USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Bergen > Annals of the classis of Bergen, of the Reformed Dutch Church, and of the churches under its care: including, the civil history of the ancient township of Bergen, in New Jersey > Part 8
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· See Christian Intelligencer of April 8d, 1856.
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ere he ascended the sacred desk. This done, he rev- erently entered the pulpit, and, when, in silent pray . er, the people had sought God's presence, the public services were duly conducted.
When, therefore, we see the continuous watchful- ness of the two Megapolensis, of Van Niewenhuysen, Van Zuuren, Selyns, and Dubois, over this destitute flock of Christ ; the order, perseverance, and faithful- ness, of these servants of God, and their influence over the people, fostering as they evidently did, the as- sembling of the people on the Lord's day, to worship God in the beauties of holiness, in the appropriate use, in the absence of the stated pastor's services, of the beautiful Liturgy of the Church, and the attention to the sound words of truth, in the rich and varied theological and practical sermons of the ablest Hol- land divines, we find our first thoughts of a church living and thriving for ninety-three years without a pastor, chastened, and turned from incredulity to amazement, at the sovereign grace of God, in per- petuating, and so blessing her, that during that period, when population was sparse, the Register shows the names, of those who witnessed a good confession, and were admitted to the holy communion, to the number of three hundred and eighty. Verily, the Great Shep- herd of Israel watched over this flock, and led them in paths of righteousness, for his name's sake. It is doubtful whether a similar history can be given, of any other church, in our own or any other land.
At length the congregation were moved to an ef- fort to secure a stated pastor. On the first day of April, A. D., 1750, a call was regularly made out for
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one Petrus De Wint, the Church of Bergen uniting with that of Staten Island. A copy of this instru- ment, in the hand writing of the venerable Dubois, is on record in the Church Book, attested by him as moderator of the call, on the 17th of that montn. In its details of requirements of the minister, and promises of the respective Consistories, it is very specific. " A righteous half of services," and " a righteous half of payment," are very minutely set down. In other re- spects it is modeled after the usual form. The Church at Bergen was to furnish him with a parsonage and firewood ; that at Staten Island was " to give him an able riding horse, with all that belongs to it. But afterward he to look out for his own riding horse. The call was accepted by Mr. De Wint, and he com- menced his labors in 1751, but he was never installed. The call had been sent to the Classis of Amsterdam for approval. Although Mr. De Wint had applied to the Cœtus for installation, it was deemed necessary to refer the matter to the Classis, to which all the churches, in this country, were then considered as belonging. In due time, a response was received from the reverend Classis, addressed to the Church at Bergen, informing the Consistory, that the man of their choice, to be their pastor and teacher, was a gross impostor, and that the credentials by which he had secured so favorable a reception here, were forged. He was consequently discharged by the two congre- gations. A final settlement of his accounts was ef- fected with the Church at Bergen, on the 23d of June, 1752. Thus the first effort of this people to secure a pastor was frustrated. Notwithstanding this grievous
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imposition disheartened them for a season, they took fresh courage. Renewed energy was called forth, and a step taken not likely to be followed by such un- happy consequences. Mr. William Jackson, a young man full of promise, was then prosecuting his studies under the direction of Rev. John Frelinghuysen, at Raritan, (now Somerville), N. J. He was of good report, and the two Churches again united in an at- tempt to engage a pastor. On the 22d day of June, A. D., 1753, they executed a call on him, moderated by Mr. Frelinghuysen. This call required of Mr. J. to go to Holland, there to prosecute his studies to a successful termination, and to obtain ordination from the Classis of Amsterdam. Having in September, 1753, at a meeting of the Cœtus, in New York, an- nounced his intention of accepting the call made upon him, and going to Holland, and having presented his certificate of membership, asked to be, and was there- upon recommended to the attention and care of the Classis of Amsterdam.
The Churches calling him, were to pay him £100, for his support, while absent, and he soon left for Holland, bearing with him his call, which the record specifies, was delivered to him by the Consistories- " Praying God to take his heart into his fear, and as far as the Lord please, to take him safely over the wild element, and return him safely. This is their deed in true faith."
