USA > New Jersey > Salem County > Salem > History and genealogy of Fenwick's colony > Part 40
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the spire is 165 feet from the ground, and in point of architect- ure is not surpassed by any church edifice in the city of Salem. The congregation now numbers over two hundred members.
The large and influential congregation of Pittsgrove found it incumbent to provide more ample room for Divine worship, and they resolved to erect a new church. In July 14th, 1864, the corner stone for a new building was laid. The size was 81x51 feet ; including projecting tower and pulpit recess, is 91 feet in length ; the tower and spire is 125 feet. The cost of the build- ing was $21,050; the furniture $700; bell, $4,186; the whole cost, $25,836.
In 1859 the old church at Deerfield was remodeled and en- larged by the addition of 25 feet, at an expense of $3,000.
The Presbyterian Church at Millville was organized 12th of Sth month, 1820, at Port Elizabeth, under the name of the First Presbyterian Church at Maurice River, by Ethan Osborne and Jonathan Freeman, appointed by the Presbytery of Phila- delphia to that duty. It began with twenty-one members, in- cluding three ruling elders. The elders were Nathaniel Foster, Jeremiah Stratton and Samnel S. Barry. The town of Mill- ville soon eclipsed Port Elizabeth in population, manufactories and commerce. The meeting of the Presbyterians was trans- ferred from Port Elizabeth to Millville by common consent, because the members mainly resided there. The church was erected at Millville in 1837 ; the corner stone was laid by Pas- tor Kennedy, of Bridgeton; the building, when completed, was dedicated in 1838, by Pastor Blythe, of Woodbury. The build- ing was enlarged in 1855.
The Presbyterian inhabitants of the town of Cedarville, mem- bers of the old mother church at or near Fairton, were anxious to organize a church at that place. A meeting of the inhabit- ants of Cedarville was held in the Friendship school house, Jan- uary 21st, 1819, when it was resolved "that it is the sincere desire of this meeting to continue united with the Presbyterian Congregation at Fairfield." The following is a minute made at the time mentioned : " Resolved, that it is the opinion of this meeting, considering the circumstances of many of the inhabit- ants of this place are such as to render it almost impossible for them to attend the preaching of the Gospel in the old meeting house, that the building of a meeting house in this place is neces- sary for the accommodation of the inhabitants. Amos Fithian subscribed four hundred dollars, and he and Amos Westcott, and Henry Howell of Cedarville, and Shephard Gandy, of Phil- adelphia, were appointed to solicit donations. The question was
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brought to a vote of the congregation, when 43 voted for and 45 against the proposition." About the time of these propositions the old church of Fairfield had united with the new school. There was eventually a Presbyterian Church organized at Cedar- ville, which took place 23d of 10th month, 1839, at which time there were thirty-nine members-thirteen males and twenty-six females. The church was erected in 1839 ; size, 51x37 feet. The house was enlarged in 1851 by the the addition of 20 feet to its length, at an expense of $2,500. The new and elegant Presby- terian Church in West Bridgeton, was erected in 1869, its di- mensions being 100 feet in length by 53 feet in width, with a spire 162 fect high. The material was light Chester stone, with Trenton brown stone trimmings ; cost of the building about $45,- 000. Samuel Sloan was the architect.
I shall now confine my remarks to the different religious or. ganizations located within Fenwick's Colony.
I visited a short time since, in company with two neighbors, together with some of our friends in that section of the country, the old Fairfield grave-yard. It is a romantic place located on the banks of the Cohansey. To all appearances, (and the dates on the tombstones confirm it,) it has not been used as a burying place for nearly a century. A forest of trees, consisting of upland cedars and a variety of oaks, has overgrown the ancient grave-yard. There was one ancient member of the olden times still standing, a species of the oak, near the middle of the yard, which to all appearance has withstood the wintry blast for more than two centuries, and other trees of the same kind have taken root and grown to be large trees within the last century. They bid fair, ere long, to equal in size the venerable parent of the ground. There was one that we noticed in particular, on the grave of Daniel Parvin, who died in 1772, had grown to the size of nearly two feet in diameter, and in proportion in height. There was some of the early emigrants who attained a great lon- gevity. Lulin Preston, as inscribed on the tombstone, departed this life in 1752, aged ninety-two years ; and several others, we noticed by their tombstones, arrived at the age of four-score years. To me it was a solemn and interesting visit, when I re- flected that here in this place the first emigrants lie buried, most of whom are the sons and daughters of New England, and here they will remain forever, their mortal bodies mouldering with the mother earth of their adopted country,
EPISCOPAL SOCIETIES.
