USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Perth Amboy > Contributions to the early history of Perth Amboy and adjoining country : with sketches of men and events in New Jersey during the provincial era > Part 37
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In 1751 Mr. Parker established the first press in New Jersey, at Woodbridge, and from time to time printed the proceedings of the Legislature and other official documents. In January, 1753, he commenced a partnership with William Weyman, which continued until January, 1759, he residing most of the time in Woodbridge, attending to the interests of the press there, which he conducted on his own account : but an extended notice of Mr. Parker's business connections can- not be given here.
In 1752 the "Independent Reflector," edited by William Livingston-afterward Governor of New Jersey-and others,
40 Bradford's headstone may be seen out with old age and labor when he in Trinity Church-yard, New York. left this mortal state." He was 92 years of age, " quite worn
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was printed by Parker and Weyman, but the fear of men in authority, whose ire might be excited by its independent char- acter, led the former to decline the responsibility of its con- tinued publication. Although he remained connected with the presses in New York he resided principally at Woodbridge, where, in 1758, he printed the New American Magazine, edited by Samuel Nevill, elsewhere mentioned. In 1755 a partnership with John Holt (who subsequently removed to New York and attended to the business there), led to the establishment of a press at New Haven, from which the " Con- necticut Gazette," the first newspaper in that province, was issued.
In 1761 he printed the 2d volume of Nevill's compilation of the Laws of New Jersey,41 the imprint being " Woodbridge in New Jersey. Printed by James Parker, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, for the Province." In 1762 the press in New York was leased to Holt, but Mr. Parker re- sumed it in 1766, in connection with his son (Samuel F.), and it was carried on by them until a few months before the death of the father, in 1770. In 1764 Mr. Parker compiled and printed a " Conductor Generalis " for Justices of the Peace, he then holding that office in Middlesex County, and the follow- ing year moved his press from Woodbridge to Burlington for the accommodation of the author of the History of New Jer- sey (Smith), but on the completion of the work it was returned to the former place.
Twice was Mr. Parker brought before the Assembly of New York for printing matter reflecting upon some of the " pillars of the State," and obliged to give up the authors, to pay fines, be confined, &c., but, although he may have been rendered more cautious, it is doubtful if his sentiments in favor of the rights of the people were changed by such logic. It would seem that he was ever an opponent to the oppression of the " higher powers," which in his day was too apt to be ex- ercised.
41 Thomas, in his History of Print- ing, states that he printed these laws in 1752; the first volume was given to the public in that year, but all the
copies the writer has seen bear the im- print of "Wm. Bradford, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, &c."
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He died July 2d, 1770. He had been long an invalid and obliged to retire from business, in a great measure, for a con- siderable time before his death, which occurred at Burlington while residing there for the benefit of his health.
He was a correct and neat printer, understanding his busi- ness perfectly, and at his death his contemporaries gave him credit for possessing a sound judgment and extensive know- ledge, for industrious habits, integrity, benevolence of heart and fairness of character. His career was certainly one of great and extensive usefulness. Among other stations which he held to the satisfaction of his neighbors was that of Lay- reader to the Episcopal Congregation in Woodbridge, officiat- ing several years on those Sundays when the Rev. Mr. Chan- dler of Elizabethtown was prevented from visiting the town by engagements elsewhere.
In a letter to the Secretary of the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel, dated Sept. 22d, 1764, he says :-
"It pleased Providence to have given me ability to perform the ser- vice. I freely undertook it, and as I supposed to the general satisfaction of the congregation. I have continued it as well as my poor ability would permit to the present time, and I can say for myself it has been a real pleasure to me to see any of my endeavors acceptable or any way appa- rently useful in propagating true religion and piety. I neither wish nor hope for any other reward in this life, as it will be more than a compen- sation if I meet with any in the next-for though I can trust to the pro- mises of the blessed Jesus, yet I at best fall far short of my duty. It hath pleased God to gather and increase the Church here a little, though the chief of us being old can't hope long to continue: notwithstanding our children, we hope, are growing up in the same path."
