USA > New Jersey > Salem County > Salem > History and genealogy of Fenwick's colony > Part 37
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There in that ancient yard stands a white oak which has be- longed to Salem Monthly Meeting of Friends for nearly two centuries. Its life has been in accordance with the laws which have always governed it, and has to a remarkable degree re- tained the vigor of its early life. It has been a close attender of all the meetings held for worship or discipline in the old meeting-house, which formerly stood in the grave yard for up- wards of seventy years, and has been present at all the funerals which have taken place in the yard from 1681 up to the present time ; it has likewise been a large benefactor to the human race, never having turned any one away who came for protection or shelter from the storms or scorching rays of the noonday sun. The laws which governed this ancient member are unchangable, always standing upright among men, and not heeding their con- flicting opinions, and while the earth, with all its allurements, was kept firmly beneath him, his watchword seemed to be up- ward and onward, with each succeeding year ; it has been nour- ished by its friends who lie buried there, and watered by the tears of their mourners. The size of this ancient member at this time-the trunk is twenty feet in circumference, the branches parallel with Broadway street one hundred feet, from Broad- way to the east one hundred and ten feet.
BAPTIST SOCIETIES.
About the year 1683 some Baptists from the county of Tip- perary, in Ireland, settled in the neighborhood of Cohansey. Among these, the early accounts name David Sheppard, Thomas Abbot and William Button. They were members of a Baptist Church at Cleagh Keating in Tipperary county. This church was still in existence in 1838, but has since been disbanded. Thomas and John Sheppard, brothers or cousins of David, set- tled in the same neighborhood at the same time, and were doubt- less also members of this church. In 1685, Obadiah Holmes and John Cornelius arrived from Rhode Island. In 1688, Ri- near Van Hyst, John Childe and Thomas Lambson were bap- tized by Rev. Elias Keach, pastor of the Pennepeck Baptist Church, Pennsylvania.
About this time, Rev. Thomas Killingsworth settled in Fen- wick's Colony, and was the first Baptist clergyman who located in South Jersey. He owned a fine tract of land on the King's Ilighway from Salem to Maurice River, nearly all of which lay in the present limits of Salem township. After his death, the property was owned by the Keasbey family. He was not only a clergyman of considerable reputation, but was the first judge of Salem courts. Through the troublesome time of Cornbury's administration as the first Governor of East and West Jersey, Killingsworth maintained the dignity of the Bench through all opposition. Obadiah Holmes, who came from Rhode Island, as already mentioned, was the son of Rev. Obadiah Holmes, who was publicly whipped in Boston for his religious opinions by the Puritans of that day, and who removed to Rhode Island, and died at Newport, October 15, 1682, aged seventy-six years. Two of his sons, Obadiah and Jonathan, removed to Middle- town, Monmouth county, where they purchased a tract of 1600 acres from the Indians, and were constituent members of the Middletown Baptist Church, the oldest in this State. Oba- diah soon removed to Fenwick's Colony, and settled in Co- hansey Precinct. He occasionally preached, though it does not appear that he was a regularly ordained clergyman. He pos-
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sessed by nature a legal mind, and represented the Cohansey Precinct as Judge of Salem Courts, acting with Killingsworth from the year 1700 to 1709.
I have no doubt the Baptists held meetings in private houses prior to 1690, in the spring of which year they organized a church, now known as the First Cohansey Baptist Church at Roadstown. This was the first church of this denomination in this part of the State. The first meeting house was built on land of David Sheppard, in Shrewsbury Neck, on the south side of the Cohansey, now owned by William Mulford. Killings- worth was the first pastor, and served as such until his death in the spring of 1709.
