New York Gazette revived in the Weekly Post Boy - 25 Nov 1751 - iss.462,
p.1
To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq, Captain General, and Governor in
Chief of the Colony of New Jersey, and Territories thereon depending in America,
Chancellor, and Vice Admiral of the same.
The humble address of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council, of the
Borough of Elizabeth.
May it please your Excellency,
We his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, beg leave to give your Excellency,
with your Honourable Lady, a hearty welcome to the Borough of Elizabeth, and to
express our utmost satisfaction in the hopes of your long residing among us.
The happy experience we have just had for more than four years, of your mild,
wise, and just Administration; the vigilance, zeal, and prudence, you have at
all times discovered, in protecting our liberties and privileges; proceeding
with that mixture of justice, and lenity, which have in a great measure been
effectual, to calm and heal the unhappy disorders, that have so long disturb'd
this Province.
Your manifest concern and care, to do every thing to promote the religious, and
civil interest of this people; hath raised in us the highest gratitude to divine
providence.
May God in singular goodness to us, grant you long to preside over this
Province; which is now very happy, under the best of Kings, committed to the
care of one truly worthy to represent him.
Borough of Elizabeth, 1st Nov. 1751.
John Stites, John Radley, Stephen Crane, John Chandler, Samuel Woodruff,
Robert Ogden, Thomas Clark, John Halsted.
His Excellency's answer,
Gentlemen, I very kindly and gratefully own your respectful address; and take
this opportunity to assure you, by the favour and assistance of Almighty God, I
will at all times endeavour to my utmost, to promote his Majesty's honour, and
interest, and the prosperity and happiness of this Province, and shall be glad
to contribute in any thing you can point out to me, to make this Borough of
Elizabeth, still a more flourishing town.
J. Belcher.
The Boston News-Letter and New England Chronicle - 26 Apr 1764 - issue
3140, pg.2
In 1764 John Stites was shot and seriously wounded whilst undertaking his
duties as an overseer :-
"We hear from Elizabeth Town, that on Monday last, Alderman Stites of that
place, a Gentleman generally esteemed, being about to straighten a road, of
which he was overseer, by the removal of a fence, belonging to one Sears, which
was an encroachment upon it - Sears having before heard of his design, declared
(if he attempted it) he would shoot him, and accordingly loaded his gun with
powder and shot.
When Mr. Stites, with his labourers on the highway, approached the fence, he saw
Sears with his gun, and asked him where he was going with it - He replied, I'll
tell you, damm ye; and immediately fired at him, lodging the shot in his
side and belly. Sears was, after some resistance secured and confined in gaol.
It is thought Mr. Stites cannot recover, tho' it is not certain whether the shot
have penetrated his bowels, several have been extraced, but he had a high fever,
and was in exquisite pain, tho' still alive yesterday morning"
N.B. This article was obviously circulated amongst the press, as
it appears in several newspapers with the exact same wording.]
New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury - 10 Oct 1768 - iss.884, pg.4.
Taken up a few days ago, and committed to the Gaol of the Borough of
Elizabeth, in New Jersey, by order of John Stites, Esq., Mayor, a Negro man
about 24 years old, very thick lips, talks both Dutch and English, says he is a
free man, and that he lived some time in Bloomindale, near New York : When taken
up he had on a blue cloth coat, old shoes, without stockings. The owner may have
him again, paying charges, and proving his property, by applying to the said
John Stites, Esq., or the Gaoler, Benjamin Miller.
The Providence Gazette; And Country Journal' - 2
Sep1769 - Vol: VI; Iss: 296; p.3.
On Thursday, the seventh of this instance (1769), was celebrated at Warren
the first commencement in the college of this colony; when the following young
gentlemen commenced Bachelor of Arts; namely, Joseph Belton, Joseph Eaton,
William Rogers, Richard Stites, Charles Thompson, James Mitchell Varnum
and William Williams.
About ten o’clock, A. M., the
gentlemen concerned in conducting the affairs of the college, together with the
candidates, went in procession to the meeting house.
After they had taken their seats
respectively, and the audience composed, the President introduced the business
of the day with prayer; then followed a salutatory in Latin, pronounced with
much spirit, by Mr. Stites, which produced him great applause from the
learned part of the assembly. He spoke upon the advantages of liberty and
learning, and their mutual dependence upon each other; concluding with proper
salutations to the Chancellor of the college, Governor of the colony, etc.,
particularly expressing the gratitude of all the friends of the college to the
Rev. Morgan Edwards, who has encountered many difficulties in going to Europe to
collect donations for the institution, and has lately returned.