At the first settlement of the town of New Salem, or soon afterwards, there were a number of persons who were members of the Church of England. The Vining family, Alexander Grant, James Rolph, George Trenchard, Benjamin Vining, James Sherron, and the Dunlap family were among the first families of Episcopalians. They probably held meetings in pri- vate houses prior to the year 1722, when they organized a church under the name of the St. John's Episcopal Church, of Salem. It was the second religious society in the town of New Salem, the Society of Friends being organized forty-six years previous. The following account of St. John's Church, Salem, is taken from Humphrey's History of the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts. "The inhabitants of Salem wrote a " very carnest letter to the Society, desiring that they might " have a missionary settled among them. The Rev. Mr. Hol- " brook was sent there in 1722. As soon as he came among " them, the people, though generally poor, contributed very " freely toward raising a neat brick church. They made appli- " cation to the Church people of Philadelphia for assistance, " and received considerable contributions from them. Holbrook " soon after acquainted the Society that many of the inhabitants " led more Christian lives ; eight young men and women had " desired and received baptism, and a considerable number of " children had been baptized. That in the discharge of all parts " of his ministerial office, he had the satisfaction of finding the " people seriously disposed, and the number of church members " daily increasing."
It is probable that a temporary church was built of logs, on the same lot of ground where the present church stands. In 4th month, 1728, Samuel Fenwick Hedge deeded the Society one acre of ground on the south side of Bridge street (now Market) fronting 165 feet on the said street and 264 feet in depth. The Society allowed £10 worth of books to each mis- sionary for a library, and £5 worth of small tracts to be dis- tributed among the parishoners. The missionaries at Salem
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received £60 annually. In the proceedings of the Society from 2d month, 1722, to 2d month, 1723, it is mentioned that gratui- ties had been given to the two Swedish ministers, Hesselus and Lidenins, for supplying the churches in Salem, New Jersey, and Apoquinomy in Pennsylvania, now Delaware.
During the year from 2d month, 1726, to 2d month 1727, Hol- brook reported fourteen communicants. He had baptized one man and two women, all Quakers, also seven children and one negro woman. The ensuing year, he reported that the church was so far finished, they had met in it since the 24th of 6th month, 1728, since which time his congregation had consider- ably increased. Rev. Howard is stated to have been the So- ciety missionary at Salem, in 1st month, 1725 ; he continued here until the year 1733, when William Pierson was appointed to fill his station. His letter, dated August 6th, 1734, informs the Society that he arrived at Salem the 30th of 1st month, and that the people belonging to the church received him with joy, and continued to express much kindness and respect for him, and great gratitude to the Society for taking them under its care; that he had commonly a congregation of a hundred on Sunday, and on some occasions hath had upwards of two hun- dred. In his letter of 7th of 11th month, 1737, he wrote " that he was encouraged by a more regular, orderly attendance of the people at divine service than formerly, and by an increase of communicants. The people of Salem, generally, were very ignorant, especially in regard to the sacraments, and not only neglected them but held them in great contempt, through a deep tineture of Quakerism." His name does not appear after 1747, which was about the time of his death. His remains, together with his wife and two children, lie in St. John's Epis. copal Church yard. 2d month, 1748 and 1749, a person by the name of Thompson was appointed missionary at Salem, but removed the succeeding year to Chester, Pennsylvania. The Rev. Eric Umander, a Swedish Missionary, pastor of Swedes- borough and Penns Neck churches, preached occasionally in St. John's Church, at Salem. This church did not again enjoy the regular services of a clergyman until the year 1792. It was so seriously damaged during the Revolutionary war, by the English troops, as to unfit it for public worship. The Episcopal Church and a house on Yorke street seem to have been the two principal houses where the British troops quartered during their stay in the town of Salem in 1778. By tradition the officers occupied those buildings during the year 1792 and part of the following year. John Gray officiated at Salem in connection
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with St. George's in Penns Neck. Some time after the Revo- lution the Legislature was petitioned to allow the members of St. John's Church, in connection with the Salem Academy, to raise by lottery the sum of $300 for its repair, giving as a rea- son for the request, the injury which had been done to the build- ing by the enemy in 1778. The petition was signed by Thomas Sinnickson, William Parrot, Samuel Dick, Jacob Hufty, Rich- ard Burchan, Edmund Weatherby, and Robert Johnson, but what was its fate was not recorded. The report of the mission- ary in 1813 was that the old church had been enlarged and handsomely repaired. In appendix to the journal of the con- vention for the year 1817, it is mentioned that St. John Church, Salem, had within a short time revived and considerably im- proved, and that, in connection with St. George's, in Penns Neck, it enjoyed the ministration of the pastor formerly of Mount Holly-name not given.
