History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 99

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 99
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 99

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).

This was signed by 455 voters, and a committee consisting of Albertus K. Wagner, Samuel HI. Brit- ton, John V. Thatcher, Isaac R. Srope, and John L. Larison was appointed to oppose the division before the Legislature. But opposition was of no avail. Wilson Bray, of Kingwood, Peter Sigler, of Frank- lin, and Adam C. Davis, of Raritan, were appointed commissioners to run the line between the townships. The highest number of votes ever polled in the town- ship previous to the division was 650.

Among the residents of Kingwood who have held otheial positions in the county are : Sheriff's, William Nixon, Edward Welsted, Gabriel Hoff, Wilson Bray, John Runk, Wesley Bellis; county clerks, A. B. Chamberlin, Charles Tomlinson, Moses K. Everitt ; judges of Common Pleas, Isaac R. Srope, John MI. Voorhees; county collector, John Lequear ; directors of the board of chosen freeholders, Hugh Runyan, Richard tpdyke, John Runk; clerks of the board of freeholders, Charles Roberts, Charles Tomlinson, Andrew B. Rounsaville, William T. Srope; members of Assembly, William Nixon, Gabriel Hotf, Wilson Bray, I. R. Srope, Luther Opdyke, Samuel 11. Brit- ton, Jacob S. C. Pittenger, John M. Voorhees; assist- ant United States marshals, John V. Thatcher, Wil- liam T. Srope, Peter T. Opdyke. (For the list of chosen freeholders see page 263 of this work.)

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

BAPTISTTOWN is the largest village in this town- ship, and was settled soon after 1720, when Isaac Wolverton and William Fowler and their families, together with a Warford family, located at that point. In 1734, John Burtis, Ann Lanner, and Mary Green arrived in the neighborhood and formed a part of the new colony. The place has slowly increased in pop- ulation and business interests until there are at pres- ent two churches, a school-house, blacksmith- and wagon-shop, tavern, two stores, and about thirty dwellings. The village is located in School District No. 35, at the intersection of the Frenchtown road with the old " King's Highway." The merchants for the last forty years have been John W. Snyder, Wil- son Bray (son of Gen. Daniel), John D. Scott, Moses M. Bateman, Ellis Hulsizer, Anderson Horner, Wil- liam H. Slater, Andrew Roberson, John Bellis, Abel Webster, Andrew B. Rittenhouse, David Pittenger,

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George W. Mason, William Rittenhouse, John C. Arnwine, Andrew B. Rounsaville, William Sherman. Ex-Mayor George Opdyke, of New York City, was a clerk here in his youthful days. There was but one store until about 1844, since which there have been two, sometimes three.

There has been but one tavern, the tavern-keepers of which since 1816 have been Jonas Thatcher, Amos Sine, Frederick Burdine, Peter Skillman, Daniel Snyder, Larason Stryker, Jonathan Britton, John R. Hoppock, Alfred Taylor, William Britton, John V. Thatcher, Samuel Slater, John W. Metler, Jacob S. Moore, John Menagh, Anderson Horner, William Eick, Peter S. Taylor, Jacob C. Hawk, Charles Eck- lin, George M. Shomp, John P. D. Abbott, Anson W. Baldwin.

The pioneer postmaster was Wilson Bray, appointed by Andrew Jackson. Others have been John W. Snyder, Moses M. Bateman, Jacob S. Moore, Albertus K. Wagner, Anderson Horner, Uriah Larue, William H. Slater, George W. Mason, William Rittenhouse, James P. Gray, Abel Webster, Moses K. Everitt, John Arnwine. Population of the village in 1880, 170.

BARBERTOWN was named after one of its early settlers. It is located in the southeast part of School District No. 38, on the old "King's Highway." There are at present two stores, a blacksmith-shop, half a dozen dwellings, and 90 inhabitants.

