Although the day was intensely cold, so cold as to give rise to the saying, "it is almost as cold as the day when Morgan was hung," there was a vast number of spectators. There is a tradition, not well authenticated, that he said to the soldiers on his way to the gallows, "Soldiers, do your duty, I am to be hung for doing mine." It is extremely doubtful whether he ever said so; and if he did it is utterly unworthy of credence, in the view of all the circumstances. But there are those yet living who stood near him on his execution and who testify that they heard him addressing the Sheriff with an oath, telling him to do his duty quickly, and not keep him shivering in the cold. He acted out the wretch to the last.

As to the motives which induced Morgan to murder Caldwell, it is difficult at this distance of time to decide, and in the absence of all records of the trial. There are, besides, opposite statements on the subject. Some say he was drunk at the time. Others say that he was greatly irritated because he was not regularly paid his wages, and because Caldwell was the Commissary he supposed the sin and blame were his. Samuel Hicks, a witness against him, testified that he was heard to say, for the above reason, that he would "pop Caldwell over," the first opportunity. Others again say that he was bribed by the British or Tories to shoot him. Bribery in some way or other is charged upon Morgan by the majority of the aged people who remember the occurrences of that day. The opinion of old Governor Pennington, a name venerated in New Jersey, was that Morgan was believed to have been bribed by the British or the Tories. But impute to him either of these motives, and yet his shooting of Caldwell was a wanton and wicked murder. And from the decision of the Court and Jury in the case no appeal should now be permitted, save on the strongest possible grounds.

As an evidence of the universal belief at the time that Morgan was an atrocious murderer, we will conclude this narative by an extract from a letter written by the Hon. Abraham Clark then a member of Congress, to Captain Benjamin Winans of Elizabethtown; the letter is dated

PHILADELPHIA, January 16th, 1782. "I suppose by this time that the murderer of Mr. Caldwell has been tried and received his doom: but that will not restore our loss, which will be long felt in Elizabethtown. I hope you will not be in a hurry to get another, for few can be found to succeed him that is gone. I have only one or two in my mind that might answer, but I think that they could not be got till the end of the war, as they are chaplains of the army."

The documentary evidence, collected with no little painstak ing, from which this narrative is compiled, is in my possession, and will be cheerfully placed at the disposal of the Historical Society.

So vivid are the recollections of the old people of East Jersey of Caldwell, that from their descriptions of him an artist might almost paint him to the life. He was of middling size and strong. ly framed. His countenance had a pensive, placid cast; but when excited was exceedingly expressive of resolution and energy. His voice was sweet and musical, but yet so strong that when needful he would make himself heard above the notes of the drum and the fife. As a preacher he was uncommonly eloquent and pathetic; rarely preaching without weeping himself; and at times would melt his whole audience into tears. The venerable Dr. Green, now going on to his 90th year,* says that the impressions made by one sermon of Caldwell's, preached in Chatham, in 1779 1780, have never been effaced from his mind.

He was a man of such unwearied activity, that no amount of bodily or mental labor could fatigue him. Feelings of the most glowing piety and of the most fervent patriotism occupied his bosom at the same time, without the one interfering with the other. He was one day preaching to the battalion, the next providing the ways and means for the support, the next marching with them to battle; if defeated, assisting to conduct their retreat; if victorious, offering their united thanksgivings to God; and the next, offering the consolations of the gospel to some dying parishioner, or pouring the oil of consolation into the wounds of the afflicted. Down to the present hour, the aged ones speak of him with tearful emotion. Never was a pastor more affectionately remembered by a people. And as a token of their affection for him the County of Essex called one of its townships by his name. Mr. Caldwell left behind him nine orphan children with but a scanty patrimony for their support, and even that was unwisely managed. But God raised up friends for them; and they all lived and rose to distinguished positions in the church and in the state.

Margaret, the oldest child, became the wife of Isaac Canfield, of Morristown.

Hannah became the wife of James R. Smith, for many years a distinguished merchant of New York; and subsequently the wife

*This venerable Jerseyman has died since the reading of this paper before the Society.

of Dr. Rogers. She was the mother of the wife of M. St. Clair Clarke, of Washington City, and of the wife of Governor Duncan, of Indiana.

John Edwards was taken by Lafayette to France, and was educated under the direction of the Marchioness. He subsequently returned to this country, and for many years was a devoted philanthropist of New York city, and the intimate friend of such men as the Masons and the Romaines. He was foremost among the founders of the American Bible Society.

James B. lived and died in Woodbury, and was for many years a Judge of the Courts of Gloucester County.