The following is an extract of a discourse of Bishop Croes, 1821 : "This ancient and respectable town, and these hallowed " walls, in which we have now for the first time assembled, con- "stitute one, among many proofs, not only of its revival, but of " its increasing prosperity. Not fourteen years ago this temple " was in absolute ruins, and had been so for a long time previ- "ously. The sparrow had literally found here a house, and the " swallow an undisturbed nest. The parish had been destitute "of a minister for at least sixty years, with the exception of a " short period about thirty-three years since, and the congrega- "tion was on the point of expiring. Yet in this apparently " hopeless state God was pleased to put it into the hearts of a "few zealous Episcopalians to attempt its recovery, and they " happily succeeded. The church was enlarged and completely " repaired, a regular congregation organized, and within the last " six years they have had almost uninterruptedly the services of " a minister."
During the ministration of Henry M. Mason the members of the church decided upon erecting a new church edifice, and the corner stone was laid in 1836 by Bishop Doane ; Henry M. Ma- son, the rector ; Abbercrombe, of Christ Church, Philadelphia ; McCraskey, at the present time Bishop of Michigan; and Rec- tor J. L. Wirt, of Swedesboro. The church edifice is a large one, built of stone, and stands on the site of the old one, erected in 1728. It is the most substantial church building in Salem, and is much admired for its architectural appearance. It was finished in 1838, and was dedicated about the 5th of 2d month, the same year. The sermon was delivered on the occasion by
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the eminent divine, Edward G. Prescott, who was the Rector of the church at that time. The Wardens at that time were Thomas Sinnickson, Daniel Garrison ; the Vestry, Richard P. Thompson, Jacob W. Mulford, James M. Hannah, Benjamin Acton, Joseph Kille, Thomas Rowan, John Sinnickson, David B. Smith, and Oliver B. Stoughton. For a number of years after the Revolutionary war there were no meetings held at St. John's Church. During that time I presume the most zealous among them attended St. George's, at Penn's Neck.
The following is a list of the missionaries and rectors of St. John's Church since 1722: The Swedish missionaries were Hes- selius and Lindenius, 1723-4. In 1725 the rector was Howard, who remained until 1733. From that year until 1748 John Pierson was rector. The church was occasionally visited by Erie Anader in 1749; a short time in 1749-50 by John Craig. The church records appear to have been lost or were destroyed in the old church by the British troops. In 1817 the pastor of St. Andrew's Church, Mount Holly, occasionally visited St. John's Church. From 1820 to 1823 Richard F. Cadle was the pastor ; from 1823 to 1829, Christian F. Cadle ; from 1829 to 1837, Henry M. Mason; from 1837 to 1844, Edward G. Prescott; from 1844 to 1848, William B. Otis ; from 1848 to 1853, John S. Kidney ; from 1853 to 1858, A. B. Patterson ; from 1858 to 1867, Thomas F. Billop ; from 1867 to 1871, William A. Holbrook; from that date to the present time, George W. Timlow.
In the address referred to in the preceding statement as hav- ing been sent by some of the inhabitants of Salem to the Soci- cty for the propogation of the Gospel in foreign parts, after saying " That in the good Providence of God they had been "enabled to obtain a moderate supply of their temporal wants, " they depict in very earnest language their utter spiritual des- " titution, never having had any one to dispense to them the "ordinances of religion : the very name of it had almost died out "among them. Their condition, they say, is truly deplorable, " and deserving of Christian compassion, and in moving terms " they entreat the Society to send them some reverend clergy- " man, who may preach to them the truths of the Gospel, and " recover them out of the spiritual ignorance and corruption "in which they have fallen. To such a one they promise en- " couragement to the extent of their ability, and all due respect " to his office, instructions and person."
