The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-27
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Annual Meeting and Election
of Officers In Trenton
Yesterday.
DR.. PENNINGTON RESIGNS
Proposal to Leave Newark Defeated
Interesting Essay on
Washington.
Speciol 10 the yeyscu Cttv re,us.

SDeciol TO the Jersey Citu Netra.
TRENTON, Jan. q, 1Ss7.-At the annua
meeting of the New Jersey Historical So
ciety yesterday in the Supreme Court
room, a motion by William r. Weeks
of Newark. to reconsider the vote by
which the society last October resolved
not to transfer its collection from New
ark to Princeton was lost by a tie vote.
In the absence of DR.. Pennington, Ple5i-
dent of the society, General Williams S.
Stryker, First Vice-President. occupied the
chair. There was a large attendance of
members from all parts of the State
William Nelson, Corresponding Secre-
tary, submitted the correspondence since
the May meeting, embracing more than one
hundred letters, from correspondents in
all parts of the United States. and some
from Europe, making inquiries Of every
conceivable description, regarding events
and families in New Jersey and else
where. Mr.. Nelson submitted copies of
mas replies to the queries of most general
interest and Importance. Apparently,
the Corresponding Secretary is expected
TO be omniscent, at least as regards sub
Jeets of historical inquiry.
Mr.. Nelson modestly stated, however,
that he was indebted to many members
of the society for information not in his
possession. whereby he was able to- an
swer some of his correspondents, who
otherwise would have hungered for know
edge in vain.
The Librarian, Frederick w. Ricord.
reported that there were in the library
5000 bound volumes; that donations of
books, pamphlets and manuscripts have
been received from fffty-three societies
and institutions, twenty-six individuals
and fourteen departments of the United
States Government.
The Finance Committee, Cyrus Peck.
Chairman, reported a. balance, MAY 10,
1896, of SALT; income from annual dues,
interest, rent, ETC., $3.50. 80; total. 81. 1871 70:
disbursements, for rent, salary, insur-
ance, printing, etc, 81, O43. SO; balance on
hand, s4S7.96.
The report of the Executive Committee
was read by Mr.. Nelson, ex-oficio Sec
rotary Of the committee. It was as fol-
lows
In reviewing the work of the Historical
Society during the year the Executive
Committee takes special pleasure in
mentioning the very generous manner in
which the friends of the society have
come forward to supply its urgent needs,
in times of great financial depression.
While the current receipts from ordinary
sources have been less than usual, vet,
through the munificence of these friends,
the treasury is much more thar fol. sew
eral years past.
Nor does the Treasurer's report show
all the contributions to our work. other
funds having been given indirectly, but
none the less effectively, to promote our
interests. 1t would be a pleasure to give
the names of these generous friends,
We're we at liberty to do so.
An important innovation introduced in
to our business methods last year by the
chairman of the committee, Jonathan w.
Roberts, was the rule that no expenses
should be incurred by or for the society
unless there were funds on nand to meet
h same. This practice has encouraged
gentlemen interested in our objects to
give the more literally, when assured
that the strictest business methods were
adopted by the committee. Under Mr..
Roberts inspiration, regular meetings of
the committee were held monthly. and
the most careful supervision of all the
society'S affairs was undertaken, the
chairman being invariably present at the
meetings. n giving literally of his time
and means to the society.
The magnificent offer made by Prince
ton University in May last, of a home
for the society's collections, in the SPLEEN
did new library building. now in course
OF erection at Princeton, has had & two
fold effect on the Society's work. While
many have been deferred from giving
to h society,s new ,bailding fund in
view of this offer of a home free Of. COST
on the other hand the very fact that
such an offer was made, by those most
competent to judge Of the value and i'm
portance of the society's collections, has
aroused a new interest in behalf of the
society Ia the city of Newark, its home
for nearly half a century. and our mem
forts which have been making for the
last ten or fifteen years to raise funds
for the erection Of q proper habitation
distant day. As the subject has been
taken out of the hands of the Execu-
tive Committee. by the society, at its
of the society are refcrred for further
information to the report of the special
committee then appointed.
The project for securing a large, If not
a controlling interest in the Newark LIB
rary Association, in which we have had
the cordial and most generous support Of
making progress, which viii be reported
matter as been entrusted By. the Society Ely.
society sdefy we we have bass i ISL eigh meIin men 81 the
died May n, 1896; William A. Tire, Of
Newark. died June 9, 1896; Edmund d.
Hdalsey, Of Rockaway. died October II,
died October 10 1896: Elias S. Ward, Of
Newark, died December %, 1896; Colonel
John Newell. of New Brunswick, died
January 5. 1897; Joh Newton Voorhees,,
Of Pennington, died January 9, 1897; the
New Brunswick, died January 1851 Z
The constant loss of embe In the
natural course of events brings home 10
us continually the need Of adding Ia orr
numbers, both for the replenishing of our
treasury for the better carrying on
of the Society's work.
Obituary sketches were then Rad AZ
the deceased members, that Of Mr.. Hal
sey being quite full, in view Of his spe-
ciaI interest in all that pertained to his
torical research, and his numerous very
valuable contributions, to the history Of
New Jersey, and to the society's collec-
tions.
William Nelson, Of Paterson. the cor
responding secretary, read a paoer on
Some Military Movements and Some
Jnmilitary ~Depredations, In Bergen and
Essex Counties. New Jersey, in Novem-
Der, Ii76." He first paid a high compli-
ment to General Stryker. who, he said,
Is recognized not only throughout Amer
ity in all that pertains to the Revolution
ary era in New Jersey.
MT. Nelson said his own paper was a
sort of itinerary Of the American and
British Armies during the last ten days
of November. 1776. prepared exclusively
from original sources, for the most part
contemporary, many Of them never print
For ths account OF the serrowfuI