History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 118

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 118
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 118

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).

Stephen Wand

I zal Spyres

I suie Meyer

Sylvanns Baldwin

1.7 0 Eleazer Bruch

sylvanns Ballwin, jr

O Wo Baldwin

Inleb Bruen .

David Crowell

Daniel Colman

Arthur Perry

Zephaniah Grant

Timothy Andrus

A biel v'unfield

Edward Harl .

David Banks .

Jubn Brunt

I-ruel Beach

Jonathan Lyon

David Crane sen. & jr

lohn "'lark .

James Ward

Phineas Baldwin

John P. Crabe

Thomas Jbonnington

Alexander Engles

Abraham Ward

alex Bruch

James Heddon

Nathan Sherman

John Brown

Andrew Masem

Hannah Dwight

Memes Nichols

Samuel Huntington

Johannah 1 ook

Phebe C'hmp

211

Zebulon Jones

Jabley Bruen . .

Thomas Poule

1 ..

t.rurge Price .

Daniel Whittaker

Jonathan Keen .

E-ther Baldwin

-211

Mary Wood & Son

Junies ('rane

Jonathan Dendd

Jobotros

Samuel Stivel .

Nathaniel Andrine

Ichabod Crimmon

Jutham JJohnson

David Hayes .

Abram Stivers

David Hayes, jr

1.4

11 Simoun Stivera

John Hledden .

James ('lizble

James Camp

Jonathan Baldwin

mios Robert4

Luther Baldwin

1.1

Mosps Hohert- & Sons

11 Elizabeth Pier

Elisha Hondinet

Caleb Camp & Soon

AdJumsjah Harrison

Thomas Eagles

Joseph Woundruff

= (.Porgo ilgilvje .

Thomas Cadmus, jr .

Samuel Ward .

JJasper Ten Bruck

Timothy I'mne .

Jolını c'allin

Thomas Canfield & Sun

Nathaniel Camp.

Isaac Hayes .

U Nicholas Gouverneur

William Burnet, jr

Joseph Kimlmalı

Robert Kimball

David Grumnam

Juanes 11. Maxwell

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John Wurd

1.3 Mimo Uglen . .

lewis Baldwin .

1 Ebenezer Ward

li rominh Baldwin

INuu Wanl

Nathaniel Chmp, Jr . Wajah William-

William Johnson . 0)

Thanthy Gunfd .

2 10

Aurun Baldwin

Themax boubl . .

NOTE -Many of the sulenfers added literally to the amount met Jumito their names when it became manifest that the whole Num sub- meribred was little more than half sufficient to complete the work. ]

The First Sunday-school in City and State. ?- Early in 1814, when the Rev. Dr. Richards was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and there was no Sunday-school in the city, his eldest daughter, Anna, conceived the idea of organizing a Sabbath-school in her father's congregation. She put her thoughts into execution by inviting, first, two little girls to visit her in her father's study, in the old parsonage on Mulberry Street, on a Saturday afternoon, and also her young friend, Miss Mary Burnet, with two other little girls. The names of the first two were Hannah and Ann, daughters of the late Cornelius Mandeville, the latter now Mrs. Daniel N. Gardner, of East Orange, and the other two were Mary, daughter of David Pike, and Phehe, daughter of Capt. Crowell. Three of the first four are still living. Miss Richards, afterward- Mrs. Aaron Beach, was the mother of this little Sunday-school, and Miss Mary Burnet, afterwards Mrs. William Rogers, the first superintendent. This little school of six persons increased in members every week, and continued meeting on Saturdays until it was fully organized, and all understood what the school was to be. The time was then changed to Sun- day, after the afternoon service, and continued thus until the school numbered fourteen scholars. The room was then full, and they began to prepare for a change to the church.

This first school was seated on the south side of the gallery, occupying two seats, seven scholars in cach, with the teachers in front.

