USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 10
USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men > Part 10
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Soon after the church was organized the work of securing a house of worship was undertaken and ac- complished by the indefatigable and self-sacrificing
1 By Col. William R. Murphy.
1
484
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
labors and wise and skillful management of Mr. Scovel. When the house was completed and occu- pied by the congregation it was entirely free from debt. The more important results of the faithful work of this venerable and beloved servant of God is shown in the addition of one hundred and thirty-three to the members of the church, including those with whom it was at first constituted.
In May, 1863, the Rev. O. H. Hazard began to labor as stated supply, and continued until Septem- ber, 1865. During this period there were added on profession fourteen, and on certificate twenty-four. From the date last mentioned until the following May the session procured casual supplies.
In February, 1866, the congregation undertook, after sixteen years of hard struggle for existence, to settle its first pastor. Accordingly, a meeting was held, and a unanimous call was made for the pastoral services of the Rev. Joseph Greenleaf, Jr., who was installed by the Presbytery of Burlington, May S, 1866. This pleasant pastorate continued until March, 1871. During these five years there were added to the church twenty-five on profession, and on certifi- cate thirty-seven. It was also during this pastorate, encouraged by a brighter prospect of success, and the apparent necessity of a more commodious house of worship and in a more eligible location, that the congregation determined to sell their church build- ing and grounds and erect a new edifice on Farnsworth Avenue near Burlington Street.
When the new church was completed two facts were clearly ascertained: First, the congregation fras in possession of a beautiful house of worship; and, second, there remained unprovided for a debt of twelve thousand dollars. This latter fact resulted in a sheriff's sale, the title-deed passing to the Bor- dentown Banking Company. Through the active be- nevolence of Mr. George S. Green and the late Joseph G. Brearley, ruling elders in two of the Tren- ton churches, the property was purchased and the title held by them for the benefit of the church and congregation, pending an effort to redeem the prop- erty. As a basis for this effort three bequests had been made to the congregation, which together with other contributions amounted to about three thousand dollars. The Rev. R. Taylor, D.D., who had for several months been acting as stated supply, now undertook to obtain further contributions for the pur- : pose of repurchasing the property and paying the claims which had been cut off by the sheriff's salc. The efforts of Dr. Taylor, aided by the board of church erection, were successful, and now the congregation "sits under its own vine and fig-tree, without any to molest or make it afraid." During all the trouble of the congregation it was never deprived of the privi- lege of worshiping within the walls of the new edifice.
On the 5th of January, 1874, Dr. Taylor was in- stalled as the second pastor of the church, which pas- torate continued until the following October, when,
at his request, the relation was dissolved. During his service, from August, 1871, to October, 1874, there were added to the church twenty on profession, and twenty-two on certificates from other churches. From the date last mentioned the church remained without a pastor until the September following ( 1875), when the Rev. Leigh Richmond Smith was installed as its third pastor. This relation, at his own request, was dissolved on the Sth of November, 1876, and now the church is without a pastor. During the pastor- ate of Mr. Smith there were added on profession twenty-five, and on certificate thirteen. The whole number added to the church since it was organized is three hundred and thirteen. The present number is one hundred and fifteen. It should also be stated that during all these twenty-nine years there has existed a well-organized Suuday-school, which has proved an efficient agency of the church.
The Friends' Meeting of Bordentown, before alluded to, established in 1740, being a branch of the Chesterfield Meeting, its records and history may be found in the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting records in the history of Chesterfield township.
Burial-Grounds .- For very many years the Friends for miles around buried at Crosswicks Meeting-house ground, but in 1740 Joseph Borden deeded to them the lot now known as the Quaker graveyard. As their meeting-house was built that year, it is probable the ground was soon used for the purpose designated, and that every portion of it has been occupied. Sometimes, but very rarely at an early date, tomb- stones erected to the memory of Friends are found in their graveyards. Preserve Brown seems to have been especially honored in this respect. He was buried in the northwest corner of the ground, and a solitary tombstone with this inscription marks the spot :
" In memory of Preserve Brown, who died the 26th day of the 4th month, 1744, aged 65 years."
This stone is of blue marble, about two feet high, with the top scrolled in the usual style of the day, and is undoubtedly the first one put up in Borden- town, and probably the oldest to be found in any Friends' ground in the State.