God answered their prayer. He continued in Hol- land, until he was ordained to the work of the minis- try. Patiently did the Churches await his return, but were not permitted to see this desire of their eyes and
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heart, until the year 1757. He then returned, and his anxious people, having waited four years and three months for him, witnessed his installation, in the Church at Bergen, on the 10th of September of that year-nearly ninety-four years after their organiza- tion as a Christian Church.
The people of Bergen were not without action du- ring his absence. In their call, they had promised a parsonage house, in addition to his pecuniary compen- sation. While he was preparing to serve them, they were preparing a house for him, to be in readiness for his reception. His services were equally divided be- tween the two congregations.
Shortly after his return, he married Anna Freling- huysen, daughter of Rev. John Frelinghuysen, and they became the occupants of the house provided for them.
At the time of Mr. Jackson's return from Holland, the sore troubles between the Cœtus and Conferentie parties, were sending desolation throughout the churches. This Church felt them, but her allegiance to the mother Church prevailed. She had proved this by sending Mr. J. to Holland, for instruction and ordination.
Serious difficulties, of a local nature existed, apper- taining to the several titles to lands. The church lands were involved herein. By the act passed by the Legislature, appointing commissioners for finally settling and determining the several rights, titles and claims thereto, they were to have "regard to the rights and allotments due to the Church." In execu- ting this part of their duty, in 1764, the commission-
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ers gave a brief historical sketch of the Church at Bergen as a preface to their allotments to the Church and Free School. They say :-
" In the next place, we had regard to the right and allotments ure to the Church and Free School.
"We do not find that there is, or ever was, more than one church in this township; nor that this Church is incorporated by any charter, but is a religious society, maintained from the first settlement of the country, according to the mode of the Protestant churches, in the United Provinces, from whence they have received their ministers ; and being now, and heretofore, subject to, or a part of the Classis of Am- sterdam. The present minister is the Rev. Mr. Wil- liam Jackson. The elders are Messrs. Jacob Van Wagenen, Gerrit Newkirk, Zachariah Sickels, and Abraham Dedericks. The deacons are now, Messrs. Johannes Van Wagenen, George Cadmus, Abraham Prior, and Hendrick Kuypers.
" And as the minister, elders and deacons, form a Consistory, and have the care, both of the temporali- ties, and spiritual government of the said Church; as they, and the people of the said Church declare to us, referring for further testimony of the truth thereof to the books and records of the said Church ; we do set off, adjudge and allot to them, the said minister, elders and deacons, and their successors in office, forever, the sundry tracts or lots of land hereafter described, being parcels of the same common lands, to be by them held and enjoyed, for the use of the said Church and Congregation :- our survey of which sundry tracts or
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lots of land, for said Church, shows, and we do adjudge them to be four tracts or lots.
"The first being that whereon the Church stands, with the burying yard adjoining to it, (marked on the map, No. 173).
"The second being that whereon the parsonage house now stands, with the garden, and a small piece of pasture land adjoining thereto, (marked on the map, No. 174).
The third is a farm lot, lying Sontherly of the town of Bergen, and back of Communipan, (marked on the map, No. 175).
The fourth is a lot of timbered land, (marked on the map, No. 176)."
It will be perceived, from the preamble to these allotments, that, at the date thereof, the Church owned and proved her allegiance to the Classis of Amster- dam; and that for the long period of a century, her temporal affairs were administered without any act of incorporation.
On the twentieth day of December, A. D., 1771, and in the twelfth year of the reign of George III., William Franklin, being then governor of the pro- vince, a charter of incorporation was granted to this Church by the Crown of England, in the name of the then minister, elders and deacons, viz :- Rev. William Jackson, minister; Abraham Dedricks, Robert Syck- les, George Vreeland and Abraham Syckles, elders; and Johannis Van Wagenen, Hendricus Kuyper, Johannis Van Houten and Daniel Van Winkle, dea- cons. Among the powers vested thereby in the said corporation, was that of appointing a clerk, school-
6
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master, bell-ringer, and such other officers as they should stand in need of.
Thus showing that at that day, the interests of edu- cation were blended with those of religion. It would seem from this, moreover, that as, at that day, there was but one school in the township, and the teacher appointed by the Consistory of the Church, that the allotments of lands, in 1764, for a free school were in- tended for this church school.
