USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Orange > The Mountain Society : a history of the First Presbyterian Church, Orange, N. J. organized about the year 1719 with an account of the earliest settlements in Newark > Part 1
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Gc 974.902 Orlh 1705612
MVI.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02255 9964
THE OLD PARSONAGE.
" THE MOUNTAIN SOCIETY :"
A HISTORY OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
ORANGE, N. J.
ORGANIZED ABOUT THE YEAR 1719 AS AN INDEPENDENT SOCIETY, AND LONG KNOWN AS THE "CHURCH AT NEWARK MOUNTAINS ;"' PRESBYTERIAN SINCE 1748 ; INCOR- PORATED IN 1783 AS THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NEWARK ; AND KNOWN BY ITS PRESENT TITLE SINCE 1811 : WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS IN NEWARK AND ITS VICINITY, THE NAMES AND LOCALITIES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS NEAR THE MOUNTAIN, THE CONTROVERSIES AND RIOTS RELATIVE TO PROPRIETARY AND INDIAN LAND TITLES, INCIDENTS OF THE REVOLUTION, THE FORMATION OF OTHER CHURCHES, ETC., ETC. ; COMPRISING THE MOST INTERESTING PARTICULARS IN THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF ORANGE.
BY JAMES HOYT
PASTOR OF THE CHURCH.
NEW YORK : PUBLISHED BY C. M. SAXTON, BARKER & CO., NO. 25 PARK ROW. 1860.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by C. M. SAXTON,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
EDWARD O. JENKINS, Printer, 26 Frankfort St., N. Y.
1705612
THIS volume-the fruit of laborious and careful research, yet somewhat hastily written-is respectfully presented to the Session of the First Church, under whose advice it was undertaken ; to the Congregation whose indulgence has been shown to the writer in its preparation ; to his many fellow-townsmen who have encouraged him in it ; to the gentlemen who have aided in the collection of its materials ; and to all who shall further patronize it as a worthy endeavor to preserve what is memorable in our past and passing local history.
PREFACE.
THE historical materials here presented have been collected, during the last two years, in the midst of professional engagements which only a pastor can fully appreciate. The task of arrangement has been executed during the latter half of that period. Had all the difficulties of such a work been understood by the writer in advance, it is not at all likely he would ever have undertaken it. Yet he has felt in a degree compensated by the success of his researches. This is the only compensation expected, aside from the satisfaction of doing a service which may prove ac- ceptable to the community among whom his lot is cast. A local history of this sort can have no general circulation through the book markets. Its value, however, is not entirely local, nor limited in time. The Christian public at large, and the Church of the future, have an interest in the preservation from oblivion of the names and deeds of those who founded our civil and sacred institutions.
6
PREFACE.
He who planted His Church, and with it a purer civilization, in Canaan, " made His wonderful works to be remembered." This was done for a time by historical monuments, as by the twelve stones taken out of Jordan, the Ebenezer set up by Samuel, the manna laid up in the ark, &c.,-memorials that served to perpetuate a traditional history. But these memo- rials were perishable, and traditions could not long be relied on. Hence the pens of historians were also employed.
The early Puritan Churches of America have abun- dance of unwritten memorials. In every piece of our grand frame-work of institutions are seen the Ebene- zers which successive generations have reared. The First Church of Orange may point to its "pile of stones," containing the very material of a more an- cient sanctuary-" our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised," more than a hundred years ago. It has preserved, too, its ancient faith and pol- ity. But no written history of it has ever before been attempted. The men of the past knew little of their own importance to the religious future of the country ; and if they had known it better, they were so engrossed with the struggles and necessities of the hour as to have little leisure for the historian's work. If we have as little in these no less stirring times, we
7
PREFACE.
have reached a position which makes it imperative that the task here undertaken be no longer delayed. The past recedes, and the obscurity that gathers over the annals of our older churches will soon be a dark- ness forbidding all research. This conviction led to the formation, in 1852, of the Presbyterian Historical Society, with which all ministers, elders and others are invited to " cooperate, by collecting and trans- mitting old sermons, pamphlets, newspapers, maga- zines, letters, books, manuscripts, portraits, or any relics of the olden time which throw light upon our annals."*
The existing records of our Church Session date from January 30, 1803, about a year after the settle- ment of Mr. Hillyer. Those which were extant when he came to the parish are said to have perished in a fire. Thus the names of the ancient officers of the Church, the record of its membership, and the account of its spiritual administration for more than eighty years, were forever lost, except as the first might be gathered from other documents and memorials which time has spared. The oldest papers in the parish are certain deeds preserved by the trustees, which date from its beginning. The oldest volume is the private
* Any contributions of the kind may be sent to Samuel Agnew, Esq., 821 Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
8
PREFACE.
account-book, in the form of a ledger, and once well bound in parchment, kept by the second pastor, Caleb Smith, and commenced in 1751. In this are found the names of his parishioners, of a number of boys instructed by him, and an account of the settle- ment of his estate by the executors. After his death the trustees kept their records in it, and copied into it the charter obtained in 1783. And from that time the minutes of the trustees, and those of the annual meetings of the parish, have been preserved. From these and other sources much knowledge has been ob- tained respecting the parish during the last century.
