USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Pennington > A history of the old Presbyterian congregation of "The people of Maidenhead and Hopewell" : more especially of the First Presbyterian Church of Hopewell, at Pennington, New Jersey, delivered at the pastor's request, on Sabbath morning, July 2d, 1876 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
5
)
2
1 11
18
s. d.
s. d.
Philip Rodgers
1
7
Stephen Barton
4
Ralph Hart
2 11
Sam1 Fitch
4
Reuben Armitage
4
11 Timothy Smith
4
Ralph Hunt
2
10 Thomas Burrows Jun"
1
11
Richard Hart
2
5
Thomas Hoff
4
6
Robert Akers
2
5
Timothy Brush
1
9
Richard Hoff
1
9 Timothy Titus
2
9
Richard Roberts
1
7 Thos Cain
8
Return Temple
8 Thos Drake
1
11
Richard Phillips
3
Thos Blackwell
2
5
Robert Lansing
2
6 Titus Hixon
4
Richard Evins
2
8
Valentine Bryant
3
10
Richard Stillwell
4
Vincent Runyon
1
1
Sam1 Stout Esq™
7
7 Wilson Hunt
10
9
Seth Field
2
6 Wm Bryant
2
9
Sam1 Furman
1
1
Wm Merrill cooper
11
Sam1 Hunt
5
5 Wm Parke
1
7
Sam1 Tucker
1
2
Wm Reed
1
5
Sarah Temple
1
4
Wm Cornwall
1 5
Sacket Moore
3
4 Wm Newton
4
Sam1 Moore
2
2 Wm Waters
2
4
Stephen Burrowes
2
11 Wm Runals
5
Sam1 Ketcham
1
7 Wm Merrill
4
Smith Cornwall
1
8
Zebulon Stout
2
6
Stephen Biles
6
Zedekiah Pettitt
2
2
Sam1 Morris
4
AZARIAH HUNT,
Assessor.
We here introduce brief memoranda of some of the original settlers, beginning with
ENOCH ARMITAGE, a model ruling elder of the olden time, who deserves some notice in the annals of Ameri- can Presbyterianism.
A record made by himself informs us that he was a son of John Armitage, and born November 27, 1677, at Ligeate, in Kirk Burton Parish, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. His wife, Martha, died in Eng- land, August 4, 1713. His children, Mary, John, Reu-
19
ben and Lydia, were born in England, and, with the exception of John, are known to have settled with their father in this country. Mr. Armitage set sail from Liverpool March 14, 1719, arrived at New York May 30, and soon took up his permanent residence on a farm a mile northeast from Pennington, in Hopewell Town- ship, New Jersey. His property has been owned and most of the time occupied by successive generations of the family. In about eighteen months after his arrival he was chosen clerk of the township, and probably about the same time was appointed an elder of the Presbyterian Church ; for in the latter capacity he was present with his pastor, the Rev. Moses Dickinson, at the sessions of the Synod of Philadelphia in 1722, '24 and '25. His name is found in the minutes of the mother presbytery, and occurs last in the Synodical Records of 1737.
In the conflict in the Presbyterian Church of this country, which issued in the schism of 1741, Mr. Armi- tage, Thomas Burrowes (ancestor of the Rev. George Burrowes, D.D.), Edward Hart (father of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, 1776) and Timothy Baker were prominent supporters of the Old Side in the congregation with which they were con- nected.
The erection of the first church edifice in Pennington is to be ascribed in part to the zeal and liberality of Mr. Armitage, for credible tradition reports that he gave all the timber, besides work done gratuitously in the line of his trade, he being a blacksmith. His old Bible, printed in 1671, which was the companion of his daily meditations, is an instructive relic. Well pre- served, though much worn by use, it reminds of that
20
plain but godly woman who said, "I read the Old Testament in the morning, and I read the New Testa- ment in the evening; but the Psalms-I keep them a'going all the time."
One of the most interesting memorials which this worthy man has left behind him is an original address delivered by him to the people, after their pastor, the Rev. Moses Dickinson, had left them to be settled in Norwalk, Connecticut. It is entitled, "Some Medita- tions upon the 15th, 16th and 17th verses of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter of Numbers, occasioned by the removal of Mr. Dickinson, and delivered at Hope- well Meeting House by E. A., 1727."