Adjoining this, to the north, is the Baptist burial- ground, also deeded by Joseph Borden in 1751. The third tombstone erected in Bordentown was that of Thomas Potts, who died Feb. 2, 1754, aged seventy- six years and one month. It is very similar to that of Preserve Brown's in size, shape, and material. Here, also, is the stone of William Potts, who died July 25, 1783, aged sixty-two years; of William Potts, who died Nov. 30, 1796, aged thirty-seven years. We also find the tomb of (Maj.) John Van Emburgh, who died Oct. 3, 1798, aged fifty-four years. The major, we are under the impression, built the MeKnight house. Here, also, we find the tombstone of "Doctor Alexander Moore, who departed this life Aug. 30, 1785, in the sixtieth year of his age." . The
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BORDENTOWN.
doetor for many years resided and practiced at Bor- dentown. Hugh Jackaway, who lived under the hill, has also a stone here, he dying March 28, 1804, aged fifty-two years, five months, and six days.
To the south of the Friends' ground is the Metho- dist burial-ground. In it we find the graves of Jo- seph François Manroy, who died at Point Breeze, Jan. 6, 1837, aged fifty-six years. Also, Virginie Margueritte Mauroy, who died in 1827, aged twenty- one years and thirteen months. Also of Alexander Sari, July, 1832, and another of Louise Sari, Jan. 22. 1830. These all were in some capacity attached to the count's household. We are under the impression Sari was a captain in the imperial guards of the em- peror.
At the foot of Church Street, on the bluff of Black's Creek, and adjoining the above-named burial-plaees, is the old Borden, now generally known as the Hop- kinson, ground. This yard is at least as old as the Friends', as the following inscription on a tombstone of the wife of the patron of the eity shows :
"In memory of Ann Borden, who died March 11th, 1744-5, in the 58th year of her age."
Near by is the grave of the first Joseph, after whom the eity was named :
"In memory of Joseph Borden, Esq., who departed this life the 22d of September, Anno Domini, 1765, in the 79th year of his age."
Close by lies his son, Judge Josephi Borden, and his grandson, Capt. Joseph, the last of the Bordens' male line. The stone of Elizabeth, the reliet of the judge, records she was born July 10, 1725; died Nov. 2, 1807, aged eighty-two years. Here also are the graves of Ann, daughter of Francis and Anu Hopkinson, and reliet of Ebenezer Stout, born in Bordentown, Oct. 19, 1777; died Sept. 22, 1868, aged ninety-one years.
" Hamilton Hopkinson, born Nov. 26, 1829. Died March 9th, ISCI."
" Captain Charles B. flopkinson, born January 21st, 1834. Died June 26th, 1870."
There is also a very handsome monument, a pedestal and broken eolumn, with a sword pendent, to
"Joseph Hopkinson, Born March 30th, 1816, Died July 11th, 1865. Surgeon in charge of Mower Hospital."
In this yard is also buried Col. Joseph Kirkbride, whose inscription is given in the sketch of his life.
There is also a marble tablet bearing this inscrip- tion :
" Harriet Luttrell, Daughter of Henry Lawes Luttrell, Earl of Carhampton, Died Jan. 2d, 1819, aged 56."
Here also is buried Samnel Rogers, at one time mayor of Bordentown, who died about 1868.
On the bluff north of the Baptist ground and in the rear of Christ Church is the Episcopal burial- ground. In the centre of it is the grave of Col. Allen.
His monument, the inscription on which tells its history, is an elegant structure, fifteen feet six inches in height. The base is of Pennsylvania blue marble, and the rest of white Italian. There are appropriate carvings in bas-relief of flags, muskets, shield, and Masonic emblems, with eross swords, and an ivy and oak wreath. The inscriptions are as follows:
"Joseph W. Allen, Colonel Ninth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. Drowned at Hatteras, North Carolina, January 15th, A.D. 1862, in the fifty-first year of his age. 2d. This monument is erected by the officers I of the Ninth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers as a tribute of grateful respect to the memory of their first commander, who, while faithfully serving his country in the darkest hours of her peril, even to the sac- rifice of his life, endeared himself to the hearts of his whole command. 3d. January Ist, A.D. 1864. 4th. This record of the unreturning past is dedicated with kindly hearts to thee."
Near by is a very fine monument to "John Walters, died June 20th, 1874, aged 73 years."
Mr. Walters was an employe of the railroad con- pany for many years, and by ceonomy and shrewd- ness aeeumulated very considerable property, the possession of which he divulged to no one. Upon his death his children were surprised to find them- selves well provided for, and in gratitude erected this token of love.
