William Paschal, Samuel Dennis (Denes, Dennes), Mary Crowell, Mary Lathrop.
As the story goes and questions along the way.
Rev. John Lathrop flees England and arrives in Boston 1634 along with his children and other congregational members aboard the Griffith.
Rev. John Lathrop had a son Rev. Joseph Lathrop and it is from his daughter Mary that I descend.
Mary Lathrop first married Edward Crow (Crowell) and had 4 children Mary, Edward, Yelverton
Samuel Dennes as written in:
Woodbridge and vicinity.
Woodbridge, the name of the village and township concerning which these pages are to be written, was so called in honor of Rev. John Woodbridge, of Newbury, Mass. We presume that this distinction was conferred upon him by his friends and admirers, who came from New England at the solicitation of Gove. Carteret. In the old manuscript “Records of Deeds and Surveys in Woodbridge: we find his name attached to the acknowledgement of a deed given by Richard Dole to John Rolf, the date of which is April 27, 1685. The deed was given for some Woodbridge land. The buyer and seller were both Massachusetts men – Rolf, however, removing to this place after his purchase.* From the manner in which Mr. Woodbridge’s name is attached to this paper, we should infer that he was an Assistant Justice, such as were annually elected to the Township court of Woodbridge in the days of its early history. This inference is supported by Coffins’s extracts from the old records in Newbury, in which we find that the select-men of the town were directed to petition the General Court to make Mr. Woodbridge a magistrate. As he is subsequently spoken of as John Woodbridge, Esquire, it is beyond doubt that the Court clothed him in magisterial powers. He was born in Stanton, Wiltshire, England, in 1613, and emigrated to New England in 1634, settling in Newbury the following year. He married Mercy Dudley, daughter of Gov. Thomas Dudley. He returned to England about the year 1747; but in 1663 came back to Newbury, and on the 26th of July was engaged to assist his uncle, Mr. Parker in preaching the Gospel in the quaint town meetint house receiving, for the first six months ₤ 30. His death occurred March 17, 1695, the venerable minister having attained the age of 82.
The following (which is copied form the East Jersey Records, Vol. 1 p. 2, in the Secretary of State’s office, Trenton, N. J.) will give us some idea of the original ownership o fthe soul upon which Woodbridge has been built;
A contract made by Capt. Philip Carteret, Governor of the Province of New Jersey, John Ogden and Luke Watson of Elizabethtown, of the first part, and Daniel Pierce, of Newbury, Massachusetts, and his associates of the second part. This article of agreement dated Dec. 11 1666. Daniel Pierce paid to the party of the first part the sum of four score pounds sterling, being in full for said tract of land known by the name of Arthur Cull, or Amboyle, or any other name it may be called by. This land was purchased from the natives or Indians by John Bayly, Daniel Denton, and the said Luke Watson, as by said bill of sale from the natives, bearing date the 28th day of October, 1664, will more at large appear; which John Bayley and Daniel Denton have made over to the said Philip Carteret and John Ogden, as will appear by the bill of sale. Daniel Pierce made choice of , as his associates, Joshua Pierce, John Pike, John Bishop, Henry Jaques, and Hugh March, of Newbury; Stephen Kent, of Haverhill; Robert Dennis, of Yarmouth; John Smith, of Barnstable, and in New England. These Writings were signed, sealed and delivered by Daniel Pierce in Elizabethtown, and it was ordered to be recorded by Philip Carteret, Governor of the Providence of New Jersey, December 3, 1667.
From this we find that the land was first purchased of the Indians by John Bayly, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson in 1664, and that it was made over to Gove Carteret and John Ogden; and then in 1666 the two latter sold it to Daniel Pierce and others ₤80. Daniel Pierce and his associated took immediate possession: and what they further did will be fully detailed in the chapters devoted to the history of the Town Meetings.
