History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

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 71
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 71

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About this time land for the erection of a church edifice was purchased of John Coryell, Esq., and Capt. John Lambert, Jr., for the nominal sum of one dollar each, said land bounding the graveyard on the east. The church was thus to be built partly in Georgetown and partly in Lambertville, Georgetown being the northern portion of the village and Lambertville the southern. Hence the title of the church.

At the laying of the corner-stone a large congrega- tion assembled. The Rev. Thomas Dunn, pastor of the Solebury Church, preached the sermon, from Isaiah xi. 9. Thirty-two families, it was found, had expressed a willingness to unite in the support of the church.

The bricks for the edifice were made by Joseph Raisner (familiarly known as "Boss Raisner"), just south of Swan's Creek and east of Main Street, the carpenter-work was done by Cornelius Van Horn, and the large walnut pillars which in part supported the tower were turned in the orchard then standing oppo- site to the church.

A board of trustees was organized in May, 1820, consisting of Emley Holeombe, John Coryell, Wilson

Lambert, Jonathan Pideock, and Joseph Scarborough. On June 7th of that year they were sworn into office by Ezra Shamp, justice of the peace. Emley Hol- combe was chosen president of the board.

After the building was inclosed there was occa- sional preaching.

In October, 1820, the attention of the Presbytery of New Brunswick was called to the enterprise by MIr. Amos Wilson, who had been appointed to represent the interests of the congregation. No church organ- ization had as yet been effected. In the following spring and summer Mr. Charles Hodge (who after- wards became widely known as the profound theolo- gian, Dr. Charles Hodge, of Princeton) supplied the pulpit. His labors were blessed in encouraging the people to go on in the work which they had under- taken, and thus led the way to the organization of the church. It was probably through his influence that the pulpit was supplied, in 1821, by Peter O. Studdi- ford, a young man who had barely reached adult years and who, from all accounts, looked at that time like a mere stripling. Dr. Hodge and he had been schoolmates at Somerville, N. J. They were also in the Princeton Theological Seminary together, Dr. Ilodge, however, graduating a year before his ac- quaintanee and friend of early boyhood.

Mr. Studdifordt had no idea of settling here, but the people were pleased with him and he saw that this was missionary ground, so he consented to take charge of the new enterprise, and removed here in December, 1821. He at once commenced discharging all the duties of a pastor, although the church was not regularly organized until Sept. 24, 1822, and he was not formally installed as pastor until June, 1825.

The following-named persons were duly enrolled as members of the church at the date of its organization : Maj. Emley Holcombe, Jonathan Pidcock and his wife, Mary, from the Presbyterian Church of Sole- bury, Pa. ; Allen Breed and his wife, # from the First Congregational Church of Stamford, Conn .; John Hutchinson, from the Presbyterian Church of Allen- town, N. J .; Catharine Larison, from the Presbyter- ian Church of Kingwood; William Prall and his wife, Charlotte, from the Second Presbyterian Church of Amwell, N. J.

Maj. Emley Holcombe and Jonathan Pidcock were duly constituted ruling elders. Maj. Holcombe had, however, been previously ordained an elder in the Solebury Church.

The Solebury Church was united with the church at Lambertville in one joint pastoral charge, and Mr. Studdiford was installed the pastor of both on the same day. This joint charge continued until the spring of 1848, when the pastoral relation with Sole- bury was dissolved, and he became pastor exclusively

" John Lambert, Jr., and Philip Marshall were successivoly elected, but for satisfactory reasons declined to servo.

+ A biographical sketch of Dr. Sjuddiford is given elsewhere in this work.

[ Mr. and Mrs. Breed were the parents of the Rev. Dr. William P. Breed, of Philadelphia.

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of the church at Lambertville, remaining such until his death.

In May, 1853, the congregation determined to re- build on the site of the original structure. The new edifice was dedicated in January, 1855.

In the summer of 1868 the present building was en- larged. A chapel owned by this church was erected in New Hope in the summer of 1872,-an enterprise which has been attended with great success.

An excellent double-pipe organ, by Johnson of Westfield, Mass., was purchased in May, 1877, and placed in the church, near the pulpit.

This church, at the time of its organization, was under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick and so continned until 1840, when it was set over to the Presbytery of Raritan, which had just been formed by the Synod of New Jersey. In June, 1870, at a special meeting of the Synod at Elizabeth, when the Presbyteries were reconstructed, the Presbytery of Raritan was dissolved, and the church at Lambert- ville was again attached to the Presbytery of New Brunswick.

