Greycourt Inn
Passengers by the Erie railway, as the train slows up at an unassuming station in southern Orange, will hear the stentorian voice of the trainman call out “Greycourt.” This appellation, so rhythmical, and made up of such a strange combination, at once wins the attention of the tourist; and he casts about him for some romantic incident that may have given rise to the name. He moves up to the nearest bystander, who appears to be a resident, and blandly inquires what this uncanny title means, and is answered in the prevalent dialect, “Dun-no.” A second venture is met with- Can't tell, boss, give us an easier one!” The name cannot be of Indian origin, nor does it savor of having been handed down from the broad-breeched Dutch ancestral population of the valley; yet it has a historical significance if tradition is to be believed.
It was at a time when thousands of oppressed subjects, fleeing from the intolerance and tyranny of old Europe, first sought freedom and happiness in the new land beyond the seas-the America of the west. William Bull, an Irishman, with no fortune but youth and a good constitution, imbibing the prevalent feeling among all classes, took passage in an English packet bound for New York. He counted his money-five guineas-to the skipper of the packet, and was told the amount would pay for his passage. Arrived in port he tendered his five guineas, and was gruffly told it was not enough. “But it's all I've got,” said the Irishman.
William Bull, an Irishman, with no fortune but youth and a good constitution, imbibing the prevalent feeling among all classes, took passage in an English packet bound for New York. He counted his money-five guineas-to the skipper of the packet, and was told the amount would pay for his passage. Arrived in port he tendered his five guineas, and was gruffly told it was not enough. “But it's all I've got,” said the Irishman. “Then you must be sold to pay the balance of your passage money,” said the captain. All expostulation was vain; and the skipper affected to have no recollection of a previous understanding. William Bull saw he was in the captain's power; the laws of England made it obligatory on his part to render an equivalent in hard labor for the balance claimed, and he had no friend to take up his cause against the purpose of the over-reaching captain.
“Then I'll go back in the ship,” said the outraged Irishman; “if I've got to be a slave, I'll be one in my own land!”
It so occurred that Daniel Cromline, who resided on the Wawayanda patent, was then in the port at which the packet had arrived. The advent of a ship in port in those days was an occasion of importance, and always drew a crowd of interested persons and curiosity seekers, and Cromline was among the number attracted thither by the novelty. The story of the Irish passenger had got abroad, and his case had excited considerable sympathy, especially as the avarice and tyranny of sea-captains was a trait by no means rare. Cromline, being in want of a “hand” at his new settlement, forthwith asked to be presented to the distressed passenger. The result of the interview was that Cromline advanced an amount covering the deficit in Bull's passage money, and took the grateful Irishman home with him.
Daniel Cromline, who resided on the Wawayanda patent, was then in the port at which the packet had arrived. The advent of a ship in port in those days was an occasion of importance, and always drew a crowd of interested persons and curiosity seekers, and Cromline was among the number attracted thither by the novelty. The story of the Irish passenger had got abroad, and his case had excited considerable sympathy, especially as the avarice and tyranny of sea-captains was a trait by no means rare. Cromline, being in want of a “hand” at his new settlement, forthwith asked to be presented to the distressed passenger. The result of the interview was that Cromline advanced an amount covering the deficit in Bull's passage money, and took the grateful Irishman home with him. William Bull proved to be a great accession to the working force of the new settlement in the wilderness. He was strong and willing, and of a mild and hopeful disposition. He was skillful in the use of tools, and fertile in expedients-qualities that were especially valuable where tools were scarce and the facilities limited; and where, if a much-needed article was obtained, it had to be ordered from Holland, or England, and a year was required to get it.
Daniel Cromline set to work to construct a log mansion that should be far superior to any house for miles around. As an innovation in the building art, the puncheon was discarded, and real boards, sawed by whips in a saw-pit, entered into the construction of the floors and doors, and were held in place with wooden pins. The prime workman and chief architect was William Bull, but for whose ingenuity and physical strength the edifice would have been lacking in many of its sterling excellencies.
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