History of Princeton and its institutions. ... Illustrated with ... engravings Second edition

Front matter

HISTORY OF P RI NCETON AND ITS INSTITUTIONS: THE TOWN FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, THROUGH THE REVOLU TIONARY WAR, TO THE PRESENT TIME— ITS CHURCHES— SCHOOLS — COLLEGE — THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY — LITERATURE, VOLUMES AND AUTHORS — NOTICES OF PROMINENT FAMILIES, AND CHIEF CITIZENS— THE CEMETERY, ETC. ILLUSTRATED WITH STEEL AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS. BY JOHN FRELINGHUYSEN HAGEMAN, COUNSELLOR AT LAW, PRINCETON, N. J. IN TW O VOLUMES. VOL. I. SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPIN COTT & CO. 1879. Copyright, 1878, by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.

Preface

. SOME places gain celebrity from the picturesque beauty and grandeur which nature has lavished upon the scenery around them. One may command fine views of the ocean ; another of Alpine ranges. One may boast of its river, lake, or plain ; and another of its grand cataract whose voice, as the voice of many waters, is never silent. To such places men resort to commune with God in nature. But there are places, which, though destitute of all natural beauty, and wholly insignificant in themselves, nevertheless are made famous, and draw thousands of visitors to them yearly, because they have been the scene of some great event, human or divine — as where some great battle has been fought, or where some great poet, or hero, or statesman, or orator, or philosopher, has been born, or has lived or died.

The notoriety which Princeton has acquired is not traceable to any peculiar advantages which nature has bestowed upon her, though her situation and embellishments have made her an attractive place. But she is notable because, and only because she has been the theatre of important public, historic events ; and has been, and is, the seat of important public institutions, venerable with age, drawing around them, from generation to generation, distinguished public men and scholars, and ever and anon made the recipients of liberal gifts and endowments,

PREFACE.

. causing grand buildings to be erected, and sending forth from them, yearly, bands of trained young men to bless the world. The position of Princeton during the Revolutionary War ; the glory of her battle-field — and the prominence of her citizens in the struggle for independence, will justify the large space which I have given to the Revolutionary period. So, too, the extended sketch which I have given of the Presbyterian Church, so ancient and so intimately connected with the College and Seminary, and through which so many youth have passed into the ministry, will not, I trust, be unwelcome to multitudes of readers who are thus reminded of the place where they, and their fathers before them, while in the College or Seminary, were accustomed to worship; and I cannot doubt that the fullness of this historical narrative will interest the present as well as the future members of this church in its prosperity and perpetuity.

What would Princeton be without its institutions of learn ing? These cannot be ignored in writing the history of Prince ton ; and yet two volumes as large as these have been filled with the history of the College, and still another volume is required to complete that history. The full and valuable history of the College by ex-president Dr. John Maclean, so recently published, supersedes the necessity of my incorporating herein any more than a succinct and popular sketch of this institution — ■ such as will impart to the reader that knowledge of the College which he would expect to find in the history of Princeton. Both the College and the Theological Seminary give honor to the name of Princeton, and they justly claim to be honored in its written history. Above all, Princeton gathers eminence from her distinguished men and families. She shows a long catalogue of emi nent scholars and authors, who have made a literature which

PREFACE.

. V may become as distinctively Princeton as its theology has be come. I have herein presented the names of these authors and their volumes in one chapter, so that the reader can see, at a glance, this new and interesting phase of Princeton, well calcu lated to impress him with a quickened sense of its being a seat and centre of intellectual and moral power. To do full justice to this subject would require a volume instead of a chapter. No little interest gathers around the Cemetery — the burial place ofthe dead of Princeton for successive generations past. The sacred ashes there deposited give a sacred and melancholy interest to the multitudes who tread reverently when they enter within the gates of this " Westminster Abbey of America," as it has been called. I have endeavored in these volumes to avoid cramming them with excessive details of family genealogies, titles to land, and useless annals and statistics, which do not interest a large portion even of local readers, while they always are distasteful to the general reader.