In this yard, also, are buried Capts. William Pearson and Edward R. McCall, United States navy, John L. McKnight and William MeKnight, and a little stone has cut in heavy letters "Murat." By the side of the child sleeps the old colored nurse. The follow- ing record of Capt. McCall was furnished by the Hon- orable Secretary of the Navy : " Edward R. McCall was appointed midshipman Jan. 1, 1808, and ordered to the ' Hornet.' On the 20th of March, 1811, he was ordered to the 'Enterprise.' Oct. 16, 1811, he was commissioned lieutenant; was highly distingnished at the capture of the 'Boxer,' after his eommander (Burrows) had fallen. In March, 1814, was ordered to Baltimore as one of the lieutenants of the frigate 'Java.' In 1829 he commanded the 'Peacock.'" Of Commander Pearson: "Was appointed midshipman Jan. 1, 1818, and served on board the ' Franklin,' 74, 'Independence,' 'Jolin Adams' (sloop), 'Columbus,' 74, 'Hornet,' receiving-ship at Philadelphia, frigates 'Constellation,' ' Falmouth,' and sloop ' Marion.' He served in the following squadrons : West India, Med- iterranean, Pacifie, and Brazil stations. He was com- inanding the receiving-ship at Philadelphia at the time of his death."
Schools .- We are indebted to Professor E. Haas, county superintendent, for the following deeply inter- esting account of the schools of this district, taken from his eentennial report :
The first school in this place of which we have any knowledge was that under the control of Miss -- , afterwards Mrs. Rachel Carman, who taught, in 1767, the ordinary branches of an English education to a small number of pupils in a small house on Second Street. She taught off and on in this same building until 1805. This house was constructed of sticks and
486
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
clay,-the sticks put in the clay to hold it together. : The roof was of slabs. It went by the name of the "Old Mud House."
The next and first in importance was the academy for boys, opened in the year 1778, by Burgis Allison, A.M., in the building adjacent to the Pennsylvania The Rev. William H. Gilder, of the Philadelphia Methodist Conference, opened the Bellevue Seminary for young ladies in October, 1842. He was succeeded by Miss Maria H. Nutt, who continued it but a short time. Railroad depot, now occupied and kept as a public- house by Levi Davis. The course of study was of a very high order, and the academy was well furnished with books, globes, glasses, and other apparatus for experiments in natural philosophy, astronomy, geog- Prior to the year 1852 there had been little or nothing done in the way of education beyond what the private schools had effected. At this time the taxable inhabitants of Bordentown authorized the raphy, opties, hydrostatics, etc. Mr. Allison, born in Bordentown, Aug. 17, 1758, was a most remarkable man. He was not only a thorough and accomplished scholar, but also an ingenious and skillful mechanic; i trustecs to buy a lot of ground and build thereon a much of his school apparatus was the work of his own hands. His extensive acquaintance with the living languages, especially the French, Spanish, and Por- tugese, brought him many a youth from foreign lands. Mr. Allison was succeeded in turn by Dr. Hunter, . Rev. - Boozer, John Bull, Mr. Grey, Elisha Lip- pincott, and John Elkinton.
About 1840, Madame Murat, the wife of Prince Murat, one of the members of the imperial family, also kept a school for young ladies in the Murat Row, on Park Street.
By the solicitation of Bishop Doane, the Rev. Sam- uel Edwin Arnold, D.C.D., an English clergyman, principal of the academy at Freehold, and officiating in St. Peter's Church of that place, removed to Bor- dentown to establish a boarding- and day-school for boys, and supply the friends of the church with clerical service. And having obtained the house and grounds once the residence of Col. Kirkbride and of Thomas Paine, the author of the " Age of Reason," situate on what is now called the hill-top, a bluff sixty-five feet above the level of the river, command- ing a most beautiful view of the Delaware and the surrounding country, he opened his school about the 1st of May, 1834, for the reception of scholars. By his indefatigable exertions and the generous patronage of the church it proved a most successful enterprise. He continued, however, to teach but five years, when he gave up the school and withdrew from the ministry .. In a short time the building was again occupied in turn by Mr. Hall, the Rev. Alden Scovel, Presbyte- rian, and the Rev. John H. Brakeley, Methodist. Of Hall but very little is known ; while it is said of Mr. Scovel that he would rather read in Latin thau in his own, the English language, and that he never seemed so much at home as when engaged in pointing out to his pupils the beauties of the classics. There is no doubt that this is the reason why his pupils were so particularly noted for their proficiency in that direc- tion. Mr. Brakeley established his seminary for the education of young ladies in April, 1851, and had it chartered in February, 1853, as "The Bordentown Female College," the history of which is given here- after.
