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Historic Morristown, New Jersey The Story of Its First Century by Andrew M. Sherman (Howard Publishing Co., 1905) 273 pages, 2.71MB

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This classic local history chronicles the settlement of Morristown from the early 1700s through the Revolution. General Washington's army spent two winters in Morristown, and the author devotes a substantial portion of the narrative to those encampments. Local lore and legend includes the tales of the "Morristown Ghost," and Tempe Wick as well as detailed reports of Masonic meetings during the Revolution and the court martial of Benedict Arnold.

The original book included about one hundred illustrations, mostly half-tones previously published in a newspaper serial. Their quality leaves much to be desired, and their combined digital volume would make a fully-illustrated PDF edition too large for convenient download. Some of the illustrations are embedded in the text, the rest are linked to the thumbnails below.

CHAPTER I
Morristown is settled by persons from Whippany – English in Morris County as early as 1685 – Conjecture of Rev. Joseph F. Tuttle, D.D., LL.D. – Statement of Rev. Samuel L. Tuttle – Tribute of Rev. Robert Aikman, D.D., to the brothers Tuttle – Entry in the parish, book of Rev. Jacob Green – Starting point of Morris County history – Settlement of the Dutch at Pompton – Circumstances under which Whippany was permanently settled – Significance of the word “Whippanong” – The pioneers of Whippany, who, and whence were they? – They engage in the iron industry – First iron forge in the county erected at Whippany – Others are erected on the Whippany river – The last forge in the vicinity – Iron ore is procured at Succasunna – Manufactured bars were taken on horse back to Newark and Elizabethtown – Iron ore was long utilized by the Indians – Habits and customs of the Indians – The Lenni Lenape tribe – Indians of the county were hospitable and friendly – Code of honor among them – Destructive effects of “fire water” among the aborigines – Origin of the Indians – Evolutionary theory of creation anticipated – Interesting Indian deed – Remnants of the Lenni Lenape emigrate to New York State – One family remains – Indian relics found in Morris County

CHAPTER II
Introduction by Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Tuttle – Circumstances under which Morristown was settled – Exact date of its settlement not known – Reasons for settling Morristown – Locale of the original settlement – Where the first iron forge was erected – Gristmill and sawmill were soon afterward erected – Other forges on the Whippany river – Log huts were the first homes of the settlers – Settlers erect their huts on the hill – Indians still linger in the region – They emigrate to the West – Wild beasts abound – Sheep and other stock herded at night – Quaint deed to three individuals – The land was soon distributed – New arrivals from Newark and other towns – First frame house in Morristown – Inauguration of religious services at Whippany – Occasional supplies by visiting ministers – The village schoolmaster officiates? – Church is organized at Whippany – Land for church edifice given by John Richards – Copy of Richard’s deed – He is the first to be buried in the new grounds – Finding of the Richard’s deed – Present locale of the deed

CHAPTER III
Primitive church at Whippany is described – Of the Presbyterian order, ultimately – Wide extent of the parish – Pastors of the church, Hubbell, Nutman – New church edifice is discussed – Primitive church said to be “old and dilapidated” – Determination to remove the church organization to Morristown – Opposition of the Whippany people – Agreement to submit the matter to “the lot” – Result favors the church remaining at Whippany – Two versions of the affair – Religious services are inaugurated at Morristown – Some attend services at Basking Ridge – The mother church is financially crippled – Mr. Nutman appeals to Synod for relief – Synod advises in the matter – Attempt to reconcile the divided parish – Use of “the lot” condemned by the Synod – John Cleverly preaches for the people at Morristown – They desire his ordination – The Whippany people object – He is advised by Presbytery to seek another field – He remains in Morristown – Supplies there and at Turkey – Large committee of Synod meet at Whippany – Sermon by Rev. Gilbert Tennent – A good feeling is aroused – Mutual agreement upon a separation – Presbyterian church is organized at Morristown – Morris County is instituted – First church edifice is erected at the county seat – Stone to mark its site – Land for church and parsonage given – Description of the church edifice or “meeting house” – Where it stood – New steeple erected – A bell presented by the King of Great Britain – The bell has been three times cracked – The organization grows – Enlargement of the “meeting house” – Rev. Timothy Johnes preaches at Morristown – He accepts a call to the pastorate – Comes to town on horse back – Extract from a historical paper of Mrs. Isaac R. Pierson – Mr. Johnes is installed – He begins a church record – Title of the book