A company of Baptists emigrated to Cohansey Precinct from Swansea, in Massachusetts, about the year 1687, and settled about what is now known as Bowentown. Among them were the Bowens, Brookses, Barretts, Swinneys, &c. They had a log meeting house at Bowentown, and maintained a separate organi- zation on account of the differences of opinion concerning pre- destination, laying on of hands, &c. Their pastor was Rev. Timothy Brooks, who came with them. After the death of Killingsworth, through the efforts of Rev. Valentine Wightman, of Groton, Connecticut, they united with the Cohanscy Church, and Rev. Timothy Brooks became the second pastor of that church in 1710, and continued such until his death in 1716, in the 55th year of his age. The meeting house on the south side of the Cohansey was soon after abandoned, and land was pur- chased 23d of 12th month, 1713, on the north side of the river, in Hopewell township, near what is now known as Sheppard's Mill, and a meeting house erected. The new site was chosen, doubtless, as a compromise between the old one on the south of the river and the one where Mr. Brooks' company had wor- shipped at Bowentown. Quite a number of Mr. Brooks' com- pany afterwards became Sabbatarians, and were among those who organized the Shiloh Seventh-Day Baptist Church in 1737.
After the death of Mr. Brooks, the church was withont a pastor for several years. Rev. William Butcher, from Chester county, Pennsylvania, became the third pastor in 1721, but after a short service of three years, died 12th of 12th month, 1724, in the 27th year of his age.
Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins became the fourth pastor in 1730. He was born in Caerdicanshire, Wales, 25th of 3d month, 1678, came to this country in 1710, and settled at Cape May in 1712 as pastor of the church there. Ile was a man of talents and
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education, and served also as a Trustee of the Loan Office and as a member of Council, as the State Legislature was then called. A bill being introduced into the Council in 1721, " to punish such as denied the doctrine of the Trinity, the " Divinity of Christ and the Inspiration of the Scriptures," he stood boldly forth on the platform of " soul liberty," declaring that although he believed these doctrines as firmly as the warm- est advocate of the bill, yet he would never consent to oppose those who rejected them with law or with any other weapon than argument. The bill was accordingly quashed. During his pastorate branches of the Church were established at Salem, Pittsgrove, and Great Egg Harbor. A new meeting house was also built in 1741, on the same site as the last, a frame building thirty-six by thirty-two feet, which has since been removed. The old grave-yard, which adjoined it, is still kept up in ordi- nary repair. I visited the ancient cemetery some two years ago and saw many names that were quite familiar; such as John and Job Ware. They were the lineal descendants of Joseph Ware, who emigrated to this county in company with John Fenwick, the proprietor, in 1675, and located himself in Mon- mouth precinct. On one of the tomb stones in said yard is a historical record, " In memory of Deborah Swinney, who de- " parted this life the 4th day of April, 1760, in the 77th year of " her age. She was the first white female child born in Cohan- " sey." Mr. Jenkins died 2d of 6th month, 1754, in the 77th year of his age, and the 25th of his pastorate.
He was succeeded by Rev. Robert Kelsey. He was born in Drummore, Ireland, in 1711, came to Maryland in 1734, and to Cohansey in 1738. Having become a Baptist he was ordained in 1750, and preached for the branch at Pittsgrove, and on the death of Mr. Jenkins was, by his recommendation on his dying bed, called as their pastor. He declined at first, but afterward accepted and became pastor in 1756, and served the church until his death, 30th of 5th month, 1789, in the 79th year of his age.
Rev. Henry Smalley became the sixth pastor 3d of 7th month, 1790. He was born at Piscataway, New Jersey, 23d of 10th month, 1765, and graduated at the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in 1788. A new brick meeting house was com- pleted and dedicated in 1802, and is the one now used by the Church, situate in the village of Roadstown. Its dimensions are forty-five by sixty-three feet, with galleries, and is capable of seating five hundred persons. The Church has, during the last year, erected a commodious chapel adjoining. Mr. Smalley
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was a man of sterling worth, and was well known and honored throughout the whole community, and the Church greatly pros- pered under his care. He died 11th of 2d month, 1839, in the 74th year of his age, and in the 49th of his pastorate.
