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 77
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 77
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The officers of the East Windsor Soldiers' Monu- ment Association in 1882 were A. S. Smith, presi- dent; Charles Keeler, treasurer ; C. W. Mount, seere- tary.
Industrial Pursuits .- Aside from those located in Hightstown borough, and the few referred to in the history of Milford, East Windsor has had no large number of industrial interests, though the usual va- riety of mechanical trades have from time to time had representatives in sundry shoemakers, wagon-makers, and blacksmiths, whose names eannot now be re- called.
THE CONOVER TANNERY .- On the Millstone River, near Wyckoff's Mills, Peter Conover established a tannery probably as early as 1812. After operating it with more or less sueeess for some years, he was succeeded by his son, William Conover. This tan- nery has been idle during the past two or three years.
THE OLD JOHNSON WOOLEN-FACTORY -- ELY'S GRIST-MILL .- In the latter part of the last century Joseph South built a mill on what is now the Hights- town and Perrineville turnpike, about midway be- tweeu Hightstown and Milford, which at his death descended to his son, Charles Stout, who later sold it to his son-in-law, Charles C. Johnson, who converted it into a factory for the manufacture of woolen goods. After the death of the latter the property was bought by Benjamin Marlatt, who conveyed it to William R.
" On this die there is a cap moulding eight inches in height, upon which rests the shaft, nine and a half . Norton, who converted the factory into a grist-mill,
..
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EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.
and after some years sold it to the present owner and operator, Stephen D. Ely.
THE BOROUGH OF HIGHTSTOWN.
Situation and Description .- Hightstown. a little east of the centre of East Windsor, is located on the Amboy Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and at the junetion of the Burlington County and Pem- berton Railroad with the Pennsylvania, about fifty miles from New York and forty from Philadelphia; distant from Trenton fourteen miles, and from Prince- ton nine miles. It is surrounded by a good agricul- tural country, and in the centre of a trade which has long made it prominent.
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The original part of the place is located in a de- pression, and derived its name from the early owner of lands in and around it, forming the nucleus about which has grown up the third town in size in Mercer County, enterprising, progressive, and containing a population of about fifteen hundred. Not being a county-seat, Hightstown has no public buildings ex- cept the town hall, a neat brick structure, on the lower floor of which is housed a good fire-engine and sufficient hose for ordinary emergencies. There are, however, some business blocks of a fine order of architecture, and several elegant churches, one of which (the Baptist) is remarkable among similar buildings in country towns as having a spire one hun- dred and eighty feet high.
Historical References - Growth. - The black- smith-shop and tavern of John Hight (formerly spelled Haight) formed the beginning of the village long before the Revolution. Capt. William Smith later added a grist-mill and store, having purchased a large tract of land there, east of the Duke of York's road. At the beginning of the present century some little advancement had been made, a Baptist Church having been erected in 1785. In 1800 there were probably not more than half a dozen houses in the settlement, which does not seem to have grown much for fifty years or more from the date of its be- ginning.
To the construction of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Hightstown owes its present prominence, and it is doubtful if, without the impetus thus given to it, it would ever have outgrown its status as a hamlet. Before the railroad was completed to Camden the cars ran between Sonth Amboy and Hightstown, the motive-power at first having been furnished by horses. The village had previously en- joyed the advantage of being on a stage-route, but it was not until it acquired the dignity of a railroad town that it evinced any marked promise of growthi. The bustle and activity of those days is often referred to with much pleasure by the few old men who recol- lect the place in that expansive period.
In 1834, Gordon, in his Gazetteer, described Hights- `town as "a post-town of East Windsor township, . . . on the turnpike from Bordentown to Cranbury, and
of Rocky Creek, thirteen miles from Bordentown," . . containing "six stores, a grist- and saw-mill, and from thirty to forty dwellings," adding, "the railroad from Bordentown to Amboy passes through the town, and a line of stages runs theuce to Princeton."
