History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County, Part 52

Author: Hatfield, Edwin F. (Edwin Francis), 1807-1883
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: New York : Carlton & Lanahan
Number of Pages: 738

USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 52

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* Sprague's Annals, VI. 64, 470. Benedict's IIist. of Baptists, pp. 5.5, 555-6.

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THE HISTORY OF

The loss of territory was followed, in the fall of 1794, by the loss of one of the most valued citizens of the town, the

HON. ABRAHAM CLARK.

His grandfather, Thomas, was the son of Richard Clark (who emigrated to this town as early as 1678), and resided on the upper or western road, about mid-way between Eliza- beth Town village and Rahway, about half a mile north, by west, of the Wheatsheaf tavern. He had at least three sons and one daughter: Thomas, born, 1701; Abraham, born, 1703; James, of Connecticut Farms; and Mrs. Day. Capt. Abraham Clark, commander of the troop, resided directly west of his eldest brother, Thomas, and outlived him but 15 days. The youngest brother, and the sister lived to a great age. Thomas, the eldest, was named, in the first Charter of the borough, one of the Aldermen. His grandson, Dr. Abraham Clark, says he was,

Judge, and, I believe, keeper of the King's arms, as many muskets, and cartouche boxes with the letters, "G. R.," on their covers, remained in the house until used by our patriots.

He died, as noticed on a previous page, Sept. 11, 1765, and was buried without pomp or profuseness of expense, as had, until then, been so common.

Abraham was his only son, and was born, at the home- stead, February 15, 1726. His nearest neighbors were, his uncle Abraham on the west; Lewis Mulford, a strict Puritan, on the north; Capt. Jonathan "Hampton, an Episcopalian, a member of the Colonial Assembly, who lived in the hand- some style of a gentleman of the old school," on the east; and "a noble farmer-Ephraim Terrill, another Captain of troopers, an Episcopalian, a man of strong mind and social qualities," on the south.

Having received a good education for the times, Mr. Clark entered into business as a surveyor and conveyancer. He made himself familiar with the common points of law, and was ever ready to aid his neighbors with legal advice gratuitously ; and so obtained the name of "The Poor Man's Counsellor." He held the office of High Sheriff of Essex

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

Co., in 1767, and of Clerk to the Colonial Assembly ; he wa's a member of the Committee of Safety in Dec. 1774, and sub- sequently their secretary ; he was chosen to the Provincial Congress, in September, 1775, and was elected by them, June 22, 1776, one of the Delegates from New Jersey to the Con- tinental Congress, in which capacity he had the honor of affixing his name to the Declaration of Independence.

He was rechosen to Congress, in 1776, and in 1777, serving until April 3, 1778 : again in 1780, 1781, 1782, 1786, 1787 & 1788. He was appointed to the first Constitutional Conven- tion at Annapolis, in 1786; and again, in 1787, but did not attend the latter, on account of ill health. He was chosen, by the people, under the new Constitution, to the second and third Congresses, and died before the completion of his last term. During his long public career, he proved himself the incorruptible patriot, an active and judicious legislator, a prudent counselor, and a true friend of the people.

His death was occasioned by a coup de soleil, a stroke of the sun, which he survived but two hours. Great respect was shown for his memory on the occasion of his funeral. His remains were deposited in the burying-ground of the Presbyterian church of Rahway. A stone, with the follow- ing inscription, marked the spot :

The N. J. Journal, of the following week, says, "he was uniform and consistent, adorning that religion that he had early made a profession of, by acts of charity and benevo- lence."

It was also said of him, that " in private life he was re- served and contemplative. Limited in his circumstances, moderate in his desires; and unambitious of wealth, he was far from being parsimonious in his private concerns, although a rigid economist in public affairs."

He had long been a member of the First Presbyterian church of this town, and was one of its Trustees from 1786

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to 1790. " His person was of the common height, his form slender, his eye-brows heavy." He is also characterized, as having been " very temperate."

He married, about the year 1749, Sarah, the eldest daugh- ter of Isaac Hatfield, sister of Elder Isaac Hatfield, and the first cousin of Mrs. Robert Ogden, the mother of Gen. Mat- thias and Gov. Aaron, Ogden. She was born in 1728, sur- vived her husband nearly ten years, and died June 2, 1804. They had ten children.

Another serious loss was sustained by the town, in the fall of the following year, 1795, by the removal to Philadelphia of the

HON. ELIAS BOUDINOT, LL. D.