The labor involved in researches of this kind is peculiarly tedious. Let the reader imagine himself starting from the mouth of the Mississippi, without a map, to trace backward its lengthened flow to its dis- tant sources. Let him think of following the trunk up to its branches, and these to their tributaries, and these to their thousand little feeders and inlets. Such a labor is this. It has sometimes required months to trace some family stream to its ancient springlet. Many an afternoon has been passed in the old graveyard, among monuments so bronzed and moss-grown by the long action of the elements, as almost to defy the hand of Old Mortality. Recourse has been had to historical societies, to ecclesiastical
9
PREFACE.
records, to old account-books and journals, to deeds and wills, to town records, and to the living descend- ants of pastors and others noticed in the history. The list of Church officers and the statistical tables are the result of investigations renewed and perse- vered in for a year or more. Of all this the reader will have little thought as his eye runs over the pages. But as the beauty and pleasure of life, or the value of any work of art, is a result depending on a thousand indispensable details and trifles, even so is it with a historical narrative. The present labor will have its reward, if, in this " walk about Zion," the writer has gathered anything worthy of being "told to the generation following."
In that portion of the work which relates to the early settlements of the town, free use has been made of Dr. Stearns' History of the First Church in Newark ; and much personal aid has been received from Dr. Samuel H. Congar, " the indefatigable antiquarian of Newark," and librarian of the New Jersey Historical Society. Indeed, without the kind interest taken in the work by the latter gentleman, the history in its present expanded form would never have been under- taken. In the biographical notices of two of the pas- tors (Smith and Hillyer), much information has been drawn from Sprague's Annals of the American Pul-
10
PREFACE.
pit. For many facts relating to Jedediah Chapman, the writer is indebted to his grandson, Rev. Robert H. Chapman, D. D., of Asheville, N. C. He is also under obligations to Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer, of Philadelphia, Rev. Dr. Sprague, of Albany, Rev. Dr. Murray, of Geneva, Rev. Dr. Krebs, of New York, and a number of others, for their courteous responses to his inquiries.
The brief notices given of other religious societies in Orange are from statements kindly furnished by their present pastors. That of the Bloomfield Church is from the published historical discourses of its late pastor, Rev. J. M. Sherwood.
While the particular subject of this history is the Mountain Society, it will be seen to be identified through a long period with a general history of this part of the old township of Newark. The author has undertaken it in the hope of doing an acceptable service to his fellow-townsmen of every class, as well as to the congregation to whom he ministers.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
A Hundred and Forty Years Ago-Glance at the Colonies-Ante- cedent History-Proprietary Government-Settlement of New- ark-Names of the Settlers-A Disappointment-Purchase of Lands-Second Purchase-Casting of the Lot-Mountain Farms -Settlers near the Mountain-Accessions-Men who Made their Mark-Character of the Hackinsacks-Bears and Wolves- Houses-Self-Government-End of Proprietary Rule-Horse- neck Purchase 13-45
CHAPTER II.
THE MOUNTAIN SOCIETY.
Half a Century-A Generation Gone-Presbyterianism and Con- gregationalism-Changes in Newark-A Society organized at the Mountain-Lost Records-Deed given by Thomas Gardner in 1719-Site for a Sanctuary-Question of Date-Newark Par- sonage Lands-Purchase made by the Mountain Society-Its
12
CONTENTS.
Boundaries-A " Dissenting Ministry "-First Meeting-House- Spirit of the Settlers-Samuel Pierson, the Carpenter-Hands that Helped-A Happy Day-Pews and Pulpit-Lining the Psalm-Peaceful Worship - - 46-57
CHAPTER III.
REV. DANIEL TAYLOR.
