The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-16
Historical Society.

ton, on W wednesday, Dec. "a, meeting al
10 o'clock.
President DIR. Geo. H. Larson, in the
chair.
Secretary J. w. Lequear, read the min
utes of tho preliminary meeting, which
were adopted.
On motion, our membership fee be one
dollar. Agreed.
Any person may become member by
paying this sum to the Treasurer.
On motion, that our Secretary procure
book in which to record the proceed
ings of our meeting. Agreed.
On motion, that Rev. G. s. Con&ling,
DR.. H. Race and w. t. Srope, be COM
mittee to revise the Constitution and
Rules of Order. Agreed
E. Vosseller asked leave TO present
some books of historical value. Deferred
until place could be procured for them.
DR.. Geo. II. Larson, President, deliy-
cred his inaugural address, urging us to
get at the bottom facts of history en-
deavor to find out all we can about the In
dams who once owned this land, the
names of their chiefs, the location of their
villages, their early treaties with the
whites, the earliest white settlers, noted
men and the formation of the political
divisions.
E. Vosseller thought collection of
copies of the different newspapers, pub
lshed in the county would be interesting
DIR. Best was called on to read his paper
prepared for this meeting. 1t is of great
Importance that we ascertain the facts in
every department of history, not relying
too much on traditional stories. Anti
quariau researches would be valuable.
Ecclesiastical history of the first settling
of the different denominations, where and
when their first meeting houses were built,
names of the first preachers, would be
interesting. Educational history, where
and when the first school houses were
built, how they were furnished, what text
books used, modes Of teaching, with the
names of the first teachers; the history OF
their social customs and pastimes, their
frolics and parties would be interesting
Botanical and meteorological collections
would be interesting. | would be willing
to give my botanical collection of nearly
all the plants of this county to the So
ciety, whenever suitable place is pro-
vided for them.
DIR. Mott said he felt interested in the
work mapped out; it is great thing in
writing history to be able to verify the
facts. One great thing we will have to
contend With, will DO the indifference OF
the people. A few years ago the General
Assembly passed resolution that each
pastor of Presbyterian churches, should
preach historical sermon, on the history
of their church. called ON my oongre-
CATION to hand me whatever might be in
their possession. Not one leaf was hand
| ed in, and was at loss how to begin,
until / struck upon mine of wealth in
an old garrett The old parchment deeds
that are lying in the hands of the people
all over the county, are of vast import
ance, as in the first part, in what they
call the narration, are often given the
different conyeyances from William Penn
to the date.
w. f. Hayhurst also bore testimony to
the value of these old parchment deeds.
The President called attention to the
history of the Pennington church, by DR.
Hale, as of great interest; also stated thai
w. L. Hayhurst had made map of thu
early land grants from Bulls Island down
the Delaware, below Lambertville and
out through Delaware township, locating
the site of an Indian village out neal
Ringoes.
VIM. 7. Srope, from the committee tt
confer with the Freeholders about room
in the county building for cabinet OIL
relics and collections of historic interest,"
said they had not had q conference with
the Freeholders.
Dir. Best moved that w. F. Hayhurst,
of Lambertville; E. Vosseler, of Flem-
ington; VIM. 7. Srope, of Frenchtown,
and Joseph G. Exon, of Clinton, be the
custodans of all relics and papers contri.
buted to the Society.
Adjourned to 80 O'Clock in the after.
noon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At 80 the meeting reassembed. Il.
M. Heath from the Executive Committee,
asked that the place of next meeting
might be considered. Lambertville, Gin
ton and Frenchtown were considered, and
it was agreed to hold our next meeting at
| Frenchtown, on the first Saturday in
March next.
DR.. Race thought it would be well for
the Executive Committee to solicit con-
tributions from the publishers OF purchase
copies of all the county papers.
j. W. Lequear now read his paper pre-
pared for the meeting, ON the early set
Element and history of the Baptists in
Hunterdon county.
DR.. II. Race read his paper on the his.
tory of Jane McCrea, who formerly lived
in Hunterdon county, and who was bru.
tally murdered near Fit. Edward, in TIT
Prof. Leigh sent a request that he be
excused from reading paper at this
meeting, on account of other pressing
duties.
On motion his statement be received
and he be excused, and asked to read his
paper at our next meeting. Agreed.
On motion, we tender our thanks to the
Reform Club of Pennington, for the use
of their comfortable room for our meet.
ing. Agreed.
+. Vosseler made some remarks on the
paper of DR.. Race, giving some account
of visit he paid to tho vicinity of Ft.
Edward.
The motion of DR.. Best was called up
and it was agreed that w. f. Hayhurst.