The first male superintendent was Mr. William Tuttle, an elder of the church. The school was opened with prayer and closed with singing. Mr. Amos Hol- brook was leader, and the " Divine Songs" was the singing-book of that day. Among the early teachers were Miss Abby Baldwin and Miss Crane, daughters of Deacons Baldwin and Crane ; Miss Martha Johnson and Miss Mary Harrison, afterwards Mrs. Isaac Me- Ilvaine.

1 I'rum Atkinson's " History of Newark.

? From a historical paper written by Mrs. H D Hagar.

David Tichenur

John Tichener

10 William Gold .

ZaIndiah Tichenor

2 10

William Baldwin

Hanmalı Mot'hirsney

Ephraim Morris

( David Morris .

Elias Baldwin . .

David Taylor

William P. Smith

Ebenezer Baldwin

Daniel Ball

David James .

Samuel Nichols.

Daniel Baldwin

Jeph (lisle

David E. Cratie

Josiah Tichenur

Jonathan Chuptirki

Ellot Wand

Abraham Harrison .

Jurob Ward. .

1. hahod Oshorn

V'el. Samuel Hay

0 Samuel Frute

1 Aran Ya

1 10

David Brown

1 14

Jesse Roberts

Johnson Ward .

linothy Johnson .

470

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

The enthusiasm over the Sunday-school of the First ('hurch was not confined to its gallery, but in every part of the town small schools were started for all ages and conditions. t'olored people were not overlooked, for the seats in the gallery on cach side the singers and fronting the pulpit were set apart for their use, and they were soon filled. One of the small schools that sprang up at this time was opened by Miss Eliza Campbell in her own house. The children were gathered from the streets while playing on the Sab- bath, and were taught by her, and prepared to enter the church-school. AAnother was by Mrs. Joseph Congar, also in her own house; while a third was Established in the Fair Street school-house. The teachers of these schools were all members of the First Presbyterian Church.

There are strong evidences that the first fourteen little girls, with their two teachers, were the founders of all the Sabbath-schools that have been organized in the State. The Rev. Dr. MeDowell, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Elizabethtown, on hear- ing of Anna Richards' Sunday-school in Newark, at once called the attention of his congregation to the subject. The scheme meeting with general favor, he proceeded without delay to organize a similar school in his church.

And it is a matter of record that neither the First Church in Newark, now two hundred and cighteen yearsold ; the Elizabethtown Church two hundred and seventeen ; the First Church in Woodbridge, two hun- dred and eight ; nor the First Church in Orange,-the four oldest churches in the State,-had a Sunday- school prior to the date of Miss Richards' work.

The first Sabbath-school organized under the au- spices of the Presbytery was by Rev. Burr Baldwin in 1×15. He drew up a plan, first, for the children that had not the privilege of a day-school, but concluded to extend the benefits to all classes, -to the rich as well as the poor, to the colored as well as the white chil- dren,-and that the instruction should be principally of a religious character. Mr. Baldwin suggested his plan to Rev. Drs. Griffin and Richards, who expressed their approbation of it, and a few days later brought it before the ministers at their Presbyterial meeting. Ministers and elders spoke in such favorable terms of the plan that on their return from the Presbytery they urged Mr. Baldwin to proceed at once. He did so, and soon notice was given that the school would be opened in the academy, where the post-office now stands, on the first Sunday in May, at 3 P.M.

Appreciating the usefulness of the school at the Academy, Dr. Griffin expressed a desire that a Sun- day-school should be organized in the upper part of the city. The Orange Street school-house was se- lected for that purpose and the hour fixed at four o'clock, so that Mr. Baldwin could be at the opening of both schools the same day. These schools closed in November and were reopened in the spring ; but as the education of the colored people before this

year had been neglected, it was decided that a school for their benefit be kept up during the winter, and accordingly the basement of the academy was fitted up, and a school on the Lancasterian plan opened. The success of this effort may be judged from the fact that during the winter there was an attendance of three hundred pupils of all ages.