On every hand are now onmistakable evidences of pluck, thrift, and enterprise. The place is constantly undergoing improvement, and new elements of suc- cess and promises of future prosperity are added from time to time. Its literary and educational in- terests are represented by two weekly newspapers and three private institutions of learning, besides a first- class public school. Its religious interests are repre- sented by six churches. In the higher parts of the town are to be seen some handsome residences, with well laid out grounds and surrounded by shrubbery. Notable among them are those of the late Dr. Desh- ler, ex-Mayor Hunt, the Presbyterian parsonage, O. H. Reed, J. C. Norris, Mayor Mason, C. M. Norton, Dr. J. P. Johnson, E. C. Combs, Daniel Slack, E. C. Taylor, Mrs. Ward, J. H. Johnes, Enoch Dey, Edgar Embley, Mrs. R. M. Smith, J. H. Timeson, Joseph Smith, George Y. Wood, Mrs. Morrison, Col. A. J. Smith, and others.
Civil History .- The borough of Hightstown was incorporated by an act of the Legislature approved March 5, 1853, the first section of which reads as follows :
" Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That all that part of the township of East Windsor, known as the village of Hightstown, lying and being in the county of Mercer, beginning at a point on Stockton Street, on the corner of land between Gen. William Cook and Abraham Pordnn ; thence sonth along the line between said Cook and R. E. Morrison, to the Camden aml Amboy Rail- road; thence southwest along said railroad to the line between John Butcher's land and the Hightstown Cemetery : thence along said line to the Bordentown and South Amboy turnpike; thence along the west side of said turnpike to a stone near the corner of William Ogborn's lot ; thence southeast to the corner of Williaut V. Ely's lot on the York Road; thenee east to the month of Timber Run, to the line between R. M. Jobs and Kenneth Applegate; thence along -aid line to the old Free- hold Road; thence west along the south side of said road to the turn- pike ; thence west to the place of beginning ; and all the freemen, citi- zens of this State, residing within the limits aforesaid, be and they are hereby ordained, constituted, aud declared to be from time to time, and forever hereafter, one body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of 'The Borough of Hightstown.'"
The first election of borough officers was held on the second Tuesday in March, 1853.
Since the establishment of the borough government there have been a number of ordinances passed by the Common Council, relating principally to streets, sidewalks, highways, shade and ornamental trees, inns and taverns, and dealers in liquors.
Civil List .- The following is a list of the principal officers of the borough of Hightstown from 1853 to 1882:
C. C. Blauvelt, 1833-54.
John Butcher, 1835-57. John B. Mount, 1858. Joseph S. Blauvelt, 1530-00.
MAYORS. ·
James C. Norris, 1861, 1s71. Gilbert Seaman, 1862-65. Sering Shaugle, 1x6G, 15G8, 1-79. Clayton I. Coward, 1867.
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
J. R. C. Jolinson, 1869-70. James Cnbbelly, 1872.
T. C. Pearce, 1873. Elston Hunt, 1874-75.
S. M. Schenck, 1876. Thomas Mason, 1877-78. Thomas C. McDonald, 1880. ¡ Aaron Dawes, 1881.
COUNCILMEN.
Asher Hankerson, 1853-34.
Benjamin Reed, 1853.
Aaron Pawes, 1853.
Bobert E. Morrison, 1853.
James R. Laird, 1853.
Alfred Perrine, 1853.
0. 1I. Reed, 1866-67. Morgan F. Mount, 1866-67. W. T. Brown, 1867, 1874-75.
J. C. Cubberly, 1sc8.
II. Pullen, 1854.
George W. Coward, 1854.
J. V. Applegate, 1854. John T. Hutchinson, 1855.
Charles Carson, 1855, 1858-59. Thomas Pearce, 1855, 1866-07. Jacob Earley. 1855. Wyckoff Norton, 1856-57. James II. Wyckoff, 1856.
Joseph Culter, 1:56-66.
Abraham Vankirk, 1857. Augustus Walling, 1857.
' E. A. Ilammell, 1872-73. E. Ilunt, 1872-73.
E. C. Taylor, 1857. Jacob Early, 1857.
D. Slack, 1872. 11. Aslıton, 1873.
Jas. C. Norris, 1858, 1860-67, 1873. Enoch Dey, 1858-00, 1864-05.
Jolin Il. Ford, 1858-59, 1862-63, 1877-78.