This church, which was organized in September, 1822, with seven members and two ruling elders, reported 460 communicants in the spring of 1880.

The ruling elders in this church, from its organiza- tion to the present time, have been the following : Emley Holcombe and Jonathan Pidcock, installed Sept. 22, 1822; William Wilson and James Seabrook, Aug. 2, 1829; Ashbel Welch and John Smith, April 14, 1844; John H. Anderson and James D. Stryker, Sept. 11, 1853 ; James Hervey Studdiford, M.D., John A. Anderson, and Peter S. Pidcock, June, 1868; Au- gustus C. Barher, Charles A. Skillman, Hugh B. Ely, and John V. C. Barber, May 4, 1879.

There were no deacons in the church until 1868, when T. Quick Phillips, Augustus C. Barber, and Hngh B. Ely were installed in that office. On May 4, 1879, the following-named persons were set apart to the office of deacon : Holmes D. Ely, Frank R. Fritz, John H. Horn, William H. Titus, and James Petrie.

The following-named persons constitute the present board of trustees : Thomas B. Fidler, Charles O. Hol- combe, Edward H. Holcombe, Frank R. Fritz, and Thomas H. Gray. Thomas B. Fidler is president of the board, and Edwin H. Holcombe the treasurer.

THE BAPTIST CHURCHI.

On the 10th of February, 1825, the Baptist Church was organized at the house of Philip Marshall, Esq., with the following constituent members: William Garrison, Philip Marshall and his wife Sarah, James B. Bowen and his wife Lucy A.

Previous to this organization there had been preaching at the houses of Esquire Marshall and Maj. Garrison, by Rev. Joseph H. Kennard, Rev. John Booth, and Rev. James Mclaughlin. Mr. Kennard was at that time pastor of the church at Harborton.

He subsequently became pastor of a church in North- ern Liberties, Philadelphia, where his labors were blessed to the ingathering of a great number to the membership; so that his church became one of the largest in the city. He was a man greatly respected and beloved for his kindness of heart, his piety, his zeal, and his entire devotion to his work.

On Feb. 12, 1825, the first church-meeting was held, when it was resolved to build a house of worship, and a committee was appointed to secure subscriptions for that purpose.

At the next meeting, held on the 21st of that month, the Rev. John Booth was received into the member- ship by certificate. At the same meeting the church proceeded to the election of its officers, and made provision for the regular preaching of the gospel. William Garrison and Philip Marshall were elected deacons. Arrangements, were made for the regular observance of the Lord's Supper, and a committee was appointed to procure supplies for the pulpit.

March 2, 1825, Elder John Booth, Philip Marshall, and William Garrison were elected trustees. On the fifth of the same month a meeting of contributors towards building a house of worship was held to de- cide upon a site. After considering the different locations proposed, the decision was in favor of the place where the present edifice stands. At this meet- ing a building committee was appointed. On the 8th of May of the same year the congregation invited Elder James McLaughlin and Elder John Booth to supply their pulpit for six months, both of whom accepted.

The corner-stone of the first church edifice was laid with appropriate services on June 13, 1825, and the house was dedicated to the service of God in October following. Thus the church was organized, arrangements were made for preaching and the ad- ministration of the sacraments, and a house of wor- ship was erected and dedicated, all during the year 1825,-a proof certainly of earnest zeal and unflagging energy of purpose.

At a meeting on August 4th of the same year it was resolved to unite with the New Jersey Baptist Association.

Feb. 26, 1826, Elder John C. Goble was called to be pastor of this church, in union with the church at Harborton. He, however, declined the call. On April 17th of the same year Elder John Booth was dismissed by letter to the Baptist Church of Perth Amboy, of which church he took the pastoral charge.

The first regular pastor of the Baptist Church in Lambertville was the Rev. Samuel Trott, who came here from Morristown. He took charge of the church at Harborton in connection with this church, and en- tered upon his duties Oct. 19, 1826, from which time he supplied the two churches until April, 1831,-a period of four years and a half,-when he resigned and removed to Welch Tract, Del.

June 3, 1827, James B. Bowen, by request of the

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church, stated his views with reference to the preach- ing of the gospel, together with his reasons for con- "luding that he was called to the work. It was there- upon resolved that opportunity be given him on the next Wednesday evening to exercise his gifts. At a subsequent meeting it was

" Resolved, That meetings be held every other Tuesday for the purpose of giving him an opportunity to speak before theus."