Since him Rev. Isaac Moore, Rev. Edward D. Fendall, Rev. Jonathan G. Collum, Rev. Joseph N. Folwell, Rev. James M. Challis, Rev. Thomas G. Wright, Rev. Thomas O. Lincoln, and Rev. W. F. Basten, the present pastor, have served this ancient church. The present number of members is two hun- dred and sixty-six.
John Holme resided for a while in the city of Philadelphia after he emigrated from England. He purchased a large quan- tity of land of the proprietor where Holmesburg now is, and one of his sons became the owner and resided on the property. John Holme, about 1690, bought a tract of land in Alloways Creek Precinct, not far from Allowaystown. In a short time he left Philadelphia with his family and made that place his home until his death, in the year 1701. He was the grandfather of Benjamin Holme of Revolutionary memory. I think he and Thomas Killingsworth were the first members of the Baptist Church who lived in the neighborhood of Salem near the time of its first settlement. Baptist meetings were sometimes held at the house of Thomas Killingsworth, at Salem, and at other times at John Holme's, and were continued until the death of Killings- worth, in 1709. In 1705, Killingsworth also had a preaching place at the house of Jeremiah Nixon in Penns Neck. After the death of Holme and Killingsworth, meetings were contin- ued at the houses of Samuel Fogg and Daniel Smith, the last named being a son of John Smith, of Almesbury. Daniel was a follower of George Keith, but afterwards became a Baptist. He was born in the county of Norfolk, England, 10th of 2d month, 1660, and was a great favorite of John Fenwick, who made an honorable mention of him in his will.
The Baptists of this section were connected with the Church at Cohansey. Timothy Brooks, pastor of the Cohansey Church, preached occasionally for them up to the time of his death, in 1716. Their meetings were frequently held at the house of Edward Quinton. After the death of most of the old members, the new converts united with the Cohansey Church, and attended the mother church until about the year 1741. After the member- ship from the vicinity of Alloways Creek and Salem became more numerous, they prevailed upon Nathaniel Jenkins, pastor of the Cohansey Church, to come and assist them occasionally. About this time three of the younger members of the Church
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who lived at Cohansey, Abraham Garrison, Robert Kelsey and Job Sheppard were called to the ministry, and were permitted to visit and preach to the branches of the church. About this time the Baptists turned their attention towards building a meeting house. A quarter of an acre of land was given them by Daniel Smith, Jr., lying between Salem and Quinton's Bridge, near the King's Highway that led to Maurice River. The place was called Mill Hollow, and a meeting house was built there in 1743. In the 12th month, 1748, by the urgent request of the congregation of the new church, Job Sheppard, their minister, moved his family from Cohansey to what is known at this time as the township of Quinton. They held regular meetings every week. It was not until sixty five years after the commencement of Baptist meetings in and around Salem, and twelve years after they had built their church at Mill Hollow, that the church was constituted. It appears that in 1754 the question of separation from the Cohansey Church and organ- izing a new church at Mill Hollow came up for serious consid- eration. The members of the church made an appeal to the mother church to that effect. Their brethren at Cohansey, after some time for consideration, sent the following answer :
"To our dear brothers in and near Alloways Creek, being in " Church membership with us :- We, the Church of Christ, and " Cohansey, baptized upon profession of our faith, holding and "maintaining the baptism of believers by immersion, the laying " on of hands, the resurrection of the body, and eternal judgment, " return this to you as. our answer."
Then followed the consent that the Baptists of Salem and Alloways Creek, who met at Mill Hollow, should form a dis- tinct Gospel Church. The names of the following constituent members are signed to the church covenant: Job Sheppard, pastor; Catharine Sheppard, Edward Quinton, Temperance Quinton, Edward Keasbey, Prudence Keasbey, Abner Sims, Sarah Sims, John Holme, Daniel Smith, Jr., Seth Smith, Sam- uel Simms, Joseph Sneathen, John Whittal, Sarah Smith, Phebe Smith, Rachel Sneathen, Patience James, and Keren- happuch Blackwood. This was the first Baptist Church con- stituted within the present limits of Salem county. The Bap- tists continued to hold their meetings at Mill Hollow until about 1790, when the old meeting house was sold, and moved into Salem and used as a barn for several years. The colored Metli- odists bought it finally and moved it to their lot on Fenwick street, where they used it as a place of worship until recently: 62
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It stands now in the rear of their new brick church, and is used at this time as a school for colored children.