CHAPTER IV
Members of Mr. Johnes’ church – Extracts from the church records – Mr. Johnes’ salary – Parish “bees” – Members are called to account – Names of the original elders of the Morristown church – Extracts from the court records – Township officers are elected – Morris County boundaries described – County court is held in a tavern – First session of the county court – Township of Morris is established – Names of the County judges – Township officers are appointed – Tavern license is granted to Jacob Ford – Copy of the license – Morristown Freeholders, or real estate owners, in 1752 – First county court house is erected – The building described – The church deeds land for the court house and jail – Pillory erected nearby – Uriah Brown’s mysterious escapes from jail – The old court house is enlarged – Unhewn boulder is erected by the D.A.R. – Locale of the pillory – The “old well” on the Green – Many drink its refreshing waters – Attempt to have the well filled in – The well still remains

CHAPTER V
The first Baptists in Morris County – Baptist settlement down the Basking Ridge road – They attend church at Piscataway – Baptist church is organized at Morristown – Men who officiated – Names of the original members – Locale of the meeting house – Rev. John Gano was the first pastor – He preaches in surrounding places – Extracts from the church records – Conversion of Hezekiah Smith – He enters the ministry – Extracts from his Journal – Extracts from Rev. Dr. Fox’s article – Rev. Ichabod Tomkins the second pastor of the Baptist church – The membership increases – Mr. John Walton is ordained – Resolution to build a new church “on the Green” – Subscribers to the building fund – Burial grounds of the primitive Baptist church – Family burial grounds – Soldiers may have been buried in the old Baptist burial grounds – The Baptists worship in the old court house – Meeting house is completed – Description of the meeting house – Dedicatory sermon by Rev. Mr. Gano – The first pastor of the church “on the Green” was Rev. Reune Runyon

CHAPTER VI
Word picture of colonial Morristown – Habits and customs of the people – Sabbath observance – Tithing men to preserve order in church – Long service enjoyed – A page of “parson Johnes’ sermon notes – Lining – Mr. Johnes’ introduces a choir – Descriptions of quaint customs – Charter of incorporation – Extracts from the trustees’ book – Cases of discipline – Education is encouraged – Gifts to the College of New Jersey – Schools are established in Morristown – Method of conducting schools – Quaint newspaper advertisements

CHAPTER VII
Samuel Ford, Jr., engaged in the iron industry at “Hiberny” – The manufacture of counterfeit money is suggested by his partner – Ford sells out – Goes to Ireland to learn the art of counterfeiting – Marries an Irish girl – She is broken hearted on learning Ford has a wife and children – Large quantity of counterfeit Jersey money is in circulation – Ford embarks in the manufacture of counterfeit money – His shop at the “Hammock” is visited by prominent men – Robbery of the East Jersey treasury at Perth Amboy – Ford the leader – $30,000 secured – The money is divided – Ford is arrested – He escapes from the Morris County jail – County officials are suspected of complicity – Tardy endeavor to capture Ford – Evidence suppressed – Arrest, trial, conviction and sentence of Ford’s accomplices – At the eleventh hour all but one is pardoned – The least guilty of all is hung on the Morristown Green – Protests his innocence to the last – Dr. Bern Budd resumes practice – Ford flees South – Settles in West Virginia – Changes his name – Marries for the third time – His son visits him – He is repentant – Never returned to New Jersey

