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Gc 974.9 N33ne v. 2 1448950
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY L
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THE NEW JERSEY COAST IN
THREE CENTURIES
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST WITH GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORIC-BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX
WILLIAM NELSON, EDITOR, AUTHOR OF "THE INDIANS OF NEW JERSEY," ETC .; EDITOR OF THE "NEW JERSEY ARCHIVES."
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II.
52
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK AND CHICAGO 1902
1448950
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Rise of Towns-Churches and Schools-Commercial and Industrial Conditions-Revo- 1 tionary and other Historical Reminiscences. 1
CHAPTER II.
The Coast as the Shore Resort of New Jersey-A Chain of Pretty Towns and Vil- lages-The Noted Social and Religious Resorts-Palatial Hotels-Architectural Features 40
CHAPTER III.
Historic Families of the New Jersey Coast-The Various Nationalities Represented, and their Blending-Some Names Notable in Civil and Military History . ...... 137
CHAPTER IV.
The Social Life of New Jersey-The Simple Hom of the Pioneers-Contrast 218
Between the Olden Times and the Present Day.
CHAPTER V.
A Resume of the History of New Jersey .. 241
APPENDIX.
Genealogical and Biographical Notices of Men of Note and Representatives of Old
.... 244 Families.
INDEX TO CONTENTS.
EDITOR'S NOTE :- In the following Index the first number (in Roman numerals) will signify the volume number, and the last one the page number.
Absecon Island, description of, I, 247. Agriculture : Statistical, I, 375; In the coast counties, I, 384;
State Agricultural Colleges, I, 386; Agricultural organizations, I. 388. Andros, Sir Edmund; appointed governor, I, 104. 22
Arrowsmith, George, military career of, I, 207.
Atlantic County : Descriptive, I, 246; During the Revolution, I, 185; In Civil war towns, I, 214; Towns in, II, 35.
Barclay, Robert, Proprietor, I, 105.
Burnett, Governor William, I, IIO.
Belcher, Jonathan, I, III. Bench and Bar:
Beginnings of law, I, 331; Colonial courts, I, 338;
Court of Common Pleas, I, 353; Supreme Court, I, 354: Distinguished jurists, I, 357.
Biographical and Genealogical, II.
Billinge, Edward, acquires interest in lands, I, 87.
Bowne, Capt. John, I, 67; I, 257; II, 152. Boyd, Rev. John, I, 264. Brooklyn, Battle of, I, 148. Caldwell, Rev. James, I, 177: Cape May County : Descriptive, I, 250;
During the Revolution, I, 189; During the Civil war, I, 215; Towns in, II, 37. Churches :
Baptist, of Middletown, I, 276;
Christ Church, of Shrewsbury, I, 279;
Old Scots Church, I, 264; Methodist, I, 280; Reformed Dutch, I, 273; Universalist, I, 282.
Civil War : Part taken by New Jersey, I, 194; By Atlantic county, I, 214;
By Cape May county, I, 215; By Monmouth county, I, 202; By Ocean county, I, 213. Colonial Governors, I, 92. Commerce of the Sea : Whaling, I, 427 ;
Oyster industry, I, 430; Shipbuilding, I. 434.
Cornbury, Lord, I, 108.
Cosby, Governor William, I, III. Counties : Middlesex, I,, 233 ;
Union, I, 235; Monmouth, I, 237 ; Burlington, I, 241 ; Ocean, I, 242 ; Cape May, I, 250.
Coxe, Daniel, Proprietor, I, 108.
Denton, Daniel, writes of the colonies, I, 63. Declaration of Independence, effect of, I, 142.
Educational : 'Colonial schools, I, 285; Present school system, I, 289;
INDEX TO CONTENTS.
Conditions in the coast counties, I, 293; College of New Jersey, I, 306; Princeton University, I, 310; Rutgers College, I, 326;
Egg Harbor, during Revolutionary war, I, I93. Elizabeth Town, settlement of, I, 62. Explorers, early, 1, 47.
Fenwick, John, founds colony, I, 87. Fort Mercer, Battle of, I, 160.
Franklin, Governor William, I, II2. Friends, or Quakers, I, 270. Geology, I, 19. Gibbons, Richard, I, 75. Grover, James, I, 74.
