The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-12-21
SITE OF t784 CONGRESS-
HALL FOUND IN TRENTON
ORIGINAL LEASE DUG UP BY DIR.
CARLOS E. eoDFREY-A LONG
DISPUTE SETTLED.
CONTINENTAL LAWMAKERS MET
IN A HOUSE THAT RENTED
FOR ESQ PER ANNUM.

I0OULTeS VI lue AuJuldHC IeuSLdiS VI
t'ce, has notified Governor Stokes TINT
he is ready to prove that he has dis,
CT vered the site Of the building in
which the Continental Congress sat in
'"renton. Mr.. Godfrey states t',at tie
site is now occupied by the building
of the Mechirics' National Bank. OF
Which. oddly enough, Gov. Stokes is
President.
The Continental Congress sat in
Trenton from Nov. to Dec. "a, 1884,
but there has long been a dispute as
to the building in which the sessions
we're held. Various historians have
differed absolutely, the old court.
house, the present site of the Tren-
ton Banking Company, the Blazing
Star Tavern, also known as Wits
City Tavern, being mentioned. In this
city there has always been much de-
bate among old residents as to the 10.
G; ton of what was really the early
seat of the National Capitol, Now, DR..
Godfrey asserts In writing to Gov.
Stokes that he has the original lease
of the building and papers to verify
all his contentious. He suggests that
II Gov. Stokes is too busy to give per-
sonal attention to the matter, an Off
Ger of the bank be appointed to go
ever the papers, SO that arrangements
may be made for the erection of a!
commemorative tablet.
DR.. Godfrey says that he had grent
difficulty in locating the site, Authori-
ties dleffred on many points, and much
Of the research he INDUCED in led him
nowhere. Finally he ascertained that
Samuel Henry owned and lived in al
house that afterward became the City
Tavern, situated on the southwest cor.
ner Of State and Warren streets. An
announcement in an old newspaper
that Jacob Bergen was to open tav-
crn in the house owned by Henry, and
the will of Henry. who died shortly
afterward, led him in the right direc-
lion, and he discovered the following
lease:
L"NIemorandum of an Agreement Be-
tween Jacob G. Bergen of the one part
& Moore Furman, James Ewing & Con-
iod Knots of the other part. Witness.
eth that the said Jacob G. Bergen doth
hereby Agree to Rent the house he
now lives in. Situate Near the Maj.
ket house in Trenton, late the Proper
ty of Sam'l Henry Deed; and Now
held by a lease for and until the first
day of April in the Year Seventeen
Hundred & Eighty Six at the Yearly
Rent of one hundred & fifty pounds,
unto the said Moore Furman, James
Ewing & Conrod Knots for the use
y purpose Of the Congress of the Unit.
ed States of America to Set in from
the Thirtyeth day of October Next for
and until the End and Expiration OF
The said lease. In Consideration of
Which the said Moore Furman, James
Ewing & Conrod Knots Doth Agree
to nay or cause to be paid unto the
Said Jacob G. Bergen the Sum Of one
Hundred & Seventy five pounds. by an
order on the Treasurer of this State
on the said thirtyeth day Of October
in Gold or Silver Money, and Also to
,.ay or Cause to be paid the said Year
Nv Rent, of one hundred & fifty pounds,
Agreeably to the said lease, & it is
further Agreed upon that the said ia
cob G. Bergen is to have and Retain
the use of the Stables and Garden
Ground, for and During, and so long
us the Congress may Set in the said
house, and it is Agreed upon that the
Said Jacob G. Bergen is to live in &
Make use Of the said house until the
said thirtyeth day of October, and I'M
I'll the said Congress may Want the
Same to Set in. In Witness Whereof
tho said Jacob G. Bergen doth Set his
hand & Seal this thirty first day OF
August, 1884.
Jacob G. Bergen, (seal)
Witness Present:
Danl Yard,
Chas. Brady.
Endorsed upon the back)
Paw the within mentioned One hun
dred & Seventy Ave pounds, and also
Fifteen shilllngs for a Table for tho
use Of Congress to Mr.. Jacob G. Ber'
gen. Jas Ewing
To Moore Furman.
The three mentioned in the lease
we're the committee appointed to ar.
range for the reception Of the Cont
mental Congress. Lafayette took his.
final farewell Of Congress in the house
indicated on Dec. IA, 1884, and Wash
ington held a reception ther in 1883
while en- route to New York to take
the oath of Office as President.
c.u "a coo mn circulating library