Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century, Part 10

Author: Sherman, Andrew Magoun, 1844-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : Howard Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 576


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > Historic Morristown, New Jersey : the story of its first century > Part 10


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31


95


-


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


Historians, only things of weight, Results of persons, or affairs of State, Briefly, with truth and clearness should relate.


Two services on the Sabbath, one commencing at 10:30 o'clock in the forenoon, and the other at 1:30 o'clock in the afternoon; with an hour's intermission, spent in social converse absolutely devoid of course, of what is now known as gossip; and in munching an im- provised lunch, including a liberal supply of aromatic fennel (Latin, foeniculum), that the adolescent youth of the gentler sex might "smell of sweetest fennel"-such, in brief outline, was the program of the primitive day of worship in early Morristown, so far as church attend- ance was concerned.


The writer distinctly remembers when the custom of a morning and afternoon preaching service prevailed in New England, with the Sabbath-school sandwiched in between ; his recollection, however, of the excessive de- mands upon his vitality necessitated by two preaching services, and the conduct of a Bible class of young men of an inquiring turn of mind, between-with only suf- ficient spare time to run to the nearby parsonage for a bite and a sip, to restore jaded nature-is not without a lingering protest against a custom which constrains not a few of its victims of other days now to exclaim :


Ah! what avail the largest gifts of heaven, When drooping health and spirits go amiss; How tasteless then whatever can be given! Health is the vital principle of bliss.


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


And then the extreme length of the sermons, and in- deed, of the entire service of the early days of Morris- town's history-why, the mere contemplation of it throws over one the weariness induced by an extensive journey. Even Parson Johnes, much as he was beloved by his large flock, and earnestly as he proclaimed the eternal verities, as he understood them, must have found it well-nigh impossible to woo his drowsy hearers from :


Man's rich restorative; his balmy bath,


That supplies, lubricates, and keeps in play The various movements of this nice machine, Which asks such frequent periods of repair, When tir'd with vain rotations of the day.


But the sermons of the early days, their extreme length notwithstanding, constituted the chief and en- grossing topic of conversation in the homes of Parson Johnes's scattered parishioners during the week, where every conceivable phase of them, from "firstly" to "lastly" was earnestly discussed. The writer wonders, as he reviews the early years of Morristown's history, whether there would not now be a similar reverence for the Lord's Day, and a similar interest in the weekly ministrations of the pulpit, if the pulpit of the twen- tieth century courageously led the people in their thought of things eternal.


To be permitted to see, in his own handwriting, the notes of a sermon delivered by "Parson Johnes" (as we write his name, a feeling of inexpressible awe


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HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


broods over us) during his long and eminently useful pastorate of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown, will, we believe, be esteemed a rare privilege by readers who are following the story of the first century's his- tory of this truly famous town.


The notes of such a sermon (abbreviated, as will be noticed, for the purpose, undoubtedly, of economizing space) are presented in this volume. It was a sermon delivered in the year 1755, after Mr. Johnes had been settled over flock about twelve years. It will be noticed that only a single page, the first of the sermon notes, is presented. The complete notes of this sermon, however, occupy eight pages. The handwriting of the sermon notes presented is, in the original, considerably smaller than the handwriting of Dr. Johnes in general : hence, it has been thought well to somewhat enlarge the orig- inal, to facilitate reading. For the truly rare privilege of looking upon the photographic reproduction of this page of Dr. Johnes's sermon notes, the readers of this story are indebted to the courtesy of a direct descend- ant-a great-grand-daughter, now residing in Morris- town, who for many years has sacredly preserved this precious souvenir of a period of our local history, which will increase in interest as the years roll on.


There is one custom of the early years of Morris- town's history, the mention of which should not be omitted. This is the peculiar style of singing in con- nection with the services of the sanctuary, known as "lining." A man was employed to stand, usually on


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


the floor in front of the pulpit, and read a line of the hymn-Watt's hymns were for many years almost ex- clusively used-after which it would be sung by the congregation ; another line would be read, and then sung, and so on to the close of the long musical com- position. The fact that not all the devout worshipers of those primitive days could read, either type or notes, accounts in large measure for the quaint custom of "lining" to which allusion has been made. If tradi- tional reports of the public singing of the early years are to be credited, its effect upon those of musical ear in the congregation, could scarcely have been such as Pope describes in speaking of the delights of music:


I seem through consecrated walks to rove, I hear soft music die along the grove.