Great Britain, war with, I, 191.
Hamilton, Andrew, governor, I, 100.
Hand, Capt. W. H., thrilling escape of, I, 222.
Hartshorne, Richard, at Middletown, I, 79. Historic Families :
Sources of immigration, II, 139;
Founders of Middletown, II, 152;
Founders of Shrewsbury, II, 153; The Fenwick Colony, II, 162; Scott Family, II, 166; Early Graves, II, 174; Clan Gordon, II, 180; Abraham Lincoln, his origin, II, 183; Forman Family, II, 184; Early Families at Cape May, II, 192; Schenck Family, II, 209;
The Huguenot immigration, II, 21I. Holmes, Obadiah, Proprietor, I, 69. Hudson, Henry, explores the coast, I, 109. Kcith, Rev. George, founds church, I, 271. Kieft, Governor William, I, 96.
Laurie, Governor Gawen, I, 105. Life Saving Service :
Early volunteer life savers, I, 465;
Establishment of Life Saving Service, I, 467 ; Its founder, Hon. William A. Newell, I, 467; Wreck of the "Ayrshire," I, 469; Life Saving Stations, I, 471; Statistics, I, 479; United States Life Saving Corps, I, 483; Atlantic City Life Guard, I, 485.
Light Houses : Sandy Hook, I, 487 ; Founding of present system, I, 489; Designation of lights, I, 490. Lincoln, Abraham, II, 183. Literary History :
Writers of the colonial period, I, 495 ; Thomas Paine, I, 497; Phil'p Freneau,' I, 500;
Historical compilations-by Barber & Howe, and by the New Jersey His- torical Society, I, 505 ; leading mem- bers of that body-William A. White- head, I, 506; Frederick W. Ricord, I, 508; William S. Stryker, I, 509; William Nelson, I, 511 ; Dr. Maurice Beasley, I, 513.
Local annalists-George C. Beekman, I, 514; James S. Yard, I, 516; Dr. J. E. Stillwell, I, 516; Mary C. M. Hyde, I, 517; A. M. Heston, I, 519; John F. Hall, I, 521; Mary Townsend Rush, I, 523; William H. Fischer, I, 524; Lewis ' Stevens, I, 526; Dr. Theophilus T _ ice, I, 527 ;. Rev. Abraham Me ler, I, 527 ; Rev. T. W. Wells, I, 528; Rev. Henry G. Smith, I, 528; Rev. Frank R. Symmes, I, 528; Rev. Allen H. Broen, I, 528. Authors on law, I, 529; on medicine, I, 531 ; miscellaneous, I, 532-5. Early newspapers, I, 536.
Livingston, Governor William, I, 147. Lockwood, Dr. Samuel, I, 295. Manufactures :
The early beginnings in the colonial period, I, 408; Early iron industries, I, 410;
Copper mining, I, 413; Salt making, I, 414;
Clay products, I, 417; Glass manufactures, I, 418; Fruit and vegetable canning, I, 419; Wages and cost of living, I, 421.
Middlescx County, towns in, II, I. Monmouth, Battle of, I, 167. Monmouth County :
The first settlers, I, 57; Political history, I, 237;
INDEX TO CONTENTS.
During the Revolutionary war, I, 179; During the Civil war, I, 202; Towns in, II, IO.
Monmouth Declaration of Independence, I, 76. Monmouth Patent, I, 58. Monmouth Patentees, I, 67.
Newell, Hon. William A., founder of Life Saving Service, I, 467. New Jersey Provincial Congress, I, 138.
Newspapers, early, I, 536.
Nicolls, Governor Richard, I, 55. Ocean County :
Descriptive, I, 242; During the Civil war, I, 213; Towns in, II, 29.
Old Scots Church, I, 264.
Penn, William, Proprietor, I, 82.
Pine Woods Robbers, I, 184.
Piracy, T, 462. Printz, Governor John, I. 93.
Proprietary System, I, 55.
Pulaski Legion, massacre of, I, 185. Religious History :
Religious character of immigrants, I, 255 ;
The primitive church, I, 257;
John Bowne's dying admonitions, I, 257 ; Rise of denominations, I, 259.