He commences thus :- "Beloved friends, having no book suitable to the outward circumstances of the con- gregation, and being something more than ordinary affected with our present desolate condition, and being encouraged by your kind acceptance of what I have been enabled to do in your service since Divine Provi- dence cast my lot amongst you, I proceed to deliver my meditations on these verses, especially the last : clause of the seventeenth verse, 'that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep that have no shepherd.'" This, it would appear, was not the first time he had served them in the absence of a preacher. His manner of treating the subject proves him to have been an attentive hearer of sermons, a close observer, a clear thinker, sound in doctrine, fearless in duty, "mighty in the Scriptures," and possessed of an admirable Christian spirit. The address must have occupied more than an hour in the delivery. It contains judicious and weighty suggestions that might be profitable to the under-shep- herds as well as to the sheep of the Lord's flock. We
21
quote the following passages : "I think-though I find no Scripture to back my opinion-yet, considering the many opinions and parties among Christians-that it is necessary that he [a pastor] have a competent knowl- edge of the original languages from which the Scrip- tures were translated. Thereby he will be better able to defend against the errors and heresies ; otherwise he must always take the sense of Scripture from others ; and wherein they differ, he may be at a loss whose interpretations to follow. But yet it must be owned, that sometimes it hath pleased God in these latter days to call men to his work, and furnish them with gifts and graces, and blessed their labors to the spiritual good of others, though they only know their native language." His practical remarks at the conclusion are arranged under six heads, viz .: "It is the duty of those that are as sheep without a shepherd : Ist. To hearken unto the voice of Christ, the chief shepherd. 2dly. To preserve unity and concord among themselves. 3dly. Pray God to send them a pastor after his own heart. 4thly. Seek the common good. 5thly. Watch against enemies, and over one another. 6thly. Observe the motions and conduct of Divine Providence." What better counsels could be given to any vacant congre- gations ?
In regard to meetings for social prayer, he says : "As far as I can learn, it hath been the practice of Christians in all ages to meet together to pray, and what can be the reason that this spiritual exercise is neglected in this country I cannot account for. I am informed it is practised in New England, and I have seen an excellent discourse in print that was preached to a company of young men that met together to pray
L
22
at stated times in Boston; but here is none of that exercise. But where the fault of it lies, the Lord knows, and where it will be found at last, there it must be accounted for. I am well assured God's people have found it a soul-refreshing, grace-strengthening exercise ; and I could tell you of some remarkable instances of God's gracious answers to the humble, serious, understanding and affectionate prayers of his people at such times. It was a saying of Mr. Dod, 'What we win by prayer we shall wear with comfort.'"
Mr. Armitage died on Sabbath, January 28, 1738-9, and was buried on the following Wednesday in the Presbyterian churchyard at Pennington. At his funeral the Rev. David Cowell, of Trenton, preached a sermon from Luke ii. 29-" Now lettest thou thy servant de- part in peace according to thy word." At the conclu- sion of the discourse a high tribute is paid to the worth of the deceased, the larger portion of which is here given :
" The words of our text Mr. Armitage adopted as his own, and desired they might be discoursed upon at his funeral. Those most acquainted with him testified to his disposition for peace. God had given him by nature a calm and quiet spirit, which was his orna- ment and glory. He was not subject to anger, heats and passions, as many others are, and this happy natural talent, assisted and improved by a religious principle and the love of God, was so bright and shining that his moderation was known to all men who had the happiness of an intimate acquaintance with him. In his dealings he was strictly just and honest; to those in distress, charitable and ready to help and assist. In his conversation he was grave without mo-
23
roseness and pleasant without levity. From the quick- ness of his wit and the strength and clearness of his judgment, he was ready on all occasions to bring out of the good treasure of his heart things new and old. The sum of his religion was love to God and his neighbor, without being rigid and contentious for things indifferent. The government of his family was with the greatest economy and religious order. His stated times for prayer, both private and secret, his times for instructing his family, for taking refreshment, and his times for following the works of his calling, followed one another so constantly by turns, and in the revolu- tion of such certain periods, that they seldom interfered, much less justled out each other; and such a vein of religion ran through the whole, that his life was like the life of Enoch, whose name he bore, a walking with God. If we consider him at church, we shall find he was constant and devout in attendance upon God's public worship. In the management of church affairs, which was early committed to him, and continued to the last, he deservedly obtained that character of a good steward to be faithful; and as his management was the product of religious principles and a sound judgment, he had the satisfaction to see them approved by the wisest and best Christians. Such a religious, honest and just walk in his own house, and in the, house of God, procured for him the esteem of persons of all persuasions and all characters. If he was ma- ligned by any self-conceited brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing but what is framed by themselves and hammered on their anvil, as their ignorance was the cause, so that only can plead their excuse. A sovereign God gave him such a fidu-
24
cial sight of Christ, and his own interest in him, founded on the divine promises, that he adopted the words of good old Simeon for his own. He made it the business of his life to follow peace with all men, and it was his grief his endeavors succeeded no better. He desired to die in peace, and to have a hopeful prospect of peace after his death. With respect to himself his prayer was eminently answered. When he passed through the valley of death, God was with him. Death gave one friendly stroke, and it was over-that he rather seemed to conquer than to be overcome."
Of the numerous descendants of Mr. Armitage may be mentioned the Rev. Enoch Green, who died at Deer- field, New Jersey, November 2, 1776, while pastor of the Presbyterian Church in that place; the late Enoch Green, an elder in Easton First Church; Daniel G. Howell, once an elder in Pennington Church; Charles H. and Henry P. Muirheid, of Philadelphia; Dr. W. W. L. Phillips, of Trenton; Daniel Christopher, of Freehold; Lewis J. Titus, an elder in Lambertville Church ; Enoch A. Titus, an elder in Pennington Church ; Daniel C. Titus, a deacon and trustee ,at Pennington ; Elizabeth Moore, widow of the Rev. William J. Blythe, and her brothers, Imlah, Charles, Ely and Thomas; and we ought not to omit his own son, Reuben Armitage, who was, until his death in 1783, one of the strong pillars of the church.
THOMAS BURROWES, son of Edward Burrowes of Ja- maica, Long Island, is not named as an elder; but he took an active part in the affairs of the church. Mr. Guild often preached at his house. He owned the three farms now occupied by his descendant Stephen
.
25
B. Smith, the heirs of Aaron H. Burroughs, and the Messrs. Craft, land bought on the 17th of November, 1699. He had five sons, Edward, Thomas, Stephen, Eden and John, all of whom, with the father, signed the call for the Rev. John Guild's pastoral services, and two daughters, Hannah, and Charity the wife of Zebulon Stout. He died a short time previous to De- cember 15, 1764.
II. Edward married Jane, the oldest child of Sheriff John Muirheid, and had John, Anthony, Zebulon, Ed- ward, Catharine wife of Jesse Atchley and ancestor of all the Atchleys in this township; Hannah wife of John Moore ; Rebekah wife of Frances Reed, and Jane.
II. John settled in Amwell, N. J.
II. Thomas, Jr., took the western section of the farm, and had Foster (the father of Nathaniel, a ruling elder, and grandfather of Mrs. Stacy G. Potts and Rev. George Burrowes, D.D.) ; Stephen (saddler) ; Rachel wife of Jonathan Stout; Rebecca and Charity.
II. Stephen took the homestead, was both an elder and trustee; married twice; his children by the first wife, a Miss Moore, were Hannah wife of Andrew Titus (son of John) ; Mercy wife of Henry Mershon; and Eunice wife of Ebenezer Rose. His second wife was Sarah, widow of Timothy Temple and sister of John Hart, signer of the Declaration of Independence ; and their children were Major Stephen Burrowes, who was both an elder and trustee, and Sarah wife of Andrew Reeder, of Lawrence.
II. Eden married and had two sons, Thomas and Eden. We will add here that Major Stephen Burrowes oc- cupied the homestead, married Hannah, sister of John Carpenter (the ruling elder), and had Harriet, who
26
became the wife of Ralph H. Smith and the mother of Stephen B. Smith.