Again (Oct. 4, 1827), it is recorded that,

" From a consideration of the weakness of our little church, it is agreed to give Brother Bowen the liberty of exercising his gifts within the bonuda of the neighboring churches for four months, that we may have the opinion of our brethren of other churches concerning his call to the ministry."

Jan. 10, 1828, the church gave Mr. Bowen a general license to preach. On the 22d of October of the next year he was ordained to the work of the ministry, Ellers Trott, Boggs, Bateman, and Matthews officiat- ing. In April, 1830, he was dismissed by letter for the purpose of becoming pastor of a church in Mont- gomery Co., Pa.

The church at Lambertville, with six other churches, agreed to withdraw from the New Jersey Association on Oct. 2, 1828, for the purpose of forming the Central New Jersey Association, which Association was duly organized in the same month, at Hightstown.

On July 9, 1831, license to preach the gospel was given to Benjamin Braker, late of England.

September 10th of the same year David B. Stout, who had been baptized into the fellowship of the church on April 19, 1829, was granted permission to preach the gospel for a season in the bounds of the neighboring churches, and on Oct. 13, 1831, a full license was given him, On March 31st following he was chosen a supply for one year, and on the Juth of the next May he was ordained, Ehlers John Boggs, Joseph Matthews, James B. Bowen, and Charles Bartolette officiating.

From November, 1831, until April, 1832, when Mr. Stout took charge, the pulpit was supplied by Elder Joseph Wright, who had previously been pastor of the First Baptist Church of Butternuts, Otsego Co., N. Y. The previous pastor of the Lambertville Church hell decidedly the views of those known as "Old-School Baptists," and the church was so leav- ened with his teaching that Mr. Wright's advocacy of Sunday-schools, foreign missions, and ministerial edu- cation were distasteful to many, and in consequence he withdrew. June 5, 1833, Mr. Stout, who had sup- plied the pulpit since April Ist of the previous year, was called as pastor for one year, and on Jan. 1, 1834, a call was made to him to become pastor without limit of time. He served the church for over five years, for six months in connection with the Baptist Church of New Britain, Pa., after that for three years in connection with the Baptist Church of Harborton. The remainder of his pastorate was exclusively con- fined to the Lambertville Church. He resigned April 16, 1837, to become pastor of the Baptist Church at

Middletown, N. J., where he continued in the active duties of the ministry until his death, in 1876.

When Mr. Stout became the pastor of the church here the membership numbered only 19; when he resigned his charge it had increased to S5. The largest number received in any one year during his ministry was 36; the whole number baptized was 45.

In 1835 the church edifice was enlarged. The work was commenced in July and finished in October.

On Oct. 1, 1836, J. S. Eisenbrey was licensed to preach the gospel. Oet. 25, 1837, a call was presented to Elder E. Saxton, which he declined. On Decem- ber 2d of the same year a call was extended to Mr. Daniel Kelsey, of Cohansey, N. J., which he accepted, entering upon his duties early in the following year. lle was ordained Feb. 19, 1838, Elders D. B. Stout and Joseph Wright officiating. He served the church about six months, when he resigned.

Elder John Segur was called to be pastor Nov. 10, 1838, and about the middle of the next month entered upon his duties. At the commencement of his pas- torate a powerful religious interest was awakened under the preaching of Elder Ketchum, an evangel- ist, and, as the result of it, 44 persons were received into the membership. Mr. Segur closed his pasto- rate April 1, 1840, having served for a period of one year and four months.

In May, 1840, the Rev. George Young, of Burling- ton, accepted a call, and remained until March, 1841, when he resigned to take charge of the Baptist Church in Paterson, N. J. In December of the same year the Rev. J. B. Walter supplied the pulpit for three months. His engagement was subsequently ex- tended, and he remained one year and four months.

March 4, 1843, letters of dismission were granted to 20 members for the purpose of constituting the Solebury Baptist Church, and on the 3d of April Mr. Walter and two other members were dismissed to the same church, of which Mr. Walter became pastor.

The Rev. George Young was again called to the pastorate and, accepting the call, continued in charge for nine months and a half, giving half of his time to the church at Sandy Ridge.

William B. Shrope was invited in October, 1844, to supply the church until spring. In the following June he was ordained ; in January, 1846, he became pastor. A remarkable religious interest, under the preaching of Elder Ferguson, an evangelist, greatly stirred the church, adding to its numbers and its strength, about 40 being received into its membership.