About the year 1670 the Baptist Society purchased 100 acres of Abel Smith for a parsonage. The property was located about one mile from Salem, on the Quinton's Bridge road. When the church was built on Yorke street, in the town of Salem, the Society was in debt about four hundred and seventy-one pounds. The incorporation fully agreed to dispose of the parsonage for the relinquishment of the debt, and Anthony Keasbey, one of the trustees, was the purchaser for about six hundred pounds. The property is known, at the present time, as the "Hannah farm," and is one of the most valuable in this county. On the fifth day of the 8th month, Mary Dunlap, a widow, decded to John Holme, Thomas Sayre, Benjamin Holme, Anthony Keas- bey, John Briggs, Samuel Vance and Howell Smith, a lot con- taining one acre and a half, located on Yorke street, and joined on the cast by lands formerly belonging to Thomas Killings- worth, but at that time owned by Anthony Keasbey. The lot was conveyed to the before mentioned trustees of the Anti- Pedo-Baptist Society to build a meeting house upon, and also for a graveyard for said Society. It was stipulated in the con- veyance that the Society should pay, as a consideration for the property, one ear of Indian corn yearly, if demanded. The house was completed about the year 1790, at a cost of fourteen hundred and thirty-four pounds and some shillings, leaving a debt of four hundred and seventy-one pounds and eleven pence unpaid. The Baptist church at Salem, during the latter part of the last century, increased slowly in numbers, and up to 1801 there were but seventy-four members. From that date, however, to 1869 they numbered nearly seven hundred members. After a time it was thought advisable, to have a meeting house more in the central portion of the town, and the majority of the trus tees purchased a lot on Broadway of the heirs of the late Thomas Thompson, and they erected on this lot a large and substantial brick church, with a clock in the cupola, the first, I think, that was ever placed in any building in the city of Salem. The building was completed in 1845, and it is known, at the present, as the First Baptist Church of Salem. C. E. Cardo is the pastor, and it has a membership of 452. The congregation increased so greatly in numbers that some of the members believed it would be advantageous to the church to build another house for worship, which was accordingly done. The church was erected and completed in 1870 and stands at the corner of Parrot and Fenwick streets, fronting on the latter. The building is large
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and elegant in appearance, and is quite an addition to that part of the town; it is called the Memorial Baptist Church, and has 208 members. A. C. Williams is the pastor.
An old manuscript book, which at one time belonged to Thomas Killingsworth, the first Judge and Baptist clergyman in Fenwick's colony, dates back to the 18th of January, 1690; and at the death of Killingworth it was delivered to Cornelius Copner, an inhabitant of Penn's Neck, on the 16th of August, 1709. About 1725 or 1730 Thomas Miles, the celebrated surveyor, became the possessor of it. In it it appears that Kil- lingsworth kept a genealogical record of a number of families that adhered to the Baptist faith, some of whom can be traced accurately up to this day; and others, whose children have either left the State, or the name has been lost in the female line. Most of the English families that he chronieled were inhabitants of Penn's Neck.
Thomas Baldwin was born in Oxfordshire, England, in De- cember, 1657. His wife, Mary Baldwin, was born in the Parish of Macefield, in the county of Sussex, England, 24th of Sth month, 1653. They emigrated to America soon after they were married, and located in Fenwick's colony, in the township of Penn's Neck, about the year 1683. Their stay in this county was of a short duration, for in 1685 they removed to Chester county, Pennsylvania. Thomas and Joseph Baldwin, the twin sons of Thomas and Mary Baldwin, were born at Chester, Au- gust 26th, 1685 ; William Baldwin, son of Thomas and Mary Baldwin, born 19th of December, 1687; Anthony Baldwin, born 10th of February, 1690; Mary, their daughter, born 25th of February, 1692; Martha and Mary, their daughters, were born the 16th of December, 1694.
