USA > North Carolina > Craven County > New Bern > History of the Presbyterian church in New Bern, N.C. : with a resume? of early ecclesiastical affairs in eastern North Carolina, and a sketch of the early days of New Bern, N.C > Part 11
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Robert Hay
Was a Scotchman, who came to New Bern about 1800. He united with the Presbyterian Church near Kelso, Scotland, when about thirteen years of age. His certificate of member- ship-brought to this church-is as follows :
"These certify that the bearer hereof, Robert Hay, an unmarried person, has lived in this parish of Gordon mostly from his infancy until February last, and removed free from public scandal or ground of church censure known here; so that he may be received into any Christian society where his lot may be cast, and partake of church privileges as found qualified. Given at Gordon, this 17th of May, 1786, by a sessional appointment, and subscribed by
" ALEXR. DUNCAN, Min'r.
"WM. WILSON, Sess. Clk."
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ROBERT HAY.
His pious mother tenderly trained him in the Bible and the Westminster Catechism; and thus he was early established in sound principles of moral duty and God's providence. His piety was intelligent, based on constant and practical study of the Holy Scriptures, and fed through never ceasing prayer to and communion with his God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. So it was consistent, uniform, controlling, pervading his whole life, in all its departments; and was especially posi- tive und fixed in its character. A martyr spirit was his. He was a most decided Presbyterian, with a " thus saith the Lord" for his faith; yet he was no bigot, with sanctimonious, up- turned-eye Phariseeism or boastfulness, remanding all others to uncovenanted mercies of God, and denying their Church character. He fellowshipped with his brethren in a common Saviour, but loved his own apostolic home the best. While he studied the peace, unity, and purity of the Church, he "continually spoke to the most worldly, even to infidels who visited liis shop," (and all, from highest to lowest, loved to visit Father Hay,) of "the dear Saviour who gave his life for our sins," of "that blessed Mary who chose the blessed part," of "John, that gentle, favored inan, beloved of Christ," of "Peter, the sad, presumptuous wight, depending on his own righteousness, which was but filthy rags." So Mr. Stephen Miller, who knew him, testifies and adds, that "a more devout or better man than Robert Huy has scarcely lived on earth. Leading a life of hard manual labor, his thoughts and com- munings seemed always to be of heaven." He began here as a house builder, or finisher of the inner wood-work; and first labored on the Harvey building, now the Central Hotel; after- wards he engaged in the manufacture of vehicles of all sorts, in his shop near the old Palace.
His eye-sight so failed him in old age that he could only read when he sat in his chair where the full blaze of the sun could fall on the sacred page. Said he, " If I were an idolater, I would worship the sun." So that kindred spirit, the good Archbishop Usher, used to follow the sun around the house, that he might still commune with his God in his Word. When
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ROBERT HAY.
he could not walk to the hallowed house of God, he was borne thither that he might sit down at the table of his Saviour. Though he could not hear a word, yet he feasted upon the spiritual blessings which are sealed and applied to believers, and rejoiced in the speedy approach of that day when, in the upper sanctuary, he should, with the blood-washed throng from every kindred and clime, partake of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
On the Lord's Day he gathered his family for prayer three times, besides the morning and evening hours of worship, and much time was spent in private in his closet. . His consecra- tion to God was eminent in all the relations of a hallowed life, and his integrity unimpeachable. An incident has been told me, that illustrates his stern nobility. Through the insolvency of a bank officer, for whom he was unfortunately security, all the hard earnings of a long life were swallowed up. A pro- minent lawyer, Mr. Geo. Atmore, his friend, and representing the universal sympathy felt for the honest and innocent victim of this calamity, called on him at his work-shop. Mr. Hay, his head silvered by eighty winters, his body bowed by fail- ing vigor, deep wrinkles on his brow-full of legends of care- was industriously plying his toil. Mr. Atmore said tenderly, "This will never do, Mr. Hay. Your house at least must be saved. You cannot in your old age be deprived of a shelter for yourself and family. We must save your house." The old man seemed resolute that all should go. Pausing in his work, thinking, and resting on his tools, he turns quickly to the legal friend, and in his broad Scotch brogue says, " Weel, George, my mon, save my hoose if you can, George; but, mon, . save my conscience first." Impressive picture for an artist! Fruit of a life hid with Christ in God.