GEORGE WOOLSEY also came from Jamaica about the year 1700, and settled on the north side of the road leading from " Maidenhead to the Delaware River" over against Thomas Burrowes. His grandfather, George Woolsey, came to Manhattan Island, 1635, and lived among the Dutch, and removed thence to Jamaica, L. I., 1665, and had three sons, Captain George, Thomas, and John.
It was George, the son of Captain George, who settled in Hopewell. His sons were Daniel, Jeremiah, Henry and Joseph, and Jemima wife of Ralph Hart and mother of Dr. Noah Hart, and of his sisters Jerusha, Hannah and Elizabeth.
II. Daniel had a son Benjamin, who lived in Trenton, and was the father of a son and daughter, Henry and Nancy.
II. Henry, son of George, lived in Pennington, south of the churchyard, married Martha daughter of Ephraim Titus, and granddaughter of Enoch Armitage, and had only one child, Martha wife of Philip Vancleve of Lawrence.
II. Joseph, son of George, married a Montgomery, and removed to Maryland.
II. Jeremiah, son of George, married Mary daughter of Joseph Hart, Dec. 15, 1753, and had the following children, of whom it is of record, that (each and) all were baptized in infancy, to wit: Hannah, born April 27, 1755; Ephraim, born March 6, 1757; Mary wife of Louis Perrine of Freehold, born July 27, 1759 ; Je- mima, born August 28, 1761; Susannah, born Decem- ber 4, 1763, and Jeremiah, born June 16, 1769.
27
George Woolsey's will was proved March 11,1762, and the will of his son Jeremiah was proved May 2, 1801; he died April 14, 1801. Ephraim succeeded his father Jeremiah in the ownership of the homestead; married Ann Johnson of Bucks county, Pa., and had the follow- ing children : George, the present owner of the old homestead ; Ephraim, father of Captain Henry Harrison Woolsey, who lost his life before Petersburgh, Va., in the late war; Hannah wife of Deacon Andrew Titus, and mother of the ruling elder, William J. Titus ; Mary wife of Philemon Blackwell, and Eliza.
Dr. Jeremiah Woolsey, son of Jeremiah, graduated at the College of New Jersey, 1787, married a Montgomery, practiced medicine at Allentown, N. J., went to Cincin- nati in 1821, and died February 10, 1834; had three daughters, one of whom was named Catharine, and two sons, William and Daniel, druggists of Evansville, Ind.
Captain Henry Harrison Woolsey, son of Ephraim Woolsey and Eleanor Vancleve, was born about a mile west from Pennington, in 1836, and graduated at the College of New Jersey, 1856. He had commenced the practice of the law, when the assault on Fort Sumpter shook the nation, and young Woolsey, brave, patriotic and conscientious as he was lovely, felt that he must answer the call to arms. After having distinguished himself in several battles, especially that of Gettysburg, where he had command of his regiment, he fell at last, mortally wounded in a skirmish before Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864. His last words were, " I die in a glorious cause, and feel that I have not lived in vain for this world or the world to come." He was buried at Pennington, June 24, in the same grave with his wife, who had died just before the tidings of his own death were telegraphed.
28.
Deacon George Woolsey served three years as a mem- ber of the Legislative Council of New Jersey. He is a third cousin of President Theodore D. Woolsey of Yale College, they both having descended from Captain George Woolsey.
JOHN CARPENTER also came from Jamaica, L. I. His will was made October 1, 1744, and admitted to probate April 2, 1745, indicating at about what date he must have died.
He married Captain Ralph Hart's daughter Mary, sister of Ralph and Josiah, and had sons, Hezekiah and John, between whom the farm was to be divided, accord- ing to the will; also daughters, Mary, wife of John Hunt, innkeeper at Pennington; Sarah wife of Augus- tine Moore ; Hannah wife of Major Stephen Burrowes, and mother of Mrs. Harriet Smith; and Catharine, wife of Israel Moore, and mother of Aaron Moore, of Eliza- beth wife of Josiah Hart, and of Sarah Moore. John, the son, married Ann, sister of Col. John Vancleve, and had two children, John, who died of lockjaw at the age of fourteen, and Elizabeth wife of Peter Beekman of Raritan. He died September 15, 1831, at an advanced age, having been for many years a highly-esteemed citi- zen and a useful ruling elder and trustee of the church.