The first settlers cam to Woodbridge in the latter part of the Sujmer of 1665, and were a portion of the company of thirty English people who came to New Jersey with Gov. Carteret immediately after his commission was given to him by his brother, Sir George Carteret, joint proprietor of the Province with Lord Berkeley. The Governor instantly summoned a council at Elizabethtown, which he so called for Elizabeth, wife of Sir George, and established his residence there.
Page 90- 91
In the Town Meeting of the 24th of July, 1680, a paper was laid before the Woodbridge Freeholders, signed “ Sir Edmund Andross, Knt., Governor General, &c requiring them to send to New York three names of “fit persons” for holding Monthly Courts “ and Determining matters not exceeding forty Shillings.”. The fussy Governor was reminded that the charter of the Township permitted the people to settle this matter themselves; that it lodged the ordination of the Courant the choice of its officers and justices in the ands of the owners of the soil; and therefore they saw no reason for comply with his command. This seems to have irritated the Sir Knight, for on the 14th of Aug. a more peremptory summons was sent to the refractory Freeholders. Whether the doughty Governor frightened or fathers or whether they assumed, from policy a loyalty they did not feel, does not appear; but is is certain that they interposed no further objection an don the 31st of Aug. sent in the following names of Justices for the Court; Samuel Moore, Ephriam Andrews, John Iisley, and John Bishop, Jr.
Samuel Dennis and Daniel Robins were appointed November 16th
November 16th, to superintend the construction of a causeway over the meadown from Dunham’s mill to the upland on the other side of the stream John Bishop, Jr. to build a good horse bridge over the creek. This order for a horse bridge was made null and void at a subsequent meeting, the universal desire being expressed for a good cart bridge instead of it. So the bridge was enlarged to accommodate vehicles.
Pg. 98-99
Chapter IX
We continue our history of the Town Meetings, beginning with that of January 1st 1683. An election was held, as usual, for the choice of officers for Corporation. Samuel Dennis and Samuel Moore were, just at this time, the two most popular men in the township. The latter was a remarkable man, as the observant reader has already discovered. Perhaps there was no man in the Province better known than he, nor one more implicitly trusted. For many years he had held some of the most important positions, and yet no diminution of his reputation or influence had occurred. If any envied him, as no doubt some did, they were unable to sully his fair fame, or win the proud place he occupied in the hearts of the people.
In this meeting, Dennis and Moore were elected Deputies to the General Assembly. As an evidence of the popularity of these two men we find that both were in nominations for the Presidency of the Township Court, and the vote stood thus; Moore, 12; Dennis, 10. The Freeholders, doubtless voted for others; but these stood highest when the ballots were counted. Instead of discriminating between them, the town sent the two names to Deputy Governor Rudyard (whose prerogative it was to confirm all nominations of Justices) that he might choose one of them. Rudyard, taking into consideration the manifold duties already imposed on Mr. Moore, decided in favor of Samuel Dennis. During this year Mr. Moore held the offices of High Sheriff of Middlesex County, Deputy to the Assembly, Messenger of the House of Deputies, Town Clerk of Woodbridge and Tax Collector for the township. Besides, he administered (Nathaniel Fitz Randolph assisting) the estate of Capt. James Bollen, late Secretary of the Province, who died intestate, and did a great deal of township business as member of different committees, and opened a tavern.
On the 23rd of Feb. an arbitrary order was passed. If any Freeholder was elected by a majority vote (subject, of course to the Governors approval) as a Justice of the Peach, and refused to serve, he was required to pay a fine for such refusal raging from 20s to 40s. This is something like the bill which the Deputies sent up for the concurrence of the Governor and Council on the 26th of May of this same year 1683, for punishing those who refused to serve as Sheriffs when they had been commissioned.
Pg. 134
Trinity Church Woodbridge, NJ,
An old cup is still in possession of the parish authorities, on which is engraved: The Gift of Mary Dennis, Widow, to Trinity Church in Woodbridge, December ye 25th, 1760.”
