The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-06-26
I Feam re Ne.e lori relhnne !


~ under the Observers feet rests the town.
which to-day has flung all its banners out,
while across the river the fertile hills of Bucks
county roll away to the southwest in success
i've pillows of green toward the Schuylkilland
Valley Forge a little more than thirty miles
distant. On the right, the course Of the broad
liver, winding down among lis hills, can be
traced for many miles, and is lost 10 sight on
the left behind forest covered point. On ey-
cry side stretch rich meadow and pasture
lands, and luxurant woods and waving grain,
and long straight rows of growing corn and
there is nothing TO mar the general suggestion
of peace and plenty except an occasional
wheat field prematurey Drowned by the raw
ages Of that revolutionary insect, the Hessian
fly, whose prolific ancestors King Georges
mercenares are said to have brought over
with them TO their camp on Long Island the
same year in which the Colonies declared their
independence. After Washington had retreat
ed before CORVALLIS into Pennsylvania, in
1776, portions of his army were stationed OPP
poste this point some detachments having
crossed the ferry here, and in December, be-
fore the surprise at Trenton, Washington him
self crossed over to these hills to reconnoitre
and decide whether CORVALLIS, by occupying
them, could command the high lands on the
other bank. On his return he ordered stock
AIDES to be built and battery planted on the
bluff above. The waving ky-line of the first
bridge below, is at che point interrupted by
straight horizontal section which still marks
The site of an old redoubt. short distance
below the town is the thickly-wooded Malta
Island, behind which Washington concealed
all the boats which he could collect along the
river as far mp as Easton and still further
down stands Mrs. Neelys old house, where
were quartered Captain James Monroe and
Lieutenant John Patterson, who seem to have
been young officers of much promise but of
restricted wardrobe. At all events, the cham
Der is still pointed out in this house where the
future President of the United States and the
future Governor of New Jersey and Justice
of the Supreme Court went to bed while Mrs.
Nicely refreshed their linen.
Where Lambertvile now stands the = Old
York Road" which was the original Kings
Highway between New York and Philadel-
phia, crossed the Delaware. Early in the
eighteenth century this crossing was known
as Coates's Ferry. In 1910 one Weles leased
the PENNSYLVANIA terminus, and the rapids be-
low are still called Wellesis Falls. 1t is on
record IN the State Department in Trenton
that in 1882 his Gracious Majesty George the
Second granted to emmanuel Coryell, his
heirs and assigns the sole liberty and pfivil-
eye Of keeping and using ferry or ferries en-
tie river Delaware, at a place called Coates
ferry, opposite to Welles's ferry on the Penn
sylvania side as aforesaid and three miles up
arc lHlfG lHtltS upWl TIE Sdlu IlNeI DtidNstt6
that is to say three English miles above and
three English miles below the said place call
ed Coates's ferry, for carrying and ferrying of
passengers, horses goods, wares and mereh-
andses" The great seal of g Our Province
of Nova Casafa " affixed to this document
then established the name of CoryelPs Ferry
to this crossing which il bore till 1914, when
the river was bridged and the little hamlet on
the Jersey shore was called Lambertville, af.
ter the family by that name that had settled
there sometime before. The John Lambert
of that day was man of more than local
consequence. having been several times q
member of the State Council, twice acted as
Governor, member of the House of Represen-
tatives, and United States Senator. The Cor
yells belonged to n family of French Hugue-
ro's, aud the name is still an honored one
In the Presbyterian Churchyard at Lambert
willie is the grave of George Coryell, who died
at the aye of ninety one, and on his monu-
ment it is written " He was the last survivor
of the men who laid the body of Geo. Wash
ngtep in the tomb"
n II the world knows how Washington cross
ed the Delaware 100 years ago to-day at Cor
yell's Ferry, on his way from Valley Forge to
Monmouth how he halted here for time
while the ranks of his army were filling up
with the New Jersey militiamen who came
trooping merrily down from the north and
east and how he marched away on the old
cainst flank movement by Sir Henry Clin
ton, who was an alert soldier although very
short and fat one. Early this morning the
GOOD people of Lambertville who had not been
already awakened by musician of wind and
perseverance who. under cover of the dark
ness, had been rehea sing martial airs all
night ON n stalwart trombone. were aroused
by a salyo of artillery to find the weather
like history. repeats itself. In an official dis
patch dated at Coryells Ferry, June 22d.
l77s, Washington stated that it rained nearly
every day and that when it did not rain the
heat was deadly. But not even a copious
rainfall with the wind in the east could sup
press the energetic patriotism of the thons-
ands who had determined to celebrate the
day. At o'clock troops were seen crossing
the river from the Pennsylvania side in ferry
-a-+--...1ia. the direoiian of The acting oommo-
dore OF the continental Flotila, Captain John
H. Horn, male old waterman, and one of
me lew survivors OF the race of Durham
ooatmen, who were the common carriers OF
merchandise mp and down the river before
the days OF railroads Meanwhile frequent
excursion trans were unloading aud visitors
were arriving from every direction. and while