The Jubilee of 1826

In celebration of this year’s Fourth of July, it seems appropriate to take another look at the articles I wrote back in 2006 and 2013 on how the Fourth was celebrated in Flemington and Lambertville 50 years after the Declaration was signed.¹ Today I am republishing the two articles together, refreshed and with a few updates. 

(Some of the people mentioned in this article will appear in future articles related to the County House of Flemington. When those articles are published, I will add links to this article.)

On July 4th, 250 years ago, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. (Congress declared independence on July 2nd, adopted the Declaration on July 4th, and the delegates began to sign the document on August 2nd).

This year, as in every year since then, Americans will celebrate with Fourth of July parades and fireworks, and some will even listen to a reading of the Declaration. It is a special day, when we set politics aside and celebrate the bravery of those people who stood up against King George and a government that ruled without the consent of the governed.

In 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration came almost as a surprise to many who wondered if the new country could succeed. A democracy based on a federal system was a daring experiment. So, when people realized that the Jubilee was approaching, they knew they had something special to celebrate.

By 1826, Fourth of July celebrations were already a well-established tradition, beginning with the first one in Philadelphia in 1777, and a ritual seemed universally accepted: a parade accompanied by “bands of music,” from the courthouse to the church where a local or visiting minister would give a sermon, songs would be sung, a specially chosen person would read the Declaration, the minister would give his benediction, then everyone would parade back to the center of town and disperse, some to their homes, others to a hotel for a “handsome repast” followed by toasts. All would then go home feeling they had shared in the expression of patriotic feelings and appreciation for their exceptional country and for the sacrifices made to create it.²

Such was the case in Flemington and Lambertville in 1826. Thanks to Charles George, editor of the Hunterdon Gazette and Farmers Weekly Advertiser, we have a record of that celebration.³

Charles George came to Flemington to commence publishing a newspaper in 1825. He had been running a printing shop in Philadelphia, and it is likely that he was invited to Flemington by a group of men who met in February 1825 to discuss the need for a paper in town. (See Charles George and the Hunterdon Gazette.)

The first issue of his Hunterdon Gazette and Farmer’s Weekly Advertiser came out on March 24, 1825, which gave George a few months practice before the 1825 July 4th celebration, and that event gave him some preparation for covering the far more important one in 1826. That year, on June 5th, some citizens met “at the house of” Mr. Smick in Flemington to prepare.⁴

Note: Peter Smick had just taken over the tavern of Charles Bonnell in May. It was located on Main Street south of where the Post Office now stands. In 1826, Peter Smick’s tavern was owned by Charles Bonnell. It was one of the earliest taverns in Flemington, which I write about in the County House series.⁵

The group met to name a “Committee of Arrangements” to plan for the upcoming big day,

“to make such arrangements as they shall deem requisite for celebrating the day in a manner corresponding with the magnitude of the cause which gave it existence. Messrs. P. I. Clark,  Wurts, and Miller were unanimously appointed the committee, and have already commenced preparations for a splendid celebration.”

The readers of the Gazette would have known immediately who Messrs. P. I. Clark,  Wurts, and Miller were. That is no longer the case, so a little background is helpful here.

Peter I. Clark (1790-1863), son of Rev. Joseph Clark and Margaret Imlay, was an attorney who came to Flemington from New Brunswick in 1815 and became prominent, probably thanks to his “noble, commanding presence, frank and genial countenance, rich, musical voice, courteous dignity, and suavity of manner.”⁶

His wife was Cynthia Risler of New York. Hi home was located on property that once belonged to Lucius W. Stockton on Main Street, south of the courthouse. Its location appears as “Mrs. P. Clark” on the Beers Atlas detail of Flemington.

Clark became was an active supporter of Andrew Jackson, the Hunterdon militia, the Flemington Presbyterian Church and the Hunterdon Bible Society. He delivered an oration when the cornerstone was laid for the new courthouse in 1828. He was the county prosecutor from 1828 to 1832 and was elected to the Legislative Council in 1831-32. In 1826 he was 36 years old.

