-of the Eastern division of New Jersey, of great interest there and esteemed one of the
most active persons among them, to endeavor to come to some agreement with him
in order that he might remain quiet until the line was finally settled. But the said
Alexander refused to consent to any thing of that kind, unless the said DeKey would
agree to hold his lands under New Jersey, become a Jerseyman, and fight, as he ex
pressed it, for New Jersey against New York people; and told him at the same time
if he would do so he should neither want money or commissions, and if he would not
do so, he should be dispossessed of his plantations. This Col. DeKay refusing to
comply with, some short time after a number of armed men from New Jersey came to
the house of the sa-d Col. DeKey, who observing them approach in such manner, shut
himself up iu his house. On which they drew up before his door and some of them
cocked their gun?, and presented them towards the window where Col. DeKey stood,
swearing they would shoot him through the heart, that they would starve him ont and
burn the house over his head— and if man, woman or child attempted to escape they
would shoot them down — that they had strength enough to take all Goshen and would
do it in fime. However, they then withdrew without further violence, and upon their
departure one of them said to Col. DeKey, ' Take care of yourself, for we will have
you yet.' "
This report was considered ou the 8th of November, 1754, and a resolution passed
to lay the same before his honor, Lt. Gov. DeLancey, with a request that he would
exercise jurisdiction over the disputed territory till his Majesty should be pleased to
declare his pleasure with respect to the further jurisdiction of this Province. Col.
Beekman and Capt. Winne, the Committee, reported that they had laid the report
before the Lieut. Governor, who was pleased to say that " He would consider thereof,
and lay the same before his Majesty's Council."
Thus the controversy remained till February 18, 1756, when a new memorial was
presented to the House by the proprietors of the Minisink and Wawayanda patents,
dated Feb. 10, 1756, which was ordered to be printed. This memorial was very long,
and contained a legal argument upon the points iu dispute. Nothing decisive, how-
¦ever, was done upon the consideration of this memonal. — Mager's Hist, of Orange
County, pp. 374, 375.
4

50
¦whole Minisink Patent is thro-wn into Ne-w Jersey, and a f oodly slice of the
Wawayanda grant apportioned to the same Province. Nor is this all.
When the township of Montague was formed from WaUpack, in 1759, the-
Royal Patent issued for that purpose, re-aflirmed the rights of the Province-
by expressly fixing the northernmost limits of the township at Cochecton, or
Station Point. Thus, the judgment of impartial mon, as woU as Royal au
thority, sustained the claim of New Jersey; yet New York persevered,
making up in audacity what she lacked in title, and finally secured nearly
all she claimed. The New York Report, to which I have caUed your at
tention, was transmitted to England to be laid before His Majesty's Coun
cil. But this led to nothing immediately decisive, albeit it may have dis
posed some of the Council to view Jersey rights with distrust. In the
meantime the authorities of Sussex county persevered in extending their
jurisdiction over the territory set down as within our limits, and so effec
tuaUy did they accomplish their duty, that a petition was road in the New
York Assembly, in December, 1762, in which it was stated that the precinct
of Minisink " had been wholly wrested from the Colony of New York, and
is now subject to the Government of New Jersey." The Provincial Assem
bly of New York, thereupon passed an act submitting the dispute to the
decision of such Commissioners as the Crown of Great Britain might be
pleased to appoint ; and the Assembly of New Jersey, which had by pro
crastination, let tho golden opportunity slip for a successful assertion of the
rights of this Province, was forced by this display of New York disinterest
edness, to come in and play second fiddle, and by an act passed on the 23d of
February, 1764, she also submitted her cause to the same description of
Royal Arbiters. New York aggression originated the whole dispute, yet it
turned to the decided advantage of the trespasser, the moment New Jersey
admitted, as she did by the act of 1764-; that " by rea.'-on of the unsettled
state of the limits of tho two Colonics, not only tho extent of their respective
jurisdictions remain uncertain, and the due and regular administration of
Government in both Colonies is by that means greatly impeded ; but also
frequent and dangerous riots have been occasioned, and are stUl likely to
arise between the borderers, as well concerning the extent of the respective
jurisdictions, as the property of the soil, to the great disturbance of the pub
lic peace, and the manifest discouragement of His Majesty's good subjects
in the settiement and improvement of that part of the country." Pursuant
to these Acts by the Legislatures of New York and New Jersey, the King
of Great Britain, by Royal Commission, bearing date the 7lh of October
1767, appointed certain persons to determine the boundary line ; which
duty they performed, fixing it where it now is, and tho two Legislatures by
ajoint Act ratified and confirmed it, in the year 1772. The tities to the lands
held by Jersey grants on the north, and by New York grants on the south
of this hne, were also confirmed to their respective possessors, and the King
of Great Britain gave his Royal Approval to the whole proceeding on the
1st of September, 1773. Thus a controver.sy which was kept up with more
or less virulence for a period of seventy years, was terminated finally and
conclusively. The acts of violence which were occasionally committed un
der this boundary dispute, are remembered only in part, and it would be

51
quite as well were they aU forgotten.* The accounts we have of them aU
come through New York sources, and invariably represent the Jersey
claimants as the aggressors. If this be true. New York, in the final settle
ment of the matter, managed to turn the blows her citizens received to
profitable account; for she certainly obtained about 1000 acres for each
and every New Yorker who was threshed, even though the number of the
poor innocents thus flogged by the Jersey Blues should be set down at fuU
two hundred.
I think it not improbable that New Jersey consented to the hne run by
the Royal Commissioners, tho more readUy, because the country had be
come agitated by momentous questions which demanded for their successful
solution the most perfeet harmony between all the Colonies. The Stamp
Act of 1765, practicaUy asserted the right, which some British politicians
held to be the prerogative of the Crown, of taxing the Colonies to any ex
tent which accorded with the wUl and pleasure of the Mother Country ; and
its attempted enforcement brought home to the bosoms of the colonists the
stern conviction that the hand of arbitrary power was upon them. Every
instrument of writing — every printed sheet — the lawyer's parchment and
the officer's commission — the innkeeper's hcense and the apprentice's inden
ture — the marriage certificate and the dying citizen's last will — every act of
the court or counting-house — every record required from the cradle to the
grave — each and all bore the inexorable impress of a foreign master.
The duty laid upon each article was comparatively small, but the princi
ple involved was of vast and far-reaching consequence. Our forefathers
were wise enough to discern the end from the beginning, and they had
courage enough to meet the insidious intrusion of despotism at the very
* Major Swartwout resided on the lands in dispute. Some of the Jersey claimants
were watching for an opportunity to enter his house and get possession before he could
procure help from his neighbors. He was aware of it, and to counteract the attempt
and repel the invaders, kept a number of guns ready loaded in his house, with some
additional men to- work his farm, and lend assistance in case of emergency. He was
a bold, resolute man, and feared by those who wished to dispossess him. Notwith
standing his precautions to defend his possessions, it appears that, at a certain time
about the year 1730, his family were expelled aud his goods removed out of the
house, and possession taken by the intruders. This was in his absence, and while
his wife was confined to her bed by the birth of a child, and it caused her death.
In order to re-instate the Major, assistance was procured from Goshen, which, with
the neighbors, concluded to go secretly and lay in ambush on a hill, in a piece of
woods near the Major's house — that Peter Gumaer should go to the house, aud dis
cover the situation of the enemy, and when the opportunity became favorable for
them to enter the house, then go into the orchard and throw up an apple as a signal
for the party to come on. After the party had ambushed them-ielves and the oppor
tunity became favorable, Gumaer left the hou.'^e, went into the orchard, and threw up
an apple, whereupon the party rushed into the house, expelled the inmates, and re
instated the Major.
The occupants, now fearing that they might be taken by surprise, by a force they
could not i-esist, managed to have a spy among the Jersey claimants, at some twenty
miles distance, through whom, from lime to time, they received information of all the
projects of the claimants. * '* * ¦'¦- '* The last struggle between the parties was
to capture and imprison the Major and Johannes Westbrook, both of whom lived on
the battle ground. Any open etlort to capture the Major was known to be environed
with great difficulty ; and the Jerseymen undertook to effect it on the Sabbath, at the
door of the Mahackamack church. This was between the years 1764 and 1767, while
Rev. Thos. Romeyn was the pastor. To accomplish it, they hpd collected a strong
party, who came armed with clubs on the day appointed, and surrounded tho church.
After the services were ended, and the Major and Capt. Westbrook had cone out, they
were captured and made prisoners, after a harsh rough-and-tumble struggle. The
Major was taken and confined in the Jersey prison, from which, however, he was sooa
released.— .Sitter's Hist, of Orange Co., pp, 378, 379.

threshhold. They "scented the approach of tyranny in the tainted afr."
They remonstrated against the obnoxious law, and sternly opposed its en
forcement. The British ministry wavered, and repealed the act, but at the
same time rc-asserted their right to "bind the Colonies in all cases whatso
ever.'' A brief calm succeeded, but it was the calm that gives augury of
the earthquake. The British ministry returned to the charge, and a new
and equaUy odious tax was laid upon paper, glass, paints, tea, &c. ; a Board
of Commissioners was appointed to manage, at Boston, tho revenue arising
from the duties imposed ; and tho Colonies ordered to provide means for
the support of such British troops as the Crown might send among us to
uphold by thefr bayonets the arbitrary laws enacted by Pariiament. These
measures revived the flame of resentment, and the fires of Colonial opposi
tion burned more intensely than ever. The people every where met and
adopted resolutions of the most spirited character, binding themselves not
to import any thing from the mother countrj^ A coUision between the peo
ple of Boston and tho British soldiery quartered there, in March, 1770,
which resulted in bloodshed, was regarded by many as inaugurating an era
of sanguinary despotism, and viewed by all as a positive proof that the loy
alty of the Colonies would inevitably be obliterated if mercenary troops
should continue to be stationed in our populous towns. Time wore on, while
the spirit of resistance was deepening, and in 1773 the disputes relative to
tho importation of tea led to the destruction of a cargo of that article in the
harbor of Boston. This exasperated the British Parliament ; the port of Bos
ton was closed,, and the franchises of the province of Massachusetts revoked,
depriving the people of the right of choosing their own local offlcers. When
these arbitrary acts wero proclaimed in America, a general sentiment of in
dignation and opposition pervaded the continent. Massachusetts recom
mended a meeting of delegates from all the Colonies, at the same time elect
ing five] persons for that purpose. On the 4th of September, 1774, the
deputies of eleven colonies appeared in Philadelphia, aud agreed to various
measures intended to restore to the countiy the rights which had been in
vaded and trampled upon. To this Colonial Congress, New Jersey elected
five delegates ; and I now hold in my hand a copy of their credentials.'^
They wore ohosen by a Provincial Convention assembled at New Bruns
wick, on the 23d of July, 1774; in which body the county of Sussex was
represented by Thomas Anderson, Abia Brown and Mark Thompson. I
mention this fact to show that tho inhabitants of Northern Jersey, though
-* The following is a copy of the credentials above mentioned, t ranscribed from a
copy found among the papers of the late Thomas Anderson, Esq., of Newton, viz:
To James Kinsey, Wm. Livingston, John Dehart, Stephen Crane, and Richard
Smith, Esq., and eack and every one of you :
The Committees appointed by the several Counties of the Colony of New Jersey to
Nominate Deputies to Represent the same in General Congress of Deputies, fromthe
other Colonies iu America, Convened at the City of New Brunswick, have nominated
and appointed and hereby do Nominate and appoint you and each of you Deputies to
Represent the Colony of New Jersey in the s" General Cqngress. In Testimony
whereof, the Chairman of the several Committees here Met have hereunto set their
Hands this Twenty-third Day of July, flie 14th year of his Majesty's Reign, 1774:
Wm. P. Smith, Jacob Poord, John Moores, Robt. Johnston, Robt. Field, Robt. F,
Price, Peter Zabriske, Samuel Tucker, Edward Taylor, Hendrick Fisher, Archd.
Stewart, Thomas Anderson, Abia Brown, Mark Thomson.

hemmed in by mountains, and distant from the marts of commerce, werO'
among the first to resist the encroachments of tyranny, and to participate
in the adoption of measures for the vindication of colonial Uberty. Let it
not be understood, however, that at this .period, a separation from the
mother country was contemplated. This was not the fact. The grand idea
of American Independence first developed itself when patriot blood crim
soned tho soil of Concord and Lexington ; the conflict at Bunker Hill
strengthened it ; and what ai firist was uttered in whitspers now began to be
mentioned in tones of confidence. Still the main remedy most universally
desired, even at this late period of popular alienation, was the redress of
grievances, and the recognition of the rights of the Colonies. The Continental
Congress, in its first tw-o sessions of Sept. 1774, and May, 1775, breathed an
earnest desire to settle the controversy amicably, and the cry of reconcilia
tion and redress was contuuied with more or less fervency, until it was lost
amid the din of resounding arms, and a resort to a formal and authoritative
Declaration of Independence became imperative as the distinctive raUying
point, the bond and pledge of union, for the champions of right, of justice,
and of liberty.
A significant instance of the spirit which early pervaded this county,
was given by the Board of Freeholders, at their session on the 10th of May,
1775. It is contained in the foUowing extract from their minutes on that
occasion, viz. :
" Ordered, That the Sheriff be paid the sum of four pounds, it being mo
ney advanced by him to discharge tho Judges' expenses of two Supreme
Courts; and this Board orders, tJiat from henceforth no Judges' expenses
le paid ly this County.''''
As the Judges who were thus laconically notified that their further ser
vices were not desirable, derived their authority from the Crown, and as
they were almost the only visible link which connected the people of Sus
sex with royalty, this order may be set down as a local declaration of inde
pendence. It bears dato twenty-one days after the battle of Lexington, and
thfrty-eight days before the battle of Bunker Ilill. It preceded the National
Declaration of Independence about fourteen months.
When tho great wor'rc of establishing the Freedom and Independence of
the American Colonies was finaUy entered upon, the most serious impedi
ment in the way of the Patriots was the defection of a large number of their
fellow-citizens. The men who were thus found wanting in tho hour of need
had nearly all been eager for a remission of the burdens imposed upon them
by the British Parliament, and had petitioned for relief; but when they
found that redress wa,s only to be obtained by an appeal to the sword, a
portion of them lacked the nerve to pass the dread ordeal. Others had re
ligious scruples which forbade thefr doing any act whereby blood might be
shed ; and a third class, looking upon the Colonies as too weak to contend
with the mother country, were eager to place themselves upon the stronger
side, and sought to commend themselves to Royal regard by turning their
arms against their own neighbors and brethren. Wo may well entertain
charity for those whose constitutional timidity caused them to cower in the
presence of danger ; and we may also forbear to judge harshly the conduct
of men who in those times of trial could not conscienciously resist their

64
enemies to the sacrifice of human life ; but for that band of traitors and
fratricides who robbed, piUaged and murdered their friends and kindred —
who acted as spies and guides for the armies of the oppressor — who took
the bread out of tho mouths of their brethren, to bestow it upon the troops
who wero ravaging the land — and who even consorted and complotted with
the Indian savages, piloting them to the abodes of the white settlers, and
rejoicing when the barbarians sunk their torfiahawks into the brains of
helpless women and chUdren — for such fiends incarnate there can never be
harbored in the true American bosom any other feeling than that of the bit
terest scorn and execration. If the infamy of these men clings to their
descendants, let us not attempt to lighten the load of those who stagger un
der the weight of tho " sins of their fathers," but let us rather heed the les
son, which so plainly teaches us, that in all national emergencies where ex
ternal force is brought against us for our subjugation, to cling to the cause
of our country, and stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends and neigh
bors. He who violates the laws of health, transmits to his posterity a
physical curse ; and so he who sets at naught all social obligation and stabs
with traitorous hand the community which nurtured him, by every principle
of political justice, bequeaths a portion of his infamy to the luckless issue
of his detested body. These are my views ; and what is much more to the
purpose, they are the views of the great mass of mankind ; they may not
bear tho rigid analysis of cold and passionless philosophy, but they never
theless well up warm from the heart, and arise so incontostibly from the
noblest impulses of our common humanity, that we embrace them by intui
tion. I utter these sentiments in tho presence of the children, grand
children, and great-grand-ehildren, of the men of the Revolutionary Era ;
and I do it with the more gratification, because in all this vast assemblage
there is probabty not one descendant of that class of fratricidal Tories upon
whose memories I would invoke eternal maledictions. When I was honored
with an invitation to address you, I feared that I might find a portion of the
imputations which have been cast upon the patriotism of your forefathers,
justified by the record, so far as any record of the events of the Revolution
existed. But the few materials which I have been enabled to find by an in
dustrious exploration of every receptacle of old papers within reach, all go
to disprove the charges which have been made, and to brand as base and
slanderous the idle stories to the discredit of your ancestors, in which flip
pant ignorance has too long been permitted to indulge. The county of Sus
sex, in 1776, contained not far from 13,000 inhabitants; of which, accord
ing to the usual ratio, 2,600 were males over the age of twenty-one years.
Of aU this number, 96 only were attainted for joining the army of the King,
and their property confiscated to the State ; while, of those who were not
freeholders, there certainly was not more than an equal number who refused
to take the oath'* abjuring thefr aUegiance to tho Crown of Great Britain.
-* The following is a copy of the oath of abjuration and allegiance administered fo
all our oflicers and citizens, after the establishment of a Republican form of Govern
ment in New Jersey, io 1776, viz:
" I, A. B., do sincerely Profess and Swear, that I do not hold myself Bound to bear
Allegiance to the King of Great Britain. So Jielp me God.
"I, A. B., do sincerely Profess and Swear, that 1 do and will bear true faith and al
legiance fo the Government established in this State, under ihs Authority of the
People. So help m« God,"

56
Adding both these classes together, we have about 200 disaffected persons
in 2,600 — a proportion of only one in fourteen. If any county in the State
can show a greater preponderance of patriotism in " the days that tried
men's souls," we will cheerfuUy yield the palm ; but untU they do, let UB
not hear Sussex stigmatized as a " nest of tories." It is true that our moun
tain fastnesses afforded places of retreat for ouflaws and robbers, and now
then some roving tories, under the leadership of one Bonnell Moody, of
Hunterdon county, availed themselves of those advantages ; but there is no
evidence that this gang found a congenial sphere for .their operations in this
quarter. Many tales of Moody's prowess are kept afloat upon the stream of
tradition, nearly aU of which are fabulous. The exploit of entering the vil
lage of Newton, one stormy night, and stealthily effecting ingress into our
jaU, where he intimidated the keeper, and forcing him to surrender his keys,
unlocked the cells and set the prisoners free, is doubtless true.'" This was
in the year 1781, when the war had been virtually ended by the surrender
* It is probable that the following incidents collected by the late Nelson Robinson,
Esq., in reference to Moody, are based upon truth :
It is related that, one cold night in winter, he suddenly entered the dwelling of
Eobert Ogden, Esq., near Sparta. He robbed the house of considerable valuable plate,
and searched for money ; but was disappointed in not obtaining the amount he ap
pears to have anticipated was in the old gentleman's possession. He then took him
outback of his house, and forced him to take an oath not fo make known his visit un
til sufficient time had elapsed for himself and his confederates fo escape pursuit. One
or more hired men, however, who had been concealed in the upper part of the house,
and who were not bound by their employer's oath, immediately upon their departure
sounded the alarm, and a small party of the neighbors immediately gave chase. They
came very near overtaking them next morning ; for they tracked them through the
snow to where they had lain in their blankets over night, aud where their fires were
still burning when discovered. They tracked the plunderers to Goshen, in the State
of New York, and there recovered some of ' he booty which had been taken away.
Ou one occasion the Whigs of Newton supposed this daring highwayman was
cooped up in the house of an individual suspected of being tinctured with toryism.
They searched every nook and cranny, stuck pitchforks into the hay and straw stacks,
but no Moody was discovered; he, nevertheless, afterward emerged from beneath the
floor, where he had been snugly packed away in straw, to tarry until his hunters had
withdrawn from the premises.
Ou another occasion, just as the Whigs were on the point of springing upon him
and his band, a negro conveyed intelligence of their designs, and Moody, with his
men, narrowly escaped ; the bread which was baking for him, and the other provisiona
which were prepared, falling into their hands.
While the American army lay at Morristown, and an officer was drilliogsome troops
not long enlisted, a man, very shabbily dressed, mounted on an old broken-down nag,
one day was seen riding carelessly along before the lines, like a simple-hearted and
rather soft-headed rustic, not over well supplied with either worldly sense or sub
stance. Suspicion at length induced the belief that there was more about that old
horse and his awkwardly inquisitive rider than at first view one would conjecture.
One of the soldiers thought he had seen that face before, and a horseman was soon
despatched to bring him back. Moody — for he was the suspicious character on whose
track he was sent — shot him dead as he came up to him, dragged his body into the
woods out of sight, and once more narrowly escaped by secreting himself in a con
tiguous swaoap.
Moody is believed to have been employed by the English to obtain recruits in thia
section of such as might bo found favorable to Great Britain. He likewise was to act
as a spy upon the movements of the Whigs, and to check and overawe them by a show
of opposition in their mid-jt; by making divisions and diflficulties close at hand, and
thereby drawing off their attention aad assistance from the Colonial army. For a
short period he concealed himself in a cavernous retreat among the rocks at the lower
extremity of the Muckshaw'Pond, about two miles south of the village of Newton.
Two or three miles south-west of this spot, on the Pequest river, resided some disaf
fected pers ns, who are suspected of having furnished Moody with supplies while he
was hidden in the ravines near the Muckshaw.