About 1829, Isaac Thorn built a school-house on his property on Crosswicks Street, near the pottery, and hired the teacher, in order that he might have educational opportunities for his own children at home.
brick school-house, the cost of which should not cx- ceed four thousand dollars. Accordingly a lot of ground on Crosswicks Street was purchased of Benja- min Seward, and a two-story building erected. After being furnished with modern desks, etc., it was opened as a public school by J. Kirby Burnham, principal, and four female assistants. From time to time, as the school increased, the building has been enlarged, until at the present it is one hundred fcet long by forty feet wide, and two stories high. It is divided by glass partitions into fourteen apartments, each capable of seating fifty pupils, and is heated with hot air by furnaces iu the basement. Its esti- mated value is fourteen thousand dollars. The names of the principals since Mr. Burnham are J. G. Her- bert, Peter Powell, Francis Fosket, Rev. Robert Ju- lien, John Collins, B. S. Braddock, and G. H. Voorhis.
The first school wherein colored children were in- structed was that of Mrs. William Middleton, opened in the year 1842. Her character and conduct deserve more than a passing notice. A native of the town, she acquired by dint of perseverance more than an ordinary education, at a time, too, when a mistaken policy denied the means of instruction to her race. As soon as circumstances permitted she strove to make herself useful by imparting her knowledge to others. Although her school numbered but fourteen pupils, varying from the tender age of five to the adult of twenty-five, yet it proved the cntering wedge to split from the system of education the rough, un- sightly concretions of prejudices, so marring the beauty of the solid block within. Thus by private enterprise the school gradually increased in impor- tance until 1853, when the township board of trustees took hold of it on a comparative footing with the other schools of the town. At present the school is under the charge of W. F. Powell. The whole num- ber of pupils is sixty-nine, being thrce more than that given by the census. Its grade has been raised by introduction of algebra, elocution, composition, and map-drawing.
The Roman Catholic element in this town being quite strong, and being desirous of having a school of their own, they opened one in their church on the
487
BORDENTOWN.
corner of Second and Bank Streets in 1853, under the . Director, Piano. Organ, and Vocalization ; Mrs. Marie charge of Peter Cantwell. It was supported partly E. Hoffmann, Vocalization : Miss Elizabeth Kate Mi. by private and partly by public money. After being . Pennock, M. E.L., M.B., Piano: Miss M. Adaline continued for some time under different teachers, the Davies, MI.B., Piano; Miss Elizabeth Brewer, Art Studies; George Reed Cromwell, Lecturer on Art. public money having been withdrawu, it waned for a few years, to be reinvigorated in 1874 by the Sisters Board of Council : Hon. Mahlon Hutchinson, pres- ident ; P. F. Hyatt, M.D., secretary and treasurer ; Jacob Messeroll, Col. William R. Murphey, Rev. A. E. Ballard, J. Henry Witmore, Hon. J. Bingham Woodward, Samuel E. Burr, A. G. Richey, Esq., E. B. Coonley, A.M., M.D .; Rev. A. P. Lyon, A.M .; Rev. William C. Bowen, ex-officio. of Mercy, who are now giving instruction in the ele- mentary studies to quite a number of children of their own persuasion, drawn from the public school. St. Joseph's Academy, also under the care of the Sis- ters of Mercy, affords an opportunity for young ladies to acquire a finislied education.
E. and E. Haas, A.M., having resigned the princi- palship of the "New Jersey Classical and Scientific [now Peddie ] Institute," at Hightstown, N. J., came to Bordentown on the 28th of February, 1868, and established the "New Jersey Collegiate Institute."
BORDENTOWN FEMALE COLLEGE (see cut on page 488) was opened in Bordentown, N. J., in 1851 as a young ladies' seminary by Rev. John H. Brakeley. Ph.D.
In 1853 it was incorporated and authorized to con- fer degrees. It was successfully conducted by its founder and his associates, and many graduated from its halls with credit alike to themselves and to the institution.
In 1875, Dr. Brakeley, who had been very successful as a teacher, was succeeded by Rev. William C. Bowen, A.M., who brought with him from New York an able corps of teachers. He immediately refurnished throughout, and commenced improvements in the buildings and gronnds which have greatly added to the beauty and attractiveness of their elevated loca- tion on the Delaware.
He has rallied the alumni who graduated under his predecessor to the hearty support of the institu- tion, and infused new life into all its departments.