Joseph MeMIurran, 1858-59.
William A. Bowne, 1859.
G. R. Bartholomew, 1800-63.
Alfred Perr.ne, 1860.
J. 11. Jameson, 1860-61.
Dauiel slack, 1861-62.
E. Chamberlin, 1876.
Marshall Allen, 1801, 1868-69, 1876.
D. V. Fisk. 1861-63.
Sering Shangle, 1863-61, 1872.
W. T. Smock, 1577-78.
D. W. Morton, 1577-79.
1 W. T. Brown, 1877-79.
CLERKS.
Stephen C. Johnes, 1853. Jacob Stults, 1834-65.
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! Angustus Walling, 1868-72. . T. W. Pullen, 1876-81. S. H. Miller, 1877-78.
ASSESSORS.
C. S. IIntchinson, 1853-55. William Tindall, 1856-58.
Charles II. Smock, 1870-72. C. F. Perrine, 1873.
Sering Shaugle, 1859. J. P. Lansing, 1860.
W. J. Butcher, 1876.
Enoch Dey, 1861-63. De Wayne Pullen, 1877-78.
Augustus Walling, 1864-65. D. V. Fisk, 1806-69.
S. Il. Miller, 1870-80.
William Eldridge, 1881.
COLLECTORS.
James C. Nurris, 1853-54, 1876.
Charles Kreler, 1855.
Isaac Goldy, 1856-03, 1870-75.
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Richard A. Ontealt, 1864-67. G. R. Moore, 1868-09.
Joseph Perrine, 1877-81.
TREASUREBS.
R. R. Forman, 1853-64. R. E. Morrison, 1859-58. Jucob En ly, 1859-63. C. M. Bobbins, 1904. Morgan F. Mount, 1865. Jacob Stults, 1860-67.
A. J. Ashton, 1868-69. George R. Moore, 1870-71.
A. S. Voorlees, 1873-75, 1878. T. C. Pearce, 187;, 1880-81.
R. A. Outcalt, 1877-79.
MARSHALS.
William 11. Johnson, 1859. James )1. Ayers, 1800. S. B. Scattergood, 1861. Joseph Lawrence, 1562. J. S. Rogers, 1:08-61.
Jacob Gernes, 1865, 1872. Edward McCree, 1876. T. C. Sanford, 1877, 1880. B. Montgomery, 1866. Isaac Hutchinson, 1867-68. C. C. MeMichael, 1878. John Brandt, 1879, 1881.
I. 1I. Anderson, 1869-71, 1873. Jolin Evarts, 1574-75. -
Trade and Finances,-STORES .- The first store in Hightstown was that established soon after the Revo- lution by Capt. William Smith, who has been men- tioned as an extensive laud-owner and business man there. There are no data obtainable concerning any other store-keepers than Smith previous to the begin- ning of the present century. How long he continued in trade is not known. About 1800 the local mercan- tile business was carried on by Enoch Baldwin, Rob- ert Purdy, and Betsey Moore. Since the era of the iron horse the merchants of the village have been so numerous and so constantly coming and going as to defy enumeration.
The various brauches of trade are now (1882) rep- resented as follows: J. R. C. Johnson, Ira Yager, jewelers; Thomas Mason, John E. Allen, C. M. Nor- ton, C. W. McMurran, and James Peiree, variety dealers ; A. E. Blackwell, Mrs. E. Peirson, and A. E. Blauvelt & Co., milliners; R. R. Forman and Stephen Johns & Son, hardware; T. J. Pullen, grocer; W. P. Smock and Patrick McGovern, stoves and tinware ; Elwood Eldridge and E. H. Goldy. harness dealers ; A. J. Ashton, boot and shoe dealer ; Solomon Sickels and Charles Mocre, gentlemen's furnishing goods; Charles E. Cole and J. S. Rogers, undertakers; D. Hart Cunningham and H. G. Rue, druggists; and H. W. Robbins, confectioner.
BANKS .- For some little time, until within the past four years, there were two banking institutions in the town, the Central National Bank and the First Na- tional Bank, each with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars.
