CHAPTER TEN

The Great Charlotteburg Furnace Tract

Posted with the permission of author and editor Lucy A. Meyer
Kinnelon: A History

Much has been written about Pre-Revolutionary Charlotteburg. The events taking place here during the Revolutionary War are, however, shrouded in mystery.

Many of you will already have begun to question the reason why the history of Charlotteburg should be included in a history of Kinnelon. Patience, my readers, and soon you shall have reason to question no longer.

As one drives in a northwesterly direction on Route 23 from the area of Smith Mills, past the North Gate of Smoke Rise, and on toward the Newark Watershed, one looks upon a quiet woodland scene. The northern slopes of our borough look wild and uninhabited. Few people suspect that at one time this was an active industrial area where the trip hammer clanged incessantly and a pall of smoke blanketed the area, often hiding the sun from view.

One of the outstanding natural features of Kinnelon is its rocky terrain. This feature has also been of great significance in the history of the development of the area.

Of most importance historically is the bedrock. The rugged mountainous terrain of Kinnelon was not conducive to farming. The Lenni-Lenape Indians,the early inhabitants of this section of New Jersey. described the general rock formation as "place of the slanting rock." or what sounded like "Ramapo." It was the slanting rock of these mountains that also attracted the first explorers. The gray out-croppings. with streaks of gray and black indicated the presence of iron ore to them. It was the search for iron that contributed most significantly to the settling of this region.

Men started actively seeking iron ore in northeast New Jersey in the very early seventeen hundreds and perhaps as far back as the late sixteen hundreds. The settlement of much of the highlands of which Kinnelon is part, was due mainly to its mineral resources. The plains had been taken up for farming and settlements.

England wanted iron chiefly in the form of cast pigs. She had been importing ore from Spain and Sweden. Her woodlands were exhausted because of the need for charcoal used in the smelting process and she looked to America for both the ore and the woodlands to smelt it.

Groups of hardy men set out from the Newark and Elizabeth area. Some of them were skilled ironworkers. They explored the Passaic River and its tributaries, the Rockaway, Ringwood and Pequannock Rivers 1. High up into the hills they went with pack horses, exploring the Rockaway River first looking for the Indian " Sock-Soona," meaning black stone. As veins of ore were discovered, forges and furnaces were built near the newly found deposits. Eventually they came to Ringwood and Charlotteburg.

In 1736, Cornelius Board, looking for copper but finding iron instead, started buying, with his partner Timothy Ward, small acreages of land along the Ringwood River. We find reference to the "Busseton Forge" operating the next year along this river.2 By 1740 the Ogdens had bought the land from Board and formed the Ringwood Company. They are believed to be the first to have engaged in mining operations on a large basis.

By 1759, a narrow strip of land along the Pequannock River comprising 94.07 acres was recorded as being surveyed for the Ogdens. It lay from the area of Pequannock's Reservoir* going southeast to about Smith Mills. Evidence points to the fact that they may have erected a forge here at a point along the river just southeast of the North Gate of Smoke Rise.3 As early as 1742 the Ogdens were supposed to have purchased from the proprietors a great number of half-mile to two-mile long

1. Numbered references are listed on p. 170-1.

*Pequannock Reservoir is locally called the Charlotteburg Reservoir and is part of Newark's water supply.

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strips. These strips were sometimes only 65 feet wide. 4 They lay along the Pequannock River and other streams and were for the purpose of securing the water power so essential to early industry.

The iron ore found in the Ramapo Mountains and in the northern hills beyond the Watchung ridges is called magnetite. It is a form of iron oxide with the highest known iron content. The fact that it could be smelted by known techniques, and that necessary fuel for doing this was close at hand, was most important. This fuel was charcoal which was made from burning wood obtained from the large number of trees in the forest. The land was also rich in fast-flowing streams needed to supply water power for furnaces and forges. The ore was easy to mine, largely due to the geologic history of the area. It lay close to or at the surface.

England-based entrepreneurs, desiring to profit from the wealth to be gained by the production of iron and aware of the resources available for its processing in America, set about forming a company. This investment firm was called the "American Company." Here in America, because of its base of operation, it was often referred to as the "London Company."

Peter Hasenclever, of German background, who was trained in its steel mills, was to manage the American based operation. He arrived in the colonies in June, 1764. By July 5, 1764, he had arranged for the purchase of the Ringwood Company's iron enterprise from the Ogdens.

On October 25, 1765, Hasenclever also bought 6,475.08 acres of what was to become known as The Great Charlotteburg Furnace Tract. The purchase was made from Oliver Delaney, Henry Cuyler, Jr., and Walter Rutherford, agents of the East Jersey Board of Proprietors. About 1,000 acres of this tract was in eastern Rockaway Township below the Pequannock. River at Charlotteburg Pond (now Newark's reservoir) .A large portion of the tract was above the Pequannock River in Passaic County, then part of Bergen County. The greatest portion of the land, however, lay in Morris County, taking up a large section of what is present-day Kinnelon. It included the area in Kinnelon that extends along the Pequannock River on the north side from Smith Mills to our western border, and from Smith Mills, in a southwesterly direction, past Lake Kinnelon on the south, and out to our western border.

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Hasenclever named the site "Charlottenberg" in honor of Charlotte, wife of George III. The spelling was to change with the passing of time to Charlotteburg. (Charlotteburg in the remainder of this chapter shall mean The Great Charlotteburg Furnace Tract.)

The holdings of the London Company included The Ringwood, Charlotteburg and Long Pond (located at Greenwood Lake) Iron Works. Purchases of land were to continue throughout Hasenclever's management. Before his departure from England, Hasenclever had arranged to hire 535 skilled German ironworkers who were brought over to work the mines and smelting furnaces.

Peter Hasenclever started work almost immediately, devoting considerable time and expense in planning the Charlotteburg Iron Works. They were to become one of the earliest and most famous works in the area and were said to be "one of the best iron works" in America at that time.5

The works themselves were located mainly on the northern side of the Pequannock River and consisted of the now inundated town of Charlotteburg and a large complex of furnaces and forges built from 1765 to 1768. Several hundred workers were said to be employed there. A tabulation follows which shows the extent of the Charlotteburg Complex in the years 1765 to 1768. This information was related by Peter Hasenclever in his book, The Remarkable Case of Peter Hasenclever, Merehant, published in London in 1773.

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The best description of the Charlotteburg Iron Works is contained in a report written in 1768 by the Committee of Investigation appointed by Governor William Franklin of the Province of New Jersey. The report also described the other iron works of the London Company which were situated at Ringwood and Long Pond. The passages quoted concern Charlotteburg. The full report appears in Hasenclever's book from which the following is extracted:6

To His Excellency, The Honorable William Franklin Sir, In compliance with your Excellency's request
communicated to us by your letter of the 27th

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of June last, we proceeded on Monday the 2d inst. to view the iron-works erected by Peter Hasenclever, Esq.; within this Province, and began with those of Charlottenberg, on the west branch of Pequannock River, which is the boundary between the counties of Morris and Bergen.* We there found a very fine blast £furnace erected in 1767, and now nearly finished; this we think one of the best pieces of work of the kind we ever saw in America: The dams and water-ways, the casting-house, bellows-house, wheel-house, ton-house, coal-house, &c. are all well- contrived and executed in a workman-like manner; here are also a number of dwelling - houses, store-houses, workshops, and stables, necessary and convenient to the works; also a good saw-mill. This furnace when in blast is capable of making from twenty to twenty-five ton of pig-iron per week, and can be worked at a small expense, as there is plenty of wood and ore at hand, and need never stop for want of water at any season of the year. On the same stream, about three miles lower, is a very fine forge and four fires, and two hammers for converting pig-iron into bar-iron, and is, according to the information we received from the overseer, and workmen capable of making 250 tons of bar-iron yearly, single handed, and from 300 to 350 ton double handed. The dam here is upwards of twenty feet high, and is remarkably substantial and we11 secured: Here are also the necessary coal-houses, dwelling-houses, store-house, workshops and stables. About a mile lower down the stream is another forge of the same dimensions and capability with the last, with all the necessary buildings: about half a mile lower down is another saw-mill, capable of sawing a thousand feet of plank per diem; all these works together are comprehended under the general name of Charlottenberg, and on the whole, consist of one furnace, two double forges,

*This portion of Bergen County is now West Milford, Passaic County.

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two saw-mills, three very large coal-houses, three blacksmiths shops, six large frame dwelling-houses, filled in with' brick and clay, thirty-seven good and comfortable log-houses,besides a number of smaller houses in the woods, for the wood-cutters and colliers.

This work appears to us to have every natural conveniency necessary to make them profitable, and these seem to have been improved with judgment, and to the best advantage; every part of them is well supplied with abundance of excellent wood for coaling; they are situated on a fine lively stream, which at most seasons is sufficient to keep all the works employed, and in times of very great droughts it is so contrived that the natural stream may have an addition of water from two large natural ponds of some miles in circumference, called the Makapin* and Dunken** ponds, in which the water is dammed up, and raised several feet above its natural surface, and have flood-gates, to let off any quantity of water which at any time shall be thought necessary, for carrying on the works; the roads which have been made here, we apprehend, have been very expensive. Places which before were inaccessible, even to horsemen, on account of the steepness of the rocks and mountains, are now good carriage roads; but this expense was absolutely necessary to enable them to carry off the iron to market, to have access to their woods and mines, and to a fine grain country from whence they are supplied with provisions, and to open a communication between the different works...

We have now finished the survey of the works erected by Mr. Hasenclever, within this province, so far as they have been shown to us. We shall subjoin a sketch of the situation of

* Makapin Pond is now called Echo Lake and is found in West Milford.

** Dunken Pond is now called Dunker Pond. Dunkel means dark in German. The pond is listed in Erskine's 1778 map as Black Pond.

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the works, in order that your Excellency may the better understand our description of them; and also a general table of particulars, by which the whole may be seen in one view; and we would here beg-leave to remark, that we think that Mr. Hasenclever has made several great improvements in the iron works under his direction; he is the first person that we know of, who has so greatly improved the use of the great natural ponds of this country, as, by damming them, to secure reservoirs of water for the use of the iron works in dry seasons; without which the best streams are liable to fall in the great droughts we are subject to. He is also the first we know of, who has rendered the old cinder beds of the furnaces useful and profitable; for at Ringwood he has erected a stamping-mill to separate the waste iron from the cinders, by which means some hundred tons of small iron have and may be obtained; which is as good as the best pig-iron; he has also made a great improvement in the construction of the furnaces, by building the in walls of slate; which, by the experience he has already had of it, will, in all probability, last many years; whereas the stones commonly made use of for that purpose, seldom stood longer than a year or two, and would often fail in the middle of a blast.

Another improvement worth attention, we think, is the building the stack of the furnace under roof, so as to shelter them entirely from wind and water. The forges are also greatly improved, by the wheels being all made overshot, and the hammer wheel shafts being armed with strong cast iron rings, whose
arms serve as cogs to lift the hammer handle; those are also new contrivances, at least they are new in America; Mr. Hasenclever has, in several places, cleared and made some extensive pieces of meadows, which, when in order, will yield at least two tons of hay yearly per acre; and must be of great use in supplying the working cattle belonging to the works with fodder, especially as there is little of the up-land near the works fit for raising corn or any kind of water fodder.

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On the whole, it is a matter of surprize to us, to see such a number of great works of various kinds, at different places, executed in so complete and masterly a manner, under the direction of one person, in a new, uninhabited country, within the short space of time that
has elapsed since Mr. Hasenclever first began them; and we must here observe, that the buildings of all kinds seem to us to be commodiously contrived, all of them useful, and none of them unnecessary.

Mr. Homfray, the present manager, and the under managers, on being asked of us, whether they thought any of them superfluous, declared that they knew of none that could be spared.

We are,

Your Excellency's most humble servants,
(Sign'd) Stirling
James Grey Newark, Tuines Dey
The 8th of July, 1768. John Schuyler

This is indeed a glowing report by men of the area who were mining experts. Stirling refers to William Alexander, known as "Lord" Stirling who was the owner of the Hibernia Iron Mines and who was soon to become a general in George Washington's army. James Grey, an ironmaster at Little Falls, was a loyalist who may have later brought tragedy to the works. Tuines Dey was the owner of what we now call the Dey Mansion, a home shared with Washington in those significant days of the American Revolution. John Schuyler was owner of the Belleville copper mines and was the descendant of Arent Schuyler whose name is affixed to the Pompton Patent. (See Chapter 4 -The Butternut Tree.)

Three months later, Hasenclever's German workers at Charlotteburg had increased production of pig iron to 28 to 30 tons per week. We know this through a letter dated September 30, 1768, by Hasenclever to William Johnson. Sir William Johnson was his Majesty's Superintendent of Indian Affairs in North America and one of Hasenclever's many influential friends.

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The three main ironmaking plants at Charlotteburg lay along the Pequannock on its northerly side. The blast furnace was located somewhere above Charlotteburg Pond in an area now inundated by the Charlotteburg reservoir.

PETER HASENCLEVER MIDDLE FORGE - 1766
Rendition based on archeological exccavation of the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society in 1962.

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One of the Charlotteburg forges, known as the Charlotteburg Middle Forge, was located about 200 yards southeast of the North Gate of Smoke Rise along the Pequannock River. This is the forge described in Governor Franklin's report as being three miles downstream from the furnace. It is also believed to be the site of a very early forge operated by the Ogdens before Hasenclever. It was the subject of an archeological dig in 1961 by the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society and has since been covered over. Its cessation of operation is the subject of many conjectures that will be dealt with in greater detail later in this narrative.

The second forge existed about a mile below the Middle Forge and was known as the Charlotteburg Lower Forge. This also was located along the Pequannock River and was believed to be directly below the Route 23 bridge crossing the river by Smith Mills. There is little known about this forge and it probably ceased operation sometime between 1770 and 1790. It is detailed on Robert Erskine's map dated 1778. This map was made while Erskine was serving the Continental Army as geographer and surveyor general under the command of General Washington.

Woodsmen were kept busy chopping down Kinnelon's woodlands to be used by the colliers in making charcoal for the furnaces. It is said that seven hundred bushels of charcoal a day were required to produce two tons of iron each day by some furnaces of the period*. Hasenclever may have used as little as five hundred bushels of charcoal for each two tons of ore produced.8 One thousand acres of woodland, however, were probably consumed annually for each forge. The production of charcoal, in fact, was a very skilled operation requiring constant attention. These colliers, as the makers of charcoal were known, were said to be one of the highest paid workmen at the ironworks.9 Many of the burning areas are still visible in our woods. They are correctly known as "meilers" though they are commonly referred to as "pits" .10

Our hills were thoroughly explored for usable ore. Often, rich ore was discarded as being too sulphurous or containing too much phosphorus to be properly smelted.

*Oxford Furnace in Warren County.

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One of the mines used by Hasenclever is recorded as being worked in 1770 and was located between New Pond and Lake Kinnelon. A present day sampling of ore from a pit in this area shows it to be highly magnetic and, in fact, containing iron in crystalline form. (See Chapter titled "Other Old Mines and Forges" for a description of the mine.)

Peter Hasenclever, in the meantime, had established his headquarters at Ringwood where, living in regal splendor, he bestowed upon himself the title of "Baron" Hasenclever. Among the luxuries he enjoyed were brass bands at dinner every night, gold plated dinner service, many liveried servants and well turned out horses and carriages complete with footmen.ll Thus claims tradition though this cannot be authenticated by facts.

Difficulties had been developing between Hasenclever and his London based company. Within two years L54,000 had been spent.12 The great outlay of cash to purchase land and construct the ironworks would take much time before yielding a return to the investors. The land holdings included acreage along Lake Champlain and in Nova Scotia as well as properties in New York State. His enterprises also included the establishment of flax, hemp, and madder growing plantations. He formed a partnership to establish a pot and pearl ash factory.13 The extent and scope of his business transactions, land purchases, developments and constructions, were astounding for that period. The poor transportation and communication facilities available at that time seem to have not been a deterrent to the industrious Hasenclever. He soon, however, found it difficult to account to his company for his expenses. It was to justify his intentions that he asked Governor Franklin to issue the unbiased report that was quoted earlier. Governor Franklin (Benjamin Franklin's son) had also been asked to investigate the ironworks by the London Company. In May, 1769, Hasenclever left America for London to try to straighten out his affairs with the company. The differences between Hasenclever and the London Company remained unresolved and he was never to return to America.

In 1764 when Hasenclever had begun importing workers, one of them was John Jacob Faesch, a skilled ironmaster of Swiss descent.14 He was to supervise the ironworks. Hasenclever spared no expense to hire Faesch and Faesch,

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in turn, agreed to work for seven years for the London Company. He lived at Ringwood, but in 1768 the works at Charlotteburg were placed in his charge. Faesch is said to have spent most of his time at Charlotteburg and is credited with the efficiency of its operation. He, like Hasenclever, had a tendency to act aristocratically. He was to become known as "the smart little Dutchman" and was said to be able to urge his German workers to greater productivity by upbraiding them in their native tongue.15 His prominence inspired newspaper articles of the day to write of the beauty and engaging manner of Mrs. Faesch, though little is written of Faesch himself.16

Most of the workmen were indentured servants who came from Germany and were paid for their passage by agreeing to work for three and possibly up to seven years for food, shelter and very little else. Slaves were said to have also been used. 7 Though the ironmasters and supervisors lived in luxury, their workmen by contrast, worked long backbreaking hours and lived from hand to mouth.18 The men employed at the hot grueling job of smelting at the furnace worked a sixteen hour day, six days a week. Their wages may have ranged up to six pounds a month, most of which was paid in food and goods. The goods value had a cost of 25 to 50% added to them by their employer. Company stores made these items available to the workmen at the ironworks.19 Their dwellings were shabby and many an indentured servant ran away. The local newspapers ran advertisements by Hasenclever offering a five pound reward for their return.20 Brawls occurred in which personal injury and even a death are recorded. Faesch is said to have been skeptical of religion but to have supported the church on the ground that "religion was a rood thing to keep the lower classes in subordination."21

A short time after Hasenclever's dismissal in July 1769, Faesch took over the running of the London Company operation. Not too much is known about his management of the company, but it is known that prior to this, Charlotteburg had been competing very successfully against the Hibernia Furnace owned by Lord Stirling. Charlotteburg's production is recorded at 28 tons per week as compared to 17 tons per week by the Stirling Furnace.22 Most of the ore from the Charlotteburg furnace was said to have come . from the Hibernia mines. The Charlotteburg works also had an advantage over Ringwood since their waterwheel was under cover and by using stoves during winter freezes, Charlotteburg was kept operating while Ringwood was forced

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to stop.23 Faesch's management of the works remains under controversy. Was he the iron making genius who earned Charlotteburg the title of "best works in America" or was he as poor a manager as Robert Erskine claims he was?

Early in 1771, the London Company hired Robert Erskine, a young Scotsman who was a hydraulic engineer and surveyor. He was to run their ironworks in America together with Faesch. The young Erskine found much fault with both Hasenclever's and Faesch's running of the business. By the summer of 1772, Faesch left because of his conflict with Erskine, and also because his seven year contract period with the company had expired. He then went on to Mount Hope where he was to operate his own successful works. Here he played a vital role in the Revolutionary conflict by supplying Washington with almost "perfect" iron shells and other iron products.24

Erskine now became sole manager of Charlotteburg and other London Company enterprises in the new world. He had prepared himself well for his job before leaving for America by touring and studying British ironworks. His engineering and scientific talents had brought him the honor of a. fellowship in the Royal Society of London. This honor, conferred in the bleak month of January in the year 1771, had the signature of Benjamin Franklin, also a member, affixed to the certificate.25 If there was a friendship here, was this to influence the role that Erskine was to play in the fight for American independence?

By July 9, 1771, shortly after his arrival in America, Erskine had written his first account of the works at Charlotteburg. He compares it to Ringwood and Long Pond and writes, "Charlotteburg has the best supply of water...the bellows are superior to those of the other works and the ore seems better too."26 Erskine goes on to indicate that ore was being purchased from Hibernia for the Charlotteburg furnace. This meant transportation from a distance of 6 or 7 miles and a payment of 3 shillings per ton royalty to Lord Stirling. In addition from 8 to 10 shillings per ton had to be paid for cartage to the Charlotteburg site.

The pig iron product forged at Charlotteburg was then transported on the backs of horses or mules to Acquackanonk Landing (present day Passaic), a distance of 22 tortuous miles. It was said that a single horse could carry up to 500 lbs.of ore and travel up to 15 miles per day.27

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Later, wagons were used. Acquackanonk Landing was the name of the present day docks just south of Passaic. From here the ore was loaded on sloops and carted to New York. At New York it was loaded on larger vessels bound for England.

It should be noted that, in 1750, the British Parliament had passed an act forbidding the erection of slitting or rolling mills and steel furnaces.28 This was a hardship to the colonists as it prohibited the building of mills that could render iron into sheets, bars and rods. It meant that they could not even manufacture their own nails but had to purchase them from England. Iron was shipped to England in the form of pigs and blooms, there manufactured into finished products, and reshipped to America. British rule, in fact, was becoming increasingly oppressive to the colonists who were not allowed to use their own raw material to manufacture their own products, and also had to pay high duties on imports.

By September, 1772, the London Company, feeling they were not receiving proper remuneration for their investments, offered to sell the ironworks but received I)o bids.29 Erskine continued his efforts to make the works more profitable. An advertisement printed in the New York Gazette on September 28, 1772, asks for ore carters to carry ore from the Hibernia mine to Charlotteburg to be paid for by
the carted ton.30 It further stipulated that each man had to haul not less than three tons per week until a total of thirty tons was hauled from mine to furnace.

A constant search went on for new sources of ore. Since Erskine's coming, new ore had been discovered at Charlotteburg and a search was on for the richest vein.31 Ore often lay close to the surface, but the heavy virgin .forests and the fact that some ore contained sulphur or phosphorus made for difficulties. The ore had been forced to the surface as magnum and often lay in shallow pockets at the surface. A belt of it ran almost parallel to Kinnelon's present western border, from Split Rock to Charlotteburg Pond, winding in and out along the line presently separating Kinnelon and Rockaway. These shallow pockets containing high quality magnetite were sometimes just a few feet in diameter. They demanded the building of access roads and the shifting of men, in order to yield their riches.

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William Roome, writing in 1883 in his. book on Early Surveys of East Jersey, claims that all iron in "every 'principal' vein which is now known, was known prior to the time of the Revolution."32

Erskine's inventive nature and experience as a hydraulic engineer began to assert itself. On July 12, 1773, the following announcement appeared in the New York Gazette in the "want ads":

Erskine had begun to take a keen interest in the current affairs of his country. The London Company was also beginning to forsake the iron works because of the poor return on their investment. Erskine began turning to

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American based merchants for financial maintenance of the works. Headquartered at Ringwood, he was employing men for the ironworks at Ringwood, Charlotteburg and Long Pond, who would also comprise a militia in case of an emergency. This was one of the first companies of militias to be organized in the province of New Jersey. They were to be outfitted, armed, and disciplined at Erskine's own expense. References to one of the armed units being located at Charlotteburg is found in a letter to Lord Stirling dated May, 1775. Erskine was supposed to have personally drilled the young men under his command into a "remarkably efficient body."34 He then placed them at the disposal of the New Jersey Legislature, which in August, 1775, acknowledged his patriotism by issuing him a captain's commission.

All expenses of his militia were duly recorded by Erskine in his famous Waste Book., which corresponded to the blotter used by old time bookkeepers. During May 1774, he also had recorded in this book that the Charlotteburg forges were producing more bar iron than any other of Erskine's forges.35

An innocent notice appears in the local paper of the day.36

The date on this notice was to become valuable evidence in determining the date of the demise of the Charlotteburg Iron Works.

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It is now 1776 and the port of New York is blockaded by the British. The patriot army has been driven out of New Jersey with the disaster at Fort Washington and Fort Lee. The British are free to prowl the districts. Erskine has a sufficient militia to guard Ringwood and Long Pond, which are relatively close to each other. Captain Erskine sends a letter to General John M. Scott of the New York Militia suggesting a plan for use of a chevaux-de-frise in the Hudson River as a blockade device.37

Now, however, the happening at Charlotteburg becomes enigmatic. Some historians have expressed the belief that the operation was closed because of Washington's refusal to grant military deferment to Erskine's iron workers. On February 27, 1777, Erskine sends a letter to General Washington asking that his men, who are active in iron- making, be exempted from military duty. Washington refuses.38

On March 3, 1777, Erskine complains in a different letter addressed to Brigadier General George Clinton, of the Continental Army and Governor of New York, that he has but a dozen woodsmen left ~.t Charlotteburg .39 He says that his efforts to produce the chevaux-de-frise are being hindered. The chevaux-de-frise is the name of an obstruction to be built across the upper Hudson River to bar the British warships. The lack of charcoal, Erskine further contends, will result in his banking his fires. In another letter to General Clinton,40 dated March 14, just five days later, Erskine talks about a Mr. William Harrison who is "inclined for the service" but whom he cannot recommend to serve in the Continental Army, as he has entrusted the care of Charlotteburg to him.

On July 27, 1777 Erskine receives his commission as geographer and surveyor general to the Continental Army.

Some historians have stated that the Charlotteburg works ceased operation in 1772. Too much documentary evidence exists to refute this statement.

The prevalent opinion existing today is that the works, at Charlotteburg Middle Forge specifically, met with some form of violent action that caused their abandonment. It is believed by many historians that the works at Charlotteburg were destroyed by burning.42 Communications about the operations of the works cease after the early

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part of the year 1777.43 It is a time of turmoil and secrecy. As Surveyor-General, Erskine makes a map for the use of General Washington and on it he notes the Charlotte- burg Iron Works. It is indexed by Erskine as 90A in a series of maps said to have been "begun A.D. 1778."44

Early historian Dr. Tuttle writes of abandoned charcoal pits where the valuable coal had not been used, as pointing to a violent suspension of operation. The circular areas where charcoal was made are still evident in the steep hills of Kinnelon, above the forges in the Silas Condict Park area. Removal of the decayed matter reveals charcoal beneath. On the north banks of the ruins of the destroyed Middle Forge, large mounds of leafmold- covered charcoal still sand. Robert Erskine's pleading letters to General Clinton about the lack of charcoal would have made it a paradox to have this valuable commodity left at the abandoned site.

Historian Tuttle, writing in 1868, implies that the Charlotteburg Iron Works were destroyed in accord to the terms of an agreement made with the London Company by the English government. This was done in the belief that this would injure the colonies' chances against English imperialism. As you may recall, the ironworks had proved unprofitable to the London-based company, which had to have the crude iron shipped over 3,000 miles to England before it could be manufactured into usable forms. As for fire, Dr. Tuttle states that "for an iron mill to burn up was not extraordinary. " For" a conspiracy to burn several mills to have escaped the notice and record of such a vigilant manager and patriot as Mr. Erskine" is more "extraordinary" in Tuttle' s opinion. 45

The archeological dig conducted by the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society in 1961 involved mainly four men: Ed Lenik, Frank Malone, Jim Norman, and Mead Stapler. The site was Charlotteburg Middle Forge. (see p. 11 )

The findings of this group have shed new light on the happenings at the forge during the last days of its existence. Patient research and even more patient archeological work and study of objects found, have led to some enlightening conclusions. "The preponderance of evidence," according to Lenik, chief archeologist at the site, "favored the theory that the works were destroyed by violence."46 By listing the artifacts such as tools, pig

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iron, and bar stock which were recovered, he proves his theory; these were too valuable to have been left behind.

Frank Malone, a professional metallurgist and part of the excavating team, came across some puzzling pieces of iron fragments at the site. He makes a very plausible case for the belief that destructive action took place here.

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He skillfully analyzed a piece of pig iron that appeared to have been in the process of being melted at the time the operation was halted. Its condition indicated to him that a "sudden and perhaps violent circumstance, possibly an attack," caused the works to stop.47

Conjectures about who destroyed the works are numerous with perhaps the Tories holding preference.

A feud had been going on between Erskine and the manager of the Stirling mines in which armed violence seemed possible. It is believed, however, that the cause of American liberty took precedence over all else, with both patriots setting aside their business differences to the nobler cause of dev~ting their energies and resources toward winning the war.

Raids throughout this particular area of North Jersey were common and involved different groups. British, Tories and Hessians were often implicated. Bands of robbers infested the woods and roamed the area, plundering homes and attacking travelers. It was a time of great, unrest.

Ed Lenik, among other historians, favors the Tories and names James Gray as a possible culprit. Gray was one of those appointed by Governor Franklin to inspect the Charlotteburg complex and was familiar with its location. He was to remain loyal to the British and in 1777 received his commission as a captain. He is known to have plundered the area of North Jersey. To Gray, an iron-master himself, the significance of Charlotteburg to the Revolutionary war effort would have been indisputable.

Mead Stapler, editor of the Highlander, the publication of the North Jersey Highlands Historical Society, suggests that the Loyalist Lieutenant James (Bonnell) Moody was

Note: Captain Gray-James Grey: Here again a misspelling of a name in the early documents causes confusion. In the letter to Governor Franklin the name is spelled Grey; however, when his iron works at Little Falls are advertised for sale in the New York. Journal on January 3, 1771, the spelling is Gray. During his military involvement as a loyalist he is referred to as Captain James Gray and later as Major James Gray

pg.169

pg. 170

REFERENCES FOR CHAPTER 10

1. Cunningham, p. 55, Fed. Writers Proj ., "Rockaway. .." p. 33-9
2. Nelson, p. 195
3. Malone, "An Earlier...I' p. 31-7
4. Roome, p. 26
5. Boyer, p. 23
6. Hasenclever, p. 64-72
7. Ransom, p. 24, 7i
8. Ib id, p. 72, Oxford Furnace burned 700 bushel.s coal for 2 tons iron.
9. Hermelin, p. 48, also interview Frank Malone
10. Sim et a1., p. 8 ,
11. Ransom, p. 252
12. Linden-Spieler, p. 238
13. Ibid, p. 207
14. Munse11, p. 53
15. Ibid, p. 337
16. Nelson, p. 195
17. Hermelin, p. 52, 54-5, Cummings, p. 6, Boyer, p.. 7, N. J. Archives, Vol. 25, p. 134
18. Linden-Spieler, p. 243
19. Hermelin, p. 57
20. N. J. Archives, Vol. 25, p. 129, 134, 160, 394
21. Tuttle, p. 39, Munsell, p. 54, Pomfret -"Colonial N. J.," p. 201
22. Ransom, p. 72
23. Heusser, Ransom, p. 72
24. Herald News, June 17, 1795, quoting letter by Timothy Pickering, Qua.rtermaster Gen. from Totowa, dated 1780
25. Heusser, I'Wash. ..1' p. 65
26. Ibid, p. 80
27. Nelson, p. 144
28. Ibid, p. 201, also Boyer
29. N. J. Archives, Vol. 9, p. 339
30. Ibid, Vol. 18, p. 560
31. Heusser: Rutgers, p. 86
32. Roome, p. 23
33. N. J. .Archives, Vol. 28, p. 560
34. H~usser, "Forgotten. .." p. 117-9, Ryan, p. 132
35. Ibid, p. 136
36. N. J. Archives, Vol. 31, p. 51
37. Heusser, "Forgotten. ..1' p. 117-9, Ryan, p. 132 38. Ransom, p. 43 39. Ibid, p. 43 40. Ibid, p. 75 41. Ibid, p. 3

pg. 171

42. Tuttle, p. 26-7
43. Ransom, p. 74-5, The last communication known to date is Erskine's letter to Gen. Clinton, March 14, 1777.
44. Heusser, "Forgotten. .." p. 194, 198
45. Tuttle, p. 27
46. Lenik, "Charlotteburg. ..1' p. 9-10
47. N. J. Archives, Vol. 3, p. 347
48. Hermelin, p. 71

Portion from A Map of the State of New Jersey by Thomas Gordon, 1828.