His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all bore the name of Elias. The latter was an emigrant from France, and came to America in 1686, shortly after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz. He was born at Philadelphia, Ap. 21 (O. S.) 1740. Having studied law with his brother-in- law, Richard Stockton, Esq., at Princeton, he was licensed, November, 1760, and commenced the practice of law in this town. He married, Ap. 21, 1762, Hannah, a sister of Rich- ard Stockton. He resided, first in a smaller and then in a larger house on Jersey st., both of which he bought of Al- derman Samuel Woodruff or his heirs,-in the latter of which Mr. W. lived until his decease. He attached himself to the Presbyterian church, and was chosen, at the age of 25, President of the Board of Trustees.

At the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain, he devoted himself heartily to the cause of his country. After serving on the staff of Gen. Livingston, he was appointed, June 6, 1777, by Congress, Commissary General of prisoners, in which capacity he served until the summer of 1778, when,. having been appointed to represent his State in Congress, he took his seat, July 7th, retiring at the expiration of the year. He was reappointed, Nov. 2, 1781, and again, Oct. 30, 1782. He was chosen President of Congress, Nov. 4, 1782, and, when the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain was ratified,

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

April 15, 1783, he had the honor of affixing to it his signa- ture.

He was again called to serve his country, in the Congress of the United States under the Constitution, having been elected to the first, second, and third Congresses. At the expiration of his third term of service, he was appointed, Nov. 1, 1795, to succeed Henry Wm. De Saussure, as Super- intendent of the U. S. Mint at Philadelphia, to which place he then removed. As a testimony of his kind feelings towards his former townsmen, he forwarded, as a gift, to the Trustees of the First Presbyterian church a pair of cut- glass chandeliers, and, in the accompanying letter, said, of the church :-

The many happy hours I have spent there, make the remembrance of having been one of their Society, among the substantial pleasures of my life.

From the Trustees of Yale College he received, in 1790, the well-deserved compliment of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. In 1805, he retired from public life, and located himself at Burlington, N. J., where, on the 28th of October, 1808, Mrs. Boudinot was seized with apoplexy, and departed this life in the 73d year of her age. His eldest daughter, Susan Vergereau, (born, Dec. 21, 1764), had been married, in 1784, to William Bradford, Esq., Attorney- General of Pennsylvania, and, subsequently, of the United States. She was left a widow, Aug. 23, 1795, and became, after her mother's decease, her father's housekeeper, till his death, Oct. 24, 1821, in the 82d year of his age. She sur- vived her father, and died, Nov. 30, 1854. His only other child, Anna Maria, was born, April 11, 1772, and died, Sept. 3, 1774.

Mr. Boudinot, after his retirement, devoted himself to a life of Christian beneficence. In 1772, he was chosen a Trustee of the College of New Jersey, in which office he con- tinued until his death, founding in 1805, at an expense of $3000, the Cabinet of Natural History. In 1812, he became a Corporate Member of the American Board of Commission- ers for Foreign Missions ; and, in 1816, the first President of

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the American Bible Society, contributing to its funds $10,000, and aiding, also, in the erection of the first Bible House. In his will, having made ample provision for his daughter dur- ing her life-time, he bestowed his large estate on various In- stitutions connected with the Church, and the cause of edu- cation.

He wrote and published, 1790, "The Age of Revelation, or the Age of Reason shown to be an Age of Infidelity ;" 1793, a 4th of July Oration, delivered at Elizabeth Town, before the N. J. Society of the Cincinnati ; 1806, "The Life of the Rev. William Tennent ; " 1811, an Address delivered before the New Jersey Bible Society ; 1815, "Second Ad- vent of the Messiah ; " 1816, " A Star in the West, or an humble attempt to discern the lost ten tribes of Israel ; "- still bringing forth fruit in old age. His monument at Bur- lington bears this inscription :-

Here lies the remains of the Honorable Elias Boudinot, LL. D. Born on the 2d day of May, A. D. 1740. He died on the 24th day of Oct., A. D. 1821. His life was an exhibition of fervent piety, of useful talent, and of extensive benevolence. His death was the triumph of Christian faith, the consummation of hope, the dawn and the pledge of endless felicity.

To those who knew him not, no words can paint ; And those who knew him, know all words are faint.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace .*

* Alden's Epitaphs, I. 101-5. Allen's Biog. Dict. Murray's Notes, pp. 85, 110-11. Trus- tees' Book of E. T. Chh. N. J. Rev. Correspondence, pp. 346-7. Barber's N. Jersey, p. 89.

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

CHAPTER XXVII.