His prayers were sometimes too long. A contemporary says of a service, where an elder on Sabbath read a sermon, " Mr. Hay prayed seventeen minutes with fervor! A little too long for the congregation." But on another Sabbath (Oc- tober 2, 1836), in another Church he was called on to pray, and this record appears: " Brother Hay prayed so fervently after
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JOHN JONES.
sermon, as to cause groaning and some shouting among the blacks, and some knockings and amens among the whites." His end was peace. In view of death he said, "I have no fear of dying; I shall never be readier. I would die; my trust is in my glorious Saviour-in his atonement. It is a wonder on earth, and it shall be a wonder in heaven. He is the chiefest among ten thousands. I shall see him. I am a poor, guilty, helpless sinner." A few moments before his death, when racked with pain, he exclaimed, "I must be content; for blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Thus at the age of ninety-six, December 5, 1850, was translated one of the original thirteen founders of this Church on earth to the Heav- enly Jerusalem.
John Jones,
One of the original pew-owners, one of the founders of the Church, and after a while also a ruling elder therein, died on Saturday evening, 4th January, 1840, aged seventy-six. On Monday, 6th January, after a sermon by Rev. D. Stratton, from Ps. xc. 10, in the church, his remains were borne to Cedar Grove Cemetery, the following gentlemen being the pall- bearers: Robert Hay, Jeremiah Brown, Saml. Oliver, John W. Guion, Thos. Sparrow, and Elias Hawes.
About 1710, Roger and Evan Jones, Quakers, came to North Carolina from Wales, and settled near New Bern, as before mentioned. While these brothers were burning a tar-kiln, they were surprised by the Indians-perhaps in the massacre of 1711-who caught Roger, cut off his head, and knocked it around the tar-kiln with a stick. Evan escaped, lived, died, and was buried on his plantation on Clubfoot and Hancock Creeks, on the south-side of Neuse River. He married a daughter of Col. Thomas Lovick, the Collector of Customs at Beaufort. Mr. Lovick came also from Wales with his brother John. Mr John Jones was the third of eleven children from this marriage. He married Susannah Saunders; was an active and successful business man in New Bern, and died respected and honored in the Church and community.
9
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JOHN JONES.
John Martin Franks has been mentioned as one of the early German settlers in Craven. As an illustration of the sturdy pith of these colonists, and the rough life they were forced to lead, this family tradition is current: As the immigrants were on their way from the Trent River, as hereinbefore described -compelled to be their own burden bearers-one of the fe- males was furiously attacked by a half grown bull. She was carrying on her head a medley of culinary utensils, which seemed to excite the brute's special ire, and cause him incon- tinently to rush at her. But she was equal to the occasion. Apparently endowed with strength like Peter Francisco's daughters, she seized her assailant by the horns, and twisted him over on his back, quietly and reprovingly remarking, "See that ugly calf!" Victory remained with her; young "Taurus" was satisfied. Barbara, a daughter of Mr. Franks, {was she this heroine of the rural game?) married Mr. Daniel Shine, one of the original freeholders reported in Craven . County in 1723. When Gen. Washington was on his southern tour in 1791, they had the honor of entertaining him at their house. In this section, during the Revolutionary War, there was a desperate and fatal battle between a band of Tories and one of Whigs, or patriots, in which the latter, commanded by the gallant Capt. Yates, gained a bloody success. The son of Mr. Shine, Col. Jas. Shine, married Leah, a daughter of Capt. Yates; and in 1819, at their beautiful and aristocratic mansion on their estate, President Monroe, with his distinguished suite, including Hon. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, were en- tertained with splendid North Carolina hospitality. Hannah Ann Shine, the daughter of this marriage, became the wife of: Frederick J. Jones, the son of Mr. John Jones. Of this mar- riage one of the daughters is the wife of the present pastor, and another married one of the elders, Mr. George Allen. This sketch is given, because it shows how connections might be established between early immigrants and present families, if there were any means of tracing them.
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STEPHEN M. CHESTER AND OTHERS.
Stephen M. Chester and Others.
Mr. Chester wes a member of an extensive shipping firm- Devereux, Chester & Orme-whose brick business house has been transformed into the Gaston House. He was one of the polished leaders of social life, with Richard Dobbs Spaight, F. L. Hawks, and Geo. Pollock Devereux; possessed extended literary culture, and was an earnest Christian gentleman. He wrote largely in the newspapers, and engaged in many current discussions, but always with elegance of scholarship, the dig- nity of a gentleman, and the purity of a Christian. While he threw off many playful rhymes, he also wrote most graceful poetry with classical taste. The following beautiful epitaph, written by him on the death of Capt. W. Harker, who died in 1822, I copied from the tomb-stone in our cemetery :
"The form that fills this stilly grave Once toss'd on ocean's roaring wave ; Plung'd through its storms without dismay, And careless, welter'd in its spray : Wreck, famine, exile, scathless bore, Yet perished on this peaceful shore.