I have also avoided an extensive use of foot-notes, by incorporating the subject matter, when of sufficient interest, in the text itself. As Princeton does not wholly belong to the people who reside in it, but is a depository of rich gifts and treasures — be stowed by non-resident benefactors — and is a seat of learning sustained by its friends throughout all the States, and has a his tory, revolutionary, political, literary, and ecclesiastical, of gen eral public interest, these volumes are less strictly local than histories of towns ordinarily are. I have endeavored to rescue from oblivion many honored names which should be gratefully remembered. I am too late in the field to do justice to the unwritten history ofthe early settlement of Princeton ; and I have been embarrassed by the exceedingly great number of prominent men whose lives and services justly claim to be recognized in these volumes. VI

PREFACE.

. Doubtless I have omitted some whom I ought not to have passed by in silence. In addition to the acknowledgment made in the text and notes, of aid afforded me, my thanks are especially due to Samuel J. Bayard, Esq., the Hon. George Sykes, Dr. J. V. D. Joline, and the Rev. R. Randall Hoes, for manuscript and printed papers, etc., which have been of use to me ; and to all other persons who have kindly answered my interrogato ries, I return my sincere thanks. A reliable index is appended to the work, J NO. F. HaGEMAN. Princeton, N. J., October, 1S78. PAGE CONTENTS

Introduction

.

Princeton Township — Boundaries — Landscape Views from Rocky Hill — Soil — Model Farms — Tusculum, Dr. Witherspoon 's Country Seat — The Rock House — The Gallows Tree — Cedar Grove —Cherry Valley — Mount Lucas — Worth's Mills — Quaker Meeting House — Battle-Field — Stony Brook — Pretty Brook — Delaware and Raritan Canal — The Borough of Princeton — Its Elevation. Charter, Population — Name — Climate — Not a Business Place — An Educational Town — Beautiful Trees and Residences — Handsome Public Buildings — Libraries — Refined and elegant Society — Views of Dr. Murray — Historic Allusions I

Chapter II. Princeton Prior To

1750. First Settlement — William Edmundson's Description in 1675 — The Indian Path — Dr. Greenland — Samuel Brinson — Dr. Gordon — Colony of Friends in 1696 at Stony Brook — Benjamin Clarke — William Olden — Joseph Worth — John Hornor — Richard Stockton — William Penn sells 5,500 acres to Richard Stockton — Stockton's Death — Will, Estate, Children — Preeminence of the Stockton Family — Fitz Randolph, Benjamin and Nathaniel — Thomas Leonard, large Landholder and Prominent Citizen — His Extraordinary Will — John Stockton. Father of the Signer, his Will — Extract from K aim's Travels and others — Scudder's Mills 19

Chapter III

1750—1775- Two Prominent Events — Planting the Presbyterian Church and the College in Princeton — Presbyterianism in the Ascendant — First Meeting of Presbytery in Princeton — Address to the British Government, in favor of Gov. Belcher — Presbytery meets oftener here than elsewhere — College removed here — Citizens Petition for Military Barracks, for protection, during the French and Indian War in 1758 — Gov. Bernard visits Princeton — He re- CONTENTS. PAGE plies, in an Extempore Latin Speech, to a Congratulatory Address by a Student in Nassau Hall — Gov. Boone visits Princeton and the College — Biographical Sketches : Jonathan Sergeant — Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant — John Berrien — Dr. Absalom Bainbridge — Enos Kelsey — Dr. Thomas Wiggins — Jonathan Baldwin — Dr. John Beatty — Job Stockton — Robert Stockton — Richard Stockton, (the Signer) — Samuel Witham Stockton — Rev. Philip Stockton — Col. Francis Barber — Rev. John Witherspoon, D.D. — Wm. Churchill Houston — James Finley — John Johnson — Capt. William Howard — Jonathan Deare 57

Chapter IV. Princeton During The Revolution

1775— 1784. Influence of Princeton in the Revolution — Why it attracted the War-Cloud — Its Prominent Citizens — Its Central Position — Early Patriotic Demonstrations by the Students — Burning Tea — Sec. I. Princeton proposed a Provincial Congress— II. Princeton and the Declaration of Independence — III. First Legislature under the Constitution organized at Princeton — IV. A Month before the Battle— V. The Battle of Princeton— VI. The Devastation of Property — VII. The Second Session of the Legislature in Princeton — VIII. The Council of Safety in Princeton — IX. The American Congress in Princeton — X. Miscellaneous Items 98

