History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 181

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 181
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 181

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).

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1851 .- Nathaniel Compton, Hezekiah Norris.

1854 .- Peter Irvine, John S. Quimby, Benjamin Smith.

1855 .- John S. Quimby, Nathaniel Compton, Benjamin Smith.

1859 .- Peter Irvine.

1860 .- Nathaniel Compton, Ira D. Proden, John S. Quimby.

1861 .- Ira B. Pruden.

1862 .- Jacob Cole, William A. Wilson.

1863 .- Waters B. Alward, Richard Irvine.

1864 .- Nathaniel Compton, James H. Thompson, Calvin H. Dunham.

1870 .- Nathaniel Compton, James H. Thompson, Calvin H. Dunham, Rodorick Mitchell.

1872 .- Roderick Mitchell.

1873 .- Horace Woodruff.

1875 .- James H. Thompson, Nathaniel Compton, Calvin H. Dunham.

1876 .- David S. Dunu.

1878 .- James Doty, Horace Woodruff.

1879 .- Charles N. Conkling.

1880 .- Dr. H. G. Whitnall, P. F. Randolph, Calvin H. Dunham.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1851, Walters B. Alward; 1852, James T. English ; 1853, William R. Wil. son; 1854-66, Rev. John C. Rankin, D.D.

PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.

THE STIRLING PLACE .- William Alexander, fa- miliarly known as Lord Stirling, lived in baronial state before the Revolution on the "Stirling farm," so called, about two miles southeast of Basking Ridge. The place is now owned by Mr. Barcalow, and is

JAMES P. GOLTRA.

James Phares Goltra, son of Thomas Goltra, was born in Bergen, N. J., Nov. 17, 1792. His father was also a native of Bergen, where his ancestors from Hol- land settled at an early time. He was born July 9, 1764. ITe married, Dec. 19, 1788, Elizabeth Kells, born Sept. 30, 1768, by whom he had the subject of this record and four daughters,-viz., Lany A., born Jan. 2, 1790, married George King (deceased) ; Susan, born Aug. 19, 1794, married Robert Albright, and lives in Madison, Morris Co. ; Mary, born Ang. 23, 1797, mar- ried John Case (deceased) ; Cornelia, born Ang. 7, 1802, married first Elias Sturgis, and afterwards Wil- liam Conkling; she is still living, and resides in Ohio.

James P. Goltra enmo to Bernard township when quite young with his parents, who purchased the Goltra place on Dead River now occupied by J. llappa. Ilis father was a carpenter and builder, and brought up his son to that occupation, who followed it as his chief business till towards the close of his life, building extensively and erecting many churches in Bernard and adjoining townships. He also engaged successfully in farming and mereantile pursuits, having kept a storo eight years at Liberty Corners. Besides being many years a justice of the peneo and a judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, he took a prominent and active part in the affairs of his township, especially in raising recruits during the civil war, and acting on the town committee with the late Judge Anderson. The duties of these men were arduous and responsible, and were faithfully and conscientiously discharged, reflecting credit aliko upon their integrity and ability. Mr. Goltra, as a busi- ness and a public man, as a citizen and neighbor, in short, in all the walks of life, was highly respected,

and has left a reputation enshrined in the memory and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

On the 20th of June, 1816, Mr. Goltra married for his first wife Fanny Beach, by whom he had two chil- dren,-Ebenezer B. and Susan F. ; both are living and have families. After her death he married Fanny C. Cross, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Cross. She is the great-granddaughter of Rev. John Cross, first pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Basking Ridge, who set- tled on the place where Mrs. Goltra now lives in 1732, and held religious services in his barn before the meet- ing-house was built at the Ridge. Robert and Elizabeth Cross reared a family of two children,-viz., Mrs. James P. Goltra and Mahlon Cross, who died in August, 1878, leaving a son and daughter still living. Joseph, the other son, died in March, 1872.

The children of James I'. and Fanny C. Goltra were Caroline E., born July 9, 1823, married Dennis Van Liew, and lives at Liberty Corners ; Robert Cross Goltra, born Aug. 24, 1829, married Mary E. Lewis, who sur- vives him (ho died May 12, 1869, leaving four chil- dren) ; Mary M., born Feb. 7, 1832, married Putney O. Belding, has one child, now living at Basking Ridge ; Thomas Goltra, born Feb. 5, 1834, married Elsie Smalloy Frost, and has a family of three children,-to wit, John Q. P., Hattie Adelaide, and Willie J. Goltra; Emma Jane Goltra, born July 18, 1838, married William W. Sutton, of Hunterdon County, and has three children.