The Central National Bank was established as a State bank in 1852, and organized as a national bank Dec. 30, 1869. It did a fine business and paid good dividends, but in time the need of another banking institution was felt and the First National Bank was opened, which began immediately to come into public favor and ultimately outstripped its competitor, and in 1879 the Central National Bank went into liquida- tion and consolidated with the First National Bank, the latter increasing its capital to $150,000.
The First National Bank was organized Sept. 12, 1870. N. S. Rue, Richard Wall, James S. Giberson. Collen B. Miers, E. T. R. Applegate, Samuel M. Schenck, A. J. Smith, D. Applegate, and Matthew Perrine constituted its first board of directors. Sinee the first election there have been changes in the board, and Jacob Early, Joseph Holmes, and Nicholas Wall have been elected and have served as directors. At the present time ( February, 1882, the directors are N. S. Rue, Collen B. Miers, E. T. R. Applegate, Sam- ucl M. Schenck, D. Applegate, Matthew Perrine, Ja- ! cob Early, Joseph Holmes, Nicholas Wail, A. F. Job,
Charles Carson, 1858. Jonathan Smith, 1854. Charles Tindall, 1:55-56. Court Voorlees, 1857. George B. Perrine, 1858.
· A. J. Ashton, 1864-65. J. C. Norton, 1864, 1871, 1876, 1881. James Paxton, 1965.
E. Ilammell, 1865.
Euoch Dey, 1868-60. E. Richardson, 1868-69. George E. Pierson, 1868-71.
E. T. Comlis, 1868-71, 1874-75. James 31. Cubberly, 1869-71. David Wasserman, 1871, 1873. E. M Barton, 1870-71. C. E. Woodward, 1870. J. H. Silvers, 1570.
D. P. Ilntchiuson, 1870, 1872.
G. T. Wood, 1873.
Gilbert Seamen, 1874-75. Ilenty Dey, 1874, 1876. A. B. Wyckoff, 1>74-75.
Jolin C. Johnson, 1874. J. V. D. Beekman, 1875, 1879.
J. C. Wurd, IST6.
J. H. Jimeson, 1876.
W. Il. Carr, 1876.
J. 11. Goldy, 1877-78. C. M. Norton; 1877-78.
Jolin Woolley, 1863, 1865. David Carhart, 1804.
Samuel Ilolcomb, 1806-67.
J. R. Shangle, 1874-75.
C. II. Silvers, 1854-56, 1858-05. R. M. Job, 1854-56.
6. J. R. applegate
769
EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP.
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L. T. Robins, and Peter E. Wilsou, the articles of association having previously been so changed as to increase the number of directors from nine to twelve.
Sept. 14, 1870, N. S. Rue was elected the first presi- dent, and William H. Howell the first cashier. The former has been annually re-elected. and the latter held the office of cashier until Oct. 17. 1877. when he resigned, and was succeeded by Joseph H. Johnes, the present incumbent. The necessary preliminary arrangements having been completed, the association commenced a regular banking business Jan. 9, 1871. ! Willard Applegate was employed as first teller, which position he held until his death in the fall of 1873. He was succeeded by Joseph H. Johnes, who held the position until October, 1877, when he was pro- moted to the cashiership. Charles Applegate has since filled the office.
The counting-room of this bank is located on Main Street between Stockton and Franklin Streets.
Educational .- THE PUBLIC SCHOOL .- When the first school was opened in Hightstown it is now im- possible to determine, though it is probable that the spirit of advancement which led to the planting of a church there prior to 1785 also established a school of some kind at an early date.
In the enumeration of the school districts of Mer- cer County, Hightstown District is denominated Dis- trict No. 52. The following are its statistics for the school year ending Aug. 31, 1880 : Amount of appor- tionment from the State appropriation, including two- mill tax and $100,000, 81347.12; amount of appor- tionment from the surplus revenue, $120.73; amount of district school tax voted to be used for building, purchasing, hiring, repairing, or furnishing public school-houses, $311.56; total amount received from all sources for public school purposes, 81779.41; bal- ance in the hands of the collectors, exclusive of money for building and repairing purposes, $87.07; value of school property, $2000; whole number of children between five and eighteen years of age residing in the district, 417; average number of months the schools were kept open, 10; number of children be- tween five and eighteen years of age enrolled in the school register during the year, 235; number who at- tended ten monthis during the year, 2; number who attended eight months and less than ten, 54; number who attended six months and less than eight, 44; number who attended four months and less than six, 35; number who attended less than four months, 100; average number who attended during the time the schools were kept open, 125; estimated number of children in the district who attended private schools, 50; estimated number of children in the district who attended no school during the year, 125; number of children the school-rooms would seat comfortably, 170; number of male teachers employed, 1 ; number of female teachers employed, 3; salary per month paid to the male teacher, $62.50; average salary per month paid to female teachers, $28.33.
