History of Nova Caesarea - Part 11



CHAP. XXIV.
A short geographical description of the province and additional view of its
present state.

To be very particular on this head, comes not within our design; nor will
it perhaps be a matter of much expectation, as the present state of trade
carried on chiefly through the provinces New-York and Pennsylvania, seems
but little calculated to draw attention from abroad; but the situation of
the province, as lying directly in the concourse between the places
aforesaid, renders it almost as well known to strangers resorting there.

New-Jersey lying about 75 degrees west longitude from London, is bounded
on the west and south-west by Delaware river and bay, on the south-east
and east by the Atlantick ocean; the sound, which separates Staten Island
1 from the continent, and Hudson's river on the north, by a line as yet
unsettled, to be run from the river last mentioned, in the latitude of 40
degrees to the northerly branch of Delaware, in latitude of 41 degrees 40
minutes, which line is to be the boundary with New York on that side. The
greatest length of New-Jersey from north to south, that is from Cape-May,
in the latitude of 39 degrees to the north Station Point, in the latitude
41 degrees 40 minutes at 69 miles to a degree, is 184 miles. Its greatest
breadth is about 60 miles; but supposing it on an average 150 in length
and 50 broad, the whole province must then contain 4,800,000 acres; of
which at least one-fourth, (probably more) is poor barren land, in respect
to tillage; but in part abounding with pines 2 and cedars, and some few
tracts of swamp, that will make meadow. It is supposed, that West-Jersey
contains the greatest quantity of acres, and in return took the most
barren land. East-Jersey, now 1765, is supposed to have located nearly 468,
000 acres good land, and 96,000 acres of pine land.3 The proprietors of
West-Jersey, soon after their arrival, divided among them, 500,000 acres,
which they call the first dividend; since which, at different times, they
have issued directions for each proprietor's taking his part of four other
dividends of the like quantity, amounting in the whole, with allowance of
five per cent. for roads, to 2,625,000 acres, conjectured by many to be
full as much land as the division contains; of this the far greater part
is already surveyed; what yet remains are chiefly the rights of minors and
people abroad.

Delaware river, from the head of Cushietunk, tho' not obstructed with
falls, has not been improved to any inland navigation, by reason of the
thinness of the settlements that way: From Cushietunk to Trenton falls,
are fourteen considerable rifts, yet all passable in the long flat boats 4
used in the navigation of these parts, some carrying 500 or 600 bushels of
wheat. The greatest number of the rifts are from Easton downward; and
those fourteen miles above Easton, another just below Wells's ferry, and
that at Trenton, are the worst. The boats seldom come down but with
freshes, especially from the Minisinks: The freight thence to
Philadelphia, is eight pence a bushel for wheat, and three shillings a
barrel for flour: From the forks, and other places below, twenty shillings
a tun for pig iron, seven pence a bushel for wheat, two shillings and six
pence a barrel for flour. This river above Trenton, has no branches worth
mentioning, for conveniency of navigation.5

Though the province boundary on the ocean, is extensive, the harbours for
large shipping are but few, and, except Sandy-Hook, mostly inconvenient,
occasioned by a great extent of salt meadows, swamps and marshes, and being
exposed to the N.E. winds; this disadvantage is however amply supplied by
the Delaware and Hudson's river.

Almost the whole extent of the province adjoining on the Atlantick, is
barrens, or nearly approaching it; yet there are scattering settlements
all along the coast, the people subsisting in great part by raising cattle
in the bog, undrained meadows and marshes, and selling them to graziers,
and cutting down the cedars; these were originally plenty of both the
white and red sorts: The towring retreat of the former have afforded many
an asylum for David's men of necessity:6 They are now much work'd out:
Another means of subsistence along the coast, is the plenty of fish and
oysters, these are carried to New-York and Philadelphia markets. It is
thought, no inconsiderable whale-fishery might be form'd there; on the
banks the New-England men frequently fish with success. The barrens or
poor land, generally continues from the sea up into the province, thirty
miles or more, and this nearly the whole extent from east to west; so that
there are many thousand acres, that will never serve much of the purposes
of agriculture; consequently when the pines and cedars are generally gone
(they are so already in many places) this will not be of much value. This
excepted, and what of the same sort may be here and there intermixed in
other parts of the province, the lands in general (perhaps something
better than two thirds of the whole) are good, and bear wheat, barley, or
any thing else suitable to the climate, to perfection. As the province has
very little foreign trade on bottoms of its own, the produce of all kinds
for sale, go chiefly to New-York and Philadelphia; much of it is there
purchased for markets abroad; but some consumed among themselves. The
inhabitants as to dress and manners, form themselves much after the
neighbouring provinces; the western, about as far as the tide flows up
Delaware, those of Pennsylvania; the remainder, those of New-York. The
political state of the province may be described in a few words; harmony
reigns in a considerable degree, in all branches of the legislature; the
publick business is consequently dispatched with ease, and at a small
expence. Thus much in the general: Next for the counties; of these there
are thirteen: Their respective wealth on a comparison with each other, may
be collected from the proportions fixed by act of Assembly, on a £.25,000
tax, 1764.

MIDDLESEX, £.2,265: 17: 09 3/4
MONMOUTH, 3,285: 16: 10 1/2
ESSEX, 1,946: 8: 04
SOMERSET, 2,791: 7: 01
BERGEN, 1,647: 9: 08 1/4
BURLINGTON, 3,125: 9: 05 3/4
GLOUCESTER, 1,954: 10: 02 1/2
SALEM, 1,746: 7: 03 1/2
CAPE-MAY, 417: 14: 08 1/2
HUNTERDON, 3,544: 7: 11
MORRIS AND SUSSEX,* 1,389: 1: 08 1/4
CUMBERLAND, 885: 9: 03 1/4

*Sussex being the frontier county, and but lately settled, pays but a small
proportion.