In the year A. D., 1799, there were causes opera- ting, to induce the congregation to forego this venera- ble charter, and thereupon to become a body corpo- rate, on the terms, and according to the provisions of an act of the Legislature, of the state of New Jer- sey, incorporating the Reformed Dutch Churches. This was done.
In consideration of the fact, that the Church was not incorporated, at the time of the allotment of lands by the commissioners, the persons named in the al- lotment, as " The Minister, Elders, and Deacons," by the commissioners, were individually trustees of the property, and in February, 1799, the two survivors of them, the Rev. William Jackson, and Abraham Prior, under the advice of Alexander C. McWhorter, and Judge Boudinot, as counsel learned in the law, conveyed all the said lands, to " The Minister, Elders and Deacons," as trustees, under the new charter or act of incorporation. The deed of conveyance, as well as the original charter, are elegantly engrossed on parchment, and in possession of the Church. Both these instruments refer distinctly to the existence of the Church, as from "the earliest settlement of the country."
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, BERGEN, N. J. Erected 1773. Taken down 1841.
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In the years 1771-72, the separation of the Reform- ed Dutch Churches, in North America, from the Sy- nod of North Holland, was effected. It proved highly acceptable to Mr. Jackson and this Church. In the convention held in New York, in 1771, he, with an elder, Mr. Abraham Sickles, from the Church at Ber- gen, occupied seats. Under subsequent arrangements, this Church was one of those assigned to the jurisdic- tion of the Classis of Hackensack. In connection with which Mr. J. remained, until the close of his minis- terial labors.
The materials for forming a correct estimate of the labors and success of the first pastor, are scanty, the Register of Communicants, for the last twenty years of his ministry, having been lost. He was not, how- ever, without seals to his ministry. On one occasion, more than twenty persons were added to the number of professed followers of Christ, on confession of their faith.
During his ministry, a new and more commodious sanctuary became necessary ; and on the same spot on which the octagonal church stood, another was · erected, in the year 1773. This was also of stone. Its dimensions were forty-five by sixty feet. The tower projecting somewhat from the front wall, was seventeen by eighteen feet, and surmounted with a steeple. Originally it had the only entrance way to the audience chamber, directly through it. The arch ways over the door, and the windows, were ornament- ed with brick of small size, imported from Holland.
Over the front door was a stone, on which was inscribed, in indented letters :
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Kerk Gebouwt In Het Yaer 1680. Her Bouwt In het Yaer 1773.
The inscription stones of the former house, as well those of the individuals, as the principal one, were carefully preserved, and with those now in indented letters, cut by the prominent men of the congregation, were inserted in the new walls. The stones of the old edifice were used, with others gathered from the fields, for this new church. The whole were free - stone, but of various shades, from an almost white to a dark brown color. It was symmetrical in its pro- portions, and the whole of the materials were of the best kind, all of them massive and very durable. The pulpit was of the antique model, standing on a single pillar, and of sufficient capacity for only one person, and overhung with a large sounding board. The whole floor, and the galleries, were pewed. The seats were sold, only as sittings-the sittings, at the death of the owner, to descend to the next of kin, on paying six shillings for such seat, called an heir-seat. If not paid for, by the heir, within a specified time, it was sold to whoever would purchase it, for one dollar. Family pews were not common in that day.
Within these sacred walls, the voice of the servant of God was constantly heard, proclaiming salvation. The author has heard him and his labors spoken of by several aged persons, who knew him well. All spoke of him as a learned man, and a devoted, able minister of Christ. In the year 1763, he was honored by the
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trustees of Yale College with the degree of Master of Arts, and subsequently by Columbia and Princeton Colleges. He was certainly, for many years, useful and beloved. He was blessed with a most command- ing voice, and was, in the Dutch language, a powerful orator. The venerable Professor Cannon, of the The- ological Seminary at New Brunswick, assured me, that in his best days, Mr. Jackson was much sought unto, and in the Reformed Dutch Churches, in Middlesex and Somerset Counties, he was esteemed as a field preacher, second only to Whitfield. He had person- ally heard him préach to immense assemblies. On one occasion, at the Raritan Church, the assembly was so large, that he had to leave the pulpit, and take a station at the church door, to deliver his sermon. In that way, while the church was thronged within, he addressed the whole mass; and far more were they, who were without the building, than they who were within.
