The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-10-25
Al landed
PROPRIETOR
Peter Kemble, the Foremost
Royalist Of Morris Coun-
y IN the Early Days.
PAPER READ BY MRS. MERRELL

y
ston Merrell read paper on " Peter
Kemble," of which the following is a
summary =:
To commemorate subject Of coloni-
al interest in Morristown reminds one
of the proverb 8 water, water every
where" etc, for although Morris
town is hallowed by association with
so many historical events and the home
of so many persons famous both in lit
erature and history, there yet seemed
nothing Of colonial interest.
Fourteen years ago on the occasion
of the meeting of Colonial Danes, held
on these grounds, as now so kindly
loaned TO US by the Washington asso-
citation, we had the pleasure of hearing
Mr.. Frank R. Stockton. who at that
time was resident Of Morristown. At
one time or another two presidents,
two United States senators, and many
other notable personages even Teddy
claimed Morristown as their home.
Certainly the law Is honoring US at
present. as the chancellor of the state
and three -chancellors are DOW fell
low citizens.
The earliest records show that the
first settlers moved to Morris county
about 1885, but Morristown has no au
thentic record earlier than 1871.
Morristown can only boast of a few
years of colonial history and apparent
ly OF no subject Of interest. So it was
to that marvellous mine of information,
Mr.. McClint0ck, thai the committee.
appealed. He not only supplied the
subject but m,st of the following facts
are copied from his paper.
He writes, .sSAs an object for coloni-
al history at Morristown, think no.
thing can compare with the family of
Peter Kemble, for many years prior to
the Revolution the chief officer Of the
Royal Council of New Jersey"
In history of NeWJersey printed
before the Revolution, one part Is TAX
en- up with county histories, Of which
Morris county's share is very brief,
about two lines, simply saying. !. In
this county resides the Honorable Pc
ter Kemble, Esquire, President OF his
majesty s council"
In another early history are these
words: Zone Of the most important
personages In Morris county prior to
the commencement Of the Revolution,
if indeed he were not the most import,
ant, was Peter Kemble, the Honorable
Peter Kemble, as he was called. I"
He certainly hid his light under a
bushel. for search the histories, ency
clop@dias, etc, as much as we would,
nothing Of any interest could we find.
Even the antiQuarians of Morristown
had no tales to unfold. Not an inter-
esting fact or even one anecdote could
we unearth. His son Stephen, how
ever, was of such Importance that the
New York HISTORICAL society printed
two volumes OF his papers. They are
volumes 16 and II of the series of col
lections for the years 1883 and 1884.
The first part consists of the journals
Of Stephen Kemble written in his own
handwriting, and the second the first
Official order book, written by one of
his clerks. Stephen Kemble was acting,
deputy adjutant general of the British
army from June 8, 1773, TO October %,
1779 The journals also cover 1774,
1885 and 1888. A careful search for the
seven missing volumes has proved un-
successful so far.
Admiral Sir WilllamlH was com
mander from November is, ITS, to
May %, 1778, when he was succeeded
by Sir Henry Clinton until July B, l778.
when the army arrived at Sandy
Hook from its march across New Jer
sey after evacuating Philadelphia.
Colonel Kemble's, official copies as
deputy adjutant general are thus an
official and authentic record OF the
movements and actions of the British
army from l773 to July, ITS. A mo-
mentous period both preceding and
succeeding the outbreak OF the Amer
lean revolution.
The original journals are owned by
great-graDdson OF Peter KembIe.
In the introduction to these Kemble
books we cleaned some dry facts 10 re-
gard to the Kemhle family. Peter
Kemble In 1765 wrote a short family
history. He writes that the family
OF Kemble came from the northern
part of Wiltshire, near the border,
within few miles of Tilbury, where
there was both an old settled village
as we'll as church named Kemble. =
The Edwards family [clesely related
by marfiage] dying out, the only sur
yivor, daughter, who retained her
eastern habits until her death, emil
grated to America and lived at the
Kembie homestead 10 Morrist0wn, and
is buried on the lawn as the following
inscription testifies; Z" Ann Edwards.
born in Smyrna in Asia Minor and |
died Ia July, 1908, In the SOth year Of !
her age.
Peter Kemble, our subject, was bOrni
in Smyrna In 1904. When eight years |
old he was sent to England, where, ira
ditiOn says, he was we'll educated. |
When thirteen years old he was ap-
prenticed TO his uncle, a merchant or |
Rotterdam. He made several trips to 1
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