USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 1
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Darbard College Library
KVARDIAN RT
VE RI
ADEMI
TAS
ECCLESIA
FROM THE
BRIGHT LEGACY
One half the Income from this Legacy, which was re- ceived in 1880 under the will of JONATHAN BROWN BRIGHT of Waltham, Massachusetts, Is to be expended for books for the College Library. The other half of the income Is devoted to scholarships In Harvard University for the benefit of descendants of
HENRY BRIGHT, JR.,
who died at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1686. In the absence of such descendants, other persons are eligible to the scholarships, The will requires that thle announce- ment shall be made in every book added to the Library under its provisions.
Haltet 26 Woninght
0
HISTORY
OF Monmouth County, New Jersey
1664-1920
HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED .
VOLUME II
1922 LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. INC. NEW YORK AND CHICAGO
-
WS16303.7.15
HARVARD COM
OCT 16' 1926
Bright fund
COPYRIGHT 1922 LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.
History of Monmouth County
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CHAPTER XXXV. TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS UPPER FREEHOLD
Upper Freehold is in the extreme southwestern portion of the county, Millstone being the only township which adjoins it, and forms its northern and northeastern boundary. The other bounds are: On the southeast, Ocean county; on the southwest, Burlington county; on the northwest, Mercer county. The streams all flow in a general north- westerly direction, the largest of these being Crosswicks creek, which with its tributary, Lahaway creek, flows across the southwestern corner of the township. Doctor creek runs through the central part and unites with Indian creek, forming part of the northwestern boundary between Mercer county. Assanpink creek marks a part of the northern boundary between Millstone township. The Pemberton and Hightstown railroad (now operated by the Pennsylvania system) traverses the township from north to south. The original formation of the township is not on record, but it is known that it was laid out prior to 1731. An assessment roll of the township for that year is in existence, showing that it was one of the four original townships, the collector being John Lawrence, who was the township assessor for years, the surveyor-general who in 1743 ran the line since known as the "Lawrence Line," between the Provinces of East and West Jersey.
In 1767 an act was passed to divide Shrewsbury township and annex portions of it to Freehold and Upper Freehold townships. That part of the act applying to this township is as follows: "All that part of Shrewsbury township beginning where the old Burlington path crosses the north branch of Tom's river, thence running 18 degrees east to the line of Dover (Ocean county), thence south 56 degrees west along the Dover line to Keith's line, thence along said line to the Upper Freehold line, and thence along the last mentioned line to the place of beginning." In 1844 the area of the township was reduced by taking the northern part of its territory to form Millstone township. A small part of the township near Arneytown was annexed to Plumstead township, Ocean county, in 1849, but was restored to Upper Freehold by legislative act twenty years later.
The territory of Upper Freehold was taken up and patented in large tracts. One of these containing 4,000 acres was held by Robert Burnet, one of the proprietors. The original patentee in 1706 disposed of 520 acres to his son-in-law, Nathan Allen, the tract commencing where Allen- town now stands, continuing southerly down Doctor's creek; in the same
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year he conveyed to another son-in-law, William Montgomery, 500 acres beginning at Doctor's creek near the post road and thence to the line of Negro run. This tract was soon after enlarged and named Eglington and remained in possession of the descendants of William Montgomery for six generations. To the east of the Burnet tract, John Baker, May 24, 1690, patented 2,100 acres, which he intended to call the "Manor of Buckhole." The tract runs north to the Cat Tail brook and south of Doctor's creek "to the Middletown Men's Lot." On the death of paten- tee before 1700 the tract passed to George Willocks, soon after to Rich- ard Salter, who built mills at Imlaystown. A portion of this tract was sold in 1717 to Elisha Lawrence, who settled there; he also owned large tracts in other parts of the county, was one of the Manasquan company who located lots on the coast from Wreck pond to Barnegat bay in 1685, also owned lands at Wakaka adjoining Richard Hartshorne. This lot on his death, came into the hands of his son Elisha, who sold the prop- erty on Wakaka creek and moved to Upper Freehold, purchasing the old homestead, which he named Chestnut Grove. He was a representative citizen of the county, and his son, John Lawrence, already mentioned, resided on a part of the tract which was called Mulberry Hill. His son, Dr. John Lawrence, gained notoriety as a Tory during the Revolution, and another son, Elisha, was sheriff of Monmouth county during that war. The latter son, John Brown Lawrence, was the father of Com- modore Lawrence, of the United States Navy, and grandfather of Com- modore Boggs, who in the "Varuna" passed the forts below New Or- leans during the Civil War. Of other sons of the original Elisha Lawrence, the eldest, William, settled in Middletown, while John, James and Joseph bought the "Squan lots" on Manasquan river, where they settled. Of the youngest, Benjamin, there is no account obtain- ยท able. That portion of the tract known as the "mill tract" was sold in 1727 by Richard Salter, Jr., to Peter Salter, Jr. A tract of land of 2,500 acres bounded by the Keith line on the west and on all sides by Cross- wick creek, was patented by William Dockwra, February 2, 1698, who later sold it to Anthony Woodward. South of Burlington path and east of Crosswick creek, 1,500 acres were patented January 22, 1689, by Robert West of London; east of the above mentioned creek, John Smith of Middletown, patented a tract between Robert West and John Throck- morton. Also east of the creek and north of the Burlington path, Peter Sonmans secured a patent for fifteen hundred acres.