He was, unquestionably, a great favorite in that section of the country, and in 1759, only two years after his installation in Bergen, he was called as a colleague pastor, with the Rev. Jacob R. Harden- bergh, in the then collegiate Churches of Raritan, North Branch, Millstone, New Shannack, (or Sour- land), and Bedminster. The call was not accepted.
On the Register of Communicants, there are only fifty-one names, of persons received into communion, nearly all of them on confession of faith, under his ministry in Bergen ; but it is believed that many were so received, during the twenty years, of which no re- cord is to be found. It is also to be remembered, that
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he had seals to his ministry, in his pastoral charge on Staten Island.
After ministering actively and usefully for more than a quarter of a century, he became subject, occa- sionally, to seasons of mental aberration. Not at first, frequent, yet very afflictive. This, of course, marred his usefulness ; and at times, he was known to say things from the pulpit, somewhat disturbing to the devout feelings of the worshippers, while the most of his discourse would be eminently instructive and edifying. His mind and heart were both in the work. On one occasion, when preaching to a large assembly, in New Brunswick, and continuing his discourse to an unwonted length, the Hon. James Schureman, who was an intimate friend, gave him an admonition of the lapse of time, by holding up his watch. The do- minie, eyeing him keenly, called to him, “Schure- man, Schureman, put up your watch ; Paul preached till midnight." He then resumed his labor with fresh vigor.
After a time, this mental infirmity increased, and the consistories of the two Churches of Bergen and Staten Island, presented to the Classis of Hackensack, convened in extraordinary session, at Hackensack, on the 17th of November, A. D., 1789, their united re- quest for a commission to be appointed by that body, to meet with the Consistories, and inquire into, and act upon the case, that some arrangements might be inade for their relief. The appointment was made. The commission consisted of Rev. Harmanus Meyer, D. D., Henry Schoonmaker, Warmoldus Kuypers, and Solomon Fræligh, and an elder from the churches
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of each of these clerical members. The time of their meeting was fixed for the 8th of the ensuing Decem- ber. They then met, and continued together for two or three days. After deliberate review of the whole case, the committee adjusted the difficult matter. They determined that Mr. Jackson's afflictive and lamentable insanity was such, as to justify them, in advising and recommending to him, the propriety and necessity of returning his call to the congregations. He complied with their request, and obligated himself under the forfeiture of five hundred pounds, not to preach or administer the sacraments in these congre- gations.
The Consistory of the Church at Bergen secured to him, during his natural life, the use of the parsonage house, erected for him while he was in Holland, to- gether with the church land adjacent, consisting of about four acres. What provision the Church of Staten Island made for him, is not specified, but it is reasonable to suppose they bore a part, in sustaining the prostrate and aged pastor.
There is one feature of this arrangement, which strikes the mind strangely. It is the taking of an ob- ligation, embracing a heavy penalty of five hundred pounds, from a person declared lamentably insane ; and this by the advice or counsel of such men as composed the commission appointed by the Classis. There must, however, have been some motive for it. As Mr. Jackson eminently loved his pulpit and pas- toral avocation, it may have been, and probably was intended, to work more effectually a restraining in- fluence upon him, and to prevent the injudicious ex-
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ercise of his ministerial functions. Of course, it never could have been claimed by the congregations, how- ever numerous the infractions of the agreement.
Other trials followed in the family of this venerated man. Mrs. Jackson, also, became deranged. Her condition was even worse than his, but sympathizing friends were not wanting in this exigency. Both were cared for.
Thus was the ministry of Mr. Jackson closed, after a service of thirty-two years. His family continued in the occupancy of the parsonage, until his death, which occurred July 25th, 1813, nearly twenty-four years after his release from ministerial duty, and a little more than three years after the death of his wife. He died aged eighty-one years, and his mortal re- mains, as also those of his wife, and at least two of his children, repose beside each other, in the grave yard in which stood the church reared during his ministry. There they, with the many for whom he rendered the last sad services which appertain to humanity, await the mandate of the "Judge of the quick and the dead." A plain marble denotes the resting place of the body of this servant of God, on which is in- scribed -
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DUTCH CHURCH AT BERGEN.