of CornwaUis, and the precautions taken by our citizens for the security of
the JaU were measurably intermitted. What became of him after this event,
I know not ; but that he speedily relieved this county of his presence is un
doubted. The search immediately made for him, had he remained, would
have been successful, and his days of infamy fitly terminated by an igno
minious death. That he had a few sympathizers among us, is probable ;
hut that any citizen of Sussex- was a member of his gang of marauders, is-
not susceptible of proof. I am persuaded that the fabulous adventures
which are attributed to this Tory highwayman have contributed more than
any one thing to destroy the reputation of our county, and lead uninformed
men to harbor the notion that the number of our Patriots were so few and
frresolute that they permitted a smaU band of thievish "cow-boys" to
ravage our towns and viUages, with scarcely a shadow of resistance. Cer
tainly, it is high time that this apocryphal episode in our local history should
receive the stamp of reprobation ; and I rejoice that all the fragments of our
perishing Revolutionary annals which I have been fortunate enough to re
cover, go to vindicate the patriotism of our citizens, and show the general
unanimity with which they embraced the cause of struggling and beleagured
Freedom. I have heretofore mentioned that Sussex participated in the primary
measures which called the first Colonial Congress into existence. This fact
rests upon documentary proof, and cannot bo invalidate d. Cotitemporanoous
with this movement, or very soon after it. Revolutionary Committees of
Safety were established in all our townships, delegates from which formed a
County Committee of Safety, which met in the Court House onoo a month.
This County Committee exercised a general supervision over the township or
ganizations, provided means for promoting the popular cause, and procured
the oath of abjuration to be administered to every citizen of the county, care
fully noting down the names of those who refused, with the grounds upon
which they based such refusal, and causing the recusants to he presented by
the Grand Inquest of the county, to the end that they might appear in Court
and openly recant, or give bonds for their peaceable behaviour. The min
utes of the sittings of this important Committee were carefully written out,
for the information of subordinate Committees ; and, with a httle care, might
have been preserved ; but like the great mass of local memoranda, which,
now would be esteemed invaluable, they appear to have been regarded as
possessing a merely ephemeral interest, and were thrown aside as so much
rubbish so soon as they had answered the immediate purpose in hand. I
esteem it peculiarly fortunate that, amid the general destruction of these
important papers, the minutes of one of the early meetings of the County
Committee have been preserved, and are now in my possession. I found
the manuscript among some loose papers in the Clerk's office, cast aside as
of no account, and left to moulder undisturbed amid dust and cobwebs.
The proceedings which this ancient document discloses, took place at the
session of the County Committee of Safety held in the Court House on the
10th and 11th days of August, 1775 — about eleven months before the De
claration of Independence was made by the representatives of the United
Colonies. At this meeting delegates appeared from all the townships ex
cept Hardyston, viz : William MaxweU, Benjamin McCoUough and James

57
Stewart, of Greenwich ; Edward Demond, Samuel Hazlet and WiUiam Deb-
nam, of Mansfield ; John Lowry, John McMurtry and WUham White, of
Oxford ; Abraham Besherrer, Nathaniel Drake and Andrew Waggoner, of
Knowlton ; Casper Shafer, of Hardwick ; Archibald Stewart, Robert Prico,
John StoU, Thomas Anderson, Jacob McOoUum,'" PhUUp Dodderer, and Ja
cob StoU, of Newtown ; Jacob De-witt and Joseph Harker, of Wantage ;
Abm. Van Campen, Daniel Depue, Jr., Mosos Van Campen, Joseph Mon-
tanye, Emanuel Hover, John C. Symmes and John Rosekrans, of WaUpack ;
Samuel Westbrook, Abraham Brokaw and Hefiry Hover, of Sandyston ; and
Henry W. Courtright and John Courtright, of Montague. Wm. Maxwell,
of Greenwich, was chosen Chairman, and Thomas Anderson, of Newtown,
Clerk. Returns were called for from the several towns of the names of
those who refused to sign the Articles of Association for the respective
townships. In Greenwich, seven persons were returned as having refused
to sign, four of whom were Quakers who declared it to be against their
conscience to take up arms, one gave no reason, and the remaining two
" would take time to consider !" From Mansfield, two names were returned,
but no reason for refusal assigned. ¦ In Sandyston, all signed except two
"who are willing to do so when opportunity offers." In Montague,
every citizen signed ; and in Wantage, all signed " except Joseph Havens
and one or two more Quakers, who are Whigs, and are wUling to contrib
ute." The other Towns, says the record, "not having had the Association
particularly carried to the Inhabitants, ordered, that the Committees of said
towns wait upon the People and make return at the next meeting of this
Committee." What report was made from the " other towns" is not now known ; but
may be inferred from the complexion of the returns just given. These
items afford us an insight into the state of feeUng which pervaded the county
at that early day, and conclusively refute the gross imputations which have
been recklessly and maliciously cast upon the patriotism of our Revolution
ary citizens.
At this meeting means were taken to raise by tax the county's quota of
ten thousand pounds ordered by the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, for
the purpose of raising money to " purchase arms and ammunition, and for
other exigencies of the Province." Casper Shafer was appointed Collector
of the county, to take charge of the funds to be raised under the authority
of the Committee of Safety. It was also ordered that " the Captains of the
respective companies of mihtia send an account to the next meeting of the
Committee of all persons upwards of 16 and under 50 years old, in their
several Districts, who refuse to sign the muster RoUs, that their Names may
be forwarded to tho Provincial Congress."
¦* Jacob McCollum was elected to ihe Legislature in 1778, and served in that body
for a few years with great acceptance. He was a man of primitive habits, and is still
remembered as one of the most characteristic represenfativcs of the frontier popula
tion of Old Sussex. In his time, members.were allowed only four shillings per day,
and there were no railroads nor " free tickets." Inpreparingfor his journey to "Trent
Town," he would pack his wardrobe in a bundle, and his provisions in a capacious
wallet, and thus equipped, with knapsack on his back and stuff in hand, he wended
his way to the capital on foot. When the public business was concluded, he returned
home in the same independent style, and, like Cincinnatus, after serving his country,
resumed with a willing hand the unobtrusive labors of the husbandman.

68
Capt John McMurtry and Lieut. WiUiam White, of Oxford township,
being desirous to go to Boston, where the Americans were rallying under
the standard of Washington, then just appointed Commander-in-Chief of
the Continental forces, requested the Committee to certify as to their "place
of abode, character and reputation ;'' which was at once complied with.
On motion, it was "Resolved, nem. con., That any person thinking him
self aggrieved by any merchant or trader in this county taking an exorbit
ant price for any article of goods, make appUcation to the Chairman of the
To.wn Committee where such merchant or trader resides, who is to caU a
meeting of said Committee as soon as convenient thereafter, which said
meeting to consist of five members, at least. And the said Committee when
convened shall notify the said merchant or trader to appear and show why
he has taken so great a price, and if it shall appear that he has taken an un
reasonable profit, or shall refuse to attend or give any satisfaction in the
premises, that he be cited by the said Committee to ap.pear at the next meet
ing of the County Committee, there to be dealt with according to the rules
of tho Continental Congress."
A memorial on this subject was also drawn up and ordered to be pre
sented to the Continental Congress, praying that the latter body would
make inquiry and ascertain if the Philadelphia and New York merchants,
of whom the traders in this county purchased their goods, were not at the
bottom of this system of extortion, speculating upon the public necessity by
affixing exorbitant prices upon their merchandize. I am unable to state
here what were the general prices so earnestly complained of, but I am in
formed that about this period fifty bushels of wheat were exchanged, upon
one occasion at least, for one bushel of salt ; and that calico was sold at 15s.
per yard, while rye would only bring Is. 8cZ. per bushel. The ladies at that
day, like those of the present, indulged the pardonable vanity of displaying
their charms to the best advantage, but the ruinous rates at which all arti
cles of dress wero held, restricted their desires, and caused the short gown,
which required for its completion only two and a half yards of calico, to
come into fashion. Only one pair of shoes per year could be afforded,
which were generally purchased about Christmas, and which the fair own
ers carefully preserved from dUapidation through the summer by going bare
foot, hke the enchanting goddesses that figure in ancient mythology.
But to return to the proceedings of the Committee of Safety. It was or
dered that the " colonels of each regiment and battalion in the county issue
orders to the several captains to make strict inquiry into the state of their
several companies, with regard to firearms, and make a return of aU defi
ciencies." It was also ordered that a sum not exceeding £40 be applied to
the purchase of ammunition for the battalion under the command of Col.
John 0. Symmes, and that said sum be immediately raised in " the three
townships ou tho north- w-est side of the Pahaquala mountain," and credited
to them in " the quota of said towns of tho money to be raised in the county
agreeable to the directions of the Provincial Congress." On motion of
Thomas Anderson, it was resolved, "that it be recommended to the Com
mittee of Knowlton to get the Association in their town signed as speedUy
as possible, and to suppress any riot there in its infancy, as threats of a riot
from that town had been reported.'.' From this it appears that Knowlton

69
was the only township in which contumacy had assumed so bold a front as
to require the notice of the Committee. The explanation of this circum
stance, in my opinion, is to be found in the fact, that in this township James
Moody, a brother of Bonnell Moody, resided. He was a royalist of the
most infamous stamp, and in conjunction with Bonnell, labored to produce
all the mischief ho could. Ho succeeded in gathering around him a num
ber of confederates, but the place soon became too hot to hold him and his
tory coadjutors. He and they precipitately fied to the British lines, and his
property, as well as the property of those who wero governed by his trait
orous counsels, was finally confiscated to the State.
Thus far, in transcribing tho proceedings of the Committee, I have invited
your attention to those points which involved or contemplated needful ac
tion, without being intermingled with those expressions of sentiment which
proclaim the spirit, or animus, which actuate associations of men. Let
me tax your patience with one more extract from this document, to com
plete the picture, and show how briUiantly " the fire of the old flint" scin
tillated in the county of Sussex even at that early day. On motion of John
Cleve Symmes, tho foUowing preamble and resolution were adopted :
" Wheheas, There are some men, who, after having signed the Association,
have basely turned their backs upon tho sacred cause of liberty, and vilely
aspersed her true sons, and wickedly endeavored, and do still endeavor, to
sow sedition, create confusion, and fill the minds of the good people of the
county with groundless fear and jealousy, to the great detriment of the pub
lic cause, that therefore this Board take the same into consideration.
"Eesolved, nem. con.. That if any person or persons in any of the to-wns in
this county, shall hereafter asperse any of tho friends of liberty in this
county on account of their political sentiments, or shall speak contemptu
ously or disrespectfuUy of tho Continental or Provincial Congresses, or of
any of the Committees of and in this county, or of any measures adopted or
appointed to be pursued by the Congresses or Committees for the pubhc
good and safety, on complaint being made thereof to any one of the Com
mittee of the town where such person shall reside, the Chafrmaii shall, with
the consent of a majority of said Committee, at the next meeting, issue an
order to the captain of the next company of militia, to send a party of five
or six men of his Company, to take such offender or offenders and forthwith
bring him or them before the said Committee ; and if such offender or of
fenders on proof being made of the fact laid to his or their charge, shall re
fuse to retract or express sorrow and contrition for his or their offences, and
will not promise amendment in future, the said Chairman shall a day or two
previous to tho next meeting of the county Committee, direct said captain
to send a party of his men as aforesaid, to take said offender or offenders,
and bring him or them forthwith before the county Committee to be dealt
with, according to his or their deserts."
I have now finished all that is necessary to quote from this document,
and I submit it to the judgment of this assemblage, whether in the face of
so complete an organization of the sons of liberty, as is here shown, any
considerable number of tories did or could make the county of Sussex a safe
abiding place ? Tho names which appear on the list of this Committee are
worthy of being held forever in grateful remembrance. Two or three bo-

60
came men of distinction. WiUiam MaxweU, the Chairman, was a brigadier-
general in tho army of Washuigton, and every inch a soldier. He served
in the French War of 1755, as an ofiicer of Provincial troops; was with
Braddock when that general was defeated, .and fought under Wolfe at the
taking of Quebec. He was afterwards attached to the Commissary Depart
ment, and was posted at Mackinaw, holding the rank of colonel As soon
as ho heard that the Colonies which bordered upon the Atlantic, had re
solved to resist the Crown to the death, rather than submit to be enslaved,
he resigned his commission in tho British army, marched on foot to Trenton,
and tendered his seiwiccs to the Provincial Congress, then in session. They
were accepted, and a colonel's commission bestowed upon him, with orders
to raise a battalion to march for Quebec. He succeeded in enlisting a fine
body of men, and was engaged in recruiting when the meeting of the Sus
sex county Committee of Safety, in August, 1775, was held. He took up
his hne of march according to orders, but the defeat of Montgomery occurred
before he could possibly reach Quebec, and nothing remained but to return
to head-quarters. He was soon after raised to tho rank of brigadier-general,
and served with distinction in tho battles of Germantown, Monmouth, Bran
dywine, Springfield, Wyoming, and elsewhere. His personal frankness and
the absence of all haughtiness in his manners, made him a great favorite
with the soldiers ; but his merits, as is too often the case, excited envy ;
some of the officers, who boasted a more aristocratic lineage, than he could
claim, showed much jealousy of his advancement ; and in 1782, when one of
this class, succeeded in obtaining promotion over his head, he resigned his
commission. He enjoyed to tho last the special regard of Gen. Washington,
who frequently eulogized him in his letters. Unfortunately for biographical
purposes. Gen. Maxwell's house took ffre just after the close of the Revolu
tion, and all his valuable papers and correspondence were destioyed.* His
¦^ The following inscription, written, by his friend and compatriot. Gov. Howell, of
New Jersey, is placed over the remains of this gallant ofiicer, in the. graveyard of the
First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich township :
Beneath this marble
Lies the body of "
Brig.\i>iee-Gen'eral Willi.im Maxwell,
Eldest son of John and Anne Maxwell, of the township of
Greenwich, county of Sussex, and State of New- Jersey,
who departed this life.
On the 4th of November, in the year of our Lord, 1796,
In the 63"' year of his Age.
In the Revolutionary War which established the Independence of the
United States,
He took an early, an active part;
A distinguished military partisan,
He arose, through difi'erent grades of the American Army,
To the rank of Brigadier-General;
A Genuine Patriot,
He was a firm and decided Friend
To the Constitution and Government of his Country;
In Private Life, he was equally devoted to its service.
And to the good of the community of which he was a member.
An honorable and charitable Man,
A warm and affectionate Friend,
A zealous advocate of the Institutions and
An active promoter of the
Interests of tho Christian Religion.

61
brother, Capt. John MaxweU, in the darkest hour of the Revolutionary con
flict, when Washington had been forced to evacuate New York, and was re
treating hither ?.nd thither through the Jerseys — when his dispirited ti-oops
dropped off-daily, and when his forces had become so reduced that it is said
he could call every man by name ho had under him — appeared with one
hundred men, recruited in Greenwich and the neighboring townships, and
tendered their services to the great chieftain. It was upon this occasion
that Washington, surprised and gratified, exclaimed "What! one hundred
men, good and true, from Sussex!" importing thereby that he was agreea
bly astonished to find, that while the people of the counties which were pe
culiarly exposed to the ravages of the British troops, were faUing away from
him, the men who were securely nestled in the mountains had not caught
the infection, as he feared might be the case, but remained in adversity, as
they had been in prosperitj^, "good and true." This anecdote which in
volves a great compliment, has been distorted by the slanderers of our
county into a precisely opposite meaning — it has actuaUy been adduced as
a proof that Washington did not think there were one hundred honest pat
riots in Sussex ! Nothing, I am confident, could have been further
from his real opinion. Even had he doubted the integrity of our peo
ple ho would never have proclaimed it ; ho was not precipitate in forming
liis judgment, nor petulant in his expressions ; and they who distort his
meaning in this instance, not only insult the people of this county but cast
dishonor upon the memory of Washington. Capt. MaxweU's company
proved a valuable acquisition to the American army, were efficient in aid
ing to turn the tide of the Revolution at Trenton, and did good ser-yice in the
fierce conflict of the Assanpink, and the sanguinary battle at Princeton.'"
But why Man's merit or his worth disclose,
While doomed to moulder in this dread abode?
Our hopes of Endless happiness repose.
Alone, on our Redeemer and our God.
-* The following inscription upon the tombstone of this sterling patriot, in the Green
wich churchyard, briefiy recites his history aud describes his worth :
In Memory of
Jony Max-well, Esq.,
Second son of John and Anne Slaxwell.
He was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland,
Nov. 25th, A.D. 1739,
And at an early age emigrated wit'n his Father
To N'ew Jersey.
Ho was a Lieutenant in the First Company raised in Sussex
County, for the defence of his adopted Country,
In the Revolutionary War ;
And soon after, in the darkest hour of her fortunes, joined
the Army of General Washington, as Captain of a
Company of Volunteers.
He was engaged iu the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine,
Germantown, Monmouth and Springfield,
And ever distinguished himself as a brave and able officer.
Having served his Country in various civil and military offices,
And faithfully discharged his various duties,
As a Soldier, Citizen, and a Christian,
He closed a long and useful life, at his residence
At Flemington,
February loth, A.D. 1828,
In the Eighty-Ninth year of his Age.