Between the years 1688 and 1695 a strip of land reaching nearly across the county was taken by men from Middletown, and was known as the "Middletown Men's Lots." It reached from the fifteen hundred acres of Peter Sonmans along the northwest side of Burlington path to the Pines and was divided as follows: In equal divisions of 480 acres to Joseph Throckmorton, James Bowne, James Ashton, Philip Smith; also 800 acres to John Stout, 270 acres to Job Throckmorton, and 240 acres
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to Benjamin Borden. The tract below the Burlington path, consisting of 480 acres, belonged to John Throckmorton and extended southerly to Lahaway creek. This creek furnished good mill sites and was after- wards known as Walnford, named for Richard Waln, who moved to the place during the Revolution and built a large and commodious mansion where British officers were entertained, as he favored the enemy's cause and was by them protected. From this mill flour was sent in scows to Philadelphia. The stream was spanned by a bridge within stone's throw of the mill. American forces retreating, destroyed it and the English in hot pursuit trimmed big trees and constructed a pontoon bridge. While this work was progressing the commanding officer, supposed to be General Knyphausen, was entertained at dinner by Mrs. Waln. This was during the advance of the British army to Monmouth Court House in June, 1778. On the death of Richard Waln the mill passed into the hands of his son, Nicholas Waln, who continued to operate it until his death in April, 1848. In an apportionment of his estate it became the property of Sarah Waln (Mrs. Jacob Hendrickson). The original mill was destroyed by fire in 1821, when it was rebuilt, but gave way in 1872 to a new one on the same site.
Allentown, situated in the northwest corner of the township, on Doctor's creek, is the principal village of Upper Freehold. The village is named for Nathan Allen, whose purchase of land from his father-in- law has already been noted. A large portion of his first purchase is now embraced in the township of Washington, in Mercer county. At the time of his first purchase he became the owner of one hundred and ten acres on Doctor's creek, on both sides of the York road. In the year of his settlement he built a grist mill, and on his death in 1732 his son Nathan inherited the mill and plantation, while his brother Richard re- ceived his portion of his father's estate, a fulling mill and two acres and a half of land. The second Nathan left the property to his only son, Nathan John Allen, and in 1750 his executors sold it to Stoffel Long- street. The fulling mill was sold in 1748 to Isaac Price, who owned it until his death in 1768, and three years later it became again a part of the grist mill property and has long since ceased to be used for its original purpose. The mill property passed through several ownerships and April 2, 1845, was conveyed to Abel Cafferty, who built a three-story brick mill forty by fifty feet, which is operated at the present day by G. H. Kirby.
Around Nathan Allen's grist mill there soon clustered a store, tav- ern, blacksmith shop, and other kinds of business. An Episcopal church was erected about 1730, and a Presbyterian brick church was built in 1756. Of the early business interests of the village there is little of record. Dr. James Newell commenced practicing medicine about 1770, and continued until after the opening of the War of 1812. John Imlay removed to the place about 1790, and built for the times an elegant
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residence on Main street. His son William afterwards engaged in the hardware business. Richard Debow erected a brick store building on Main street in 1805, which he occupied for many years and was succeed- ed by David Mckean. A post-office was established January 1, 1796, and Samuel Quay was appointed postmaster, was succeeded April 1 1798, by Samuel Rogers, who was also captain of a militia company that offered its services to the government when the "Chesapeake" out- rage became first known. To Allentown the honor is credited for the forming of the first temperance society in the State the Allentowu Temperance Sober Society, organized in 1805, with fifty-eight members. There is but little known of the society, for it flourished only a few years. The history of the Perseverance Fire Company gives some idea of the active business of the village in 1818. The company was organ- ized November 23rd of that year with fifty-one members, and met at the tavern kept by William Arnd; a constitution was adopted and each men,- ber was to provide himself with a fire-bucket. Ladders, fire hooks and hand engine were purchased, and a fire house was erected on the south side of Main street. This fire protection was supplemented in 1850 by the organization of Hope Fire Company, when a hand engine was pur- chased and a house erected opposite the mill. This company, though an important factor for many years, in 1885 its active membership had dwindled to three active members.