The Lambson is an ancient family of Penn's Neck. Thomas and his wife, Ann Lambson, emigrated to America and located in Penn's Neck, in 1690, and agreeably to Killingsworth, they were of the Baptist faith. Giles, the son of Thomas and Ann Lambson, was born the 22d day of July, 1692; Eleanor, their danghter, was born the 21st day of March, 1694; Thomas was born the 29th of December, 1696 ; Joseph was born the 15th of September, 1700; Catharine, their daughter, was born the 21st of March, 1703; Mathias Lambson, son of Thomas and Ann, was born 31st of May, 1705; Michael was born 29th of September, 1707; Mary, their daughter, was born 13th of April, 1710; Daniel was born the 1st day of February, 1715. Many of the large families of Lampson, as well as the Copner family, adhered to the religion of their ancestors, although a
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number became active members of the Presbyterian Church that was organized in the township, in 1760. Mathias Lamp- son, of the present century, lived in and owned the ancient brick dwelling that was built by his ancestor about 1730, which stands near Salem creek. He had two or more children. His daughter married the late Charles Swing, being his first wife. His son, Thomas Lampson, not being contented to remain on the farm, turned his attention to mercantile business. He bought property at the foot of Broadway street, Salem, and erected the spacious brick house that is now standing, which belongs to the Steamboat Company. The old mansion and farm in Penn's Neck is owned by the late John Lindzey's heirs.
Cornelius Copner was one of the active English citizens of Penn's Neck as early as 1695 up to his death, in 1731, as the public records of Salem county fully corroborate. He was twice married. By his first wife, whom he married April 28th, 1701, he had the following named children-Edmund, born 2d day of February, 1702; Ann, born 16th of January, 1703; Elizabeth, born 7th of April, 1705; Cornelius, born 25th of July, 1707; John, born 11th of November, 1709 ; Edmund, born 23d of February, 1712 ; Christian, third daughter of Cor- nelius and Christian Copner, was born 17th of June, 1714. Christian Copner, the wife of Cornelius, departed this life 18th of June, 1714. Sarah, the second wife of Cornelius Copner, was born 15th of September, 1696, and married on the 21st of December, 1714. Christian, daughter of Cornelius and Sarah Copner, was born 3d of January, 1716, and died two days later; Tobias, the son of Cornelius and Sarah Copner, was born 11th of February, 1717. Tobias was the father of Joseph and Ebenezer Copner. Samnel, the son of Cornelius and Sarah Copner, was born 17th of February, 1719 ; Sarah, daughter of Cornelius and Sarah, was born 9th of February, 1720 ; Samuel, 2d, son of Cornelius and Sarah, born 20th of November, 1721. Joseph Copner, at one time of his life, belonged to the Presby- terian Church, but in his old age, became a member of Salem Monthly Meeting of Friends. Cornelius Copner owned a large tract of excellent land, part of which still belongs to his family. Benjamin Acton, of Salem, is the owner of a part of it, whose wife is a lineal descendant of Cornelius Copner.