Graduation at Killingworth-Labors on Long Island-Death of his Wife-Removal to New Jersey-Deeds and Dates-Home- stead and Farm-Revival of 1734-5-Negro Plots-The Great Land Monopoly-Its Rights Examined-Measures of Defence- Prosecutions and Riots-The Rioters Vindicated-Defence of the Proprietors-Mr. Taylor's Part in the Controversy-Mr. Taylor's Will-His Death-Officers of the Church 46-81
CHAPTER IV.
REV. CALEB SMITH.
Samuel Harrison's Day-Book -Parsonage House-The Young Minister-The Church Presbyterian-The Minister's Marriage- Parsonage Memories-Wood-Drawing-More Riots-A Queer Wind - Influence on the Provincial Assembly - Indictments and Fines-Second Meeting-House-Contract for Finishing- Pewholders and Rates-A Hurricane-Death of Mrs. Smith- Sanctified Sorrows-Second Marriage-Mr. Smith's Character- Catechizing-Anecdotes-His Sickness-His Death-Memoir- Settlement of his Estate - 82-110
CHAPTER V.
REV. JEDEDIAH CHAPMAN.
Letters to Rev. Joseph Bellamy-Settlement of Mr. Chapman- His Marriage-Inadequate Support-Death of Mrs. Chapman- Second Marriage-Samuel Harrison's Will-The Patriot Pastor
13
CONTENTS.
-Revolutionary Incidents-Two Young Adventurers-A Court Martial-Figures Sometimes Lie-Murder of Stephen Ball -- Effects of the War-Fourth of July-Mr. Chapman's Politics- The Parish Incorporated-Orange Sloop-Orange Academy- Division of Parsonage Lands-Caldwell Church-"Orange " and " Orangedale "-Sermon before Synod-Items voted by the Trustees-Collection of Rates-Bell-Ringers-Lots for Sale- School Advertisements-Church at Bloomfield-Mr. Chapman's Salary-His Dismission-Newark Cider-Anecdotes of Mr. C .- His Missionary Labors, and Settlement at Geneva -- His Death.
111-153
CHAPTER VI.
REV. ASA HILLYER, D. D.
A New Century-Light from the Inner Temple-Revival under the Preaching of Mr. Griffin-Mr. Hillyer's Impressions of Him -Board Account-Rev. Asa Hillyer-Ministry at Madison- Call to Orange-Archibald Alexander-View of the Parish- Church Officers-The Common-Sale of Lots-Revival of 1807-8 -Effects on the Youth-A Ball given up-Strong Convictions- -An Impressive Scene-The Ingathering-Orange Township- Mr. H.'s Salary-Third Meeting-House-The Old Bell-Dedica- tion and Thanksgiving-The Sermon-Cost of the Edifice- The Mineral Spring-Provision for Servants-Removal from the Parsonage-Revival of 1816-17-Sunday-school-Bible Society -National Societies-A Doctor's Degree-Academy Deed- Retrospect-St. Mark's Episcopal Church-Death of Mrs. Hill- yer-Methodist Church-Second Presbyterian and South Orange Churches-Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, and the Revival of 1832- Dr. Hillyer's Resignation-Division of the General Assembly- Sermon before the Synod-The Last Communion-His Death- Tablet Inscription - - 154-202
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
REV. WILLIAM C. WHITE.
His Nativity-Studies-Preaching at East Machias-Settlement at Orange-State of the Parish-Causes of Diminution-Church Officers-Salary-Second Parsonage-First Baptist Church- School Laws-End of the Academy-West Bloomfield Church- Sexton's Salary - Hymn Book - Lecture-Room - Decrease of Membership-Increase of Beneficence-Revival of 1850-Mor- ris and Essex Railroad-Immigration-Alterations of the Sanc- tuary-Grace Church-The Old Parsonage Demolished-Mr. White's Resignation-His Declining Health-Rev. Silas Billings -Mr. White's Sudden Decease-Minute adopted by the Session -Tablet Inscription - - 203-225
CHAPTER VIII.
REV. JAMES HOYT.
Five Pastorates-Permanency of the Pastoral Relation-The Writer's Settlement-Death of Judge Day-Officers of the Church-New Officers-View of the Parish-James Greacen --- Mission School-North Orange Baptist Church-The Flock Smitten-Commercial Crisis-Blessings in Adversity-Revival of 1858-Features of the Revival-Additions to the Churches- New House of Worship by the Methodist Congregation-Gas Lights-Church Edifice at Orange Valley-Sunday-school Re- established for Colored People-What we owe to the Past- Progress of Society-What we may Claim-Summary View of the Churches - 226-252
CHAPTER IX.
A VIEW OF ORANGE.
Orange in 1834-Climate-Relations to Newark and New York- Extent and Appearance -- Trade and Business - Farms and
15
CONTENTS.
