USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties : embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, the Indians, their language, manners and customs, important historical events. > Part 32
USA > New Jersey > Ocean County > A history of Monmouth and Ocean counties : embracing a genealogical record of earliest settlers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their descendants, the Indians, their language, manners and customs, important historical events. > Part 32
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avocation he was so unexpectedly about to be engaged in, and of what he should say and how he should ad- dress the people ; but the passage: "Take no thought what ye shall say," etc., appears to have greatly relieved his mind. Sunday morning they proceeded to the church, Potter very joyful and Murray uneasy, dis- trusting his own abilities to realize the singularly high- formed expectations of his kind host. The church at that day is described as being "neat and convenient, with a pulpit rather after the Quaker mode, with but one new pew and that a large square one just below the pulpit in which sat the venerable Potter and his family and visiting strangers; the rest of the seats were constructed with backs, roomy and even elegant." As Murray was preaching, Potter looked up into the pulpit, his eyes sparkling with pleasure, seemingly completely happy at the fulfillment of what he believed a promise long deferred. We have no record of the substance of this, the first Universalist sermon in America, nor of its impression upon any of the hearers save one-that one, Thomas Potter himself, appears to have had all his expectations realized, and upon their return home over- whelmed Murray with his frank warm-hearted congratu- lations ; and soon visitors poured in. Said Potter to them : "This is the happiest day of my life; there, neighbors, there is the minister God has sent me." Murray was so overcome by the old man's enthusiastic demonstrations that he retired to his room, and tells us he "prostrated himself at the throne of grace, and besought God to take him and do with him what he pleased."
After a while he returned to the company and found the boatmen with them, who wished him to go on board immediately, as the wind was fair. So he was compelled to leave. His host was loth to part with him, and exacted a promise from him to return, which he soon did, and preached often in the Potter church, and other villages. The first place he visited during this stay was Toms River. He relates two or three interesting scenes occur-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
ring here, in explaining to individuals his peculiar religious views. The next village he visited was Mana- hawkin.
For many years, and though travelling in various parts of the United States, yet as long as Thomas Potter lived, his house at Goodluck was considered by Murray as his home. At length, after being away some time on a religious mission, he returned and found that his good old friend was dead; his letter describing this visit, recounting some of the scenes of Potter's life, his traits of character, his own feelings, etc., is full of tender feeling and sincere grief, admirably expressed, and the substance of the discourse which he preached on that occasion, in that memorable old chapel, is a touching specimen of Murray's eloquence. A brief extract will serve to give an idea of Murray's style and of his feelings towards his departed friend. His text was: "For ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." Towards the close of his discourse, pointing towards Potter's grave, which could be seen from where he stood he says :
"Through yonder open casement I behold the grave of a man, the recollection of whom swells my heart with gratitude, and fills my eyes with tears. There sleeps the sacred dust of him who well understood the advantages resulting from the public worship of God. There rests the ashes of him who glorified God in his body and in his spirit, which he well knew were the Lord's. He believed he was bought with a price, and therefore he declared that all that he had and all that he was were righteously due to God, who created and purchased him with a price all price beyond. There rests the precious dust of the friend of strangers, whose hospitable doors were ever open to the destitute, and him who had none to relieve his sufferings ; his dust reposes close to this edifice, itself a monument of his piety. Dear, faithful man! when last I stood in this place, he was present among the assembly of the people. I marked his glisten- ing eye; it always glistened at the emphatic name of
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HISTORY OF THE POTTER CHURCH.
Jesus. Even now, I behold in imagination, his venerable countenance ; benignity is seated on his brow ; his mind apparently open and confiding; tranquillity reposeth upon his features ; every varying emotion evincing faith in that enduring peace which passeth understanding. Let us, my friends, imitate his philanthropy, his charity, his piety. I may never meet you again until we unite to swell the loud hallelujahs before the throne of God. But to hear of your faith, of your perseverance, of your works of charity, of your brotherly love, will heighten my enjoyments and soothe my sorrows, even to the verge of mortal pilgrimage."
