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Journal.
“IMMACULATE WIRGIN, PRAW FOR US.”
VOL. XVI.
PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 15 1888.
NO. 236
JOHN TATHAM, NEW JERSEY'S FIRST OATHOLIO GOVERNOR.
¥ JOHN D. MCCORMICK, *
Secretary No. 118, I. C. B. U., Trenton, N. J.
a
In 1684, Dr. Daniel Cox, of London, acquired an extensive
‘interest i m West Jersey, and in 1686 one in East Jersey. A late biographer,
Mr. G, Scull, of England, says: “After the death of Governor
- Bylinge, in January, 1687, he purchased of his family their landed
~ property in. West Jersey, together with the right of government in the
Province, under the grant of the Duke of York to Byliinge. Dr. Cox, in
‘> consequence, became Governor of West Jersey. Shortly after, on Septem-
',, ber 5, 1687, he addressed a letter to the colony, detailing the circumstances
yo, “ connected with the transaction, and explaining his views as to the feture.””
'~ /\From a paper quoted by Mr. Scull, the original being in the Bodleian
Library, dated about 1688, it appears that ‘*The above menconed Daniell
Coxe, being resolved to sell his interest in Land and Government of the
Collonies of East and West Jersey, the land Amounting by a moderate
i ealeulacion unto one million of acres, whereof about 400,000 are surveyed
and the Indian purchase paid.”
~.'** Besides the purchase of ye land. many thousand pounds have been
Expended upon the establishing of a whale fishing, which will bring for ye
. future very great profit.””, There were also large forests of timber suitable
for masts for vessels. ‘Immense vineyards for the curing of raisins and
: the manufacture of wines, Also, lands underlying which were rich deposits
. . of iron, brass, copper and lead. Besides these there were oyster beds,
\: fisheries and other industries in profitable operation.
Dr. Cox never visited America, This fact is expressly stated by
:, Oldmixon,” says Scull. The question, then, naturally suggests itself, how
did Dr. Cox secure such extensive landed and industrial interests in the
Jerseys, and how did he control and manage them? The answer is given in
the fact that’he did so through John Tatham, whom he made bis agent.
, The above reference to Dr. Cox introduces the reader to John Tatham, the
time of whose coming from England is uncertain. By Holmes’ map of Bucks
Co., 1681, the names of Jno. Tatham and Jno. Gray (also a Catholic), are
associated as among of the first purchasers ofa large tract of land in Bucks Co.
Pa., and he may have resided there before he became Dr. Cox’s agent. His
Bucks county property was located in the picturesque region of Neshaminy
Falls, now well known as a resort for picnics and excursions, His house was
the finest in that part of the country
In the fall of 1687, the Assembly of West Jersey acknowledged Dr. Cox
as Governor. He appointed Edward Hunloke his deputy, but soon after
he commissioned his agent, John Tatham, to be his deputy-Governor, and
Y. govern in his name, ‘‘who, being a Jacobite, and as such by principle
disqualified, him the Assembly rejected.” . (Smith’s History, pp. 191+92)74
It was while working on a reprint of Smith’s history that this quotation
first met my eye, and directed my attention to him, The cause assigned
for his rejection, that he was a Jacobite, leaves no doubt as to his religious
belief. James IL, of the house of Stuart, was then upon the throne of
England His followers were known as Jacobites, To be a Jacobite and
a Catholic were synonymous terms in those days.
The days of the house of Stuart upon the throne of England were
drawing to a close, and party feeling ran high. A study of the affairs of
West Jersey at that period, warrants the. belief that the reason given for
John Tatham’s rejection was only a pretext. Thomas Olive, who bad been
_ twice Governor of West Jersey, led a vigorous opposition to the claims of
Edward Byllinge, on account of a question as to the validity of his title,
* and also because of his financial embarrassments. Dr. Cox had inherited
the rights of Byllinge, and it is not unlikely that a desire to annoy
Governor Cox, was the chief motive of the rejection of John Tatham, No
other objection could be raised against him but his political affiliations,
which also indicated his religion, and thus political hostility and bigotry
were successfully invoked to accomplish another object.
