Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-02

the ship.
Accustomed at home to long per-
iods of mist and cloudiness, the clear
blue skies and balmy sunshine or
Perth charmed the Scotch pilgrims
and made them happy. The weather
here said one of them in writing
home to urge his friends to come
over. "is constantly clear; the sun
rises and sets free of clouds"
Encouraged by these and other re-
ports which followed from the pill
grims at short intervals, their COM
patriots and fellow non-conformers
in Scotland. started a tide of volun-
tary immigration from Scotland,
which continued for a number of
years and into the wool and web of
Perth wove a strong Scotch strain.
In 1886. following the elevation of
Lord Neal Campbell to the Deputy
Governorship. the General Assembly
of the Province held its first session
in Perth, which gave the place in
creasing prestige. Twelve years later
its growing influence was recognized
in the allowance to Perth of two rep
resentatives in the Assembly instead
of one as heretofore.
Reports of the raids being made
on by Captain Kidd were
VI OuSIl W tElH AliDOy III looS ny
incoming ships. These reports cred
tied Kidd and his bloodthirsty band
as scouting off the New Jersey banks
in search of fresh prey and with con-
cealing large casks of his ill-gotten
treasure among the sand dunes and
marshes close to Perth Amboy.
Alarmed by these reports, which
dependable witnesses averred were
true, Governor Bass issued a procla-
nation authorizing Kids arrest and
the detention of his vessel.
Armed p~rivateers sought Kidd in
the waters hereabouts without find
ing IN definite trace of him. Then
came the report of Kidd's execution.
The wide publicity given to the ex-
PLOTS of the pirate and the golden
treasure he was said to have gar
nered from his victims, worked on
the imagination of the populace and
encouraged some of the more ire
sponsible to emulate him. At one
time it was stated upwards of 1.500'
of these imitators infested the waters
of Perth Amboy and its vicinity,
which was doubtless an exaggeration
of their true number.
By 171S. the population, through
the steady attrition of newcomers
from Scotland. England and other
sections of the colony, a reached
the point where it's citizens aspired
to the dignity of a city. In response
to a petition from them. Governor
Hunter on August "a of that year &C
ceeded to their request and granted
Perth its first charter as a city. In
this document. the first name of the
settlement and the second are Off
cially combined for the first time,
the charter being issued to "The
Mayor, Recorder, Alderman and
Commonality Of the the City OF
Perth Amboy." Under the charter,
the Mayor. Sheriff, Judges. Clerk of
the Market and Water Beiliff were
appointed by the Governor of the
Province of New Jersey.
The freeholders elected the alder
men, assistant aldermen, chamber
lains, coroner, overseers of the poor
and constables. Appointment of the
recorder and town clerk was by gov
ernor's commission without stated
term. depending upon good and eff
cient service.
Constables and overseers of the
poor, who after election refused to
take the oath of office were fined S25,
this being a job not to the liking of
many men.
CONTINUED Tomorrow