62
Thomas Anderson, Clerk of the Committee of Safety, remained in tho
county, ferreting out the tories and bringing them to the test of giving in
their adhesion to the cause of liberty, or submitting to such pains and pe
nalties as could be legaUy inflicted upon them. In this work, he was heart
ily assisted by Evi Adams, Esq., of Wantage, and James Davison, Esq., of
Greenwich. For a considerable portion of the war he acted as Assistant
Deputy Quarter Master General, and attended to forwarding flour, chopped
feed, hemp, &c., from this county, for the sustenance and use of the army.
The three points to which supplies from Sussex wero sent, were Trenton,
Morristown, and New Windsor. Cavalry horses, which were worn down
in the service, were consigned to Mr. Anderson, who had to procure keep
ing proper to resuscitate and fit them for active service. This ofBce was
one of great importance, and Mr. A. discharged it with skill and fidelity.
There were few wagons in the county, and it was necessary to procure
some from a distance. Teams were scarce and difficult to be obtained.
Besides, our roads were new, and ill adapted to teaming purposes. Yet Mr.
A. persevered, until it was found impracticable to forward supplies with
the means at command ; in this emergency, an order was received by Mr.
Anderson's principal, Moore Furman, from Gen. Washington, empowering
him to impress teams, whenever necessary, and where forage could not be
procured by purchase, to impress supplies of that also.'^ This delicate duty
Mr. A. discharged with firmness — the public interests demanded extraordi
nary measures — and, if there were a few cases of individual hardship pro
duced by this summary system of management, the general good was pro
moted. The army supplies raised in Sussex, and forwarded to the various
mUitary posts, were of great efBcacy in strengthening the sinews of war ;
and all engaged in this useful business were quite as effectually rolling on
tho baU of Revolution, as they who "spent their dearest action in the tented
field." Mr. Anderson was appointed in 1785, the first Surrogate in our
county, which office he held by successive re-appointments, until his death,
in 1807. He was also acting Clerk of the county from the year 1770 to
1777.. Col. John C. Symmes, a leading member of the Committee, repaired with
the battalion under his command to Morris county, in the fall of 1776, and
formed a part of the brigade of Col. Jacob Ford. On the 14th of December,
* The following is a literal transcript of a copy of General Washington's order for
the impressment of teams, &c , found among the papers of the late Thomas Anderson,
Esq., of Newton, viz. : To Moore Foeman, Esq., 1
Deputy Q. M. Genl. f
The present critical and important conjuncture requiring every possible effort fo
forward the Stores and Provisions for the use of the Army, and the present embarrass
ment in the Quarter Master General's Department rendering it impracticable fo pro
vide competent means in the ordinary way. You are hereby authorized and impow-
ered to impress as many teams in the State of New Jersey, as you may find necessary
for the Purpose above mentioned with respect to those articles which are under your
direction. And in order that an adequate supply of forage may be had, you will pro
vide, by purchase, impress or otherwise the (Quantity necessary, for which this shaU
be your warrant. Given at Head-QuBrfers, Robinson's house. State of New York,
(Copy) July 30tb, 1780, GEORGE WASHINGTON.

es
in that year, while quartered at Chatham, and charged with the duty of
covering the retreat of Washington through New Jersey, Col. Ford received
intelhgence that 800 British troops, commanded by Gen. Leshe, had ad
vanced to Springfield, four mUes from Chatham, and he ordered Colonel
Symmes to proceed to Springfield and check the approach of tho enemy, if
possible. Accordingly, Col. S., with a detachment of the brigade, marched
to that vUlage, and attacked the British in the evening. This was one of
the first checks Leslie met with after leaving Ehzabethtown, but others
soon foUowed, and his further progress in that direction was effectually
stopped. In the skirmish at Springfield, Capt. Samuel Koykendahl, of this
county, had his hand split from the middle finger to the wrist by a musket
ball — a wound which ultimately deprived him of the use of his arm. Col.
Symmes, being soon after made one of tho Judges of the Supreme Court of
New Jersey, his judicial duties compelled him to retfre from the field. A
few years after the Independence of the United States was established.
Judge Symmes removed to Ohio, where his accomplished daughter attracted
the attention of a gallant officer of the army, in command of Fort Hamilton,
and was united to him in marriage. This young ofBcer was WiUiam Henry
Harrison, who after a life of patriotic public service, had his dying eyes
closed by the wife of his youth in the Executive Mansion of the United
States at Washington. Timothy Symmes, a brother of John C, was an
active man in the Revolution, and a Judge of our Courts. He was the
father of John Cleve Symmes, Jr., whose novel theory that the earth, like
an eviscerated pumpkin, was hollow — that its interior was habitable, and
that an orifice to enter this terrestrial ball would undoubtedly be found at
the north pole — attracted great attention throughout the United States some
thirty years ago, more especially as a very eloquent lawyer named Rey
nolds, became a convert to Symmes's views, and made addresses in support
of their soundness in all our principal cities. Poor Symmes wearied out his
existence in a vain effort to procure means for fitting an expedition to ex
plore the inner portion of the shell of the earth ; he gained however, more
kicks than coppers, and only succeeded in furnishing a theme for the wits
of the land to exercise their waggery upon. "Symmes's Hole" not only
figured in newspapers, but grog-shops bore it upon thefr signs with various
devices to iUustrate it. One I recollect, was the representation of a hollow
watermelon, with a tiny mouse peeping out of the orifice at its polar extrem
ity, to see if Symmes's Expedition had yet "hove in view."
Capt. Joseph Harker, another member of the Committee of Safety, was
in active seiwice, and distinguished himself at the battle of Laxawaxon, as
it was originally designated, but which is now more generally known as the
battle of Minisink. As the circumstances connected with this bloody con
flict are of direct interest to our citizens, it wiU be necessary to go some
what into detail. The Minisink country which, in the war of 1756, was pe
culiarly exposed to Indian hostUities, continued to be in the war of the
Revolution a favorite theatre for the Indians lo display their ferocity. That
iU-fated region suffered greater calamities from the irruptions of the savages
in the struggle for American Independence than it did when first subjected,
some twenty years previously, to the merciless sway of the tomahawk and
scalping-knife. This last terrible infliction they would have been spared,

64
had not the British Government aUied itself with the Indians, and urged
them on to massacre the settlers — to spare neither age nor sex, but to riot
in indiscriminate butchery. There is scarcely a famUy in all that beautiful
scope of country but can trace its connection -with some one or more victims
to that infernal compact between the English Ministry and the American
savages ; and never, until the human intellect shall be incapable to transmit
from sire to son the story of unexpiatod wrbng, will the British name in
that quarter cease to be loathed and execrated. No Christian nation ever
sullied its escutcheon with so foul and dastardly a crime as Great Britain did
when she sent forth the untameable rod men of our forests to slaughter the
women and chUdren upon our frontiers. The flrst bloody proofs which tho
dwellers on the borders of the Delaware had of this atrocious aUiance, was
in 1777, when a party of savages slaughtered two or three famUies north of
the Navarsink, and then crossed into Montague, where they tomahawked a
famUy named Jobs, and next attacked tho dweUing of Capt. Abraham
Shimer, who by the assistance of three or four negro servants, and by the
indomitable resistance whieh he himself made, compeUed them to retire. In
a few days after, they returned, and captured a Mr. Patterson and his two
small bo5'S ; but Mr. Patterson managed to escape, when near the borders of
Canada, and after enduring incredible hardships, at last found his way back.'''

* " Mr. Patterson, being carelessly guarded, while a prisoner, had several opportu
nities of escaping, but as he hoped to save his son.«, he continued with the Indians
until within one day's journey of the Niagara frontier, where he was confident a cruel
death awaited him. In the night, while the Indians were asleep, he took two horses,
which they had stolen from him, aud escaped. The second day, being without food,
he killed one of them. The other, alarmed at the scent of blood, broke loose, and Mr.
Patterson, going in pursuit, not only lost him, but was unable to find the spot where
his slaughtered companion lay. In the course of this day he heard the Indians yell
ing in pursuit. He, however eluded them, and traveled on by the sun for five days,
without any food except buds and roots, and a snake and a toad he had killed, when
he arrived at the head waters of the Susquehanna. There he crooked a pin for a hook,
and attaching it with a worm at the end of a line made of the bark of slippery elm,
caught five fish and ate them raw. This appeased his hunger, and gave him strength
to construct a rude raft, on which he floated down to the Wyoming settlements, and
•from thence returned home. The sons were adopted by the Indians, became domes
ticated among them, and thoroughly savage in their habits. Elias, the younger, when
a man, returned lo Montngue, and married, still retaining many of his Indian cus
toms. Here he resided u ;til 1838, when he and his wife left for ihe Tuscarora Reser
vation."— SiX. Colh, pp. 470, 471.
Rhice Nicholas, Esq , of Flanders, Morris county, communicates fo me an Indian ad
venture, which he derived from S. P. Hull, Esq., of Morrstowu. It appears thatabout
the period Patterson -n'as captured, three Indianp, after lying in wait for some time,
succeeded one moonlight night in taking Major Van Campen, of WaUpack, prisoner.
I think his name was Moses, a son of Judge Abraham Van Campen, and consequently
he belonged to a family whom the savages had been taught to stand iu dread of.
Their object was to take him to the head waters of the Susquehanna, and there
murder him by lingering torture. They pinioned his arms, and two led him, while
the third guarded him with rifie and tomahawk, the others also being armed in the
same way. At night they compelled him to lie down with his elbows tied to his back,
one of his captors, reposing on each side of him, and the other standing guard. It so
happened, however, that all three of the Indians fell asleep, when Van Campen by a
desperate exertion of muscular power burst his fetters assunder, and, quick as thought,
seized a tomahawk and killed two of the sleeping savages. The other awoke and,
springing to his feet, ran for his life. Van Campen hurled the tomahawk after him,
with sucn sure aim that it struck him on the shoulder aud stuck fast, the Indian not
attempting to withdraw it until he was well out of sight. Van Campen gathered up
the rifies and other accoutrements of the fallen Indians, and returned safely to his
friends. Van Campen subsequently removed to Alleghany county, N, Y., and Mr. Hull some

65
His two chUdren remained with the Indians, grew up to manhood among
them, and adopted their mode of life. These events opened a field for the
employment of our local militia ; and the valley of the Delaware was the
scene for two or three years of active service. Among the officers who
commanded in this region, and who by their efficiency protected our State
so weU that the savages confined their atrocities almost exclusively to those
portions of Minisink lying in New York and Pennsylvania, were Colonels
Hankinson and Seward, Majors Meeker and Westbrook, and Captains Cort-
right, Harker, Shafer, Beckwith, Rosenkrantz, Bockover, Winter and Hover.
Tho block-houses in the "three river townships" stretching from the Water
Gap to Carpenter's Point, were furnished with men to defend them, and scout
ing parties were kept almost constantly in motion. Brandt, the Mohawk Chief,
who bore the commission of a British colonel, in the autumn of 1778, after
carrying fire and slaughter through the vaUey of Wyoming, appeared in the
Minisink country at the head of about one hundred Indians and tories, but
he confined his atrocities to the settlements north of the Jersey boundary
line, murdering a few famihes'*' there, and then returning to the confines of
Canada. In July, 1779, he re-appeared with a larger force, and dividing
it into small detachments, accompUshed in a few days a horrible amount
of piUage and massacre, the principal sufferers being the settlers on the
borders of the Navarsink river. A number of the inhabitants who
were assembled to bury a deceased neighbor were suddenly attacked
just as they were bearing the corpse from the door of the house, by a party
of Indians who had lain in ambush, and several were brutally murdered.
Jeremiah Van Auken, a schoolmaster, was dragged from hia school,
and slaughtered in the presence of the chUdren assembled there, and the
little ones would also have heen indiscriminately tomahawked, had not
Brandt himself appeared, and by a sudden impulse of humanity, interfered
and saved the major portion of them.t This Brandt was the son of a Ger-
thirty years ago, settled there also and edited a newspaper. He became acquainted
with Van Campen as a Jerseyman, and also formed an intimacy with an old Indian in
the vicinity, whom he understood had in his early days resided near tha Jersey fron
tier on the Delaware. Mr. Hull introduced Van Campen to the Indian, aud he turned
out to he the same person that had runaway with the tomahawk sticking in his shoul
der — in proof of which he showed Hull and Van Campen the scar made by that
weapon. Thenceforth the two old enemies became warm friends, and so continued
until Van Campen died.
* They first fell upon the family of Mr. Westfall, and killed one man. They next
attacked the house of Mr. Swartwout, who was at home with his sons, the women
having been removed to the fort. They all endeavored fo escape, but one of the sons
was shot down between the house and barn. Another ran to the river haljf a mile o8^
swam it, and was shot near the opposite shore. The father, an old man, and two of
his other sons assisting him ran on together, but finding that they would soon be over
taken, the father told his son James, a very active, strong man, to run and save him
self, which he did. The Indians pursued him half a mile over fences aud across lots,
when he gained the fort, and they gave up the ehase. The fathsr and the other son
were soon overtaken and despatched. — Eager's Eist, of Orange county, p. 386.
This same James Swartwout, some ten montha afterward, happened to be in Van
Etten's blacksmith shop, when the Indians suddenly came in sight. He crawled up
the chimney, and remained there undetected, although the savages made a pretty
thorough search of the premises.
t Some of the boys in the school were cleft with the tomahawk ; others fled f o the
woods for concealment from their bloody assailants ; while tae little girls stood by
the slain body of their teacher bewildered and horror struck, not knowing their own
iate, whether death or captivity. While tbey were standing in this pitiful condition,
5

man by a Mohawk squaw, and received a Christian education at Dartmouth
College. It is not improbable that when he saw this array of youthful pu
pils, old memories of boyhood crowded his mind, and constrained him to
stay the hand of slaughter. James Vanaukon, an uncle of Jeremiah, was
MUed about tho same time at his "fort," in what was caUed "the lower
neighborhood," on tho Navarsink. His place had been attacked by a band
of Indians, whom he repulsed, and thefr firing ceased. To satisfy himself,
however, that they had decamped, he ascended to the roof, and was taking
a survey of the field, when an Indian, who lay concealed, discharged his
rifle with fatal effect, and ho fell a corpse. About the same period the in
habitants generally attended the funeral ser-vices of one of their number at
the Mahackenack Church, " and when the procession was leaving it for
the burying ground, (says the Rev. P. Kanouse,) the Indians came down
upon their ..settlement, and, before they had time to reach their homes, the
flames of the church gave signs of their narrow escape, and the smoke of
their mills, barns, and houses, foreshowed the doom of Navarsink. Some
of tho whites — the number is unknown — were massacred in the most mer
ciless manner ; others, and among them mothers with their children in
their arms or by their sides, fled to thickets, swamps and standing grass,
for concealment and safety." These and many other atiocities, which I have
'not time to recount, were committed in the brief space of two or three days,
and by the morning of the 20th July, 1779, the inhabitants had almost to a
man fled from the settlement. Col. Tustin, of Goshen, who received on the
evening of that day, an express acquaintmg him with the calamities which
had been inflicted upon the Navarsink region, summoned the officers of his
regiment, with aU the men they could gather, to rendezvous next day at
Minisink. They promptly attended, and Major Meeker and Capt. Harker,
of the Sussex militia, with a number of mon under thefr command, also ap
peared on the ground. A consultation was forthwith hold. The enemy, it
was then reported, was 600 strong, 200 of which were tories painted so as
to resemble Indians, and the whole under command of Col. Brandt. It was
consequently thought by Col. Tustin unad-yisable, with the small force then
assembled, to pursue the Indian invaders. But Maj. Meeker, a bold and
resolute man, but of rash and impetuous disposition, mounted his horse,
and, drawing his sword, exclaimed " Let the brave men foUow me — cow
ards may stay behind !" This energetic language decided the question, and
the concourse, falling into military order, inarched in pursuit of the enemy,
and at a distance of seventeen miles fi-om the place of rendezvous halted for
the night. On their march, Col. Hathom, of Warwick, with a smaU detach-
a strong muscular Indian suddenly come along, and with a brush dashed some black
paint across their aprons, bidding them "hold up the mark when they saw an Indian
coming and it would save them ;" and with the yell of a savage, plunged iuto the woods
and disappeared. Tlris was Brandt, and the little daughters of the settlers were safe.
The Indians, as they passed along and ran from place to place, saw the black mark,
and left the children undisturbed. The happy thought, like a flash of lightning, en
tered these little sisters, and suggested that they should use the mark to save their
brothers. The scattered boys were quickly assembled, and the girls threw their
aprons over the clothes of the boys, and stamped the black impression upon their outer
garments. They, in turn, held up the palladium of safety as the Indians passed and
repassed, and these children were thus saved from injury and death to the unexpected
joy of their parents.

67
ment of men, joined them. They encamped on the same ground which the
Indians and tories had occupied the night before. Here evidences were
visible that the force of the enemy was fuU as great as had been represent
ed ; and again Col. Tustin advised against proceeding ftirther without in
creasing thefr numbers by re-inforcements. In this councU, Col. Hathom,
who was his senior, and who had taken command of the expedition, entfrely
concurred. But Meeker, by an appeal to the courage of the party assem
bled, simUar to that made by him in the outset, overturned aU dissuasive
arguments, and the interception and attack of the Indians was resolved
upon at aU hazards. On the morning of the 22d the march was resumed,
and in a few hours, our troops being on the hUls which skirt the Delaware,
saw the Indians leisurely stroUing along near the. river, about three-quarters
of a mUe ahead. Intervening hiUs and trees, however, soon shut them from
sight, and the militia pushed on, intending to attack Brandt opposite the
mouth of the Lackawack, where he had forwarded his plunder, and where
there was a fording place for crossing the river. But the wUy Indian, un
der cover of the hiUs, passed to the right, concealed his force in a deep ra
vine, over which our troops marched -without suspicion, and soon ho showed
himself in the rear. This gave him an opportunity to choose his point of
attack. He managed to detach about 50 of our men from the main body,
leaving only 80 for him to contend against. These latter he completely
surrounded, and exerted all his energies to exterminate. The beleagured
mUitia, being short of ammunition, reserved their fire, while the cfrcle of the
Indians and tories was rapidly contracting ; but when they did discharge
thefr pieces, the precision of their aim told upon the savages -with deadly
effect. But bravery avaUed httie; for just at the point when Brandt was
about to beat a retreat, a failure of ammunition left no other resource' for
our men than to club thefr muskets and prepare for a fiight. Dr. WUson,
in describing this battie says ; " Several attemps to break into our lines had
failed, but just as the firo began to slacken, one man who had guarded the
north-east angle of the hollow square, and who had kept up from behind a
rock, a destructive fire upon tho enemy, fell, and the Indian and tory crew
broke in upon our ranks like a resistless deluge." I have authority for
saying that the man who thus held the Indians in check was Moses De
witt, of Wantage, nor did he fall as represented ; his musket, by repeated
discharges, became too hot for handling, and seeing at a little distance a
comrade, who had a gun which he was not using, for he seemed intent only
upon sheltering himself from the enemy ; Dewitt started to get that unem
ployed gun ; in doing so he exposed his person, and the balls immediately
rattled around him like hail ; he fled for his Iffe ; a number of the enemy
pursued him ; they fired at him repeatedly ; but soon a ravine presented
itself; he turned into it, and the Indians fortunately lost his traU. Ventur
ing out as soon as he dared, he laid his course lor the nearest block-house ;
upon reaching the river flat, he overtook two of his comrades, one of whom
could not walk, having cut and lacerated his feet by running upon the
rough stones and rocks. Dewitt had a canvass jacket, which he took off,
rent it in twain, and bound round the man's feet. StUl he could not travel;
and so, to drag him to as good a place of concealment as could be found
without loss of time, and take care of themselves, were their only altema-