Resumé of the History of New Jersey, II, 24I. Revolutionary War :
William Franklin as governor, I, 117; The Provincial Congress, I, 135; New Jersey to be defended, I, 147; Battle of Fort Mercer, I, 160; Battle of Monmouth, I, 167; Monmouth county overrun by the Brit- ish, I, 179; The war along the coast, I, 185. Rising, John Claesson, I, 94. . Sandy Hook in the Revolution, I, 192. Sawyer, Capt: H. W., thrilling escape of, I, 218. Scott, Capt. John, I, 56; I, 100.
Sea Shells and Weeds, I, 29. Shore Resorts :
From Atlantic Highlands to Cape May, II, I-138; Atlantic Highlands, II, 44; Long Branch, II, 49;
Asbury Park, II, 57;
Ocean Grove, II, 67;
Point Pleasant, II, 98;
Toms River, II, 100;
Atlantic City, II, 104;
Ocean City, II, 125;
Wildwood, II, 129; Cape May, II, 130.
Shrewsbury, settlement at, I, 74.
Skinner's Greens during the Revolution, I, 183. Social Life, II, 218;
The Primitive Home, II, 222;
Church Life, II, 229;
Fairs, II, 231 ;
Weddings and Funerals, II, 232 ; After the Revolution, II, 238.
Spanish-American War, I, 225.
Spicer and Leaming, I, 252.
Stamp Act, effect of, I, 122.
Stevens, Beniah L., of the Civil war, I, 214. Stuyvesant, Peter, last Dutch Governor, I, 90.
Tennent, Rev. John, I, 265. Transportation : Early roads, I, 390;
Turnpike roads, I, 394; State Aid Road Law and its operations, I, 395; Canals, I, 400; Railways, I, 401.
Van Twiller, Governor, I, 95. Vrendenburgh, Major Peter, I, 203. Wrecks off the Coast : Statistics of disasters, I, 446; The early wreckers, I, 447; Charges of piracy investigated, I, 449; Some notable wrecks, I, 450.
INDEX.
Ackerman, James F., 304. Ackerson, Henry E., 314. Allen, Charles, 320. Anness, F. F., 323. Applegate, Jehu P., 333. Applegate, John S., 310. Applegate, Joseph S., Jr., 433. Applegate, Joseph S., Sr., 432. Appleget, Edwin, 406. Aumack, Thomas W., 308. Ayres, Michael, 332.
Babcock, George H., 339. Ballard, Aaron E., 273. Beekman, George C., 277. Berry, James E., 33I. Berry, William H., 329. Boynton, Cassimer W., 324. Boynton, C. D., 428. Bradley, James A., 257.
Brewster, Mrs. S. M., 449.
Brown, Albert D., 451. Brown, Allen H., 356. Brown, Benjamin F. S., 425. Brown, James M., 326. Brown, Thomas C., 327. Bryan, Joseph H., 328. Buchanon, Nelson E., 430.
Carr, John, 373. Carreja, John, Jr., 336. Chisman, George W., 342. Conover, Frank B., 424. Conover, Hendrick, 35I. Conover, John B., 350. Cooper, George F., 312. Cresse, Lewis M., 347. Cutter, Hampton, 292.
Cutter, The Family, 291. Cutter, William H., 293.
Dey, John M., 420.
Edgar, Charles S., 410.
Edgar, J. B., 422.
Edgar, Peter K., 355. Edgar, William, 355.
Ely, John J., 375. Endicott, Allen B., 321.
Enright, John, 404. Evans, Lewis, 303.
Freeman, Edgar, 379.
Freeman, Ellis B., 367.
Freeman, James V., 429.
Freeman, Otis R., 387. Freeman, Samuel E., 343.
Green, Charles H., 294. Griggs, Benjamin, 346.
Hand, W. Scott, 415.
Harvey, David, Jr., 361. Hathaway, William, 315. Hendrickson, Henry, 433. Hoffman, William T., 440. Hope, Frederick W., 444. Hope, Washington L., 442. Howard, William, 371. Hubbard, John, 353. Hyres, William, 431.
Inslee, Isaac, 359.
Jenkins, Olin L., 366. Johnson, Samuel, 365.
İNDEX.
Kearney, Philip, 254. Kelly, Oliver, 450. Kennedy, Isaac C., 438. Kirkbride, Samuel W., 412. Kroehl, George F., 370.
