USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Annals of Morris County > Part 18
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I have detained you a long time and yet the task I proposed to myself is not accomplished. I shall have to beg your indulgence for another opportunity to complete the narrative. But meanwhile what thoughts press upon our minds as we recall the fact it is now a hundred years since Job Allen and his neighbors drew up the papers which proved the germ of this church ! This morning we were thrilled to think of the changes which have been wrought since the senior pastor, a young man, came to this place, and yet there is one man who re- members the first sermon Father K. preached, the text, the circumstances ! But where is the witness to stand before us and relate what those men said in 1758 as they began our church, an enterprise of such difficulties that we have wondered why it did not come to nanght ? When the senior pastor was born this church was 32 years old, and who but God knew that among the hills of oid Berkshire a child was born who was heaven's consecrated and foreordained and most precious blessing to the Intle struggling church here among the
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the hills of old Morris. Did those noble men in that day of darkness offer prayers for a pastor to guide and defend this flock : prayer registered and to be signally answered in due time ? Even when the blessing came. most of the fathers had fallen asleep, but God is faithful.
A hundred years ago! oh, what havoc these years have made among those who founded this church and bore it up in the face of un- usnal difficulties ! Job Allen, the Bemans, Winds, Lum, Huntington, Allerton, Helden, the Burnwells, Losey, Pierson, Mitchel, Tuttle, Ford, Kitchel, Faesch, Jackson, Beach, and their cotemporaries are all gone. The waves of time have washed away the foot prints in the sand upon its shore :
Where, where are all the birds that sang, A hundred years ago ? The flowers that all in beauty sprang A hundred years ago ? The lips that smiled, The eyes that wild lu flashes shone Soft eves upon, -.
Where, O where are lips and eves
The maiden smiles the lover sighs That lived so long ago ?
Who peopled all the city streets, A hundred years ago ?
Who filled the church with faces meek A hundred years ago ? The sneering tale Of sister frail, The plot that work'd A brother's hurt-
Where. O where, are plots and sneers,
The poor man's hopes, the rich man's fears, That lived so long ago ?
Where are the graves where dead men slept, A hundred years ago ? Who when they were living, wept A hundred years ago ? By other meu That knew not them. Their lands are tilled, Their graves are filled,
Yet nature then was just as gay
And bright the sun shone as to day, A hundred years ago.
I have said onr fathers were humble people working in a secluded spot, yet they did a noble work in a noble spirit, and I have sought dili- gently for what remains of their history that posterity might do them at least the justice of gratefully memory. It has been to me a labor of love, and I do not regret the toil it has cost. My only regret is that the work is not better done by a worthier hand, but such as it is I lay it gratefully on the sepulchre of the men who tonnded this church in faith and prayer a hundred years ago.
SECOND SERMON.
I have already stated that in Oc ober, 1762, Lord Sterling conveyed one hundred acres of land to Henry Cuyler Jun., "in trust for the
use of the Inhabitants of Rockaway Towaship in Morris County to accommodate a misister of the gospel there." (Recor Is, p. 11.) I find mention of a parsonage during the time of the first minister, and suppose thit during the second year of his ministry, 1769, such a house was built. In March, 1769, William Winds and Willys Pierson were " impowered to Despose of the Parsonage Lot and Honse to the interest of the parish acording to their Deeretion for the term of three ve irs next Insuing." In De- cember, 1769, an "old subscription" for "Parish house " is mentioned and certain work done by Willys Pierson to that house is paid for. The records show that Capt. Pierson did work to that house which the parish did not chicose tu pay for at that time, and that a year and a half passed before his account was ever allowed to be entered on the book. It amonated to £16:18:10; and Jacob Allerton, David B.man and John Huntington were appointed " a com- mittee to Inspect into the work done by Capt. person to the parsonage House and determine what part there of shall be allowed." (Copied Records, pp. 37-47.) The whole account was paid. This parsonage was built on what is now known as the " Tom Mann Lot " owned by Joseph Jackson, Jr., near the depot. The house was on the hill and its site near an old pear tree still standing. It was occupied by Mr. Baldwin during the earlier part of his min- istry until he purchased the property at the Southeast corner of the road to Frankhn leav- ing the main road below Mr. David Anderson. When the Rev. Mr. Ca?I came to Rockaway in 1792 " a committee was appointed to estimate how much every man's part in the Parish is to Pay towards Building New Parson ige hous." Arrangements were also made to sell part of "' the old parsonage lands " to pay for the "new parsonage lands " bought of Nathan Shot well. This is the property now occupied by Mr. Sul- livan in Franklin, next to Mr. Seely Tompkins place. The congregation built that honse with great embarrassment, and Mr. Cart lived there not more than two years, when " the trustees Reported that by and with the consent of Mr. Carl they have soald the parsonage whare Mr. Carl now lives and that Mr. Carl proposes to find his own parsonage and fire wood and that the parish pay him a yearly salary of £200 so long as grain and produce holds as they are now." (Copied Records, 139-147.) The cou- gregation relieved themselves of debts by selling the parsonage at Franklin to Dr. Ebenezer H. Pierson, and Mr. Carl removed to what is now known as the "Berry Honse" on the East side of the canal opposite the Mt. Hope ore dock, which house his father purchased for him. This closes np all the congregation's connection with personage lands and parsonage
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houses. No one cau blame the people for selling the land in order to get out of debt. They undoubtedly did the best they could under the circ imstances.