Three years later, or in 1818, the first Sunday- school known in that part of the State was started in Springfield by Miss Catharine Campbell, in a room fitted up for the purpose on her father's premises. It was opened with three teachers,-Miss Catharine Campbell, afterwards Mrs. Wilbur, of Orange, Miss Eliza Campbell and Miss Duyekinck, and fifty schol- ars. AA few months later the school more immediately connected with the church at Springfield was organ- ized by Miss Mary Ten-Broeck and Miss Mary Hutchings, the late Mrs. Sanuel Halsey, of Newark. It opened with five teachers and one hundred scholars. The first Sunday-school in Trinity Church was started by Miss Mary Gifford at her own home, and had its origin in her efforts to instruct and keep out ot mischief some boys who played in front of the house.

Second Presbyterian Church of Newark.1-In the early part of the year 1810 a number of individu- als residing in the upper part of the town of Newark, and members of the First Presbyterian Church, being impressed with the importance of having a Second Presbyterian Church, adopted ineipient measures for the accomplishment of this object. A year before this, at a meeting of the members of the First Church, it was resolved that it was "advisable for this society to build another meeting-house ; " but no successful movement was made till the time above mentioned for the establishment of a second church. On the 18th of June, 1810, the corner-stone of the church edifice was laid with appropriate religious services by Rev, Samuel Whelpley. The building was dedicated to the worship of God, Sept. 30, 1811.

At a meeting of the congregation, heldl Jan. 12, 1811, the following persons were elected trustees, viz. : James Hedden, Joseph T. Baldwin, David Doremus, John N. Cumming, Marens B. Douglass, James Con- ley, and Theodore Frelinghuysen, who took the oath of office April 22d of the same year.

At another meeting of the congregation, held Jau. 23, 1811, of which Rev. James Richards, D.D., was moderator, a call was made out to Mr. Hooper Cum- ming, to take upon him the pastoral office among them. In April following the congregation was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Jersey, and on October 3d of the same year Mr. Cumming was or- dained to the work of the Gospel ministry, and in- stalled pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. Rev. Stephen Thompson preached the sermon, from 1. Cor. i. 21, Rev. James Richards, D.D., presided,

1 From data furnished by Rev. J. Few Smith, D. D.

neely yours Mraven

471

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

and gave the charge to the minister, and Rev. Amzi Armstrong, D.D., addressed the people.

The church was organized in October, Is11. At a meeting of the members of the church, held Nov. 6, 1811, when a sermon was preached by Dr. Richards. from Hebrews xiii. 1, the following persons were elected to the office of ruling elders, viz. : Nathaniel Douglas, Joseph L. Keene, and Aaron Ward; the first two were also chosen and set apart to perform the duties of deacons.

At the organization of the church, there were ninety-three members, all of whom were dismissed and recommended by the First Presbyterian Church. The whole number of persons who have been con- nerted with the church is two thousand four hundred and right. Thirteen hundred and forty-one were received on certificate, and one thousand and sixty- seven on examination. In Isst there were in com- munion with this church six hundred and forty-three.

The church edifice is of stone, stuccoed, and is located on the corner of Washington and James Streets. There are connected with this church two chapels and two missions. Total value of church property, fifty thousand dollars.

The pastors of this church have been,-

Rev. Hooper Cummings,1 settled Oct 3, 1x11 ; dismissed Jan. 3, 1815. Res Falward D. Griffin, D. D.,' settled June 20, 1215 ; dismissal Octo- bwr, 1821.

Rev, Philip (' Hay, D. D.,1 settled Dec. 15, 1822 ; di-mixed July 11, 1×33.

Ilev. Etwurzer (heever, 1 settled April 23, 18.14 ; dimmissed Ang. 26, 1845.

Rev. Jonathan B. Condit, D. P.,1 mottled Der 15, 1845 ; dismissed April 5, 1851.

Bes. Joseph Few Smith, the procent pastor was settled Der. 23, 185]. April 15, 1861.

The following is a list of those who have been and are still the ruling elders in this church :

Nathaniel Douglas, ordained November, 1811 ; diamine May, 1x14. Juneph 1 .. Kern, ordained November, 1-11 ; died March, 1x2.