James P. Goltra died Jan. 22, 1871, in the seventy- ninth year of his age.

llis son, Thomas Goltra, is his successor on the home- stead estate. Ile devotes himself to the pursuit of agri- culture, and is an entorprising and successful farmer.

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one of the historic places of this portion of New Jer- sey. Lord Stirling acquired his title to large estates in this quarter prior to 1720, and built his manor- house as a summer retreat about 1761. He adopted it afterwards as a permanent residence, and continued to improve his estate, together with a mining and iron interest in Morris County, till the Revolution called him to the field. He became a zealous Whig, and as a soldier under Washington rendered important ser- vice to the cause of independence. He was not, how- ever, to see the final triumph of the glorious cause to which he had sacrificed health, property, and life itself. Worn out by fatigue of body and mind, he died on the 15th of January, 1783, less than a week before the solemn recognition by treaty of his coun- try's independence. His private fortune was ex- pended in the contest.

WHITE'S TAVERN .- The house where Gen. Charles Lee was taken prisoner by Col. Harcourt's dragoons, on the 11th of October, 1776, while on his way to join the army under Washington, stands by the road- side at the south end of the village of Basking Ridge. It was then called " White's tavern," being kept by Mrs. White, a widow. The house is still standing, though it has undergone considerable changes.

THE KIRKPATRICK MANSION .- Another place of historic interest is the old Kirkpatrick mansion, on the homestead where Alexander Kirkpatrick and his son David settled in 1736. The solid, substantial stone house which he built in 1765, with its thick, firmn walls laid in mortar almost as hard as the gray sandstone itself, and with floors made of white oak plank laid double, was but an exponent of the solidity and self-reliance of his character. With proper care the house might be made to last five cen- turies more. On a stone over the front door (but now concealed by a portico) are chiseled " D. M. K., 1765," -meaning David and Mary Kirkpatrick.

David Kirkpatrick, Esq., as he was remembered by the old settlers, was a thorough-going Scotehman in every respect, not excepting the broad accent of his nationality. "Although he lived about two miles from the church at Basking Ridge, he always pre- ferred to walk while the rest of the family rode. It is said of him, when a member of the New Jersey Legislature, that although he would commence his journey on horseback, he soon dismounted and, lead- ing his horse, walked the remainder of the way to Trenton. He lived to enter his ninety-first year ; educated one son at the College of New Jersey ; knew of at least six grandsons who were liberally educated ; and at his death left a numerous posterity to bless his memory."

THE ANNIN HOUSE .- In 1766 the okl "Stone House" on the Annin estate was built by William Annin, son of John, the first pioneer. In 1866, the descendants of John Annin met in the venerable mansion to celebrate the centennial of its erection. The meeting was on the 15th day of August, and there

gathered grandparents, parents and children, the representatives of every period of life, from infancy to old age, to the number of one hundred and twenty. We give the following list of the kindred and de- seendants of John Annin present on the occasion :

William Annin, Eliza II. Annin, Gertrude S. F. Annin, Jane Anuiu, Sarala Annin, Sarah E. Annin, Mary C. Annin, William Annin, Robert Edward Aunin, Phebe Ayers, James Van D. Ayors, Fanny R. Ayers, Fanny Ayors, John Fred. Boyle, Lydia Annin Boyle, Harriet P. Boyle, Sarah Annin Boyle, Edward P. Boyle, John Annin Boyle, Mary 1'. Boyio, Helen 11. Boyle, William F. Boyle, Nettie A. Boyle, Par- menas Castner, Fred. K. Castner, Mary Annin Castner, Alfred S. Cast- ner, John L. Van Liew, Antoinette Van Liew, Julia B. Van Liew, Sarah K. Van Liew, William E. Van Liew, Mary A. Van Liew, Mar- tha A. Van Liew, William Annin Losey, Harriet O. Losey, Samuel Annin, Jesse Irving, Charles Conklin, Emeline A. Irving, Hiram Ayera, Eliza Neville Ayers, Joanna Gaston Brown, Mary Brown, Isaac Gaston, Ida Brown, William Sergeant. Daniel Annin, Abtwy P. Annin, l'hobe M. Annin, Adeline C. Annin, Sarah Ross Beach, Sarah M. Bliven, Sarah R. Bliven, Charles Bliven, Abby D. Bliven, Sloses Sayre, Elizabeth Dickinson Sayre, Alexander Annin, Susan Annin, Margaret Annin, Margaret Miller Norcross, Alex. Annin Norcross, Joseph M. Norcross, Joseph Annin, Margaret Annin, John Annin, Sumnel Annin, Esther Morford, George Morford, Alexander Aunin, Elizabeth Annin, Phebe Miller Johnson, Mary Emma Johnson, Fer- dinand Dreer Johnson, Frederick Dreer Eari, Mary M. Auuin, John J. Annin, Edwin L. Annin, Ferdinand J. Dreer, Abigail Dickinson Dreer, Abigail Matilda Dreer, Ferdinand J. Dreer, Jr., Frederick Alex. Dreer, Edwin Greble Dreer, Rev. John C. Rankin, D.D., 3IrN. Rankia, Rov. James T. English, Roseila Muy Anderson, Charles T. Anderson, Willium W. Anderson, John C. Sutphen, M.D., Funny K. Sutphen, Ilugh M. Gaston, Mrs. Gaston, Miss Gaston, Isanc Gaston, Francis Runyon, Clarissa C. Runyon, William A. Compton, James 11. Day, James S. Day.