Let us now go back to the close of the Erst minister's pastorate to glean a few items char- acteristic of the times. Thus in March, 1770, a parish meeting voted that, " David Beman is to sweep the meeting house one year for eleven shillings." (Copied Records p. 38.) The clerk eloses the record of a meeting in April of the same year with the words, "this being the uinth Parish meeting in Mr. Tuttle's rcigu." (Ib. p. 39.) It will be remembered that Rockaway and Parsippany had the same minister, and on the 20th of Oct. 1770, it was voted that " we still continue to request (of the Presbytery) a dismission from pocipaney." (Ib. p. 45.) This dismission came in the form of the pastor's death on the succceding Christ- mas Day. The books show that the people bad considerable difficulty in collecting money to pay what was due Mr. Tuttle. On January 17, 1771, a parish meeting divided £40:6:7 among six collectors. These were Jacob Aller- ton, Robert Gaston, B. Cooper, Esq., Wm. Walton, Levi Ayres, and Isaac Southard. A memorandum in 1771 says, "Last Sunday the Rev. Mr. Chapman (of Orange) preacht here and cristend Nathan'l Morris' child Abijah. (pp. 46-7.) The fact shows that the church had occasional preaching after Mr. Tnttle's death. In the same year the parish allowed Col. Ford to build the minister's pew "ou the Eastt End of the meeting house at his own proper cost" on condition that " Robert Gaston and his family have full Liberty to sit in it until such times as it may be wanted for a minister's family in this society." (Ib. 49.) On the 25th of July, 1771, the record states that " Mr. Simpson preacht a lector " at the opening of the parish meeting, and it was resolved that " Mr. Robert Gaston's house be appointed " " to receive and keep any minister that shall be cald here to preach until such Time as the parsonage House is prepared for his house, and that such person be allowed for his soport." It was also " voted to give a minister Eighty-five pounds lite money per annum together with use of the parsonage and to Git him his fire wood." The next Sabbath after service, "it being put to a vote whether we should give Mr. Simson a call to preach for us During the space of six monts or a year next ensuing, and it being put to vote it was carried in the affirmative that we should give him a call as above." (Copied Records, 50-51.) Ou the 25th of January 1772, Dea. Lum, Dea. Allerton and Moses Tuttle were instructed " to agree with Mr. Simpson about his preaching here the Time he is now appointed to suply
n4." (Ib. 52.) On the 1st of April the parish voted to " give Mr. Simpson a call to a settle- ment and it was agreed to a mau that we do give him a call as above," and that "Deacons Allerton and Lum and Justice Winds be a comitece to enforce ard Confer with Mr. Simp- son relating to said eall." The parish also appointed Jacob Ford, Jun., to Cary onr peti- tion for Mr. Simpson to the presbitry at Trin- town." It was further " voted to give Mr. Simpson twenty-six shillings per Sabbath for each Sabbath he hath and doth preach to us before the Next siting of Brunswick presby- tery." "Wilham Winds, Esq., Deacon Allerton, Deacon Lum, Messrs William Ross, Amos Lind- sley and David Beman were appointed a com- mittee to sign the call to be sent to the Pres- bitry for the setling of Mr. Simpson here." On the same leaf it is written "Mr. John Simpson hath Preached here at Rockaway ten sabbaths." (Copied Records, 53-55-56.) The people were greatly eulisted in the endeavor to secure the settlement of Mr. Simpson, for in July a meeting was " held at the Parsonage" which "voted that the Parsonage house be put in order convenient for to Live in and a well Dug and stoned this fall, Provided that Mr. Simpson Excepts the Call for a settlement here, and three achors of wheato Put in yearly for the first three years." (Copied Recordts, 57.) Mr. Simpson preached twelve sabbaths and then declined the call of the congregation to a permanent settlement. It would be a gratui- tous undertaking to assign reasons for a step so long as there was one very good reason appa- rent, that the field was not very inviting. Mr. Simpson afterwards removed to Virginia and became a member of the Orange Presbytery. In 1774 he is named as a member of that body. (Hodges Pres. Ch., p. 2, p. 514.) He was grad- uated at Princeton in 1763 and afterwards re- ceived the degree of Master of Arts. (Prince- ton Triennial 1854, p. 21.)
