or three other buildings. Among the hotels burned was the United States Hotel, the American House and the Atlantic Hotel. But the most stupendous catastrophe in the history of the village was the great fire which occurred on November 9, 1878. Its ravages swept over almost thirty acres of ground, destroying property to the value of more than a halfmillion dollars, and included nine hotels and scores of beautiful cottages. Probably Cape May has been visited by a greater number of prominent Americans and distinguished foreigners, during the past nearly one hundred years, than has been any other city in the country, the metropolis of New York and the national capital alone excepted. The visit of the great statesman and orator Henry Clay was most pathetic. His coming was purely for rest, and to seek some surcease from the great sorrow of his life, the death of his son, Colonel Harry Clay, who fell in the battle of Buena Vista, February 27, 1847. He reached the city August 16, of the same year, and all along his journey he had been greeted by hosts of friends, those who had supported him in his unsuccessful contest for the presidency and those who, though opposing him, honored him for his intellectual abilities, and sympathized with him in his affliction. He was received with all honor by the officials of the town and county, in the presence of a great throng of country people who came to look upon one of whom they had heard so much. Mr. Clay remained at Cape May for several days, and, as told by Rich ard Smith Ludlam, who was then landlord of the Mansion House and entertained him, he loved bathing, and went into the water as often as twice a day, and it was while enjoying it that he lost much of his hair. "The ladies would catch him, and, with a pair of scissors, carried for just that purpose, clip locks from his head to remember him by. When he returned to Washington, his hair was very short indeed." Many distinguished parties came from New York and Philadelphia to meet Mr. Clay. Among those from New York, were Recorder Tallmadge, Nicholas Dean, M. G. Hart, Morris Franklin, Horace Greeley and others, who came by steamboat. According to the "New York Herald," their mode of transit created great amusement and occasioned many jokes. "Some called it the landing before Vera Cruz (the war with Mexico was then in progress), and to see dignity perched on the shoulders of the boatmen who, wading through the surf, deposited their loads on the beach, was truly laughable." In response to an address by Nicolas Dean, of New York, Mr. Clay said, after expressing his gratitude for his cordial reception, and referring to his affliction: "I was induced to take this journey, for I could not look upon the partner of my sorrows without experiencing deeper anguish." (Mr. Clay was here completely overcome by his feelings, covered his face with his hands, and was silent for several minutes.) He then continued: "Everything about Ashland was associated with the memory of the lost one; the very trees which his hands assisted me to plant seemed to remind me of his less. Had the stroke come alone, I could have borne it with His assistance, and sustained by the kindness of my friends and fellow-citizens, with meekness and resignation. But of eleven children, four only remain. Of six lovely and affectionate daughters, not one is left." The first President of the United States to visit Cape May was Franklin Pierce, who came in 1855, and was welcomed by the city council and held a public reception. President U. S. Grant came for short visits in four different seasons. In 1873, June 13, he was accompanied by a number of the members of his cabinet and by other prominent men. President Chester A. Arthur visited Cape May City in 1883, arriving July 23, on the government dispatch boat "Dispatch." In the evening he was received at a banquet by the mayor and council. He took his departure at midnight, amid a grand display of fireworks, and was conveyed to his vessel in a surf-boat manned by a life saving crew. President Benjamin H. Harrison, Postmaster General John Wanamaker, Secretary of State James G. Blaine and General William T. Sherman visited the city in 1889. In the summer of 1891 President Harrison kept an executive office in Congress Hall. In 1893, the year of his retirement from the presidency, he delivered the principal address at the Fourth of July celebration. Cape May Point, on the extreme southern land end of New Jersey, on what was formerly known as Stites' Beach, is surrounded on all sides, except the northeast, by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. It is about two miles from Cape May City, with which it is connected by the Cape May, Delaware Bay & Sewell's Point Railroad. In addition to its well known advantages as both a summer and winter resort, the Point enjoys the distinction of possessing a fresh-water lake, located only a few huundred feet from the breakers. It has water works, electric light, and its hotels are excellent, and guests are always sure of finding good bathing, sailing, fishing and driving. Cape May Point was founded in 1875, as a Presbyterian summer resort. The plan was devised by Alexander Whilldin, of Philadelphia, and others, who organized the West Cape May Land Company, which was incorporated March 8, 1872. February 18, 1875, the Sea