The walls of the old "Stone House," laid up with massive blocks taken from a neighboring quarry, are as sound and solid as when first placed there in the colonial days. It is a quaint old building with pro- jecting eaves, in which have lived three generations of the Annin family. William Annin, great-grandson of the emigrant ancestor, was host of the mansion at the time of the centennial. The initials "W. A." and "HI. S. M.," eut in the stone with the date "1766," indicate the buikler, William Annin, and Hugh Sun- derland, mason.

A large black walnut-tree stands on the road from Basking Ridge to Morristown. It is a historic tree. I'nder it near the roots is a spring, not at present used, at which Washington and La Fayette lunched when the army was moving from Morristown towards Tren- ton. The incident is not given in any history, but was communicated by La Fayette himself to the late Dr. Samuel S. Doty, who as major of militia escorted the Marquis during his visit here in 1825. This walnut- tree was struck by lightning on Sunday, June 28, 1880, which will probably destroy the old relic of hy- gone days.

CHURCHES. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BASKING RIDGE ..

Among the floating statements as to the origin of this church, that which assigns to it the greatest

. The following history of the Presbyterian Church of Banking Ridge is condensed from a historical iliscourse by Rev. John C. Rankia, D.D., pastor of the church since 1851, delivered August 11, 1872. The discourso contains much other interesting matler, which we have given under the head of Early Selllement.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

antiquity is in the New Jersey Historical Collections (new edition, 1852, p. 442), and is in these words:

" Basking Ridge was early settled by Scotch Presbyterians, and a log church erected about the year 1700."

The next is in a "History of the Presbyterian Church of Madison, N. J.," drawn up some years ago by the Rev. Mr. Tuttle, then the pastor of that people. He says (pp. 10, 11),-

"The first church ever organized in what is now the county of Morris, was the old Presbyterian Church in Whippany, which was formed about 1718. ... Io Baskenridge, some Scotch Presbyterian families who had settled there, were worshipping in a log meeting-house which they bad erected a year or two previously."

Dr. Rankin has been able to discover no data upon which these statements can be substantiated, and thinks, from evidence adduced further on in his dis- course, that the origin of the church dates from about 1720-25. There could have been no church here be- fore there were Christian inhabitants, and the earliest definite account of the settlement places it at A.D. 1717, the 24th of June of that year being the date of the Indian deed to Harrison. In 1720, Cornelius Beers, of Staten Island, bought the land then occu- pied by James Pitney, who was, without doubt, the first settler in the township, and whose name appears as one of the original trustees of the church. Henry Rolfe was also living in the neighborhood the same year, and one of his family, probably his son Samuel, was another member of the original board of trustees. There were actually settlers here, then, as early as 1720, who were active and prominent in the move- ments of the church. Among these were Pitney, Rolfe, some of the Ayers family, and probably others whose names are not mentioned.

In 1728, John Budd, an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia, in writing to his agent here, speaks of "the hundred acres I lately gave away," and in 1737 specific mention is made of his convey- ing one hundred acres-probably the same before alluded to-" for the use of a meeting-house." Here we see the source of the old parsonage farm. When and where they first assembled for worship cannot be determined. It is morally certain, however, that they were not long without some place, and the probability is that at least as early as 1725 there was a nucleus of praying men and women who came together some- where in the neighborhood to worship God.