The number of inhabitants in 1738, were said to be: 47,369. In 1745: 61,403

The increase in seven years: 14,034

Supposing the increase to be nearly the same since, the number now, 1765,
must be about 100,000.

The increase of some of the counties in West-Jersey, between 1699 and 1745,
was found to be more than six for one; the proportion of strangers
arriving since, is not the same; but the natural increase must be far
greater.

The counties are several of them mark'd by productions, differing in some
respects from each othe; and when distinguished, may perhaps bear the
following general description.

Eastern Division.

MIDDLESEX

First ascertain'd a county by act of general assembly, in the proprietor's
time 1682, had its boundaries particularly fixd by subsequent acts, in
1709 and 1713. See laws of the province, vol. 1., p. 13, 40, 41.

In this county lies the city of Perth-Amboy, on a point of land, which
divides the river Rariton, and Arthur Kull sound. It takes its name Perth
from James Drummond, one of the proprietors, and earl of Perth, and Amboy
from Ambo, in Indian a point. The situation for a sea trade, as lying open
to Sandy-Hook,7 whence vessels may arrive almost any weather in one tide
from the sea, and find a safe commodious harbour, capacious enough to
contain many large ships, is allow'd to be as good a port as most on the
continent; yet by a fatality attending almost every attempt for trade in
the province, the endeavours at this have been hitherto with no great
success; tho' they have a sea trade, and export to foreign markets, yet
not as might be expected from the advantages of situation: The land lies
high and dry, in a good air: The Scots proprietors were indefatigable to
improve it; but found up-hill work; yet effected a considerable
settlement: The best part of the country 'round has water carriage to New-
York. The legislature, by early stipulation of the proprietors and
inhabitants, meet here and at Burlington, alternately, to accommodate each
division, particularly those in each towards the extremities of this long-
extended province: In the same manner the supreme courts of judicature for
the province were fixed: Here the courts for the county of Middlesex are
held; here also the general proprietors for East-Jersey always meet, and
have lately erected a large and elegant house. [See Chap. IX, above] In
this county also up the Rariton, lies the city of New-Brunswick,8 well
built, but the situation low, tho' high ground adjoining; the county
besides contains several villages, as Woodbridge, including Raway,
Piscataway, Cranbury and Princeton; in the last is situate the New-Jersey
college, a handsome capacious building:9 The college was first founded by
charter from president Hamilton, and enlarged by governor Belcher, in
1747; at his death he left it a considerable donation of books. The land
in this county is in part very rich, and affords beef, sheep, some pork,
most sorts of grain, and smaller articles; besides staves, firewood, and
other lumber, for exportation and New-York market. A general idea may be
form'd of the religion of the inhabitants, by the houses for worship; of
these, the episcopalians in this county have five, presbyterians seven,
quakers four, baptists two, seventh-day baptists one, low Dutch calvinists
one.

MONMOUTH

Boundaries by act of assembly, passed in 1709, begins at the mouth of a
creek that parted lands originally belonging to Andrew Bowne and George
Willocks; thence following Middlesex, to the line dividing the eastern and
western division of the province; thence southerly along this line to the
sea; thence along the sea to the point of Sandy-Hook, and thence up the
bay to the creek aforesaid: It contains the villages of Shrewsbury,
Middletown, Freehold, and Allen-Town: The courts for the county business,
are held at Freehold. The lands in Shrewsbury, Middletown, and part of
Freehold, are mostly remarkably good; they raise grain, beef, sheep,
butter, cheese, and other produce for New-York market. At the high lands
of Navesink, the New-York merchants have lately erected a commodious light
house, for the security of navigation. The houses for worship in this
county, are, presbyterians six, episcopalians four, quakers three,
baptists four.

ESSEX

Had its boundaries fixed by act of assembly, in 1709, but altered in 1741.
Laws of the province, vol. 1., p. 12, 274. It contains the well-settled
towns of Elizabeth and Newark;10 in the latter the courts for the county
are held; in the former those for the ancient borough: This being an old
settled county, and good land, is consequently full of inhabitants: their
plantatious are too high in value, to be generally large; their
improvements greater than in many other parts; they raise wheat, beef,
sheep, and generally what is common from good land; part is carried
to New-York market, and part exported in bottoms of their own: Of places
for worship, the presbyterians have seven, episcopalians three, baptists
one, Dutch calvinists two.

SOMERSET

Was divided from Middlesex by a proprietary law, in 1688, and then named;
its boundaries were again limited in the act of 1709, but altered by other
acts in 1713 and 1741. Vol. 1 of laws p. 12, 40, 274. It adjoins to
Middlesex on the north, the rest on Essex, Morris and Hunterdon: In it is
the village of Bound-Brook: The land is rich, and being early settled by
the industrious low Dutch, and a few others, much improved. Wheat is the
staple of the county, of which they raise large quantities; they send
their flour down Rariton river, to New-York; and near Brunswick, running
under the river Rariton, is a copper mine, but not yet very profitable. In
this county lies the Rocky-Hill mines: Here also at Baskin-ridge, is the
seat of William Alexander, earl of Stirling; his improvements for taste
and expence, promise more than any thing of the kind hitherto effected in
the province. Of houses for worship, the English presbyterians have three,
low Dutch reformed ditto, five, Dutch lutheran one, baptists one.