KINGWOOD is a hamlet located in the north part of School District No. 39. Many years ago it was known as " Johnson's Tavern," and was in the early part of the present century the centre of attraction for the early settlers in that vicinity. When the post-office was established, it was named "Kingwood." There was at one time a saw-mill here, built by a Mr. Tomlinson. There was in early times a store where the tavern wagon-house now stands. The present store was built in 1833. There are at present a store by Jolin Bellis (also postmaster, appointed April 12, 1869), a tavern, and three or four dwellings. Popula- tion in 1880, 92.

MILLTOWN is located in the southwest part of School District No. 39, on the Lackatong. For several years previous to 1830 there was considerable business. There was a saw-mill, built by George Fox, below the present grist-mill, but it went to decay many years ago. Hon. John Runk at one time had a saw-mill and an oil-mill, both gone to decay. Samuel Holt also had a saw-mill and distillery. Milltown at present embraces a grist-mill, a store, blacksmith- and wagon-shop, and a few dwellings, with 131 inhabitants.

TUMBLE STATION is the name of a station and post-office on the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the southwest corner of School District No. 41. It consists of a station-house and two dwellings.

POINT PLEASANT is a railroad-station on the Pennsylvania Road, at the Jersey end of the Point , Pleasant bridge.

SCHOOLS.

There are eight school districts, and in 1879 there were seven male and two female teachers, District No. 40 having two teachers.

District No. 34, in the east corner of the township, is known as "Oak Summit" District. The old school- house stood about half a mile north of the store, on lands now owned by Philip Hoff, and was an old, worn-out building fifty years ago. It was replaced a few years ago by the present handsome structure. The first teacher was Jonathan P. Finley, of Prince- ton Theological Seminary.

No. 35, in the northeast quarter of the township, is known as "Baptisttown" District. The first house, after its removal from Baptisttown, was built in 1855,-a small affair, which stood until replaced, in 1870, by the present structure.

In Union District, No. 36, the first school was taught in a private house on Mud Run Creek, near the present residence of J. W. S. Johnson. The first school-house was near to Slacktown; the next at that place, from whence it was removed in 1874 to its present site, half a mile south. Peter S. Opdyke says,-

"Some time about 1820, Union School District embraced the territory now comprieing the present Uniou District, No. 36, as well as the present District 37. As the inhabitaute began to increase, the school-house built in 1820 was thought to be too small, and they then built what is locally known as the 'eight-square house,' at Slacktown. The house built by old Union was upon ground leased by Samuel H. Britton to the district. It was situated near the centre of what was then known as the 'Black Bear Swamp,' so called because a black bear had been killed there."

The present school is near the centre of "Peaceable Island," on lands donated by Alpheus Bonham.

Independence District, No. 37, is in the east part of the township. In this district is the "eight-square" house above mentioned. The first house, erected in 1843, was 18 by 20 feet. The first teacher was William W. Brady. The next house, and the one now occupied, was built in 1852, of stone.

Spring Hill District, No. 38, is on the west side of the township. The first school-building was of logs, erected about 1776, three-quarters of a mile north- west of the present building, on land now owned by Joseph D. Larison. John Welsh was the only teacher now known to have taught in the house. In 1813 a stone house was built where the present house stands. In October of that year Moses Everitt (the grandfather of our late county clerk) deeded a small lot of land, inclosing the school-house, to George Larison, George Opdyke, and Jeremiah Opdyke, trustees. Ann Beatty was the first teacher. About fifty-five years ago Benjamin Dennis taught there. Jared S. Stout, a few years later (fifty-one years ago), was the first in this section to break in upon the per- nicious habit of treating by substituting rewards for the old-time treat of egg-nog and whisky. Mr. Stout is still living at Scotch Plains. Another teacher was Barzilla Williams, now living at Erwinna, Pa. In 1854 the present house was erected under the super-

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vision of Bateman Brink, John Webster, and John B. Rittenhouse, as trustees.

Scott's District, No. 39, on the southeast border of the township, embraces the hamlets of Kingwood and Milltown. The first school-house dates to 1790, stood near the site of the present building, and was built of logs. There is no date as to the second building. The third, now in use, was built in 1853, of stone.