The Rev. John Davis, of Hamburg, N. J., was 'called, May 6, 18-49. to the pastorate, Mr. Shrope hay- ing resigned his charge the previous December. Mr. Davis remained until Aug. 11, 1850, when he resigned to become agent of the American and Foreign Bible Society.

Oct. 26, 1851, Rev. A. Armstrong took pastoral charge of the church, which at this time was in a low state, but soon began to revive. In 1853 a neat and

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substantial parsonage was built, and enlarged ahout three years later. The church edifice was also en- larged and remodeled. The work was commenced in August, 1853, and the building was rededicated March 30, 1854.

Mr. Armstrong resigned his charge Nov. 30, 1860, having served nine years and baptized 110 persons.

The Rev. Henry A. Cordo, of New Brunswick, succeeded him, May 1, 1861, and continued in charge until October 1, 1864, when he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church of Meriden, Conn.

In 1864 the church withdrew from the Central New Jersey Association to aid in forming the Trenton Association, but in 1870 returned to her old home in the Central Association.

Rev. Franklin Johnson, formerly of Bay City, Mich., became pastor Dec. 1, 1864, and served the church until June, 1866, when he removed to Passaic, N. J., to take Charge of the Baptist church there. It is to him the credit is due of ineiting and encourag- ing the people to undertake the erection of the pres- ent edifice. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles E. Young (son of a former pastor), who continued in charge from September, 1866, until January 10, 1869, when, owing to failing health, he resigned his pastor- ate. During his brief ministry here there was a large ingathering to the membership of the church. It was also while he was pastor that the corner-stone of the present house of worship was laid, Sept. 9, 1868.

The building is of the Romanesque order, after de- signs of David Gendell, Esq., of Philadelphia, and the material is freestone, the front being of cut stone, including the tower, which is 85 feet high. The dimensions of the building are: width, 533 feet, length, 101 feet, exclusive of the tower. The lecture- room is under the main audience-room, but raised above the level of the street, and will comfortably seat 400 persons. In the rear are rooms for church- parlor, infant-school, and library.

In 1869 the corporate name of the church was changed, by act of Legislature, from " Lambertville Baptist Church" to "The First Baptist Church of Lambertville." The lecture-room was dedicated March 17, 1870.

Rev. A. D. Willifer was called to the pastoral charge Sept. 27, 1869, and came on November 7th. He continued pastor until February, 1874.

Rev. Charles H. Thomas, the next pastor, com- menced his labors Nov. 16, 1874, but in December, 1879, removed to Philadelphia, having accepted a call in that city. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. W. M. Mick.

The whole number received into the membership of the church from the date of its organization to Jan. 1, 1881, is as follows: By baptism, 695; by certifi- cate, 220; experience, 31 ; restoration, 23. Dismissed by letter, 299; excluded, 171; deccased, 93. Present membership, 396.

The names of those who have served as deacons

are as follows : William Garrison, Lemuel Howell, William Drake, Isaac Fergus, James Ashmore, John R. Swallow, Thomas S. Murray, Charles McDonald, George H. Larison, William O. Talcott, John H. Roberts, Philip Marshall, Levi Stout, Theodore Housel, Levi Clawson, Alexander Grant, Martin L. Reeve, Lewis S. Paxson, George Pierson, Henry Stout, Thomas C. Horn, William G. Moore, John Van Horn.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.#

It is impossible to fix the date when Methodist itinerants first preached the gospel in this place. The tradition is that the itinerant who preached in New Hope frequently served here, long before any society was formed.

In the early part of the present century a Quarterly Meeting was held in Hunterdon County, not far from Lambertville. In the spring of 1837 the Rev. Mr. Heavender and the Rev. James M. Tuttle were ap- pointed to labor in the Flemington Circuit. They made a bi-weekly appointment for preaching at the house of Mrs. Gerhart, on Coryell Street,-the house now occupied by William Lyman, Esq., opposite Ly- ceum Hall (the old Methodist church).

Soon after this appointment was made a class was formed, which consisted of the following persons :. Mrs. Gerhart, Mrs. Bateman, Newton Bateman, John Silvers, and James Taylor. There were a few others, whose names have not been obtained. The ministers. who commenced this work here in 1837 were returned to the circuit the following year.

Permission was granted to preach in the room where- a day-school was kept by Robert M. Foust. This was. in the frame building, now turned into a dwelling, next to the residence of Mr. Charles Barber, on the west side of Union Street, between York and Coryell Streets. The attendance on the preaching increased,. and soon the necessity for erecting a house of worship. became apparent.