Notwithstanding the action of the Assembly, John Tatham continued
toactas the agent of Governor Cox, and to take part in public affairs,
The line of partition of 1676, dividing New Jersey into East and West
Jersey, proved a source of public dissatisfaction to both sections. It grew
to such proportions that Governor Cox, of West Jersey, and Governor Bar-
clay, of East Jersey, resolved to remedy the evil. For that purpose they
entered into a joint agreement, dated ‘* London, September 5, 1688, for the
final determination of all difficulties concerning the line of partition.
Nothing came of that contract however, but more jealousies and feuds.
On the 14th of December, 1687, the proprietors of West Jersey met at
Burlington, and eleven of their number were elected to act as commission-
‘ers for the ensuing year. The whole government of the province was
yested inthem. And among the proprietors I find the name of John
Tatham. He was also elected in that year one of the commissioners, who
exercised the above powers of government, The question of settling the
long disputed division line was entrusted to this commission, acting joint-
ly with a similar commission from East Jersey. Deep-seated as was the
trouble, I find no further reference to it after that, The first survey that
Ican find for him in West Jersey was made in March, 1689, . (Hill’s Hist
of the Church in Burlington, p. 11).
On November 21, 1681, the first Assembly of West Jersey under the
Proprietors, met at Burlington, avd ‘‘agreed upon certain fundamentals of
government,” in the 10th section of which it appears, ‘t That liberty of
conscience, in matters of faith and worship, shall be granted to all people
within the Province aforesaid, who shall live peaceably and quietly therein;
and that none of the free people of the said Province shall be rendered in-
capable of office in respect to their faith and worship.’”? (Smith’s History
p. 128). It distracts nothing from the honor due to those who introduced
Teligious liberty, when I say that those who were directly instrumental in
securing its establishment are equally entitled to our admiration, Those
who drew up and promulgated the Declaration of Independence wit be
applauded by all good men forever. Those who fought and suffered to
establish those principles will receive a like reward, John Tatham, as one
of those who were invested with the powers of government above, is
» inseparably connected with the establishment of that religious liberty that
was introduced six years before.
» Copyrighted.
Affairs in East Jersey will now claim attention, in order to follow up
the movements of John Tatham, Governor Robert Barclay died in
October, 1960, and Kast Jersey was without aGovernor. From some cause
the government of the Twenty-four Proprietors became very unpopular,
and they were naturally quite anxious to secure a successor to Governor
Barclay who would be likely to bring about the desired popularity, and to
overcome the prejudices of their opponents, On glancing over the states-
men and public men of East and West Jersey, they found none who
possessed all the requirements except Jobn Tatham. The mode of appoint-
ing or electing a Governor was as follows: ‘Each one of the proprietors
had the ets to make a nomination, but it required eighteen votes to elect.
ELECTED GOVERNOR,
Twill | let a “distinguished author, W. A. Whitehead. speak on the
subject: *‘*So averse were the opponents of the Proprietors to the re-
establishment of their authority, that for a time the public sentiment was
in favor of a continuance of this state of comparatively imperfect organiza-
tion as a government. For on, the arrival of Hamilton in England, aud
the death of Governor Barclay, which occurred October 3, 1690, the Pro-
prietors appointed John Tatham to be their governor, and subsequently, in
1691, Colonel Josep: Dudley, but both nominees the people ‘scrupled to
obey,’ on what ground is not stated.”
vol. I, 2d Rev. Ed., p. 185).
From the foregoing it is clear that John Tatham was eletted to the
highest position in the gift of the Proprietors, that of Governor of East and
West Jersey, for they seem to have been under one governor then, each
Province having a separate Council, That he bas entered upon the duties
of his offive, and exercised the functions thereof, is equally plain, for he
served one year in office, as is evident from the appointment -of Colonel
Dudley to be his successor, in 1691." All the authorities I have examined
upon the subject, lament that the records that have come down to us are vo!
very meagre, and throw but little light upon that interesting period of our
colonial history. (See East Jersey under the Proprietary Governors, by
Whitehead). : :
It is probable that Governor Tatham, understanding well the nature of
the situation, bas avoided those public acts that would cause irritation
among ths people, and allowed affairs to pursue the even tenor of their way,
he contenting himself with simply holding the executive power in abeyence,
to be used only in case there should be urgent necessity for its exercise,
Those who govern best, govern Jeast.