Leisen, John H., 419. Leonard, Thomas H., 381. Leonard, William J., 317. Livingston, William, 244. Longstreet, Aaron, 418. Longstreet, Henry H., 418. Lyon, Adrian, 416.
Manning, The Family, 305. Marcy, V. M. D., 297. Maurer, Henry, 4II. Maurer, Henry & Son, 412. McDermott, Frank P., 397. Minot, Jesse, 415. Minot, Jonathan, 414. Moore, Franklin, 409. Morrell, William, 396. Murray, George C., 267. Murray, The Family, 258. Murray, W. W., 266.
Nevius, Henry M., 284. Newell, William A., 249.
Ogden, Benjamin B., 405. Ogden, Rufus, 405.
Palmer, Warren W., 368. Parker, Frederick, 393. Paterson, William, 247. Patterson, James, 403. Patterson, James H., 403. Patterson, The Family, 402.
Payne, Isaac S., 421. Perrine, David V., 399. Prall, James P., 398.
Reeves, The Family, 287. Ripley, Eugene S., 436. Ripley, John S., 434. Roberts, Leonard D., 372. Ross, Milan, 407.
Savage, Edward S., 408. Scott, Lewis P., 345. Serviss, David, 391. Sneden, George V., 389.
Sneden, William S., 388.
Snyder, Charles R., 436.
Snyder, Rutsen S., 427.
Stokes, Ellwood H., 285.
Stoney, Alfred B., 394.
Symmes, Frank R., 337.
Talmage, Henry C., 413. Thompson, Corlies W., 378. Throckmorton, Edmund, 383. Throckmorton, Joseph A., 380. Twining, Albert C., 385.
Valentine, M. D. & Brother Company, 447. Valentine, Mulford D., 448. Van Doren, Alfred B. D., 344.
Walker, John P., 390. Walker, Joseph Ball, 374. White, Henry S., 362. Wilson, W. V., 300. Winsor, Henry, 322. Woodruff, A. Edward, 384. Wootton, Harry, 377.
THE NEW JERSEY COAST IN THREE CENTURIES
CHAPTER I.
THE RISE OF TOWNS-THEIR CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.
In the following pages is epitomized the history and present conditions of the principal towns in the counties of the New Jersey coast. From this narrative are excepted, however, those known as seaside resorts, and which are written of elsewhere.
TOWNS OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
The Perth Amboy of to-day, at the head of Raritan Bay, occupies a position of importance peculiar to itself. An early newspaper, the "New Jersey Gazette," in its issue of August 5, 1819, said "the situation of Perth Amboy ranks pre-eminent to almost any other in the United States." The population was then something less than eight hundred. The journal quoted, in making the most of the natural advantages of the locality with a view of attracting increased population, had no discernment of its possibilities save as a place of residence, and was content with describing its healthfulness and extolling the virtues of its mineral springs.
Its natural advantages have enabled it to attain distinction as one of the most extensive and successful manufacturing points in New Jersey. With its magnificent water front and spacious harbor, with the Raritan river and its affluents reaching well into the interior, and with its network
1*
2
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
of railways extending in all directions, its provisions for commerce and its facilities for reaching the markets of the world are not surpassed by any city in the Union. Opening out from the bay is egress to New York and abroad, while passenger and freight boats make it a midway point in plying between New Brunswick and the metropolis, and additional water communications are afforded by the Delaware and Raritan canal. The railways which also serve to distribute the products of its yards and fac- tories are the Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and the Central of New Jersey, the last named also operating a branch road extending along the Raritan river and into the clay-bearing section for a distance of ten miles. The passenger traffic is divided between these lines and the Staten Island Rapid Transit Railroad. The city is lighted by electricity and gas, and water is distributed by a perfect system of modern waterworks.
For many years the city developed but slowly. In 1860 the popula- tion was but 2,302, and this number was increased but 559 during the next decade. In 1880 it had increased to 4,812, but it nearly doubled in 1890, when the number of inhabitants was 9,510, and it had nearly doubled again in 1900, when the number was 19,450.