Alexander Wurts (1799-1881), son of John Wurts and Sarah Grandin, was born in Morris County and graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton University) in 1815.

He studied law and then moved to Flemington to practice it. In 1820, Alexander Wurts moved into the house previously built by Samuel Southard, located on the original County Tavern lot on Main Street, just north of the courthouse. His office, the small white building next to the County Clerk’s Office, has been preserved. In 1823, Wurts was named an executor of the estate of Joseph Bonnell Esq., a very prominent and wealthy Flemington lawyer, brother of Alexander and Charles Bonnell, owners of the County Tavern on Main Street. A few years later, in 1831, Wurts married Bonnell’s sister, Mary. Wurts also became involved in politics and was elected to the NJ Assembly in 1824. He was re-elected for the terms of 1828-32.⁷

In 1826, Wurts was 27 years old.

Also 27 years old was Andrew Miller, born in Somerset County in 1799. After being admitted to the bar in Somerset, he came to Flemington about 1824 “taking the place of Joseph Bonnell, then recently deceased.”⁸

In September 1826, Miller joined Charles George and Rev. John F. Clark, Presbyterian Minister of Flemington, to open “a Classical School” called the Flemington Academy. He served on the Board of Freeholders in 1833.⁹

What is interesting about these three men is that they were all attorneys who had been born outside of Hunterdon County but had come to Flemington between 1815 and 1824. One historian has described how “county seats in New Jersey . . . provided focal points for the flow of political information and resources, and they attracted men who aspired to public office and professional achievement.”¹⁰

This was especially true in the years following the War of 1812 when the economy was expanding again. These three men are good examples. And Charles George might be added to the group.

Although Flemington was the county seat of Hunterdon, it was part of the much larger township of Amwell (consisting of present-day Flemington, Raritan, Delaware, East & West Amwell, Stockton and Lambertville). Back in 1808, “Flemington was but a small village. From the Presbyterian church to the Baptist there were but sixteen houses, of which three were occupied as taverns.”¹¹ By 1826, judging from the depiction of the 4^th of July, the town had grown considerably.

A week after their meeting, the committee of arrangements announced in the Gazette its plan for the day. It was quite explicit, beginning with a salute of 50 guns at sunrise. (There was no sleeping in on the 4^th of July!) The procession was to assemble at 11 o’clock in front of the “house of N. Price” (Gen. Nathan Price), at the corner of Mine and Main Streets.

The order of the procession was carefully laid out; the procession would march to the Presbyterian Church, where “Exercises in the Church” would be heard. Once the program had concluded, the procession would reform and march to the house of Mr. Smick, where “a salute of 24 guns would be given in honor of the States of the Union.” Dinner would be served at Mr. Smick’s to those who had taken the trouble to make a reservation.

The Marshal for the day was John T. Blackwell, Esq., another lawyer, who came with his family to Flemington from Hopewell about 1800. He was about 28 years old at the time, but quickly became prominent, being named to the Court of Common Pleas by the legislature in 1804 and 1808. In 1810 he became the County Clerk, a position he held until 1829. In 1811 he was named Surrogate and held that position, concurrently with that of County Clerk, until 1818. By 1826, he was in his 50s, semi-retired and highly esteemed.

(Blackwell appears frequently in Goodspeed Histories. His property on Main Street is described in The Clock Tower Building and Oysters Every Style.