The Dutch of the calvinistical plan of Holland, in the eastern parts of
this province, were very insignificant, and only supplied by their
ministers from New York and Long-Island, twice or thrice a year, (except
Hackinsack, who had one Burtolf settled among them) until about the year
1719, when those of Somerset, Middlesex, and part of Hunterdon, jointly
applied to Holland for a minister, from whence came Theodorus Jacobus
Freelinghausen, who officiated among them, and was the chief means of
establishing several congregations in those parts: Since which the number
of their ministers is increased to fourteen or fifteen in the eastern
division; and each of them do for the most part supply two or three
different congregations.

BERGEN.

By the act of 1709, is bounded from Constable-Hook, along the bay and
Hudson's river, to the partition point between New-Jersey and New-York;
thence along the partition line between the said provinces, and the
division line of East and West-Jersey, to Pequaneck river; thence down
that and Passaick river to the sound; and thence to the place first named:
Its situation on Hudson's river, opposite and adjacent to New-York, opens
an advantageous intercourse with that market; their lands are generally
good for grass, wheat, or any other grain. The Schuylers have here two
large parks for deer. The inhabitants of the county, being the descendants
of the low Dutch or Hollanders, that originally settled there 11 under the
Dutch title, preserve the religion of their ancestors, and worship after
the manner of the reformed churches in the united provinces; in principle
presbyterians, yet in subordination to the classis of Amsterdam: Their
language in general, bears the Dutch accent; nor have they forgot the
customs of Holland: They have of houses for worship, Dutch calvinists
seven, Dutch lutherans two. In this county are the Schuylers mines.
Sixteen miles above Newark in Essex, on the opposite side of Second-River,
in Bergen, is the remarkable Passaick falls, the precipice from the
highest part of the rock, is supposed to be about seventy feet
perpendicular. In this county was born the late famous Col. Peter
Schuyler, who died in 1762, aged about fifty-two years: He was a younger
son of Aarent Schuyler, the discoverer and first owner of the mines above-
mentioned. He had the command of the province troops, against the French
of Canada, in divers campaigns, in the two last wars; and by the best
judges of military merit, was allowed to rank high in that character: He
had qualities besides, that greatly recommended him to his acquaintance,
being of a frank, open behaviour, of an extensive generosity and humanity,
and unwearied in his endeavours to accomplish whatever appeared of service
to his country: He was taken at Oswego, when that post was given up to the
French, and long detained a prisoner in Canada; where having letters of
credit, he kept open house for the relief of his fellow sufferers, and
advanced large sums to the Indians, in the French interest, for the
redemption of captives; many of whom he afterwards, at his own expence,
maintained whilst there, and provided for their return; trusting to their
abilities and honour for repayment, and lost considerable that way; but
seemed to think it money well bestowed: As to person he was of a tall
hardy make, rather rough at a first view, yet a little acquaintance
discovered a bottom of sincerity, and that he was ready to every kind
office in his power: In conversation he was above artifice or the common
traffick of forms, yet seemed to enjoy friendship with its true relish;
and in all relations what he seemed to be, he was. Matth. vii. 20.

Western Division

BURLINGTON

For the first boundaries and settlement of this county, see Chap. VI.,
above. It was limited by the act of 1709, and afterwards curtailed by
another act, Vol. I of Laws, p. 41.

The city of Burlington 12 was laid out in 1677 and early incorporated; but
the charter now in being; was granted by governor Cosby: The Delaware
before it about a mile broad, forms a convenient bason for shipping; its
situation for trade is good; but eclipsed by the growing advantages of its
opulent neighbour, the city Philadelphia.13 The land and air is good:
Where the houses chiefly stand, is an island, with two entrances on
causeways, and a quantity of drain'd meadows adjoining; but long
experience has proved them not unhealthy: The courts for the county are
held here; the legislature of the province meet alternately at Amboy
and here; the supreme courts are held in the same manner: The council
chosen by the general proprietors of West-Jersey to transact their
business, always meet here. [See Chap. XI., above] In this place is also a
promising library, the contributors are incorporated by charter: Besides
the town aforesaid, there are two others; ten mile further up Delaware, is
Borden Town, founded by Joseph Borden; on a branch of Northampton or
Rankokas river, is Bridge Town, or Mount Holly:14 In this county also are
the villages of Kingsbury, Crosswicks, New-Hanover and Chester, or Moores-
Town: The arable land is generally but indifferent; yet interspersed with
quantities of good meadow, renders them profitable: Pork is the staple; of
which a large quantity is raised for the West-India market, and has
deservedly gained reputation through all the islands: Beef, mutton,
cheese, butter, &c. are carried to Philadelphia markets: Very little hemp
or flax is raised in this county, or indeed through the province, the
inhabitants contented with a little (very little in some places) for their
own use, have generally reserved their gains on other productions, for
purchasing their chief supply of these and woollen articles of European
manufacture; labour is thought too high to increase it much, and the
climate not so favourable as in some other places. In this county are the
Indian settlements of Brotherton and Weekpink: [See Chap. XXIII., above.]
Of places for worship, the people called quakers have fifteen,
episcopalians two, baptists one, presbyterians one.

GLOUCESTER

First laid out in 1677, had its boundaries ascertained by the act of 1709,
beginning at the mouth of Pensawkin creek; thence up the same to the fork
thereof; thence along the line of Burlington county to the sea; thence
along the sea-coast to great Egg-Harbour river; thence up that river to
the fork; thence up the southermost and greatest branch of the same to its
head; thence upon a direct line to the head of Oldman's creek; thence down
the same to Delaware river; thence up that river to the place of
beginning. Its situation opposite and contiguous to Philadelphia, gives
great opportunities to make the most of the productions of the county at
that market; tho' their uplands as to the general are poor, the meadows
are good and improve fast: they raise beef, pork, mutton, butter, cheese,
&c. They have three villages, Gloucester, Haddonfield 15 and Woodbury; at
the first the courts for the county are held. Of houses for worship, the
people called quakers have seven, the presbyterians five, episcopalians
one, Sweeds lutheran one, baptists one, moravians one.