Pg. 149-152
We have in previous pages, designed localities occupied by the first settlers in Woodbridge; but we now propose making the picture of the settlement more complete by grouping our facts together. Suppose we take our position at the Kirk Green. The queer looking meeting house stands on the left; the town house (used as a parsonage) is seen at the right, a short distance along the western road; Dunham’s house stands on that knoll, north of the green; down hear the creek is John Smith’s house, and close to this is the grist mill with its big wheel moving slowly round dripping with the water; before us, opposite the gree, on the southeast corner of the road is Samuel Smith’s house; near to that is Edward Haine’s blacksmith shop, form the rude chimney of which do we not see the smoke curling; Still further on is the residence of John Dennis. Across the road (about where J. M. Melick’s house now stands ) is Elisha Parker’s dwelling, and perhaps if we listen we will hear the noise of his shuttle for he is a weaver. A little to the south of Parkers is the prison, a gloomy looking structure with a stockade built around it. Henry Lesenbe lived on the corner (where Alex. Edgar now resides), and Samuel Moore kept a tavern in the old house which stood where Dr. Freeman’s drug store is located. Let us walk along this “back road” leading to Uniontown. After passing Mr. Moore’s we come to Samuel Hale’s Judge Hale they call him. Then comes John Smith, The Scotchman; then Wm. Compton, the proud father of the first with child born in the town; then young Thomas Bloomfield. Their houses seem to have been built on the south side of the highway. Now we are at the corner of the road. We will turn to the left presently and cross the brook (Manning’s) but let us glance around before going further.
On the north east corner is elder Kent’s house, on the north-west is the pound, with squealing pigs, obstinate “jadges”, and hissing geese; on the southwest is John Taylor’s blacksmith shop. The other corner, as we have seen is occupied by young Bloomfield, whose father owns a house lot just west of the pound, on the north side of the road. On the south side, a short distance beyond Taylor’s shop (and somewhere near William Edgar’s house), is to be seen Samuel Dennis’ house-lot, which adjoins the “Molden Men’s lots.” Joshua Bradley’s lies west of these, on the same side of the highway.
Who were the “Molden Men”? Gentle reader (that is the way authors begin when they get into a “fix”), we cannot tell. But we always could give a theory for anything we ever heard of , and we are not nonplussed by our ignorance on this subject. Our theory is that these fellows made brickd, humble predecessors of Wm. H. Berry et al; that, in fact they were moulding men. The probability is that these lots were given to induce them to reamin in Woodbridge and ply their trade. Whether they discovered and made use of the rich clay beds of Woodbridge are matters unknown;’ but such may have been the case.
We turn to the left and go down to the brook. Behind Taylor’s shop is Hugh Dunn’s lot, then Charles Gilman’s Crossing the stream, we find Hopewell Hull’s lot on the corner (long known as Hollister’s Corner). These three lots lie on the west of the road. It is probable that Hull did not occupy his land very long, and perhaps he did not build upon it at all; for he sold it not a great while after it came into his possession to Rehoboth Gannit.
Strolling along toward Strawberry Hill we see vacant lots on both sides of the highway. The rising ground on the right of us is crowned with large forest trees. The low ground on the left is the paradise of frogs, which croak melodiously among the tall calamus blades that nod gracefully in the wind. Along here are house lots of Israel Thornell, Obadiah Ayers and John Adams. Richard Worth’s house tstood somewhere near the present residence of Capt. Isaac Inslee. South of his lot a little stream mad its way from a spring on Strawberry Hill. A narrow cartway was laid out to skirt Worth’s land on the south intended doubtless, to accommodate Adams and Ayers who lived east of the main highway.
Now following the raod we begin to ascend the hill. On the east is John Pike”s residence; on the west is the grond allotted to Jedediah Andrews. Two hundred and forty acres to the south of us are the property of John Pike. Crossing Spa apring Brook we soon stand upon the knoll and look in the direction fo Perth Amboy. The land immediately below us is known the settlers as Pike’s nect. It is that region south of the well known Benton Place.
Let us now retrace our steps.