As planned, the celebration began with the ringing of “the village bell, the display of the National Flag, and a salute of 50 guns.” At 11 a.m., forty-two Revolutionary War veterans (including two black men, Lewis English and Jacob Francis) “reported themselves to the Committee of Arrangements.” They were given badges of broad white ribbon, stamped with the American Eagle, and the words and figures ‘Survivors of 1776,’ which were affixed to the left button-hole of their coats.” The Gazette listed the names of the veterans as follows, with dates and hometowns added, if known:¹²

Jacob Anderson (1754-1837, Bethlehem, carrying the banner ‘1776’)
Samuel Barber (1756-1847, Amwell/Delaware)
William Bennett (buried Flemington Presbyterian graveyard, no date (abt 1760-aft 1826)
John Besson, Sr. (1750-1842, Amwell/Raritan)
William Bilby (no information; possibly related to Rev. War vet John Bilby who died 1810)
Andrew Butterfaus (1758-c.1850, Amwell/Delaware, carrying the ‘Saratoga’ banner)
William Bowne (1750-1842, died in Trenton, NJ)
Robert Butler (abt 1740-1831, Bethlehem)
Albert Conover/Covenhoven (1756-1835, Amwell)
John Chamberlin (1742-1830, Alexandria)
Paul Cool, Sr. (abt 1755-after July 1826, Raritan)
Capt. Tunis Case (1761-1846, Amwell/Delaware)
Adam Conrad (1744-after 1834, Kingwood)
Samuel Corwine (1762-1837, Amwell)
James Clark, Sr. (1755- 1828, of Flemington, carrying the ‘Monmouth’ banner)
Nicholas Danbury (abt 1750-1830, Amwell)
William Danbury (abt 1756-1829, Amwell)
William C. Dilts (1763-1848, Amwell)
Lewis English (abt 1756-after Jul 1826, “a Colored man”)
Daniel Ent (1757-1847, Amwell/Delaware)
Joseph Fish (abt 1755- after 1830, Amwell)
Jacob Francis (1753-1836, Flemington)
William Fulper (1750-1830, Amwell)
Peter Geary (1751-after 1830, Amwell)
Capt. Jon. Higgins (1755-1829, Amwell)
John Howe (c.1754-after 1840, Amwell/Raritan, carrying the ‘Princeton’ banner),
Adam Hummer (c.1750-c.1830, Kingwood)
Martin Johnson (1754-1828, Amwell/Delaware)
Christopher Kuhl (1747-1841, Amwell)
John Maxwell, Sr. (c.1740-1828, Flemington)
James Metlar (1754-1830, Alexandria)
Richard Mills (c.1730-after 1826, Bethlehem, carrying the ‘York-Town’ banner),
George Pownell (c.1755-after 1826, Amwell/Locktown)
Tunis T. Quick (1762-1836, Amwell/Raritan)
Moses Stout (1750-1833, Amwell)
David Schamp (1754-1839, Readington, carrying the ‘Trenton’ banner)
George N. Schamp (1750-1840, Readington)
John Servis (1760-1834, Amwell)
Michael Shurts (1760-1840, Lebanon)
William Taylor (c.1754-1838, Amwell/Raritan)
Elijah Thatcher (1750-1849, Amwell/Delaware)
John Trimmer (1762-1844, Amwell/Raritan)
Jerome Waldron (c.1760-1848, Amwell/Raritan)

These gentlemen, who ranged in age from about 65 to 90 years, decided who would carry the banners (those carrying banners had participated in the battles they represented). They also chose “officers for the day,” Samuel Barber, Esq. and Capt. Tunis Case, both of Amwell/Delaware. The veterans then proceeded to the courthouse to await the parade.

The various military companies lined up for the procession, followed by “the Jackson band of music,” a standard bearer, members of the clergy, the orator of the day, the day’s reader of the Declaration, and the Committee of Arrangements. These were followed by a “choir of 13 females dressed in white” representing the original 13 states, and a younger group of 11 women, all wearing badges with the names of the remaining states.¹³

Then came “a great assemblage of females from all parts of the country” and they were followed by “an immense concourse of citizens and strangers.” One wonders who was left to watch the parade. It is also very interesting that so many women took part, as it was generally rare for women to participate in public demonstrations.

Starting from Gen. Price’s House near Mine Street, the parade marched to the Presbyterian church to the tune of “Hail Columbia.” (Columbia was the goddess of Liberty, a feminization of Columbus.)