A. D. 1782-1804.

ECCLESIASTICAL - Rev. J. F. Armstrong - Rebuilding of Presh. Chh. - Revival - Rev. Wm. Linn -Lottery for finishing the Chh. - Rev. David Austin - Birth - Education -Settlement -Chh. completed - Monthly Magazine - American Preacher - Prophetic Investigations - Sermon on the Downfall of Babylon - Great Excitement - Day set for Christ's Coming - Mr. Austin dis- missed - Anti Sabbath-Profanation Meeting - Rev. John Giles - Mr. Aus- tin returns- Rev. Henry Kollock - Mr. Austin's Second Return - Stated Supply - Separate Worship-Returns to Connecticut -Subsequent History - His Death and Character.

AFTER the decease of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, the Presbyte- rian church was left, for many months, without a pastor, or stated supply. Abraham Clark wrote from Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 1782, to Capt. Benjamin Winans, of this town,-

I suppose by this time that the murderer of Mr. Caldwell has been tried and received his doom : but that will not restore our loss which will be long felt in Elizabeth-Town. I hope you will not be in a hurry to get another, for few can be found fit to succeed him that is gone. I have one or two in my mind that might answer, but I think that they could not be got till the end of the war, as they are chaplains of the army .*

It is probable, that Mr. Clark had reference, among others, to the

REV. JAMES FRANCIS ARMSTRONG,

who took charge of the congregation, in June 1782. He was the son of Francis Armstrong, of West Nottingham, Md., where he was born, April 3d, 1750. His father, being an elder in the Presbyterian church, trained him in the way of godliness. He was prepared for college, chiefly under the

* Proceedings of N. J. Hist. Soc., III. 86.

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instruction of the Rev. John Blair, at Fagg's Manor [New- Londonderry], Pa., and entered the junior class of the Col- lege of New Jersey in the autumn of 1771. Two of his class- mates, Aaron Ogden, and Belcher Peartree Smith, were of this town. He graduated in 1773, and pursued a course of theological study with President Witherspoon, with whom he had resided while in college. He was licensed to preach, in January, 1777, by the Presbytery of Newcastle, by whom, also, he was ordained, January 14, 1778, at Pequea, having' received and accepted an appointment as Chaplain of the Second Brigade [Sullivan's] of Maryland forces. His com- mission was dated, July 17, 1778. He spent the next three years in the service, mostly at the South.

Returning to the North, he was invited to supply the pul- pit of the church here, the people then worshiping in the old red store house, near Mayor John De Hart's, on the west side of the Creek. He began his ministerial work here in June, 1782, and was married, Aug. 22, by Dr. Wither- spoon, to Miss Susannah, daughter of Robert James Living- ston, deceased, with whom he had become acquainted while at Princeton, whither her widowed mother had resorted for the education of her sons, William Smith, Peter R., and Maturin. Mrs. Livingston was the daughter of William Smith, the historian of New York.

At the expiration of less than a year, during which he had been charged with the direction of the grammar school, taught by his classmate, Lewis F. Wilson, his services were terminated by a severe affection of the measles, aggravated by his exposures in the army. Two or three years after- wards, having recovered his health, he became and continued, until Jan. 19, 1816, when he died, the useful and honored pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Trenton, N. J., his wife surviving him until Feb. 13, 1851. They had six children .*

Mr. Armstrong's labors closed at the end of April, 1784, after which, for eighteen months, the pulpit was supplied

{* Life of Rev. Dr. R. Finley, pp. 197-208. N. J. Journal, No. 191. Murray's Notes, p. 109. Holgate's Am. Genealogy. Sprague's Annals, III. 389-91. Hall's Presb. Chh. of Trenton, pp. 295-375.

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

mostly by the Presbytery of New York. In the meantime, measures were taken for the rebuilding of their house of worship. The first movement towards it, was probably the following :

July 11, 1781. The Congregation Voted that the Trustees should Mortgage the parsonage Land Against Mr Jelf's for as Much Money as they can get upon it to be laid out for Building the Presbyterian Church in Elizth Town.

The Trustees, at this time, were Isaac Woodruff, Lewis Mulford, Isaac Arnett, Jonathan Price, and David Ogden. The work was immediately undertaken, and prosecuted with diligence. In May, 1785, a meeting of the congregation was held, at which it was agreed, that four pews just in front of the pulpit, four next the door, and four pews in the galleries, were to be free for ever for the congregation ; one square pew, at the side of the pulpit to be for the minister's family, and the square pew on the other side for strangers, and three side pews near the door for Negroes.

The building was so far finished in the autumn of 1785, as to allow of occasional occupation by the congregation, as appears from the following record in the Journal of Bishop Asbury :-

Wednesday, [Sept.] 6, [1785.] After preaching, this morning, I left the city, overstaying the hour, the stage left us, and we found ourselves under the necessity of walking six miles; I dined with Mr. Ogden, and preached in Elizabethtown, in the unfinished church belonging to tlie Presbyterians.