fives, and they fortunately proved effectual. Soon after they reached the
fort, a horse was procured, and under cover of night, their crippled com
rade was found, and his life saved. Of the eighty men engaged in the ac
tion, forty-four were kiUed in battle, or died of their wounds in the sur
rounding forest. Col. Hathom, Maj. Meeker, and Capt. Harker were among
the survivors. The bones of the victims wero gathered forty-three years
after the massacre, and interred at Goshen, where a monument to perpetu
ate their memory has been erected, with forty-four names inscribed thereon.
How many of these patriotic victims belonged to this county I am unable to
say. I can speak positively of only three, viz. ; Daniel Talmage, Capt. Ste
phen Mead and Nathan A\'ade, although it is not improbable that at least
one fourth of the whole were citizens of Sussex. I am particular in men
tioning these facts, because the history of this battle, as given by Dr. WUl
son, in his address al Goshen, on the 22d of July, 1822, upon the occasion
of inten'ing the bones of the ill-fated men, does not recognize any other
persons than citizens of Orange county as having taken part in the action.
Nor does Dr. W. stand alone in thus withholding credit from those to
whom credit is due. The share which Sussex is justly entitled to in that
memorable display of human bravery, is excluded from view by nearly
every writer who has attempted to describe the battle. But fortunately we
have upon the judicial records of our county abundant proofs, given under
the signatures of Col. Hathom and others, to warrant us in correcting his
tory on this point. The claim of old Sussex to a participation in the honors
as weU as the adversities of Minisink, rests upon an impregnable basis.
Whatever of glory was won in that sanguinary conflict by the dauntless
valor of her sons, is hers by indefeasible right ; and I now protest on her
behalf against aU the attempts which have been made to rob her of her in
heritance. " Lot justice be done though the heavens faU."
Soon after the battle of i\Iinisink, Gen. SuUivan was despatched with 4,000
men to chastise the Indian aUies of Great Britain. This expedition was
completely successful ; ho broke up thefr settlements on- the Susquehanna,
and drove the Five Nations to the Niagara frontier. They never again made
an irruption in'.o the settlements on our north-western borders, and that
portion of our county has reposed ever since in uninteiTupted securit3^ All
traces of those days of calamity have disappeared ; the men who partici
pated in the perUous enoounters which now live in our fire-side memories,
have also passed away ; and their possessions, which were hterally baptized
in fire and blood, are now enjoyed in peace by their chUdren and grand
children. I have little more to add to the Revolutionary annals of Sussex. She
honored the drafts made upon her from time to time for men and means,
during the struggle for Independence. But the names of those who re
sponded to the calls of thefr country have not been preserved. Besides the
ofBcers afroady mentioned, I may add that Col. Kennedy and Col. Gardiner
both commanded regiments of the Sussex mUitia, and Majors Robert Hoops,
Abm. Besherrer and Thos. Dunn were likewise in active service. I have
reasons for behoving that a regiment of Sussex mUitia, under Col. Jchn
Rosenkrantz, accompanied Gen. SuUivan in his campaign against the Five
Nations. One battalion of this regiment, led by Major Samuel Westbrook,

had an engagement with a party of Indians on the 19th of April, 1780, in
which Capt Peter Westbrook was kiUed.
In the year 1780, Sii the 4th day of July, the ladies of Trenton, "emulating''
(to use their own language,) " the noble example of their patriotic sisters of
Pennsylvania, and being desirous of manifesting their zeal in the glorious
cause of American Liberty," assembled, and took measures to open a gene
ral subscription throughout Now Jersey, " for the relief and encouragement
of those frrave men in the Continental Army, who, regardless of danger,
have so repeatedly suffered, fought and bled in the cause of virtue and
their oppressed country." They appointed ladies in every county in the
State to receive and forward donations. Those who were deputed to act in
Sussex county, were Mrs. Robert Ogden, Jr., of Hardyston ; Mrs. Mark
Thompson, of Hardwick ; Mrs. Robert Hoops, of Oxford ; and Mrs. Thomas
Anderson, of Newton, "whoso known patriotism" (says the circular of ap
pointment,) "leaves no room to doubt of their best exertions in an under
taking so humane and praiseworthy."
I mention this incident to show that the women of the Revolution took an
active part in securing the liberty of tho country. Their exertions in the
cause were unobtrusive, yet none the less effective. It was appropriate that
the men should take that position in the great struggle, which made their
services conspicuous ; but it is not appropriate, nor just, in us, their de
scendants, to overlook and forgot the mothers of the land in paying the
tribute of gratitude which we owe to our fathers. They beheld husband,
father, brother, son, go forth to battle ; yet they complained not, nor allowed
the great deprivations which they endured to prostrate their energies. As a
general rule, they rose superior to adversity. Besides discharging the
household duties to which they had been accustomed, they cheerfuUy went
forth to the fields and successfully performed those hardy tasks which in
civiUzed communities are properly imposed upon mascuhno muscles. Just
Usten a moment to a paragraph which is extracted from a newspaper, fiated
July 25, 1776 :
" We hear from New Jersey and Connecticut, that a great part of the
men being absent on miUtary service, and the time of harvest coming on,
the women, assisted by the elderly men whose age rendered them unfit for
the army, have so effectually exerted themselves, that they -have generally
got in their harvest completely, tho laudable example being set by the ladies
of the flrst character in each place. And wo are credibly informed that
many of them have declared that they will take the farming business upoi^
themselves, so long as the Rights and Liberties of their country require the
presence of their Sons, Husbands and Lovers in the field."
After such testimony as this to tho patiiotic manner in which the females
of the Revolution deported themselves, I need not add anything further
than to remark that the women of Sussex, in self-denial, in patient endur
ance, and in the display, when needed, of truly heroic qualities, were ex
ceeded by none in the land. Here they have been known to take up the
rifle to defend themselves against tho Indians, or to mount the fleet charger
and ride for miles through the wilderness, amid storm and darkness, to sum
mon aid when danger was impending. Such were your mothers, citizens of

70
iSussex — ^women who possessed all, the tenderness of feeling, aU the shrinking
modesty which becomes the sex ; but who scorned, as*all rJ|;ht-minded fe
males ought to scorn, that contemptible affectation of timidity which shrieks
to see a spider crawl and swoons at the sight of a mouse.
I have thus, feUow-citizens, dug from the grave of the past a few facts
and incidents iUustrative of the early history of this county. I have groped
darkly through your buried annals, picking up here and there a fragment,
which, however imperfect in itself, may yet possess great relative signifi
cance. The comparative anatomist needs only a tooth, a claw, or scale, to
enable him to give you an outline of the beast, bird, or fish which it pre
figures ; and I persuade myself that I have placed before you sufficient
remnants of the early history of your county, to serve as the basis of a
tolerably clear conception of the form and lineaments of Ancient Sussex.
What events have transpired, and . what progress in the arts of life has
been made since the Revolutionary era, neither my time nor your patience
wUl aUow me to describe. Suffice it to say, that this county in all national
emergencies has remained true to the spirit of 1776. She has never fal
tered in her patriotism. In the year 1794, two companies of her cavalry
volunteered to take part in the Western Expedition against tho " Whiskey
Boys," as the insurrectionists in Pennsylvania, who undertook to resist by
force a tax imposed by Government upon distiUeries, were caUed. One of
these companies was commanded by Capt. Abraham Shafer, of StUlwater,
and the other by Capt. Cadwallader Evans, then one of the proprietors of
the Andover Mine and Furnace, but afterwards a leading citizen of Phila-.
delphia. They were absent from the county three months, and though by
the submission of the insurgents, no opportunity had been afforded for
" fleshing thoir maiden swords," they had the satisfaction of being presented
at Bedford, Pa., to the immortal Washington — an incident much more grati
fying |o be dwelt upon in after life, than any event that could have trans
pired had they been reduced to the sad alternative of shedding fraternal
blood. Capt. James Conovor, of this county, was also engaged in this ser
vice, commanding, I believe, a company in the Regular Army.
In the war of 1812, Sussex county responded to every call made upon
her, and sent forth her sons to repel the aggressor, with an alacrity and
heartiness worthy of her character and fame. I might dweU at some length
upon this manifestation of her patriotism ; but it is not essential at this
time ; there are men around me whose memories comprehend the whole of
tlat glorious period, and who have doubtless by their fire-sides made their
chUdren familiar with its history.
In 1766, when the Court House was opened for public business at New
ton, there were eight small houses of worship in our county, which alto
gether did not cost $3,000 ; now there are in the same territory ninety-two,
valued, with the lands attached, at $193,800. At the same date there were
not more schools in the county than churches ; now there are in Sussex and
WalTon two hundred and thirty-seven, and in addition, several classical
academies for young men, and seminaries for young ladies. On the Sth day
of January, 1796, the ffrst newspaper was issued in Sussex, entitled the
" Farmers' Journal and Newton Advertiser," printed by Elliot Hopkins and
WUliam Hustin ; but it died in about a year from its birth, for want of sus-

71
¦tenance. The county then contained more than 20,000 inhabitants ; but our
fathers, I am sorry to say, had not yet become a reading people. Now,
there are in Sussex and Warren four'*' flourishing newspapers, although the
population has only increased, since 1796, about 100 per cent. WeU pat
ronized journals are only found in those communities where inteUigence and
enterprise abound. There is no surer test of general thrift than this. The
_presence of a newspaper in a family is a proof that the seeds of education
have been sown therein ; and where education has germinated, good fruit,
with rare exceptions, is the product.
In a former portion of my rambhng and discursive remarks, I touched
upon the subject of Agriculture. This pursuit is the most ancient, the most
important, and the most usefiil of human arts and avocations ; aud it has
from the beginning, in this county, been the main stay of our prosperity
In the first settiements made upon our soU, a mere subsistence appeared to
be all that was aimed at, and little produce was raised beyond what was
consumed upon the spot. Farming implements were few, and of rude con
struction, and the ground was scratched rather than cultivated. The land
was natural to grass ; and cattle, which could be driven to market, when
roads were nearly unknown, were almost the only articles of exportation.t
When mills began to be erected, grain in smaU quantities became a mer
chantable commodity, the miUers being the forwarders. Indian corn, for
many years after the settlement of our county, was not cultivated. Proba
bly, as late as 1780, there were not five acres devoted to this useful product
in our whole county.}: Timothy and clover, which now form so important
an element of our prosperity, were introduced at even a later date. There
are men now present who can recollect when these grasses first made thefr
appearance here. The chief improvements in agriculture have been made
-within fifty years ; and what a change has thereby boon wrought among us,
not only in physical comforts, but in moral and inteUectual wealth. Schools
have sprung up everywhere, and churches have multiphed, just in propor
tion as agricultural improvement has enhanced the general prosperity.
*' The " Sussex Register" was established in the year 1813, by John H. Hall, who is
still its proprietor ; the " Belvidere Apollo," (now called the "Belvidere Intelligencer,")
was flrst issued in 1824, by Charles Sitgreaves, and is now published by A. C. Hulz-
hizer; the "New Jersey Herald " was established in 1828, by Grant Fitch, and is now
Jublished by V. M. Drake ; and the " Warren Journal" was established in 1832, by
ohn S. Brown, aed is now published by Wm. H. Heminover.
+ In early days, horseback riding was a universal accomplishment — the females
being quite as expert as the males in managing the spirited steed. Old and young
travelled in this way, as well when paying a visit a few miles off, as when taKng a
journey. The wives and daughters of those farmers who could afford it, had riding
horses for their especial use. Seventy years ago, in what is now the heart of our
county, wagons for farming purposes were almost unknown. Grain was generally car
ried in the winter, on sleds, to those points where millers or merchants purchased it.
The precursors of wagons for agricultural operations, were ox-carts, of rude construc
tion, with wheels sawed from large butts, having holes made in their centres to receive
the axle. About 40 years ago, the chair and gig were introduced and used, until the
light four-wheeled carriage appeared, and entirely superseded them.
t The late Thomas Armstrong, Esq., who emigrated to Sussex from Middlesex
county, first became acquainted with this section of the State by bringing Indian corn
hither and exchanging it for wheat. He followed this business as late as the year
1784, at which time, to the best of his knowledge, Indian corn was not cultivated here.
It was the universal belief of Sussex farmers seventy years ago, that it was too cold
ic this mountainous region for that grain f o mature.

72
Lands hidden by stones or submerged by stagnant waters have been cleared-
and drained, and made fruitfiil ; and, as if to furnish conclusive proof of
the sympathy between matter and mind, the rank weeds and pestilent mists
of ignorance have at the same time heen removed from the popular intel
lect, and the fructifying hght and air of knowledge been freely admitted.
And yet, friends and feUow-citizens, though much has been done, much
more remains to be accompUshed. Perfection is not yet reached. The frill
powers of our soU — the aggregate production of which our county is capable
— have never boon tested. Agriculture, I may say, is yet in its infancy
among us. We stand now upon the threshhold of a new era. One hun
dred yoars have passed since our county was carved out of a comparative
wilderness, and when we look upon what it now is, and imagine what it has
been, wo feel that a mighty work has been -wrought. But the next century
-will exhibit stiU mightier results. The iron horse now stands impatient
upon our borders, and soon he will be in our midst, to be followed in a brief
period by the magnetic telegraph — ^that wonderful agent of modern enter
prise, that most astonishing contrivance of American ingenuity, which
freights tho lightning with the treasures of thought, bestows upon it the gift
of speech, and causes it to pursue defined currents, the obedient vassal of
the human -wiU. Good roads, convenient access to tho marts of commerce,
and certainty and celerity of transportation, are the accessories of agricul
tural prosperity. These we have never yet had, but they are now at hand.
Por want of them, large tracts of our soil have not yet been brought into
use, nor have those portions which have long been under cultivation been
made to yield -with the profusion of which they are susceptible. But the
power of steam, which annihUates distance and brings remote communities
into harmonious proximity, is soon to be exerted for our benefit, and a mar
ket for our commodities will be placed at our very doors. Then will our
waste places be speedUy reclaimed, our vacant lands be occupied, and all
tho latent fertihty of our soil bo fully developed. Instead of nine hundred
tons of butter and throe thousand tons of pork, we will produce double that
amount per annum, realizing therefrom not much short of a mUUon and a
half doUars ; the number of cattle raised and fattened for sale wiU be greatly
augmented, -with a proportionable remuneration ; the flocks of sheep upon
our hiUs will be multiplied, materially enhancing our wealth, as weU by their
fleeces as their flesh ; milk, young calves, poultry, eggs, honey, potatoes,
&c., now regarded as comparatively of little value, wUl then be worthy of
attention, and become sources of income to the annual amount of thousands
of doUars ; our surplus stores of grain wiU not then be frittered away or
wasted, yielding us no appreciable increase, but the returns will be felt in
the replenishment of our coffers ; our fruit trees, now producing a surplus
almost entirely profitless, will then bear a burden which may be advanta
geously disposed of ; every thing, in short, required for the sustenance or
luxury of man, which is indigenous to our soil and location, or susceptible
of acclimation, not forgetting the luscious berries, the fruit of the chestnut,
hickory and walnut, and the various medicinal herbs, which yield in their
season in spontaneous profusion throughout our limits, may be made sources
of gain ; the timber and bark of our forests, too, with the wild game that

73
inhabits the tangled wood, wUl form prominent items in the estimate of our
possessions, and add largely to the individual and general prosperity of our
citizens. But this summary of the resources of our county only points to the
abundance that is, and may be, gleaned from the surface of the earth ; whUe
the treasures which Ue beneath — our inexhaustible mines of the best quaU-
ties of iron ore ; our vast beds of zinc and Franklinite, more valuable than
the coveted- " placers" of California ; our mountains of the finest limestone ;
our quarries of marble ; our endless layers of the best slate ; our rich de
posits of marl ; our vast beds of meadow muck, susceptible of ready conver
sion, by cheap scientific processes, into the very fertUizing material which
our lands most need to be assimUated with — aU fountains whence millions of
wealth may be made to flow — are not taken into the account. Include the
latter, however, and we apprehend that there are few sections of countiy
whose resources, actual and latent, more imperiously require the power of
steam to aid and stimulate them. Give us the modern facilities of intercourse
— let us have for our bulky products and commodities a cheap, rapid and
uninterrupted transit to the cities of the sea-board — exempt us from the
ruinous rates of freight upon all that goes out or- comes in to the
county, upon all that we sell and a large portion of what we consume — and
a spirit of activity wiU be awakened, compared with which the present plod
ding for a hvelihood will appear as a snaU-like apathy. Give us the advan
tages which our position and resources require, and our county wiU rapidly
advance to the high destiny which should be attained by one so pecuharly
blessed by that Being, who has made her vales fertile to exuberance, fiUed
the bowels of her hUls -with ti-easures too vast to be computed, vouchsafed
an unwonted share of salubrity to her atmosphere, crowned her highest
mountains with trees and verdure, gemmed her surface with crystal lakes,
crossed and divided it by silvery rills and rivulets, and so disposed of her
scenery as to represent every form of rural beauty and sublimity, and to
impart to the higher quahties of the inteUect and to the moral sense, those
emotions of admfration and gratitude which prompt to deeds of benevolence,
foster the spirit of patriotism, and incite to virtuous actions.
When another hundred years shall be added to the age of our county, he
who now speaks, and aU who hear him, wUl rest beneath the clods of the
vaUey. Even tho names of most of us wiU have faded away from the mem
ory of men. But let us all act well our parts — let us be just to ourselves,
and mindful at the same time of the welfare of those who are to come after
us — and our works, our improvements, our displays of public spirit, will live
and honor us, even though our individual histories shall be forgotten. The
fame of few men survives beyond the third generation; for society is pro
gressive, and much more diposed to pry into the future than dwell upon the
past. Let us then leave our names to perish when they may, discarding all
morbid longings for the applause of posterity, do our duty upon earth man
fully, and by a virtuous life and conduct strive to secure that incorruptible
inheritance which shaU outlast the memory of the greatest of human
achievements, and endure when pillared fame, pyramid and cenotaph shall
crumble to dust, and even the " fiaming bounds of time and space" bo swal
lowed up in eternity.

POPULAR RIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY
PREVIOUS TO THB REVOLUTION.

Delivered on the occasion of the Centennial Celebration al Newton, Sussex
County, N. J., October 5th, 1853.

By Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle, op Rookawat, N. J.

Let me thank you, fellow citizens of Sussex county for the courtesy which
you have extended to a comparative stranger, in permitting me to address you
on an occasion so marked in your history. The kindness which has invited
me here to-day, -wiU render any apology from me unnecessary for accepting
an appointment for which many of your own citizens have very superior qual
ifications, both on account of their literary acquirements and their accurate
knowledge of your past history. I -wiU not blame them for apparent undu-
tifulness to thefr native county, of which they have just reason to be proud,
but wiU only ask your pity for myself, and your lenient judgment of what
I may say.
And here is the main difficulty of the case, but one which you have no
reason to regret. Some weeks after the acceptance of your appointment,
were devoted to the search after materials, and the self complacent idea be
gan to take possession of my mind that I had tracked out some things
which the people of Sussex might desfre to learn, when I ascertained that
my able colleague was on the same field, with superior faculties and praise
worthy zeal, picking up your history from county records, garret lumber,
and, better than aU, from your inteUigent old people. This news produced
two very opposite feelings in my mind. The one was a sense of personal
rehef that this work had fallen into such competent hands, and that you
would get something worthy of this occasion. The other was very much
such a sensation as you may suppose a man would have if suddenly thrown
out of a baUoon, his slender foundation gone, and himself sinking earthward
-with a rapidity quite uncomfortable. Under these circumstances I am sure
you wiU indulge me in taking a less restricted range than might seem alto
gether appropriate to a local celebration like this. If "necessity is the plea
of tyrants," it also is the common plea of scholars, and whether it be a valid
one for me at this time must be left to your candor and generosity.