Aaron Ward, ordained November, 1×11 ; dirmined January, 182. John (. Burnet, orilainel Ih toler, 1813 ; dioni-on1 January, 1x33. John Ward, M. D., ordained October, 1×12 ; die June, 1836. Abraham Miller, ordained Oktober, 1813 ; dismissed October, 1828. Jarab Brinckerhoff, ordained March, JX17 ; dimmimed May, 1×19. Abraham K. Ward, ordained March, 1×17 ; disminu January, 1832. Hugh Me Dougall, ordained April, 1817 ; dismissed May, 1x18. Ilulsted Coc, ordained September, 1823 ; died August, 18:2.

Theodore Frelinghuyen, ordained September, 1823; dismissal Jun- uary, 1×40.

David J. Hays, ordnitud September, 1823; died March, 1853. Samuel Morris, ordained Derember, 1827 ; died April, 1x;Hi.

Robert Baldwin, ordained Derember, 1827 ; dird April, 1852.

Alexander N. Dougherty, ordained December, 1827 ; dismissed May, 1834.

John Tracy, ordained December, 1827 ; died February, 1-11. Martin P. Powird, ordained June, 1836 ; Alismimal Jannary 1×14. David Boreman, ordained June, 1836 ; died February, 1861.

Inne Van Wagenen, June, Ja30 ; died December, 1877. John C. Pitt, ordained December, 1840; dismissed May, 1842. Daniel Pierson, ordained December, Ja40 ; died November. 1842. Samuel Riker, ordained December, 18H ; died August, 1x19.

Stephen Haft, ordained December, 1814 ; dismissed May, 1845.

Morrin Stiles, ordained December, 1814 ; died July, 175. David W. Crane, ordained Uwvember, 1844.

Jemeph 11. Jackson. M. P., ordained November, 1847 , died 11;5.

Mimay Bold, ordained November, 1847 ; dimmimed November, 1252.

William It. Sayre, ordained November, Juli, did Notenter. 1970. John Provost, ordained November, 184 ; diamine December, 1863. J. Breve sayre, ordained November, IN'4. samuel N. King, ordained May, Isol.

Caleb S. Ward, ordained May, 1864.

William S. Ward, M D., ordained May, 1x14.

Charles Lillie, ordained February, 18.K.

Edward F. Baldwin, ordained February, 1x7x ; died 1883.

George IL. Craig, ordained February, 1878 ; Alismismed 1AM2.

Charles Van Duyne, ordained February, 1x7x.

Livingston Fewsmith, ontained February, IST8

Officers of the church and congregation for 1854 :

Pastor, Roy Joseph Few Smith, 1. 1 ; Ruling Eller, David W & rane, J. Reeve Sayre, Samuel & King, Caleb S. Ward, William & Ward, M. D., Joseph D. Harrison, Charles Lillie, Charles Van Duyne, Living- eton Fewsmith ; Trustees, Linus Littell. (president Joseph Ward, Gien. It. Ci. Moore, S. Stephen Holbrook, David D. Bragas. Hezekiah Thomsen ; Jolin G. Harrison o retary and treasurer).

Third Presbyterian Church .- In 1824, the over- growth of the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church made the organization of this church a necessity. Some dissension in regard to the choice of a pastor hastened the separation, and on June 8, 1824, fifty-six of the members of First Church took letters of dismissal, and organized what is now known as the Third Presbyterian Church of Newark. They immediately built a church edifice at what is now No. 911 Broad Street, and called the Rev. Joshua T. Russell as their pastor. Two-sevenths of the real estate, (ex- cept the church and lecture-room and the land upon which they stood) of the First Church were appro- priated to the Third t'hurch and congregation. Mr. Russell's pastorate was quite successful, he remaining . with the church seven years, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Baxter Dickinson, D. D., who remained six years. He was followed in the pastorate of this church for four years by Rev. Selah B. Treat, who was succeeded by Rev. II. N. Brinsmade, who served very acceptably for eleven years, when he was called to another charge, and in 1854 the present pastor, Rev. Elijah R. Craven, D.D., was called and installed in October of that year.