Mr. Parker was for some years Postmaster in New York, performing its duties while carrying on his business in that city, which of itself, one would think, would have been suffi- cient to engross all his time-for no one, unacquainted with the avocations of a printer in those days, can form an idea of the time which was devoted to the service of his customers. If a man had a horse or cow to sell, a house to let, a vessel to freight, a servant to hire, &c., &c., he referred to the printer, and it is amusing to look over the columns of the Post Boy and see the strange variety of employments, pursuits, wants and notices to which Mr. Parker was made a party. At the time
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of his death he was Comptroller and Secretary of the Post- Office for the Northern District of the British Colonies, and held several local offices.
Great respect was manifested towards his remains on their way from Burlington to Woodbridge for burial. The New York Journal of July 5, 1770, states that "his remains were attended for five miles out of Burlington by a considerable number of gentlemen of that place, and at Amboy met by a like number who attended the corpse to Woodbridge, where a numerous congregation assembled at his house, and about 6 o'clock he was interred near his parents, in the meeting-house yard. The service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Preston, Minister of the Church at Amboy."
The headstone of the father is yet standing, but there is nothing to designate the spot where the remains of the First Printer in New Jersey were deposited. Too often they to whom communities are indebted, as in the present instance, for public services and the exhibition of private virtues, sleep unhonored, while the marble and the epitaph commemorate the drone and the profligate.
Samuel F. Parker inherited the press and other apparatus of his father, but did not continue the business : he leased the establishment in New York and sold that in Woodbridge soon after his father's death. Some of his descendants are believed to be still in the vicinity of Woodbridge.
James Parker had one daughter, Janet, who became the wife of Gunning Bedford, Governor of Delaware, in 1796.
I am indebted to Thomas' History of Printing for many of these facts. The most light, however, is thrown upon Mr. Parker's character by his own newspapers and those of his contemporaries. 1
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TOWN AFFAIRS.
The affairs of the town were managed, as in New England generally, at town meetings, called, at first, by personal notice to every freeholder by the Constable, or some person specially authorized, and afterward by a written notice placed on the meeting-house door. There were committees or townsmen appointed to look after the interests of the community on or- dinary occasions, but they do not appear to have been chosen at first at any regular times. The other officers of the town- ship, however, were always elected annually,42 and the admin- istration of the public affairs generally conformed to the mode prescribed by the General Assembly or to the established cus- toms of the other settlements.
In several of their local regulations they set a good ex- ample to their neighbors, and in some they might be fol- lowed even by the legislators of the present day. As an indi- cation of the spirit which animated the community the follow- ing document is given from the records :-
" Corporation of Woodbridge, April ye 17th, 1695.
" The ingadgement of all freeholders by irigenall rites and of all free- men which have been, are, or shall be so admitted in this town and Cor- poration.
Viz., As a good and usfull member of this intire body in gouerment and guidance I will be subject to all the Lawfull and Regguler motions thereof, And to ye utmost of my Skill and abillity I will move and act with it so as may most directly tend to its peace and prosperity. Its nakedness I will cover, its secrets I will not discouer, but its weakness I will support ; And finally in word and deed according to abillity and its occasions att all times I will indeavor to prevent the euill and to promote ye good and just interest of this body; and each member thereof, on penielty of corection or expulsion as default may require. In testimony hereof wee under writter have subscribed our names."
There are only thirty-four signatures appended to this doc- ument, from which it is presumed not to have been generally agreed to.
In this year it was found necessary to make it obligatory upon all to attend the town meeting ; and in January, 1699,
12 January 1st, 1687-8, was Sunday, no business transacted, save the elec- but the usual meeting was held, but tion of Deputies to the Assembly.
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the fine for non-attendance was fixed at ninepence for every omission, and upon refusal to pay "every delinquent to be turned out of the meeting-house until he complies ;" which, in some communities, would not have been considered a very grievous punishment.
In 1671 some apprehensions were entertained respecting the Indians, and a rate was levied to provide for an expedition against them : ten pounds of powder and twenty pounds of lead being the total quantity of war material required :- but there is no account given of the prosecution of the enterprise, or of any actual danger incurred.