70
When Gov. Morris, in 1739, wrote to his friend, Sfr Chas. Wager, "Time
may discover great events," a revolution was progressing in this continent
concerning which he might have said with a wider application than to the
petty troubles of a single badly governed province, " what wiU be the issue of
it I can't say ; the politics are too finely spun for my old eyes to form a judg
ment of '"^ The American Revolution was then passing through the incip
ient stages of its being. The seed corn of popular rights was now putting
forth "first the blade ;" the not distant future was to bring forth "the ear,
after that the fuU corn in the ear." The great historian of America has
said, "The eternal flow of existence never rests, bearing the human race
onwards through continuous change. Principles grow into life by inform
ing the public mind, and in their maturity gain the mastery over events ;
following each other as they are bidden, and ruUng without a pause." " In
America tho influences of time were moulded by the creative force of rea
son, sentiment and nature. Its pohtical edifice rose in lovely proportion,
as if to the melodies of the lj?re. Peacefully and without crime, humanity
was to make for itself a new existence." " The authors of the American
Revolution avowed for their object the welfare of mankind, and believed
that they were in the service of their o-wn and of all futtire generations.
Thefr faith was just; for the world of mankind does not exist in fragments,
nor can a country have an insulated existence. "t
* The part which the larger provinces bore in that Revolution has received
ample attention, but New Jersey and her people from the ffrst were moved by
the same " gentle breast" which bore onward " the ship of destiny, freighted.
with tho fortunes of mankind." And in the celebration of an event like this,
which carries us back to the premonitory throes which preceded the birth of
a nation, " the glory of all lands," may we not be justified in plucking at least
one laurel leaf and weaving it into that fadeless crown which history has de
creed to our own patriot fathers ? The historians of Rome were constrained to
utter the classic falsehood of a divine origin to their Romulus in order to hide
the infamy of his parentage, but wo as Americans look with a just pride to our
ancestors, protestants against civil and religious tyranny ; honest men who
feared God, and who wero wUling to endure all pains but those of conscience,
to possess a land where they and thefr children should have " freedom to
worship God." Unhke the Spaniards who foUowed Cortez and Pizarro into
the haUs of the Montezumas and the Incas, under the inspiration of a bloody
avarice, our fathers fied from tyrants. Freedom and not gold, was the price
they coveted, and when tyranny pursued them across the ocean, it was met
at the shore by as warm and brave a patriotism as ever burned in human
breast. Nor does this honor beloug solely to those brave men who stood
with John WInthrop and MUes Standish on Plymouth rock, or to those who
owned the sway of the intrepid John Smith, the greatest of American pio
neers, or to those who yielded no reluctant assent to the pious philanthropy
of WiUiam Penn, or to the honest and brave Dutchmen who took posses
sion of the Hudson. New Jersey claims an honorable share in tho glories
of aU these, and from the very first landing of her settlers at Communi
paw, at Ehzabethtown, at Newark, at Burlington, the spfrit of genuine de-
¦- Papers of Gov. Lewis Morri?, pp. i5, 60. t Bancroft's U. S., vol. iv, pp. i, 5, C.

mocracy may be traced in aU their deeds, and when the glorious " time
which tried men's souls" was fully come, the men of New Jersey staked
all they had on the issue, with a magnanimity and an unquestioning faith,
which are their letters patent te that nobUity which the Mayflower brought
to these shores.
Nor was the growth of free principles in this State left merely to the con
stitutional predohctions of its people. In the order of Providence the soU
was ceded to certain Proprietors by Royal grants, and the government of
the Province was rendered odious to the people by the narrow views and
the not unfi-equent avarice and oppression of men sent to do the bidding of
their masters. Here was a claim founded on a grant, the justice of which
the people could not see, and which they would not recognize. The power
which sought to govern them they saw to be " divided among speculators in
land, who as a body had gain and not freedom for their end." The sense of
wrong begot the desire for the right, and the Revolution was begun.
I was speaking of the growth of feeling concerning popular rights in New
Jersey. When this Province was only nine years old, having had a Pro
prietary Governor less than seven years (1672,) a dispute concerning the
rights of the Proprietaries and the people, resulted in the actual expulsion
of Gov. Carteret ft-om the Province, and the choice of his successor by the
people,'*' Various attempts were made by tiie Proprietors to coerce and coax
thepeople into their measures, but in vain. " For . twelve years," says Mr.
Bancroft, " the whole Province was not in a settled condition," and " from
June, 1 689, to August, 1693, East Jersey had no Government whatever ;''t but
this was not quite true. The Proprietary Government was of little force
during that period, yet the people by thefr own wiU did perform aU the acts
necessary to regulate thefr own internal affairs. | In these movements, Chal
mers, a historian who does not sympathize with popular rights, could see
only a factious and rcbeUious spirit in the Colonies. His inteUigence ought
to have opened his eyes to the deep under-current of freedom, which was
silently, hke a decree of destiny, moving on to tho glory of 1776.
In 1702, the Proprietary Goverment expired, and was succeeded by one
of royal appointment Previous to this event, the Province was rent by
faction until it was represented to the Home Government " as being without
law and gospel, having neither Judge nor Priest."§ In 1702, Lord Corn-
bury came to New Jersey as its first Royal Governor, and he says verjr
curtly that he found the people "prone enough to throw off all government."
In fact, so well had thefr previous contests trained them, that they use veiy
singular language for that age in thefr first address to the Governor, in pro
fessing their -wiUingness to " support any one who does not invade thefr lib
erties ; though they thought no consideration obhged them to support op
pression." And as if to show that words^were the signs of ideas, about this
time, according to Chalmers, the Grand Jury indicted the Chief Justice,
President of the CouncU and the Attorney General, for acting contrary to
¦* Chalmers' Hist. Am. Colonies, vol. 1, p. 120.
t U. S., vol. 3, p. 47.
i Whitehead's East Jersey under the Proprietors, p. 130.
S Chalmers 1, p. STS.

78
law ! The stern spfrit of freedom, which rocked England when Hampden
lived, and which brought a King to the scaffold, was agitating the souls of
freemen in New Jersey ; and it triumphed in the recall of Lord Cornbury,
between whom and tho representatives of the people occurred some scenes
worthy of study.'* The onward march of freedom was well exhibited in a
remonstrance which was made by the General Assembly of the Pro-rince in
1707, against the aggressions of Lord Cornbury on the rights of thepeople
whom they represented. The remonstrance was read by Samuel Jennings,
of West Jersey, and Speaker of the Assembly. It rehearses -with great par
ticularity every infringement on popular rights, and Mr. Jennings read every
sentence with the clearest emphasis. Among these sentences was the fol
lowing memorable one : " Liberty is too valuable a thing to be easUy parted
with, and when suoh mean inducements procure such endeavors to tear it
from us, we must say, that they have neither heads, hearts, or souls, that
are not moved by the miseries of their country, and are not forward -with
their utmost power lawfuUy to redress them." The Governor was greatiy
excited during the reading of this paper, and frequently interrupted the
Speaker -with the exclamations "Stop!" "What's that!" whereupon the
fearless Jerseyman would humbly beg the privilege of reading over the ob
noxious sentences, " with an additional emphasis upon those the most com
plaining, so that on tho second reading they became more observable than
before!" One of the early historians of Pennsylvania described this bold
freeman, Samuel Jennings, as being "sharp towards evU doers, but tender
and loving to them that did weU ;" but Lord Cornbury said to his fiiends,
after the remonstrance of the Assembly was read with such provoking and
cool emphasis, " that this fellow, Jennings, has impudence enough to face
the devil," which showed that he looked at the freeman whose najae is our
boast, as Haman looked at Mordecai. 'i-
It was not many years after this that Attorney-General Bradley, of New
York, wrote thus to Secretary Pope : " I doubt not but the Board wUl, from
thefr former experience of the Assemblies in this countiy and the present
disposition they seem to be in, plainly perceive that they aim at nothing less
than being independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain as fast as they can."
This was in January 1737-8. In 1733, Louis Morris, who, after Gov. Mont
gomery's death, " exercised the chief authority in New Jersey,"t remarked
in a letter to the Duke of New Castle, " that tho rendering Governors and
all other officers entirely dependent on the people is tho general inclination
of the plantations, and is no where pursued with more steadiness and less
decency than in New Jersey."^ This is certainly a compliment to our an
cestors which we may regard with not a littie pride. Morris was a
famous advocate of popular rights, during the earlier part of his
public life, but the possession of power seemed to change his sentiments,
and from the time of his appointment as Governor of New Jersey in 1738,
untU his death in 1746, he was made to feel the same inveterate hostihty to
* Provincial Courts of N. J., by R. S. Field, pp. 52-70.
t Smith's New Jersey, pp. 283-295.
I Papers Gov. Morris, p. 18.
§ Chalmer, vol. ii : p. 153.

79
tyranny which Jerseymen had displayed so heartily towards his predeces
sors. In many of his private letters and official documents he describes the
disposition of the people "to have the sole direction of aU the affairs of the
government and to make the Governors and other offlcers Intfrely depend
ent on themselves, that it requfres more temper, skUl and Constancy to
overcome these difficulties than faUs to every man's share : and whether to
be done most effectually by driving or leading them is difflc ult to determine.
Each of these," he adds with chagrin, " have succeeded in their turns, and
sometimes neitlier."* He also speaks of thefr wish to render the Governor
"the tool of their purposes." He -writes to the Lords of Trade (May 26th,
1739,) concerning the smaU Salary aUowed him by the people of New Jer
sey, and says, " they would persuade me to behove that the smallness of the
provision made for me is a mark of their affection and esteem, and that a
larger sum and such as would be thought suitable to the station might tempt
some man of more interest to obtain the government." And he adds that
one of the Assembly, a weaver by trade, gave the true reason for this nig
gardly conduct — " let us ieep the dogs poor, and -we'll maJce them do what
we please,"i
A more insfructive history of progress in the science of popular rights
can scarcely be named than the volume of Morris Papers, lately pubhshed
by the New Jersey Historical Society. It was one man against the many,
privUege and prerogative against popular freedom and rights.
It may not be out of place here to state that in 1715, New Jersey con
tained a population of 21,000 whites and 1,500 blacks, making a total of
only 23,500. In January, 1737-8, the census showed a population of 43,388
whites and 3,900 slaves, making a total of 47,288. This last census was
taken the year in which Morris county was set off fi-om Hunterdon. The
counties of Morris, Sussex and Warren alone contain at the present time,
a population larger by one-thfrd than the whole State had one hundred and
fifteen years ago, when Morris county, embracing the present territory of
those three countieswas organized, and named after the newly appointed
royal governor.
You -wUl indulge me also in referring very briefly to the attitude which
the principal religious denominations held to popular freedom previous to
the Revolution. In 1700 Mr. Lewis Morris, afterwards governor, memorial
ized the Bishop of London to adopt measures to. establish the EngUsh Church
in the Colony, and recommended for this purpose, among other curious
things, that no governor should be sent, but "a firm churchman, and if pos
sible one but churchmen be in his council and in the magistracy ;" " that
churchmen may have some peculiar privileges above others;" and "that
there be some measures faUen upon to get ministers to preach gratis in
America for some time, tiU there be sufficient number of converts to bear the
charge." In order to carry out this last design of furnishing the Colony
with gratuitous preaching, Mr. Morris recommended that " the king, the
archbishops, the bishops, and the great men admit no man for so many
years to any great benefice, but such as shall obhge themselves to preach
^ Morris Papers, p. 40. t Morris Papers, p. 49.

80
three years gratis in America." With such a cause he thought "we shaU
have the greatest and best men, and in human probabUity such men must
make a wonderful progress in tho conversion of these countries, especiaUy
when it perceived the good of souls is the only motive to the undertaking."
This memorial describes with considerable minuteness the moral condi
tion of tho people. Of West Jersey, he says " they have a very debaucht
youth in that Province, and very ignorant ;" and speaking of " PensUvania"
he says " the youth of that country air hke that in the neighboring Prov
inces very debaucht and ignorant." Perhaps Mr. Morris was^too fresh from
his own youthful eccentricities to give an impartial account of any church
or society, yet his account is good evidence that the situation of things was
bad enough, if we except a few favored spots like Newark, Ehzabethtown Free
hold and Woodbridge. But one thing is certain, that to such a growth had
the knowledge of popular rights attained in New Jersey, had the sagacious
plan of Morris boon adopted here, it would have loaded the Episcopal Church
with such odium as would have threatened its very existence in the Pro-yince.
Only churchmen for governors, councilmen, and magistrates ! The Puritan
and Dutch blood would have boUed over at such an importation of wrong
fr-om feudal Europe, and even the Quaker of West Jersey would have said
"the Lord rebuke thee," in a way not altogether consistent with his non-
resistant doctrine !
How feeble were tho beginnings of our religious congregations may be in
ferred from the statements of Smith the historian in 1765.'* Probably all
the churches of aU persuasions did not then number as many communicants
as the churches in tho single city of Newark now have ! They were smaU,
and their membership generaUy poor, and yet the growth of popular rights
is to be seen in those Churches. This was especiaUy true of the Calvinistic
Churches, and also of the Quakei-s. The historian has wcU said in speaking
of John Calvin, " the enfranchisement of the mind from rehgious despotism,
led directly to uiqufries into the nature of civil government ; and the doc
trines of popular liberty which sheltered their infancy in the wildernesses of
the newly discovered continent, within the short space of two centuries have
infused themselves into the life blood of every rising State trom Labrador to
OhUi, have erected outposts on the Oregon and in Liberia." " Calvin was
the guide of Swiss republics," and "Boston Calvinism ran to seed and the
seed was incorruptible.''t Right nobly did the early Oalvinists of New Jer
sey realize this high eulogium. So far as I can learn, they seemed from
the first to " own no king but the King of heaven ; no aristocracy but of the
redeemed ; no bondage but of the hopeless, infinite, and eternal bondage of
sin." Both minister and people asserted the natural rights of men, and re
sisted the encroachments of foudahsm. They expounded popular rights in
thefr meeting houses, and in the sanctuary, and at the family altar invoked
the divine blessing on the people in thefr sti-ugglos for freedom. When the
Revolution burst the chains of tyranny, John Withcrspoon, of Mercer,
signed the immortal instrument of an exodus from the house of bondage,
Jacob Green, of Morris, wrote as sharply as he preached against despotism,
James Caldwell of Essex, accompanied our armies not only to console the
* Smith's N. J., pp: 50$-6. * Bancroft's V, S., 1: pp. 26T, 288; ii; 458.

81
dying patriot, but to inspirit the living with the high considerations of eter
nity, and both Joseph Rosebrough of Sussex, and James CaldweU laid down
thefr lives a sacrifice for freedom, and they were not alone.
Among the Quakers there were some who looked askance at the actual
bloodshed of the Revolution, but right certain is it that in aU the conflicts
of right and might of the people with the aristocracy, of freedom with priv
ilege, which agitated New Jersey for half a century before the Revolution,
the followers of George Fox and WUUam Penn took a notable part. They
did not fight, but were rather Uke the Quaker of Uncle Tom's Cabin, who
pressed the eager slave-catcher from the precipice down through the tree-
top with the emphatic remark, "friend, thee is not wanted here!"
The Quakers were non-resistants, and yet had a good way of getting
round thefr scruples when they perceived it to be necessary. Benjamin
Franklin says that the Quaker Assembly of Pennsylvania had a demand
made on them for money to buy powder -with on the occasion of some threat
ened invasion, and that they voted £3000 to buy wheat, corn and other
grain ! And on another occasion, the fire company to which Franklin be
longed, were sohcited to spend their surplus money in buying a cannon for
the fort. The Quakers, with one exception, stayed from the meeting, al
though eight of^them informed Franklin that they were ready to come in
and vote for it if necessary, but did not wish to do so if the majority could
be secured without them. Franklin adds that had the original proposition
faUed he intended to propose buying a fire engine, alleging that a cannon
was such an instrument, without dispute.
To their honor let it be said also, that the Established Church had many
zealous and distinguished patriots, although there were so many induce
ments and reasons why they should take the side of the ro3'-alists. In their
hturgy were found the stated prayers for the royal family, the tendency
of which was to hnk them by a reUgious bond to the throne. But
when the choice was to be made between their country and a foreign king
many of the clergy, and most of the laity joined the patriots, and suspended
thefr prayers for royalty, with the substitution of a nobler petition for thefr
countiy. In a manuscript letter from the Rev. Mr. Duche, the Episcopal
minister who offered the flrst prayer in tho Congress of 1770, to General
Washington, he relates the fact that his vestry ordered him to cease praying
for the royal famUy, and I doubt not many other vestries did the same
thing. Notwithstanding this admission, the contemporaneous accounts of
those days con-vince me ^that the clergy of this Church as a body, did not
take as firm ground in favor of our Independence as they did after the con
test was decided, and the American Protestant Episcopal Church became
independent of the English Established Church.
You are aware of the fact, that after independence was declared, the Rev.
Mr. Duche took the side of the royalists, and among the papers of the New
Jersey Historical Society, I chanced on a letter from him to Gen. Washing
ton, dated Oot. Sth, 1777. It is written to persuade Washington that he
ought to abandon the cause of the rebels as hopeless, and one which must
be attended with a vast and wicked expense of money and hfe. He ex
plains the reasons of his compliance with the request of Congress to offer
prayer in thefr haU. When invited, he says he was " surprised and dis-
6

82
tressed," but still he complied, looking on "independency rather as an ex
pedient, and a hazardous one, thrown out in terrorem to procure some fa
vorable terms, than a measure that was seriously to be persisted in at all
events." In this letter he exhorts Washington to look at his associates in
this "fatal independency," and says, the members from Pennsylvania "are
so obscure, that their very names never met my ears before, and others
have only been distinguished for the weakness of their understandings and
the violence of their tempers." In this surprising denunciation he excepts
only one. (Franklin?) He then describes in strong language the weak
ness of America and the strength of her adversaries, and entreats Washing
ton to relinquish the struggle as hopeless.'''
If we examine the subject attentively, it wUl be found that by some
means or other, the religious sentiment of our Jersey fathers, as in New
England, was thoroughly enlisted in favor of freedom, and was one of the
strongest means of bearing them up in days when no eye but that of reli
gious faith could discover a ray of hope. A very fine illustration of this
fact is to be drawn from Mr. Duehe's letter just alluded to.
I have already intimated that Gov. Morris, from 1738 to 1756, the en
tire term of his office, was met with a firm resistance, as a promoter of roy
alty at the expense of popular freedom. Indeed, so completely was he
foUed in one favorite scheme after another, that it quite anira|,tes one to read
this sentence from his letter to Andrew Johnston, Speaker of the Assembly :
" Your account of the wine is not a little refreshing, and I am in hopes when
this puzzling affair is over, we may take a chirruping glass together, and dis
perse all the clouds and mists about it" Poor Gov. Morris ! when he was
abused by those in power, he was a thorough popular rights man, but
power spoiled him, and he found no such " chirruping glass" as could " dis
perse the clouds and mists" which popular indignation gathered about him.
* The -writer does not introduce the letter of Rev. Mr. Duchfe as a reflection on the
church of which he was a minister, but to present some of the actual difficulties which
the patriots were called to contend with, and which are strongly stated by the man
who offered the first prayer in Congress. The writer was not forgetful that Bishop
White and Ashbel Green were bolh men who could offer prayers in Congress «ithout
suffixing to that holy business, the treason of a Duchfe. The following quotations will
throw light on the relations of this church to the cause of patriotism during the Kevo
lutionary War, and do justice to all parties.
"Let not the Protestant Episcopalian forget that Bishop White, 'the father of his
church,' wa3 one of the fir-st chaplains of Congress, and invoked as such, the divine
blessing on their earliest deliberations; nor let him forget that Washington himself,
'the father of his country,' that great and good man, worshipped at her altars, and at
tended regularly upon her solemn services. No; let him not forget that while her
clergy were thus hampered and distracted from the very nature ot their position, her
laity in the middle and southern States, lent a most efficient aid in their country's
hour of need. Among the stout hearts and true that stood up manfully for their
country's rights, who more prominent than Alexander Hamillon, and John Jay, and
Eichard Henry Lee were?" — Centennial Discourse Iry Eev, Matthew H, Henderson, Sec
tor of Trinity Church, Newark, H. J.
"It is true," says a writer in the Literary World of Sept. 28d, 1848, "that as a
body tbe clergy of the Church of England in the Colonies were either neutral in the
contest— the case with the greater number — or ranged on the side of royalty ; for re
ceiving their ordination from the hands of the prelates of the Established Church —
bound to tbe use of its liturgy, including necessarily the appointed prayers for the
King and royal family — and subordinate as they were to the Bishop of London, (here
was a double aUegiance operating iu their case to prevent a disruption of the ties
which united them to the mother country. But there were among them, neverthe
less, many eminent examples of devotedness to the Colonial cause."