The statistics of population afford a reasonably accurate idea of the increase in manufacturing facilities. First of industries, in precedence of establishment and in present importance, are those of brick and terra cotta manufacture. These include the establishment of Henry Maurer & Son, the most extensive manufacturers of fire brick in the world, em- ploying 350 workmen, and that of the Perth Amboy Terra Cotta Company, which operates the oldest and largest works of their class in the country, employing from 400 to 600 people. Other clay working establishments are those of the Standard Fire Proof Company, employing 300 workmen ; the Staten Island Clay Company, employing 250 workmen; the Raritan Hollow and Porous Brick Company, employing 300 workmen; the Stand- ard Terra Cotta Works, employing 150 hands; the International Clay Mau- ufacturing Company, employing 150 workmen; and numerous smaller works with one hundred workmen or less in each instance. In 1900 more than one million tons of workable clay were mined in the vicinity of the town.
In recent years Perth Amboy has become the seat of some of the most important metal refineries in the country. In the works of Guggenheim Brothers, established in 1895, are refined each week about 1.000,000 ounces of silver, and gold amounting to $10,000 in value, with, in addi- tion, an annual output of 40,000,000 pounds of copper and enormous quan- tities of lead. Nearly 1,000 operatives are employed in these works. The Raritan Copper Company was organized in 1898, and in March of the
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HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
following year opened refineries which are recognized as the most exten- sive in the world, employing about one thousand people.
Among other industries are chemical works which are among the most extensive in the country ; a cable manufactory making wire for elec- trical purposes, employing 500 men; a tile and steel and rolling mill, em- ploying 300 workmen; machine shops for building and repairing marine engines and general machinery, and another engaged in the same lines, with a brass foundry in connection ; boat building yards ; saw mills; emery works, cement works, vulcanizing works, cork works, match factories, clothing manufactories, and other small establishments in various lines. A dry-dock has facilities for drawing out of the water and repairing ves- sels of two thousand tons burden.
The financial institutions of the city are the First National Bank, with a capital of $100,000; the Middlesex County State Bank ; the Perth Am- boy Savings Institution ; and the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, organized in 1892, and having resources amounting to $209,447.51. An efficient Chamber of Commerce carefully guards commercial and financial interests and affords aid and encouragement to new industries.
Educational and religious institutions are liberally maintained. The public school buildings, including a fine high school edifice erected at an outlay of $37,000, afford accommodations for three thousand pupils, and two Catholic parochial schools accommodate seven hundred pupils. An ample and well supported public library is open to students and to the gen- eral public.
Various denominations occupy substantial and attractive houses of worship. The Protestant Episcopal churches are St. Peter's and the Church of the Holy Cross; the Roman Catholic churches are St. Mary's and St. Stephen's; and there are also a Presbyterian church, a Methodist Episcopal church, a Baptist church, a Lutheran church, a Danish Methodist church and a Danish Lutheran church.
The local newspapers are conducted with ability and are efficient fac- tors in promoting enterprises conducing to the prosperity and development of the city and the advancement of its various interests. One daily news- paper is published, the "Middlesex County Herald," independent in politics ; one bi-weekly, the "Chronicle;" and two weekly, the "Middlesex County Democrat," and the "Republican."
South Amboy lies immediately opposite Perth Amboy, on the southi bank and at the mouth of the Raritan River. The village was unimport- ant and gave little promise of development until after the completion of the Camden & Amboy Railroad, in 1833. In the year following it con- tained only about a score of dwellings. The population in 1900 was
4
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
6,349. The railroads and coal trade afford employment to a large portion of the resident laborers. In the immediate vicinity are several large pot- tery works, and the Bergen Iron Works.
The public schools compare favorably with those of any city of simi- lar size in the State, and a number of private schools are maintained. There are churches of the Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist and Roman Catholic denominations. Doane Memorial Chapel (Protestant Episcopal ) about one mile from the village, on the Matawan road, was erected in 1866 by Mrs. R. S. Conover, as a memorial to the late Right Rev. George Washington Doane, Bishop of New Jersey.
Sayreville, some miles westward from South Amboy, and also on the Raritan River, the home of a population of one thousand people, grew up under the influence of the extensive brick and pottery manufactories which were established there and in the vicinity. It also contains extensive green- houses and nurseries, which are widely renowned.
The village was formerly known as Roundabout, taking its name for the reason of the very circuitous water route from the place! to Sandy Hook Bay by way of the Raritan River and South River.
