History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 8

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096

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 8
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 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

William Quicksell, in 1752, kept an inn in Borden- town.

Col. Oakey Hoagland kept an inn at the northeast- erly corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Park Street, on the site of the American House, from 1775 to 1785. The colonel was an active officer of the mi- litia, and participated in several skirmishes during the Revolutionary war. Nathaniel Shuff kept this hotel from 1810 to 1813. Peter L. Suydam has in his possession a ball-ticket issued by Mr. Shuff. It is, of course, thin pasteboard, two and a half by two inches. It reads as follows :

" The honor of Mr. Shober Company is requested at a BALL, at the inn of N. SHUFF, in Bordenton, on the evening of the Fourth of July next. RICHARD ALLISON, WILLIAM BURNS, jr. Managers. June 27th, 1812."

As war had just been declared against Great Britain (June 19, 1812), we doubt not but what upon that warm summer night the lads and lassies "tripped the light fantastic toe" with patriotic zeal.

The next person who kept here was probably J. Bailey. James Davidson, who kept a tavern at Cross- wicks from 1805 to 1844, a period of thirty-nine years, i occupied by the church as building site and burying- kept here in 1818. The Widow Longstreth kept here in 1833-34, and her daughter, Mrs. Hamilton, was murdered here by Clough.

Jolin Kester came next, being here in 1837.

The house was rebuilt in 1850 by Charles Mickle, the front wall of the old building alone being used. George W. Dobbins was the first tenant in the new building, and was here in 1851 and 1852.

John J. Maxwell kept here in 1853, Levi Davis in 1857, Jacob Poole in the fall of 1859 and spring of 1860, William Thompson in 1860; Thomas Matthews came next; James C. Parker came here in 1869.

The Washington House, at the northeasterly corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Crosswicks Street, is one . strange doctrine at that time. The deed speaks of of the oldest stands in the city, but the names of the early proprietors of it are not known to the author. | tist Ministers, when they preach at Bordentown David Fennimore kept here in 1808, but how long before this period is not known.

Deborah Applegate kept here in 1812 and 1814; Joshua Carman kept here also, Elias Thompson from

1820 to 1840, William Tiel, Edmund Bartlett in 1858, Thomas Gibson, Joseph Bodine, James C. Parker, John J. Rogers, ex-Sheriff Samuel T. Leeds, John J. Rogers.

The history of the building now occupied as the Railroad House is elsewhere stated. Gen. Arnel, we believe, was the first proprietor of it. The next pro- prietor was John Kester, who for many years presided here, and in the summer season his house was full of fashionable boarders from Philadelphia .: David Paul that was before the days of easy access to the sea- side.

Levi Davis is the present proprietor. He formerly kept a hotel in Mount Holly.

Gen. Arnel for many years kept the celebrated Steamboat Hotel on the hill-top, where the college now is. There are those now living who well remem- ber the days of steamboats and stage, and the bustling and exciting times of arrival and departure.

The City Hotel, established in 1865, has always been conducted by its present proprietor, Hamilton H. Trout.

The Bordentown Baptist Church.1-The history of the Baptist Church of Bordentown is not the whole history of the Baptists of Bordentown. A glorious denominational page was added to the records of Christianity years before the constitution of the pres- eut church. So valuable are the incidents, so inter- esting to the denomination, so brilliant the prominent actors, that it is pardonable to preserve the record of those days of patient working and waiting.

There were persons holding Baptist principles in Bordentown prior to the year 1751. In that year (August 5th) Joseph Borden, the patron of the city, in whose honor it was named, presented to John Coward, Thomas Cox, and Joseph Borden, Jr., for the sum of five pounds, the two parcels of land now

ground. It is not definitely known that either of these were Baptists,2 but the ancient parchment deed declared that they acted as agents for "severall Re- ligions persons Residing in Bordentown aforesaid and ye parts adjacent, who are members of Christian Con- gregations Baptised by Immersion upon Profession of faith, and holding those Wholesome Principles Con- tained in a Confession of Faith, Set forth by ve Min- isters and Elders of above One Hundred Congrega- tions in England & Wales, Met in London Anno Dom. 1689.'

From this interesting deed-still in excellent pres- ervation -- we learn that Baptist preaching was no "well-wishers, who frequently came to hear ye Bap-

1 By Rev. Lansing Burrows.

Several persons named Cox were constituent members of the church at Jacobstown, organized October, 1785.