Allentown in 1833 contained from seventy-five to eighty dwellings, one Presbyterian church, an academy, two private schools; the Allen- town Academy was successor to a school taught under the care of the Presbyterian church. The Academy building stood on a site that was afterwards utilized for a chapel, when a new building was erected for school purposes, which was later rented to the school trustees. As early as 1820, Miss Mary Taylor taught school in a one-story building. On the erection of the Union school house in 1834, these schools were dis- continued. There was, however, a school held in the lower room of Odd Fellows' Hall from 1844 to 1863, known as the Madison Hall school. There was also at this time a Methodist church, grist mill, saw mill and tilt mill, on Doctor's creek, and a saw mill on Indian run, below which at a short distance west of the village a cotton manufactory which was known as the Monmouth Manufacturing Company was started in 1814. The company owned about twenty-six acres of land on Indian run, and was composed of Dr. George Holcombe, Richard L. Beatty and Samuel C. Newell. A factory was built under the superintendence of James Burlingame and operated as a cotton mill until 1836, when it was changed to manufacture of wood type, and finally became a woolen mill and later a grist mill. The foregoing clearly shows the condition of Allentown at this time. The old Episcopal church had been torn down, the academy was still in use, also the two private schools were in existence; the grist
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and saw mill were owned by the heirs of Aaron Steward. Of the tilt mill but little was known.
Allentown has had remarkable honors in its representation in State and national offices. The first chief justice of the State of New Jersey, David Brearly, was a native and a resident of the village. James H. Imlay served in Congress four years; Samuel Cox four years; Dr. George Holcombe, twelve years; Dr. William A. Newell, six years; and George Middleton, two years. Dr. William A. Newell was also governor of the State, and afterwards governor of Washington Territory.
Allentown, with a population of about seven hundred souls, was incorporated as a borough and name filed July 3, 1897. The old Epis- copal church before mentioned is of the most ancient in the county. The old parish of Christ Church was organized under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, about 1730. A building was erected about that time and the congregation was served by many missionaries. The records were lost during the Revolution and the congregation was much scattered. The church had been used as a stable and being in a ruinous condition was taken down in 1810. A small church was erected in 1845, where for fifteen years occasional services were held by rectors from Trenton, Princeton and Bordentown. In 1869 a larger church was built in which have succes- sively officiated: Revs. Messrs. Bawn, Isaac, DuBois, Hyde and Daw.
The founder of Allentown was a staunch Quaker, therefore there was in its vicinity a scattering number of the Society of Friends. The Scotch were also amongst its inhabitants who were followers of John Knox, also a Hollandish element was early introduced. The Dutch and Scotch however being followers of the same Calvinistic faith, they naturally were drawn together and from them is traced the establish- ment of the Presbyterian church at Allentown. So numerous were these two coalescing elements in 1721 that the Rev. Joseph Morgan, then preaching in what is now Marlboro, who had performed missionary work in this location, sought for the growing congregation a stated minister. There was no doubt at this time a house of worship and a church society organized. Morgan succeeded in obtaining one, Walton, a gradu- ate of Yale College, for a pastor, but being an erratic genius whose preaching was not approved by the Presbytery of Philadelphia he was suspended. From this unfortunate event, until 1730 Allentown had no regular preaching but at that time the Rev. Eleazer Wales became the settled pastor. He remained however only four years, resigning, as he did not receive sufficient support. On the erection of the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1738, Allentown was transferred to its care and the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, whom Whitefield called the "son of thunder," was appointed to preach at Allentown and Cranbury. This was the time that George Whitefield carried on his great revival, and he visited Allentown in 1740 and through the influence of this revival the church
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grew in strength, though without a regular minister. The Rev. Charles Mcknight was installed over the congregation at Allentown and Cran- bury, July 10, 1744, and a serious question then arose which of these two points should be the abiding place of the new minister. This be- came a vexatious dispute, and while Cranbury first gained the prefer- ence, a committee was appointed by the Presbytery that decided the pastor should remain at that place and that Allentown should obtain a minister of its own. This was done by securing Mr. McKnight, who removed to Allentown in 1756, where he continued for ten years, when he was settled over the churches at Middletown Point and Shrewsbury. During his ministry at Allentown a lot of ground of one acre was pur- chased for a house of worship and graveyard, and in 1756 a brick edifice was erected. Prior to this, in 1752, a parsonage farm of two hundred and twenty acres was purchased and conveyed to the