It is September, and the weather invites us to ramble; but we have taken a long walk and we need a little repose. Shall we sit down under this tall wild cherry tree for a few moments: Across the way we see the bright crimson torch of the sumach and the pale yellow flower of the wild flax below it. The early frost has changed the sober green of the sassafras yonder to a brilliant yellow. The untrained vine that clambers over the fence proudly flutters its carnelian hues, and ambitiously stretches upward, with uncertain motion, one slender branch. Small purplish flowers nestle in shady places, and tufted yellow stalks dance in the sunshine.
But we resume our walk and arrive at “Hollister’s corner”. We turn to the east. North of the spot where T. J. & G. W. Dally’s store now stands were the house lots of Robert Rogers, John Ilsly, and young John Pike. Henry Jaques, Thomas Pike, the Bishops, and some others lived in the direction of Rahway. Daniels Grasie (or Gresy) and William Elstone resided somewhere in the neighborhood of the Kirk Green perhaps to the sough of south west of it. John Dilly and the tow Pierces, with several others, occupied lots across the Papiack, on the upland beyond the meadows.
At the point where we started forth to ramble through the ancient town we now arrive. The beautiful green spreads its carpet around us and the level acres are dotted with lowing cattle and bleating sheep. Yonder, perhaps, wander arm in arm through the field, two who are oblivious to all but themselves; and if the eight o’clock bell is in use here as it is in New England, and anonymous poet well describes the scene, and gives the loving twain a song;
Pg. 153-
Chapter XIV
1709- 1720
The Pound Again-Pike vs Sonmans- Pike and Cutters Mill- Freeholders Book – Judge Hude – Moses Rolph – Strawberry Hill – The Commons- Second Town Book- Fourth Division Lots- Ear Marks- Death of Old Samuel Dennis.
it will be a bizarre at the theories of void of two years in our history – from 1707 to 1709 no record being given except that a lot – layers, who are busy surveying and assigning the land embraced in the two divisions already made.
At a town meeting, held July 14, 1709, L25 for the relief of the poor were levied. Tom is a this was made pound-keeper, all condition he forth with Build a sufficient Pownd, with the following fees. For impounding a horse, is.; neat cattle, perhead 9d; a hog 3d, a sheep, 2d, a goose, 1d. We fancy Davis must have considered it worth all of one penny to drive a goose a mile or two to the pound; and an equally pleasant and profitable undertaking it must have been to escort thither a pig for three pence though it is barely possible that these domestic favorites were not afflicted with the obstinate wandering propensities which distinguished their descendants. Notwithstanding, we are not prepared to say that the office of pound-keeper was a sincere in those halcyon days, nor can we imagine how Mr. Davis could see his way clear to bill the town for nothing with such miserable inducements. However, it is none of our business, and possibly he became reached in pounding the geese, at a penny apiece.
Peter Sonmans, a quarrelsome citizen of Perth Amboy having laid claim to several acres of common land in Woodbridge, was sued for its recovery by John Pike in behalf of the Freeholders. It proved to be a long and tedious litigation, the case not being removed from the courts until the latter part of 1737, after Sonmans was dead. The name of Peter his son, appears in the place of his father’s at the close of the suit. It was in it in the Supreme Court, the decision being rendered, in default, after the claim of Sonmans. In this July meeting a committee was appointed to raise money to pay John Pike’s expenses incurred by the suit thus far.
At the same time John Pike and Richard Cutter were permitted to build a grist mill on the north side of the ditch at the south side of the corn field landing, and you have so much land adjoining to the said ditch and the main Creek and shabby for the convenience of said mill so it does not prejudice the said landing. In November and these two men entered into equal partnership and in the following year 1710 the mill was built. Is long since fallen, and has been forgotten.
Richard Cutter ( or Cotter, as it is sometimes spelt) was, no doubt to progenitor of the family of that name now living in Woodbridge. He married Mary Pike, August 20, 1706. Jennet Cotter, a widow, was living in this place in 1689, sewed that it is probable there were others here bearing the name, and a period even more remote.