SALEM

Named by John Fenwick, and distinguished by his tenth, in 1675: The name
and jurisdiction settled by a proprietary law, 1694: The boundaries were
fixed in 1709, but altered by act of assembly, in 1747. Vol. I of laws, p.
14, 361. Their lands and meadows are rich, and productions of any kind,
natural to the climate, plenty: The chief they raise are beef, sheep,
pork, butter, cheese, and grain, for exportation. It being an old
settlement, the improvements are considerable as to plantations: The
county business is transacted at the town of Salem, which formerly sent
two members to the general assembly; but in 1727, these were given to
Hunterdon, and their right of choice suspended 'till two additional
members were added to the eastern division. Places for worship are, quakers
four, episcopalians two, Dutch lutheran one, presbyterians three, baptists
two.

CUMBERLAND

So named by governor Belcher, in respect to the duke of Cumberland; it was
divided from Salem by act of assembly in 1747, and the boundaries fixed,
(see Vol. I., of laws, p. 361.) the land is mostly poor; but they have
good meadows and marshes; being a new settled county, these are not yet
greatly improved; they raise cattle and sheep for graziers; the courts are
held at Cohansick creek 16 or Hopewell. In this county besides is the
village of Greenwich: They join with Salem in the choice of two
representatives: Places for worship are, episcopalians one, presbyterians
four, baptists two, seventh day baptists one, quakers one.

CAPE-MAY

Was first made a county by a proprietary law im 1692; by another in 1694,
had its boundaries better ascertained; and by the act of 1709, they were
fixed to remain, beginning at the mouth of a small creek, on the west side
of Stipson's island, called Jecah's creek, up the said creek as high as
the tide floweth; thence along the bounds of Salem, now Cumberland county,
to the southernmost main branch, of great Egg-Harbour river; thence down
the said river to the sea; thence along the sea-coast to Delaware bay;
thence up the bay to the place of beginning; the land is generally poor,
but the adjoining salt marshes serve to breed cattle and horses; these
with the red cedar beaches, and fish and oysters, with which the coast
abounds, afford the inhabitants an easy maintenance; the county is divided
into three precincts; the presbyterians have a place for worship in the
first; the baptists in the second; the quakers in the third, being that
next to the sea.

HUNTERDON

Was divided from Burlington by act of assembly, in 1713, and named by
governor Hunter; the boundaries were then fixed, but altered in 1738. (See
Vol. I., of laws, p. 41, 250.) It is situate along the Delaware, above the
tide, and tho' one of the later settlements, is the most populous and
opulent county in the province. The land is generally good for tillage;
wheat, the staple; their flour is carried to New-York and Philadelphia
markets: The courts are held at Trenton, a place of concourse and lively
trade: It stands at the head of the tide, and in a high pleasant
situation; the inhabitants have a public library. In this county resides
John Reading, Esq; late president of the council, and twice commander in
chief on the deaths of the governors Morris and Belcher: The counties of
Morris and Sussex join Hunterdon in the choice of two representatives. Of
places for worship, the presbyterians have nine, the low Dutch ditto one,
German ditto one, episcopalians three, quakers two, baptists two.

MORRIS

Was made a county in 1738; and the boundaries then established by law; but
altered by the separation of Sussex, in 1753. (Laws, Vol. I., p. 253.;
Vol. II., p. 20.) It was named by governor Morris, after his family: This,
for a late settled county, is populous: The courts are held at Morris-
Town: They raise grain and cattle chiefly for New-York market, and cut
large quantities of timber of various sorts for exportation: In this
county resides Peter Kemble, Esq; president of the council. The places for
worship in this county, are, presbyterians nine, lutherans one,
anabaptists one, quakers one, separatists one, rogereens one.

SUSSEX

Was named by governor Belcher, after the duke of New-Castle's seat in
Sussex: It was divided from Morris by act of assembly, in 1753, and
bounded by the mouth of Muskonetkong, where it empties itself into the
Delaware, and running up that river to the head of the great pond; thence
north-east, to the line that divides New-York and New-Jersey; thence along
the said line to Delaware; thence down the same to the place of beginning.
It being the newest county, and a frontier,17 it is not much improved, and
has but few inhabitants: It lies towards the head of Delaware; about
fifteen miles was exposed to the Indians in the late wars, and fortified
by a frontier guard, and several block-houses, at provincial expence. The
courts for the county are held at Hairlocker's plantation, where a new
court-house is lately built: Near the river lies the noted Paoqualin hill,
being part of the continental chain or ridge, called the blue mountains,
supposed to contain valuable ore: Between that and the river, is low
intervale excellent land, containing a few plantations. This county raises
some wheat, pork and cattle, for New-York and Philadelphia markets, and
cuts lumber: It contains of low Dutch presbyterian meeting houses five,
baptists two, German lutherans one, quakers one.

Of COURTS.