"No tempest whelm'd him 'neath the surge; No wailing seabird scream'd his dirge : But fever's silent, hidden flame Consum'd, by stealth, his hardy frame; And softly as an infant's breath, He sank into the arms of death.
"The weather-beaten Bark no more Hangs shivering on a leeward shore; But wafted by a favoring wind Life's stormy sea hath left behind, And into port securely pass'd, Hath dropp'd its anchor there at last."
Mr. Chester was a notable singer, with a fine " basso" voice; and around him was gathered an efficient choir, in which were Mr. Charles Dewey, the two Misses Graham, Miss Wilkins, and Miss Mary Hall, the most beautiful woman in the city.
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MRS. EUNICE HUNT.
He did much to break down old prejudices against steeples, bells and instrumental music. He afterwards transferred his business to New York, where he died in 1836.
Messrs. E. Graham, Vine Allen-the father of Rev. Monroe Allen, a Presbyterian minister-and I. Croom, were all lawyers of wealth and distinguished standing. Mr. Allen also repre- sented Craven in the State Senate as early as 1813. Dr. Boyd, not a communicant, but a supporter of the Church, was a dig- nified and accomplished gentleman, the leading physician in New Bern, with an extensive practice. The Sparrows were shipbuilders; Martin Stevenson, John Dewey and Allen Fitch, ingenious and leading mechanics; F. J. Jones and C. Dewey, bank officers; Isaac Taylor, a wealthy retired merchant ; Messrs. Primrose, Webb, Hollister, Cuthbert, Hall, Slover, and King, were active and prosperous merchants. Messrs. Franklin, Han- cock, and Jas. McKinley, though contributors to building the Church, and thus pew-holders, were not members of the con- gregation. It will not be necessary to enumerate all the zeal- ous members, some of them widows, who gave character and strength to the Church. Perhaps two others of the royal thir- teen should be spoken of, viz .:
Mrs. Eunice Hunt,
Mrs. Hunt was Miss Eunice Edwards, the seventh daughter and eighth child of that great divine, Jonathan Edwards, D. D., president of Princeton College. Prof. II. C. Cameron, D. D., of Princeton, has sent me the following copy from the family record, made in Mr. Edwards' own handwriting, in the . family Bible :
"My daughter Eunice was born on Monday morning, May 9, 1743, about half an hour after midnight, and was baptized the Sab- bath following."
About 1767 she married Mr. Thomas Pollock, a great-grand- son of Col. Pollock, to whom De Graffenried mortgaged his claims. Until after the Revolution she resided in New Jer- sey, where, during the war, Mr. Pollock died. They had
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JOHN CARUTHERS STANLY.
four children: George, one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina, owning many plantations, and some 1,500 slaves; Thomas and Elizabeth-all three of whom died childless-and Frances, who married Mr. John Devereux, of New Bern, in 1793. Mr. Devereux was a Rothschild in business circles then. They left three children, Thomas Pollock Devereux, a lawyer in Raleigh, George, and Frances, who married Bishop (General) Leonidas Polk.
Mrs. Pollock was married the second time, about 1800, to Mr. Robert Hunt, of New Jersey. They resided in New Bern, and had one child, a daughter, who married Mr. John F. Burgwyn, an Englishman, living here. Mrs. Hunt died in New Bern, August 11, 1822, aged seventy-nine. Her daugh- ter, Mrs. Devereux, as well as herself, was one of the original members of this Church.
One other remarkable family claims our notice, viz .: that of
John Caruthers Stanly,
Or "Barber Jack," as he was called, from having been at first a barber, and to distinguish him from the eminent lawyer. Barber John was originally a slave, owned by Miss Lydia Ca- ruthers,* who was afterwards Mrs. Alexander Stewart. His mother was from the "Ebo" African tribe, whose members were endowed with such excellent qualities that many would not buy a slave from any other. He was born in 1772, and re- puted to be the natural son of John Wright Stanly. Captain and Mrs. Stewart, his owners, emancipated him for meritori- ous services, and the deed was confirmed by act of Legislature, in December, 1798, giving him every right, privilege and im- munity as if free-born. By his industry and speculations he acquired a large property, consisting of two or three planta- tions, about sixty slaves, and some houses in New Bern. Two of his slaves kept his barber-shop in good repute by their skill. He owned and lived in the house on the corner of Hancock and Neuse Streets, now the residence of Mr. George W. Bishop, and afterwards in the house now used for the Metho-
* Another old colonial name in the legal list of 1723.