In September, 1675, in accordance with an order of the Governor and Council, it was resolved to fortify the prison forthwith, by stockedes of a half or whole tree, of " nine feet long at least," in the expectation of an attack from the natives, with the view of providing a place of safety for the women and children-but it was never occupied.
In April, 1690, a ranger of the woods was appointed to join similar persons from other neighboring towns, "in order " -using the words of the record-to prevent a danger (before it comes to our homes) threatened by the French and Indians." He was to be paid twenty shillings per week, and as " Mr. Lyon " was subsequently paid £1 5s., " for his charges with the Indians" this year, the duty could not have been long per- formed. These are the only occurrences on record intimating the existence of any apprehended difficulty with the natives.
PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION.
The settlers of New Jersey from New England, accustomed to a government in which their civil and religious duties were closely commingled, naturally gave their early attention to the establishment of ministers in all their communities. The people of Woodbridge were not exceptions, although great difficulty seems to have been experienced in giving perma- nency to the residence among them of those called to the town.
The first movement towards obtaining the services of a
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clergyman was on the 8th June, 1669, when a Committee was appointed to go to Newark, " as messengers from the town, to declare to Mr. Pierson, junior, that the inhabitants were all · willing and desirous that he would be pleased to come up to them and help them in the work of the ministry ; " and anti- cipating an acceptance, Robert Dennis was appointed to enter- tain him with "meat, drink and lodgings ;" and when on the west side of the creek-called in the records Papiack creek- similar accommodations were to be afforded by John Smith the Constable.
The application to Mr. Pierson was, however, not favora- bly considered by him. The advanced age of his father, who was the Pastor of the Newark Congregation, rendered the ser- vices of an assistant necessary, and measures were in progress to secure the son in that capacity. The application from Woodbridge probably brought the matter to a conclusion, as the ensuing month Mr. Pierson was regularly employed as an assistant minister. This was a great disappointment to the Woodbridge people, and we find them the next year again exerting themselves to obtain a supply. Mr. Peck of Eliza- bethtown was, in July, 1670, to be applied to, or the commit- - tee, at their discretion, was to procure Mr. Samuel Treat " to preach six or seven months." On the 6th November a letter from Mr. Treat was laid before the town meeting, and twenty one pounds sterling was voted to that gentleman "for six months preaching." There is a tradition that he officiated for a while at that time, but he did not accept the invitation to become permanently settled, and a second application, made to him in January, 1672, was attended with no better success.
No further proceedings were had on the subject until July 2d, 1674, when the town resolved to agree with Mr. Benjamin Salsbury "to serve as Minister for the space of - months on trial." The agreement was entered into, but on the 27th Oct. the connection was thus summarily broken :-
"At a general town meeting it was passed by vote that the inhabi- tants of this town of Woodbridge are determined to use such means as to them shall seem meet to obtain a minister that may be suitable for them, and that Mr. Benjamin Salsbury may be pleased to take notice that when his quarter's time is out he is free from any engagement from this town,
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that he may be at liberty to dispose of himself as he shall see good, and Mr. Robert Dennis, Mr. John Bishop, Senr., and Mr. Samuel Dennis do deliver this to Mr. Salsbury as the mind of the town."
At this meeting a committee was appointed to agree with carpenters for erecting "a meeting-house 30 feet square and 15, 16 or 17 feet between joints ; " and on 30th November a table, room, and other necessaries were directed to be provided for the comfortable entertainment of a minister when he should come on trial in the spring ensuing.
But where was a minister to be obtained ? Five years had elapsed since their first endeavors to secure "help in the work of the ministry," but with the exception of the brief sea- son of trial under poor Mr. Salsbury they had been without regular religious services. At this time, however, Samuel Dennis was selected to go North to procure a clergyman ; and to defray his expenses, three thousand pipe staves were fur- nished by Robert Dennis, John Bloomfield and John Pike, junior-whether gratuitously or not is uncertain from the re- cord-and placed in charge of the messenger, to be disposed of to the best advantage ; he to account to the town for the proceeds, after deducting his expenses and reasonable wages while absent. There is nothing to be found indicative of a favorable result to this expedition.