Rock Ridge District, No. 40, occupies the south point of the township. The first house was of stone, built in 1803, on ground leased of John Lewis, of Pennsylvania, for ninety-nine years, for a considera- tion of "three barleycorns." The present building was erected in 1858, of wood, and will seat 40 scholars.

Warsaw District, No. 41, has property valued at $800, and the attendance of pupils-in 1879 was 13. This district has had three school-houses. The date of building the first one is unknown, but it was an old house in 1800. It stood three-quarters of a mile north- east of the present edifice, and was a frame building, 18 by 20 feet. The second was of stone; this became dilapidated, and was replaced in 1869 by the present substantial brick structure, 22 by 28 feet .*

Total value of township school property in 1879, $3550; total attendance of pupils, 134. The houses can comfortably seat 350 pupils.

Among the early teachers in this township was one named Taylor. He was born in Ireland in 1742, and came to America in 1759. He had a good education, and as soon as he reached this country commenced teaching. Nearly all of the Metler family of school age at the time were among his pupils.

In 1763-how much earlier is not known-Uriah Bonham was in the neighborhood of Kingwood town as teacher. He married Auche, a daughter of George Fox the elder.

CHURCHIES. METHODIST.

The first Methodist church in Hunterdon County was built on the site of the present structure in King- wood, by the efforts of Rev. Manning Force, when he first entered the ministry. Previously, however, the first class was formed by him, with the following probationers : Thomas and Rachel West, William West and wife, father and mother of Thomas, and Mary West, daughter of Thomas, aged eleven. The venerable mansion where this class was formed, built by Jonathan Wolverton in 1737, is still standing, a quarter of a mile west of the church.

As is well known, the first Methodist ministers through this region traveled on horseback, with saddle-bags strapped behind. In riding the circuit, the old Wolverton house, occupied by Wilson Bray, was universally known as the " home of the preachers."

BAPTIST.

Soon after 1720 a few Baptists settled near Baptist- town, among whom, in 1729, were Isaac Wolverton

* Report of C. S. Conkling, county school superintendent In 1876.

and wife, William Fowler and wife, and Elizabeth Warford. In 1734, John Burtis, Ann Lanner, and Mary Green arrived.

In 1738, Rev. Thomas Curtis began a settlement near them, and the next year removed his family thither. He and the before-mentioned Baptists built a small meeting-house, long since gone. His first con- vert was one Edward Hunt, who went to Hopewell for baptism. In 1748, James and John Bray, from Middletown, N. J., arrived, increasing the number of Baptists to twelve. Mr. Curtis visited once in three weeks the lower part of Bethlehem township, now Kingwood, and there another little meeting-house was raised, in 1741, near where the present house stands in Baptisttown. The first fruits of his ministry here were Job Wolverton, Elizabeth Collins, Martha Burtis, Edward Slater, and John Reuben, who were baptized by Rev. Joseph Eaton while he ministered at Hopewell; he occasionally preached and baptized also at Kingwood, then called Bethlehem Church. Mr. Curtis' next converts in this place were David Drake, Agnes Drake, Thomas Ilill, Mary Ilin, and Elizabeth Barris ; these were baptized by Rev. Thomas Davis, who succeeded Mr. Eaton in the ministry at Hope- well, and who preached and baptized occasionally at Kingwood.

The above accessions increased the Baptists in Kingwood to the number of twenty-two, and made them think of becoming a distinct society. Accord- ingly, having obtained a release from Hopewell, they formed a church, July 31, 1742, and the same year joined the Philadelphia Baptist Association. Rev. Thomas Curtis preached under the authority of a li- cense until Oct. 28, 1745, when he was ordained pastor. He died April 28, 1749, in his sixty-fourth year. His successor was Malachi Bonham, who was ordained in 1749. He continued until Feb. 17, 1757. He died in 1789, aged seventy-six.

In 1750 the church built a new meeting-house, a few rods from where the old one stood, on a one-aere lot, the gift of George Burkit ; this building is still standing.

The next minister was Rev. David Sutton, from March 26, 1764, to Aug. 3, 1783. lle was succeeded by Rev. Nicholas Cox, Nov. 4, 1784. April 3, 1790, he made it known that he had embraced the doctrine of universal salvation, and was excluded therefor, June 5, 1790. The church was without a pastor till Oct. 26, 1795, when Rev. Garner .A. Hunt was called; he remained till May 1, 1807, when he joined the Pres- byterians.

In June, 1798, ten members were dismissed to join the then new Baptist Church at Flemington.

This church was without a pastor till Nov. 1, 1808, when Rev. James MeLaughlin settled ; he remained a little over a year. The church was again without a pastor till July, JSH, when Mr. MeLaughlin was again enlled. Until this time the same minister sup- plied Amwell (now Flemington ) and Kingwood alter-

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nately, but about this time the connection was dis- solved, and Mr. Mclaughlin preached every Lord's Day for Kingwood, beginning Sept. 14, 1811, and stayed about a year.

The church called Rev. John Ellis, who served from 1813 until the spring of 1817. In the spring of 1818, Elder David Bateman was called, and remained pastor until his death, Aug. 10, 1832. A few weeks after, the church engaged Rev. William Curtis to preach until April 1, 1833, when he was called for one year, but after serving six months resigned. The church then licensed Thomas Risler to preach, and Aug. 30, 1834, called Elder James W. Wigg, who en- tered upon his duties the first Sabbath in October, 1834.

Soon after Elder Wigg commenced his pastorate an anti-mission and anti-temperance spirit crept into the church, which resulted in a division and a with- drawal from the Philadelphia Association, and a union with the " Delaware River Baptist Association," leaving the anti-mission party in a majority ; they held a meeting in February, 1839, and by resolution dismissed Elder Wigg and claimed the meeting- house. Up to this time this history covers both Bap- tist Churches now at Baptisttown.

The mission faction of the old church, having peaceably given up their rights to the property, set about organizing a separate society and building a new house. Accordingly, April 14, 1839, a council convened at the Christian chapel in Delaware town- ship, consisting of sixty members from the old Kingwood Church and fifty-two converts that had re- cently been baptized, and formed an independent church, to be called

THE MISSIONARY PARTICULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF KINGWOOD.

Soon after, Elder J. W. Wigg was called to be their pastor. During the summer of 1839 services were held at the house of Moses Burd, while the new church was being built at Baptisttown. It was dedi- cated in the fall of 1839. Joseph West and Mordecai Roberts were the first deacons chosen, and, soon after, John Dalrymple and Jeremiah Hoff were chosen. Delegates were appointed to attend the Central New Jersey Baptist Association and ask admission to that hody. Elder Wigg continued pastor of this new church till the spring of 1841. The pastors since have been Rev. Stiles F. Randolph, until the spring of 1842; Elder Edward Haydock, who remained one year; Rev. Charles Cox, of Hightstown, from April 1, 1844, until April 1, 1850; Elder Thomas Barrass, spring of 1850 till Oct. 1, 1861, he having resigned the previous April; Rev. A. Armstrong, November, 1861, until the last Sabbath in April, 1866. The church was supplied till September, 1866, when Rev. George Young was called, but remained only a short time. Jan. 1, 1867, the church called Rev. Samuel Sproul, of Sandy Ridge, and he entered upon his

duties April 1, 1867. In the fall of 1870 the church purchased a lot and built a comfortable parsonage, into which the pastor moved in the spring of 1871. Elder Sproul remained till Oct. 1, 1874. The church was then supplied by Rev. F. T. Cailhopper and Rev. W. E. Watkinson until the first Sabbath in April, 1875, when Rev. W. E. Watkinson, the present pas- tor, commenced his labors. The present value of church property is $6000; the present membership, 150. Present church officers are: Pastor, Rev. Wil- liam E. Watkinson; Deacons, Jeremiah Hoff, Fran- cis R. Lee, Peter V. Dalrymple, and John W. Le- quear ; Treasurer and Clerk, John W. Lequear ; Trus- tees, Daniel B. Roberson, Peter V. Dalrymple, John Hoff, John S. Burd, Paul C. Larue, John W. Lequear, and David B. Sherman.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF KINGWOOD .*

There was a Presbyterian congregation worshiping at, or near the place of, the present church previous to 1745. Of its earlier history there is no record. At that date, we are informed by Rev. Mr. Webster, in his " History of the Presbyterian Church in America," Lower Bethlehem (then the name of this church) made application for the ministerial services of Rev. Daniel Lawrence. This implies with much certainty that the congregation had a house in which to wor- ship ten years before the erection of the "old stone," and, if ten years, with equal probability a period so long that the rude structure had become unfit for further use. In 1752 the congregation presented a petition to Presbytery for leave to build a meeting- house, but it was not built till 1755. The deed of conveyance for the church lot, lately found among the papers of Jacob Race, deceased, who was a ruling elder in that church, bears date Sept. 26, 1754. It is from Lawrence Hafft to "James Barcalow, Charles Hoff, and Henry Coxe, trustees for the Presbyterian congregation at Kingwood," for one acre and a quar- ter of land, it being part of a tract which Lawrence Haff had purchased from Robert Murfint in 1745. The deed also grants "liberty, nevertheless, to the minis- ters of the Low Dutch Calvinistical persuasiou to preach and perform divine service therein at such times as there is no religious worship performed by the above congregation, freely, peaceably, and without interruption of the above elders, or of any person claiming under them."

In 1748, Rev. Mr. Lewis was installed at Bethle- hem. The records of New Brunswick Presbytery show that some years after his installation he asked Presbytery to dissolve his relation to Lower Bethle- hem (Kingwood). Half his time had been given to Bethlehem and the other half to South Bethlehem.

* Contributed by Dr. Henry Race.

Lawrence Haff (pronounced Hawff ) was a chosen freeholder from 1746 to 1748.

# Robert Murfin came over from Hull, England, in the ship "Shield," in 1678, and landed at Burlington.

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In 1754 he was dismissed from Kingwood, and the pastorate was vacant till 1763. Rev. John Hanna then became pastor, giving, at first, one-third of his time to Kingwood, one-third to Bethlehem, and one- third to Greenwich. That same year Mount Pleasant congregation petitioned I'resbytery for a pastor, and Mr. Hanna was withdrawn from Greenwich and one- third of his time given to Mount Pleasant. Mr. Hanna continued in charge until his death, in 1801.

Feb. 8, 1787, the trustees of this church were in- corporated as "Trustees of the Presbyterian Church called Mount Bethel, in the Township of Kingwood."* The trustees were Joseph Chamberlin, John Ten- brook, Elisha Bird, John Sherrard, Isaac Gray, Gabriel Hoff, Samuel Gano.

We have never heard by oral tradition that the name of Mount Bethel had been given to that church, but it must have been retained to the close of Mr. Hanna's pastorate, as will appear from the following paper :

" Nov. 7, 1800, Received of Mr. Race, one of tho Trustees of Mount Bethel congregation, for salary, six P'ennds two shillings. " JOHN HANNA."

The "old stone" was a venerable-looking house with a hip roof, and gables inclosed with shingles down to a level with the front and back walls. It had ten large windows, with heavy sash, two in each side and end and one in each gable. The inside work was plain and unpainted. The pulpit had a sound- ing-board high overhead. There were two seats in front-the hindmost higher than the other-for the ruling elders. The pews had high, straight backs, and, like the pulpit, were made of Jersey cedar. In the centre aisle was an arrangement constructed of brick, about 4 by 5 feet in area, for an open charcoal fire, for warming the house in winter.

Rev. Holloway W. Hunt succeeded Rev. Mr. Hanna. Ile gave one-third of his time to Kingwood, and two-thirds to Bethlehem and Mount Pleasant. He continued in charge until 1825, when the pastoral relation was dissolved by Presbytery, the church de- clared vacant, and supplies appointed. These were, in 1826, Rev. Isaac S. Demun ; in 1827, Rev. Alexan- der Ileberton, June to September. The church was then vacant until 1836, when Rev. John McNair supplied Kingwood and Milford.