To Dr. Johnes is given the credit of having intro- duced a choir and choir-singing into his service; not, however, without objection on the part of some of his flock, one member of which was so indignant as to ab- sent himself for a long time from the communion.


The days of which we are speaking were the days of fireplaces in the homes of the people; stoves were unknown until many years afterward. With rare ex- ceptions, however, the meeting-houses of the early years did not enjoy the luxury even of a fireplace. By means of perforated tin foot-stoves, filled with live coals, the women and children were made comfortable, shall it be said, or were they simply prevented from


99


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


freezing? Upon a good blood circulation, induced by outdoor occupation during the week, the men were able to remain during the tedious services without serious injury to health. It may be, too, that certain phases of the preaching of those early years assisted in keeping up the circulation. One chronicler of local history in- forms us that when stoves were first introduced in the "Baptist Church on Morris Green" the stovepipes were run out through a window. As for means of church il- lumination in the "good old days," if an evening ser- vice were held, the worshipers brought a tallow candle in a hand candlestick, which was held until the ben- ediction was pronounced. The wall candlestick for the illumination of the meeting-house in the evening was a later innovation. "The women," we quote again from the entertaining paper read by Mrs. Isaac R. Pierson, at the sesqui-centennial celebration of the First Baptist Church, of Morristown, in the year 1902, "were clothed in the home-spun of their own industry. It was steady work with them, as all had to be supplied with clothing ; and this constant spinning gave the name of 'spinster' to the unmarried daughters of the family. Every farm- er raised his patch of flax which, when cured and prop- erly dressed was spun with a greater or less degree of fineness, according to the purpose for which it was in- tended, and was then woven into cloth and bleached on the grass in the sun. This made a linen cloth which was used for table or bed linen, etc. Many of us pos- sibly have these mementoes of the olden time. The tow, which was the coarser part of the flax, was used


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


for ropes and harness, and a portion of it was spun and woven into a coarser cloth for men's wear. The cloth called 'linsey woolsey' was made of linen and wool, and used for women's wear. The woolen cloth for the men was dyed with a preparation of butternut bark, which gave it a peculiar shade of brown. It was then fulled and napped and dressed.


The men wore knee breeches, long stockings, and shoes with silver buckles. The woman's dress consisted of a 'linsey woolsey' petticoat and short gown, with a kerchief pinned over the shoulders.


"In the days of our ancestors, carding, spinning, weaving and knitting was the employment alike of the common people and the ladies of fashion. It was con- sidered an honor to appear in home-made apparel. Pins were almost unknown, and thorns were used in their place.


"A shoemaker went from house to house, making the shoes for the family, at stated times. The flint and steel were the only means of getting fire. The fires were made of wood on the ground ; or if in a log house, on the wide stone hearth. When bedtime came enough live coals were buried in the ashes, for rekindling in the morning, but in case the fire should die out, resort must be had to the flint, steel and tinder box. In the absence of these, the musket was used by placing powder in the pan of the lock, and flashing it against a bunch of tow, an article found in every home in those flax-spin- ning days. When these failed, one had to fetch fire in an iron pot from a neighbor's."


IOI


HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


Those days of long sermons, "lining," cold meeting- houses, foot-stoves, tallow candles or dips, spinning- wheels, fire-places, linsey-woolsey, etc., are gone, and we look back upon them merely as curiosities of the un- developed past.


For nearly a score of years following its organiza- tion, the Presbyterian church of Morristown seems to have been without legal standing. The church and con- gregation had meanwhile greatly increased in numbers and in influence. Recognizing the necessity of a legal standing, and guided in the matter by their sagacious pastor, a petition was drawn up and duly presented to his excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Governor of the New Jersey province, requesting incorporation. The extreme length of the charter granted by Governor Belcher forbids that it be given in full, hence the open- ing and closing lines only are presented. They are as follows :


"George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Bri- tain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith. To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:


"Whereas, the advancement of true Religion and virtue is absolutely necessary for the promotion of Peace, order and prosperity of the State,


"And Whereas, it is the duty of all Christian princes and Governors by the law of God, to do all they can for the encouragement thereof,


"And Whereas, Sundry of our loving Subjects of the Pres- byterian Persuasion Inhabitants of an (d) about the Town- ship of Morris, within our Colony of New Jersey, by their humble petition presented to our Trusty and well beloved