REV. ELIJAH RICHARDSON CHAVES, D.D .- The subject of this sketch was born in the city of Wash- ton, March 28, 1824. He was the only child of Elijah Richardson Craven, M.D., and Sarah Eccleston Lan- dreth, of Somerset County, Md. His father was a physician in Washington, and was one of the original professors in the Medical Department of the Colum- bian College. In consequence of an accident the father died in 1823, four months before the birth ot his son.

The Rev. Dr. Craven passed the first years of his life in the national capital, which indeed continued to be his home until his settlement in the ministry. In 1840 he entered Princeton College, of which institu- tion his father and one of his father's uncles had been alumni, and where he was himself graduated in

472

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY. NEW JERSEY.

1842. During the two years following his graduation Elizabeth Walling, who was descended from a family that, originally settling in New England, had been for several generations citizens of New York, and finally of New Jersey. he prosecuted the study of law in the city of Wash- ington. In 1844 he entered the Princeton Theological Seminary, in connection with which he remained for four years. In 1847, while yet a student in the semi- nary, he was appointed tutor of mathematics in the college, and shortly after he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Baltimore. In the fall of 1849 he supplied the pulpit of the venerable Presbyterian Church of East Hampton, L. 1. From that congregation he received a unanimous call to become their pastor, which, however, he was com- pelled to decline in consequence of serious illness resulting from the severity of the climate. Returning , remained until his death at an advanced age. His to New Jersey, he was, Feb. 27, 1850, ordained by the Classis of New Brunswick and installed pastor of the remained as pastor of that church until the fall of 1×54, when, on the 31st of October, he was installed pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of Newark, from which he had a short time before received a unanimous call. In the pastorate he still continues, after a terni of service of more than thirty years. Throughout his long ministry in Newark he has been specially active in the work of church extension. He has been privileged to organize two churches. Wick- liffe and Calvary, that went out as colonies from his own, and he has been for many years chairman of the church extension committee of the Presbytery of Newark.

Thomas Craven passed his entire life, after coming to America, in New Jersey, his occupation being that of a classical and mathematical teacher. lle was the father of a large number of children, several of whom themselves became parents. Thomas, the eldest son, settled early in life in Ohio, in which State and in others adjacent he has many descendants. tiershom, the third son, was graduated at Princeton in 1765. lle settled as a physician at Ringoes, where he descendants may be found principally in the States of New York and New Jersey. One of these is Admiral Second Reformed Church of Somerset County. He ; Thomas T. Craven, of the United States navy, who, in the war of the Rebellion, commanded the frigate " Brooklyn," which was one of the fleet that, under the command of Admiral Farragut, captured the forts below New Orleans. A younger brother of Admiral Craven, Augustus M. Craven, commanded the monitor "Tecumsch," which led the fleet of Farragut in the attack on the rebel fortifications of Mobile Bay, and which was destroyed in the beginning of the action by a torpedo. The pilot of this ship, who was the sole survivor of the disaster, narrates the following incidents : lle was alone with Commander Craven in the pilot-house as they bore down upon the forts. When the explosion took place both sprang for the companion-way, the only way of escape from the sink- ing ship. The commander reached the head of the passage first, but, drawing back, he touched his cap, and said, "After you, sir." The pilot escaped ; the commander, who, in the spirit of the true hero, must provide for the safety of all under his command before he seeks his own, perished. Another brother, Alfred W. Craven, was for many years chief engineer of the Croton Aqueduct Department of New York City. Joseph, the fourth son, has many descendants in different parts of the country.