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JOHN CARUTHERS STANLY.
dist parsonage. Mrs. J. C. Stanly, his wife, whom he bought and had legally emancipated, was one of the original members of the New Bern Church, and the family occupied and owned two pews. His children were well educated, and always made a creditable appearance, and were well received. “Barber John" is described as a man of dignified presence, always courteous and unobtrusive, respected, associated with by the best citizens, and maintaining his family in fashionable style. His oldest son was a large merchant here. A diary, kept by one of his daughters, Catherine G., is in my possession, and it manifests intelligence and piety. The family.were greatly attached to Mrs. Stewart, as the passage about her death in this diary shows, in 1822.
"The Lord has been pleased to afflict with a severe illness our beloved friend, Mrs. Stewart. She has seen her three-score years and ten. I humbly hope she is clothed in the wedding garment, with her lamp trimmed and burning, ready to enter into the mar- riage supper of the Lamb; and yet I feel so reluctant to part from her. O Lord, make me more resigned to thy will."
"Oct. 10, ten o'clock at night. At two o'clock this afternoon, my beloved and affectionate friend, Mrs. Stewart, departed this life, in her seventy-eighth year. She has left a world of sin and sorrow, and, I trust, is now at rest in the arms of her Saviour." ...
"I have followed to the silent tomb the body of my dear de- parted friend. I have seen it committed to its mother earth, soon to become food for devouring worms; but her better part has, I humbly trust, winged its flight to those mansions of eternal rest, which God has prepared for those who love him. Solemn indeed is the sight to see the body of a fellow mortal committed to the grave, and one, too, with whom we were closely and intimately connected, the sincerity of whose friendship we never for one moment doubted. Oh! my friend, hast thou indeed left us ?- art thou gone? Shall we never again hear your kind inquiries after our health? Shall we never again feel the affectionate pressure of your hand? We shall meet, I trust, in that country where there will be no more sickness, no more death, but all peace and happiness.
"'Tis God that lifts our comforts high, Or sinks them in the grave,
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DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH.
He gives and, blessed be his name ! He takes but what he gives.
"Peace all our angry passions then ; Let each rebellious sigh Be silent at his sovereign will, And every murmur die."
ummary.
By these brief sketches, which it seems expedient to rescue from oblivion, it is manifest that the constituent elements of this Church, at its formation or revival, were such as to ensure its stability, under God's blessing. Men of the first talents in the various walks of life, honorable mechanics, enter- prising merchants, men of profound legal attainments and popular political record, women of standing, beauty and cul- ture, as well as of business occupations, altogether formed a body of members or adherents that prophesied a career of vigor and genuine prosperity.
Description of the Church.
The building is 70 feet in length by 55 feet in width. The engraving presents a general view of the exterior, but fails fairly to show the front. Three doors open into the ample vestibule, whence two open into the audience-room. Over the central outside door is a large arched and leaded light. The four lofty round pillars supporting the portico, are crowned with hand- some Ionic capitals, and the entire architectural arrangement of the front gives it a very neat and pleasing appearance. The steeple rises to the height of 125 feet.
The grounds are extensive, ornamented with a variety of desirable shade trees, and through the assiduous care of Mr. George Allen for many years, are covered by a beautiful, well set, verdant grass sward.
Galleries extend around three sides of the interior of the Church; and the organ stands in the gallery opposite to the pulpit. Contrary to the usual custom, the pulpit is between
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DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH.
the two doors at the entrance into the audience chamber. There is one row of pews on each side of the Church, and a solid centre block of two rows of pews. The pillars supporting the galleries rise from the middle of the aisles; and the floor gradually ascends towards the rear of the Church, and so ele- vates the pews that no obstruction of vision towards the pulpit may exist. Thus the congregation possesses a delightful house for worship-the acoustic properties of which also are favor- able for both easy speaking and good hearing.
THE SUCCESSION OF PASTORS.
Rev. Lemuel Durant Hatch.
M R. HATCH was the first Pastor of the New Bern Church after the reviving already suggested. He was the son of Gen. Durant Hatch and Elizabeth, his wife, and was born near Brice's Creek, Craven County, N. C., the 10th June, 1793. The Hatch family was wealthy and prominent. Lemuel Hatch was a member from Craven County in the General Assembly of Deputies of the province of North Carolina, that met in New Bern, 15th August, 1774, and the field officer for the county in 1775. Edmund Hatch was in the Assembly at Hills- borough, 21st of August, 1775. Lemuel, the subject of this sketch, graduated at the University of North Carolina, in the Class of 1815, with Willie P. Mangum, John H. Bryan, Rich- ard Dobbs Spaight, and Francis L. Hawks, all men of mark in history. He was himself also a man of vigorous mind. While at Chapel Hill he professed conversion, and probably joined that Church. He studied at Princeton Theological Seminary be- tween two and three years, 1816-1819; was licensed to preach by Orange Presbytery, 2d of October, 1819; ordained Sep- tember 2d, 1821 ; and installed pastor of the New Bern Church, June 15th, 1822. In the "Carolina Centinel," published in New Bern, "Saturday, June 22, 1822," is the following notice of this last event :
"INSTALLATION .- The Revd. Lemuel D. Hatch was installed as pastor of the Presbyterian Church and congregation in this place, on Saturday evening last. The Rev. Dr. McPheeters of Raleigh preached the sermon; Rev. Dr. Caldwell, President of the Uni- versity at Chapel Hill, addressed the charge to the bishop, and the Rev. Professor Kollock, of the same institution, the charge to the
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REV. LEMUEL DURANT HATCH.