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The school building is large, and is located on ele- vated ground on Mercer Street. The rooms are cheer- ful and well appointed. The course of instruction is graded, and the school is one of the most efficient public schools in the county. The principal is Pro- fessor W. W. Swett. His assistants are Misses S. A. Penbrook, E. J. Pullen, and M. M. Martin.
PEDDIE INSTITUTE .- From the files of the minutes of the New Jersey Baptist Convention, it appears that as early as 1847 the subject of academic education, in connection with that denomination in the State of New Jersey, began to be agitated. In 1863 the fol- lowing decisive action was taken :
" Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take in consideration the desirableness and propriety of making arrangements immediately for establishing a Literary Institution under the patronage of our de- nomination in New Jersey."
The next year the following was adopted :
" Resolved, That the efforts of brethren to establish a first-class school at Hightstown, to be under the control of Baptists, meets the hearty ap- provalof this body, and that we pledge to it our cordial support."
In March, 1866, a charter was obtained for Peddie Institute. In 1867 the subject of a new building began to be earnestly considered, and Oct. 26, 1869, the building now in use was formally opened.
It consists of a centre and wings in line. It is two hundred and fifty-five feet in length, five stories high, inelnding ba-ement and attic. The three middle stories of the wings contain eighty-four rooms for students and teachers, each room designed to accom- modate two occupants. In the attics are the rooms for the literary societies, and in the ladies' building the music-rooms; the rest is occupied for dormitories. The basement in the north wing contains the school- room for the primary department, artists' rooms, suite of rooms for teachers, and four rooms for students.
The kitchen, laundry, superintendent's private rooms, and servants' sleeping-rooms are in the base- ment of the south wing. The whole building is heated by steam from apparatus in the cellar, and is very perfect in all its appointments and appliances. Its cost was one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
Peddie Institute was founded in 18GS. The school is named after the Hon. Thomas B. Peddic, of New- ark, whose gifts to it aggregate fifty thousand dollars. The number of students now in attendance is one hn :- dred and seventy-five. The school has a fine library and apparatus. Professor H. A. Pratt was the first principal, followed by Rev. E. P. Bond and Rev. E. J. Avery in turn. The educational force of the insti- tute timbers ten resident teachers.
The departments of instruction are arranged with special reference to the wants of three classes of schol- ars : (1) A preparatory course for young men design- ing to enter college. No pains will be spared to make this department equal to the best preparatory school in the country. (2) A more strictly scientific course for those young men who do not expect to pursue a
770
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
1
regular collegiate curriculum. This will furnish fa- cilities for students wishing to pursue a general or a special course of study in science and mathematics. (3) A course for young ladies essentially the same as the scientific course for young men.
To ladies and gentlemen equal advantages are af- forded, and both are entitled to graduate on equal terms when the prescribed course of studies is com- pleted, and receive diplomas conferring the regular degree of Bachelor of Philosophy.
The following constitute the board of instruction: Rev. E. J. Avery, A.M., president, Moral Philosophy ; John B. Kendrick, A.M., Latin, Greek, etc .; Enoch Perrine, A.B., English, German, etc. ; Sidney Put- nam, Common English, German ; Miss Ella F. Law- rence, preceptress, French, Algebra; Miss Jennie S. Wilson, English, Sciences, Literature; Mrs. A. Williamson, Music and Voice Culture; Miss Carrie L. Clark, Music; Miss Annie J. Higgins, Painting, Drawing, etc. ; Miss Mary E. Mount, Primary ; Wal- ter S. Bonbright, Elocution, etc.
