The Passaic County Historical
Society
Lambert Castle, Paterson, NJ
The Naming of Godwinville
(In 1828)
(Ridgewood, NJ)
Reprinted from Short Sketches on Passaic County
History, 1935
byEdward Graf
The ceremony of naming this village, in Bergen County about four
miles north of Paterson, was performed in the following manner. On
the morning of January first, 1828, the persons particularly interested
in the cotton industries, established at that time in the neighborhood,
proceeded from Paterson with a number of friends to that place where they
met a number of its inhabitants assembled on the same occasion, who had
prepared a splendid Liberty pole. This pole was borne to the corner
of the road, near the store of David Lydacker by the unanimous assistance
of the company present. After being decorated by an elegant Gilded
Liberty Cap, presented by General Abraham Godwin, at the signal given by
a discharge from a six-pounder, it was raised amidst the cheers of the
surrounding multitude. The flag of the United States, also presented
as above, was then hoisted to the top of the pole under a discharge of
canon and cheering of the assembled citizens. After this they formed
and marched to the new cotton factory of Messrs, Munn and Whitehead, where
an excellent collation was provided by the proprietors of the respective
cotton establishments in the vicinity, of which the whole party partook,
and fared most sumptuously.
Abraham Van Rypen, one of the oldest inhabitants then addressed his
neighbors in the following words:
| Friends and fellow citizens
– as one of the oldest residents of this neighborhood, I take the liberty
on this occasion of welcoming among us the gentlemen who have availed themselves
of our water powers and established manufacturies, destined, I trust and
at no very far distant day, to make them rich and happy – give employment
to the industrious and clothe and feed the needy. Already do we see
and feel the good effects of their genius and enterprise. Out property
has risen in value, our recently vacant houses have become tenanted, and
many new ones erected and erecting, giving to what was, as it were yesterday
a wilderness, the appearance of a thriving village. Permit me therefore
to give it a name whereby it may be perpetuated and handed down to posterity.
In commemoration of one of
the few that now remain of that worthy band, who breasted the storm of
war in defense of our liberties and independence, and which enable us at
this day to sit down under our own vine and fig tree, and to enjoy uninterruptedly
such happy festivity as we have on the present occasion the pleasure of
partaking and to testify our respect for the Revolutionary Patriot whose
company we now have the pleasure to enjoy; I propose to you for this place
the name of Godwinville. |
The above was received with unabounded applause and General Godwin
being present made the following brief reply:
| Fellow citizens, with sentiments
of unfeigned gratitude, I rise to tender to you my sincere acknowledgement
for the flattering compliments you have paid me, and the honor conferred
in selecting my name, in preference to any other, wherewith to perpetuate
your village. My sincere wish is, that it may be a rising prosperous
and happy one and that its general characteristic may be that of industry
and honesty, and genuine republican principles and by pursuing strictly
the last three qualifications, I have no doubt of your obtaining the former
ones; and that it may be the case with each and all of you, permit me to
reiterate my ardent solicitude. |
This reply was also received with marked approbation. The company
then again formed procession and returned to the Pole and after appending
to the same in handsomely painted letters the newly acquired name of the
village, it being about sunset, the flag was lowered until another discharge
of cannon and the company retired to their respective places of abode,
apparently well pleased with the proceedings of the day.
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