Passing now from these probabilities and conjec- tures, the first authentic date in the history of this church (the sessional records having unfortunately perished) is on the original deed of John Ayers, con- veying a certain plot of ground to Obadiah Ayers, Mordecai McKenne, James Pitney, George Pack, Samuel Rolfe, Daniel Morrice, and Thomas Riggs. This document is dated Feb. 8, 1731, and conveys to said trustees one and one-half acres of land, "on or near the middle of which now stands a house built and intended for the exereising of religious worship in." This was no doubt the old log meeting-house of

traditionary notoriety. One hundred and fifty years ago it stood on the spot of the present church, with a thickly-wooded grove around it. In all probability the first work of those sturdy pioneers, as they began to form a community here, was the erection of a school-house, where some of them taught the chil- dren of their families in winter, and where the parents assembled for prayer before they had a church or minister. The same circumstances which made this the religious centre must also have made it the edu- cational centre even earlier. The school- or session- house therefore probably went up from 1720 to 1725; the church soon followed, from 1725 to 1730, and was made secure to trustees, as above, Feb. 8, 1731.

In 1733 the name of Basking Ridge first appears in the old ecclesiastic records of the parish, spelled uniformly in all early documents as here written, showing the purely English origin of the name. It is supposed to have been derived from the fact that the wild animals of the adjacent lands were accus- tomed to bask in the open forest of this beautiful ridge. There was as yet no church at Morristown ; in fact, there was no town there.

The first minister of the gospel known to have labored here was the Rev. John Cross, who became a member of the Synod of Philadelphia in 1732, and seems to have begun his labors in that year. It is not known that he was ever installed as a regular pastor over the church, but it is certain that he preached here, with more or less regularity, from 1732 to 1741. He seems to have been rather a self-willed man, who followed his own course, without much regard to ecclesiastical law and order. On the next day after his reception as a member of the Synod he withdrew from the session without permission, and was cen- sured for his conduct. Three years later complaint was made to the Synod against him by his Presbytery that "he absented himself from their meetings and removed from one congregation to another without the concurrence of Presbytery." For this he was again censured, and admonished "to be no more chargeable with such irregularities for the future."

He was not here, therefore, all these years. The reason may have been that the congregation was still too weak to " subsist alone," so that he was compelled to seek elsewhere for support. This whole region was now rapidly filling up with inhabitants, and no doubt as the size and strength of the congregation increased they gave him a better support and he gave them more labor. After a time this became his per- manent home.

VISIT OF REV. GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

When the celebrated George Whitefield visited this place, Nov. 5, 1740, he stayed at Mr. Cross' house, two miles from Basking Ridge, probably the house owned by the late Judge Goltra. Whitefield speaks of a wonderful work of grace as then in progress, the first great revival, no doubt, that had occurred in this

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BERNARD.

part of the country. As many as three hundred per- sons are said to have been awakened at one time under the preaching of Mr. Cross. "When I came to Basking Ridge," says Whitefield, " I found that Mr. Davenport had been preaching to the congregation. It consisted of about three hundred people. In prayer I perceived my soul drawn out and a stirring of affec- tion among the people. I had not discoursed long, but in every part of the congregation somebody or other began to cry out, and almost all were melted to tears. At night also there was preaching to an im- mense audience in Mr. Cross' barn, when God was present in great power. ... Next morning I with pleasure took my leave of them, and rode agreeably, in company with many children of God, to New Brunswick, twenty-three miles from Basking Ridge."

OTHER MINISTERS.

The last mention of the name of Mr. Cross in Presbytery or Synod occurs in 1746. Ilis death must have occurred between that date and 1750, as in the latter year his wife, " Deborah Cross, widow," is men- tioned as buying certain land from James Alexander. ITis grave is probably in the burial-ground at the church, though marked by no stone to tell where his dust reposes. ITis farm, which embraced several hun- (red acres, was one of the finest sections of the town- ship, and descended to his heirs. His deed to it was obtained in 1741. During his ministry, in 1737, the parsonage farm of 100 acres was given by John Budd, of Philadelphia, though it is not probable that Mr. Cross ever occupied it.

In 1742, Basking Ridge and Staten Island asked for the ministerial services of Mr. Charles MeKnight, the son of a Presbyterian clergyman in Ireland, and supposed to have come to this country, a young man, about the year 1740. Ile was taken under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, June 28, 1741, and ordained on the 12th of October of the next year. Hle probably served both congregations. He remained here only about two years, and in the autumn of 1744 was installed pastor of Cranberry and Allentown. During the Revolutionary war he was captured and imprisoned for a time by the British, and soon after his release died, Jan. 1, 1778.

Mr. McKnight's successor, the Rev. Joseph Lamb, was called, and May 24, 1744, he removed to this place and became a member of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. No particulars of his pastorate here are known. Dr. Brownlee speaks of him as " a Scottish worthy," but he was probably a native of Connecticut, though of Scotch descent. He is the first of the pastors of this church who died in its ser- vice. His tombstone in the burying-ground hears the following inscription, which we transcribe as throw- ing light on the character of his preaching and as a specimen of the obituary literature of the age :

" Here lies the remains of the Rov'd Joseph Lamb, who departed this lifo July 28, A.D. 1749, Etatis suæe 60.