Homes-Llewellyn Park-Eagle Rock-The Old Mineral Spring -- Barrett's Park-The Mountain House-Orange Valley-The Village-Springdale Lake-Second River and the Streams that form it-Rosedale Cemetery-Institutions of Orange-Printing- Press-Orange Journal-The Old Academy Building-Orange Female Seminary - Private Schools and Academies - Public Schools-The Old Orange Library-The Lyceum-The Orange Library Association-What the Village Needs-Late Improve- ments-Fire Engine-Police Wanted-Preliminary Measures Toward a Better Government of the Town - 253-280
HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
TN those ancient lands where civilization had its birth, the centuries pass with little change of scenery or society. " That which hath been is now, and that which is to be hath already been." Na- tions revolve, like the planets, in a fixed orbit, and the stereoscope of history presents ever the same view. The pyramids are their historic symbols. The current of the ages brings nothing to them and bears nothing away. Even changes of race and religion leave behind them a marvellous sameness. The old is a receptacle of the new, and arts, man- ners and ideas are soon shaped to the mould into which they have been cast. The causes are ob- vious; the cautious conservatism of despotic gov- ernments, and the stagnation of man's intellectual life under them.
2
14
GLANCE AT THE COLONIES.
We need not suggest to the intelligent reader the contrast seen in our western civilization, especially in the free States of North America. Here all is action, motion, progression. Turning the eye to any part of the wide field of our history, we see realized in society the gigantic strides ascribed by Homer to his divinities.
The present history dates from a point not very ancient-less than two hundred years ago. Its proper beginning lies nearer, in the time of George the First, about two-thirds of a century before our national independence. The European popula- tion of New England then scarcely exceeded a hundred thousand. East and West Jersey were just united. The smoke of the wigwam rose here in the forest ; the fox and the wolf strayed without fear from their mountain coverts.
The Boston News-Letter, the first American newspaper, was but fourteen years old, and without a competitor. Philadelphia and New York were provincial villages.
The first post-office in America, at New York, had been established less than ten years. The spinning-wheel was just crossing the ocean, and the potato was just taking root on the plantations of Londonderry. The first cargo of tea was about em- barking, to try its fortunes this side of the water. The colonists were yet dependent on Europe for their table luxuries, for many physical comforts,
15
ANTECEDENT HISTORY.
for Bibles and other books, for academic privileges and preachers. There was in New York " a small Presbyterian flock, assembling in a house without galleries, six out of its eight windows being closed with boards, poverty preventing their being glazed, and the fraction of light being enough for the hand- ful of people."*
The old Presbytery of Philadelphia, formed about 1706 with seven ministers, had increased in number to twenty-five, and had just resolved itself in 1716 into four presbyteries, forming a synod. New Jersey had scarcely a dozen churches. The founder of Methodism was a youth of sixteen in Oxford university, quite ignorant of the grand mis- sion for which the grace of God was preparing him. His future competitor in the work of evangelical reform, George Whitefield, was playing about the rooms of the Bell Inn, kept by his mother at Gloucester, a lad of five years old. Since that day, -a hundred and forty years ago-what hath God wrought ! These fourteen decades, -have they not been, in the progress of American civilization and Christianity, as fourteen centuries ?
But we shall have to go back a little farther to gain the proper starting-point of the present narra- tive. Our history will lead us over a considerable period, during which civil and ecclesiastical affairs
* Webster's Hist. Pres. Church, p. 120.
The Church was or- ganized in 1715.
16
PROPRIETARY GOVERNMENT.
were blended. We shall find the ground we stand upon a field of conflict with English proprietors, and a religious community unhappily agitated by "questions of their law." We may as well, there- fore, at the outset, explain the antecedents of that controversy, by giving a short account of the settle- ment of this region, under the proprietary govern- ment.
As early as 1658, a settlement was begun upon what was called the " Bergen grant," on which a trading station had been established by the Dutch, forty years before. In 1663, a band of Puritans from Long Island obtained permission of the Dutch to plant their institutions on the banks of the Raritan and the Minnisink. In the following year, some families of Quakers were found on the south side of Raritan Bay. In the same year, King Charles the Second, by letters patent under the great seal of England, granted to his brother James, Duke of York, a tract of land stretching from the Connecticut river to the Delaware. Of this exten- sive grant, the portion now called New Jersey was conveyed the same year, by deeds of lease and re- lease, to John Lord Barclay [or Berkley] and Sir George Carteret. This portion was again divided, in 1676, between Sir George and the assigns of Lord Berkley, the former taking the eastern part. Carteret, by his will, dated December 5, 1678, de- vised to certain trustees therein named a power to
17
RULES OF SETTLEMENT.