Charles George observed that the band continued playing until “the whole audience were seated in the church.” The church was well-prepared for the great event, decorated with “large wreaths of laurel” which “encircled the whole interior of the building.” The pillars were “most delicately entwined with the richest of the Evergreen, while the Holy altar was literally embowered with all that could delight the eye or gratify the taste; the whole being studded with the richest and choicest of the flowers of the forest and garden.” Both prose and church were heavily ’embowered.’¹⁴

After an invocation by Rev. John F. Clark, and a song from the choir, the Declaration was read by Alexander Wurts, followed by another “ode from the choir.” Then the Orator of the day, Andrew Miller, gave his speech, with a concluding acknowledgement of the veterans. As Charles George wrote:

“Upon their being especially addressed by him, they spontaneously rose in their seats and continued standing with the most fixed and solemn attention. Few witnessed this scene without emotion. This corps was assembled for the first time since the revolution, and to-day they came out to test their love of country, and to bequeath afresh the inheritance that they had so dearly purchased.”

At this point, the editor remarked that “however a niggardly economy on their part may withhold from the poor old soldier a bare living, the voice of the people awards to him a generous support.” He was referring to the failure of Congress during its last session to pay the debts due to the veterans.¹⁵

After another song and the benediction, the procession reassembled and marched to the accompaniment of the Jackson band to “the house of Mr. Peter Smick.” Once there, a 24-gun salute was given, one round for each of the states of the Union. Then the old veterans were treated to a meal by Mr. Smick, during which time they recalled their wartime experiences. After the veterans had finished their dinner, “a large company” sat down to eat at 3 p.m. in Mr. Smick’s tastefully decorated dining room. (Presumably the rest went home to eat.) In keeping with a tendency to appoint officers for any and all occasions, a “President of the table” was named (veteran Jacob Anderson, Esq.) and for good measure, a Vice President (George Maxwell, Esq.). Exactly what their responsibilities were is hard to say, unless it involved maintaining proper decorum. Once the dinner had finished, “the cloth was removed” and the toasting began. (I also described this event in my article on the life of Sheriff Jacob Anderson, here.)

As was customary, 13 toasts were given, by persons unnamed in the Gazette. The subjects were: The Day, The Federal Union, [George] Washington, The Remnant of 1776, The Jubilee, the President of the United States, The Governor of New-Jersey, The State of New-Jersey, Samuel L. Southard [Secr. of the Navy], The Republics of South America, Greece, the new States and “Woman” (“A dish of contrarieties; but one we never tire of nor forget.”). The Gazette does not say if women were present to hear this toast, but the 13th toast was always for the women or “the Fair.”

These were followed by toasts given by “volunteers,” whom the Gazette did identify. Most were members of well-established Hunterdon families: Jacob Anderson (the president), George Maxwell (vice president), Mr. Charles Bonnell, George C. Maxwell Esq., Samuel G. Opdycke Esq., Zaccur Prall M.D., John Waterhouse Jr., Capt. H. M. Kline, Maj. Wm. Hunt, Capt. Peter I. Case, Capt. Peter Ewing, Capt. Jacob Voorhees. The newcomers were, in addition to Miller, Clark, Wurts and Blackwell already described, James H. Blackwell (son of John), Leonard N. Bowman [Boeman], and Adams C. Davis, who was born in Vermont.

Judging by the toasts given, the sentiment was clearly with Andrew Jackson, despite his having lost the presidential election of 1824 in the House of Representatives to John Quincy Adams. Only one toast is recorded for the President, but Jackson received two by name, along with others favoring a future election. From Samuel G. Opdycke, “Gen. Andrew Jackson—defeated once, but how? That’s the question. We hope to fight that battle o’er again.” Or from Capt. Henry M. Kline: “God save the republic; but the 4th of March 1829 [when the next president would be inaugurated] will tell a tale, the resolutions of Adams brethren of Somerset [a reference to Samuel Southard] to the contrary notwithstanding.”

There was some dry humor offered by Charles Bonnell, who toasted the last session of Congress, saying: “Mr. Chairman, I move that the committee rise; I wish to publish a four hours’ speech on this question.”