CHAPTER VIII
Illustrations of British tyranny – Infant colonial industries restricted – Passage of the “navigation act” – “Writs of assistance” earnestly resisted Colonists oppose “taxation without representation” – Enormous British war debt – Direct tax for its liquidation is resisted by the colonists – Thrilling words of Patrick Henry – Formidable opposition of Massachusetts to British tyranny – A colonial Congress is recommended – Squire Winds issues writs on white birch bark – Non-importation associations are formed – Population of Morristown – The village Green – The Presbyterian church receives large gifts of land – Makes land purchases, also – Morristown’s representatives to the State Assembly – Essex County publicly declares resistance to British tyranny – Morris County is aroused – Stirring meeting in the old court house on the Green – Patriotic resolutions are passed – Important committee is appointed – Sketch of Morristown members – Meeting of county committees at New Brunswick – Delegates to the General Congress are appointed – Meeting of the General Congress at Philadelphia – Second meeting in Morristown – Old county committee is reappointed – A New York printer is condemned – His pamphlets are burned on the Green – A sifting process is instituted – Meeting of the cream of Morris County in the old court house on the Green

CHAPTER IX
The colonists are thoroughly aroused – War actually begun – The raising of money and men is authorized by Morris County – The county is dominated by men of New England origin – County delegates meet in Dickerson’s tavern – Important action taken – Military forces to be raised – 300 volunteers are ordered recruited – Officers named – Provision for their payment is made – Payment of soldiers is provided for – Powder and lead are voted – Sketch of Morris County patriots – Promise required of recruits

CHAPTER X
Organization of an independent mounted troop – “Thomas Kinney, Esq.,” was the captain – Enlistment roll – Other names are added – Service of Jacob Johnson – “Parson” Johnes’ fidelity – The Light Horse Troop escorts Governor Franklin to Connecticut – Compensation for services – Jacob Arnold assumes command of the company – How they were armed – Spear is found in the cellar of the Arnold tavern – Now at “Headquarters” – Services rendered by the Arnold Light Horse Troop – Colonel Arnold’s watch – History of the watch – The Provincial Congress is supplanted – Provisions for raising militia – Jacob Ford, Jr., is appointed colonel of the “eastern battalion” – Officers furnished by Morristown – “Minute men” ordered to be recruited in Morris County – Meeting at Dickerson’s tavern – Officers recommended for commissions – Meeting of battalion officers – Officers present – The Continental Congress calls upon New Jersey for men – Pay of officers and men – Form of enlistment – Another New Jersey battalion called for – Powder mill is erected at Morristown – Its erection is supervised by a Morristonian – Locale of the powder mill – Its complete isolation – A Morristonian in charge of the powder mill – Ingenious ruse to deceive the British – The Hathaway house is located and described – The Major Joseph Lindsley house – Women guide horsemen to the Ford powder mill – Morristown freeholders in 1776

CHAPTER XI
Bold resolution of Richard Henry Lee – Declaration of Independence drawn by Jefferson – Opening sentence – The immortal declaration is adopted – Demonstrations of American patriots – Morristown joins – Important battles in New York State – Attempts of the British to destroy Ford’s powder mill – The first battle at Springfield – Colonel Ford and the New Jersey militia repulse the enemy – They flee toward Spanktown – The French government resolves to aid the colonists – The famous “mud rounds” – General McDougall visits Morristown – Three regiments of American troops arrive at the county seat – Ford’s powder mill must be protected – Colonel Ford returns from Chatham – Parades his battalion in Morristown – He is taken sick on parade – He is carried to his home by soldiers – Succumbs to disease induced by exposure – Sketch of his life – He is buried with military honors in the Presbyterian burial grounds – Inscription on his monument – Washington in Morristown – Arnold’s tavern his headquarters – Story of the building – The tavern is described – The rooms occupied by Washington – Other officers are quartered in the village – The patriot army chiefly at Lowantica valley – The small – pox breaks out in Morristown – Presbyterian and Baptist churches are used as hospitals – Correspondence between Washington and Lord Howe – Some humor indulged in – Decease of Colonel Jacob Ford, Sr