I02


THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


Jonathan Belcher, Esq., our Captain General and Command- er in Chief of our Province of New Jersey and Vice-Admiral in the same, showing that the petitioners and others of the same persuasion Inhabitants, in and about the Township of Morris aforesaid, do make up a very large and considerable congregation, that the most advantageous support of reli- gion among them necessarily requires that some persons should be incorporated as Trustees for the community that they may take grants of lands and chattels thereby, to en- able the Petitioners to erect and repair public buildings for the Worship of God, and the use of the Ministry and School Houses and Alms Houses, and suitably to support the Min- istry and the Poor of their church, and to do and perform other acts of Piety and Charity, and that the same Trustees may have power to let and grant the same under a Publick Seal for the uses aforesaid, And that the same Trustees may plead and be impleaded in any suit touching the premises and have perpetual succession. *


"In Testimony Whereof, we have caused these, our Letters to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of our said Province of New Jersey to be hereunto affixed.


"Witness, our Trusty and well beloved Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Province of New Jersey, this Eighth day of September, in the Thirtieth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred fifty and six.


CHARLES READ, Secr'y.


"I have perused the above charter and find nothing there- in contained inconsistent with the honor and interest of the Crown. September 7th, 1756.


"C. SKINNER, Att'y Gen'l.


"Let the Great Seal of the Province be hereunto affixed.


"J. BELCHER.


"To the Secretary of New Jersey.


"Recorded at Trenton, Oct. 5, 1774, in Book C, 3, of Com- missions, page 7, etc."


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HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


A complete copy of this charter may be found in "Record and Combined Register First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N. J., 1742 to 1891."


The following extracts from the trustees' book of the Presbyterian church of Morristown, will be found par- ticularly interesting to our readers. It will be noticed that the extract immediately following, is the first en- try to be made in the trustees' book after the receipt of the charter of incorporation :


"A Record of the Transactions of the Trustees in and for the Presbyterian Chh & Congregation at morristown, in Vertue of a Charter granted to the said Chh & Congrega- tion by his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esqr., Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his majesties Province of Nova Cesarea or New Jersey and territories thereon Depending in America Chancellor and Vice admiral in the same, &c., which Charter was granted the eighteenth of September, in the twenty ninth year of his majesties Reign 1756, the Expence of which Charter being about sev- en Pound Proc. was Raised by Publick Contribution Except- ing the writing of Sd Charter, which was Generously done by Ezekiel Cheever, member of Sd Society.


"The Incorporated Trustees, Viz .: messiurs Benjamin Hatheway, President; Benjamin Bayles, Thomas Kent, Ben- jamin Coe, Charls Howell, Sam'l Robarts & henry Prim- rose, on the Receiving the Charter at the ministers hous from the hands of Mr. Johnes, who had Been Desiered and was Principally Concerned in obtaining the Sd Charter, the Trustees by a Vote did then and there appoint Sam'l Robarts the Corporation Clark.


"The President according to Charter appointed a meeting of the trustees at his own hous January 18, 1758, all the mem- bers being Present it was agreed that as the President had


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


heretofore given a Deed for the Parsonage to mess, mathew Lum, thomas Cleverly & Timothy mills that it might now fall under the Priviledges of the Charter, and it was agreed that Sd Parsonage Land by a Quit Claim be Conveyed to the trustees it was also agreed to take a Quit Claim Deed for the meeting hous Land which is now in the hands of Joseph Pruden & the Heirs of John Lindsley Deceased Both of the town of morris.


"apriel 2 1759 the trustes met at ye Presidents hous ac- cording to the appointment All Present Except Benj Bayles at which time the President Received his Quit Claim of Said matthew Lum timothy mills and Thomas Cleaverly and ac- cordingly Gave a warrantee Deed to the trustees


"apriel the 9 1759 the Clark by appointment of the Trus- tees Received a Quit Claim Deed for the meeting hous Land of Joseph Prudden * * *


* * * may the I 1761 the Trustees met on the Green But Capt. Stiles absent and agread to Lay out into Lots and Sell Som Part of the Pairsonag Land Lying before the meeting hous Dore.


"June the 8 1761 the Trustees met eh icn Court hous and agreed upon a Price for three Lots the first which they then Conveyed to Joseph King was Sixteen Pound taen Shilling and Seald the Conveyance with the Shape of a man's head and the Second or midle Lot is Likewise Sixteen Pound taen Shilling the third or corner Lot twenty Five Pound which two Lots remain yet not sold * * * *


"apriel the 6 1762 the trustees met at Doct hatheways and Conveyed the third Lot to Isaac Bobet for twenty-five Pound and Sealed it with the Seign of a Sheaf and that Same Day Agread and Bought that same Seal for the use of the Charter."