And a town meeting of October 20 and NTT and 20 acres of common land were allotted for sale to defray the cost of a lawsuit pending between Pike and Sonmons. Pike and cutter, the Millers, or grant a piece of ground in the vicinity of the new mail, the plot not to exceed one acre, Richard Soper apply for and obtain permission to put up a grist mill on Kent’s Creek.
During the years 1711 and 12 nothing of note is mentioned but very little recorded. On the sixth of May, 1714, 3 sheep masters what pointed to protect the flocks from wolves and dogs, and to prevent the distraction, by the sheet, of the growing court and the grass in the pasture lands.
With this break item we pass to the year 1714.
Page 155
The January meeting (28th) was called “By virtue of a warrant for two of her Majesty’s justices of the peace, viz. John Pike and Moses Rolph, Esqs.” Rolph was now serving as town clerk, having been elected in the room of Tom is Pike on the third of March 1712. “The weather being uncomfortable,” says the record, “the meeting was, by unanimous vote, adjourned to the house of Joseph Gilman.” This indicates that fires were not yet introduced in the old meetinghouse. We do not know where Joseph Gilman resided, but we present that his dwelling was near at hand. Charles Gilman, one of the early settlers in Woodbridge, and one of Joseph’s kindred, lived on the west side of the right, near Manning’s Brook,midway between Ensign and Commoss’ store and Rowland’s corner. Possibly Joseph dwelt there in 1714, and a town meeting adjourned to that place; but we are inclined to think his resident was not far from the meeting House
Ensconcing themselves constantly by Mr. Gilman’s fire place The Freeholders leisurely proceeded to business, which was chiefly the appointment of a committee of four to take special care of the school land; and the gift of two acres of land near Richard Skinner’s at Rahway, for building a schoolhouse.
March 1, 1714 L 15 were appropriated, partley for the purchase of a town book and partly for the relief of the poor. This book was bought and is known as the Freeholders’ Book.
It was rebound in October 1868, by order of the town committee, and is therefore a good state of preservation. The pages are occupied with surveys of the second division lots laid out in 1707 which, of course were copied in the book 7 or eight years subsequent to the dates attached to them. The contents are out are principally made up of surveys, but occasionally we find the minutes of a freeholders meeting.
The town meeting of March the 22nd, 1714 John Bishop, Jr., John Pye Jr., James Clarkson, and John Kinsey protested against making any further division of the public land until the LAN already divided was properly assigned.
John Kinsey and John Moore were chosen, pursuant to an
Page 156
Act of the General assembly, to consult and cooperate with the justices in respect to the building of a goal and a courthouse. In the meeting March 13, 1716 (which is the latest one recorded in the first town book) Samuel Dennis Jr., and Daniel Britton while pointed to meet the justices to choose managers to carry on the work of building a prison courthouse. No traces of these billings now remain, except the obscure ones designated in chapter 3. And yet they must have been important features in the legal economy of the township in his early days.
Here we close the first town book and open the second day biding our attention, however, between the latter and the Freeholders Book, because in some particulars they are cotemporary. The Freeholders Book has the minutes of several meetings it should have been in the first town book. One of these dated May 3, 1714 was in regard to a plot of ground of one acre and a half granted to Robert Grove. The land was on Reed Brook, a little below David Donham’s barn. A committee was appointed at this meeting to advise with some legal gentleman as to how the Freeholders could release each other in the division of the Commons. The same committee was authorized to run the line between Amboy in our town.