Potter, in his will, left the church to Murray. It was Mr. Murray's desire as well as Mr. Potter's, that the church should be kept free to all denominations for the worship of God.
The will of THOMAS POTTER was dated May 11, 1777, proved May 2, 1782, and is recorded in the Secretary of State's office at Trenton. In regard to the church he says :
" The house I built for those that God shall cause to meet there, to serve or worship him to the same use still, and I will that my dear friend JOHN MURRAY, preacher of the gospel, shall have the sole direction and manage- ment of said house and one acre of land, where the house now stands, for the use above mentioned."
The house and lot was sold to Methodists by deed, dated November 7, 1809; the deed is from Nathaniel Cook, of Monmouth County, of the first part, and Paul Potter, Samuel Woodmansee, John Cranmer, Caleb Falk- inburg, Isaac Rogers, John Tilton and David Bennett, Trustees. Consideration, one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The church was rebuilt in 1841, while Rev. Noah Edwards was pastor on the circuit. The Trustees then were Joseph Holmes, Amos Falkinburg, James Day, Reuben Tilton, Paul Potter and Joseph Preston. For rebuilding $703.70 was subscribed, of which amount $667.20-was paid in to Trustees ; the balance was not col- lected.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
The last services held by the Universalists in this church was in the Fall of 1874.
This church property is now under the control of the Methodists ; the Universalists, although manifesting little or no disposition to dispute their claims, yet contend that its sale was through " the mismanagement of the ex- ecutor to satisfy illegal claims," etc.
In the burying ground of the church a headstone . was erected over the grave of Thomas Potter May 15, 1833, and surrounded by an iron fence. The headstone bears the following inscription :
In Memory OF THOMAS POTTER, Friend and Patron
OF JOHN MURRAY. An Early Advocate OF UNIVERSALISM IN AMERICA.
Have we not all one Father?
Erected May 15, 1533.
PRESBYTERIANISM IN FORKED RIVER.
A few years ago the New Jersey Courier published a communication which, after reference to Presbyterian- ism previous to the Revolution, says : "Subsequent to the Revolution, we have found no written or traditional mention of Presbyterians along shore, until about the year 1828, when Mr. Amos Salter, who had been a mem- ber of the noted old First Presbyterian Church, at Newark, N. J., located at Forked River. Soon after his arrival here, he wrote to an old friend, the Rev. Solomon Carpenter, requesting him to visit and preach at Forked River and vicinity. Mr. Carpenter was, in his day, a noted Presbyterian clergyman and evangelist, who had labored with remarkable success in Essex and Morris counties and vicinity. In compliance with this request,
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PRESBYTERIANISM IN FORKED RIVER.
Mr. Carpenter and his wife, who, by the way, was a most faithful and zealous helper in Christian labor, proceeded to Forked River. Mr. Carpenter labored at Forked River and vicinity for a brief time, and was assisted at times by his wife who (an aged minister says) made the best prayers he ever heard. He died a year or two after this visit, and his wife subsequently married Rev. John . R. McDowell, of New York, who was the founder of the American Moral Reform Society."
Mr. Carpenter had a brother Ephraim who occa- sionally preached along shore about the same time.
Rev. Mr. Newell, a young Presbyterian clergyman, came to Forked River about December, 1844, and taught school until June, 1845, and while here he held religious services as opportunity offered.
About this time Mr. and Mrs. William Gulick, of the celebrated Gulick Sandwich Island missionary family, lived at Forked River, having returned to the United States on account of the health of Mrs. G., who was a most estimable Christian, of fine educational attainments. She taught a small select school, but though of Presby- terian proclivities, neither of them were able to do much in the way of holding religious services.
About the first of June, 1850, Rev. Thomas S. Dewing, who has been mentioned in speaking of Presby- terianism at Toms River, located along shore. In a private letter written in 1877, Mr. Dewing states that he had seven preaching places from Toms River to Man- ahawkin.
At Forked River he preached in the old school- house. He took especial interest in the Sabbath School, of which he was superintendent and which was the first regular Presbyterian Sunday school established at Forked River. Among the teachers who assisted him were Miss Angeline Holmes, since deceased, Miss Laura E. Holmes (now Mrs. Captain E. M. Lonan), Miss Sarah A. Rogers (now Mrs. W. A. Low), Misses Eleanor and Catharine Jones, Edwin Salter and probably occasionally B. Franklin Holmes and Enoch Jones.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
In the summer of 1860 a Sunday School was again established through the instrumentality of a Presby- terian, Miss Robbins, an estimable Christian lady who had charge of the district school. At her solicitation, Edwin Salter acted as superintendent and Misses Emelia Holmes, Mary J. Lonan, Adelaide Stout, Jane E. Jones, Elizabeth Sutphen and Lodisa Rogers, and Mrs. Edgar Thompson and Henry Howell acted as teachers ; Miss Robbins herself took charge of a class of young ladies, and Mr. Salter of the older boys. At another time, Miss Emelia Smith, a Presbyterian lady, who had charge of the district school and who made her home with Capt. Joseph Holmes, exerted a favorable influence in favor of the society to which she belonged.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FORKED RIVER.
The Presbyterian Society of Forked River and vicinity bought the building erected by the Baptists at Cedar Creek and the certificate of the incorporation of "The Presbyterian Church of Cedar Creek" was recorded June 17, 1857, and names as trustees Joseph Holmes, James Jones and William A. Low.
The building was taken down in 1865 and removed to Forked River. It had been bought of the Baptists in 1857 chiefly through the agency of Rev. Dr. Charles F. Worrell. At Forked River it was put up on a lot pre- sented by Mr. James Jones. The certificate of incorpora- tion of the Presbyterian Church at Forked River states that at a meeting held June 9, 1865, the trustees elected were James Jones, Joseph Holmes and Benjamin F. Holmes. The certificate was filed in County Clerk's office September 19, 1865.
In March of the same year a Sabbath School was established, of which Rev. Mr. Frazee of Toms River, became superintendent, and it proved very successful.
Among the ministers who occasionally preached were Rev. Messrs. Darrach, D. V. McLean, J. H. Frazee, C. F. Worrell, Wm. S. Betts, Frank Chandler, Thaddeus Wilson
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FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AT FORKED RIVER.
and Allen H. Brown. In January, 1871, Rev. Frank Chandler, of Freehold, presented the Sabbath School with a fine library comprising 200 volumes of new books.
June 17, 1873, a Presbyterian Church was regularly organized at Forked River.
The following were the first members of the church : Edwin R. Spaulding, Josephine M. Spaulding, John Bowers, Anna M. Bowers, Theodosia Bowers, Randolph Lane, Joseph Holmes, Sr., Ann Holmes, Deborah A. Stout, Mary J. Lonan.
On September 14, 1873, Rev. James M. Denton was called as the first pastor of the church. All efforts of ministers previous to that had been of a missionary character. He accepted, and was installed November 25, 1873.
The same evening the new pastor, Rev. Mr. Denton, was married to Miss Theodosia Bowers, daughter of John Bowers.
The superintendent of the Sunday School at this time was Elder E. R. Spaulding.
This church being under the same pastor as the Presbyterian Church at Barnegat, the successive pastors were the same.
THE FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AT FORKED RIVER.
The first Sunday School established at Forked River was in 1828, and continued, probably, with some intermis- sions, until about 1831. It was organized through the efforts of Mr. Amos Salter, a Presbyterian from Newark, N. J., and living at Forked River. The books for the school were procured in part from the American Sunday School Union, and in part from some of Amos Salter's old Presbyterian friends at Newark.
The Sunday School was non-sectarian, as there was no Presbyterian in the vicinity but the superintendent, whose unselfish labors and conscientious adherence to old Presbyterian precepts and practices, even to reading the Bible and having family prayers morning and evening, made a favorable impression on the people of the vicinity.