To which succeeded a forensic dispute, in
English, on the following thesis, namely, "The Americans, in their present
circumstances, cannot, consistent with good policy, affect to become an
Independent State." Mr. Varnum ingeniously defended it, by cogent arguments
handsomely dressed; though he was subtly but delicately opposed by Mr. William;
both of whom spoke with emphasis and propriety.
As a conclusion to the exercises of the
forenoon, the audience were agreeably entertained with an oration on
benevolence, by Mr. Rogers; in which, among many other pertinent observations,
he particularly noticed the necessity which that infant seminary stands in of
the salutary effects of that truly Christian virtue.
At three o’clock P. M., the audience
being convened, a syllogistic dispute was introduced on the thesis: "Materia
cogitate non potest" Mr. Williams the respondent; Messieurs Belton,
Eaton, Rogers and Varnum the opponents,—in the course of which dispute, the
principal arguments on both sides were produced toward settling the critical
point.
The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then
conferred on the candidates. Then the following gentlemen (graduated in other
colleges) at their own request received the honorary degree of Master of Arts;
namely, Rev. Edward Upham, Rev. Morgan Edwards, Rev. Samuel Stillman, Rev.
Hezekiah Smith, Hon. Joseph Wanton, Jun. Esq., Mr. Jabez Bowen, and Mr. David
Howell, Professor of Philosophy in said college.
The following gentlemen, being well
recommended by the Faculty for literary merit, had conferred on them the
honorary degree of Master in the Arts; namely, Rev. Abel Morgan, Rev. Oliver
Hart, Rev. David Thomas, Rev. Samuel Jones, Mr. John Davis, Mr. Robert Strettle
Jones, Mr. John Stites, Rev. James Bryson, Rev. James Edwards, Rev.
William Boulton, Rev. John Ryland, Rev. William Clark, Rev. Joshua Toulmin, and
Rev. Caleb Evans.
A concise, pertinent, and solemn charge was
then given to the Bachelors by the President, concluding with his paternal
benediction, which naturally introduced the valedictory orator, Mr. Thompson,
who, after some remarks upon the excellences of the oratorical art, and
expressions of gratitude to the patrons and officers of the college, together
with a valediction to them, and all present, took a most affectionate leave of
his classmates. The scene was tender, the subject felt, and the audience
affected.
The President concluded the exercises with
prayer. The whole was conducted with a propriety and solemnity suitable to the
occasion. The audience (consisting of the principal gentlemen and ladies of the
colony), though large and crowded, behaved with the utmost decorum.
[This
article also appears in 'A history of the Baptists, Volume 2' by
John T. Christian.]
The Political Intelligencer and New Jersey Advertiser - 25 May 1785
On Tuesday the 31st of this instant, if not disposed of before,
On the Premises for ready cash only,
That extraordinary well known farm, at the property of John Stites, Esq;
deceased, for which will be given an indisputable title, lying within five miles
of the Landing at Elizabeth Town, and from four of that at Rahway, and on the
public road from both those places to Morris Town. Containing nearly 300 acres
of excellent tillage, wood and mowing lands, well proportioned; with Rahway
River running through it, and otherwise well watered in every part : There are
on it a large orchard, farm house, barn and garden, with a choice well of water
which never fails. The whole in good repair.
New York, May 10, 1785.
New Jersey Journal - 27 Apr 1791 - issue 393, pg.3.
PUBLIC VENDUE
On Monday the 2d May, at 1 o'clock, at the plantation late of John Stites, esq,
deceased, in Connecticut Farms, will be sold, a valuable stock of cattle,
consisting of five yoke oxen, an number of milch-cows and young cattle, a good
horse, three carts, a waggon, sleds, and a variety of farming implements - The
conditions will be made known at the day of sale, by JOHN STITES
Who has for sale, a valuable NEGRO WOMAN, of about 23 years of age, who
understands all kinds of country work, and a healthy strong woman with a male
child of five years old, a female child of four years old, and a male child of 6
years, she is for sale on account of breeding too fast. Elizabeth-Town, April
26, 1791.
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