The following brief extracts from the records of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown, so carefully kept by the beloved pastor, are presented chiefly as illustra-


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HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


tions of the unceasing watchfulness exercised by the church over the conduct of its members, and of the means employed to restore the erring to the path of rectitude. Names are in some instances purposely sup- pressed by the writer.


"Monday 12 of April-56. 2'o P.M. at Y House. B'r- was inquired of as to the Reason of absenting from the Lords Supper and upon Examination judged his Reasons al- together groundless being but a Private suspicion of a cer- tain Brother's sincerity-and Exhort him to a careful and Impartial Examination and Prayer that he may escape the snare of our grand Adversary and invite him again to take his place at the Communion.


"Jan. 18-58 Also was resumed the case of Br. -, & after much Reasoning and debating could not re- move his Scruple Tho' we Judge him Still to be in error in makeing a Private Judgement the ground of Omitting a Publick duty yet as we would shew all Tenderness in points of Conscience we would only recommend him to a more critical Study of those Precious rules of Scripture that refer to Chh. fellowship, & to God by earnest Prayer for direction & Light, & that the Moderator do Dehort, & Exhort, him from his Neglect, to his Duty. * January 3d 1760, Mr. - and wife for partaking of stolen water-melon;" "July 26 1766, - for a premeditated fist quarrel;" "Jan- uary I 1772, -, for taking hold of an antient man & member of ye ch., and shaking him in an unchristian & threatening manner."


It is almost needless to say that the above unnamed persons were disciplined by the church for their alleged misconduct, as was also the individual referred to in the following extract :


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


"June 30, 1786, - and wife for ye premature marriage of wife's sister after first wife's death."


With the following extract, cited as will be noticed somewhat out of chronological order, we must deny our readers of further pleasure in the perusal of the quaint and in some instances pathetic records of church pro- ceedings, in an age which at best enjoyed but "a dim religious light," in comparison with the effulgence of the twentieth century.


"June 10 1773. The Elders duely noticed Met at the Min- isters House accordingly present Dea. Prudden Dea. Lum Jno. Ayrs Esqr., Cap. Timo. Mills, Cap. Jno. Lindsley Mr. Ezra Halsey, & the Modr Timo. Johnes. The Session was opened by prayer, after which there was a dispute laid before us, respecting the title of a certain tract of land in Hanover, in which several parties were concerned, Viz. Col. Ford, Dea. Matthias Burnet, Joseph Ketchel Esqr., in behalf of Joseph Baldwin, & Alexander Car-michael, who all agree'd that the Judgement of the Elders should be finally decisive, and that each of them would abide their determination. This question disputed is that Dea'n Burnet for him Selfe & y'os connected with him complain that Col. Ford has laid a Proprietor-right on Lands that were Surveyed in the year 1715, & therefore were not vacant when the Colonel laid his right upon them, after Hearing the parties, and Evidences distinctly, & reasoning upon the matter we deferred the fur- ther consideration of it to thursday next to meet at 2 'o clk. to deliberate further on the subject - concluded with Prayer


"Thursday June 17, 1773, the Elders met according to ad- journment, present all the Members & Parties, except Jo- seph Ketchel Esqr., and after Prayers the above Matter


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HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


was resumed, and after hearing what the Parties could say, and the evidence that could be produced, the Mod'r before the Session made their judgment, recommended it to the parties Viz Col. Ford, Dea. Matthias Burnet, & Mr. Alex- ander Cermichael, to retire by them Selves, with mutual benevolence and condescention, to make proposals for ac- comodation, they accordingly after a proper time of de- liberation, came in, and to our great satisfaction, appeared in a friendly manner, and declared to the Session, that they had come to an entire agreement in the disputed matters, and superceeded the necessity of our Judgment. - Con- cluded w'h Prayer."


Again we quote from the trustees' book of the Pres- byterian Church of Morristown, this time concerning the establishment of schools in the village:


"January 12 1767 the trustees Being called and met at the school hous henry Primrose Joseph Stiles and Benjamin Coe absent Proseaded and chose Benjamin Bayle President and Gave Lieve that a school hous might be Built on the Green Near whair the old hous Now Standeth."