These are: First, chancery; Second, the governor and council; Third, the
prerogative court, relating to the probate of wills, and granting letters
of administration on intestates effects; Fourth, courts of vice admiralty;
Fifth, supream courts held four times a year, alternately at Burlington
and Amboy, and circularly through the counties generally once a year, or
oftener if occasion; Sixth, the sessions, and court of common pleas, for
business in the respective counties; Seventh, the justices court, for
trial of causes of six pounds and under, in a summary way, these causes
are not allowed to be legally decided by a single justice at a tavern, the
act expressly barring against it; for debts above forty shillings, a jury
of six is allowed, if desired. The governor is chancellor. The present
justices of the supream court are: Frederick Smyth, Esq; chief justice,
salary one hundred and fifty pounds per annum; Charles Read, Esq; second
justice, salary fifty pounds per annum; John Berrien, Esq, third justice,
salary fifty pounds per annum. Ten pounds is allowed for each of the
circuit courts, to the judge holding the same. All the courts are
established in virtue of the royal commission; none (except the six pound
court) by act of assembly: The common law is in use as in England: The
customs and rules of legislation, and practices of the courts, are as near
as may be, in the English model; the latter is thought to be as much so,
by good judges, as that of any other colony: Appeals for sums above two
hundred pounds sterling, lie home, after having gone through the courts
here. Vid. 86th instruction, above.

Method of appealing from the plantations, to the king in council, by Sir
Dudley Ryder, attorney general, afterwards L. C. J. of England:

"You are to bring your cause to trial, in the chief court or jurisdiction
for trial thereof; and if judgment shall be there given against you, then
by your attorney, you are to appeal in open court, within fourteen days,
to his majesty in council from the said judgment; and you are to obtain an
entry thereof in the register of the court, at the same time offering
security to prosecute such your appeal before his majesty in council,
within twelve months, and to abide by his majesty's determination in
council therein: You are also to obtain authentick copies, under the
publick seal of the province, of all papers and evidences produc'd in your
trial, and of all entries, records thereupon; which being done, you are
within twelve months, to have the same transmitted here, and to petition
his majesty in council, setting forth the whole matter, and pray to be
heard thereupon: But in case you shall be refused in the province to be
admitted to appeal; you are then likewise to petition his majesty in
council, setting forth the whole matter, and to pray, that your appeal may
be admitted there; where, upon his majesty's admitting your appeal, you
are to give security as before, and order will be then given for admitting
the said appeal, and for the transmitting hither authentick copies of the
papers and records, under the publick seal of the province, in order to
the hearing all parties thereupon."

Of BEASTS.

The wild beasts, birds and fish, are those common to the rest of the
continent; some of the colonies have much greater variety: Of the first,
the panther, deer, bear, woolf, wild-cat, fox red and grey, raccoon, otter
and a few beaver, are the chief: Old settled places have but few of those
most voracious; the small tribe of squirrels, rabbits, minks, ground-hogs,
&c. are numerous: The deer in every county are plentier than one would
expect; they breed but once a year, with two at a time; great numbers are
destroyed by traps 18 and hunting, and by panthers, wild-cats, and
sometimes wolves; the way the two first take to effect it, may be known by
an instance near Crosswicks, 1748: An Indian hunting, discovered a large
buck feeding, creeping to shoot, he heard something among the bushes,
presently saw a panther with his eyes so intent on the buck, that he did
not perceive him: the Indian watching his motions, observed, that while
the buck had his head down to feed, the panther crept, but when he held it
up, lay snug; he at last got unperceiv'd, within about twenty feet, and
then making a desperate leap, fixed his talons in the buck's neck; after
he had nearly kill'd him, he would cease for a minute, give a watchful
look 'round, and then fall to shaking again; having done his work, and
about to draw the carcass to a heap of leaves for future service, the
Indian shot, and got both: They sometimes take their prey by suddenly
jumping out of trees; so the wild-cats also commonly effect it; these fix
on young cattle so eagerly, as to be sometimes brought home on their backs:
Some instances of the wolves killing deer, have been known; tho' but
seldom, and chiefly by accident: The bucks also kill one another in
fighting, by entangling in the horns, and so die and rot; they have been
taken alive so fasten'd, and the horns of others found: The deer are
sometimes white, and sometimes spotted nearly like the common colour of
fauns; but these are rare; brown is the usual colour. The rattle-snake, as
the country settles thick, are but little known; many old inhabitants have
never seen them alive: The mischief they have yet done, is inconsiderable,
their power and opportunities considered: This is remarkable; they have an
astonishing charm,19 in their eyes; the venom of their bite is perhaps
without comparison; yet their power is happily circumscribed in a way the
most effectual, that is, by not having a will to mischief equal to the
means, otherwise there would, in some places, scarcely have been any
living among them; at least before antidotes were discovered by the
Indians: Formerly they were thick and plenty in particular places; and yet
in the new settled parts, are common, especially in the spring, when from
their winter's retreat, they prepare for a summer's separation: A
surveyor, with his eye on a distant object unawares among a parcel of
these, one would think in a poor situation; yet an instance of this but
lately happened: He had taken a long view in the spring on the south of a
hill, and keeping his eye to the object, without attending so much to his
feet, was first alarmd with a smell rank and disagreeable, and then an
unusual noise, on which, looking about, he saw the leaves in motion, and
woods alive with rattle-snakesl;20 he got off by care in his steps,
without harm. They choose for winter, the sunny side of hills, among
rocks, where these can be had, or holes under trees, and in springy warm
places: There have been dug up in their torpid state, different sort of
snakes interwoven among one another, in great regularity, with their heads
uniformly sticking out at the top: They obtain much of their food by
striking a terror with their rattle at first, and then catching the eye of
the frighted object. "It is commonly said, that this (the rattle) is a
kind contrivance of divine providence, to give warning to passengers, by
the noise which this part makes, when the creature moves, to keep out of
the way of its mischief; now this is a mistake. It is beyond all dispute,
that wisdom and goodness shine forth in all the works of the creation; but
the contrivance here is of another kind than is imagined.