Section I. Princeton Proposed

A PROVINCIAL CONGRESS. Princeton advised a Provincial Congress — One called at Trenton in 1775 — Princeton strongly represented — Sessions opened with Prayer at S o'clock A. M.— Proceedings of Congress — Delegates to Continental Congress- Committee of Safety — First Sessions in Princeton — Provincial Congress at Burlington in June, 1776— Dr. Witherspoon a prominent Member for eleven days — Gov. William Franklin adhered to the Crown— was arraigned before the Congress — was contemptuous— was deposed — Dr.Witherspoon's bitter Speech — Prominent Services of Sergeant, Frelinghuysen and Paterson, in securing a State Constitution which was adopted July 2, 1776 — Dr. Witherspoon, Richard Stockton and others, appointed Delegates to Continental Congress — Instructed to vote for Independence 103

Section II. Princeton And The Declaration Of Independence

Vindication of Mr. Sergeant and other Delegates to the Continental Congress from Aspersion of their Courage and Patriotism, by the Gordons in their Histories — Mr. Sergeant and Mr. Livingston justified and commended — Dr. Witherspoon and Mr. Stockton speak in Congress in Favor of Inde- CONTENTS. IX PAGH pendence — The Vote of New Jersey given for the Declaration — Errors in History corrected — The Signers immortalized — The two from Princeton, Witherspoon and Stockton, confer upon their little Town singular Honor — The Declaration ratified at Nassau Hall by an Illumination and Volley of Musketry no

Section III. The First Legislature Under The Constitution Organized At Princeton

First Legislature met at Princeton, August 27, 1776, in College Library — Two Candidates for Governor, Richard Stockton and General Livingston — Both eminently qualified — After a tie vote, Livingston was elected — Absurd Reason assigned by Dr. Gordon, for Mr. Stockton's Defeat — Closing Words of Governor Livingston's first Message — -The Great Seal of New Jersey adopted — Legislature compelled to flee from Princeton as the British forces invaded the State — Returned after the Battle of Princeton 116

Section IV

A MONTH BEFORE THE BATTLE. December, 1776. The darkest Period in the Revolution — Washington defeated on Long Island and in New York — Compelled to retreat across New Jersey — Arrived at Princeton, December 1st — The People on the Route panic-stricken — Many accept Lord North's Terms of Pardon — Cornwallis pursues Washington to Princeton, and quarters his Troops ill the College and Church — Washington, too weak to fight, retreats beyond the Delaware — The Hessians forage upon the Farms around Princeton — Tusculum and Morven pillaged — Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant's new House burned — The College disbanded — Interesting Description of the Scene, by a Student who kept a Journal — Cornwallis pursues Washington to Trenton — Washington's strategy in recrossing the Delaware on Christmas Night, and Capture of the He-^ians at Trenton— Effect of the Victory — British Forces accumulate in Princeton — Washington increases his Army— Battle of the Assanpink at Trenton. January 2, 1777 — Washington's Retreat to Princeton 121

Section V. The Battle Of Princeton

January 3, 1777. Gen. Washington with his Army at Stony Brook, at Sunrise, Jan. 3, 1777 — Council of Officers — Gen. Mercer detached to Worth's Mills to intercept British Regiments — He is attacked by them — His Men give way under a Bayonet Charge — He, standing his Ground, is mortally wounded, but will not surrender — Washington goes to his Relies — Fights desperately — Ex- X CONTENTS. TAGS posed to extreme Personal Danger — Gains the Victory — Great Loss of American Officers — Loss of the British — Over one hundred dead on the Field— Battle at the Ravine— Capture of the College— The big Cannon on Count Donop's Earthworks — Cornwallis with eight thousand, hastens from Trenton in Pursuit of Washington — Washington eludes the Pursuit by filing off at Kingston, and goes to the Hills of Morris — Death of Mercer — Death of Captain Leslie — Gen. Washington's Letter to Congress— Grand Results of the Victory— Hope for the Country— Reaction of Public Feeling — Princeton after the Battle — Proposed Monument 135