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
The following list, though prepared from memory, gives the names of nearly all the regular attendants of the school : Elmira Rogers, Isaac Rogers, Katie Rogers (deaf and dumb), Joel Worden, Martha Worden, Daniel Worden, Samuel Worden, Anthony Salter, John Salter, Daniel Salter, Elizabeth Salter, Emeline Salter, Silas Salter, Smith Salter, Sarah Salter, Edwin Salter, Joseph Parker, Randolph Lane, Alice Lane, Ann Maria Lippin- cott, Debby Lippincott, Hannah Lippincott, Manly Lippincott, Jesse Bunnell, Miles Bunnell, Lydia Bunnell, Amos Bunnell, J. Snowden Bunnell, Melinda Bunnell, Augustus Conover, Joseph Conover, Angeline Holmes, Laura E. Holmes, Daniel L. Chamberlain, Sarah Cham- berlain, Robert L. Chamberlain, John Chamberlain, Jane Chamberlain, Leonard Brinley, William (?) Soper, Catharine List, Judith List, Amanda Williams, John Russell, Hester Woolley, John Woolley, Ann Woolley, John Worden, James Worden, Elizabeth Worden, Harriet Worden, John Cornelius, Lydia Tilton, Cornelius Lane, James Chamberlain, William Ferguson, Leah Soper. .
Of the above, Elmira Rogers married Capt. Samuel Beatty, Hannah Lippincott married Capt. Anthony Camburn, Elizabeth Salter married Capt. J. Conover Williams, Ann Woolley married Capt. Randolph Lane, Hester Woolley married Capt. John Parker, Emeline Salter married Capt. David S. Parker, Amanda Williams married Capt. Jacob Vaughn, Laura E. Holmes married Capt. Edward Lonan, Martha Worden married John Barkalew, Sarah Chamberlain married Joseph Yarnall.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT FORKED RIVER.
The certificate of incorporation of this church is dated October 13, 1884, and names as Trustees Charles P. Bunnell, B. S. Chamberlain, Job Faulkinburgh, Annaniah G. Wilbert, Uriah Havens, Winfield S. Parker and Charles Williams.
Services were first held in it in the fall of 1887, before the edifice was completed and while Rev. Mr. Tomlin was pastor in charge. The Methodists had held
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SONS OF TEMPERANCE, HOLMES' OLD MILL, ETC.
services in the old Forked River schoolhouses almost from Bishop Asbury's time.
GOODLUCK DIVISION SONS OF TEMPERANCE, NO. 107.
The charter of this Division, dated March 12, 1849, names as charter members Joseph Parker, Samuel Potter, Jacob Platt, David I. C. Rogers and others; and was signed by .Wmn. P. Searles, G. W. P., and Henry B. Howell, Jr., G. S. of the Grand Lodge of the State. It was incorporated the following year, Cornelius Lane, W. P., and Charles W. Bunnell, R. S., and the certificate recorded December 21, 1850.
HOLMES' OLD MILL.
The upper mill on the north branch of Forked River was formerly known as Holmes' Mill. On the first of August, 1759, a survey of one and one-half acres there was made to Jeremiah Stilwell "at request of John Holmes, the elder." This tract was by the mill-pond. In 1760, John Holmes, the elder, bought sixteen acres.
In 1766 John Holmes, the elder, and Daniel Holmes bought 10.60 acres.
John Holmes, the elder, died intestate and his estate went to his children, William, Jonathan, John, Huldah, who married Daniel Williams, Mary, who mar- ried Thomas Green, and Catharine and Sarah; the estate was subject to the right of dower of the widow Catharine, who afterwards married Thomas Wright.
William Holmes, son of John, bought out the other heirs August 6, 1795.
In 1810 James Hankinson took up fifty acres adjoin- ing mill tract, but the survey was mislocated. In the same year he took up fifty-three acres in same vicinity.
WARETOWN PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST CHURCH.
The certificate of incorporation, recorded February 16, 1869, states that whereas the Evangelical and Relig- ious Society, usually meeting for public worship at Waretown, did assemble October 30, 1868, and adopt the name of "The Methodist and Presbyterian Church at
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
Waretown " and elected the following Trustees: Daniel Camburn, Joseph Camburn, Elwood Headley, Garrison Camburn and James Anderson.
UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY, WARETOWN.
At a meeting held May 4, 1867, the following persons were elected Trustees of the "Universalist meeting, Waretown": Jacob Birdsall, James Edwards, R. Lathrop, John Warren, Enoch H. Jones.
The certificate of incorporation was recorded May 7, 1867.
In the fall of 1883 an addition of twelve feet to the rear of the church was made and the roof raised about two feet.
WARETOWN CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
At a meeting held at the Select Schoohouse, Ware- town, June 18, 1861, of which Samuel Birdsall was Chairman, and Jacob Birdsall Secretary, the following persons were named as members of the Association : Benjamin Predmore, Sr., Jacob Birdsall, Ezekiel Bird- sall, Elwood Wilkins, Taylor C. Newberry, Enoch H. Jones, Joseph H. Birdsall, Samuel Birdsall.
The annual meetings to be held the last Saturday in each year. The certificate of incorporation was recorded June 21, 1861.
The cemetery grounds are located on rising ground on a road to the bay and an ancient graveyard is included in the bounds. The lots are large and some are owned by people living elsewhere who have ancestors buried here.
GEN. JOHN LACEY.
General John Lacey was born in Bucks county, Pa., February 4, 1775. His paternal ancestor was from the Isle of Wight, and came to this country with William Penn. General Lacey's ancestors and all his descendants were Quakers. At the breaking ont of the Revolution,
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GEN. JOHN LACEY.
his love of freedom predominated over his anti-war creed, and he made up his mind to obtain it peaceably if he could, forcibly if he must. He took a captain's com- mission of the Continental Congress, January 6, 1776, for which he was at once disowned by the Quakers. He left his home, his society, his mill, to do battle for his country. He served under General Wayne, in Canada, and performed the hazardous duty of carrying an express from General Sullivan to Arnold, when before Quebec. On his return next year he resigned on account of a diffi- culty with General Wayne. He was then appointed by the Pennsylvania Legislature to organize the militia of Bucks county. He was soon elected Colonel. He was now in the midst of Tories and Quakers, who were acting in concert with the enemy, some of whom threatened him with personal vengeance. These threats he disregard- ed as the idle wind. He brought his regiment into the field and performed feats of valor that at once raised him to a high standard in the list of heroes. His conduct was particularly noticed by Washington, and he was honored with the commission of Brigadier-General, Jan- uary 9th, and ordered to relieve General Porter. He was then but twenty-two years old.
After the evacuation of Philadelphia, General Lacey was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and served three consecutive sessions. In 1781 he closed his military career, and like a good citizen married an amia- ble daughter of Col. Reynolds, of New Jersey, and com- menced a successful career of domestic felicity. He filled various civil offices, lived in the esteem of every patriot (not of all his Quaker relatives) and died at the village of New Mills, (now Pemberton) New Jersey, Feb. 14, 1814, in his 59th year.
In recent years a monument was erected to the mem- ory of General Lacey, in Bucks County, Pa., where he was born, and dedicated with much ceremony.
The will of General Lacey was dated 1811 and proved March 14, 1814, and is recorded at Mount Holly. It named wife Antis, daughter Eliza, wife of Wm. Smith ;
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
daughter Kitty, wife of William Darling or Darlington, daughter Jane C. Lacey : son Thomas R. Lacey.
He requests his wife Antis to care for his aged mother, Executors Caleb Newbold and William Irick.
The will of Antis Lacey, widow of General Lacey, is dated 1815 and proved February, 1816. She lived at New Mills. She left to her son Thomas R. Lacey all her estate at New Mills, now called Pemberton-dwelling houses, barns, mills, etc., and the remainder of her prop- erty to her three daughters, Eliza Smith, Catharine Dar- lington and Jane C. Hongh.
FOREST FIRES.