IN MEMORY OF
the REV. WILLIAM JACKSON,
who departed this life, July 25th, 1813, Aged 81 Years. He faithfully fulfilled the pastoral
charge of the united congregations
of Bergen and Staten Island, for
32 years, until bowed down under grievous afflictions. He was esteemed for his piety.
" Be ye followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises."-Heb. 6-12.
Mr. Jackson had five sons; William, who died May 31st, 1784; Theodore J. Frelinghuysen; Rev. John Frelinghuysen, for several years pastor of the Re- formed Dutch Church, at Harlem, N. Y .; Patrick and Henry.
With the termination of Mr. Jackson's ministry, the connection between the Churches of Bergen and Staten Island, which had existed for thirty-nine years, ceased.
On the 28th day of November, A. D., 1792, the Churches of Bergen, and English Neighborhood, uni- ted in a call on the then candidate for the gospel ministry, Mr. John Cornelison, which was attested by the Rev. Nicholas Lansing, as moderator of the same. On the 26th day of May, 1793, Mr. Cornelison, then 6*
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in his 24th year, was ordained to the ministry, and installed pastor of the two congregations, in the Church at Bergen, by the Rev. Messrs. Warmoldus Kuypers, William Prevost Kuypers, Nicholas Lan- sing, and Solomon Fræligh.
Mr. C. and both these Churches, continued under the care of the Classis of Hackensack, until, by the General Synod, in 1800, that Classis was dissolved, and the two Classes of Bergen and Paramus were con- stituted. From that date, the relation of each was with the Classis of Bergen, and the Churches continue therein.
Until the settlement of Mr. Cornelison, the public services of the sanctuary, in Bergen, appear to have been uniformly rendered in the Dutch language. In it the Baptismal Register is continued, until A. D., 1809. In Bergen he was to preach in Dutch on Sab- bath mornings, and in the afternoon to expound the Heidelbergh Catechism in English. At the English Neighborhood, the services in Dutch were only occa- sional. The proportion of Mr. C.'s labors were speci- fied to be, two-thirds to Bergen, and one-third to English Neighborhood. When he was officiating at the Neighborhood, the Voorleser maintained the wor- ship in the church at Bergen.
Mr. Jackson, having been secured the use of the old parsonage premises, the Consistory purchased the homestead of the late Cornelius Sip, deceased, in the town of Bergen, for the sum of six hundred and five pounds, in the year 1793. The house was of stone, of the antique model, long, low, and only one story high. The window frames, on the exterior, were sur-
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DUTCH CHURCH AT BERGEN.
rounded with ornamental brick work. Mr. Corneli- son, having been, on the 12th of May, 1795, married to Miss Catharine Mesier, from that time occupied the premises, until his death. The house, however, had been lengthened, and raised to two stories in height. The location is delightful, fronting on three of the principal streets in the town, and in part on the pub- lic square. The lot contains about two acres.
On the 2d day of August, 1799, the steeple of the church at Bergen, having been struck with lightning, was so injured as to require renewal. The new one was completed in the month of May, A. D., 1800, at a cost of £352. 13s. 10d.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, in consequence of the double pastoral charge, had for many years, been administered only twice in each year, in each church, but on the 31st of May, A. D., 1802, the Consistory determined it should thereafter be dis- pensed quarterly, which is to this day the case.
The growing inconvenience of this laborious double charge, extending from Bergen Point, on the South, to within three miles of Hackensack, a distance of at least eighteen miles in length, together with the in- creasing ability of the congregation at Bergen, and the general desire for an increase of ministerial labor in both, constantly urged a dissolution of the bond which held the two together. These circumstances ripened into action, and on the 21st of November, A. D., 1806, the Consistory of the Church at Bergen, made arrangements for securing the services of their pastor for the whole of his time. On the first day of December, ensuing, a new call was executed by them,
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and attested by the Rev. Peter Stryker. At a special session of the Classis of Bergen, held the next day, the call was approved-the connection between Mr. C. and the Church of English Neighborhood dissolved, . as also that between the two congregations-the com- bination having existed about fourteen years.
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