476

HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

aforesd." Reference is also made to a congregation of Baptists at Crosswieks 1 and Southampton.2

Upon the ground thus conveyed by the elder Bor- den was creeted in 1752 the first Baptist meeting- house in Bordentown, a grand cdifice in its day, its roof hipped in imposing grandeur, its walls stout enough for a fortress, its external appearance beau- tiful in plainness, its internal arrangements a model of convenience for those days, and its pulpit decently elevated to a dizzy yet becoming height.

There is here a great gap in the denominational history of the city, which in all probability can never be filled. The meeting- house is erected in 1752, and until 1778, amid the dark days of the Revolution, we find no definite facts to relate.

Burgess Allison was a native of Bordentown. He was born Aug. 17, 1753, just two years subsequently to the giving of Borden's deed, aud about the comple- tion of the first edifice. His father, Richard Allison, was a pious man, and made such indelible impres- sions npon the mind of his son, that as early as five years of age he manifested interest in religious mat- ters. He was baptized into the fellowship of the Upper Freehold Church, October, 1769, then only sixteen years of age. Ile began at once to labor for the salvation of souls at Bordentown. This work was soon interrupted by his entrance into the celebrated school of Dr. Jones, at Lower Dublin, Pa. Three years spent thus were followed by a course in the ; Rhode Island College nnder Dr. Manning, when he returned to Bordentown, was ordained in 1777, and immediately began a glorious work.

Allison had succeeded in persuading some sixty-two persons to espouse the cause of Christ up to October, ; 1789. These he baptized, and received into the church at Jacobstown, which had been organized four years previously, and which he served as pastor. The comparatively large number of members living, to- gether with their pastor, at this point, the Borden- town members were constituted an arm to the parent church, though really Jacobstown could be called nothing more than a mission station. The Lord's Supper was administered alternately at these points, and so in effect, though not in name, the first Bap- tist Church of Bordentown was organized in 1789, under the labors of Dr. Allison.

In 1796, Dr. Allison retired from his academy and another brilliant star arose in Bordentown, William Staughton, a young Englishman, a licensed minister, in age some twenty-seven years, arrived from the South with his young bride to scek a home more congenial to his feelings and conducive to his health. To him Dr. Allison transferred all interests in the academy. In consequence of his growing powers, and the great demand for preaching, in June, 1797, on the site now occupied by the present church edifice,

William Staughton was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry. He exercised his gifts to great acceptance in the regions round about. though Dr. Allison retained his pastorate at Jacobstown, and her buxom daughter, Bordentown. It seems, how- ever, that shortly after, young Staughton served the arm of Bordentown exclusively.

In 1801, Mr. Staughton retired in Burlington, and Dr. Allison resumed his old charge and educational work. The failure of his health soon compelled him again to relinquish these labors, though the minutes of the Philadelphia Association report him as paster at Jacobstown as late as 1807, and in " Murphy's Life of Challis." 1813 is given as the date of his resignation.

The second gap in this history occurs during the period between 1813 and 1821. The Baptist interest had evidently died away. The old hip-roofed meet- ing-house remained, aged, and considered old-faslı- ioned ; the life was shut out at it, its glory was de- parting, yet it remained strong and firm as the doctrines of those who had worshiped within it. A referenee to this period is contained in a historical sermon of the church, preached by Rev. A. P. Buel, Oet. 9, 1864, regarding a Mr. Hunter and Rev. Jona- than Price, afterward a missionary and co-laborer with Judson, who supplied the church occasionally.

Dr. Howard Malcom, then a young student, fre- quently thus preached during 1818. An entry in his diary, bearing date October 31st of that year, draws this picture: "Bordentown is proverbial for this ne- glect of religion. Found matters deplorable. The Baptist is the only other house of worship (except the Friends'), very small, in bad repair, and seldom used. Only five or six Baptists in the place, and the only two male members took no active part. I suggested the idea of a Sunday-school in the town, but found no encouragement." November 15th, collections were taken, at the advice of Dr. Malcom, for repairing the house. In 1819 he made arrangements for the regular supply of the pulpit. How long this was kept up it is difficult to say ; but some encouraging signs pre- sented themselves. A Sunday-school was organized Oct. 17, 1819, which two weeks subsequently num- bered eighty scholars. For all this labor-which un- doubtedly prepared the way for the more permanent organization-Dr. Malcom never received a cent in compensation. The dawn fully appeared in 1$21.

Samuel W. Lynd was a young student who had been strongly impressed by the preaching of the cele- brated Spencer Cone, and who was at the time pre- paring for the ministry under Dr. Staughton. He sueeceded Dr. Malcom in his missionary labor, and gathered together twenty persons, who on the 14th of April, 1321, were constituted an independent Baptist Church. These persons were William Snowden, Wil- liam Burton, Joseph B. Walcott, Edward Carman. William Reeves, Samuel W. Lynd, Ann Reeves, Mar- garet Oliver, Elizabeth Blakely, Julia Ann Higgins,

1 Probably now the church at " Upper Freehold."

2 Pennsylvania.

1585813

(

477

BORDENTOWN.