A few Baptists settled on Oldman's creek as early as 1665 ; they were companions of Robert Carr. It does not appear that they had any regular meetings for a number of years after they first settled in Salem county. At a subsequent period they
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became members of Cohansey Church, it being at the time the nucleus around which the Baptists in West Jersey centered. It appears, by the care of the mother church, those scattering members residing on Oldman's creek and in Pilesgrove were constituted a branch of the Cohansey Church, at Daretown, in 1743. At that period there were several families from New England by the name of Reed, Elwell, Cheesman, Paullin, Wallace, Champney and Mayhew. Many of their descendants are still living in Pittsgrove at the present time, and most of them, I have been told, still adhere to the religious sect of their forefathers. Robert Kelsay was their pastor soon after the branch was organized, and continued to be until 1754. Accord- ing to their record, the Baptists on Oldman's creek, in 1740, purchased a piece of ground near the head of tide water, near what in after time was known as Sculltown, for a burial ground, on which they erected a log meeting house in 1771. It has gone down, and the lot is used as a common burying ground by the neighboring inhabitants. In 1771 Pittsgrove Baptist Church became a distinct Gospel Church. The following minute made at Cohansey Church 9th of 5th month, 1771, says, " We conclude that all such of our members as shall join in " said intended constitution are fully dismissed from us. So, "recommending you to God, and the words of his grace, we " rest your brethren in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel." It was signed at their monthly meeting in behalf of the whole church by David Bowen, Clerk. They further stated that the members dismissed from Cohansey Church, who became meni- bers of Pittsgrove, were John Mayhew, Sr., William Brick, Jacob Elwell, John Dickinson, Cornelius Austin, Samuel Brick, Johanna Mayhew, Eleanor Nelson, Esther Hewes, Hannan Elwell, Matthew Aarons, Pamannah Garton, Fulida Hudson, Mathias Dickinson, Phebe Nelson, Renhama Austin, and Rachel Brick. The church was incorporated in 1786, and John Mayhew, William Brick, William Dickinson, John Kel- ley, Samuel Rose, David Nichols, and Jacob Wright were made Trustees. As was the custom in the first organization of the . Protestant Societies in this colony, the first Baptist meeting house in Pilesgrove was built of logs. It stood in their grave yard on the same spot where, in 1743, the frame meeting house was built. This last was of moderate size, but was a substantial structure, and remained over a century. It was sold in 1844 to the colored people for a house of worship, and the present brick house was built the same year (1844) at a cost of $2,200. They have a parsonage situated about two miles from their
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church, near Pole Tavern, containing, at the present time, a comfortable dwelling house, thirty acres of land, and other buildings. In 1762, when Pilesgrove embraced the present township of Pittsgrove, John Mayhew, Jr., in consideration of £80 proclamation money, did give and convey 60 acres of land, lying near Pole Tavern, to Jacob Elwell, John Mayhew, Sr., and John Dickinson, in trust, for the use and benefit of such person as shall be minister or teacher amongst us, and for the Ana-Baptist congregation in Pilesgrove, aforesaid, and only during his official connection with them. It seems, from a want of legal authority in said person to receive the trust, it was deemed necessary by the future generation that a deed of con- firmation of said trust should be made by the surviving heirs of the original grantor. The last deed was given in 1809, by John Mayhew, Sarah Worth, Susannah Smith, and Lydia Davis, heirs of John Mayhew, the elder, to Jonathan Elwell, Stanford Mayhew, Samuel Aarons, Uriah Elwell, John Coombs, Josepli Saxton, and John Dunlap, trustees of the Baptist congregation of Pittsgrove. At a subsequent period part of the said land was sold, leaving about 30 acres. William Worth was received into fellowship of the Pittsgrove Baptist Church, and became their pastor in 1771, and continued in that capacity for twenty- two years, during which time there were sixty-five new members added to the congregation by baptism. From the year 1788 the aged Pastor Worth imbibed doctrines contrary to the fund- amental creed of the Baptist faith. The effect of such doctrines enunciated from the pulpit, was the cause of many of his con- gregation attaching themselves to the neighboring Presbyterian Church, whilst a number of male members of the Baptist Church imbibed his doctrine. The conflict between the two contending parts of the congregation was sharp and very per- sistent, and their historian states that, in 1803, after a struggle of ten years, two deacons and William Worth were excluded for heresy, Worth being deposed from the ministry. He re- mained a Universalist until approaching death induced him to renounce his error.
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