CHAPTER XII
Washington’s soldiers are billeted in private houses – Statement of historian Gordon – In a letter Washington mentions the battles of Trenton and Princeton – He writes to Governor Livingston a cheery letter – Number of the patriot army in Morris County – Term of enlistment soon to expire – Solicitude of Washington – Desertions from the American army – The commander – in – chief recommends stringent measures – Punishment of deserters by “running the gauntlet” – The small-pox continues – Numerous deaths – “Parson Johnes’” arduous labers – Washington is ill at Arnold’s tavern – Mrs. Washington nurses him – Fears entertained of his decease – He recommends General Greene as his successor – The commander-in-chief recovers – He visits the camps – Sympathy for his soldiers – Trials of Washington – How a British spy was misled – The Silas Condict house is located and describe” – British officers are confined there – Trouble over a dog – Incident of a returned American soldier – The new Silas Condict house – The old house is torn down – Interesting letter of Mr. Condict – A tory confesses – Another tory joins the British army – Peter Kemble is before the Council of Safety – Burial place of the Kemble family – A tory minister is confined in the Morristown Jail – Daniel Morgan organizes a battalion of sharpshooters – Testimony of Washington to their efficiency – A tory brought to the Morristown Jail

CHAPTER XIII
Hessian prisoners are brought to Morristown – A British officer is flogged – Courtesy of Washington to a mother and child – He visits “Parson Johnes” – He communes with the Presbyterians – Gambling in the army is prohibited – Washington commends one of his generals – Bravery of a Morris County officer – “Parson Johnes” preaches a stirring sermon – A page of his sermon notes – Kosciusko arrives in Morristown – He is assigned to duty by Washington – Tributes to Washington’s generalship – Departure of the patriot army from Morris County – Important meeting of the Council of Safety – British recruiting officers before this body – Recruits for the enemy enlist in the American navy – A busy court term of Oyer and Terminer – Thirty – five sentenced to be hung – Several cases of pardon – Two are executed on the Morristown Green – A British spy is branded in the hand – British prisoners are paroled – Escape of prisoners from Jail

CHAPTER XIV
The Council of Safety was a migratory body – Extracts from their minutes – The small-pox epidemic begins to abate – Request of the Presbyterian church officials that the meeting house be vacated – Enactment of “a war measure” by the State Legislature – Violators of the law cited before the Council of Safety – British deserters are before the same body – Extracts from the minutes of the Council of Safety – The trustees of the Presbyterian church meet – Extracts from the New Jersey Gazette – The Council of Safety meets at Springfield – A beacon station is ordered established at Morristown – Announcement in the New Jersey Gazette of its establishment – Testimony of a Morristonian corroborative of its establishment – John Ruchman’s testimony – What Lossing saw in 1848 – Present traces of earthworks on Fort Nonsense hill – Two theories concerning their origin – Opinion of the author – Extract from “Topography of Washington’s Camp of 1780 and its Neighborhood”

CHAPTER XV
Resumé of national events – Capture of Paulus by Major Henry Lee – Quartermaster General Greene in Morristown – He examines grounds for the encampment of Washington’s army – Washington’s choice is Morristown – Reasons for this choice – Locale of Stark’s brigade encampment – Erection of a monument to mark its site – Traces of “dug-outs” found – Significant order of Washington – Locale of Clinton’s brigade encampment – How an extant map aids in locating its sites – Testimony of a Morristonian – Locale of the Pennsylvania brigade encampment – Brigade camps changed – Site of a division hospital, and spring – The famous clump of locust trees – These trees were planted to protect soldiers’ graves – Effort to have a monument erected – Experiences of the writer – Locale of the Maryland brigade encampment – Site of the spring furnishing water – The ruins of a stone bake oven – Hand’s brigade encampment – Interesting heap of stones – “Fort Hill” – Locale of the Connecticut brigade encampment – The author tramps over these grounds – Definite traces of camp streets – Locale of the New Jersey brigade encampment – Descriptions of local historians – The author’s first visit to the grounds – Obstacles overcome – His imagination is awakened – Fourth of July pilgrimage recommended – McClintock’s diagram of the camp grounds

