REMINISCENCES
OF
COLORED PEOPLE
of Princeton, N. J.
1800.-1900.
* * *
By Anna Bustill-Smith.
Reminiscences of Colored Peopleof Princeton, N. J.
Copyrighted 1913 by Anna Bustill-Smith.
There are so few histories of coloredpeople, so few records of their braveand honorable deeds in history, that Ifeel constrained to record a few factsrelative to these people. It is only acursory glance I can give—I could easilyenlarge the sketch to twice this size.
We are proud when we read in Nell’s“Colored Patriots of the Revolution”that Oliver Cromwell enlisted in a companycommanded by Capt. Lowrey, attachedto the Second New Jersey Regiment,under command of Col. IsraelShreve. He was at the Battles of Trenton,Princeton, Brandywine, Monmouthand Yorktown. He was withthe army at the retreat of the Delawareon the memorable crossing of December,1776, and relates the story ofthe battles of the succeeding days with[2]enthusiasm. He gives the details ofthe march from Trenton to Princeton,and told with much humor “that theyknocked the British about lively atPrinceton.” His discharge (says Dr.McCune Smith) at the end of the war,was in Washington’s own handwriting.He was very proud of it and oftenspoke of it. He received an annual pensionof $96 until his death, January24th, 1853, aged 100 years. Had hebeen white, every newspaper in theland would have been eloquent in hispraise.
Henry Hill was also in the battle ofPrinceton. He was buried with thehonors of war in 1833.
Caesar Trent was well known herein 1804. Peter Polite, as Mr. PeterScudder was called, accumulated someproperty and owned and conducted aconfectionery on Nassau street, saysHageman. He died in 1848.
Anthony Simmons was highly esteemed.[3]He was the leading catererand his place of business was next toPrinceton Bank. His will disposed ofhalf a dozen properties and devised tothe Witherspoon Presbyterian Churchall the property at the corner of Greenand Witherspoon streets, worth nowabout $7000, and gave a legacy of$500 to Princeton University.
Joseph Ten Eyck, a Princetonian,was a celebrated caterer in New Yorkcity. He had a summer home at 256Nassau street. He died about 15 yearsago, leaving an estate of $100,000. Thelargest legacy to Tuskegee Institute,from a colored person, was $38,000,from Mrs. Mary Hood Shaw, his adopteddaughter. Virtually his money.
Gilbert Scudder, Sr., operated a barbershop on Nassau street, and ratedprofessors among his patrons.
Mrs. Catharine Scudder, his widow,is still an active, energetic woman,owning several properties. She is full[4]of happy reminiscences, and is one ofthe oldest members of the PresbyterianChurch. She brought with her, whena bride, the first piano owned by a coloredfamily in Princeton. Her daughteris a musician and elocutionist. Hersons are well-settled in business. Eugeneconducts a second-hand clothinghouse on Baker street. Walter is apracticing physician in Philadelphia.
Elias Hart owned and conducted arestaurant on Witherspoon street. Hiswidow still owns and occupies the property.<