The “scruples to obey” on the part of the people did not mean that they
refused to obey Governor Tatham, and defied his authority, ' It only meant
that the government of the Proprietors was unpopular, and was only obeyed
with reluctance, Hence the wisdom of the governor in pursuing the con-
servative course that he did. From the absence or scarcity of any public re-
cords of thpt period, the historian Bancroft infers that there was no
power over the people, He was mistaken, however, as the absence
of sufficient legal enactments would appear in subsequent legislation.
William ILI, ascended the throne of England in February, 1689, he
succeeding James II, The latter made strong efforts to regain the English
IN GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL,
throne, to which he was entitled, and Lis followers in England and in
the colonies were sanguine of his success. Ilis naval forces met those of
William at La Hague in 1692, and a bloody battle took place. The number|
of Wiliam’s war ships was nearly 100, while those of James numbered about
sixty-eight, and he was defeated. After the naval victory of La Tague
“every possible hope of James II, towards the recovery of his kingdom
was extinguished forever.” (Fredet’s Modern Ilist. p. 416.)
In 1692 Andrew Hamilton returned to America, and became Governor
of the Jerseys, After a time he solicited John Tatham to become a member
of the Governor's Council, and he accepted. We have seen that be was alnew members.
“Jacobite,” that is, an adherent of James II., and that he stood by him
while there was any hope. But all hope having been extinguished at the
battle of La Hague, John Tatham accepted the inevitable, and took the oath
of civil allegiance to William III.
Tle took part in the organization of Burlington township, and was pre-
sent at its first meeting, It appears fron the original records that on April
5, 1694, “the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Said Town being Convened and
* * Did Choose & Elect John Tatham Recorder.” Shortly afterwards some
disorders occured in a liquor saloon on Sunday, that greatly disturbed the
peace and quiet of Burlington, and the moral and law abiding citizens
thereof brought it to the notice of the Town meeting. At its session of
April 22, 1695, the matter was considered, and disposed of, by its reference
to acommittee, of which John Tatham was chairman. Ilis colleagues
considered him a proper man to promote morality in the community, and to
keep the liquor traffic within lawful bounds. (ist, of Burlington and
Mercer Counties, by Woodward & Hageman.)
On July 13, 1695, he took the initiative in purchasing a burial place for wi
Christians, I can find no record of any previous attempt having been made
to set apart a tract for a last resting place for the remains of poor mortality,
The legal document embodying his pious design sets forth that. ‘Whereas,
several persons Inhabitants in & about Burlington, together with John
Tatham, Edward Hunloke, & Nathaniel Westland have agreed together to
purchase a piece or parcelof Land in Burlington for the Conveniency of a
burying place for themselves and also for all other Christian People who
shall hereafter be minded therein to bury their dead.” (The Church in
Burlington by Hills.)
On May 20, 1697, an “‘ agreement was signed by Governor Hamilton and
. “4 HORRID AND DETESTABLE CONSPIRACY”?
his Council, and the membersof the Houseof Representatives of West Jersey,””
in which they say that ‘* Whereas, there has been a horrid and detestable
conspiracy, formed and carried on by Papists and other wicked and traitor-
ous persons, for assassinating his Majesty’s Royal person, in order to encour
age an invasion from France on England, to subvert our religion, laws and
liberty.» And ‘we do hereby further freely and unanimously oblige us to
unite, associate and stand by each other in supporting and defending the
succession to the crown.” Soon after another address, somewhat similar in
wording, was signed, congratulating the King on his happy escape, &c. a
J, Archives, vol. IL., pp. 145-146 )
* From the MS, of the “History of the Catholic Church in Trenton.’