Martha S. Taylor, Miss Ann Reeves, Ruth Shaw, "original document is preserved, bearing the signa- Rachael Carman, Elizabeth Taylor, Martha Chade- tures in their own writing of Mott, Mull, Lanning, Combs, and Brister, of the Trenton Church. This call was aceepted, and on each first and third Sab- baths Mr. Rhees preached in Bordentown. In what capacity he served the church in 1829 is not elear. He never attached himself as a member, but was in fellowship at Trenton. ayne, Harriet Wright, Sarah Wood, and Ann Kimble. Eight more were baptized the following day, making twenty-eight in all. Of this number four survive,- Rev. S. W. Lynd, Edward Carman. Mrs. Ruth Shaw, a regular attendant still, frequently three times on the Sabbath, and Mrs. Susan Walcott, the second one i baptized into the fellowship of the church, and now a member of the First Church, Trenton.

Mr. Lynd was unanimously called to the pastorate of the young church, and upon the same ground whereon his future father-in-law, Dr. Staughton, was ordained was he solemnly set apart as minister and pastor. So brilliantly promising was this young man that he beeame a favorite with his instructor, who gave him, in 1823, his accomplished daughter Leonora for a wife. Small as the church was, aided by the congregation, they raised for him four hun- dred dollars per year. Mr. Lynd resigned in Febrn- ary, 1824, after a pastorate of three years.

During the summer of 1824, Rev. Thomas Lar- combes occupied the pastoral relation. We are to judge of this date only from an entry made Novem- ber 5tlı, that " a subscription was ordered to raise his salary as pasture of this church." If tradition be money was raised, and several singular entries oceur regarding the finanees, until finally the philosopher's stone was found in the appointment of two sisters as a " Committee of Ways and Means" to relieve the church from embarrassment.

true, Brother Larcombe was pasture indeed, but little . Trenton Church refused to release their pastor, and

Mr. Larcombe was another of Dr. Staughton's stu- dents. He was born May 12, 1791, in Philadelphia, ! October, 1823, before Mr. Rhees' aetual retirement, and at the age of sixteen united with the First Bap- tist Church, being baptized by his honored instruetor. He was ordained at Hopewell in 1821, from which church he removed to Burlington, and from thence to In 1834, Jolin C. Harrison became pastor of the church, and remained until 1844. Bordeutown. His ministry was very aeeeptable, not only to the church, but to the greater part of the townspeople ; many of the best and most influential families were constant attendants upon his ministry ; by his uniformly modest and truly Christian bearing he won the love and confidenee of the people. In 1827 he resigned the pastorate to assume the earc of the Colebrook (Conn ) Church. He died in Phila- delphia, Oct. 1, 1861.

The next pastor was the much-revered Morgan J. Rhees. The first mention of his name on the record is in August, 1829, when he was appointed to write ' basement was fit for use. In July, 1836, the new the letter to the Association. With the exception of one or two minor references concerning the writing of letters, his name is not mentioned during his pas- torate. From other sources we glean these facts :

March 6, 1830, a eall was extended to Mr. Rhees from the Trenton and Lumberton Church to become their pastor in conjunction with the Bordentown Church. He was then residing in Philadelphia. There can be no doubt concerning this date, for the

A great interest in temperanee occurred during Mr. Rhees' ministry. In 1832 ( July 1st ) abstinence from ardent spirits was made a test of membership. and the resolution regarding the same was read to all ineom- ing members. This position was afterwards reaf- firmed, when, referring to the former resolution, it was further " Resolved, That we put it in foree against all such who do not live up to this resolution."

In the early part of 1833 the ehuren strenuously pressed Mr. Rhees to give up the charge at Trenton, reside among them, and give undivided attention to their interests. The time had come for this. There had been a gradual growth. The principle of susten- tation had been edueated into the people, and they beeame, as Mr. Rhces expresses it, "execedingly earnest in their persuasions." A state of feeling un- precedented in the place prompted unexpected effort to secure constant ministrations of the word. The fearing to leave either at such a critical period, he continued the remainder of the year in the same rela- tion, yet giving more of his time than formerly to the Bordentown Church. At the expiration of 1833, Mr. Rhees closed his labors, and served the Trenton Church faithfully and successfully until 1840. In the church had called the Rev. John C. Harrison, then of Bridgeton, N. J. From January to April, 1834, the pulpit was supplied by William D. Hires.