sell East New Jersey ; a trust which was executed three years thereafter, by a sale, conveying the same in fee to William Penn, Robert West and others, to the number of twelve. These twelve proprietors, by particular deeds, took each a part- ner, so that East New Jersey became vested in twenty-four persons, who were known thencefor- ward as the twenty-four Proprietors. By these a Council of Proprietors was appointed, to consist of at least one-third part of the whole number of proprietors, or their proxies, and possessing all ne- cessary powers of administration .*
To encourage immigration, the proprietors, Berk- ley and Carteret, published their "Charters of Concessions," prescribing the fundamental rules and methods by which property in their lands should be acquired. One was, "That all such persons who should transport themselves into the province of New Jersey within certain times limited by the said Concessions, should be entitled to grants or patents under the seal of the Province, for certain quantities of acres in the said Concessions expressed, paying therefore yearly the rent of one half-penny, sterling money, for every acre so to be granted." Another rule was, "That all lands should be pur- chased by the governor and council from the Indians, from time to time, as there should be oc-
* See Publication of the Council of Proprietors, March 25, 1746, in appendix to Bill in Chancery ; also, in New York Post-Boy.
.
18
NEWARK SETTLED.
casion, in the name of the Lords Proprietors ; and every person settling was to pay his proportion of that purchase money and charges."* It will be seen that the proprietors recognized in these rules the right of the Indians to a compensation for their lands, while they monopolized the right of purchase. No others could buy but through them. The Indians could sell only to them. Against this as- sumption of power over the soil and its original tenants, there was made subsequently a vigorous and determined opposition.
In August, 1665, Philip Carteret, a brother of Sir George, having received an appointment from the proprietors as governor of the colony, appeared among the tenants of the scattered cabins about Elizabethtown, which was then but a cluster of four houses. In honor of Lady Carteret, the place re- ceived her name, and rose into dignity as the capital of the province.
The settlement of Newark, by immigrants from Connecticut, began in the following year. The movement was occasioned by dissatisfaction with certain measures attending the union of the New
* Publication, &c. as above. They also offered a bounty of seventy-five acres for the importation of each able slave. This in- human appeal to avarice had its motive in the fact that the Duke of York was a patron of the slave trade, and president of the African Company.
+ Bancroft, Hist. U. S., Vol. II., p. 318.
19
OBJECT OF THE SETTLERS.
Haven and the Connecticut colonies, of which one of the most obnoxious was the half-way covenant, that secured certain ecclesiastical privileges, such as the baptism of children, to persons not in full com- munion with the church. The pioneer company, which comprised about thirty families, came from Milford in the spring of 1666. Their first town meeting was held the 21st of May, when delegates were present from Guilford and Branford to con- fer upon the subject of a union in the organization of a township. The union was mutually agreed upon, and its object and conditions explained and arranged. The great object was " the carrying on of spiritual concernments, as also of civil and town affairs, according to God, and a godly government," which had ever been the cherished idea of the Puritans. It was a grand religious idea, but every experiment, before and then, only added to the proof that "spiritual concernments" are best carried on through institutions of their own, under political protection, yet separated from civil affairs. A godly government, as they understood it, cannot long be maintained without the disfranchisement of worthy citizens. And the making of piety and church communion a necessary qualification for civil offices, is but a premium offered to hypocrisy. The settlement of Newark was among the last ex- periments that demonstrated the delusive hope of the old Puritans, who were greatly wise in many
20
FUNDAMENTAL AGREEMENT.
things, but not in all. It was another and vain repetition of an experiment which the Branford pastor had already made at two previous settle- ments, first on Long Island, and then at Branford.
In the following October, the delegates having returned and reported, a meeting was held at Bran- ford, and two articles drawn up, known as "the fundamental agreement," to which twenty-three principal men of the town attached their names. They were the following :
" 1. That none shall be admitted freemen or free Burgesses within our town upon Passaic river, in the Province of New Jersey, but such planters as are members of some or other of the Congregational Churches, nor shall any but such be chosen to magistracy, or to carry on any part of civil judica- ture, or as deputies or assistants to have power to vote in establishing laws, and making or repealing them, or to any chief military trust or office; nor shall any but such church members have any vote in any such elections; though all others admitted to be planters, have right to their proper inheri- tances, and do and shall enjoy all other civil liberties and privileges according to all laws, orders, grants, which are or shall hereafter be made for this town.
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