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 su