Think on the pains that shall torment FINIS. [New York, Printed by J. Zenger, Jun., 1745–6.] Communication of the Rioters about the Riot in Newark. [From New York Post Boy, February 17th, 1745–6,] Mr. Parker, Divers Persons having seen in your Post-Boy of January 20th, an Account of an extraordinary Riot at Newark, &c. touching three Persons committed to Jail, whereof one was Nehemiah Baldwin, who it is said, offered to give Bail; pursuant unto which the Sheriff was about carrying him to the Judge, &c. This Matter is not put in a true Light; The said Baldwin, as well as the other two, had Offer made by the Sheriff, if they would give Bail, they might all be discharged; to which they all refused. And as is further said, a great Number of People appearing with Cudgels from the back Settlements, &c. Take the reply, in the following Narative, containing and setting forth the Reasons why People were so exasperated. Whereas sundry of the Proprietors, so called, had in the late Years of 43, and 44, sent about and surveyed almost all the unimproved Lands in the Country of Essex, with a great Number of Improvements and settled Plantations, particularly above the Mountain to Passaick River, including Mr. Van Gesin's Purchase, so called, and all Horseneck Purchase, with the Improvements and Settlements, to the Number of three or four Score Plantations and Families, &c. who in the general, having bought their Lands of or from the native Owners and Proprietors of the same, and possessed it, many of them some Scores of Years, tho't their Properties secure from any Invasion; when said Proprietors, so called, selling some of the Lands surveyed as aforesaid, and offering the rest to Sale; and withal serving several Ejectments on the Long pos sessed as aforesaid, threatening to dispossess one and all, who would not yield their Right and comply with their unreasonable Demands; and moreover to make all Persons in said County and Country, who had Patents, &c. pay to them Quit-Rents, to the Value of 30 or 40,000 Pounds, &c. These things so animated the People to stand by and for their Rights, Privileges and Properties, that in order to secure and defend them in a due regular Manner, they, in February, 1744, chose a Committee to act for them, in such Negotiations as might be thought proper, to transmit their Affairs and Circumstances home to England, and lay them before His Majesty King George in Council, &c. Upon this Motion or Design manifested, said Proprietors reduplicate their Processes by Ejectments, &c. The Committee aforesaid, March 27th, sent several of their Number to wait on Mr. O[gde]n (a Person concerned in the Affairs relating to Horseneck, &c.) who offered, if they would pleased to take any one or two particular Cases relating to said purchase (or any other they had by Delegation Concern in & for) they would join Issue with them in the Law for a Trial; in con sideration they might have Liberty of appeal home to England, if Occasion offered, &c. and the like Proposal or Offer was made again by Messrs J[oh]n_L[o]w, Esq: and John C[ondi]t, in the Name of the Committee, to Messrs. A[lexande]r, M[orri]s, and O[gde]n Esqrs. at Perth Amboy, when sent thither to treat with them on that Affair; But, in short, all their Proposals were rejected, and they return, with this Declaration, viz. That they would not stop their Processes for two, three, nor yet ten Cases of Actions, if they were answered in the Law, &c. Afterward came a Proposal or Offer, from Mr. O[gde]n to said Committee, viz. of making or giving them Allowance of Eighteen Months for effecting the Business on foot, relating to the Purchases; in Consideration said Committee would become obligated to deliver up all the purchased Lands and Possessions they laid Claim unto, into their Hands at the Expiration of said Term of 18 Months, if their Purchases or Grants were not then established. To which, Reply was made, that in Case they complied with said Proposals, &c. would they be obliged to make a Redelivery of the Premises, if after said Term limitted, the purchased Rights should be established or confirmed at home? to which Mr. O[gde]n answered negatively. Soon after which they began again the Invasion of Men's Rights, Properties and Possessions: For one Samuel Baldwin having been for many Years possessed of Land lying within Van Gesin's Grant, or Purchase aforesaid (which the Proprietors had surveyed as above) and (as he was wont) cutting some Logs thereon for his Saw-mill, &c. they arrested him to the Supream Court, put him in Jail, and made 30 or 40 Writs more, (as it was said) to serve on Men, for such like Trespasses, as they call 'em. This Baldwin being one of the Committee aforesaid, the rest of that Number determined to bail him, and stand Trial, &c. But the People in general supposing the Design of the Pro prietors was to ruin them (which they well knew, should they prosecute and succeed according to their Threats, &c. would be the Consequence) and by Multiplicity of Law-Suits and Expence, thereby to impoverish and weaken them, that they should not be able to prosecute their Design (of sending home) to Effect; and withal, supposing they could not live under such Oppressions, which, (as it is said) makes wise Men mad; they went to the Prison, opened the Door, took out Baldwin, and returned peaceably, ordering the Breach made to be well mended; which was done accordingly. Note, The Ground of the above Supposition (besides what has been offered) was this: a certain Gentleman of the adverse Party, discoursing concerning a certain Bill to be exhibited in Chancery, relating to their Affairs with Elizabeth Town; declared, if they could once make their Matters bear, to bring in said Bill; it would put a Stop to Elizabeth Town's Proceeding, by Reason the Expence would be so great, they could never take it out, &c. Thus you have a brief Hint of the Grounds or Causes why People have been so exas perated: We will only add in a Word what some of us has met with, set forth as a Reason for their sending home, viz. That the Invasion of our just Rights, Properties and Possessions, in and by the Oppressions and Frauds of the Proprietors, so called, is the only Spring of our Motion in the Matter of Complaint offered; it being notoriously known, how they impose upon, or rather deceive and beguile innocent, weak and ignorant Men, many and diverse Ways; and that when or after they, or some of them, have sold Lands to Persons under Colour of Right, &c. others under the like Pretence of Proprietie, have again, or afterwards, sold the same Lands; whereby the Purchasers are not only frauded, but even the whole Country is in Confusion. But to pass this; Tis said further, That said Nehemiah Baldwin was rescued from the Sheriff, contrary to his own desire which is absolutely false, by his own Word, &c. And as is further said, The Sherif retreated to the Jail where he raised 30 Men of the Militia, with their Officers, in order to guard it: We conceive this was done before, viz. at their Commitment. And as 'tis said, the Mob, as 'tis called, increased to 300, &c. it is supposed they were strong, besides as great, or a greater Number, who were coming the Night following, and the next Day, in order to join them. Again, They marched up to the Prison, and took out the other two, &c. But touching what is inserted concerning Prisoners for Debt, &c. the Truth is one William Grant, Stone Cutter, being put or thrust in, a few Minutes before the Mob, as they are called, opened the Door, by that Means made his Escape. Note, The said Grant was there a Prisoner at large, and then desired they would shut him up: Moreover, the said Grant had taken the Oath, according to the Act of Assembly of this Province, for Relief of poor distressed Prisoners for a Debt under 5 1. And finally, what is said of several Persons being wounded & bruis'd, and especially, of one supposed past Recovery; it is so far from the Truth, that there is not one Man either of the Guard, or of the Mob, as they please to call them, that is any ways dangerously wounded; no not so much as to let them from their Work and Business. A good Providence surely! May the Lord of Hosts, whose Blessing is on his People, and who will arise for the Safety and Security of the oppressed Poor, and crush'd needy Ones, bring Good out of all this Evil! May his Name have Praise, and his People Peace, so long as Sun and Moon shall endure. This is the Hearts Desire and Prayer of us, who (whatever we may be called by our Adversaries) do assert, we are the dutiful and loyal Subjects of His Majesty King George, and faithful Friends to our Country, even Thousands of us. |