It was a battle to the end of his life, and out of every conflict the people
came forth without " the smeU of fire upon them." When he, in 1773,
withstood the tyrant Cesby, he said m a noble letter, " I have been in this
office (C. J. of New York) twenty years. My hands were never soUed
with a bribe : nor am I conscious to myself, that power or poverty hath
been able to mduce me to be partial in the favor of either of them ; and as
I have no reason to expect any favor from you, so I am neither afraid nor
ashamed to stand the test of the strictest inquiry you can make concernmg
my conduct.'"* And he maintained such an attitude as this, even though
dismissed from office, he would have continued a popular favorite, but al
lying himself as he did to the interests of prerogative against those of the
people, the people "raking into the ashes of the dead" wrote on the history
of his administration, " Found Wanting." Seeking to stem such a current
as that which then swept over this Province, he ought to have had justice
on his side, but being unsupported by that, he was carried down the stream
like a leaf in spite of his struggles. His fault was one arising from his po
sition rather than intentional wickedness, and right nobly have his descend
ants atoned for it.+
In 1747, Belcher became governer, and seems to have enjoyed a greater
degree of popularity than any other royal governor, not so much on account
of his actively espousing the cause of the people as his refraining from open
resistance. The same free principles kept evolving themselves, as naturaUy
as the growth of an oak, and even Belcher was compeUed to say " I have to
steer between Scylla and Charybdis ; to please the King's minister at home,
and a touchy people here ; to luff for one and bear away for another,"| and
he confessed in the struggle of the people for the lands on which they lived,
against the proprietary monopohsts, leading to serious riots and gaol deliv
eries by popular force, that " he could not bring the delegates into meas
ures for suppressing tho wicked spirit of rebellion."! The truth was more
and more apparent, that the science of popular rights in New Jersey was a
hving plant whose inward energies were obeying the divine idea" of free-
-* Morris Papers, p. 21.
t If children can atone for the faults of their ancestors certainly the single fault of
the royal govL^rnc". Lewis Mori -s has received ample -dmen^'.-^ in the deeds and spirit
of his duscenda-at;. Each of the four generations succeeding him, has produced distin
guished and pafriotic men. In th3 first generation, may be named Robert Hunter
Jlorris, Lieut. Gov. of Pennsylvan a, and afterwards Chief Justice of N. J.
In the second generation, Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Indepen
dence; Robert Morris, Jud^^e of the Admiralty under the Crown, -u'ho threw up his
office and joined the patriots, and Gouverneur Morris, Minister to France when Louis
the XVI was executed.
In the third generation, Staat Morris, Aid to Gen. Green ; Jacob Morris, Aid to Gen.
Lee ; Commodore Richard Morris, who cjmmanded the Frigate New York, and Lewis
R. Morris, Aid to Baron Steuben.
In the fourth generation, Capt. Lewis Morris, who was killed in the siege of Mon
terey ; William and Governeur Morris, both officers in the Mexican war ; Robert W.
Rutherford, who represented Sussex county several years in Council; David B. Og
den, the distinguished lawyer of New York city, lately deceased ; Robert H. Morris,
Recorder of New York, then Mayor, and now iludge of the Supreme Court; Judge
Richard R. Morris of Sparta, who represented Sussex county in Council, in 1837-8;
Mr. Thomas I Ludlum, the p.-esent Clerk of Sussex county; Judge Walter L. Shee,
of Hamburgh, and the Lawrence family of Hardyston, who for three generations have
been useful and influential citizens of Sussex county.
X Bancroft's U. S., iv : p. 142 § Bancroft's U. S., iv: p. 40.

84
dom, and that it had already become too deeply rooted to be easily torn up.
Even as early as 1752, this was so apparent, that Chalmers remarks with
respect to New Jersey, " the levelling principles of the people had led them
to reduce aU officers to a state of abject subservience ; the consequent weak
ness of authority had promoted rebelhous resistance ; and the untimely ex
pedients of ministers now gave a triumph to the insurgents which opened
new prospects to the ambitious. How seldom do statesman consider that a
revolution may already hate leen achiered while they are yet deliberating
with regard to the modes of prevention and redress.'"''
It is a fact not generaUy kno-wn, that the doctrine asserted by the Colo
nists, that it was unconstitutional and tyrannical to tax those who were not
represented in the body laying the tax, was first asserted in New Jersey, at
so early a date as 1680. The people of West Jersey, in their remonstrance
against tho imposition of duties in that year, announce the following politi
cal postulates as needing no proof, viz : " the English right of common as
sent to taxes;" "the King cannot justly take his subject's goods without
their consent." "It were madness," they declared, to leave a free, good,
and improved country, to plant in a wilderness; and there adventure many
thousands of pounds to give an absolute title to another person to tax us at
will and pleasure.''!-
\i: Hero is a fact transpiring, a principle asserted almost a century before
the Declaration of Independence which, with ether things, proves that that
event was not the result of a sudden impulse, but of long seated and grow
ing convictions. Like tho river Alpheus, lost for a time, and then found
mingling with the fountain of Arethusa, the principle of popular freedom
asserted in 1680 might have been lost sight of temporarUy, only to break
forth from its hidden channel, and mingle its stream with the gushing foun
tain of popular liberty in 1776.
In 1760, Benjamin Franklin said, in an admirable paper in favor of an
nexing Canada — a project which was opposed by many on the ground that
the growth of the Colonies " may render them dangerous" — " while the
government is mild and just, while important civU and religious rights are
secure, such subjects wiU be dutiful and obedient. The leaves do not rise
lut when tlie winds lloir',"\ In this same pamphlet, Franklin made the
significant assertion concerning "the fourteen separate governments" in
America : "A union among them for such a purpose is not merely improba
ble, it is impossible. * * * * * "When I say such a union is impossi
ble, I mean, without the most grievous tyranny and op>pressio7i," As early
as 1754, this sagacious patriot, in a series of able letters to Gov. Shirley, of
Massachusetts, had set forth the feehngs of Americans on tho right of the
British Parliament to tax the Colonies; and he then said "that eompeUing
the Colonies to pay money without their consent, would be rather like rais
ing contributions in an enemy's country, than taxing of Enghshmen for their
own pubUc benefit."|l This grand thought afterward was the staple in one
of the most tremendous invectives that ever feU even from the lips of the
elder Pitt.
* Chalmer's Am. Coll., ii ; p. 223.
t For this fact I am indebted to William A Whitehead, Esq.
t Writings of Franklin, Sparks' edition, vol. iv, p. 42.
I Writings of Franklin, vol. iii, p. 60.

To use Franklin's figure, "the winds were blowing," and of course "the
waves" of American feeling "were rising." The British Government seemed
to be blind by the judgment of God. The Attorney-General, in 1760, said
to Franklin : " For all what you Americans say of your loyalty and all that,
I know you will one day throw off your dependence on this country ; and
notwith,standing your boasted affection, you will one day set up for indepen
dence." "No such idea," replied Franklin, "was ever entertained by the
Americans, nor wUl any suoh ever enter their heads, unless you grossly aluse
them." "Very true," rejoined the Attorney-General, ^^ that is one of the
main causes I see will happen, and will produce the event,"*
Popular rights in the Colonies received the amplest materials on which to
grow strong. The stamp act was passed. In Boston, Samuel Adams had
afready announced that " it is lawful to resist the Chief Magistrate, if the
Commonwealth cannot otherwise be preserved ;" Otis " rocked by the stormy
impulses of his fitful passions," had declared that " an act of Parliament
against the Constitution is void," and John Adams had said that he could
never read certain oppressive acts passed by the ParUament, " nor any
section of them without a curse." Some zealous and shrewd patriots at
Boston in 1765, had written the foUowing note-worthy letter to the editor
of a Boston newspaper : " Sir, this is neither paper, -parchment nor vel'
lum ; Query : May not all instruments le torote on harl; and so a/void
stamp duties and yet le valid f If so, I am ready to supply with good
writing bark all those whose consciences are bound by the late act"t The
Home Government had " a right to shear the wolf," but in enforcing the
unrecognized right they found the animal would bite with a severe good
wUl. Massachusetts found a fitting tongue in James Otis with which to
express the feehngs which burned in her volcanic heart. Virginia, Massa
chusetts and New York, as if moved by a common impulse, cursed the
Stamp Act as "the folly of England and the ruin of America." In South
Carolina the voice of Rutiedge was like a trumpet which "gave no uncer
tain sound," and Christopher Gadsden said proudly, " Massachusetts sound
ed the trumpet, but to Carolina is it owing that it was attended to."| In
Oonnectitut popular rights swept away the Stamp Act as thistle down be
fore the gale. In Maryland, the freemen of Talbot County erected a " gib
bet twenty feet high before the Court House door, and thereon hung in
chains the effigy of a stamp informer, there to hang interrorem till the
Stamp Act is repealed."§ In New Jersey the people of Salem had under
stood that Mr. John Hatton was to be a distributor of stamps, and they
compelled him to sign a paper declaring that he had no such intentions,
and on no consideration would engage in the business. 1 In Morris County
brave old Justice Winds was issuing writs and summons on white birch
bark, probably taking the notion from the Boston letter writer. In fact, the
work went on right bravely throughout the " Old Thirteen Colonies."
Richard Stockton, of New Jersey, wrote to Robert Ogden, afterward a set-
tier in Sussex, " You see the spirit that the Stamp Act has raised through-

-* Quincy's Life of Quincy, as quoted by Sparks ; Notes of Franklin, vol. i, pp. 87S-5.
+ New York Gazette, Dae. 16th, 1765. X Baocrofi's U. S.. Vol. V., p. 294.
§ N. Y. Gazette, Dec. 16th, 1765. | N. Y. Gazette, Dec. 16lh, 1765.

86
out the American Colonies. The people certainly ought to complain when
they are oppressed. The unbounded hcense of some to the eastward ought
to be discountenanced by every friend to his country ; yet the Stamp Act
cannot be extended here but in diametrical opposition to our Constitution ;
wherefore I am humbly of the opinicn that the representatives of the peo
ple ought not to be silent, they ought to complain constitutionally. They
should complain to the King, not to the Parliament, whose authority they
do not and ought not to recognize.'' He then urges that the Assembly ap
point delegates to the Congress " to be held this fall in New York. If your
house does not do it, we shaU not only look like a a speckled bird among
our sister colonies, but we shall say implicitly that we think it no oppres
sion.""' Here you wUl notice the exceeding sensitiveness of the colonists to the
right and the wrong of things. Stockton would not have them petition
Pariiament, because they had no representatives in that body, but they
must petition the King, who reigned over them all. Our Jerseymen of
those times were sticklers for their rights, and neither the coarse tyranny of
Cornbury, or the more gentle suasions of Belcher, could for one moment
put to sleep their vigilance. "I dare tax America," exclaimed the brilhant
but hot-headed Charles Townsend, and the bravado was answered by
Americans, " and we dare resist you.''
Let us pass over the repeal of tho Stamp Act, the joyous acclamations of
the people, the devout thanksgiving which ascended from the lips of the
minister, tho iUuminations and other signs which showed that the people
felt that a great victory had been attained. Popular rights had received an
impulse, and the people themselves felt stronger and bolder to maintain
them in future. The leaders of the English Government, having eyes saw
not, having ears heard not, the warnings which the past was offering them.
" I dare tax America !" and in due time the tea tax was laid, only to meet
the fate of its odious forerunner, the Stamp Act, only after a more bloody
fashion. What New England did in that time we know ; but many do not
know that so thoroughly had the people of this State become imbued with
the spfrit of resistance, that hundreds of noble women in all parts of the
State refused to buy tea, or in any way to countenance its use. It was an
article which, for the best of reasons, the people declared contraband. But
why stop to repeat this oft-told story ? Why trace the royaUst and unwor
thy WiUiam Franklin through all his ineffectual struggles against the rising
waves and the heavy sea-swell which finaUy engulphed him ? Lot him gO,
only with the expression of pity that Benjamin Franklin should ever have
been about such unworthy business as to beget such a son !
FeUow-oitizens, the county of Sussex was born at a stormy period of our
history, and it must be not merely entertaining, but important, to trace back
its birth to the period when Freedom, hke a waking Samson, was beginning
to learn how strong she was, and was caUing out to the world that a politi
cal millenium was at hand. This was the talldng period of the Revolution,
when our Odgens, and Stocktons, and Dickinsons, and Frelinghuysens, and
* Sept. 18th, 1765. Letter of B. Stockton in Proceedings of N. J. Hist. Society.
Vol. I^ p. 149.

87
Condits were reasoning from flrst principles to ascertain the rights of man.
It may be that they saw "men only as trees walking;" but like Samsob
they seized the pillars on which tyranny rested, and bending thefr brawny
strength with a power resistless, they brought it to the ground. Stamp act,
tea tax, Boston port biU, all were like flax threads on a giant's limbs, and
the voices of Otis and Henry and Rutiedge, uttering the stirring sentiments
of popular rights on this side of the Atlantic, found a responsive echo in
the words which Chatham and Burke and Barre uttered in the British Par
Uament. New Jersey was all pervaded with feeling which throbbed in uni
son with patriotism at Boston and at Charlestown. When the Boston port
bUl was enforced, Stephen Crane, of Elizabethtown, addressed a letter in
behalf of thepeople of Essex county to certain gentlemen or "anybody
else in Monmouth county," in which he speaks of " the late insolent attacks
made upon the rights and liberties of the Colony of Massachusetts," and
caUs on them to meet in a general Convention at New Brunswick, to devise
measures of relief.'" Edward Taylor,! of Monmouth, writes to Josiah
Holmes, of the same county: "We wrote to them (the Bostonians) desiring
them Not to Give up, and if they should want any further supply of
Bread, to let us Icuow." The Bostonians acknowledge the receipt, from
Monmouth county, of "eleven hundred and forty bushels of rye, apd fifty
barrels of rye meal for the suffering poor of this town." And the brave
fellows, after telling of tho " harbor clogged with ships of war, our town
fiUed up with six regiments and more coming, the entrance of the town for
tified by a strong entrenchment, and cannon pointed against the whole
country," use these words, ever memorable as showing how our fathers bore
up under their sufferings : " but we are not discouraged ; God has done
great things for us ; Ho is still keeping, and we trust he wUl in his own time
and way deliver us."J:
If we now refrace our steps a Jittle, we shall find that the General As
sembly of this Province in 1755 and 1756 wero obhged to pass acts to guard
the north-western frontier of Sussex county from the incursions of the In
dians "by erecting block-houses and supplying the same with sufficient
forces."! The defenceless situation of the infant county is to be inferred
from the diabolical murder of the Swartwout family in 1757, and .the fact
that when the supposed murderer. Springer, was caught in Essex county,
it was deemed unsafe to try him in Sussex county, and a special act was
passed by the Assembly for his being tried in Morris county. He was ac
cordingly tried, convicted and executed in Morris county, because, as the
act alleges, " the incursions of the Indians, and the commotions thereby oc
casioned, rendered it difficult if not dangerous to hold a Court of Oyer and
Terminer" in Sussex. ||
In 1765 the General Assembly passed an act to raise "two hundred
pounds to be lent for the rehef of the inhabitants of the county of Sussex,"
to be expended in " purchasing bread corn for the inhabitants of said
county."ir Sussex had not then become the Egypt of New Jersey.
* June ISth, 1774. t January 17th, 1775.
X Proceedings N. J. Hist. Society, vol. i, pp. 184 et seq.
I Neville's Laws N. J.,vol. ii, p. 10 ; and Allison's Laws N. J., p. 208.
I Allison's Laws N. J., pp. 214. 215. If Allison's Laws N. J., p. 45.

You are already aware of the fact that although this county was organ
ized in 1753, it was not aUowed to have representatives in the Colonial As
sembly untU 1768 ; but in the mean time the act was passed which gave
representatives to Morris, Cumberland and Sussex counties, and the same
act aUowed the voters, until the biU obtained the King's assent, to appear at
Trenton, or wherever the Hunterdon polls might be opened, to vote for the
representatives of that county ! In December, 1769, a committee of the
Assembly WTote on to Franklin, then in London, instructing him as their
agent to use means to gain his Majesty's assent to " the biU giving the coun
ties of Morris, Cumberland and Sussex a right to choose representatives in
the Assembly, tian.smitted in 1768.'"* In 1765, Smith described the county
as " being a frontier, not much improved, and having but few inhabitants."t
Yet the act which gave Sussex the right to choose representatives, begins
by saying: "Whereas, the counties of Morris, Cumberland and Sussex are
now lecome very populous," &,c.\
It is curious to notice, also, (he fact that at that time no person could be
elected a representative who did not own one thousand acres of land or five
hundred pounds sterling English money, and that no one was aUowed to
vote who did not own one hundred acres of land or fifty pounds sterling
English money.§
But the day of petitions has expired, at least so our brave fathers in 1775
thought. They had tried petitions in vain ; now they would try powder.
The Provincial Congress in that year ceased petitioning the King of Great
Britain, but continued to press their petitions on the " King of Kings" in
behalf of "the lives and properties, the reUgion and liberties of their con
stituents, and of their remotest posterity."! Accordingly, the ministers of
Trenton were invited to officiate, " in order that the business of the day may
be opened with prayer for the above purposes." In that Congress you will
notice the names of Chetwood, Boudinot, Ogden and Van Cortland of Essex,
Nathaniel Heard and Sohureman of Middlesex, WiUiam Hard, WUliam De-
Hart, Jonathan Stiles, Peter Dickenson, Jacob Drake, Ellis Cook and Silas
Oondit of Morris, Frederick Frelinghuysen and Hendrick Fisher of Somer
set, Archibald Stewart, Edward Dumont, WilUam Maxwell and Ephraim
Martin of Sussex, with good men "too numerous to mention'' from these and'
other counties. Whether they adopted the rule which was in force in the
Assembly of 1673, I do not learn — " that every member of the House shall,
-» Writings of Franklin, vol. vii, p. 461. t Smith's N. J., p. 506.
X Allison's Laws N. J., p.
§ And here, as a matter of curiosity, I may state that the elections in those days,
and many years afterwards, differed much from our own times. From tbe unpublished
minutes of the Privy Council we have the following facts: In the election of members
of the National House of Represertatives in 1790, tb'ere were 42 candidates, of whom
Elias Bnudinot, (4,433 votes,) Abraham Clark, (6,485,) Jonathan Dayton, (4,446,) and
Aaron Kitchel (2,8S8,) were elected. The smallest vote for any oiie candidate was
one (George J. Doremus). The whole number of votes cast was 89,338.
In 1792 there were 22 candidates, of whnm John Beatty, (6,993 votes,) .Jonathan
Dayton, (5,731.) Abraham Clark. (.'5,085.) Elias Bondinot, (4,631.) and Lambert Cad-
walader (4,3-25) were elected. The lowest vote was for James Kins'ey and dames'
Schureman, each receiving two, and the next lowest was for Frederic Frelinghuysen,
who received 8. The whole number of votes was 37,898. — Minutes Privy Council, p.
172, in possession of Dr. McChesney.
I Proceedings of Prov. Cong. N. J., l';75, p. 5.