people. The services were extremely solemn and appropriate, and. a very numerous audience bore witness to the uncommon unanimity with which Mr. Hatch was welcomed to his pastoral charge.
"The Orange Presbytery, under whose auspices the installation was conducted, has been represented on the occasion by the Rev. Drs. Caldwell and McPheeters, the Rev. Professors Mitchell and Kollock, the Rev. L. D. Hatch and Dr. Elias Hawes. Religious service was performed three times a day while they were here, and considerable accessions to the Church have given much interest to the present session."
From a remarkable contemporary diary, already mentioned as kept by Catherine G. Stanly, the following extract is made ;: dated June 16, 1822, Sabbath :
"Last evening, the Rev. Lemuel D. Hatch was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church. An appropriate discourse was deliv- ered by Dr. McPheeters. Dr. Caldwell addressed the minister,. and the Rev. S. Kollock the people. It was a very interesting cere- mony and conducted with great solemnity. O! that our beloved pastor may continue a zealous advocate for the cause he has es- poused, and be the humble instrument in the hands of the Al- mighty, of turning many sinners from the error of their ways to serve the only true and living God; who shall be seals of his min- istry and crowns of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord. O that a merciful God may make me one of that happy number!"
She states that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was ad- ministered on Sabbath, and nine new communicants were re- ceived ; and sorrowfully adds :
"O, if they were nine new creatures, what a glorious day it was to them! But I was not of the happy number ; I still remain behind."
No record of the membership of the young Church can be obtained before 1825, when it was fifty-four; and in 1828, it was sixty-six. During Mr. Hatch's incumbency, or that of Mr. Campbell, the following important additions were made to the Church, viz., Capt. E. Harding, a sea-faring man, Darius C. Allen and Thomas Watson, the first two of whom became Presbyterian clergymen; Thomas Sparrow, George Reid, Mrs.
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REV. LEMUEL DURANT HATCH.
Patsy Dixon, and Misses Elizabeth Taylor and Elizabeth Tor- rence. In 1829 the membership was sixty-eight. This pas- toral relationship continued six and a half years nearly, and was dissolved by Orange Presbytery, at Spring Grove Church, Fri- day, 13th December, 1828.
Mr. Hatch was married 15th January, 1828, in Duplin County, "N. C., to Miss Martha Dixon, who was an orphan daughter of Lewis Dixon and Catherine Dixon (Nee Hill), and was living with Dr. Buck Dixon, near Faison, a town on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. On leaving New Bern he resided in Duplin County, and is reported as Stated Supply a part of the time at Red House Church. In 1833 he moved to Alabama; and October 9th, 1834. was dismissed to South Alabama Pres- bytery, and lived near Greensboro, Ala., until his death, at Blount Springs, Ala., after a short sickness, October 7, 1866, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was one of the original members of the New Presbytery of Tuscaloosa, organized in 1835. Becoming unexpectedly burdened in the management of some large pecuniary interests, he was greatly hindered in ministerial work, and never had another pastoral charge after leaving New Bern. He preached in Greensboro and neighbor- ing churches when they were vacant, and during the latter years of his life (perhaps ten), labored largely and acceptably, without remuneration, among the colored people. Rev. Dr. C. A. Still- man, of Tuscaloosa, who knew and loved him well, has written to the author, that "he was a man of fine mind, well educated, and he had a large and valuable library. He was blessed with a very genial spirit and an amiable disposition. We all loved him. . .. He was a good man, in whom we all had confidence." Reports and traditions in New Bern say that he was a good and popular young man; and as a preacher, not brilliant, ar- gumentative in style, and not uninteresting. His daughter writes me that many conversions occurred under his ministry, but no remarkable revivals. He lived a consistent Christian life. At the time of his death, the following notice appeared in the Alabama Beacon, Greensboro, Ala., over the signature "A Friend":
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