Many of the members of the Episcopal church of Salem have been conspicuous citizens in civil affairs in this section of
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country. James Rolph died about 1731, and many of his de- scendants have been useful members of society. Alexander Grant resided on Market street, and, I believe, he died about 1730. Although I have not any knowledge that he left any sons, yet his descendants are numerous at this day. His daugh- ter, Ann Grant, married Samuel Fenwick Hedge, and their children were Samuel and Rebecca Hedge. The former mar- ried the daughter of Joseph Woodnntt, and their children, San- uel, Joseph and Rebecca, during their lives adhered to the Society of Friends, but the greater number of Rebecca Hedge Thompson's children and grandchildren attached themselves to the Episcopal Church. Rebecca, the daughter of Samuel Fen- wick Hedge, married Giles Smith, of Mannington, who was a Friend, and his children likewise. Ann Grant's second husband was Nicholas Gibbon. Their children were Nicholas, Grant and Jane Gibbon, who, together with their mother, soon after the death of their father, left Greenwich and removed to Salem. They were all members of the Episcopal Church. Nicholas Gibbon died in 1758, and his widow, Ann Gibbon, in 1760, and both lie in the Episcopal grave-yard. Grant Gibbon died in 1776, aged 41 years. Jane Gibbon married Robert Johnson, Sr., and was the mother of the late Robert G. Johnson. George Trenchard, Sr., was one of the first members of the Episcopal Church at Salem. He died 22d of 9th month, 1728, and his son, George Trenchard, was one of the best educated men in this section. At that time he owned a large quantity of land in Monmouth Precinct, was an assessor for the precinct several years, and was a surveyor. His wife was a Sinnickson. I. think he resided in Penn's Neck the latter part of his days. The Coleman family were among the first families of that church. Dr. Samuel Dick was also an active member of the church, and he took an active part in public affairs at the time of the Revo- lution. Andrew Yorke and his wife Eleanor were also distin- guished members. Andrew died 23d of 3d month, 1794, and his wife in 1802. They left children, and most of their de- scendants adhere to the religious profession of their parents. William and Richard Parrott were members of the Episcopal Church at Salem. The late John B. Tuft's ancestors were among the first members of the church, as were also Ebenezer Howell and his sister Clarissa. The Sinnickson family formerly belonged to the Swedes' Church in Penn's Neck, but for nearly a century they have been the leading members of the Episcopal Church. Dr. Benjamin Archer was a descendant of one of the oldest Swedish families that settled at Swedesboro, as early as
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1638 or 1640. He was born in 1775, and died in 1845. Soon after he located at Salem he married Rachel, the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Hedge Thompson. They left one son, Fenwick Archer, who is a lineal descendant of John Fenwick, being of the seventh generation.
The annual meeting of the convention of the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the Diocese of New Jersey was held at Salem 27th of 5th month, 1826. The Bishop, and several of the clergy and of the lay deputies, assembled in St. John's Church at 11 A. M. Morning prayer was read by Matthew Matthews, and a sermon preached by the Rev. John Croes, Jr. The Bishop then admitted to the Holy Order of Priests Christian F. Cruce, Rector-elect of that church. After the termination of the re- ligious exercises, the Bishop took the chair, and appointed Dr. Wharton and Robert Boggs, Esq., a committee to examine the testimonials of their appointment, which should be presented by the lay deputies, and report the number of churches duly repre- sented. The committee on examination made a report that dep- uties were present from 11 churches, and the lay deputies repre- senting St. John's Church were Dr. Hedge Thompson, Dr. Thomas Rowan, Dr. Benjamin Archer, William N. Jeffries and James Kinsey; St. George's Church, Penns Neck-Aaron Wright and John Jaquett.
Hedge Thompson, the only son of Thomas and Rebecca H. Thompson, was educated a physician, and practiced several years in his native town and surrounding country with consid- erable success. His calling, it appears, was not congenial to his health, and before he was middle aged, having acquired a con- petency, he, in a great degree, abandoned his professional prac- tice, and in some measure turned his attention to politics, but was never considered an ardent politician. He was subsequently clected to represent this District in Congress. His wife was Mary Ann, daughter of Richard Parrot, by whom he had five children-Richard P., Thomas, Dr. Joseph Hedge, Mary and Rebecca HI. Thompson. Most of those children, like their parents, are members of the Episcopal Church. Hedge Thomp- son, their father, was the great-grandson of Samuel Fenwick and Ann Grant Hedge, and the lineal descendant of the sixth generation of John Fenwick, and the fifth from Andrew Thomp- son, of Elsinborough.