"All the parts of animals are made either for the preservation of the
individual, or for the propagation of its species; this before us is for
the service of the individual: This snake lives chiefly upon squirrels 21
and birds, which a reptile can never catch without the advantage of some
management to bring them within its reach; the way is this; the snake
creeps to the foot of a tree, and by shaking his rattle, awakens the little
creatures which are lodged in it; they are so frightened at the sight of
their enemy, who fixes his lively piercing eyes upon one or other of
them, that they have no power to get away, but leap about from bough to
bough, 'till they are quite tired, and at last falling to the ground, they
are snapped into his mouth. This is by the people of the country called
charming the squirrels and birds. It must likewise be observed, that this
snake does not make any noise with its rattle, in the common motions of
its body.

"There is something like this in the lion's hunting for his food; the
hungry tyrant, by his terrible roaring in the woods, rouses the lesser
beasts out of their holes; they running about in fright and surprise, are
easily seized, and become a prey to his devouring jaws.

"And I have myself seen, upon a hawks settling upon a tree in a garden,
the little birds all about it, so struck with fear, that though they
could fly backwards and forwards, for some little distance, yet they have
not been able to get away from the ravenous destroyer."21

Though the use of the rattle seems principally designed for procuring
food, it has certainly been the means of preservation in respect to
mankind; as that alarm is frequently known to warn the unsuspecting
traveller of imminent danger; that the fascinations of their eye is
necessary to their existence, seems beyond a doubt; inactive and sluggish
by nature, they have but little other probable means, and have been seen
and kill'd in the act even with foxes detained in this manner.23 No
instance occurs of their hunting men, unless first disturbed; then indeed
they seldom fail. Very lately near Burlington, a mower without stockings,
drawing a foot, so as to touch one, as he lay coiled; among the grass, he
bit him behind the ancle; the first notice the man had, was feeling
something prick in that spot; on which turning his head, he saw the snake;
another in company immediately killed him, and fetching salt, that
applied, prevented the venom spreading much higher than the knee; he
afterwards used sweet oil, and the Seneca rattle-snake root; the last he
thought the most effectual: He got well in a few days; a small scar
remained.

Thomas Budd, a proprietor and settler in West-Jersey, in a pamphlet,
published about 1686, says, "The rattle snakes are easily discovered; they
commonly lie in the paths, for benefit of the sun; if any person draws
nigh them, they shake their tail, on which the rattles grow; this makes a
noise like a child's rattle: I never heard of but one person bitten in
Pennsylvania or New-Jersey; he was helped by live chickens slit asunder
and applied to the place, which drew out the poison: As to other snakes,
the most plentiful are the black snake; its bite 'tis said, does no more
harm than the prick of a pin.

The wampum snake is very large, of a black and white colour; but harmless.
The horn or horned snake is scarce, and but few have seen them, whence
many, especially abroad, have doubted there being any such: A person of
credit in Gloucester county, being in the woods not long since, and
approaching a place where his dog was uncommonly barking, discovered a
very large snake, and trying to kill it, an intollerable stench prevented
his getting near enough; at length he threw a club at a venture, and going
next day to see the effect, found the snake killed: It was uncommonly long
and thick, and had a horn at the end of his tail, resembling a cock's
spur. It is said they strike this horn even into trees, and kill them. A
person of credit now living in Burlington county, also relates, that he
has seen four, kill'd three of these snakes,24 one of them were six or
seven feet long: As to colour, they are chequered with a yellowish brown
and white, and when disturbed, hiss like a goose. These particular
instances were here preferred to a more general account, as more likely to
contribute towards putting their existence out of dispute. The viper and
many other snakes abound also; but none remarkable enough to require a
particular description here.

Of FISH.

These in great variety, are plenty along the coast, in the Delaware and the
north river; the most noted are, sturgeon, rock, cod, sheeps-head, horse-
mackrel, black-fish, sea-bass, flounders, shad, herrings, munches, trout,
pike, perch, red perch, sun-fish, many inferior sorts; besides, oysters,
clams, and other shell fish: Most of these supply in great part the New-
York and Philadelphia markets: The sturgeon are plenty up the rivers, and
when more generally manufactured will probably answer well in remittances.
It is said they will grow fat in ponds, and live through the winter.

BIRDS

Of these there are great plenty as the wild turkey, wild geese, wild ducks
of many kinds, wild pigeons, brant, pheasants, heath-hen, partridges,
larks, wood-cocks, plovers, snipes, kildees, and great variety of other
small birds, a few storkes and cranes, many herons, hawks, turkey-
buzzards, crows, and all other birds of prey common to the continent: The
wild geese, in autumn, flock to the marshes on the sea shore, and are
often kill'd by gunners; in the spring they return to breed at the
northern lakes. The wild pigeons, at three or four seasons in the year,
commonly pay a visit (except in seed time) generally acceptable: They have
not been observed of late years so plenty as formerly; they then,
sometimes, to avoid the north-east storms, flew night and day, and thick
enough to darken the air, and break trees where they settled, and were
more tame and more wanted; all which made them an article of consequence
to the early inhabitants: The Indians, before the European settlements,
used every year regularly to burn the woods, the better to kill deer; the
manner was to surround a swamp or cripple with fire, then drive the deer
out, who not daring over the bounds, were easily kill'd with bows and
arrows; this practice kept the woods clean, so that the pigeons readily got
acorns, which then not being devour'd by hogs, were plenty almost every
where, and induced a return more frequently than now: They breed chiefly
to the northward.