during the debate, behave himself with gravity and decency ; and any mem
ber who, during any debate, shall deviate from the subject matter thereof, or
attempt to ridicule any other member on the contrary side of the matter,
shall pay half a crown.'"* But, with or without rules, these men did " be
have with gravity and decency," and went to work as men who had not
merely " the religion and liberties of their constituents" in keeping, but
" the remotest posterity also." Every resolution was like the full pulsation.
of Uberty which was then beating in the heart of America. " The High
and mighty exalted WiUiam Franklin,'' as Philip Livingston, Jr., caUed the
Governor of New Jersey, tried to rein them up, but found that the people
had fed so lustily on what they caUed popular rights, as in mettlesome
mood to take the bit in their teeth and run where and as fast as they Usted,
the driver to the contrary notwithstanding. Without consulting the Gover
nor, they organized regiments and commissioned offlcers, and among others
" the field officers of the first regiment of Sussex county."t Saltpetre was
at a premium, and they wanted it to be " good merchantalle saltpetre,"
careful souls that they were, for they wished powder that would not " hang
fire." Moreover, their proceedings are enlivened with sundry evidences that
New Jersey abhorred tories, and was successful in bringing some of them to
repentance. These sturdy men were not careful to inquire whether the tory
was a minister, an esquire, or anybody else. Two esquires in Sussex were
thus dealt with. If a tory, he must repent or perish. Meanwhile " the
unterrified democracy" of Sussex astounded this Congress by " two petitions
signed by a great number of persons, and praying that all who pay taxes
may le admitted to vote."X It also appeared that the freemen of Morris
county had been so agitated by " the alarming account of the battle of Lex
ington" as to incur " a debt of one hundred and eighty pounds," " in raising
of minute men in May last."§ " The farmers of Essex" also showed some
signs to be considered, in petitioning that "money at interest, lawyers, &c.,
may be taxed."] The fathers of Sussex showed "an eye to the main
chance" in petitions to restrain shopmen from raising the prices of their
goods. In fact, the whole Province was in a ferment. Tories were called
to repentance ; " strollers and vagabonds," horse- thieves and other nuisances
were summarily abated, and the freemen of the State gathered around the
altar of Liberty, and pledged " their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor" to the defence and triumph of popular rights. They hardly knew
what was to come of it ; but having put their hands to the plough, they did
not look back.
And it is worth our while to see what they had to rely on in those some
what unloyal proceedings. In the New Brunswick barracks (February 6th,
1776,) they had ninety blankets, appraised at £62 3s. M., and probably all
the public stores in the Province were not worth £500 ; and yet the pat
riotic conscience was so sensitive as to forbid the drinking of British tea or
the exportation of any produce to the advantage of the British. f Brave old
General Winds has afready snubbed and guarded Governor Franklin in a.
* MS. in the N. J. Hist. Society. t Oct. 20fh; 1776, Prov. Cong. N. J., p. 66.
X Prov. Cong. N. J., 1776, p. 47. § Ib. p. 58. | Jb, p. 65.
K Prov. Cong. N. J., 1776, pp. 149-153.

90
manner quite his own, " as a faithful officer of the Congress,'"* and in June
cif that year he pleads for ammunition for the New Jersey mUitia, in " whose
bravery he has the fuUest confidence." In fact, the sensible Winds " could
not fiatter himself in the least that ho could do anything material without
ammunition !" not then knowing that his lion voice was almost equal to the
work of frightening away the outnumbering enemy! "P. S. — Lead most
wanted," adds the brave man with Spartanic brevity.! Even time-serving
money-makers were patriotic after a fashion. There was a two-sided Irish
man in Trenton, whose politics varied according to the kind of soldiers who
happened to occupy the place ; and yet in his heart he loved America.
When the Hessians were there, aided by a negro he managed to steal two
of their ammunition wagons, and concealed them by sinking them in a pond.
After the Hessians were gone, he raised his trophies and sold them to the
Americans. After the war, he was accustomed to say, " the Hessians
cheated me, and I cheated the Hessians ; but of the two, I rather think I
cheated the Hessians the most !" Guns and field-pieces, hunting-shirts and
blankets, powder and lead — and above all, brave men to use them — were
called for, and it was found they had more brave men than munitions of
war. Yet they did not falter. Had not the Boston Committee said, " we
are not discouraged ; God has done great things for us ; He is still helping,
and we trust he will in his own time and way deliver us" ? And did not
those brave Jerseymen believe what their Boston brethren said ?
And it is beautiful to see tho instructions given to the delegates of New
Jersey in the Continental Congress, to take means " for recruiting the army
with men of credit and principle," " lest the warmest friends of their coun
try should be deterred from sending their sons and connections into the ser
vice, lest they should be tainted with impious and immoral notions, and con
tract vicous habits." And with a nobility of patriotism which we of this
day will do well to imitate, they further instruct them as " guardians of the
State of New Jersey" not merely to be attentive to "-iiis interest," but to
" extinguish by all means in your power, the least appearance of jealousy
in its earhest rise, discountenance all local and partial reflections in every
instance, and reprove by your example, and suppress as far as your author
ity extends. Party Feuds and Pactions, be the Offenders who they may."t
Here was a sentiment which allied these men with him of Marshfield who
said, "I felt it was my duty in a very alarming crisis to go for my country,
and my whole country, and to exert all the power I had to keep that coun
try together."!
And here I may repeat an anecdote which I received from that zealous
antiquarian. Dr. Charles G. McChesney, of Trenton : It has generaUy been
conceded that Washington's success at Trenton, all things considered, was
the most important fact in the Revolutionary war, because it constituted a
crisis when our reverses were arrested and the whole country re-animated
with hope. And yet but few know how near he was to being foiled com
pletely. That Christmas eve when Washington was crossing the Delaware,
* Duer's Life of Stirling, p. 151. + Rev. Corres. N. J., p. 118.
X Proceedings of Joint Meeting (Dec. 4, 1777) from 1777 to J7S9, p. 24.
§ Webster's Works, vol. ii, p. 561.

91
Col. Rahl, the commander of the Hessians, was in a private house with two
or three other gentlemen, drinking and gambling. Some tory, who saw
what Washington was doing, wrote a note to Col. Rahl, telling him that he
was in danger of a surprise, and sent it by a special messenger to Rahl, with
orders not to put it into the hands of any one else. On inquiring at head
quarters for him, he was directed to the house where the Hessian comman
der was gambling. A negro opened the door, but refused to let him enter.
He promised to place the letter in Rahl's hands, and did so ; but that worthy
was just then distributing the cards for another game, and supposing that
it was some unimportant matter, he thrust the letter into his pocket and for
got it. Had he read it, Washington's plan would have failed ; but thanks
to his bad habits, for once they conquered his prudence, and with the loss of
his life and army, he gave Washington success and America unbounded
joy- It is cheering to-day to recall such names as Aaron Hankinson, John Sew
ard, James Broderick, John Cloves Symmes, Major Hooper, John Rosen-
crantz, Joseph Harker, Jacob West, Matthias Shipman, Edward Demund,
and I know not how many others, of Sussex county, who were ready to
carry these noble resolves to the battle-field, and there assert them at the
perU of their lives. In constant danger from the Indians and the more
ruthless tories, your ancestors in this noble county were ready to fly to the
defence of liberty on a broader field than any Indian warfare could furnish.
The mothers and wives and daughters of Sussex in that day of blood, were
almost enough to protect their own homes ; tho mon were away to do the
bidding of Providence as it came from the lips of Washington ! *
And yet Sussex had some Tories, as if to keep her on a level with her
sister counties. In one instance, no less than ten such were fined and im
prisoned.! Ensign Moody probably found some worthy companions along
these charming vaUeys, but the main body of the people took a firm stand
on the side of freedom, and looked on a tory with unutterable loathing. In
dividual tragedies were not wanting to increase this feeling such especially
as the massacres at Minisink. In those days the north and north-western
parts of the county were a frontier, and many, like Robert Ogden of Sparta,
and Caspar Schaffer of StiUwater, were compeUed to put their houses in a
state of defence. It was a time of suspicion and alarm, and these bold men
and women " carried their lives in their hands."
The state of things at that time may be drawn from unpublished docu
ments. For instance, look at this affida-yit of " one jeams green," describing
an event which thrilled Sussex county and the State with alarm. I copy
the paper literally :
"'July 8th 1778 WaUpack Sussex county. Personally appeared before
me Timothy Symmes one of the Judges of tho court of common pleas for
this county one jeams green one of the inhabitants of wioming. Who being
duely sworne on the Holy Evanjelis of AUmighty God deposeth and saith
that he was one of the men destined to defend a fort in Kingston and that
the enemies Commanded by Col. Buttler & one English Lieut. Col. and the
* Kanouse's Sermon, p. 31.
+ Unpublished MS. Proceedings of the Council of Safety, p. 1.

92
King Owago an Indian Commander with part of six tiibes of Indians, 800 ;
who fought weU without takeing to trees but lay flat on their bellies to fire
and to load. Said greon says that these men to the amount of twelve hun
dred as he heard came within 3 or 4 mile of the fort he was in on fiiday the
8d of this instant on the morning of which day the Enemies sent in a flag
to Col. Denisan to demand the fort with offer of good quarters upon their
surrender, and thretening men women and children with emediate death if
one gun was fired against them : he says he thinks no answer was returned
by this flag : aboute two or three hours after the same flag came in againe.
He says he knew the man well. He was one Daniel Engerson who they
took prisoner at the first fort ; he brought much the same proposals he
brought before which were still rejected : to a chaUenge they sent in to our
people to fight Col. Buttler, returned for answer that he would meet their
officer at a particular place at a set time to holde a conference : he further
saith that Col."" Buttler, Dennes, and Durrene with all the men they had
which ware 3 or 4 hundred marehed to the place Apointed at the apointed
time and not finding the Enemies there they waited aboute one hour and
then they marched up the river untUl they met the enemy when a battle be
gan on the right wing which extended to the left in aboute one minute and
continued very smart on both sides but our people were partly surrounded
on the left wing in the space of ten minutes when the left wing of our people
fled to the amount of aboute 20 mon, the others of our people fought aboute
one hour when they were surrounded by superoour numbers and some
kill'd and some drove into the river, where many perished, some got to an
Island in the river where they found Indians plenty to murder them : he
says he has since seen one BUl Hammon who was taken on the Island with
6 or 7 more who were made to set down when the Indians tomahawked
them one after the other, but before it came to his turn he said he jumpt up
and run and made his escape by swimming of the lower end of the Island.
S'd greon says that the night after the Battle he saw the fires and heard the
noise of a Grand Cantacoy amongst the Indians who he, said green judges
were burning their prisoners alive, he says it was the judgment of others
besides himself ; for the flag who was the next day in the fort told them
that he did not know that there was a prisoner alive among them and that
he had seen an hundred and ninety-four scalps in one heape ; he further
saith that the fort was surrendered or evacuated the next day after the Bat
tie when the people fled toward the Delleware River and in the night sent
back George Cooper and jeams StUes who went to the top of the mountain
and saw the houses from the lower end of wioming aboute haff ways to the
uper end all in flames and it was soposed they ment to burn the whole set
tlement Sing'd by James Green.
Sworn before mo
Timothy Symmes.'"*
I also find by an affidavit made by Capt. Joseph Hearker, of Sussex
county, that on " July 22d, 1779, at the mouth of the Lackawack a battle
was fought by a party of militia from the county of Sussex aforesaid and
»- MS. in possession of C. G. McChesney.

93
the county of Orange commanded by Col. John Harthorn of the State of
New York, and a party of Indians and Tories under the command of one
Joseph Brant.'"* The New Jersey Gazette of May 3d, 1780, speaks of a
party of Indians which were discovered at Minisink, commanded by " one
DaUy, a white man, formerly of Somerset county." "Some of the Jersey
mihtia passed the Delaware and engaged them ; a very severe conflict en
sued, which ended in the total defeat of the Indians." Daily was left dead
on the field, and Capt. Westbrooke, a Lieutenant and one private were also
kUled in the engagement. The New Jersey Gazette of June 7th, 1780, pub
lishes a letter from a gentieman in Sussex, which describes another skirmish
west of the Delaware.
But these were not the hardest difficulties against which the people of this
county were caUed to contend. There was occasional defection at home.
For instance, October 25th, 1775, one was commissioned as a Captain of a
company of minute men in Sussex county,t but on the 18th of July, 1777,
the same man appears to have been fined and imprisoned for speaking sedi
tious words -,1 and in the New Jersey Gazette of March 14th, 1780, we find
an advertisement which indicates that this man had proved a tory, and that
his estate was confiscated and sold for t(je aid of the cause which ho had be
trayed. In that paper and in the one of March 29th, 1780, are to be found
advertisements of confiscated estates in Sussex, which indicated that toryism
was a sin which Sussex loyalty looked at but to hate. The unpubhshed
minutes of the Council of Safety contain the names of penitent tories from
this county, some of whom were pardoned uneonditionaUy, and others on
condition of enlisting in the continental army. At a CouncU hold at Morris
town, August 14th, 1777, a proclamation had been issued, permitting such
a pardon on condition of enlistment in the army or navy. Thus toryism
was converted into an efficient auxUiary of Patriotism.
When we consider the state of the American army during that period — •
half-naked, badly fed, with scanty ammunition and arms, the Governor and
Council compelled for safety to hold their meetings at different places —
when we consider the. strength of the enemy, and the terrible results of
being defeated as rebels, we cannot sufficiently admire the valor and con
stancy of tho masses, not only of the people of Sussex, but of the State.
They never seemed to flinch or doubt, but in calm reliance on God for tho
sending of better days, they did their duty as patriots, regardless of tho
terrors of the halter and conflscation. But the men were not alone. The
women of that day spoke the language of freedom, and taught it to their
sons, husbands, brothers and lovers. In the New Jersey Gazette of July
12th, 1780, I find the following notable paragraph : " The ladies of Trenton,
in New Jersey, emulating the noble example of their patriotic sisters of
Pennsylvania, and being desirous of manifesting their zeal in the glorious
cause of American liberty, having this day assembled for the purpose of
promoting a subscription for the rehef and encouragement of those brave
men in the continental army, and regardless of danger, have so repeatedly
suffered, fought and bled in the cause of virtue and their oppressed country ;
-* MS. in possession of C. G. McChesney.
t Proceedings Prov. Cong. N. J., 1775.
I Minutes of CouncU ; unpublished MS. in posseasion of Dr. 0. G. McChesney.

94
and taking into consideration the scattered situation of the well-disposed
through the State who would wish to contribute to so laudable an under
taking, have for the convenience of such, and more effectually to carry thefr
scheme into execution, unanimously appointed Mrs. Dickerson, Mrs. Cox,
Mrs. Furman and Miss Cadwalader, a committee, whose duty it shall be to
correspond with the ladies hereafter named, of the different counties
throughout tho State, whose aid and influence in their several districts the
ladies now met have taken the hberty to solicit in promoting said subscrip
tions." Among these county committees are found such ladies as bore the names
of Condict, Hornblower, Burnet, Mrs. Parson Jones, Forman, Cox, Lady
Stfrling, Stockton, Morris, Bloomfield, Elmer, Boudinot, Erskine, and many
others "like minded."
The committee for Sussex county were Mrs. CounseUor Ogden, Mrs. Col
Thomson, Mrs. Major Hoops, and Mrs. T. Anderson.
The spirit of Uberty wrought mightily in the hearts of our Jersey ances
tors. The rights of the people constituted a cause which they contended
for, and for which many of them suffered tho loss of estates and life. May
their descendants never befray wha^ they prized as inestimable !
If we compare our condition with theirs, we find a wonderful advance.
In 1737, the year before Morris county was organized, Benjamin Franklin
as Post Master at PhUadelphia advertises that "Henry Pratt is appointed
Riding Post Master for all the stages between PhUadelphia and Newport in
Virginia, who sets out about the beginning of every month and returns in
twenty-four days." In 1739, the mail was carried between New York and
Philadelphia once a week on horseback during the summer, and Governor
Morris submits the proposition to Post Master General Spotswood " whether
it be not fit to dfrect that the rider stay one night in such towns where the
Governor happens to be resident.'"* In 1743, AprU 18th, ten years before
this county was organized, Franklin advertised that "after this week the
northern post wiU set out for New York on Thursdays, at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, till Christmas. The southern post sets out next Monday at 8
o'clock for Annapolis, and continues going every fortnight during the sum
mer season." At that time during the " winter the post between Philadel
phia and New York went once a fortnight, "t During the Revolutionary
war, horse expresses were provided to give despatch to news. After the
Revolution, a humble stage wagon performed this duty betv.-een our great
cities once a week, taking two days for the journey. The eariy postal ar
rangements of the counties of Morris and Sussex I have not the moans at
hand of ascertaining, but from a package of letters dating back to 1774,
written by John Jacob Faesch fi-om New York to his agent at Mt. Hope, I
am led to suppose there was then no post route farther west than Morris
town, since these letters were evidently sent by private messengers. Per
haps an examination would show that from the organization of Sussex untU
the close of the Revolution there was not a post route or post office in this
county. This I cannot affirm, but such is my impression. But the time is
within the remembrance of even middle-aged men, when it took a whole
-"¦ Morris^ Papers, p. 70. -I- Sparks' Franklin, vol. i, p. 132.

96
week for the stage wagon to accompUsh its journey from Newton to New
York and back. Within a year, you can break your fast at Newton, do a
day's business in New York, and be at home to tea and sleep. Twenty-five
years ago, the splendid stage coaches and teams of " Reside So Co." aston
ished us all by their quick transmission of the maUs. Only two days and
nights from New York to Washington ! But now a letter or passenger is
conveyed between New York and Philadelphia in four and a half hours, and
between New York and Washington in fifteen hours ; and the wfres flash a
message instantly, bringing Halifax and New Orleans side by side. From
Gov. Morris's time to the present, the progress has been prodigious. A
venerable man of my acquaintance is stiU living, who remembers when a
mere bridle-path connected Rockaway and Sparta ; but soon the mad scream
of the locomotive will startle the echoes along the valleys of the Hopatcong,
the PaulinskiU, the WallkiU and the Delaware. Tho " manifest destiny" of
Sussex is to attain a higher degree of physical development and power than
was ever dreamed of when Caspar Schaeffer settled at Stillwater, Robert
Ogden at Sparta, and Silas Dickerson at Stanhope. It seemed hke the
raving of a madman for SUas Dickerson's father to say the time might come
when navigable water would be made to flow over the mountains of Morris
and Sussex, uniting the waters of the Hudson and the Delaware ; yet it has
been done. And could the men of that day arise from thefr graves to fol
low the line of railway now consfructing on the banks of the Rockaway and
Muskanetcong, modern enterprise digging down the mountains and casting
up a highway over the vaUeys ; could they follow the road which you are
now constructing from Waterloo to Newton ; could they pass along the val
leys and the mountain slopes, once a wilderness, and see that wUderness
blossoming under the culture of well-directed enterprise ; could they pass
along the frontier, once so exposed to savage incursions, and flni^ the Mini-
sink and Navarsink the secure abodes of their happy descendants ; how
would their surprise pass aU bounds, and how would they exclaim " Surely
the hand of the Lord is in this mighty change !"
Nor is this charge conflned to tho physical development of the county.
School houses have been built, and now you have a large body of hitelli-
gent men in the various pursuits of life. Could good Uzal Ogden, who
preached here in 1771, now pass over this county, he would not write ?s he
then did, -with the slightest degree of selfishness, " in a county where there
are inhabitants sufficient to support several clergymen, there is but a single
Uhterate separate preacher residing in it.'"* The county, (according to its
original bounds) is now dotted over with vigorous churches at Greenwich,
and Mansfield, and Oxford, and Belvidere, and Hackettstown, and Hard
wick, and StiUwater, and Newton, and Wantage, and Sparta, and other
places, not supphed with "Uhterate preachers," but by men whose intelh
gence and piety entitle them to high consideration, and whose zeal for good
causes them to ride the foremost wave of every great moral reformation.
Certainly where there is stiU great room for progress, the contrast is very
great between Sussex county at the present time and when Uzal Ogden of
ficiated every third Sabbath in " New Town," every four weeks at " Knowl
•* Proc. N. J. Hist. Soc, iv p. 152.