trustees. The temporal affairs of the church were therefore in a prosperous condition. For a period of eight years after the retirement of Mr. McKnight, the church was without a settled pastor, but in 1774 Rev. William Schenck preached for the congregation, though there is no minute of his instal- lation. He removed from Allentown in 1778 and in the spring of the following year a call was presented to the Presbytery for the pastoral services of the Rev. George Faitoute, who served only two years and after his removal there was a protracted vacancy, the church being de- pendent for three years on supplies. In the spring of 1784 Joseph Clark, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, preached for one year, and having at the request of the congregation been ordained as an evangelist, he continued for a period of years and was regularly installed as pastor in June, 1788. Though of not robust constitution, Mr. Clark remained pastor until April 26, 1796. For four years after his dismissal the congregation was without a pastor, but in that year John Cornell accepted a call and was installed June 23, 1800, the pas- toral relations being dissolved in 1820, and in the fall of that year a call was presented to Henry Perkins and on his acceptance he was in- stalled as pastor, December 6, 1820. The union thus effected was to be the longest in the annals of the church, also the most fruitful. Dur- ing the forty-three years of the ministry of Rev. Henry Perkins, the communicants at Allentown and Nottingham increased from seventy- five to 249; he received into the church 558, an average of fifteen for each year he was pastor. The house of worship was in an unsuitable condition, and in 1837 it was resolved to build a new edifice, which was completed and duly dedicated. The long existing relations between Nottingham and Allentown were dissolved in 1840, and the house of worship was enlarged in 1858 to meet the wants of an increased con- gregation. On the retirement of Rev. Mr. Perkins, a call was extended to the Rev. K. P. Ketcham, and he was installed in September, 1864. About this time, members living in the southern section of the town-
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ship withdrew to form a congregation at Cream Ridge. The parsonage farm was sold and a suitable residence for the pastor was obtained in the village. Mr. Ketcham remained six years, and in the winter fol- lowing his resignation Lawrence M. Colfelt, then a student, accepted the charge of the church and was installed May 9, 1872. His pastorate continued less than two years, and was followed by a vacancy of six months, when in November, 1874, Rev. George Swain was installed as pastor.
The first sermon preached by a Methodist in the vicinity of Allentown was delivered by David M. Bartine, in the dwelling of Fred- erick Miller. This was a regular preaching place for members of this denomination. Methodist preachers afterwards occupied the Episcopal church until a building was erected in 1810, which was removed in 1832 to the present site of the Methodist Episcopal church which was erected in 1869.
The first Baptist ministers to hold services in the village were the Rev. A. Armstrong and Rev. W. E. Watkinson, who preached in a grove near the village, also in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Rogers' Hall. After this, Rev. W. W. Case preached a number of times, and Decem- ber 7, 1873, eleven persons were baptized and the First Baptist Church of Allentown was publicly recognized by a council of ministers on that day. The first pastor was Rev. W. E. Watkinson, but on account of ill health he was released and the Rev. Warren Lincoln was settled over the congregation, October 12, 1874. This gentleman was highly es- teemed by the community; he died while pastor, April 3, 1877, and was succeeded the following May 27th by Rev. James W. Grant, who closed his pastorate after one year. In June, 1878, Rev. W. H. Burlew became pastor, and soon afterward active measures were taken to build a meet- ing house and parsonage; the corner-stone of the church was laid May 8, 1879, the building completed for occupancy December 23, 1879. The Rev. Mr. Burlew presented his resignation on October 29, 1881, and for several months the congregation was without a settled pastor, when on March 1, 1882, Rev. S. L. Cox accepted a call and was duly installed.
St. John's Roman Catholic Church was organized in April, 1869, and soon after purchased the old Episcopal edifice, which was enlarged and refitted. A rectory was purchased on Main street in 1872, and the first regular priest of the parish was the Rev. James Borgese, who was succeeded by the Rev. S. Danelou. The succeeding rectors were Revs. Michael C. O'Donell, William Lynch, Thomas F. Blake, and the present incumbent, Rev. John F. Walsh. The Union African Methodist Epis- copal church was organized in 1835 and built a church which was en- larged in 1850, and rebuilt in 1878.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows instituted Madison Lodge No. 23, and meetings were held in the house of John Osmond; later a two story building was built on Church street, the upper floor of which
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was fitted up as a lodge room. The lodge remained in existence until 1863, when it was disbanded. Its successor, Allentown Lodge No. 146, worked under a dispensation and was instituted August 8, 1870; its charter was granted November 16th the same year. Allentown En- campment, No. 53, was chartered with eleven members, June 1, 1872.
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