1 Or if we include that island still on the Atlantick; but New-York hath
it in possession, tho' from situation it seems apparently intended a part
of New-Jersey.

2 Chiefly the pitch pine.

3 Good rights in East-Jersey, now 1765, sell at 20s. proc. per acre, Pine
ditto, 10s. proc. per acre; Rights in West-Jersey, at the same time, sell
from 10l. to 12l. per hundred acres.

4 These boats are made like troughs, square above the heads and sterns,
sloping a little fore and aft, generally 40 or 50 feet long, 6 or 7 feet
wide, and 2 feet 9 inches, or 3 feet deep, and draw 20 or 22 inches of
water when laden.

5 Analysis of the map of the middle colonies, by L. Evans.

6 I Samuel xxii, 2.

7 This took its name from its shape; not far from the land at Middletown,
it winds like a hook, the shore and bottom sandy.

8 Here is a publick library.

9 For a view, see New American Mag., 1759, p. 104.

10 At each of those towns is a publick library.

11 See above.

12 Four miles from hence, a recluse person who came a stranger has existed
alone, near twelve years, in a thick wood; through all the extremities of
the seasons, under cover of a few leaves, supported by the side of an old
log, and put together in the form of a small oven, not high or long enough
to stand upright or lie extended; he talks Dutch, but unintelligibly,
either through design, or from defect in his intellects, 'tis hard to tell
which; whence he came or what he is, no body about him can find out; he has
no contrivance to keep fire, nor uses any; in very cold weather he lies
naked, stops the hole he creeps in and out at with leaves; he mostly keeps
in his hut, but sometimes walks before it, lies on the ground, and cannot
he persuaded to work much, nor obliged without violence to forsake this
habit, which he appears to delight in, and to enjoy full health; when the
woods and orchards afford him no nuts, apples, or other relief as to food,
he applies now and then for bread to the neighbourhood, and with that is
quite satisfied; he refuses money, but has been frequently cloathed by
charity; he seems to be upwards of forty years of age; as to person rather
under the middle size; calls himself Francis.

13 Seventeen miles distant by land, twenty by water.

14 Here is a publick library.

15 Here is a publick library.

16 This creek was called by John Fenwick, Caesarea river, part of the
province name, as being the most considerable creek that puts out of
Delaware into West-Jersey.

17 Pennsylvania and New-York, meet against it; but have few settlements.

18 The enormous iron traps used for deer, with their wide jaws of
destruction, are abhorrent to the common principles of humanity: There is
no safety for man or beast where they are; laws to appearance well
calculated, seem hitherto ineffectual in restraining them, tho' so
extreamly and commonly dangerous; 'till active men in neighbourhoods, will
unite to exert themselves, and make it a common concern to discourage
them, 'tis feared the danger will remain: Still worse is the practice of
setting sharp stakes and loaded guns; these are scarcer, but ought to be
justly detected, as below the rights of humanity, even with respect to
brutes, and as common nusances to mankind, where ever they are.

19 A person having one taken alive, and brought in a small basket cover'd,
the man that brought it, sat with the basket between his knees; he
wantonly took off the cover; the snake caught his attention; he was
immediately surprisingly affected, and express'd afterwards every thing
attractive, as to the penetrating force of the snake's eye, the snake all
the while kept rattling with fury; the man's own action was lost in
amazement and terror; and had not another present, put the cover on the
basket, he had probably been bit.

20 Half a dozen or less, with their tails in motion, might answer this
purpose; but he was too much frighted to count; there might however be
many more, as there frequently are numbers together, when they first leave
their holes in the spring. One Robins, in Amwell, Hunterdon county, at a
spot on his own plantation, had upwards of 90 kill'd in each of three
springs successively: The parties performing it, bark'd young chestnut
trees of the size of their own legs, and tied them on; thus accoutred, they
effected their business without much danger; but the snakes frequently bit
the bark. Instances need not be multiplied in a case well known; or others
where the snakes were much more numerous, might be given. At one of the
quarries, where stone was got for Prince Town college, the work-men came
to an aperture in the rock, about eighteen inches wide, ten feet long, and
six deep, in which they found near twenty bushels of snakes bones; they
were supposed to have got in through winding crevices of the rock in the
fall, and in their weak state in the spring, not able to get out again.

21 It is reported, with circumstances of great credibility, that the
Indians here had a method of taking these animals, by the meer charm of
fixing their eyes, whence they have by degrees leaped down into possession.

22 Dr. Mead, vid. his medical works, quarto, edit. 1762, p. 59, 60. Here
may be seen an accurate description of the head and teeth. For an exact
view and description of the snake, see Catesby's Nat. Hist. and supplement
to the Gent. Mag. for 1753.