A new impetus was given to the church by their new pastor. It was agreed upon his acceptance to demolish the old house; the shining black glazed bricks had become a hiss and a by-word. July 5, 1834, the fiat went forth, and it was laid in the dust. The old Borden Church soon had its revenge. Sup- planted after eighty-two years of excellent service, the usurper in less than half that time was condemned and destroyed. Houseless, the church held its wor- slip in a vast locust grove until December, when the building was dedicated, Dr. Brantly, of Philadelphia, preaching the sermon, and Brethren Challis and Cushman participating.

Aug. 30, 1841, Joseph K. Hillegas and Samuel White were set apart as deacons. Ellis B. Hall wa, ordained by order of the church on Dce. 29, 1842, Rev. Mr. Dickerson, of Burlington, preaching, and Rev. Messrs. Blain, Smith, and Harrison participating. A license was also granted to Charles W. AAppleton.

478

HISTORY OF BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Mr. Harrison's long and useful pastorate was sud- denly terminated by a tender of his resignation, Jan. 29, 1844, which, though rejected by a vote of eighty- three to seventy-three, was firmly insisted upon, so that on the 1st of April the church realized, for the first time in many years, what it was to be without a shepherd.

Dec. 25, 1843, Peter De Witt was elected clerk, filling the office acceptably until 1854.

Until May 27, 1844. the church was engaged in canvassing the merits of preachers, served by supplies; but on that date Rev. Matthew Semple, of Harrisburg, Pa., was unanimously called to the vacant pulpit. A correspondence of some weeks ensued, and personal visits were made to induce him to accept. The sum of six hundred dollars was offered for his support ; but late in June Mr. Semple returned a final negative answer.

Rev. B. N. Leach was clected pastor Ang. 21, 1844, and entered upon his duties November 3d of the same year, at a salary of five hundred dollars. Public recognition services, the first of the kind in connec- tion with the church, were held Jan. 2, 1845, Rev. Mr. Mulford, of Hightstown, preaching the sermon from Acts xvi. 17.

Mr. Leach's pastorate was of short duration. Nov. 24, 1845, after one year of service, he resigned the - care of the church, which took effect Jan. 3, 1846.

Rev. T. O. Lincoln supplied the vacant pulpit until May 6th, when Rev. William D. Hires, who had once been identified with the church in its infancy, was unanimously chosen pastor at a salary of five hundred dollars. Mr. Hires accepted, and assumed the charge Sept. 1, 1846. Mr. Hires resigned the pastorate, to take effect May, 1848.

Rev. Thomas R. Taylor, of Camden, was called to succeed Mr. Hires in August, 1848, but he declined, when, on the 8th of November, Rev. Samuel Sproul, of Herbertsville, N. J., was called at a salary of four hundred and fifty dollars, which was accepted. Mr. Sproul entered on his duties January, 1849, and was publicly recognized February 13th, Rev. Joshua Fletcher, of Trenton, preaching from Heb. xiii. 7.

January, 1851, the "Psalmist" was adopted in lieu of the old " Watts and Rippon," which had furnished spiritual songs from the beginning of the church.

July, 1852, Mr. Sproul tendered his resignation, which he was induced to withdraw, but again urged it in September, when it was reluctantly accepted.

Rev. Bradford H. Lincoln, of New Rochelle, N. Y., succeeded him, having been called Nov. 1, 1852, im- mediately entering upon his labors. His was a short pastorate of one and a half years. Mr. Lincoln re- signed March 19, 1854, taking effect on the 1st of May.

Rev. W. S. Goodno, of West Kensington Church, Philadelphia, was called March 14, 1855, at a salary of seven hundred dollars.

March 31, 1857, Mr. Goodno resigned the pastorate.

Aug. 31, 1857, Rev. A. P. Buel. of Tarrytown, N. Y., was called, and entered on the pastorate October 1st.

Shortly after Mr. Buel's coming the missionary operations of the church were greatly enlarged, six regular contributions being made annually. The first contribution by the church for missionary purposes was made in 1849.

In November, 1858, the first steps were taken to demolish the edifice, with a view to the construction of a more elegant one. William Steele was author- ized to purchase additional ground. A special meet- ing was held April 5, 1860, at which it was fully agreed that the time for rebuilding had come, and it was resolved that if four thousand dollars could be obtained upon reliable subscriptions a new house should be erected. April 30th there were reported for this purpose three thousand nine hundred and seventy dollars, and the remainder being immediately pro- vided for, Elisha Nevius, William Steele, Samuel Dougherty, Uriah Bennett, and A. P. Buel were appointed a building committee. Work was imme- diately commenced in May, the Presbyterians,gener- ously sheltering the homeless church. The corner- stone was laid July 4th, with addresses by Rev. Dr. Brantly, of Philadelphia, and Rev. O. T. Walker, of Trenton.

