“And immediately there was a meeting sett upp and kept at the house of Mark Newby, and in a short time it grew and increased, unto which William Cooper and family, that lived at the Poynte resorted, and sometimes the meeting was kept at his house, who had been settled sometime before. Zeal and fervency of spirit was what, in some degree, at that time abounded among friends, in commemoration of our prosperous success and eminent preservation, both in our coming over the great deep as also that whereas we were but few at that time, and the Indians many, where by it put a dread upon our spirits, considering they were a savage people; but ye Lord, that hath the hearts of all in his hands, which cannot be otherwise accounted but to be the Lord doings in our favor, which we had cause to praise his name for.
“And that the rising generation may consider that the Settlement of the country was directed by an impulse upon tranquility, but rather for the posterity yet should be after, and that the wilderness being planted with a good seed, might grow and increase to the satisfaction of the good husbandman. But instead thereof, if for wheat it should bring forth tares, they themselves will suffer loss.
“This narration I have thought good and requisite to leave behind, as having had knowledge of things from the beginning.”
Anecdote of Washington.
Thatcher, in his Military Journal, gives a vivid description of the sufferings of the troops during “the hard winter of 1779–1780,” at Morristown, N. J. He says:
“Morristown, January 1st, 1780. A new year commences, but brings no relief to the sufferings and privations of our army. Our canvass covering affords but a miserable security from storms of rain and snow, and a great scarcity of provisions still prevails, its effects being felt even at headquarters, as appears by the following anecdote: ‘We have nothing but the rations to cook, Sir,’ said Mrs. Thomson, a very worthy Irish woman, and housekeeper to General Washington. ‘Well, Mrs. Thomson, you must then cook the rations, for I have not a farthing to give you.’ ‘If you please, Sir, let one of the gentlemen give me an order for six bushels of salt.’ ‘Six bushels of salt for what?’ ‘To preserve the fresh beef, Sir.’ One of the aids gave the order and the next day his Excellency’s table was amply provided. Mrs. Thomson was sent for, and told that she had done very wrong to expend her own money, for it was not known when she could be repaid. ‘I owe you,’ said his Excellency, ‘too much already to permit the debt being increased, and our situation is not at this moment such as to induce sanguine hope.’ ‘Dear Sir,’ said the good old lady, ‘it is always darkest just before the daylight, and I hope your Excellency will forgive me for bartering the salt for other necessaries which are now on the table.’ Salt was eight dollars a bushel, and it might always be exchanged with the country people for articles of provision.”
HON. JAMES CUNNINGHAM.
Of Portland, Me.
Vice-President of the Society for Maine.
Cumberland County, N. J.
Baptist Church at Cohansey. As early as the year 1683 some Baptists from Tipperary, in Ireland, settled in the neighborhood of Cohansey. The most prominent persons were David Sheppard, Thomas Abbott, and William Button.