23 A person of undoubted credit relates of his own knowledge, two
instances of this attended with such circumstances, as leaves very little
room for doubt. "In the end of May, 1715, stopping at an orchard by the
road side to get some cherries, being three of us in company, we were
entertained with the whole process of a charm between a rattle-snake and a
hare, the hare being better than half grown. It happened thus; one of the
company in his search for the best cherries espied the hare sitting, and
although he went close by her she did not move, 'till he (not suspecting
the occasion of her gentleness) gave her a lash with his whip; this made
her run about ten foot, and there sit down again. The gentleman not
finding the cherries ripe, immediately returned the same way, and near the
place where he struck the hare, he spied a rattle-snake; still not
suspecting the charm, he goes back about twenty yards to a hedge to get a
stick to kill the snake, and at his return found the snake removed, and
coiled in the same place from whence he had moved the hare. This put him
into immediate thoughts of looking for the hare again, and he soon spied
her about ten foot off the snake, in the same place to which she had
started when he whipt her. She was now lying down, but would sometimes
raise herself on her fore-feet struggling as it were for life or to get
away, but could never raise her hinder parts from the ground, and then
would fall flat on her side again, panting vehemently. In this condition
the hare and snake were when he called me, and though we all three came up
within fifteen foot of the snake to have a full view of the whole, he took
no notice at all of us, nor so much as gave a glance towards us. There we
stood at least half an hour, the snake not altering a jot, but the hare
often struggling and falling on its side again, 'till at last the hare lay
still as dead for some time. Then the snake moved out of his coil, and
slid gently and smoothly on towards the hare, his colours at that instant
being ten times more glorious and shining than at other times. As the
snake mov'd along, the hare happened to fetch another struggle, upon which
the snake made a stop lying at his length, 'till the hare had lain quiet
again for a short space; and then he advanced again 'till he came up to
the hinder parts of the hare, which in all this operation had been towards
the snake; there he made a survey all over the hare, raising part of his
body above it, then turnd off and went to the head and nose of the hare,
after that to the ears, took the ears in his mouth one after the other,
working each apart in his mouth as a man does a wafer to moisten it, then
returned to the nose again, and took the face into his mouth, straining
and gathering his lips sometimes by one side of his mouth, sometimes by
the other; at the shoulders he was a long time puzzled, often haling and
stretching the hare out at length, and straining forward first one side of
his mouth then the other, 'till got at last he the whole body into his
throat. Then we went to him, and taking the twist band off from my hat, I
made a noose and put it about his neck: This made him at length very
furious, but we having secured him, put him into one end of a wallet, and
carried him on horseback five miles to Mr. J. B.'s house where we lodged
that night, with a design to have sent him to Dr. C. at Williamsburg; but
Mr. B. was so careful of his slaves, that he would not let him be put into
his boat for fear he should get loose and mischief them; therefore the
next morning we killed him, and took the hare out of his belly, the head
of the hare began to be digested, and the hair falling off; having lain
about eighteen hours in the snake's belly.

"In my youth I was a bear-hunting in the woods above the inhabitants, and
having straggled from my companions, I was entertamed at my return, with
the relation of a pleasant rencounter, between a dog and a rattle-snake,
about a squirrel. The snake had got the head and shoulders of the squirrel
into his mouth, which being something too large for his throat, it took
him up sometime to moisten the fur of the squirrel with his spawn, to make
it slip down. The dog took this advantage, seiz'd the hinder parts of the
squirrel, and tug'd with all his might. The snake on the other side would
not let go his hold for a long time, 'till at last, fearing he might be
bruised by the dog's running away with him, he gave up his prey to the
dog, the dog eat the squirrel, and felt no harm.

"Another curiosity concerning this viper, which I never met with in print,
I will also relate from my own observation.

"Some time after my observation of the charm, my waiting boy being sent
abroad on an errand, also took upon himself to bring home a rattle snake
in a noose. I cut off the head of this snake, leaving about an inch of the
neck with it; this I laid upon the head of a tobacco hogshead, one S. L. a
carpenter, now alive, being with me. Now you must note, that these snakes
have but two teeth, by which they convey their poison, and they are
placedd in the upper jaw, pretty forward in the mouth, one on each side;
these teeth are hollow and crooked like a cock's spur; they are also loose
or springing in the mouth, and not fastened in the jaw-bone as all the
other teeth are; the hollow has a vent also through by a small hole a
little below the point of the tooth; these two teeth are kept lying down
along the jaw, or shut like a spring-knife, and don't shrink up as the
talons of a cat or panther; that have also over them a loose thin film or
skin of a flesh colour, which rises over them when they are raised, which
I take to be only at the will of the snake to do injury; this skin does
not break by the rising of the tooth only, but keeps whole 'till the bite
is given, and then is pierced by the tooth, by which the poison is let
out. The head being laid upon the hogshead, I took two little twigs or
splinters of sticks, and having turn'd the head upon its crown, opened the
mouth, and lifted up the fang or springing tooth on one side several
times, in doing of which I at last broke the skin; the head gave a sudden
champ with its mouth, breaking from my sticks, in which I observed that
the poison ran down in a lump like oyl, round the root of the tooth. Then
I turn'd the other side of the head, and resolved to be more careful to
keep the mouth open on the like occasion, and observe more narrowly the
consequence; for it is observed, that though the heads of snakes,
terrapins and such like vermin, be cut off; yet the body will not die in a
long time after; the general saying is 'till the sun sets. After opening
the mouth on the other side, and lifting up that fang also several times,
he endeavoured to give another bite or champ; but I kept his mouth open,
and the tooth pierced the film and emitted a stream like one full of blood
in blood-letting, and cast some drops upon the sleeve of the carpenter's
shirt, who had no waistcoat on. I advised him to pull off his shirt, but
he would not, and received no harm; and tho' nothing could then be seen of
it upon the shirt, yet in washing there appeared five green specks, which
every washing appeared plainer and plainer, and lasted so long as the
shirt did, which the carpenter told me was about three years after. The
head we threw afterwards down upon the ground, and a sow came and eat it
before our faces; and received no harm. Now I believe, had this poison
lighted upon any place of the carpenter's skin, that was scratched or
hurt, it might have poisoned him. I take the poison to rest in a small bag
or receptacle in the hollow at the root of these teeth; but I never had
the opportunity afterwards to make a farther discovery of that. Beverly's
Hist. of Virg., p. 262 to 266.

24 His son kill'd one this present summer 1765.