Section VI. The Devastation Of Property

Princeton obnoxious to the Enemy — British Troops quartered in it three weeks — Farms and Families pillaged and plundered — Report of Committee of Congress on the subject — Names of the Sufferers — Tusculum pillaged — Mr. Sergeant's new house burned — Morven Robbed — Papers, books and plate stolen — Mr. Stockton taken prisoner in Monmouth — Action of Congress in his behalf— Scudder's Mills burned — The Church damaged — College Library and Furniture pillaged — Dr. Green's Account of it 152

Section VII. Second Session Of The Legislature In Prince- Ton

1777— 1778. Princeton again the seat of the State Government — Certain laws enacted here — Act allowing an oath to be taken with the Uplifted Hand, instead of kissing the Bible — Day of Thanksgiving appointed — Mismanagement of Hospitals reformed — Gen. Putnam arrested Quakers who would neither enlist nor pay fines — Gov. Livingston countermanded the order, and Gen. Washington sustained the Governor — Articles of Confederation commended by Gov. Livingston — Rev. John Mason requests the Governor to recommend a recognition of God, and the Christian Religion, to be incorporated in the Articles — Interesting Letter of the Governor, with his reasons for dissenting from the suggestion 158

Section VIII. The Council Of Safety In Princeton

1777— 1778. Members of the Council — Their Duties — Their proceedings in Princeton Many of the Quaker citizens summoned to take the Oath of Abjuration and Allegiance — Some held to Bail — Interesting Extracts from their Minutes ID2 CONTENTS. XI PAGE

Section IX. The American Congress In Princeton

1783. Congress under duress in Philadelphia, remove to Princeton — Accommodation provided by the Governor and Citizens. Sessions held in the College Library — Celebration of the 4th of July — Clio and Whig Societies appoint Orators — An Equestrian Statue of General Washington ordered by Congress — College Commencement attended by Congress — Gen. Washington and Foreign Ministers — Ashbel Green, valedictorian, addresses Gen. Washington — Deputation of Quakers ask Congress to prevent the Slave Trade — Congress appoints a Day of Thanksgiving — Testimonial to Gen. Greene — Proclamation applauding the American Army — Gen. Washington summoned to confer with Congress on Arrangements for Peace — Address of the President to Washington, and his Reply — Judge Berrien's house at Rocky Hill assigned to Gen. Washington for his Quarters — The Minister from the United Netherlands arrived, and the Treaty of Peace announced in the College Chapel — Convivial Meetings closed the day — Washington's Farewell Orders to the Annies written at Rocky Hill — Congress adjourned to meet at Annapolis, where Washington resigned his Trust, and returned to his home in Mt. Vernon 167

Section X. Miscellaneous Items

Orders from Quartermaster Stockton to Capt. John Johnson — Trial of Joseph Stockton — Sale of Forfeited Estates — Gen. Putnam's Strategy — Gen. Sullivan at Princeton — Thirteen hundred Mutinous Soldiers at Princeton — Patriotic Demonstrations over the success of Mr. Deane in obtaining the aid of France — War Meeting in Princeton — Marquis De Chastellux's visit — Interview with Dr. Witherspoon — Visits the College and the Battle-Field — Items in the Gazette — The close of the Chapter 173

Chapter V

1784 — 1800. Fruits of Peace — College and Church repaired — The Princeton Packet, a weekly Newspaper, published in 1786 — The Academy instituted in 1790 Col. George Morgan, a Scientific Farmer at Prospect — Dr. Cutler's Visit to him — Dr. Witherspoon is succeeded by Dr. Smith — Rev. Samuel Finley Snowden chosen Pastor of the Church — Biographical Notices of Captain Tames Moore — Maj. Stephen Morford — James Hamilton — Isaac Anderson Xhe Longstreets — Capt. Andrew McMakin — The Arrival of Walto Minto, Dr. John Maclean, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Robert Adrain — Colony CONTENTS. PAGE of French Refugees at Cedar Grove in 1795— Stage Proprietors ask and receive a Reduction of License Fee on Account of the Effect of Conta gious Disorders in the Cities, upon Travel — Princeton at the Close of its First Century l84