Sunday, March 17, 1861, beheld the present beauti- ful edifice dedicated to Almighty God. Rev. Edward Lathrop, D.D., of New York, Rev. Samuel Aaron and Rev. R. Jeffrey, of Philadelphia, were the preachers on the occasion.

The church in its new quarters, the salary of the pastor was increased to one thousand dollars, and a donation visit. In March, 1866, from the proceeds of a fair, the present organ was purchased and set up in its place.

Mr. Buel resigned July 1, 1866, after a term of ser- vice extending over eight years. The church did not accept until many weeks subsequently, and when they did, Mr. Buel continued as a supply until Jan. 1, 1867, making his whole term nine years and a quarter.

Dec. 25, 1866, Rev. J. W. Custis, then at Hudson City, N. J., was called to the pastorate. On Janu- ary 13th he entered upon the work.

One of the most noticeable features of his pastorate was the raising of some eight thousand dollars for the liquidation of the church debt, owing in a great measure to the energy and determination of the pas- tor. The whole debt was provided for, but unreli- able subscriptions prevented its total extinguishment at that time.

Mr. Custis tendered his resignation Aug. 25, 1870, which after ineffectual endeavors to induce him to withdraw was accepted on the 31st.

The church was dependent upon supplies until the following April. Feb. 25, 1871, a cali was extended to Rev. Lansing Burrows, then at Lexington, Mo. | He accepted the call, and began his labors April 1st.

BORDENTOWN.

479

The semi-centennial anniversary of the church was celebrated in November of that year.

The church has had from 1821 to 1877 twelve pas- tors, who have served it an actual period of time covering forty years and one month. They have bap- tized into its fellowship ten hundred and twenty-six persons, and welcomed about three hundred others by letter or otherwise. From a band of twenty it has increased gradually to four hundred and thirty-one, of whom the address of but thirty are unknown.

The Sabbathi-sehool interests have always been eherished by the ehureh. In addition to the main sehool, meeting in the edifice at Bordentown, a mis- sion at Fieldsboro' was instituted May, 1871, which has fully answered all expectations up to the pres- ent. A preaching station has also been instituted at Yardville, on the line of the Camden and Amboy Railroad.

The church was formerly a member of the West Jersey Association, from which it withdrew in 1868 to eonneet itself with the newly-formed Trenton As- soeiation.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Bor- dentown.1 --- The exact date at which this society was organized eannot now be given. In the olden ar- rangements of the Methodist Episcopal Church, nearly all the towns were included in cireuits. These cireuits had one eentral point after which they were named, and which was varied according to the exi- geneies of the general work. Sometimes a town was on one eireuit, and sometimes on another one. Sometimes it would be ealled by the name of one par- tieular town, and sometimes by a different one. Ree- ords in that early date were meagerly kept and carelessly handled ; indeed, after they had served their immediate purpose they were frequently destroyed as so mueh waste paper, for which there eoukl never afterward be any possible use. The records, whatever they were, are not aeeessible now, and therefore the date eannot be given.

The early religious reputation of the place was far from flattering. Thomas Paine had made it liis resi- denee, and his popularity as a patriot had predisposed the people to a favorable reception of his antagonisms to religion. The Christian Repository, of Philadelphia, says of its early reputation, "The place was remark- able for its indifference to religion, and specially for the desecration of the Sabbath."

As lately as 1834 the only resident elergyman in the place was Rev. Mr. McClenaham, a superannuated Methodist preaeher.

The Baptist Church was irregularly supplied from Trenton, while the Methodists were supplied as ir- regularly from both Trenton and Crosswieks.

The first Methodist meetings were held in private . houses, as one and another would open their dwell- ings for the purpose. These meetings were usually

for prayer and exhortation, and conducted by the members in the absence of a regular minister. After- ward a room was procured in the building known as the " Academy," now part of Davis' hotel, where for a very considerable period of time they exercised their . worship in the afternoons and evenings. In the morning they generally went to hear some minister who might have been engaged for the service. To this they became so accustomed that when the Metho- dists themselves began to have a morning service, it took a long time to gather the people to it.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Burlington and Mercer counties, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of many of their pioneers and prominent men, Part 8

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Woodward, E. M. (Evan Morrison) cn; Hageman, John Frelinghuysen
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1096