In 1859 Dr. Craven was elected a trustee of his alma mater, Princeton College, at which time the de- gree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him. In 1865 he was appointed by the treneral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church [O. S.] a director in the Princeton Theological Seminary, in the place of the venerable Dr. Magie, of Elizabeth, who had been re- moved by death. Previous to the reunion of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church he was, for many years, a member of the Old School Board of Foreign Missions ; at the time of the reunion he was transferred to the Board of Church Erection, in con- neetion with which he still remains as an active inember.

Dr. Craven has frequently represented his Presby- tery in the tieneral Assembly ; he has taken part in many of the most important actions of that body, and has been a member of many of its most important committees. For six years he was chairman of the committee on the revision of the book of discipline, the result of whose labors was in 188-1 adopted as part of the constitution of the church.

Dr. Craven is descended on the side of both his father and mother from old American stock ; both his parents, three of his grandparents, five of his great- i grandmother of Dr. Craven. She was born in Penn's grandparents, and many of remote generations were horn on this side of the Atlantic. Hlis paternal great- grandfather, Thomas Craven, immigrated in 1728, and settled in Monmouth County, N. J., when he married

John, the second son of Thomas, was the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. During his early life he was engaged in mercantile pursuits ; some time before the Revolution he entered into the employ of Robert Morris, the great financier, and was, with MIor- ris, engaged in the civil service of the Continental Congress. On the organization of the Federal gov- ernment, he was one of the first appointed to civil of- fice, the duties of which he performed first at Phila- delphia and subsequently at Washington, where he died in 1831, at an advanced age. ITis descendants are to be found in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. His second wife, Naney Richardson, was the Manor, Pa., opposite Newton, and was descended on both sides from the original settlers of that State. At one time during the Revolution her father and seven brothers, the youngest a lad of fourteen, were

473

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF NEWARK.

with the Continental army, her mother, her only sister and herself taking charge of the farm.

Elijah R. Craven, M.D., was the youngest son of John ; he married the daughter of John Landreth, a native Scotchman, who came to this country shortly after the Revolution. On her mother's side, Mrs. C'raven, who still survives, was descended from the original settlers of the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

The Rev. Dr. Craven has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united March 24, 1852, was Hannah Tingey Sanderson, daughter of Francis San- derson, a lieutenant in the United States navy, and Margaretta Tingey Craven, a descendant of tiershom t'raven. Mrs. t'raven died April 5, 1863. Of the six children of this marriage four survive, namely, Mar- garette Tingey, principal of a French Seminary in Newark ; Francis Sanderson, superintendent of a gokl- mine in Colorado; John Eccleston, an cusign in the l'nited States navy ; and Charles Edmiston, a student in the Theological Seminary at Princeton.

Dr. Craven married for his second wife, Elizabeth Gertrude Moore. She was the daughter of Stephen V. R. Moore, a merchant of New York City, and the grand- daugher of the Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, J.D., formerly bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia. Only one of the three children of this marriage is still living-a young daughter, Evelina. None of the children of Dr. C'raven are mar- rinl.

In 1870 the church edifice was enlarged and trans- formed into a chaste and beautiful Gothic structure. the interior being fitted up so as to make one of the finest auditoriums in the state.

The congregations of the Third Church are made up of all classes and conditions of men, and, indeed, it might be said truthfully to be the representative church of the city. Exchisiveness is a thing unknown in this church, and by common consent, all meet around one common shrine. The pastor sets the example of treating every one in the congregation with the same care, regardless of birth or condition. This has sometimes humorously been called the Widows' Church, as there was for a length of tinie sey- enty widows among the regular attendants.

The church is in a highly prosperous condition. and bids fair to still further increase its usefulness. Since 1854 it has colonized two now flourishing churches. Of the pastor, Mr. ('raven, it can truth- fully be said that he is a fair representative of the bold and fearless type of preachers. No wrong is too popular for him to assail it, if it fall in the path of his duty. He speaks according to his convictions, and without arrogance or obstinacy ; he is as firm where he knows he is right as he is honest in express- ing his opinion. During the sixty years of this church's existence it has done an untold amount of good, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and binding up the wounds of the afflicted. Who its first or present officers were or are, we have been unable

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 118

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840