The usual courses of study are maintained, viz. : The belles-lettres, classic (aneient and modern), and scientific ; also a course of popular lectures each year.
The music and art departments have unusual prominence and excellence.
Some of the graduates in musie, as in the other graduatory courses much longer established, occupy responsible positions as teachers.
Students are in attendance from Iowa, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.
-
The graduating class of the present year, 1883, is the largest in the history of the institution.
The following compose the faculty : Rev. William C. Bowen, A.M., president, Moral Science and Ancient Languages; Mrs. Gertrude S. Bowen, M.L.A., vice- president, Mental Science; Miss Edith A. Warner, M.L.A., History, Grammar, and Botany ; Mrs. Mary ; D. Emory, A.M., Rhetoric, English Criticism, and Physiology ; Samuel E. Rusk, Physics and Chemistry ; Rev. J. A. Cole, Latin and Mathematics ; Miss Marie B. Bowen, M.L.A., French ; C. P. Hoffman, Music . stand very high in the community.
BORDENTOWN MILITARY INSTITUTE .- In 1840, Girault erected a part of the present building, and opened a French school, in which some of the lead- ing ladies at present of Bordentown were educated.
Malliard, the trusted friend of the ex-King Joseph Bonaparte, purchased and enlarged it, and expended considerable money in laying out the grounds.
In 1868, Edwin and Edgar Haas bought it, and es- tablished a school for both sexes. It was incorporated as the New Jersey Collegiate Institute and success- fully conducted by them for a number of years. In 1881, President Bowen, of the Ladies' College, in the same city, purchased and opened it as a military in- stitute for boys and young men.
The felt need of such an institution in that section of the State greatly favored the enterprise. The most sanguine expectations as to its success were surpassed. The courses of study are the academic, commercial, scientific, and college preparatory, with music and drawing (both mechanical and architectural). Stu- deuts have daily drill in the United States tactics, and are prepared for business, college, West Point, or Annapolis.
The faculty are (1882-83) : Rev. William C. Bowen, A.M., principal, Greck and Moral Science; Col. Sam- lel E. Rusk, resident principal and commandant, Natural Sciences, German, and Military Tactics; Rev. J. A. Cole, Latin and Mathematics ; Professor George Reed Cromwell, Lecturer on Art; Miss Ella Sinelair, English Branches and Belles-lettres; Miss Maria B. Bowen, M.L.A., French ; Miss Lizzie Peth- eram, Music and English Branches.
Board of Council : Philip P. Scovel (president), Hugh Newell (secretary), H. J. Filhnan, Rev. D. H. Shock, A.M., I. D. Young, M.D., Edgar Haas, A.M., Rev. J. E. Adams, David Shipps, James S. Wood- ward, Rev. William C. Bowen, A.M., Col. Samuel E. Rusk, ex-officio.
Committee on Military Drill : Maj .- Gen. Gershom Mott, Col. William R. Murphy.
There are two excellent private schools now in the city. One, the Adelphic Institute, at the corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Union Street, by the Rev. Robert Julian. It is a boarding- and day-school for boys. The other, Mrs. Malinda Field's select school, in Church Street near Prince. Both these institutes
48S
HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
BORDENTOWN FEMALE COLLEGE.
489
BORDENTOWN.
FIELDSBORO' DISTRICT, No. 14 .- The first school- house in this place, or White Hill. as it is usually called, was erected in the year 1832. It was a low i one-story brick building, with gable to the street in the quaint old-fashioned style. It is still standing on Third Street, and with some additions is now used as a dwelling-house. It was occupied for school pur- poses thirteen years, the first teacher being Kirkbride Eastburn. The Second Street school-house was built in 1845, at the corner of Hamilton and Second Streets, on land given for the purpose by Thomas and Isaac Field. It was a two-story frame, the lower story being occupied by the boys and the upper by the girls. In the course of years the number of pupils increased so greatly that the school became very much crowded. At first it was proposed to enlarge the building, but after due deliberation it was decided to build a new and larger one instead, which was ac- cordingly done in 1864 at a cost of four thousand dollars. The old one was sold and removed some few rods distant and converted into a tenement-house. This present house is of brick, and stands on the ground occupied by the previous one; it is two stories high, well built, and furnished with modern school furniture. The school was reorganized and partially graded in 1868, under the charge of Mrs. M. P. Field, principal, and two female assistants.
The following is taken from a letter written by the Rev. James Thorn, of Vincentown :
List of those who taught in the old brick sehool- house while it stood in West Street, nearly where Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church now stands :
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