In May following (1675) negotiations were resumed with " Mr. Jeremiah Peck"-the same, it is supposed, who de- clined their overtures in 1670. Again was the proposition un- successful, and another year passed away with the vacancy unsupplied, and apparently without farther efforts on the part of the inhabitants. In April, 1676, an application was direct- ed to be made to Messrs. Richard Ball (or Hall) Senior and Junior, residing, it is presumed, in New England ; but neither of these accepting, in January following (1677) a definite call was made to Mr. Ezekiel Fogg : he being assured for his en- couragement the privileges of a freeholder and fifty pounds a year " to be paid in meat, peas, pork and (not above one fourth part in) Indian Corn, and beef at country prices." As the records contain no entries between this date and June, 1679, we have no certain information of the rejection of this liberal offer, but
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as the name of Fogg does not appear in the list of freeholders it is supposed to have fared no better than the offers previously made to others.
Though discouraged, the settlers were not in despair-dis- appointed in every quarter in America, they next turned their eyes towards England, and raised their voices for help to "Dr. Burns and Mr. Richard Baxter." Letters were addressed to those divines in July, 1679, desiring them to be instrumental in getting a minister for them, and "Captain Bound," an early trader between the two continents, was requested to de- liver the letters and to aid, if necessary, in securing him a pas- sage to America. Success at last rewarded these or similar exertions, for in September, 1680, Mr. John Allen commenced preaching among them, and fifty pounds was granted to him, and in November following voluntary subscriptions were direct- ed to be taken for his permanent support. The meeting- house which it was resolved to build in October, 1674, was, by the 27th May, 1675, raised, and the frame approved of by the town, although not thirty feet square as originally contempla- ted ; and a Committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements to have it shingled and clap-boarded, and a floor laid ; but the want of a minister seems to have prevented the observance of despatch in the complete execution of these plans, and it was not until December, 1680, or January, 1681, after Mr. Allen's arrival, that the house was actually floored. In October following it was directed to be plastered, "all but the South side, over the clapboards." In June, 1682, the pro- cess of completion was continued by " lathing and daubing" the building substantially within " as high as the plate beams ;" and the "daubing" appears to have been made the employ- ment of all in the town having suitable tools. Nails and hinges for two doors, yet wanting, were also provided, and a lock for the third. These, for the time, finished the additions to the edifice.
On the 1st January, 1681, the following entry appears on the records : " We the freeholders and inhabitants of Wood- bridge having sent to England to have an honest, able, godly minister to Come over to vs to preach the word of God sin-
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serly and faithfully-And Mr. John Alin by the providence of God being for that End Come amongst vs, and we having had Sum Experience of his good Abilities : are willing and doe hereby make Choise of him to be our Minister and desire to put ourselfs under his ministry According to the Rules of the gospel."
The satisfaction thus expressed was further manifested by admitting Mr. Allen, on 13th February, as a freeholder, and by granting him a house lot of ten acres ; and, in September, 1682, a request was directed to be presented to the Governor and Council to induct him formally as their minister, in order that all the immunities of the station might devolve upon him.
From this time until January, 1686, we find no allusion to Mr. Allen, or the meeting house, but at the annual gather- ing of the freeholders in that month, a committee was ap- pointed to negotiate with Mr. Archibald Riddell 43 to preach for them, which argues a dissolution of the connection between the town and Mr. Allen, although the name of that gentle- men appears in the records subsequently as still a resident. Mr. Riddell probably officiated until he left the country, in 1689 ; and not until November, 1692, do we find the employ- ment of another referred to. On the first of that month, a committee was appointed "to write for a minister," and in March, 1694, a messenger was despatched to New England to obtain one in the person of Ephraim Andrews, who consented to go "provided the town doe furnish him with money suf- ficient for his jorney, and a hors to ride on." Ten pounds were raised for the purpose.