Fires have been so frequent in the extensive forests of Ocean county, that it is a hopeless task to attempt to enumerate them or describe in detail the exciting scenes they have occasioned. Often thousands of acres are swept over and tens of thousands of dollars' worth of tim- ber are burned in a very short time. With a high wind, the roar of the fire in the woods, the flames leaping from tree-top to tree-top and running along the dried leaves and bushes on the ground make an appalling scene never to be forgotten; and the exciting work of fighting fire, with the flames often leaping over their heads or on the ground escaping and surrounding them, is too familiar to our old citizens to need describing.
About fifty years ago, a fire broke out in the woods between Oyster Creek and Forked River, and many per- sons from Waretown and Forked River endeavored to subdue it. A sudden shift and increase of the wind brought the flames down with such rapidity upon the men that they had to run for their lives toward the nearest body of water, which happened to be the old Frank Cornelius mill pond on Forked River ; but one man named George Collins, of Waretown, missed the right road, and was overtaken by the flames and burned to death. His shoes were left to mark the spot where he was burned, for twenty or thirty years after.
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HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN OCEAN COUNTY.
HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS IN OCEAN COUNTY.
The first church built in Ocean county was the one generally known as the Baptist Church at Manahawken. It was built at least as early as 1758, as it is said the original deed for the land on which it was situated is dated August 24, 1758, and calls for 1 20-100 acres, " be- ginning at a stake 265 links north-west from the meeting- house," by which it appears the edifice was already erected. There is a tradition that the church was orig- inally erected as a free church, chiefly through the instrumentality of James Haywood. That it was free to all denominations is quite evident, as in it meetings were held by Quakers, Presbyterians, and probably Metho- dists, and Rev. John Murray, the founder of Universalism in America, also preached in it. In Webster's History of Presbyterianism it is claimed as a Presbyterian Church. The author probably supposed it to be such because ministers of that society held regular services in it-in fact, they held them many years before the Baptist Society was organized, and were entertained by Messrs. Haywood and Randolph, subsequently named among the founders of the Baptist Society, as appears by a letter written by Rev. John Brainerd in 1761. It is evident that the early settlers of Manahawken were not only anxious to hear the Word of Truth, but also believed in religious toleration.
The history of the Baptist Society at Manahawken, as given in its old church record, was evidently written many years after the organization of the society. It is well worth preserving in our local religious history. The following is substantially from the church record :
"About 1760, James Haywood, a Baptist from Coven- try, England ; Benjamin, Reuben and Joseph Randolph, also Baptists, from Piscataway, settled in this neighbor- hood. They were visited by Rev. Mr. Blackwell, who preached and baptized among them. Other Baptists settled among them from Scotch Plains ; so that in 1770, they were multiplied to nine souls, which nine were con-
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES.
stituted a Gospel church that same year by Rev. Ben- jamin Miller. They joined the Baptist Association, and were cecasionally visited by other brethren, so that in 1776 they numbered fifteen. Rev. Henry Crossley resided among them some time, and was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Bonnell, after whose departure there was no more account of Manahawken Church ; so that in 1799, at a meeting of the Baptist Association at Great Valley, they were about to be erased from the records, but at the intervention of one or two brethren they were spared, and visited by ministering brethren, and that not in vain, for though there could none be found of the character of Baptists save five female members, two of whom are since deceased, yet a number round about were baptized among them ; but not meeting in membership with them, it remained doubtful whether they could be considered a church. Next season, they were represented to the Association with flattering prospects, and a query was made whether they really were a church, which query was answered in the affirmative ; in consequence of which supplies were named, some of whom proposed the propriety of receiving into fellowship among them such as had been, or may be in future baptized among them. The proposition was generally accepted, both by the old members and young candidates, and in confirmation of which the first Sunday in July, 1802, was set apart for the above purpose, when Brothers Alexander McGowan and Benjamin Hedges gave their assistance. Brother McGowan, pastor of the church at New Mills (now Pemberton), by authority, and one behalf of Sarah Puryne (Perrine ?) Mary Sprague and Elizabeth Sharp, the remainder of the church in the place, receiving into union, by right hand of fellowship, the following named persons, viz :
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