The institution was chartered in 1879. The follow- ing is the board of directors: Hon. T. B. Peddie, M.C., Newark, president ; S. Van Wickle, Esq., New Brunswick, vice-president ; Rev. O. P. Eaches, Hights- town, secretary ; Rev. W. V. Wilson, Port Monmouth, treasurer ; Rev. W. H. Parmly, D.D., Jersey City ; Rev. II. F. Smith, D.D., New Brunswick ; Rev. D. J. Yerkes, D.D., Plainfield ; Rev. T. E. Vassar, Flem- ington ; Col. Morgan L. Smith, Newark ; Hon. James Buchanan, Trenton; Hon. E. T. R. Applegate, Hights- town ; Hiram Deats, Esq., Cherryville ; Thomas Bur- rowes, Esq., Keyport; Asa Suidam, Esq., Fleming- ton ; Frederick S. Fish, Esq., Newark; Rev. T. S. Griffiths, Holmdel ; Rev. J. C. Buchanan, Pember- į ton ; Rev. William Rollinson, Rahway; Rev. W. W. Case, Hamilton Square; Rev. George K. Allen, Jersey City; Rev. E. J. Foote, Middletown ; Joseph H. Gaskill, Esq., Mount Holly.
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THE HOME SEMINARY .- The Home Seminary was founded in 1864 by the late Rev. Jolin Mccluskey, D.D., as a day school, for the purpose of providing for young ladies of Hightstown and vicinity the ad- . vantages of a liberal and thorough education in the English and higher branches. On taking possession of the institution in 1870 the present principal added a boarding department, with the design of making this a pleasant, safe, home school, and hence assumed for it the name, " Home Seminary."
The main building has cheerful and attractive rooms, ueatly and completely furnished, for fourteen boarders, with but two occupants in each room.
The school is divided into primary, preparatory, intermediate, academic, and classical departments. Pupils are carefully examined at entrance, and as- signed to their respective classes. All who complete the course of study in either the academic or classical department, as a testimonial thereof, at graduation are presented with the seminary ring.
The following-named persons constitute the faculty of Home Seminary : Principals, Rev. W. M. Wells, A.M., and Mrs. C. M. Wells; Instructors, Rev. Wil- liam M. Wells, A.M., Sciences, English Literature, Latin, and German ; Mrs. C. M. Wells, Painting and Drawing; Miss Addie L. Baldwin, French and Eng- lish Branches : Miss Jennie Grenelle, Elocution.
VAN RENSSELAER MEMORIAL INSTITUTE .- This institute was named in honor of the late Rev. Cort- landt Van Rensselaer, D.D., secretary of the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church, whose i death occurred just before the institute was founded. The object of the founders was to establish a classical school of a high grade, with a liberal endowment, and then to aid young men seeking the gospel ministry in their preparatory course, particularly the sons of min- isters and missionaries. The institute is a beautiful building, admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was intended. The cost has been thirty thousand dollars, of which amount the citizens of Hightstown contributed about twenty thousand dollars, together with ten acres of land .. The Rev. James Wood, D.D., was the first president of the institute. The Rev. Charles Hodge, D.D., LL.D., of Princeton, was until his death the president of the board of trustees, and felt a deep interest in the success of the enter- prise. His successor was Rev. Lyman H. Atwater. D.D., LL.D., of the College of New Jersey. The hopes of the founders have not as yet been realized, on account of the death of Dr. Wood and others, and the failure to secure the necessary endowment.
The Baptist Church .- The Baptist Church is the oldest in the village. It formerly belonged to Cran- bury, where it was constituted in 1745 with seventeen members, named as follows: James Carman, William Cheeseman, William Cheeseman, Jr., Samuel Cheese- man, John Dye. Thomas Morford, Moses Hull, John Hight, Malakiah Bonham, Martha Cheeseman, Cath- arine Cheeseman, Mary Dye, Abigail Morford, Mary Hight, Margaret Carman, Catharine Morris, and Jo- anna Flavel. These were the fathers and mothers in the faith. Opposite the name of each of them stands, in the records of the church, the word "dead."
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