Chapter VI

1800 — 1812. Conflagration of Nassau Hall in 1802— Rebuilt with enlarged facilities — New Professors — Thompson, Kollock, and Hunter — Dr. Smith continued the popular President till 1812 — Henry Clow's Reminiscences of Princeton in 1804 — Biographical Sketch of Richard Stockton, the great Lawyer (the son of the Signer) — Of Thomas P. Johnson — Col. Erkuries Beatty — John Hamilton — Dr. Ebenezer Stockton — Rev. Robert Finley, D. D. — Samuel Bayard — Incorporation of the Princeton and Kingston Branch Turnpike Company — Excitement and Incidents of Stage Travel — Progressive Civilization — New Jersey Bible Society Organized in 1 809 208

Chapter VII

1812 — 1830. Nassau Hall Bible Society — Dr. Ashbel Green succeeds Dr. Smith, as President of the College — The Theological Seminary established in 1812, with the Rev.Dr. Archibald Alexander and Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, Professors — The Presbyterian Church burned in 18 13, and rebuilt — Princeton Incorporated — Visit of General Scott — The War of 1812 — Bainbridge and Stockton distinguished in Naval Battles — Religious Revival in 1815 — Princeton Sabbath School Association — Female Benevolent Society — Nassau Hall Tract and Education Societies — New Jersey Colonization Society organized in Princeton — Visits of General Lafayette — A new Printing Press introduced — Biblical Repertory and other Periodical Publications commenced in 1825 — A remarkable Public Meeting in behalf of the New Jersey Domestic Missionary Society and Common Schools — A Great Work accomplished — The State explored and supplied with the Bible.

Biographical — Dr. Van Cleve, F. D. Janvier, John Harrison, Thomas White, Robert Voorhees, John Passage, John S. Wilson, Dr. Ferguson, Hart Olden. 231

Chapter VIII

1830 — 1S40 Extraordinary Development of Material Interests — Construction of Delaware and Raritan Canal, and Branch Railroad — Controlling Influence of Princeton Men — The Cholera in 1832, and the Heroism of Wm. C. Alexander as Nurse — Rapid Strides of the Growth of the Village — New Streets opened CONTENTS. XIII PAGE and built up — Presbyterian Church in 1835 burned, and rebuilt—Prince ton Bank organized — It stimulated Enterprise — Formation of Mercer County in 1S37, changed the Relations of Princeton with Places of Revo lutionary Associations — No moral Retrograde, with material Advancement — Various Associations formed— Visit of Drs. Reed and Matheson from England — Monthly Journal of Education, published — New Jersey Lyceum organized in Princeton — Its Influence on the Cause of Common Schools — New Jersey Agricultural Society organized at Princeton — Financial Reverses of 1837— Death of three Physicians, Dr. Horatio Sansbury, Dr. Samuel L. Howell, Dr. Alfred A. Woodhull — Rev. Dr. Rice succeeds Rev. Mr. Woodhull as Pastor — New Families added to the Society of Princeton in this Decade 252

Chapter IX

1840 — 1850. The Presidential Campaign — Funeral Ceremonies of General Harrison in Princeton — Robert E. Hornor appointed Postmaster — Decapitated by President Tyler— Issues a Manifesto — John R. Thomson Candidate for Governor under New Constitution — Defeated through the Enthusiasm for Clay and Frelinghuysen — Lenox Hall built by James Lenox and presented to the Seminary — Change of Commencement from September to June, made in 1844 — Its wonderful Effect — Case under the Fugitive Slave Law — Trial by Jury — Slave remanded — His Liberty purchased by a Lady, and set free in Princeton — Delegates from the Free Church of Scotland — Centennial of the College in 1847 — Law School established — Building erected — Railroad Disaster near Princeton — The Wounded nursed at the Basin — Deaths and Notices of Peter, John and David N. Bogart, Col. John Lowrey, Professor A. B. Dod, Dr. William Forman — Removals 265

Chapter X

1850 — 1860. The Princeton Magazine — Introduction of Gas-light — Market House Controversy — Two Great Lights extinguished in the Death of Dr. Miller and Dr. Alexander — Tragic Death of Dr. Dunn — Professor John Maclean elected President of the College in place of President Carnahan — Nassau Hall again bumed in 1855, and rebuilt — Printing Office, Machine shop and Foundry of Mr. Robinson burnt — College Horn-spree — Students indicted for assaulting Officers — Battle of Princeton celebrated by Sham Fight, in T858 Rev. Dr. Nott preached in Princeton — Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's first Lecture — John P. Stockton appointed Minister to Rome — Charles S. Olden elected Governor of the State — Princeton Standard established — Several palatial Residences and other Buildings erected CONTENTS. XIV

CHAPTER XL PRINCETON IN THE LATE CIVIL WAR.