Jacob ILufty, another prominent member of St. John's Epis- copal Church, was one that is commonly called a self-made man, he belonging to the working class of society. He inherited a good physical constitution, and his intellect was above medioc-
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rity. In early life he learned the blacksmithing trade, and fol- lowed it for a number of years in the town of Salem. He eventually became an ardent politician, attaching himself to what was then called the Jeffersonian Republican party, and in a few years afterward was elected Sheriff of Salem county, and subsequently was chosen by the South Jersey District a member of Congress. He was twice married; by his first wife he had two daughters,-Eliza and Sarah Hufty. Sarah married a Mr. Perry, and had children, one of whom is the wife of Mr. Charles Sinnickson, of Philadelphia. Eliza married Samuel, the son of Thomas Clement, of Elsinborough, and by him had two sons, Samuel and De W. Clinton Clement. Jacob's second wife was Rachel, daughter of John and Susanna Denn, of Mannington. She died a few years before her husband, leaving no issue.
William Parrot was also a member of the Episcopal Church. He took an active part in the Revolutionary war, and when peace was declared between the two countries he returned to his native town. Being a man of wealth, he soon after pur- chased a house and lot of ground on the east side of Fenwick street, on the site now occupied by Rumsey's building. The property formerly belonged to an eminent Friend, Richard John- son, the forefather of Robert Johnson. William Parrot was also the owner of a considerable quantity of land on the south side of same street, said lands extending to the town meadow. In his time, the street now known as Walnut went by the name of Margaret's Lane, and it extended through the entire length of his property. William in his old age married Clarissa Howell, sister of Dr. Ebenezer Howell, who was a young woman of superior accomplishments and had a good intellect. He died not many years after that event, leaving no issue. His widow afterwards married Edward Burroughs ; they had one dangh- ter-Clarissa Burroughs. Her second husband died a few years after they were married, and their daughter Clarissa died a young woman. Her mother survived her for many years, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years.
It is a singular occurrence that there have been more Con- gressmen elected from the members of St. John's Episcopal Church than any other church in South Jersey. Thomas Sin- nickson, son of Andrew Sinnickson, of Penns Neck, was the first; Jacob Hufty, Hedge Thompson, Daniel Garrison, the late Judge Thomas Sinnickson, Joseph Kille, Thomas Jones Yorke, have since been members, and Clement Hall Sinnickson has recently been elected to the forty-fourth Congress.
At what time the Swedes Church in Penns Neck was organ-
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ized remains in doubt. For a number of years the inhabitants of New Sweden, on the eastern side of the Delaware river, belonged to the Swedes Church located near the mouth of Chris- tiana Creek, on the western shore of said river. The prominent Swedish families in this county at that period were the Neilsons. Joansons, Sinakers, Ericksons, Hendricks, Yearnis', and several others. There were some French Protestants, also, residing in that section of country ; Jaquetts, and several other families. Some historians write that Swedes Church was erected on the site where the present Episcopal Church in Penns Neck is located, as early as 1714, and the ground was deeded to them by Hans Jaquett. The Swedes were Lutherans. It can readily be perceived that the French Huguenots and the Swede inhab- itants could unite together in divine worship. In 1742 the Church was duly organized as an Episcopal Church, by the name of St. George's Episcopal Church, of Penns Neck. The con- gregation at one time was large; at the present time there are but few members belonging to it. Andreas Sandal being Pro- vost, appointed Abraham Lidenins as the first pastor over this church, in 1714. He continued in that capacity until 1724, then Petrus Tanburg and Andreas Windouswa divided their services between the church of Penns Neck and the Swedes' church at Baccoon, as Swedesboro was then called. The Epis- copal church at Greenwich was erected in 1728 or 1729, by Nicholas and Grant Gibbon; they were brothers. The house was consecrated by Phineas Bond, a clergyman from New Castle, and was named St. Stevens Church. The Gibbon fam- ily contracted with Pearson, the clergyman of St. John's Church, Salem, to officiate in their church for them as often as he could be spared from his church at Salem. The Episcopalians in a few years dwindled away. Their house of worship has been removed for many years; a few tombstones, still standing, mark the spot near where the church formerly stood.
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