" The terrors diro from Sinal's Mount Thy mouth did once proclaim, As well as Messages of grace In thy great Master's name. But with pure ethereal fires, With Seraphim above,

We hope and trust thou now dost sing The wonders of his love."

The congregation had so grown under his ministry that the original log house was no longer large enough to contain the audience. It was therefore taken down, and the venerable frame building which stood for ninety years, and was then superseded by the present house, was erected. According to a well-authenti- cated tradition, the frame of that building was put up on the very day of Mr. Lamb's death, July 28, 1749 (a brief description of it will be given at another point in the narrative), but it was doubtless in size and comfort a decided improvement on the old log house.

Following Mr. Lamb came the Rev. Samuel Ken- nedy, M.D., who was born in Scotland in 1720, and received his education at the University of Edinburgh. His theological studies were pursued in this country, under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, by which he was licensed to preach in 1748 and or- dained in 1750. His settlement here took place June 26, 1751, and lasted thirty-six years,-i.e., until his death, Ang. 31, 1787. It may be remarked here that the records kept by Mr. Kennedy, according to tra- dition, were medical and ministerial accounts min- gled on the same pages of his day-book, and that they were not regarded as of sufficient importance to in- sure their preservation. The trustee book, however, is extant, and bears on its cover the following title : "The Book of the Congregation of Bernardstown, A.D. 1763, 1815." This book contains accounts, more or less full, of the doings of the parish for little more than half the time of Dr. Kennedy's ministry,-that is, from 1764; and from this time we come into clearer light respecting the history of the church. The first record in this volume is in these words :

" The following is the account and proceedings of the committee np- pointod by the Presbyterian congregallen of Bernardstown (formerly called Basking Ridge) to receive and dispose of the money left to said congregation by Mr. Samuel Brown in and by his last will and testa- ment, which bears date the 17th day of June, 1703."

This committee consisted of Edward Lewis, John Carle, and Nathaniel Ayers, who were chosen on the 12th of November, 1764. The money bequeathed was £200, the interest of which, according to the terms of the will, was to " be yearly every year, from generation to generation forever, paid unto the regu- lar Presbyterian minister of the congregation for his support."

Among the first things found in this record is the plan of the house of worship as it then stood. It con- tained fifty-two seats on the floor and twenty-six in the gallery,-seventy-eight in all. This is the frame building which in 1749 had superseded the primitive log house. It seems to have been about 55 feet long

744

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

by 35 feet wide, having its length east and west, with pulpit in the north side, and the greater part of the seats running lengthwise of the house.

Among the earliest entries these statements occur : " It was agreed that the congregation should take the parsonage place in its own care, and, instead thereof, pay Mr. Kennedy £20 yearly as an addition to his sal- ary." For the first year thereafter it was rented for £9, and for several succeeding years for £12. This ar- rangement, with a salary of £110 above the parsonage rent, seems to have lasted many years. In 1786 a new contract was made with Mr. Kennedy, whereby he was to receive £120 yearly and "the benefit of the parsonage free, the house and land kept in repair, and firewood cut and delivered without any of his expense."

The salary paid to the sexton at this time was fif- teen dollars per annum, and it is stated that the par- ish-meeting of the same year "appointed Joseph Roy and Joseph Annin to give out the lines, and John Annin and Jeremiah Sutton, clerks, to sing."

Rev. Mr. Kennedy's remains lie in the church burying-ground, where his epitaph may be read. It is as follows :

" God'e holy law thy mouth proclaimed, Pure gospel flowed through every vein ; To dying men thy lips proclaimed The glory of thy Saviour's name. Sleep, then, beneath thie earthly clod- Thy flesh ehall eee its Saviour-God- Till the bright morning shall appear, And thon thy Saviour's image bear."

For nearly eight years after his death the pulpit of the church was vacant. In the winter of 1795, Mr. Robert Finley, a young licentiate of great promise, was sent by the Presbytery of New Brunswick to preach for a few Sabbaths. The attention of the con- gregation was soon fixed upon him as a pastor. Dur- ing this long vacancy they had become divided and distracted, but, with singular unanimity and high hopes, all parties united in a call for his services. He was installed on the 17th of June, 1795, and from that date began a bright period in the history of the church. The members of the session, with the pas- tor, September, 1795, were John Carle, Hugh Cald- well, Henry Southard, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Philip Lindsley, Jacob Rickey, David Lyon, Jolın Annin, and Robert Dayton,-men who may well be regarded as "pillars of the church."

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 181

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170