A BIT OF ROAD.
Sewaren, two miles north of Perth Amboy, on a bluff paralleling the waters of Staten Island Sound, and on the Long Branch Division of the New Jersey Central Railroad, affords delightful advantages to numerous
5
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
permanent residents, many of whom are connected with extensive manu- facturing interests in the immediate vicinity. It offers nearly every possi- ble attraction for a home in the country. In summer, yachting is one of the chief amusements of the place, for the inlet on which many of the docks stand makes a land-locked harbor, insuring good anchorage. The bathing facilities are unexcelled anywhere on Jersey waters. The long, sloping beach with its bath houses, is a delightful place for those who enjoy the salt water. There are excellent roads in all directions, to Perth Amboy, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Rahway and Staten Island. At this place are located the commodious Boynton works for the manufacture of brick drain pipe and tile and hollow brick for roofing fire-proof buildings. These works have been developed from a small beginning made thirty-six years ago. The property fronts on Woodbridge creek, and abuts on Staten Island Sound. The daily product during the busy season amounts in value to a half million dollars, and is extensively used in the best buildings in the national capitol and other large cities. The Vulcan Metal Re- fining Company employs fifty persons in converting tin scraps into steel.
WOODBRIDGE.
Woodbridge is one of the oldest towns in Middlesex, situated almost immediately north of Perth Amboy, and the township in which it lies was chartered June 1, 1669. Its settlers were mostly descendants of the Pil- grims, and from one of their number, the Rev. John Woodbridge, of New- bury, Massachusetts, the village derived its name. The grant privileged the inhabitants, among other things, to choose their own magistrates and ministers, authorized a court of judicature, guaranteed liberty of conscience "according to the terms of the concessions," .and stipulated that the in- habitants should have "the privilege of a free trade, unburdened by any excise or tax save such as may be imposed by the government and general assembly for defraying public charges." Lots were drawn for May 8. 1717, under the supervision of John Parker, and Caleb Campbell was per- mitted to draw a lot in consideration of his wife having been the first Christian child born in Woodbridge.
June 24, 1769, a royal charter was issued incorporating the free schools of Woodbridge. However, schools had been previously existent. James Fullerton being mentioned as schoolmaster in 1689. John Brown, of Amboy, was engaged to teach a free school in 1694, but it is uncertain whether he actually served, protest having been made against his appoint- ment, and a few months later John Backer (or Baker) was employed. From this time, however, schools were maintained almost constantly.
6
HISTORY OF THE NEW JERSEY COAST.
The history of religion in the community begins in 1669, when the Presbyterians prepared for the formation of a society, but a meeting house was not completed until 1675. The first minister was the Rev. Sam- uel Treat, in 1670. In 1680 the Rev. John Allen entered upon his duties as the formally inducted town minister. At a later day the Rev. Archibald Riddell was the pastor. In 1689 he set sail for England, but when near his destined port his vessel was captured by a French man-of-war, and he, with a ten-year old son, was sent to France, where they were imprisoned for two years, and were finally exchanged and allowed to go to Scotland. The Woodbridge church established a cemetery, which is said to be one of the oldest burying grounds in the State. The Rev. Mr. Dalley, prior to 1882, estimated that the grounds contained two thousand graves, and Dr. H. R. Stiles printed a list of twelve hundred inscriptions upon stones covering them. The church yet exists and is in prosperous condition.
The Quakers were numerous from the earliest days, and there is rec- ord of a meeting of members of this sect August 3, 1686, and there is evidence of a meeting house and burial place in 1705. These people es- tablished a small circulating library for their own use. The society finally abandoned its organization, and in 1784 its property, including the burying ground, passed into the possession of the Methodists.
Trinity church ( Protestant Episcopal) was formed in 1711 by a num- ber of persons who separated themselves from the Presbyterian church. A small house of worship was built, but it was never completed- and eventu- ally went to ruin. In 1754 another church was built, but services were held irregularly, or by ministers who also served other congregations, un- til subsequent to 1830. The building was repaired in 1842; it was burned down in 1858; and in 1860 it was replaced by a large and substantial edi- fice, which was dedicated by Bishop Odenheimer, May 20, 1861.
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