These measures, however, do not appear to have been suc- cessful, and not until October, 1695, do we find the town supplied. Mr. Samuel Shepard then appears as their minister at a salary of fifty pounds, and in May following, thirty acres of land, and a house were granted to him, provided he should return from New England, whither he was about to go-pos- sibly for his family,- and permanently settle among them ;
43 See page 370.
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conditions which he complied with.44 The spiritual affairs of the town seem to have prospered under Mr. Shepard's care ;- if we may judge from improvements made in the temporalities, -the meeting-house galleries, which in May, 1686, were di- rected to be constructed, were finished-in 1697, sixty pounds were allowed the minister instead of fifty, he having been "at the charge of his diet the year past,"-and in July, 1698, the walls of the meeting-house were to be whitewashed, and a new pulpit built " forthwith."
In March, 1696, it is recorded that Wm. Webster " pre- tending that it was contrary to his conscience to pay any thing towards ye maintenance of a minister," Capt. John Bishop agreed to pay for him as long as he shall live. Kind Capt. Bishop was far more considerate of the spiritual interests of Wm. Webster, than of the temporal interests of Mr. Shepard, for we find the following year that the successful pleading of Webster led others to try a similar procedure, and the town found it necessary to ordain, that those refusing to pay Mr. S.'s rate, should have a distraining warrant issued against them. This may have checked the evil, but in February, 1670, it was found necessary to change the mode of raising Mr. Shepard's salary, making it depend upon voluntary sub- scriptions ; it having been previously provided for in the com- mon rate levied for the general purposes of the town. At this time too, a committee was appointed to settle all differences with their " dissenting neighbors, the Quakers," in reference to their refusal to contribute towards the support of "the publique ministry."
More than five years had elapsed since Mr. Shepard had entered upon his ministerial functions in Woodbridge, and on April 10th, 1701, a committee were directed to confer with him upon the propriety of his being " ordained " as the min- ister of the town. What necessity existed for this I do not know, but, apparently to the surprise and regret of the people, difficulties arose in consequence, which, increased by the per-
44 He was the son of Rev. Samuel uated at Harvard College in 1685 .- Shepard of Rowley, Mass., and grad- MS. Letter of Mr. L. M. Boltwood.
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tinacity with which female influence and prejudices will be sometimes exercised-resulted in Mr. Shepard's separation from the congregation.
The committee appointed to confer with their pastor, re- ported on the 24th, June, " that his wife is so advers to his Setling here, that tho he is otherwise willing to be ordained, he cannot admit of ordination to setle as a minister in this town ; and it being moved to him, that his wife upon second thoughts might be persuaded, Mr. Shepard replyed, there is no hope of my wife's complyance with my setling here, and therefore I would advise you to look out for another." Unwil- ling to relinquish the benefits of his ministry, another commit- tee were authorized to negotiate farther with him, but a month later (July 23d) they too reported that " his wife is utterly ad- verse to his setling here, and he concludes shee will so re- maine if we should still wait longer for a change of her mind ; and therefore adviseth us to have no farther dependence on him." Whereupon the necessary steps were taken to dissolve the connection and obtain another, but for many years, there is no indication on the records of their being supplied. How long Mr. Shepard remained an inhabitant is not known, but in January, 1702, he was requested to preach for the town until another minister should be obtained. He died in the year 1722 or 1723.
In 1707, the Rev. Nathaniel Wade was ordained and in- stalled the Pastor of the congregation ; 45 and the following entries in the Records of the Church in Mr. Wade's own writ- ing are before me.
" January 29th, 1707-8. Was gathered the Church of Christ, in Woodbridge by Nath. Wade, Pastor. Present there were as Messengers, two from ye Church of Newark, and one from the Church of Elizabeth- town; Theophilus Pierson, Jonahs Wood, Benjamin Price. The founda- tion of ye Church was laid first upon three persons who had been Communi- cants in other churches, viz : Sam'l Hail, John Pike, and Noah Bishop. The names of the church are as follows :
45 " A short History " (MS.) in the administered by Mr. Wade, but this is Church Records states, that the Sa- a mistake-other errors are also con- tained in that history.
crament of the Lord's Supper was first
*
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Admitted.
January 29, 1707-8, Sam'l Hail, Assistant.
John Pike, Assistant. Noah Bishop, Assistant.
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