Grove Association was chartered by the legislature, and a town was platted under the name of Sea Grove. A pastortice was established March 27, 1876. In 1878 the name was changed to that of Cape May Point. It was made a borough in 1878, but this organization was abandoned in 1896, and it has since been included in Lower township. Soon after the founding of Sea Grove (Cape May Point) Mr. John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, purchased property there. President and Mrs. Harrison visited him there, and their admiration for the place led Mr. Wanamaker, then Postmaster-General, and Mr. William V. McKean, editor of the Philadelphia "Public Ledger," and other friends, to present a handsome summer cottage to Mrs. Harrison. The Harrison family occupied it during the summer of 1890 and 1891, but did not return in 1892. the year of the death of Mrs. Harrison. General Harrison, after his retirement from the presidency March 4, 1893, passed a portion of the following summer there. In 1896 he disposed of the property. CHAPTER III. HISTORIC FAMILIES OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST. "Beneath the roots of tangled weeds, Afar in country graveyards, lie "We praise the present stock and man; "Beneath those tottering slabs of slate, Whose tribute moss and mold efface, —James Buckham. For almost two centuries the people of New Jersey have maintained a unity of purpose and individuality peculiarly free from sectional, religious or political factions of any great importance. This is true to such a degree that their history is soberly legislative, and without military romance. It has not inspired the poet or even the historian. From mixed and antagonistic nations, the colonists received grants of land carelessly and recklessly given to companies, patentees and proprietors—grants which overlapped and caused confusion of titles which, with every new enterprise or grant, necessitated a confirmation of title. The promise of religious liberty brought to New Jersey groups of colonists of contending sects or denominations, which settled in adjacent localities. The two provinces into which was then divided the territory now known as New Jersey, were peopled with those whose interests conflicted each NOTE. In this chapter various family names appear in different forms, as Bown, Bowne; Crawford, Crauford, Crauffurd; etc. Certain geographical names also appear in dissimilar forms. This is due to the writer preserving the exact orthography given in the original documents of which use has been made. with the other. Although oppressed by New York and rivaled by Pennsylvania, the history of New Jersey has been one of peace and justice to all men, savage or civilized. What manner of men were these who could be brought together, with so many conflicting interests, and yet in a few years could by council and legislation alone form a strong united commonwealth? Some great masterful principle must have controlled them all at their coming. They must have been men of affairs, accustomed to considering the common interests of the community beyond merely personal ends. The earliest colonists of New Jersey were merchants and seamen from the great commercial cities bordering the North Sea, from Bergen in Norway to Aberdeen in Scotland. Some of these cities had, as wealthy Hanse Towns, influenced if not controlled the affairs of Europe for four or five centuries. The Hanseatic League had formed a "commercial republic" which had sustained commerce and manufactures against feudalism until, largely by their support, the sovereigns of the Old World could establish national unity and protect each his own commerce through the authority of international law. The Hanse Towns had struggled for liberty, had grown very wealthy, and had become seats of learning. They had supported the Reformation—Lutheranism and Calvinism. They had factories and agents in all the commercial centres of Europe. In the seventeenth century the municipal rights of the citizens of large towns and cities had become firmly established everywhere on the continent and in the British Isles. Merchants and tradesmen of municipalities paid little heed to the dictates of courts. The sea captains plying between commercial towns and ports, or sailing on unknown seas, were men of the merchant class, accustomed to authority and negotiation. The fisheries of the North Sea were the great source of wealth to many of the commercial ports on its shores. Salt fish was one of the most important articles of food and commerce, especiallv in Catholic countries, and was the most necessary portable supply for all fleets, armies and expeditions. In the little vessels of the fishing fleets of the North Sea were trained bold sailors of the Dutch and English navies and merchantmen. Very early the daring fishermen of Portugal and Brittany crossed the Atlantic to the great fishing banks off Nova Scotia. New Brunswick and New England. At the beginning of the seventeenth century the herring fisheries produced to Holland alone £1,759,000 sterling and employed 50,000 fishermen. The old Dutch captains visiting the New Netherlands discovered and reported the great value of the fisheries along the New Jersey coast from the Hudson River to Delaware Bay and River. Whaling was reported as one of the most important sources of profit in |