Other subjects for toasts were the Delaware & Raritan Canal, Gen. Bolivar, the Congress at Panama, “the venerable Thomas Jefferson,” Gen. William Maxwell, Greece and Missolonghi, and by Peter I. Clark Esq., to “the Judiciary of the United States, we tremble for its extension upon the basis assumed in the last congress. Heaven protect this precious repository of our liberties from the intrusion of bold speculation.” In April 1826, Congress debated legislation to increase the number of judges on the Supreme Court from 7 to 10. The legislation, which eventually failed, was meant to deal with the huge amount of litigation coming from the western states where so many land titles were being contested.

The Delaware & Raritan Canal was still just a dream in 1826, inspired by the success of the Erie Canal, which opened in 1825. General Bolivar was leading a movement for independence of all South America from Spain. The Congress at Panama was intended to create an alliance between the newly independent South American countries and the United States (it failed).

Greece and Missolonghi were matters of interest similar to South America—the struggle of other countries to win independence from colonial powers. But Greece was a special case, with its history as the birthplace of democratic government. Missolonghi was a fortress where Greeks hoped to take a stand against the Turks; reports of its fall appeared in April 1826. The Greeks had vowed to die rather than be captured; perhaps as many as 8 to 10,000 did die.

Gen. William Maxwell was one of Hunterdon County’s genuine war heroes, in both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War; he died in 1796.¹⁶

The death of Thomas Jefferson on this day, as well as of John Adams, was not known to the residents of Flemington. Recall the toast given by Andrew Miller to “The venerable Thomas Jefferson.” No mention was made of it in the description of the celebration given in the Hunterdon Gazette, published on July 12th, a week after Jefferson and Adams died, other than a brief notice at the end of the story on Lambertville’s parade. A week later, lengthy stories were published about the two great men, and Charles George made these comments:

“We are not the first who have remarked the striking coincidence of events which, on the jubilee of our national independence, bereaved the country of two of its revered sires, just fifty years from the day on which they signed the Declaration of Independence. –But one of the chosen band remains—Charles Carroll of Maryland.”

After the toasts were given, a salute was fired by the Company of Infantry headed by Capt. Jacob Voorhees and Capt. Peter Ewing, followed by more music from the much-appreciated Jackson band. The editor congratulated everyone involved on a successful event, without any incident of rowdiness or rude behavior. As a former resident of Philadelphia, Charles George could appreciate the way Flemington celebrated its Jubilee. In his editorial a week later he wrote:

“This auspicious day was held, in this village, with unusual demonstrations of joy; and to a stranger it would perhaps be impossible to give an adequate expression of the kind and degree of feeling excited upon this interesting occasion. . . There is something in a village celebration of great events, that has a character peculiar to itself. Borrowing nothing from the imposing and sometimes unmeaning pageantry of a city celebration, it exhibits the simplicity of an ardent and honest zeal to contribute her utmost to the general swell of exaltation.”¹⁷

The Celebration at “Lambertsville”

Lambertsville (as it was generally called at this time) was a different place from Flemington, although it followed the time-honored formula for July 4ths, with the proper parade, organized by a “Committee of Arrangement,” and included “a company of boys dressed for the occasion, under the care and direction of captains Lambert and Rounsavell.”  Lambertville’s “ladies” were escorted to the church ahead of the rest, rather than follow as part of the parade. At the church there was, as described in the Gazette,

1, an invocation to the throne of Grace by the Rev. Mr. Van Lieu;
2, an ode composed by C. B. Phillips for the occasion, was sung by an excellent choir under his direction;
3, prayer by Mr. Van Lieu;
4, another appropriate ode;
5, reading of the Declaration of Independence;
6, Hail Columbia by the band;
7, oration;
8, anthem, strike the cymbals, words adapted by C. B. Phillips;
9, Benediction by the Rev. P. O. Studdiford.