— 1 860-1 866. PAGE The late Civil War not to be passed in Silence— The Attitude of Princeton— The Attitude of Parties — Sketch of the Life, Services and Death of Gov. Olden— Loyalty of the Princeton Standard— Strong Article in the Princeton Review by Dr. Charles Hodge— Response of Citizens to the first War Message— Flags and Processions— First public War Meeting in Mercer Hall — Committee to procure Volunteers — First Offering of two thousand Dollars by the Misses Stevens — Com. Stockton's Position and Letter — Excitement among the Students — National Colors over Nassau Hall — Taken down, but put up again — Southern Students did not return in the Fall — Disorderly Patriotic Demonstrations in College — Three Students dismissed — They are drawn to the Depot by Students with Music and Banners — President Maclean's Letter — Union League— Second War Meeting — Daily Union Prayer Meeting — What the Ladies did for the Soldiers — Miss Breckinridge and others — Quotas of Soldiers fully supplied — Disturbance threatened and averted — Capture of Richmond celebrated — How the Assassination of President Lincoln was received at Princeton — Peace and Magnanimity of the Victors — Roll of the Volunteers from Princeton 284

Chapter XII

1860-1870. The general Excitement preceding and during the War — Efforts for Railroad Facilities — Death of Professor Addison Alexander — Semi-centennial of the Theological Seminary — Notice of the Life and Death of John Potter — James Potter — Thomas F. Potter — John R. Thomson — James S. Green — The Murder of James Rowand, the Jeweller — Charles Lewis, the Murderer, arrested, tried and executed — An Extraordinary Case of Circumstantial Evidence — Biographical Sketches of Commodore R. F. Stockton, Dr. John N. Woodhull, and others — Inauguration of President McCosh — A New Era in Princeton 310

Chapter XIII

1870-1876. Biographical Sketches. Life and Services of Richard S. Field — Of Col. William C. Alexander — Of Rear-Admiral Thomas Crabbe — Of Rev. William A. Dod, D.D. — Visit of Professors Eadie and Calderwood from Scotland — Dr. Calderwood's Lecture on the Philosophy of Mental Science, in the College Chapel — Delegates to the World's Christian Alliance in New York visit Princeton — Dorner, Christlieb, Hugh Miller, Sheshadri the Brahmin, address the People — The whole Alliance visit the Place The Dean of Canterbury and others make Addresses — Preparations for the National Centennial Year ,.. ILLUSTRATIONS. VOLUME I. PAGE Map of Stockton Land 37 Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant 67 Morven (Stockton Residence) 81 Plan of Battle of Princeton 136 General Mercer 143 VOLUME II. University Hotel 49 Quaker Meeting-House 66 Map 01 the Old Church Pews 83 Rev. Henry Kollock, D.D 96 Rev. Benjamin H. Rice, D.D 133 Rev. William E. Schenck, D.D 145 Rev. James M. Macdonald, D.D 153 Protestant Episcopal Church 191 Second Presbyterian Church 200 Nassau Hall (Aula Nassovica, 1760) 228 President Jonathan Dickinson 233 President Aaron Burr 236 President Jonathan Edwards 249 President Samuel Davies 253 President Samuel Finley 256 President John Witherspoon 261 President S. Stanhope Smith 264 President Ashbel Green IL L US TRA TIONS.

PAGE President James Carnahan 274 President John Maclean 285 President James McCosh 291 Map of College Grounds 303 John C. Green School of Science 308 Witherspoon Hall 309 Theological Seminary 324 Theological Library — Lenox Hall 337 Rev. Archibald Alexander, D.D 343 Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D 349 Rev. Charles Hodge, D.D 355 Rev. J. Addison Alexander, D.D 359 Rev. John Breckinridge, D.D 365 Rev. James W. Alexander, D.D 367 Mrs. Dr. Samuel Miller 406 Graves of the Presidents

Chapter I. Introduction

.