Adam Hude, Justice, presided on this occasion, a man of eminent judicial qualities and inflexible integrity. He was one of the passengers of the notorious vessel Henry and Francis. He resided at first on Stanton Island, but in 1695 he came to Woodbridge and became one of its honored citizens. He built a dwelling about a mile north of the meeting house and resided there. He and his first wife lie buried in the Presbyterian graveyard. In 1718 Mr. Hude became one of the judges of the Middlesex court of common pleas, soon became Presiding Judge would position he held until 1733, and was Master In Chancery at one time, and a member of the General Assembly in 1701. he died June 27, 1746 in the 85th year of his age, leaving to sons and one daughter. Robert and James, the sons lived in New Brunswick and became distinguished man. Of the daughter, Agnes, little is known
Page 157
At noon on the 17th of May, 1714, a meeting of the Freeholders were held at Moses Rolph’s house. Rolph was Freeholders Clerk, and had also been made Town Clerk. He held the latter position about 19 years from 1712 to 1731.
The persons present appointed a committee to draw what bonds of the signature of all, by which they in it into obligations to stand together for mutual protection in case of suit at law and bobbing their rights as Freeholders. Seven men were empowered to lay out portions of the land in different parts of the town for Commons perpetually, and to devise a plan for dividing the rest of the unappropriated ground equitably between those holding original claims. Colonel Elisha Parker, the Township Treasurer, was ordered to pay “Master Will: Rogers, “ a boy who wielded, perhaps a ready pen, six shillings for writing a letter of Attorney and a bond.
Good for Master Rogers!
On the eighth of March 1715, Papiack Neck and Strawberry Hill were decided to be no longer common land, but eligible for division lots to be distributed among the Freeholders. This action was not popular, however; and on the 12th of July the town or in regard to it was formally repealed. After buddy for a far division of common land to comprise 10 acres in each plot, the citizens proceeded to exempt the following piece of ground: Strawberry Hill, Papiack Neck, the Meeting house Green, the green before Moses Rolph’s door (this consisted of two acres), the plot between “Doctor Wade’s door” and Stephen Tuttle land, a lane leading to Bloomfield’s Spring behind Langstaff’s Hill, a plot between Justice Hude’s and Robert Gilchrist’s, “ and along George Brown’s to a place called ye watering place, also a piece of land in which is a Spring Lying North of a place known by the name of Davie ILesLee’s girdled trees; and a plot between Peter Elston’s, John Skinner’s, Joseph Gray’s and Benjamin Rolph’s lands.
Thomas Pike was appointed Lot layer for the third division of commons, with four assistants, viz : George Brown, Benjamin Donham,
Page 158
William ILSLEE, and John Jaquish. Days were directed to resurvey the parsonage and school lands in addition to their other duties.
The following item is extracted from the minutes of the first recorded meeting and a second town book, dated March 12, 1717. “The overseers of ye Pore shall pay the clerk ye sum of fifteen shillings or theire aboughts to ennable him to by a town book.” The Town Clerk enviced considerable ingenuity in spelling thereabouts as oru readers perceive. This order for purchasing a Town Book was only reiternation of a vote passed March 1st 1714. The 15 shillings or theire aboughts were not forthcoming until 1718, four years after the first order. Verily, public affairs moves slowly in ye days lang syne. A special tax was levied to buy the book, and a board of Assessors elected, comprising Samuel Dennis, Ichabod Smith, Jr., and Moses Rolph. An Elegant volume would naturally be expected as the product of all this excitement and din of preparation; but this plain, dark leather covered book, an inch and a quarter thick, with faded words, Lib. B. Woodbridg, on the outside is the result of four yearsl lucubrations.
On the 19th of March 1717,all preliminaries were arranged for the fourth division of the public land, and special kinds were taken to make the disposition of the plots as fair and equal is possible. We find a more minute and satisfactory account of this division than any other, so we should give the details substantially as we read them in the Freeholders Book (folio 30).