Having failed to get Mr. Simpson the con- gregation in October of the same year-1772- resolved to apply to the "New York presbitry for a Candadit and in case the same be not agreeable, we order a petition for Monthly supplys, voted Mr. David Beman to be the man appointed to wait on the Presbytery sitting at Hanover." The same year Mr. Beman had made his nsnal contract to sweep the Meeting House once in two weeks for one year at eleven shillings. Who wrote the petition I am not able to state. It is copied into the records by "John McGibbons, Clarke, BEING PRESENT IN THE ASSEMBLY," and was signed in behalf of the congregation by Deacons Lum, Ross and Beman. The petition itself is worthy a place in this history of the church, and is as follows, viz :
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" To the reverend Presbytery of New York appointed to sit at hanover, We the Inhabitants of the parish of Rockaway send Greeting ; Your humble petitioners setteth forth the Earnest desire they have that the gospel may once more be preached among them. The Great difficulties we labour under for the want of a Gospel minister settled among us occasions a great Lnkewarmth among the Generality of this congregation and the Great falling of from Sabbath worship seems a Tale too Lamentable to Relate-vet we hope the lord in (anger) has not Removed his candlestick tottaly from us, for he may hide his countenance for a small moment yet with Tender merey he will return and cause the Light of his Countenance to shine upon us more and more. And to yon Rev'd Sirs'is commited the care of his churches and to send forth Labourers into the harvest. We therefore in the name of our Lord Jesus the Great head of his Church Joine in this our petition Requesting a Candidate for this our parish if any under your care ; if not we beg for supplys according to your wise Directions that the flock may not be Tottaly scattered. And as this body in behalf of the whole parish has appointed David Beman to Represent them in this matter and to lay our Great Diffi- culties before (you) we trust you will order as you seem most needful for us. Which we your petitioners Humbly prays. Signed by us a com - mittee Choseu in behalf of this parish, Obachah, Lum, Wm. Ross, David Beaman." (Copied Records, 58-59.)
The practiced eye detects not a few gram- matical and orthographical errors in this doeu- ment, but it has the ring of genuine metal. It shows these men were In earnest, that when they had no preaching they sustained public worship among themselves, that the falling off in the numbers of attendants on these humble Sabbath services was a canse of grief to them, that they ha l " great difficulties " to contend with, and finally that they were resolved not to suffer this little flock in the wilderness to be "totally scattered " so long as any effort or self denial on their part could prevent it. This was noble. May that good temper never be wanting in the church those men committed to ns in trust for the generations following ! Could one of those good men come back to us, he might truthfully recall " the great diffi- enities ' of his day and tell us that our fathers' faith was not in vain, in the language they often s'ng.
" My fainting flesh had died with grief, Hlad not my sont believed,
To see thy grace provide relief- Nor was my hope deceived."
The following entry VERBATIM ET LITERATIM is a curiosity and shows the success of the po-
tition sent to Presbytery. "m complyance with the 4 vote passed at a parish meating held at David Bemans October 26, 1772, s'd Beman wated upon the presbatry and Reseved order for 3 suplys viz.
Mr. Joanes 4 sabath in november. complyd with.
Mr. Wodhul 1 in Jannary, complyd with.
Mr. Horton 2 in martch." (Copied Records, 60.)
From November 1772 to "martch " 1773 the congregation had preaching three Sabbaths. The records in Beman's handwriting.