The citizens of Lambertville were joined by those of New Hope in the parade to the church. Lambertville was more oriented to the river and its sister village on the other side, than towards the center of the county. It was a far more commercial town than Flemington, as it always had the benefit of river traffic. Lambertville seemed to feel itself in competition with Flemington which became apparent after the county courthouse in Flemington burned down in 1828. Lambertville citizens immediately began promoting the idea of moving the county seat to their town and wrote lengthy letters to the Gazette describing the advantages of their town over Flemington’s. But when it came to the number of war veterans in its parade, Flemington won hands down, as it did with the courthouse.

After the ceremonies at the church,¹⁸ the parade returned to “the east side of the bridge.” Then the New Hope residents returned across the river, and the Lambertville residents “sat down to an excellent dinner at the hotel prepared by John S. Prall.” The Marshall of the day and president of the dinner was Major William Garrison, while Dr. John Lilly was chosen Vice president. After the cloth was removed, the toasts began. As with Flemington, the Gazette did not identify those who gave the first toasts but did name the volunteers. They were:

From old families—Mr. Joseph Wood, Mr. John Hoppock, Dr. William Coryell, Alexander Coryell, C. B. Phillips, George W. Rittenhouse, J. B. Smith, J. W. Coryell, G. Abbott, J. Chamberlin, John H. Coryell, Capt. John Lambert, Henry Thatcher, J. Thatcher and probably Thos. Thompson. The ‘new men’ were Mr. Stewart of Philadelphia, Mr. Delavan, Capt. R. H. Knowles, and J. Ashmore. The pattern was similar to Flemington’s—the old families dominated, but new men with ambition took active roles in the life of the community.

Many toasts were given—two for “The Day we celebrate,” six for the United States or “our Government,” one for The Governor of New-Jersey, one for Dr. Geo. Holcombe, “our representative in congress,” one for The Secretary of the Navy [Samuel Southard] and one for Gen. Lafayette. Also toasted were De Witt Clinton, The Delaware and Raritan Canal, “Our South American brethren,” the Greeks, “The American Fair” and The Washington Band.

There were toasts for the war veterans and the militia, and for Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, this last one drunk standing. Andrew Jackson received six toasts, including one that hoped that “the 4th of March 1829 place him in the presidential chair.” Unlike Flemington, John Quincy Adams also received toasts. Two were disparaging, like the one from J. B. Smith: “The President of the U. States—may he learn by 4 years’ experience that honor gained by barter and intrigue is but a crown of thorns,” and two were actually positive. One of the positive ones was given by Henry Thatcher (to “the people’s choice as elected by the constitution”) and the other by one of the unnamed original toasters (“with the happiness and prosperity of his country ever in view, he has nothing to fear from the virulent tongue of calumny, the monster of disappointed ambition.”)

One wonders what the atmosphere was like as these toasts were given. How much animosity was there between Jackson and Adams supporters? The Gazette claimed all was harmony. “The [Lambertville] company separated at an early hour, highly gratified with the entertainment of the day.”

Speaking of the Flemington event, Charles George wrote:

“It is a cause of congratulation, that though many things were encountered in the course of the day in which in rude hands there is no small risk, though the procession was perhaps the largest ever assembled in this place, and the church crowded so that many were obliged to stand during all the exercises, not a single accident occurred to mar in the least degree the good feelings which predominated on this day. Before the darkness came upon us, our village was restored to its wonted repose.”

The coming years of the Jackson administration brought much tumult to Hunterdon County, as they did to the rest of the country, and this was reflected in subsequent 4th of July celebrations. Judging by the toasts given in 1826, it seems that those present had an inkling of what was coming.

Judging by reports in the Gazette, Flemington did not have a celebration every year. Some years (1835-37, 1840, 1845, 1851-53) there was no celebration in Hunterdon County worth reporting.¹⁹

With the presence of so many Revolutionary War veterans, gathered together for the first time since the war had ended, the 4th of July of 1826 was a singular experience. No subsequent celebration would quite live up to it.

Footnotes: