Allentown, N.J. its Rise and Progress (Part 45)
By: John Fabiano
From the C. R. Hutchinson papers at the New Jersey Historical Society, the following brief early histories of our town’s Post Office and Fire Companies.
A post office was established at Allentown January 1, 1796, and Samuel Quay was appointed its first postmaster. He was succeeded by Samuel Rogers in 1798; Richard L. Beatty in 1801; James H. Imlay in 1804; James B. Stafford in 1805; William Imlay in 1820; A. Alexander Howell in 1845; Daniel W. Bills in 1849; William C. Norton in 1853; John C. Vanderbeek in 1861; Stephen B. Bergen in 1885; Ephraim V. Bower in 1889; Stephen R. Bergen in 1893; Charles Cafferty in 1897, who, [upon] dying in office, was succeeded by his daughter Emma L. Cafferty, the present [1914] incumbent.
At that time the post office was established, and until 1840, a mail service extended from Trenton to Freehold, by which the mail arrived at Allentown twice a week. The postmaster would open the pouch and dump its contents on the floor and the bystanders would assist in sorting out the pieces addressed to Allentown, after which the rest were returned to it and the carrier proceeded on his way. In 1840, Daniel C. Jones started a daily mail and stage to Bordentown with a one horse conveyance, which he continued during most of the forties. He was shoemaker, and lived in a little house which stood where is now the easterly part of the Albert Nelson Company’s hardware store [18 S. Main St.], and in which his wife, Ruth Jones, a small, slender woman, kept a candy and toy shop which was a very wonderful place to me when I was a small boy. Jones was succeeded in the stage business by Charles Hopkins and Edward H. Holmes, who, about 1852, sold out to Alexander W. Hartman, who came here from Crosswicks, and who greatly improved the stage service. He died in 1863, and Jacob L. Atkinson was his successor. About 1871, Atkinson became a lunatic, and George Savidge took over the stage line. During his proprietorship, owing to a new arrangement of the mail service, the route changed, and the stage ran to Newtown (now Robbinsville) instead of Bordentown. In 1881, Savidge sold out to Everett H. Dilatush, and removed to the west. Dilatush died in 1885, and was succeeded by his brother, Edward Dilatush, who, in 1914, is still proprietor.
It would seem that the early settlers of Allentown expected it to become an important place, and they built their houses at the edge of the street, with sidewalk in front, as in the city. Tanneries, Hat Manufactories, Cooper Shops and Pork Packing Establishments flourished. It was on the direct line of travel between Philadelphia and Amboy and a stopping place for the stages that were then the only means of travel; but with the building of the Camden and Amboy Railroad it became only a back country village, and so remains.
"The Perseverance Fire Company of Allentown N.J. was organized at the house of William Arnel, in that village (the old "Brick Tavern" [DiMattia’s]) on the evening of Nov. 23rd, 1818, and the following persons signed the constitution the adopted: David McKean, Robert DeBow, William Imlay, Joseph Robbins, Samuel Savidge, Michael Forman, William Foster, Peter I. Wikoff, Lewis S. James, George Sinclair, Nathaniel Britton, Richard L. Beatty, John Clutch, Edmond Tilton, Eseck Robbins, William Sinclair, Samuel Cafferty, David Hay, Joseph Imlay, John Palmer, John Chamberlain. The following persons signed later: George W. Taylor in 1819; Samuel Rogers, Silas Dunsmoor, in 1821; Garret P. Wikoff, Richard M. Stout, Graham Newell, in 1822; John Bunting, Samuel C. Newell, George Ford, James Clutch, Charles Ford, Cornelius Vanderbeek, Richard Bruere, Lewis Steward, Gilbert Voorhees, Charles Beatty, Joseph Lawyer, Jacob Ford, John Rogers, Marcus Alward, Matthew Pryor, in 1819; James B. Stafford, Esq. in 1820; William Butcher, Charles H. Britton, Isaac Rogers, in 1828; Samuel F. Knowles, John Robbins, John I. Beatty, Henry Hughes, in 1829; David McKean, Jr., Washington McKean, Heathcoat Davison, in 1831; Peter Vanderbeek, Jr., Joseph Clayton, David E. Davison, Charles Bodine, Jonathon Fisk, in 1832; William Voorhees in 1833; Lawrence Taylor, John Steward, Charles S. Palmer, in 1834; William I. Brown, James Clayton, Abraham Voorhees, John Bowers, Jr., in 1835, Isaac Rogers, William Croxon, Abel Cafferty, Daniel Bowers, Peter J. Suydam, Ebenezer R. Webb, David Ford, Garret Bailey, in 1837; Ephraim R. Vanderbeek, James B. Hooper, George Robbins, Joseph Dewerth, George Middleton, Daniel W. Bills, in 1839; William Boyden, George C. Meyer, Charles G. Imlay, in 1843; Augustus Robbins in 1844; John C. Vanderbeek, George Dewerth.
May 26, 1823, "On motion of Mr. George Sinclair, seconded by Mr. Foster, it was resolved, with the concurrence of two thirds of the members present, that Samuel Savidge, for his continued defaults and non-payment of his fines, be expelled from the company, and that all fines heretofore imposed on him be released." August 29, 1844, the company met, "their meeting having been adjourned from August 26th in consequence of a temperance meeting held in the place at that time by Rev. J.C. Warren."
In 1842, the company had less than ten members, and as that number was necessary to form a quorum the constitution had to be amended to meet the situation. September 25, 1845, a meeting was held "for the purpose of reviving the Fire Company in this place." Richard L[ongstreet] Beatty was chairman and John C. Vanderbeek secretary. Richard L. Beatty, Cornelius Vanderbeek and Graham Newell were chosen to draft a new constitution, which was adopted at a meeting held October 4, following, at the house of John Lawrence Hendrickson, and was signed, the or thereafter, by the following persons: "Richard L. Beatty, Cornelius Vanderbeek, John I[mlay] Beatty, George C. Meyer, Charles Ford, John McCabe, John Bower, Daniel W. Bills, George Sinclair, Aaron Coates, Jacob Ford, Richard M. Stout, Daniel C. Jones, Graham Newell, Joseph Robbins, John Eagan, Samuel Gaskill, William Bunting, John Robbins, Charles H. Britton, James Clayton, John S. Mount, John L. Hendrickson, Samuel C. Davis, William Imlay, F.S. Pierce; and many other names of later date appear in subsequent minutes.
The "Perseverance Fire Engine" was purchased in Philadelphia in 1818, and was of the most primitive sort, being simply a box on wheels containing a force pump, and which was filled and operated by hand. Each member of the company was required to furnish himself with a fire bucket. These were made of leather, by Daniel Leigh, saddler, and were marked on the side with the name of the owner in yellow letters. Two of them used to hang in the hallway of my grandfather Joseph Robbins, who was "captain of the engine" from 1818 to 1837, when he resigned. Another, which was owned by John Robbins, is in my possession, and two others, which belonged to William Imlay Esq. and Jonathan Fisk (his son in law) are in the possession of Miss Mary Emma Gordon. After the purchase of the present engine (the "Hope") in 1856, the old company languished for some years, and then went out of existence. Its last meeting of which I find any record was held November 26, 1888. Meetings were held at the house of Michael Forman from 1818 to 1825; Gabriel Allen from 1825 to 1828; William Butcher, 1829-1830; William Voorhees in 1833 and 1835; Rebecca Forman at various times from 1828 to 1837; and John Lawrence Hendrickson from 1845 to 1847. A few years ago, the "Perseverance" being supposed to be of no further consequence and no provision being made for its care and preservation as an interesting relic, was dismembered, and its parts were used for other purposes, but I believe the shell, or box, is still in existence. It is a pity it might not have been preserved intact. [Today it is restored and in the proud possession of our own Hope Fire Company].
Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, MA, designated historian for Allentown Borough.