A record under date of January 25th 1772 shows that the pulpit was not finished, "voted that the stairs to go up into the pulpilt when Built is to be made on the East or women's side of said pulpit." In those days the men sat on the west side of the central aisle allow- ing the women to have the east side, the warmer side, or else the women took it withont leave which is the more likely theory of the two. (Copied Records, 52.) During this year and many other years the untiring David Beman not only attended Presbytery and set the tunes without salary, but he swept the meeting honse "once a fortnate " for eleven shillings a year. In September 1773 the con- gregation vested tho busy man with another important office for it was " voted that David Beman should take the care of the burying yard and that he should direct all Persons Where to bury their Dead and that he should Advertise it through the Parish." (Ib. p. 66.) It would seem that such a man deserves not merely a grave but a headstono in that burying yard, for thero certainly was not a more useful man in the church in that day of small things. He was ready to sing or to pray, or to pay, or to go to Presbytery, or to sweep the meeting house, or to bury the dead. He was " a char- acter," and more pretentious men might imitate him without discredit to themselves.
In April, 1773, the parish "voted for stuff to be provided to finish the parsonage house" "the insuing summer," also to rent it "with three acres of improved land for one year next ensuing if they have opportunity," only re- serving the " liberty to set out an orchard next fall on said improved land." The fact was that the good people were so long in finishing the parsonage that by the time it was done it wasworth very little. (Copied Records, p. 60.)
As we have already seen the church at Par- sippany and this church were closely associa- ted during the time of Mr. Tuttle who was the first pastor of both churches. In 1745 the land now ocenpied as a grave yard at Parsippany and on which stood the old church was deeded by George Bowlsby to Ichabod Tompkins and Simcon Van Winkle in trust " for the use,
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benefit, and behoof of the people belonging to the religious society of people commonly called Presbyterian." (Bowlsby's Deed, copy in possession of Trustees Pres. Ch. Parsip- pany.) I. is a tradition that a log meeting house was built on that land about that time. (Statement of Mrs. Dr. Fairchild, Sen.) In 1755 by direction of Presbytery the Rev. Jacob Green the pastor of the Hanover Church or- ganized a new congregation. A new meeting house for the parent church was built at Han- over Neck and another one at Parsippany. " Mr. Green was ordered by the Presbytery to preach at both these places ; which he con- tinued to do till the year 1760, when Precipin- ing were allowed by the Presbytery to seek a ministry for themselves." (MS. His. of Han- over Church by Rev. Jacob Green.) The effort was not successful, and probably Mr. Green continued to officiate at Parcippany part of his time. The earliest subscription paper in the Rockaway church, that of March 2d 1758 shows that there was a desire to unite with Parsip- pany in settling a minister, but this desire was not gratified until in 1768 the Rev. James Tuttle was settled over both churches. I bave already described the efforts made at Rocka- way to find a pastor after the death of Mr. Tuttle. It is to be presumed that the Parsip- pany congregation were engaged in the same search. On the 1st of April, 1773, at an irregu- lar parish meeting at Parcippany it was "unan- imously agreed after sum Dispute about a minister wether wee should trie to git a Presbyterian or Congregational that this Mesure should be taken, that a Short Instru- ment should be Written and offered to the Society to mennifest thire Choys in manner as folloeth, Whereas wee are about to Send for a Minerster this is to Desire every Member of this Society to Declare what one thay chose by writing thoire Names under the woords Pris- byterian or Congregational." On " April 7th at a Parish Meeting the Instrument was re- turned and fild up as folloeth." Sixteen names were written under "Prisbyterian " and fifty- seven under "Congregational." Notwith- standing so decided a vote for Congregational- ism, the church the same year applied to the Presbytery of New York for supplies, which shows that their preferences were not very de- cided.
At the meeting on the 7thof April it was " voted to send for a minnester," that "Isaac Sergeant go into New England after a minnes- ter," and " that if the man that go for a Min- bester cannot git a Congregational (he) is to use his Indiver to git a Prisbyterian." The persons present immediately started a sub- scription which finally amounted to £10:6:6. (Copied Records Pareippany 1 An
entry in the same records which were kept by Isaac Sergeant as Parish "Clark" shows us what success he had in his mission. "May 17th Sot out for New Ingland for a Mmister and Returned the 27th of June without one." That journey shows us the times and the people, and is worthy of special note.