He repeated the visit a year later, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1786, and " at seven o'clock preached and had much liberty.""

The church was dedicated, though in an unfinished state, about the 1st of January 1786, the sermon having been preached by the Rev. Dr. Mc Whorter, of Newark. During the whole period, from the time of commencing the work of erecting the church, the congregation were visited with a special outpouring of the Spirit of God. It prevailed mostly in 1785, and extended into the remote parts of the town, the parish of Westfield, as already seen, being wonderfully fav-

* Asbury's Journals, I., SSS. II. 3.

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ored during that and the following year. It was promoted considerably by the faithful preaching of the Rev. Uzal Og- den, every other Sabbath, in St. John's church.

It is quite probable, that the revival in this town resulted from a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the people of Newark, in 1784, by which a hundred souls were added to the church. By whatever agencies the work was commenced in this town, it proved a rich blessing. Says Dr. McDowell,-

This revival continued about two years; and time has abundantly proved, that it was a genuine and glorious work of God. A number of the subjects are still [1832] living, and are truly fathers and mothers in Israel. Nearly all the session, and almost half the members of the church, when the writer settled here, were the fruits of this revival ; and he has had an opportunity of knowing them by their fruits; he has been with many of them when about to pass over Jordan, and from their triumphant death as well as exemplary life, he can testify to the genuine- ness of the work .*

Early in the year 1786, an invitation was given to the

REV. WILLIAM ADOLPHUS LINN,

to supply the pulpit, and the invitation was accepted. He was the grandson of William Linn, an emigrant from Ireland, and was born in Adams County, not far from Shippensburgh, Pa., in the year 1752, of Presbyterian parents. He graduated at the College of New Jersey, in 1772, being a classmate of Aaron Burr. He was licensed, in 1775, by the Presbytery of Donnegal, and ordained in 1776 by the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, to serve as a chaplain in the army. He married, as early as 1776, Rebecca, the daughter of the Rev. John Blair, of Fogg's Manor, for whom his eldest son was named John Blair Linn. During the war, while serving as a chaplain in the army, he became quite distinguished for his eloquence. After the war he took charge of an Academy in Somerset Co., Md., within the bounds of the Presbytery of Lewes, of which he became a member.

" The terms, on which he was invited" to become the

* Stearns' Newark, pp. 241-3. Sprague's Lect. on Revivals, pp. 284, 374.

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

pastor of the church in this town, were,-" Three hundred Pounds New York Currency pr Annum, a dwelling House [to be rented by the Trustees] and the use of the parsonage [land]."

He became a member of the Presbytery of New York, May 2, 1786, being "received with pleasure." He was in- stalled on Wednesday, June 14; the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. McWhorter, of Newark, from Acts xx : 24; the Rev. Dr. Johnes, of Morris-Town, presided, and the Rev. Dr. Rodgers, of N. York, gave the charge.

Mr. Linn's ministry gave promise of great usefulness, and was highly valued by his people. But his reputation as an excellent preacher soon spread, and drew to him the regards of the Collegiate R. D. Church of New York, who were desirous to obtain a colleague for the Rev. Dr. Livingston. They extended him a call within four months of his settle- ment here, and, without much hesitation or delay, it was accepted, greatly to the grief, and not a little to the indigna- tion, of both the people and the Presbytery.

Mr. Linn having been dismissed, supplies for the next six months were appointed for the E. Town Church. Honored the following year, by the College of New York, with the honorary degree of D. D., Dr. Linn commanded in an eminent manner the respect and admiration of the city of New York, where he continued to labor in the ministry, until, compelled by declining health, he resigned his charge, in January 1805, and removed to the city of Albany, where he died in January, 1808, aged 55. His only publications were several occasional discourses, and a volume of sermons .*

Very soon after Mr. Linn began to preach here, the grant of a Lottery was obtained from the Legislature "towards finishing a building erected by the Presbyterian congregation in Elizabeth Town." The scheme was advertised at length, in the New York Gazetteer, June 16, 1786. Isaac Woodruff, Jonathan Dayton, and Aaron Lane were appointed Managers.

" Trustees' Book. Records of the Presb. of N. Y., II. 127-130. Sprague's Annals, IV. 210. Allen's Am. Biog. Diet. Murray's Notes, p. 113. Memoir of Rev. Dr. Livingston, pp. 223. . 870-3. Records of Presb. Chh., pp. 462, 472.