CHAPTER XVI
Locale of Knox’s artillery brigade – A regiment of artificers – Recollections of a Morristonian – Grazing grounds for the artillery horses Statement of a lover of nature – Knox’s quarters – Access to the “Park of Artillery” – The “Grand Parade,” where situated – A famous log building – Extracts from the order book of Colonel Francis Johnston – Officers quartered in farm houses – Huts of the patriot soldiers are described – Washington’s strict orders for their construction – Quarters of General William Irvine – A cannon ball on exhibition – Officers are quartered in the “Continental House” – Quarters of the Surgeon-General – Washington’s Headquarters – Washington’s Body Guard – Locale and description of their huts – The organization of Washington’s Body Guard – Reasons for the Body Guard – The last survivor of this organization – Washington is cramped for room at headquarters – He helps unload wood – A log kitchen and office built – A resourceful housekeeper – Salt $8 per bushel – Two interesting letters by the commander-in-chief – Noble response of New Jersey patriots to an appeal for food – Severity of the winter of 1779-80 – Extracts from Dr. Thatcher’s military journal – An interesting letter – Quartermaster General Joseph Lewis – Extract from the poem, “Rhoda Farrand” – History of the poem – An excited young man is quieted – Preparations for repelling a British attack at Headquarters – Washington’s courtesy to a wounded soldier – The camps are visited – Arrival of Mrs. Washington at the Ford Mansion – Example of industry and simple attire – Exorbitant prices of necessities – Reward is offered for a runaway negro

CHAPTER XVII
An important gathering in Dickerson’s tavern – The court-martial of Benedict Arnold – Sketch of his career – Resumé of his services – Composition of the court – The room in which the trial occurred – The charges against Arnold – He demands an investigation – Active hostilities prevent – An opportune time arrives – Arnold’s personal appearance at the trial – He offers evidence – He addresses the court – The court is adjourned – Arnold’s acquittal was expected – The court reassembles – Arnold is convicted – The sentence is a reprimand from Washington – The reprimand – Arnold is disappointed and indignant – He resolves to quit the service – He is dissuaded by Washington – He is assigned to West Point – He requests leave of absence – He is still brooding over the verdict of the court-martial – He betrays his country – Dies in obscurity in England – On whom rests the responsibility for Arnold’s rash act? – The celebration in Morristown of the festival of St. John, by the Military Union Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons – A fruitless expedition to Staten Island – Half – humorous letter of Quartermaster General Lewis – A specimen of newspaper patriotism – The soldiers return to camp, many with frozen feet – The British retaliate on Elizabethtown – Washington orders an investigation – An assembly opened at Morristown – Subscriptions to the series of balls – A bit of word painting – How “Tempe” Wick saved her favorite saddle horse – The popular version given – The footprints of “Tempe’s” horse were seen for many years – “Leddell’s mill” still in operation