John Silvers was appointed the first class-leader in the infant church ; but, as he lived at Mount Airy, the duty of leading generally devolved on Newton Bateman, his assistant.

In 1839 the society in Lambertville was attached to that of Pennington. The circuit was known in Con- ference as the Pennington and Rock Ridge mission. Isaac Winner and Thomas Henry were the ministers. Mr. Henry took an active part in erecting the church building, which was completed in 1839, and is now known as Lyceum Hall. The trustees were Jesse Matthews, of Amwell; Wilson Bray, of Kingwood; John Silvers, of Mount Airy ; Alexander Coryell, of Lambertville; and Thomas Henry, the minister in charge. The building committee consisted of Alex- ander Coryell and Thomas Henry. The church was

* For the particulars of the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lambertville we are indebted to a series of articles on that subject pub- lished in the Lambertville Beacon.

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dedicated in 1840 by the Rev. Charles Pitman and D. W. Bartine.

In the spring of 1840 the Rev. J. Lewis was ap- pointed to labor in the Pennington charge. The ('on- ference gave him a nominal supervision of the church at Lambertville, with the understanding that a young man by the name of Noah Edwards should be sent to minister to the people. Mr. Edwards was quite successful in his efforts to promote the welfare of the church.

About this time Jeremiah Hoff, who had recently come into the neighborhood, became identified with the church. This estimable and somewhat eccentric man had long been a Methodist, and had done very carnest and efficient work for his denomination in other parts of the State. He was universally known as " Father Hoff," and his quaint and pointed say- ings were often repeated by his acquaintances and friends.

In 1841 the Lambertville charge was detached from that of Pennington, and the Rev. William Rogers was appointed pastor. He was a devout and earnest man, but, on account of feeble health, could perform but little work.

In 1842 the church was placed on the Flemington Circuit, and the Revs. J. W. MeDougal and T. T. Campfield were appointed the preachers. There was great religious interest in all parts of the circuit, and the Lambertville Church shared largely in the results.

In 1843 the Revs. Edward and Joseph F. Canfield were appointed to labor on the Flemington Circuit, which still included Lambertville. During this year a church was built in West Amwell, which is now known as the " Rock church."

On the old records of that society are the following familiar names : Jesse Matthews, a local preacher and steward; Nelson Abbott, an exhorter ; John Udy, Joseph Abbott, and John Q. Taylor, leaders; Walter Harbourt and Manville Dayton, members, and many others whom space will not permit us to mention. In the list is the name of Levi Larue, who is now a member of the New Jersey Conference. The Rock Church remained in connection with the Lambert- ville Church until 1858, when it was detached, and, with the church at New Market, formed into an inde- pendent charge.

Lambertville was made a separate charge in 1844, and the Rev. Mr. Putnam was appointed pastor. llis ministry here was quite successful. He was she- ceeded, in 18-15, by the Rev. A. E. Ballard, who was a single man, and consequently required but a small support. But, small as his salary was, the church was so weak in numbers and resources that it was very difficult to raise it. Under his ministry there was a large accession to the church, and a greater stimulus was given to Christian activity among its members than ever before.

The Rev. Thomas T. Campfield was again sent to this charge in 18to, and his labors were not without

good results. He continued here but one year, as most of his predecessors had, and was followed, in 1847, by the Rev. E. H. Stokes, who remained two years, "greatly beloved by all the people and emi- nently snecessful as a minister of the gospel."

" In 1849 the Rev. E. Hance was appointed pastor. Through his exertions, aided by the presiding elder, the Rev. John K. Shaw, the church debt was greatly reduced. For many years the fechle society staggered under a heavy debt, which at one time brought the church near the verge of ruin. For the reduction of this debt the society is greatly indebted to Mr. IIance."

Ile was succeeded, in 1851, by the Rev. A. M. Palmer. Through Mr. Palmer's efforts the parsonage was built. " His pastorate was also blessed with an extensive revival of religion in the Rock Church.

"In 1853 the Rev. Enoch Green was appointed pastor. Some valuable members were added to the church under his ministry. In this year the Rev. Benjamin L. Thomas, a local preacher and a member of the Lambertville Church, joined the Conference. His health, however, failed, and he located the same year.

"In 1855 the Rev. S. E. Post became pastor." During his ministry the church edifice was remod- eled and many were added to the membership.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

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