If we now recur to the records of our own church we find that on the 20th of April 1773 it was " voted to send by Isaac Sargent to new England for a minister," " to Rase money to Beare said Sargent's Expenses," and that " Deacon Allerton go to Mr. Sargent to Give him Letters and Direction in the above matters and Biseness." Some money was immediately raised but the fact is added, "agreed that the money Raised for going to New England be returned to those who paid it," showing that after all it was concluded not to send by Ser- geant to New England. The records of April 26th shows that Dr. Johnes of Morristown advised the people against the course, giving "it as his opinion that it was best Not to send to New England for a Minister as there was several Now to be Licensed soon." In place of sending to New England it was "voted that wee will Make application for Mr. Burnet for to be a Candidate to supply in this Parish." and " Mr. David Beman go and talk and con- sult Mr. Jones and bring bis approbation of the Matter by Next Sabbath Day." The next Sabbath Mr. Beman reported Mr. Johnes1 advice " to send our petition to the Comitee of minister appointed for vacant congregations respecting Ingaging Young Mr. Burnet to serve with us as a candidate." This advice was followed. In addition to this they sent a simi- lar petition to the Synod. This brings us to another fruitless attempt to settle a pastor. (Copied Records, 61-64.) During this Summer and Fall the pulpit was occupied by several ministers, Rev. Messrs. Murdock, Thomas Lewis, Timothy Johnes, Jacob Green, Cloce, Lion, Burnet, and Joseph Grover. Between June and September Mr. Mathias Burnet preached three Sabbaths with very great ac- ceptance. On the 3d of September the Par- .sippany church "voted that we offer to join Rockaway in applying to the Presbytery for a Minister " and that Benjamin Howell and John Stiles be a committee to go to Rockaway to conclude the agreement. (Copied Records, Pareippany 1 On the 27th of the same month the parish meeting at Rockaway in answer to the inquiry " whether we comply with Persipany proposat voted not to comply with it " and to " send Posipany the minit of of our note with some reasons annexed there- unto, voted to send it and Job Allen do it with the reasons thereof." (Copied Records, 65.) From one fact it would seem that Parcippany
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congration was then either richer or more liberal than this, since for many years the sexton received eleven shillings a year in Rock- away, whilst the sexton at Parsippany received twelve.
December 8th, 1773, the parish meeting "voted that Deacons Allerton and Cobb should go to Mr. John Jacob Fash and Envit him to Join with our Parish," and that "Mr. Fash should have the yuse of Jacob Ford, Jun., Pow Whenever he need it as Long as it remains the property of our Parish." It was also "voted that David Be nan for the futuro should Receiv the several Callections of our Parish as they are maid and Dispose of the same according to the order of the Parisb," which shows that good man with a new office in addition to the former ones. (Copied Records, 67.) Oa the 16th of Jannary, 1774, Mr. Burnet supplied the pulpit. On the 24th of that month after " the Rev. Mr. Johnes had preached a Lector " it it was concluded to give Mr. Burnet a call, also that "we shal now procced to provide stuff sutable and suficient with what is already provided to Lay the fire place and seat the Gallery and finish the pulpit in Our Meeting House." The same record speaks of a resolu- tou " to fix in the Gallery tire." This mint of good things in the form of fire-places in the meeting house did not even go far enough to "end in smoke." In February, 1774, the pirish again resolved to cail Mr. Mathias Bur- net* who was preaching occasionally for them, and this time is was " voted to give Mr. Burnet in case of his excepting our call the sum of one hundred pounds per year sallary, the use of the parsonage and his firewood." In addition it was "voted to find Mr. Burnet a convenient room and his Board until we can prepare the parsonage for his use, and allso his Housekeep- ing. Voted that if Mr. Burnet excepts our call we are emediately to proceed to prepare the parsonage hunse fit for him." And as ifhaunted with the fear of having money what they might not know what to do with, they guarded against anch a contingency by voting " that all money that is Overplus if any there should be in our soveral subscriptions for parraish use, (it ) shall be aplied to the repair of the personage House." It was also resolved to finish " the p rt of the gallery all round with banister," and also " to Invite Mr. Green to aford us part of his labour untill the sitting of the Spring prysbitry."
The business of preparing the call for Mr. Bur- net and in case of his refusal, " to petition to the pryshitry for a candidate to serve with us constantly six months," was committed to Moses Tuttle, Wm. Ross, and Henry Howel. On the 17th of May. the call was real and ap- proved by the people. It thanks " the Rever- eLd Prysbytery of New York" " for all the favorable notice " taken of them, and .For such a number of soplies from time to time granted to us " " since we have ithappily bin Destitute of the statod Gospel Ministry." The petition then speaks of the fact that "we have lately bin favored with the Ethours of Mr. Mathias Burnet and that with such satisfaction and we hope spiritual edification as excites us to desire his settlement amongst us in the gospel ministry." In presenting the call the fact is added that the parish includes "ahout one hundred families." Until the parsonage is completed " we further engage to find him a Convenient Room, his diet, and keeping for his horse, with our Promise of submitting to his holy ministration attending to the Gosp. I while he shall continue In character amongst us." (Copied Records, 69-73. )
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