CHAPTER XVIII
Washington’s customary seriousness – An occasional laugh is indulged in – A braggart’s attempt to break a young horse – Washington laughs heartily – Sketch of General John Doughty – He settles in Morristown – Two distinguished foreigners visit Morristown – They attend a military parade – A grand ball in the “Continental House” – Tallow candles are the only light – Death of Don Juan de Miralles – An imposing funeral – Soldiers guard his grave – The history of the “Continental House” – Officers quartered in the building – Captured British cannon stored there – Courtship of Alexander Hamilton – Hamilton and the sentinel as related to Lossing – Captain “Jack” Steele’s letter from Headquarters – The main portion of the American army leaves Morristown – The second battle at Springfield – Colonel Benoni Hathaway is wounded – He prefers charges against General Heard – Pennsylvania troops are left in Morristown – Misunderstanding over the soldiers’ term of enlistment – The soldiers resolve to mutiny – They procure arms, ammunition and provisions – Accidental shooting of Captain Adam Bettin – General Wayne hastens from his quarters to camp – He addresses the mutineers – A shot is fired over his head – “Shoot me, if you will” – Wayne returns to his quarters – The mutineers start for Philadelphia – They seek Justice – General Wayne vainly endeavors to dissuade the mutineers from their purpose – He recognizes the justness of their cause – Wayne leads his soldiers to Princeton – Their wrongs are righted – Clinton sends emissaries to the mutineers – They indignantly spurn their flattering inducements – The emissaries are executed as spies – Wayne’s tribute to the Pennsylvania troops – Sketch of General Wayne’s career – His quarters at Bottle Hill – Another version of the “Tempe” Wick episode – Comments of a local historian upon the popular theory – Some interesting information furnished by a descendant of Morris County patriots – She addresses a valuable letter to the author – The destruction by fire of the “Leddell house” – The cause of the conflagration – A Morristonian’s reminiscent letter to the author

CHAPTER XIX
Relief of the long – suffering patriot soldiers – Resume of national events – The surrender of Cornwallis – The discovery of old documents at Trenton – Inventories of property of Morris County patriots in the Revolution – Sketch of Judge John Cleves Symme’s career – A famous house – Anna Symme’s marriage to Captain William H. Harrison – Walter Mould, an English artisan, removes to Morristown – He occupies “Solitude” – He coins the famous “horsehead pennies” – A silver mine on the Symme’s place – Captain Benjamin Holloway keeps the Wheatsheaf tavern – Present owner of the “Wheatsheaf farm” – “The Morristown Ghost” – Amusing experiences of the author – He receives significant offers of an “original copy” – The “perennial perambulating typo” episode – A dramatic representation of the “Morristown Ghost” – Reprints of the famous pamphlet – The author recommended to publish the names of Roger’s victims – The probable printer of the original “Morristown Ghost”

CHAPTER XX
Local belief concerning buried treasure – Tories and others bury money and valuables – Morris County residents seek the aid of a “chymist” – The story of the Morristown Ghost related – Morris County’s rapid growth from the Revolution – The iron industry an important factor – Log huts superseded by more comfortable homes – Better schools are established – The Presbyterians build a new meeting house – “Parson Johnes” preaches his half – century sermon – The service described by a recent pastor of the First Church – Decease of the Rev. Timothy Johnes, D.D. – Tribute of Dr. Albert Barnes to Dr. Timothy Johnes – Successors to “Parson Johnes” – Methods employed to raise the ministers’ salary – “Wood – frolicks” – Expenditures for “cake and cider” – “Spinning visits” to the parsonage – Baptist pastors during the closing years of the century – “A List of Capt. Joseph Halsey’s Company Militia” – The organization of the Morris Academy – Names of the subscribers – The first board of proprietors – A building lot is purchased of the First Church – Names of early pupils of the Morris Academy – The school becomes famous – A library is established – Constitution and by – laws are adopted – Names of the officers – Growth of the library – A newspaper is issued in Morristown – Change of name and editorship – Jacob Mann is the new editor – The first post – master in Morristown – A fire association is organized at the county seat – Names of the officers – The “Morris Aqueduct” is incorporated – Names of the proprietors – A description of the “Morris Aqueduct” – The inauguration of the first stage route between Morristown and Powles Hook – A rival stage is put on – Flaming advertisements to secure patronage – Burial Grounds in Morristown – The “Bill of Mortality,” by “Parson Johnes” and sexton William Cherry – “Time brushes off our lives with sweeping wings” – Many Revolutionary soldiers were interred in the Presbyterian burial grounds – Brass buttons have been found – Revolutionary soldiers were interred in the Baptist burial grounds – Buttons, pennies and wallet are found – The oldest stone in the Presbyterian burial grounds – The visit of an antiquarian to the oldest cemetery in Morristown – The oldest date she found – A friend said the oldest date was 1713
Index of Persons
Addenda