JOHN MUIRHEID was born in Glasgow, Scotland, married Rebekah Bailey of Jamaica, Long Island, No- vember 22, 1706, and settled here about that time on the farm now owned by Henry B. Perrine, one mile below Pennington. He died in January, 1725, and the widow died December 25, 1759. Both are buried side by side in the Ewing churchyard.
29
Their children were (1) Jane, born August 29, 1710, baptized by Mr. Geo. McNish; (2d) March 1st, 1711- 12, a son baptized George by Mr. Andrews ; (3d) a son born February 1713-14, and baptized John by Mr. Robert Orr; (4th) a son born February 14, 1715-16, baptized William by Mr. Robert Orr; (5th) February 11, 1717-18, a son born and baptized Andrew by Mr. Robert Orr; (6th) December 25, 1719, a daughter bap- tized Rebekah by Mr. James Muirhead; (7th) a daughter baptized Ruth, born May 4, 1723; (8) 1725, a daughter baptized Elizabeth. It is an interesting fact that all of these eight children were baptized in their in- fancy.
Mr. Muirheid was the first High Sheriff of the county of Hunterdon after it was set off from Burlington, March 15, 1713-14. The first gaol of the county was built of logs, and stood not far from Mr. Muirheid's dwelling. A descendant of Mr. Muirheid, of the fifth generation, bearing his name, John, was not long since the sheriff of Mercer county, which is mainly taken from Hunter- don. With the exception of Jane, wife of Edward Bur- rowes, and who, through the marriage of her daughter Catharine with Jesse Atchley, became the ancestor of all the Atchleys of this region, we are acquainted with none but the descendants of Andrew, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Waters. Their children were 1. John, born October 18, 1750; 2. Deborah, born March 20, 1753; 3. Jonathan, born May 7, 1755; 4. William, born October 18, 1757 ; 5. Rebekah, born Feb- ruary 8, 1759; 6. George, born June 25, 1760; 7. Andrew, born December 7, 1764, who married Hannah, daughter of John Stevenson.
JONATHAN, the son of Andrew, married Mary Lott, and
30
had children John, Andrew, William, Elizabeth wife of William Beakes, Mary wife of James Disborough, Ann wife of George Schenck, and Rebecca wife of George McDowell. Jonathan Muirheid, died Nov. 2, 1837, and Mary, his wife, died July 30, 1817, in her fifty- seventh year.
GEORGE MUIRHEID was married to Charity, daughter of the Rev. John Guild, by the Rev. Joseph Rue, June 9, 1788, and their children were, 1st. John Guild, who, by his wife, Elizabeth Howell, had eleven children, five only of whom, Charles H., John Guild, William Harri- son and two daughters survive .* 2nd. Benjamin, who by his wife, Sarah Howell, had children, of whom two sons, John and William B., and two daughters are now living; 3d. Deborah wife of Jesse M. Howell, and mother of several daughters, and of the Rev. Jesse L. Howell. 4th. William. 5th. George. 6th. Elizabeth wife of George Woolsey and mother of a son, Theodore F., and three daughters now living.
This Muirheid family has furnished to this church two ruling elders and five trustees, and to the Church at large one minister of the gospel. In each generation, they have been efficient aids in upholding the interests of the congregation in both temporal and spiritual things.
On the 4th of January, 1745, Andrew Muirheid bought of Joseph Furman a farm near Harbourtown, lately conveyed to him by John Titus, Jr., and that has been the homestead of the Muirheid family for one hundred and thirty-six years.
* The patriotic devotion of Charity wife of John Ogden, and the gal- lant conduct of General Henry P. Muirheid, of the regiment of Rush Lancers in the late war, are held in cherished remembrance by the people of this township.