Esther became the wife of the Rev. Dr. Finley of Basken. ridge; distinguished as a minister, as a teacher, as the founder of the American Colonization Society; and who died whilst President of Athens College in Georgia.

Josiah F., the only surviving son, is an officer in the General Post Office at Washington.

Elias B. was for some years the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States; and because of his noble efforts in the cause of Colonization, one of the towns in Liberia is called Caldwell in honor of him.

Sarah became the wife of the Rev. John S. Vreedenburgh, for many years the beloved pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church in Somerville.

Maria married Robert S. Robertson, a merchant of New York, who with her husband yet survives. This is the child that was

on its mother's breast when she was shot.

At a meeting of the Cincinnati of New Jersey held in Eliza bethtown, July 4th, 1844, it was suggested to them that a monu. ment ought to be erected to the memory of this patriot minister, and that the suggestion as to its erection should come from them. The idea was kindly entertained, and a committee was appointed on the subject. A similar committee was appointed by the 1st Presbyterian Church of Elizabethtown to co-operate with that of the Cincinnati. And through the joint agency of these committees, a beautiful white marble monument to the memory of Cald. well was erected over his remains in the graveyard of the 1st Presbyterian Church, to transmit the memory of his piety, patri. otism and virtues in the generations and ages to come.*

*The following are the inscriptions on the Monument:

On the East side

This Monument is erected to the memory of the Rev. JAMES CALDWELL, the pious and fervent Christian, the zealous and faithful Minister, the eloquent Preacher,

A question has arisen, and perhaps it will present itself to many minds, as to the propriety of a minister of the gospel taking such an active part in the secular affairs of the country. On a suitable occasion I should like to meet the man who would take the negative of the question. We owe the freedom of this country to the religious ministry of the country. If all the ministers of the country had taken boldly the ground assumed by some, that there could not be a state without a king, the lion and the unicorn guarding the crown would have been the emblem of our sovereignty until the present hour.

May the church never want such ministers, nor the state such patriots as was Caldwell, May the names of the ministers of the gospel who aided in securing for our country the freedom which it enjoys ever live in the memory of a grateful people.

and a prominent leader among the worthies who secured the independence of his country. His name will be cherished in the Church and in the State so long as virtue is esteemed or patriotism honored."

On the South side

"JAMES CALDWELL, born in Charlotte Co., Va., April, 1734: Graduated at Princeton College, 1759; Ordained Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Elizabethtown, 1762. After serving as Chaplain in the Army of the Revolution, and acting as Commissary to the Troops in New Jersey, he was killed by a shot from a sentinel at Elizabethtown Point, Nov. 24th, 1781."

On the West side

“HANNAH, wife of Rev. James Caldwell, and daughter of John Ogden, of Newark, was killed at Connecticut Farms by a shot from a British soldier, Jan. 25th, 1780. Cruelly sacrificed by the enemies of her husband and her country." On the North side

"The memory of the Just is blessed."

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valliantly for our people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight." "The glory of Children are their Fathers."

JOURNAL

OF

LIEUTENANT EBENEZER ELMER.

[Concluded from page 56.]

TICONDEROGA, New York.

Friday, January 24th, 1777.-Went into the Major's and took up my abode along with him. About 11 o'clock Wm. Tullis departed this life, after a long illness of almost three weeks. His former character, his upright and christian-like behavior since his engagement in the present cause, amidst all the evils to which soldiers are exposed, his calm and peaceable temper of mind in his last severe illness, fully testified to me and every other observer, that he was really prepared to meet the grim messenger, and now is happy, enjoying the blissful effects of a well spent life.

Saturday, January 25th, 1777.-Buried Wm. Tullis in as decent a manner as possible. No Sergeant to attend the company. I therefore have to act as Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, and every thing else. Nothing material more, except that Wood's and Wayne's regiments marched the whole of yesterday, upon which the 6th regiment took umbrage, and some of them went off, others fired several rounds, but were at last prevailed on to stay a few days. Peter Sheppard died.

Sunday, January 26th, 1777.-This day Major Barber, in a letter from Capt. Bloomfield, got the whole appointments of the officers in the State of New Jersey. So we spent most of the day in examining them.

Monday, January 27th, 1777.--We have well authenticated intelligence of the enemy's being driven out of the Jerseys. Major B. and I had a very warm dispute, he charged me with ill treating my Captain and him, which has fully persuaded me of what I before thought, that Capt. Bloomfield was working my ruin in a secret manner, which, however, he may not at last be able to accomplish.

Tuesday, January 28th, 1777.-Wrote several letters to send down by Capt. Sharp.

Wednesday, January 29th, 1777.--This day I was ordered to get ready for a scout to Crown Point, with 12 men. Accordingly