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At the settlement of their accounts, in 1789, each Manager was allowed $200 for his services, and $1,365 were paid into the Treasury of the church .*

Having failed in an effort to secure the Rev. Mr. Snod- grass, [father of Rev. Dr. Snodgrass] in the spring of 1787, the church applied to the Presbytery in October, and ob- tained supplies for their pulpit for the next six months. At the meeting of the Presbytery, at Elizabeth Town, May 7, 1788,-

A Committee from the congregation of Elizabeth Town informed the Presbytery that Mr. David Austin a Candidate for the ministry belonging to the association of New Haven had been preaching among them much to their satisfaction and that they requested leave of the presbytery to draw up and present a call for him. The presbytery having taken their request into consideration ; and being fully satisfied with the certificates which Mr. Austin produced of his licensure, unanimously agreed to grant the request of the committee.

(The same day,) a call was brought into presbytery from the congrega- tion of Elizabeth Town for Mr. David Austin in order to be delivered to him for his acceptance, which call the presbytery put into the hands of Mr. Austin for his consideration.+

REV. DAVID AUSTIN.

He was a native of New Haven, Ct., and a descendant of John Austin, who married, Nov. 5, 1667, Mercy, daughter of Joshua Atwater, and died in 1690. He was born, 1760, and was the eldest son of David Austin, a merchant, highly respectable, and prosperous in business, holding, for a time, the position of Collector of the Customs. The youngest daughter, Mary, who resided with her brother in this town, and was here converted, became the wife of the Rev. Prof. Andrew Yates, D. D., of Schenectady, N. Y., and died at East Hartford, Ct., Oct. 31, 1806 .;

Born of pious parents, he was trained in the nurture of the Lord from his childhood. He graduated at Yale College in 1779, having been associated in study with such men as Joel Barlow, Josiah Meigs, Zephaniah Swift, Noah Webster, Oliver

* N. Y. Gazetteer, II. 56. Trustees' Book.

t Records of the Presb. of N. Y., II. 159-160.

# Savage's Biog. Dict. Assembly's Mag., III. 193-200.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ELIZABETH, IN 1840.

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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

Wolcott, Elizur Goodrich and Roger Griswold. His theo- logical studies were pursued under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Joseph Bellamy, at Bethlem, Ct. He was licensed at North Guilford, in May, 1780, by the New Haven East As- sociation. Young as he was, he preached to great accept- ance, and was earnestly solicited to settle in the ministry. But he declined these proposals, and went abroad, at the close of the war. Having spent some time in foreign coun- tries, he returned to America, and, for a while, supplied the pulpit of the Chelsea [Second] Congregational church, Nor- wich, Ct., where he became acquainted with the family of Dr. Joshua Lathrop, whose daughter, Lydia, he married shortly after .*

The N. J. Journal of Wednesday, Sept. 10th, 1788, says,-

Yesterday, in a crowded and solemn assembly, the Rev. David Austin was ordained Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this town. The Rev. Mr. Roe preached the sermon [from Gal. I. 10], Dr. Rogers, who presided, gave the charge to the minister, and Dr. MeWhorter to the people. The exercises were conducted with much solemnity and decorum.t

The house, in which these services were performed, was in a very unfinished condition-scarcely more than a mere shell. The beautiful spire, so conspicuous a landmark for more than seventy years, had not yet been erected. At a meeting of the Trustees of the Congregation, Feb. 23, 1789, it was voted,-

That the Church should be Plaistered as soon in the Spring as might be convenient, and that Ezekiel Woodruff, Jun' do Immediately go about procuring wood & shells for the Purpose of Burning Lime for the Use of sª Church, and be allowed a reasonable sum for his Service for Collecting Materials for the Plaistering of sd Church.#

The work was now prosecuted to completion. Mr. Austin took hold of it with great energy, secured the erection of its graceful spire, and obtained subscriptions for the purchase of a bell. He took a deep interest, also, in the cause of edu- cation, and in the promotion of every thing connected with

* Contrib. to the Ecc. His. of Ct., p. 325. Miss Caulkins' Norwich, p. 435.

t Records of Presb. of N. Y., II. 169-170, 172, 174. N. J. Journal, No. 256. # Trustees' Book.

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the public welfare. One of the first literary enterprises in which he embarked was the publication, bi-monthly, of a magazine, entitled-

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History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County, Part 52

Author: Hatfield, Edwin F. (Edwin Francis), 1807-1883 Publication date: 1868 Publisher: New York : Carlton & Lanahan Number of Pages: 738

Author: Hatfield, Edwin F. (Edwin Francis), 1807-1883
Publication date: 1868
Publisher: New York : Carlton & Lanahan
Number of Pages: 738