31
NATHANIEL MOORE came from Newtown, L. I., and took up land about 1708; married Joanna, daughter of the Rev. John Prudden, [first pastor at Jamaica, L. I., and then pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Newark, N. J.,] lived where his lineal descendant, Mrs. Hannah Moore recently died. He died September 6, 1759, in the seventy-second year of his age. His children were John, Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin, Abigail wife of her cousin, Sackett Moore and Sarah wife of Abraham Temple.
II. Captain John Moore owned the farm which event- ually became the property of his granddaughter Rebecca, the only child of his son Amos, and wife of Aaron Hart, Senior. Captain John had other sons, John, Samuel, Nathaniel and Theophilus, and a daughter, wife of John Smith, Esq.
II. Joseph, son of Nathaniel, lived on the farm now owned by John E. Burd, and married a Miss Green, of Ewing. Their children were Ely, Moses, Ephraim, and Elizabeth wife of Col. John Vancleve.
II. Samuel, son of Nathaniel, occupied the farm now in possession of Wm. B. Curlis, married Rebecca Green, of Ewing, and had children, William, Elijah, Samuel, Rebecca, Phoebe wife of William Green, Mary wife of Jonathan Smith, Joanna wife of Titus Quick of Amwell, and Abigail, who left a legacy of $4000 to Pennington Academy. €
II. Benjamin, son of Nathaniel, lived on the home- stead. His children were Sarah (wife of David Woodward, and mother of Mrs. Hannah Moore and Mrs. Mary Anderson), and Augustine, who married Sarah (daughter of John Carpenter), who died April 16, 1839, aged seventy-eight, leaving no children.
.
32
III. Ely Moore, son of Joseph, lived on his father's farm at Pennington, married Elizabeth daughter of Cor- nelius Hoff, and had Joseph (father of Imlah, Charles, Ely, Thomas, Catharine wife of William A. Green, and Elizabeth wife of Rev. Joseph W. Blythe), Sarah, third wife of Benjamin Stout Hill, Fanny wife of Ira Jewell, and Elizabeth wife of John Maxwell, Savannah, Georgia.
III. Moses Moore, son of Joseph, Senior, by his second wife, Martha daughter of Abraham Coryell, had Hon. Ely Moore, member of Congress from New York city. Ely M. was born on the farm owned by John Runk in Hunterdon county.
III. Theophilus Moore, son of Captain John, married Rhoda, daughter of Justice John Phillips, and had a daughter who married Samuel Holcomb of New Bruns- wick (and they were the parents of Mrs. George P. Molleson, and Mrs. Dr. Taylor, Jr.), and a second daughter, who married John V. Hart of Philadelphia.
III. Nathaniel, son of Captain John, married Eleanor Van Brunt, and had sons, Cornelius and John. This John removed to Philadelphia, married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Price, and had one son, and daughters Susan second wife of Armitage Green, Eliza who first married a Finley and afterwards Xenophon J. Maynard, Maria wife of Mr. Ellison of Philadelphia, and the wife of Mr. Link.
· Abigail Moore, daughter of Nathaniel Moore, was born on the farm owned by the late Hannah Moore, May 17, 1717. She married her cousin, Sackett Moore, and had children : (1) Nathaniel, born December 8, 1741, died September 30, 1781; (2) Jesse, born April 14, 1750, and died July 8, 1839; (3) Joseph, born August 14, 1744, and died March 20, 1803 ; (4) Sackett
33
was born January 7, 1754, died July 30, 1821 ; (5) Benjamin, twin with Sackett. The resemblance was so exact that their nearest neighbor could not distinguish them, and usually addressed each one " Good morning, Sackett or Ben." Abigail, a daughter of this Sackett Moore, Jr. (by his wife Abigail Scudder) married Joseph Scudder Hart, and she only, with her descend- ants represents that branch of the family.
ELNATHAN BALDWIN, probably from Hempstead, L. I., married Keziah, daughter of the Rev. John Prudden, of Newark, sister of Mrs. Joanna Moore, lived below Pen- nington, near the turnpike gate. In his will, executed December 6th, 1738, he mentions five sons, Stephen, Moses, Thomas (a ruling elder of this church), Joseph, and Elnathan ; and daugher, Ruth Burt.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.