May 8th was the day for the drawing of the lots. It is not difficult for us to imagine the impatience with which certain necessary business matters were disposed of. Caleb Campbell was permitted to draw a lot in consideration of the fact that his wife was the first Christian child born in Woodbridge. Robert Gilchrist was Moderator fo the day. John Parker was elected to draw the lots. It was agreed that each Freeholder shold pay down to Daniel Britton , the town treasurer six shillings and six pence for expenses, immediately on drawing his lot. The plots had all been marked out and numbered beforehand. The modus operandi is fully explained
Page 159
by the resolution, to wit: It was voated and agred yt ye ffreholders should prosede to draw there sd fourth Division Lots: (& accordingly they did) they being numbered on Little pices of Paper and putt unto a bagg and Drawn by John Parker according (to) ye fore going voatt: jye sd Lotts being Drawn Jn ye Names of ye originall freeholder’s”. Eight acres of good land were to be represented by each slip of paper.
The first lot taken out was on the right of Daniel Pierce. It was number 19. How many jokes were perpetrated, or astute prognostications derived from this initiatory draft cannot be conjectured. Parker again plunged his hand into the bag, this time in the right of Joshua Pierce. A momentary rustling of fugitive bits of paper is succeeded by a jerk upward , and, amid the profound silence of the group, Parker calls out, number 42 Caleb Campbell, who had been so fortunate as to marry the first born native of Woodbury, drew number 35 which proved to be the plot on the road to Piscataway. It may be interesting to our readers, so we transcribe the list of drawings:
Daniel Pierce 19
Obadiah Ayers 56
Joshua Pierce 42
Nathan Webster 13
John Martin Sr. 18
George March 51
Hopewell Hull 22
Thomas Alger 67
Hugh Dun 20
Robert Rogers 62
Charles Gilman 8
William Compton 25
Matthew Moore 45
John Watkins 65
John Smith, Scotchman 1
Thomas Bloomfield 3
Matthew Bunn 14
Samuel Moore 7
John LIESLEE 53
John Smith 28
Abraham Tappan 61
Samuel Smith 27
Isaac Tappan 59
Elisha Parker 58
Robert Dennes 33
Henry Jaques 54
John Dennes 16
Hugh March 5
Samuel Dennes 49
Samuel Hale 21
Thomas Bloomfield, Sr. 47
Henry Lesenbe 39
John Bloomfield 2
John Adams 32
Henry Jaques, Jr. 12
Benjamin Parkes 9
Stephen Kent 10
Jedediah Andrews 26
S. Kent, Jr. 63
Ephriam Andrews 4
Daniel Gresey 50
John Dille 69
Richard Worth 29
Daniel Robins 44
John Pike Jr. ­­--
John Cromwell 24
Jonathan IIanes 6
John Conger 15
John Witcher 57
Samuel Bacon 48
George Little 36
Mr. Le Pairie 31
Elisha ILESLEE 23
John Trueman 60
Jonathan Dunham 38
John Everit 46
David McKenney 52
James Clarkson 43
Joshua Bradley 34
Thomas Pike 39
Philip Cartwright 40
Caleb Campbell 35
John Allen 66
John Bishop, Sr. 68
Jonathan Bishop 41
John Bishop, Jr. 17
Thomas Adams 64
John Tailor 37
Pg. 160
It has not been nearly 50 years since the first of these original freeholders had come to Woodbridge. Some of them had died, others had moved away. Some had sold their rights , as had John Dilly, who’s claimed was on no Robert Gilchrist; the children of others had inherited their fathers rights, as had the younger Samuel Moore. Of the man who drew in their own ride as original freeholders five sorely were present on this occasion, viz.: John Bloomfield, John Bishop Jr., Samuel Smith, Thomas Pike, and Stephen Kent Jr. Possibly ate few others were there, but it is doubtful. These five were old men,; and not many years after, they’re familiar faces were missed from their custom haunts in the village and others occupies the homesteads they had built.
“Thus star by star declined,
Till all are passed away.”
Diminish recorded in the second town book embrace the period of 1717 to 1799. One meeting a year, for the election of officers, is all we find, except in a few instances. A large part of the volume is taking out with the designation of the earmarks on cattle to indicate the ownership of them. This peculiar record extends him 1720 21809, and is a good means of showing the number of well-to-do families in Woodbridge. Here is an entry in the year 1766:
May ye 2d Azel Roe, ye minister, made Entryey of his Ear mark which is a Swallow fork in ye Left ear and two halfe penneys under ye Right.”