Princeton Township — Boundaries — Landscape Views from Rocky Hill — Soil — Model Farms — Tusculum, Dr. Witherspoon's Country Seat — The Rock House — The Gallows Tree — Cedar Grove — Cherry Valley — Mount Lucas — Worth's Mills — Quaker Meeting House — Battle-Field — Stony Brook — Pretty Brook — Delaware and Raritan Canal — The Borough of Princeton — Its Elevation, Charter, Population — Name — Climate — Not a Business Place — An Educational Town — Beautiful Trees and Residences — Handsome Public Buildings — Libraries — Refined and elegant Society — Views of Dr. Murray — Historic Allusions. PRINCETON is a name which designates both a Township and a Borough in the State of New Jersey. The TOWNSHIP of Princeton, politically, is of recent origin, — having been erected in 1837, when the county of Mercer was formed from portions ofthe counties of Middlesex, Burlington, Hunterdon and Somerset.

Within its territorial boundaries was incorporated the old borough of Princeton, from which it received its name. Prior to that time the borough embraced portions of both Somerset and Middlesex Counties. The old road, or King's Highway as it was anciently called, now known as Nassau and Stockton Streets, in the borough, was the line which had divided those counties. That portion which lay on the north side of the road formed a part of Montgomery township, in Somerset County ; and that on the south side was a part of West Windsor, in the County of Middlesex. The inhabitants of Princeton then residing on the north side were drawn generally to the villages of Harlingen and Rocky Hill, in the public business transactions of Montgomery township , and to Somerville, in the business of the courts of the county of Somerset ; while those residing on the south side were identified with the township of West Windsor, and were drawn to New Brunswick, as the centre and capital of the county of Middlesex.

Somerville was eighteen miles north of Princeton, and New Brunswick was sixteen miles east of it. Ir search ing title to lands in Princeton prior to 1837, recourse must be had to the records at Somerville, for property lying on the north side of Nassau and Stockton Streets, and to the re cords at New Brunswick for property lying on the south side of those streets. It is well to bear in mind this fact, that the village of Princeton originally lay in two counties, in order readily to understand how, so often, there was more than one rep resentative from Princeton in the early Assemblies and Provincial Congresses ofthe State, while other localities had usually but one to represent them. The township of Princeton is bounded on the north by Somerset County; on the east by Millstone River; on the west by the Province line, which separates it from the townships of Hopewell and Lawrence ; and on the south by the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

When the township was first created, the borough line was made the line dividing Princeton from West Windsor, but the legislature has changed it by substituting the canal for it as the boundary, and thereby placing the Prince ton-Basin property in the township of Princeton. The township is about five miles in length from north to south, and three miles in width ; and, according to the last census, (1875), it contains three thousand nine hundred and twenty-three inhabitants. It embraces within its limits Rocky Hill Mountain, which lies across the northern portion of the township, and is distant about two miles north from the limits of the borough. This mountainous ridge has been nearly cleared of its heavy forest, and much of it is under cultivation. From its top there are beautiful landscape views on the north, extending for twenty miles over the cultivated champaign of Somerset County, through which flow the Millstone and Rari tan Rivers : while southward the eye takes in a broad expanse of alluvial land slightly undulating, with the blue Navesink Hills rising to view in the distant south-east, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The villages of Pennington, Dutch-

INTRODUCTION.

. 3 Neck, Dayton, Cranberry and Hightstown, which lie embosomed within the extensive landscape, are indicated by their church spires, and afford a pleasant relief to the panorama. The town of Princeton is peculiarly attractive and picturesque from this point of observation. It was on Rocky Hill a few miles north west of Princeton where Hassler's Triangle-post was erected ; a height sometimes used to convey by signal, intelligence between New York and Philadelphia before the days of railroads and electric telegraphs. The SOIL is a rich clay loam, with the red sandstone un derneath. It is admirably adapted to farming purposes, and highly favorable to the growth of trees, which are much culti vated, and grow with luxuriance. The red shale is found a few miles north of Princeton, while the whole State south of it is sandy, alluvial land.