(Continaed on the third page.)
{Collections N. J, Ilist. Society al
wabnrars WORDS.
aariee F. re, ex-President of the
d
we extract the following, just because “they
are our sentiments *
“ We cannot disguise the fact that Ireland's
condition rows worse each year. Her chil-
dren in thousands, the young and the vigorous,
the life blood of the nation, are still fleeing
enyelop the old land.
Ve have been told
minority of our people who were di
we have proved the contrary by sending to
England’s parliament 86 out of a total of 103
representatives... The issue is now before us
and the crisis must’ be reached in the near
future. If constitutional measures fail it will
not be the fault of the Irish people; every
thing bas been done to bring about by peace:
ful measures an end to
Our people have sent as t) thelr representatives.
across the channel. men who are the peers of
that it was only a
and yet, under the sunligh
zation and in open WN delace. of the opinions: of
the civilized world, arguments are met Ww:
force, conciliation Spurned, and peaceful pro-
position: contempt. Not only
that, but when other means fail to stifle the
wrongs by constitutional m
“Is
should turn in other directions, and that we
should
enemy to
strange when we loo
country’s chequered history, that we shudder
if occasions should give place to feelings of
vel ngeance
e to urge the Irish people to
do anything that would entail additional hard-
ships or that would brit bout their annihi-
lation, but I recognize the fact, an:
every one in this assembly, that a nation must
Freedom g to make sacrifices as the
ly for Irish grievances is on its last trial.
Stn with the most extreme views who look
°
in the way of a full measure of success."
—The Seventeenth Annual Ball, of No, 376,
of Knoxville, Tenn., was a grand success,
The Society is _weoelving new members at
ost every m
—Who Koons where the Catholic Legion
ot Honor exists? Its badge is just the same
as that of the I. C. B. U. without the Tiara,
but. x know nothing of the Order,
t. Teresa’s, of Providence, RI, has
inereased from 38 to 43 me
—The National Catholic society, of Phila-
delphia, No, 9U, at its last. meeting elected 10
A- Bu ilding Society of its
members bas been organ
—From a report of the proceedings of the
phe Assembly, Aptil 3d, we extract the fol.
owing: “Mr.
k resolution this morning allowing the use ot
the hall of the House of Representatives to
the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union of the
tes, which holds its annual conven-
of September,
Columbus next September w:
of a centennial celebration and of the Grand
Army Reunion, and so crowded with people
and organizations needing accommodations
for meeting places, we regard the more highly
the act ¢ st Hon, Jobn B. Lawlor ai
House of Representatives in the passage oe
his resolu ion, This thoughtful kindness we
are bankeal for and hope ow
ot be unmindful of,
ithe Philadelphia delegates to the Colum-
bus Convention will feel quite
the centennial celebration.
quires a hig rd of excellence, it is
centennial celebrations. So Columbus better
show her best effort.
sate Uibernian Society, oC the ‘pasoldiers?
Home, Daytot
losing "4 by Meath Satine thes year . mere
ent officers are: president, Patrick Ganhon ; ;
Vice-president, Peter Blake ; recording secre-
tary, Mi Sweeney "treasurer, James
Dynes trustees John O’Meala, Thomas
Rieley and Michael Helbert.
—The Archbishop Ryan cornet elected six
new members at its last mi
its last meeting, elected 10 new members,
John Ferguson has been chosen. messenger in
place of Charles Monahan, resigned.
The Archbishop Carroll Society, No. 240,
of this city, offers a prize badge for the argest
number members, A member offers,
addition, « 4 present of a badge to every mem-
ber Tp nging in five new mem’
rald Beneficial Society, a ost
e Em
creel, Sebuyiill County, Pa., has
mitted to the Union as No. 615,
from ler shores and misery still seems to _
issatisfied 5 *
any wonder then that our thoughts ©
e price of*
eedom, ‘Constitutional agitation as a rem- ©
it Ohio members’
No, 90, the National Carbon Society, at -