96
To-wn, 22 mUes distant from New Town, and at Hackettsto-wn and Roxbury
¦every eighth week each. Or if we take a later period, we might say some
great advance had been made since Benscoten addressed these affectionate
words of parting to his flock, or rather to his " herd of swine feeding" at
the ^teiyw, " hogs I found you, and hogs I leave you." Certainly of the
people of that place whom I know are fair specimens of the whole, " the Do
minie'' made a mistake as to the gen^s of the animal he had been training !
It is true that some of you Sussex people with your portly wagons and fat
horses sometimes, with a rather uncomfortable show of regard for popular
rights, keep the whole road in a manner which seems to say
" I am monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none fo dispute !"
But then I never attribute this to settled wickedness, but rather to that self-
complacehcy which is tho result of independence and good breeding.
FeUow citizens of Sussex and Warren, you live in one of the most glori
ous regions I have ever yet seen. Elevate your common schools tiU every
child shaU be educated ; increase your churches until every family enjoy
church privileges ; put an end to the means of intemperance until no one
here can ruin his character, health, property, family and soul, and you shall
be moraUy and mentally just like the land you hve in, the envy and admfra
tion of all beholders !
But it is time to draw these remarks to a close. In behalf of New Jersey,
fellow-citizens of Sussex, I thank you for this celebration, the flrst of the
kind in the State. I trust all our counties will foUow your example, and
gather together to pay a worthy tribute to the men of the past. Other men
have labored, and we have entered into their labors. Let us not be back
wards in recording their deeds and reverencing their virtues. FeUow-citi
zens, you have begun to gather the scattered materials of your own history.
Never desist until you have at least in manuscript, the history of every
towmship, church and society. Write out the lives of such men as Ogden,
father and son. Hooper, Sharp, Rosencrantz, Symmes, Hearker, Hankinson,
Schaeffer, and other mon equally distinguished. I do not conceive that you
have a right to let their names perish. Let the New Jersey Historical So
ciety have the fruits of these labors of love, and then should some other
generation desire to make sueh a celebration as this, the orators of the occa
sion shall not be driven to such straits as my colleague and myself have suf
fered. Had your ancestors done this, I might have been able to confine my
self to their history alone, but you must excuse me for doing what I could.
WhUst not permitted to deal with your local history, yet I have led you
over a very pleasant field. We have traced the growth of popular rights
in the Commonwealth, and we have soen that our fathers were true to the
instincts of liberty and acted nobly for their "remotest posterity." Like
the oak, monarch of the forest, this tree has grown slowly but constantly.
Tyranny has sont many a whirlwind to uproot it, but this only caused it to
wind its roots, toughened by resistance, more firmly around the rocks of
brave and loyal hearts. The storm of 1776 bent it, but neither broke it nor
tore it up. Some of its leaves and twigs might have been torn off, but its

97
roots were twisted and tied about the moveless rocks too tightiy, and its
brawny trunk and hmbs had become too strongly gnarled and hardened in
to compactness of knot, to be cast down. It stiU stands with its giant arms
lifted heavenward, not deflantiy, but in the meek trust which Freedom con
fides in God. And shall it ever be cast down and destroyed ? The answer
is -with us. If God give us such a love of popular rights as animated our
fathers, popular rights which acknowledge gratefuUy the God of Heaven as
the Author of Freedom, and God's Word as its charter and expounder, then
our tree of popular rights shaU breast the storms of coming centurieF, still
unbroken, green with immortal vigor. Perish then the disloyal heart
-which would for a moment cherish the thought — wither the hand which
would inflict a wound on this tree of ages !

APPENDIX

MEMBEBS OP THE LEGISLATUEE FOR SUSSEX COUNTV.
22d Assembly, elected August 17th, 1772, (the first time Sussex county had a dis
tinct representation,) Thomas Van Horne, Nathaniel Pettit, May 15th, 1776. Joseph
Barton appeared in place of Van Horne deceased.
1776 GoTincil  Assembly — Caspar Schaffer, Thomas Peterson, Abia
Brown.
1777 Council— John Cleves Symmes. J^ss^mS^— Caspar^Schaffer, Thomas Peterson,
Abia Brown.
1778 Council — Kobert Ogden. Assembly— Casp&i Schaffer, Jacob MacCollum, Benja
min McCullough.
1779 Council— 'Robeit Ogden. Assembly — Caspar Schaffer, Jacob MacCollum, Benja
min McCullough.
1780 Council— John Cleves Symmes. Assembly — Edmund Martin, Hugh Hughes,
Samuel Kennedy.
1781 Oowneil — Hugh Hughes. AssemMy— 3 oihua, Swayze, Isaac Van Campen, Pe
ter Hopkins.
1782 Council— 'Ragh. Hughes. Assembly— lsa.s.c Van Campen, Isaac Martin, Aaron
Hankinson.
1783 Council — Hugh Hughes. .4«semJ^— Isaac Van Campen, WUliam Maxwell,
Aaron Hankinson.
178i Council— "Robert Hoops. Assembly— le,a.&a Van Campen, Aaron Hankinson,
Charles Beardslee.
1785 CbaracS— Eobert Hoops. AssemiPy — Aaron Hankinson, Charles Beardslee,
Christopher Longstreet.
1786 Cowwil—li&TiL Thompson. Aissembly — Aaron Hankinson, Charles Beardslee,
Christopher Longstreet.
1787 Council — Mark Thompson. Assembly —ksion Hankinson, Charles Beardslee,
Christopher Longstreet.
1788 Govncil — Mark Thompson. Assembly — Aaron Hankinson, Charles Beardslee,
Christopher Longstreet.
1789 Council — Eobert Hooks. Assembly — Aaron Hankinson, Charles Beardslee, John
Entherfurd.
1790 Council — Robert Hoops. Assemily—Aaion Hankinson, Robert Ogden, John
Entherfurd.
1791 CoanraZ— Charles Beardslee. Assembly — Aaron Hankinson, WiUiam Helmes,
Valentine Bidleman.
1792 Council — Charles Beardslee. Assemily — Aaron Hankinson, William Helmes,
Valentine Bidleman.
1793 Council— Charles Beardslee. Assembly— Willia,m McCullough, Peter Sharp,

Martin Everson.
4 Councit^Chax
Martin Ryerson.

Kyen
1794 CiwTuii^Charles Beardslee. Assernbly — WiUiam McCullough, Peter Sharp,

Marun Kyerson.
1795 Clmncii— Charles Beardslee. AssenMy—Gteorge: Armstrong, Peter Sharp, Wil
liam McCullough.
1796 Council— GhaxYes Beardslee. Assembly— 'WiWia.m McCullough, Peter Sharp,
Peter Smith.
1797 C!«OTca— Charles Beardslee. ^s»«m%— Peter Sharp, Peter Smith, Thomaa
Armstrong.
1798 CWiciZ— Charles Beardslee. Asaembh/—3o\a>. Gustin, Joseph Gaston, Levi
Howell, William Rankle.

100
1799 Csiuncil— Charles Beardslee. ..issemi^— Joseph Gaston, Levi Howelh WUliam
McCiifioiigt, Silas Dickerson.
1800 CoMnca— William McCulloch. Assemily — Levi Howell, SUas Dickerson, Jo
seph Gaston, Joseph Sharp.
1801 C»Mnc(7— "WUliam McCulloch. Assembly— Levi Howell, SUas Dickerson, (Speak
er,) Abram Shafer, John Linn.
1802 Council — William McCulloch. Assemily— Levi Howell, SUas Dickerson, Abram
Shafer, John Linn.
1803 0««C!7~ William McCulloch. Assernbly— 'Levi HoweU, John Linn, John John
son, Ab. Shafer.
1804 Council— Ji^n Linn. Assembly— John, Johnson, Levi Howell, William Kenne
dy, Joseph Sharp.
1805 Council— (inoTge Bidleman. Asstmbly-'LeYi Howell, Joseph Sharp, William
Kennedy, William Armstrong.
1806 CouHci/— Jacob S. Thompson. ^ssemA?^/— Henry Hankinson, John Coursen,
Daniel H. rker, William A. Ryerson.
1807 C'o«))c2— Barnabas Swayze. Assembly— 'Renrj Hankinson, Aaron Kerr, Daniel
Harker, John Cox.
1808 Council— BarnahRS Swayze. Assemily— Henrj Hankinson, Aaron Kerr, Wil
liam Kennedy, John Cox.
1809 Council— liarvahas Swayze. Assembly — Aaron Kerr, John Cox, William Ken
nedy, Richard Edsall.
1810 Council — Barnabas Swavze. Assembly — William Kennedy (Speaker,) George
Bidleman, Joseph Sharp, Richard Edsall.
1811 Council— l^-ai'nahiis S\VLL3-ze. Assembly — William Kennedv, Joseph Sharp, Eich
ard Edsall, Garret Vliet.
1812 Council — Barnabas Swayze. Assembly — Joseph Sharp, E. W. Entherfurd, Si
mon Corlright, Janjes Davidson.
1813 Couiicil — William Kuunedy. Assembly —?,iraow Cortright, Joseph Sharp, E. W.
Kutherfurd, James Davidson.
1814 Council — Wilham Kennedy. Assembly — Simon Cortright, Joseph Sharp, R, W.
Eutherfurd, -^ames Davidson.
1815 Council — William Kennedy, (Vice President). Assemhly — Joseph Sharp, Simon
Cortright, James Davidson, Robert W. Eutherfurd.-
1816 , Covnc'd — Thomas Vankirk. Assembly — Abram Bidleman, Peter Decker, Rob
ert C. Thompson, William Darrah.
1817 Council — Thomas Vankirk. Assemily — Abram Bidleman, Jeremy Mackey, Rob
ert C. Thompson, George Beardslee.
1818 Council — Thomas Vankiik. Assemily — Thomas Teasdale, Jeremy Mackey, Rob
ert C. Thompson, George Beardslee.
1819 Council — Eobert W. Eutherfurd. Assemily— Ihom&s Teasdale, Jeremy Mackey,
Eobert C. Thompson, George Beardslee.
1820 Council — EobertjW. Eutherfurd. Assembly — Jacob Hornbeck, Abram Shafer,
Peter Kline, Jo.scph CoryeU.
1821 Council— Vi'iili&in T. Anderson. Assemily — James Egbert, Leffeit Houghawout,
Jacob Ayres, Benjamin Hamilton.
1822 Council — Jeremy Mackey. Assembly— James Egbert, Leffeit Houghawout,
Thomas Teasdale, Benjamin Hamilton.
1823 Council-Jacob Thompson. Assembly — Thomas Teasdale, Abram Newman,
Joseph Coryell, Joseph Chandler.
1824 Council- Jacob Thompson. Assembly — Evi A. Sayre, James Egbert, Joseph E.
Edsall,  Swayze.
By an act of the Legislature, dated Nov. 20, 1824, Warren county was set off from
Sussex. We continue the list of representatives from Sussex county.
1825 douncil—thomas G. Ryerson. Assemily— Joseph Chandler, Nathan A Shafer.
1826 Council^-lhomas C. Ryerson. Assemih/— Joseph Chandler, Hiram Munson.
1827 Council — Samuel Fowler. AsseTnily-Joseph Chandler, Hiram Munson.
1828 Couneii— Thomas C. Ryerson. Assembly— Joseph Chandler, Hiram Munson.
1829 Council— tiavid Ryerson. Assemily— Fetev Merkle, James Evans.
1880 Council— Oarid Ryerson. Assemily— S'imeoa McCoy, John Hull, Peter Merkle.
1831 Council— 'DaVid Ryerson. Assemb^— Bimeoo McCoy, John Hull, Peter Merkle.
1832, (/ouncil— Peter Merkle. .4s««?ii^— Benjamin HamUton, Joseph Greer Peter
Young.
1883 Gf/meil— Samuel Price. Assembly— BeDJamia HamUton, Joseph Greer Peter
Young.
1834, Gimncil— Samuel Price. Assemiiy— Joseph Greer, Joshua Shay, Beniamin
Hamilton.
18?§ tWci?— David Ryerson. Assembly—John Strader, Joshua Shay, Josepb LiiiD.
1886 CWnci^-SaSnuel Price. Assembl]/— Joseph Liiin, John Strader, BeDJaimn Hull

101
1837 Council— Richard K. Morris. AsscTnily— WiUiam J. Willson, Isaac Shiner,
John Hull.
1838 Council— Richard R. Morris. Assemily— 'William J. WiUson, Isaac Shiner,
John Hull.
1839 Council— Daniel Haines. Assemily— Joseph Greer, Samuel Truax, William H.
Nyce.
1840 Council— Daniel Haines. Assembly— Joseph Greer, Samuel Truax, William H.
Nyce.
¦1841 Council — ^Alexander Boyles. Assemily — Isaac Bonnel, David Hynard, Nathan
Smith.
1842 Council— Alexander Boyles. Assembly — Isaac BonneU, David Hynard, Nathan
Smith.
1848 Couneil — Benjamin Hamilton. Assembly — Timothy Cook, Ab. Dunning, Jesse
Bell.
1844 Ci«<n«7— Benjamin Hamilton. Assembly — Timothy Cook, Ab. Dunning, Jesse
Bell.
1845 Council — Benjamin Hamilton. Assembly— John Hunt, Peter Young, Thomas
D. Armstrong.
1846 COT;n«7— Nathan Smith. Assembly — Thomas D. Armstrong, Peter Hoyt, Jacob
Hornbeck, Jr.
1847 Council — Nathan Smith. Assembly — Thomas D. Armstrong, Peter Hoyt, Jacob
Hornbeck, Jr.
1848 COT<n<;iJ--Nathan Smith — Assemily — Martin Ryerson, Peter Hoyt, Jacob Horn.
beck, Jr.
1849 Council— Joseph Greer. Assemily— Gny Price, William Simonson, Jacob Horn,
beck, Jr.
1850 Council— Joseph Greer. Assembly— Guj Price, WiUiam Simonson, Daniel
Decker.
1851 Couneil— Joseph Greer. Assembly— John B. Stinson, Timothy E. Shay, George
W. Colver.
1852 Council — ^Isaac Bonnell. ^ssemWy— Benjamin Hamilton, Jr., Luther Hill, Tim
othy E. Shay.

The Sherifis and Clerks of the county, anterior to the Declaration of Independence,
were as follows ; I— SHERIFFS.
Joseph Brackenridge, Nov. 12, 1753. Jacob Starn, Nov. 20, 1766.
Mauris Robeson, Oct. 10, 1754. Hugh Hughes, Dec. 18, 1769.
Peter Schmuck, Nov. 12, 1757. Thomas Poits, June 18, 1772.
Isaac Hull, 1760. Archibald Stewart, June 12, 1775.
Ephraim Darby, Nov. 16, 1763. II-CLERKS.
Jeremiah Condy RusseU, Nov. 29, 1753.  Doud, Deputy Clerk.
John Gregg, of Elizabeth'n, June 14, 1757. Thos. Anderson, Dep. Clerk, Aug. 1770.
John De Hart, March 27, 1760.

The following list contains the names of the Sheriffs and Clerks of Sussex county,
from the commencement of the Revolution to the present day.
I— SHERIFFS.
Philip Dodderer, 1777. Wm. Darrah, commenced October 1818.
William Kerr, commenced October, 1779. Vancleve Moore, " 1821.
Mark Thompson, " 1782. George Mushback, " 1824.
William Kerr, " 1785. Benjamin HamiltoD, " 1825.
James Handshaw, " 1788. Lewis M. D'Gamp, " 1828.
Mark Thompson, " 1791. Hzal C. Hagerty, " 1831.
James Handshaw, " 1794. Alexander Boyles, " 1834.
Charles Pemberton, " 1797. John Brodrick, " 1837.
George Bidleman, " 1800. George H. McCarter, " 1840.
Charles Pemberton, " 1803. Andrew Shiner, " 1843.
John Gustin, " 1806. Jos. A. Osborn, Jr., commenced Nov. 1846.
Ephraim Green, Jr., " 1809. George H. Nelden, " 1849.
John Linn, " 1812. Frederick Arvij, " 1862.
Daniel Swayze, " 1816.

102

II— CLERKS.
1776. Ephraim Green, Jr., Nov. 1815.
Aug. 1783. " re-appointed " 1820.
" 1788. David D. Chandler, " 1825.
" 1793. Joseph E. Edsall, March, 1881.
Nov. 1798. " " re-appointed Feb. 1886.
Feb. 1800. John H. Hall, " 1841.
Oct. 1805. William L. Smith, elected " 1846.
Nov. 1810. Thomas I. Ludlum, " 1851.
SURROGATES OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
Jeremiah Condy Russell appointed Surrogats of the counties of Sussex and Morris,
November 26, 1753.

 Drake, commenced
Charles Rhodes,
" re-appointed
It ft
; ti tl
Jacob Thompson
John Johnson,
" reappointed

Thomas Anderson, appointed in 1768.
" re-appointed Nov. 5, 1799.
Daniel Stuart, appointed Dec. 2, 1808.
WiUiam T. Anderson, " Dec 23, 1822.
Thomas Teasdale, " Dec. 9, 1833.
" re-appointed Nov. 8, 1828.
Grant Fitch, appointed Oct. 25, 1833.

David Thompson, appointed Oct. 28, 1888.
Grant Fitch, " Oct. 27, 1848.
David Thompson, appointed
by Governor, to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the
death of G. Fitch, Oct. 10, 1848.
Daniel S. Anderson, elected Nov. 7, 1848.

The interest attached to the following statistics, justify their insertion.
Population of Sussex county in 1810, 12,644; 1820, 16,617; 1880, 20,846; 1840,
21,769 ; 1850, 22,990. Sussex now has eleven townships, viz. ; Byram, Frankford,
Green, Hardiston, Lafayette, Montague, Newton, Sparta, Stillwater, Sandiston, Wal-
pack. Wantage, Vernon.
By the Census Returns of 1850, it appears there were in Sussex county, dwellings
3,851; families 8,922. Acres of improved lands, 149,582; of unimproved, 94,895.
Total, 244,477. Cash value of farms, $8,890,180. Value of live stock, $1,049,719.
Produce for the year, ending June 1, 1850— Butter, 1,816,610 lbs. ; tons Hay, 37,711 j
Wheat, 66,006 bushels; Eye, 229,795 bushels; Corn, 459,254 bushels; Wool, 24,874
lbs.; Potatoes, 110,020 bushels; Buckwheat, 178,188 bushels; Beef and Pork, 229,011.
Industrial Establishments, 170. Capital invested, $787,820. Value of Eaw Materials
used, $379,389. Value of Product, $603,519. No. School Districts, 120. Scholars,
7,196. Libraries, 12. Books, 7,325. Churches, 44. Aggregate accommodations!
16,625. Value of Church Property, $95,550. Sussex Bank, chartered 1819 ; Capital
$137,000. Farmers' Bank of Wantage, 1849; Capital, $100,000. '