The early settlers of West Hanover had apparently followed the example of New England, from whence many of them had either directly or indirectly come, and "near the schoolhouse built the church."


Indeed, this, the writer ventures to suggest, may have been literally true, for he is of the opinion that the "old house" mentioned as standing on "the Green," may have occupied a portion of the ground now owned by H. H. Davis, on Morris street, in the rear of the Pres- byterian manse. Or, it may have stood on the opposite


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


side of what is now Morris street from the manse, not far from the office of the Daily Record.


From the entry just quoted it will be seen, that prior to the year 1767, a school had been established in the village of West Hanover, and from the fact that in less than a decade after the settlement of Whippanong a school was established there, under the management of "John Richards schoolmaster," it will constitute no violence to reason to assume that as early at least, as the year 1725, the settlers of West Hanover, believing that


"Learning by study must be won, 'Twas ne'er entail'd from sire to son,"


had erected a "school hous" and employed an instruct- or, such as the times afforded, to impart to youth knowledge, which if the Bard of Avon is to be accepted as authority, is "the wing with which we fly to heaven."


Of the interest of the people of early Morristown in the matter of education, there could be no more con- vincing proof than that furnished by the fact that in the year 1769, as may be learned by reference to the ses- sional records of the Presbyterian church, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds and five shillings were contributed by the pastor and members of the above mentioned organization, toward the support of the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton Col- lege. The contributors to the college mentioned were :


"Rev'd Tim. Johnes


£ 9 0 0


21 0 0 Jacob Ford, Esq'r


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HISTORIC MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY


Dea. Matthias Burnet


9


0


0


Cap. Tim Mills.


6


0


O


Elder Daniel Lindsley


3


0


Abr. Ogden, Esq'r.


3


0


0


Elder Jno. Lindsley


3


0


0


Joseph Wood


6


0


0


Henry Gardiner


0


16


0


Nathan Reeve


3


0


0


John Ayres, Esq'r


9


0


0


Thomas Kenney


3


0


0


Will'm De Hart, Esq'r


3


O


0


Thomas Morrell


4


IO


0


Jonas Phillips


4


IO


0


Isaac Pierson


3


0


0


Jonathan Cheever


1


0


O


Peter Condict


2


II


0


Peter Prudden


2


II


0


Moses Prudden


2


II


0


Joseph Prudden


2


II


0


Benjamin Pierson


9


0


O


Samuel Tuthill, Esq'r


3


O


0


Slias Condict


3


O


0


Ezra Halsey, elder


12


O


0


Samuel Robarts


3


0


0


Augustine Bayles


3


0


0


Wid. Phebe Wood


3


0


0


Jonathan Stiles, Esq'r.


I


15


0


Cap. Benjamin Halsey


0


IO


0


140


5 0 Proc.


BENJAM'N LINDSLEY."


The omission of the following entry, to be found in the sessional records of the Morristown Presbyterian Church, would render the preceding quotation incom- plete ; so it is appended :


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THE STORY OF ITS FIRST CENTURY


"April 27, 1773. The Elders being met, Mr. Sergeant, the Treasurer of ye College receit for £140 Proc. was seen and acknowledged by the Elders and the overplush was allowed for incidental charges, testified in behalf of ye Rest by


JACOB FORD.


"Sept. 29, 1787. Then presented to the Trustees of Nassau Hall for the education of poor and pios youth as followeth, viz:


Caleb Russel, Esq.


22 dol. & 45 ninetieths


Joseph Lewis, Esq.


Silas Condict, Esq


42


66


& H


Icabod Cooper,


I & 66


I


Dea. Gilbert Allen


I & 80


Philip Lindsley


3


& 66


Jonathan Dickerson, Esq


I6


& 12


Col. Benoni Hathaway


3


66 & 30 66


John Mills 9


& 2


-


£4I 3. 9


"For which they received the thanks of the Board of Trustees. Test. TIMO. JOHNES."


From the following entry in the trustees' book of the Presbyterian Church of Morristown, there may be gleaned several facts of more than ordinary interest, with regard to schools in the township :


"Octob 7 1771 the trustees met at Doct tuthills Esq. Sam Robarts absent and agreed that the money that Mr. Watt Left to the town Should be Laid out towards Purchasing utensils for the communian Table also that the school hous now on Peter Mackees Land be Removed onto the Parson- age Land and there to Remain During the Pleasure of the trustees and then Lyable to be Removed."




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