A rough sketch of the ears is made in each case, with the Mars plan the drawn on them. A “Swallow fork” is simply made by cutting a spiece out of the ear in the shape of an acute triangle, the acute angle extending inward. A “half penny” is a piece cut out about the size of the indicated by the term.
Page 161- 163
Turning from the barren records of Liber B, we open the Freeholders Book and find that in a meeting of April 7, 1719, another division of the public land was under discussion. This was the fifth division, which was made April 4th, 1720 just a year after the meeting alluded to.
We are reminded in a minute of the meeting of March 25th, 1720 of the death of the venerable Samuel Dennis, who has figured conspicuously in the proceeding pages. He died, probably some time between March, 1715 and the following August. Our reasons for supposing this to be the date are that , as one of the division lot layers, his name is attached to a survey of a lot March 12th 1715, he is spoken of as deceased, his son Samuel drawing the fourth division lot in his name. As he never resumed his duties as lot layer we take it as a strong presumptive evidence that he died in 1715 and certainly his death occurred previous to May, 1717.
He was a prominent public man, and, as such it is fitting that we pause in our narrative to do him honor. He came from New England, probably with Robert and John his brothers.
By reference to the lists of township officers in Chapter XII., it will be seen that he filled many important positions. He was Deputy to the General Assembly in 1675, 1680 to 83’, 1688 and “98-99. In 1699 he was appointed by Jeremiah Basse one of the Governors Council, a post which he held with honor for several years. From 1688 to 1692 he was Town Clerk of Woodbridge. He was elected to the same position in April, 1694, but refused to serve in spite of the earnest solicitation of his friends. In the years 1683 to 1692 he was Town Clerk of Woodbridge. He was elected to the same position in April 1694, but refused to serve in spite of the earnest solicitation of his friends. In the years 1683 and 1692 we find his name in the list of Assistant Justices of the Township Court. It would appear, from te minutes of the Governor and Council (pp. 143-4), that he was President of the Court in 1686-87. While in the performance of his duties in the last mentioned office in 1686, he was arrested, at the instance of Governor, Lord Campbell, for an alleged violation of the law in holding a session of his Court in Piscataway on the third of Tuesday December. The minutes of the Governor’s Council held at Amboy on the 27th of December 1686, contain the following facts in regard to this matter. We quote:
My Lord gave this Board an Account of the Transactions of the Justices of the County of Middx in holding a court at the Town of Piscataway the 3d Tuesday in this Instant month of December, Contrary to Act of General Assembly and the Governors p’ticular proclamation. Whereupon its Agreed and ordered that a wart bee issued out ot the High Sheriffe of the County of Middx, im’ediately to bring before this Coucill on tomorrow morning the Eight of the Clocke, the boddy of Mr. Samll Dennes of Woodbridge, who was president of that court, to answer to prmisses, &c.
The next day the officer appeared before the august tribunal with the prisoner. He was examined as to his offense. He admitted that at the time specified he had held a court at Piscataway; but declared distinctly that he had not acted contrary to the law. He was given a week to find security in L 300 to appear a the next session of the Court of Common Right at Amboy in May to answer the charge; in default of which he was to be “Close Committed to the Goale of Woodbridge:. It is likely that the Governor found out his mistake and discharged the Judge. By the law of 1675 (see Learning and Spicer, p 96), the Governor was right; but by the law of 1682 (L and S, P229) which virtually annulled the former the Judge was right. The third Tuesday in December was, in 1682, set down for the holding of the County Court at Piscataway.
In the House of Deputies on the 16th of March, 1698, Mr. Dennis was elected to the Speaker’s chair, a post which he worthily and honorably filled for a year, when he was taken into the Council by the Governor.
He went down to the grave full of honors, and amid the profound regret of the people he was buried.