In 1837 the old church was taken down and the present one erected. The same year Rev. Mr. MeNair was installed as pastor of Kingwood and Milford. In 1838 he resigned his two charges, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Campbell, D.D., who officiated till his death, in 1840. In 1841, Rev. J. H. Sherwood succeeded in both churches. In 1842, Milford sep- arated from Kingwood. In 1843, Rev. Samuel F. Porter supplied the pulpit, und was installed pastor in 1844. Hle resigned the charge in 1857, and was

succeeded the same year by Rev. Joseph Rogers, who was pastor till 1863.

In 1864, Rev. J. D. Randolph was installed over the Kingwood and Frenchtown Churches. In 1867 he withdrew from Kingwood and gave all his time to Frenchtown. From June, 1868, to October, 1872, Rev. J. Thompson Osler was pastor of Kingwood Church. From February, 1873, until April, 1877, Rev. Benjamin Carrell officiate:1.

Since the last-mentioned date the church has had no pastor. Rev. Cornelius S. Conkling acted as mod- erator of Session and stated supply of the pulpit from October, 1877, till April, 1880, since which time Rev. J. D. Randolph has officiated. The present ruling elders are Philip Hoff, Runyon W. Bloom, and Emley Bellis; trustees, Runyon W. Bloom, George Dalrym- ple, Philip Hoff, and David Kline.

BURIAL-PLACES.

No doubt in the carly history of this township there were many private or farm burying-places, but they have been so sadly neglected (real estate frequently changing ownership, and many of these places being plowed over) that at the present day there is no trace or remembrance of scarcely any of them.

The burial-ground at Baptisttown is as old as, and probably the largest of, any in the township. In this, too, as in most old yards, the graves of the first and second generations have no inscriptions, being marked only by rough field-stones. Following are some whose names are legible : James Shaw, July 24, 1824, aged eighty ; Thomas Curtis, Sept. 19, 1823, aged seventy-one; Daniel Curtis, 1848, aged eighty- five; Daniel Opdyke, 1862, aged ninety-five ; Mary, his wife, 1864, aged eighty-eight ; Francis Roberson, 1837, aged seventy-six; George Opdyke, 1851, aged seventy-seven ; William Horner, Feb. 23, 1855, aged eighty-eight; John Kugler, 1812, aged seventy-four ; Edward Doyle, Dec. 31, 1805, aged seventy-seven ; John Mason, 1813, aged seventy-two ; Abraham Slack, 1840, aged about eighty. The wall around this ground was built in 1828.

PRESBYTERIAN BURYING-GROUND.

This burial-place, located on the old "King's Ilighway," in the north part of the township, is thickly set with graves. Many of the pioneers of Kingwood here rest beneath unlettered slabs. AAmong those that have a record we find many of the Slater family, including those of John and Rachel, his wife. John died March 1, 1848, aged sixty-four, and Rachel in 18.18, at the same age. Samuel Slater, born in 1739, died in 1819, and Ann, his wife, horn 1721, died in 1794. Other inscriptions give the fol- lowing names and dates : John Taylor, born in 1756, died in 1835, and Sarah, his wife, born in 1758 and died in 1839; Garret Van Nyckel, born in 1740, died in 1810; Emma, wife of Peter Ten Brook, died in 1505, aged forty-nine; Ezekiel Everett, born in 1746,

* Recorded Ang. 6, 1788, in Book A, vol i. p. 282, Registry of Deeds, in county clork's office.

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HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

and died aged eighty, and Mary, his wife, born in 1741, and dying in 1810, appear to be the first of a large number of the Everett family buried here; Ben- jamin Wright, born March 3, 1749, died aged seventy- nine; Asa Wright, died 1845; Piety R. Wright, died Nov. 15, 1844, aged eighty ; John Chamberlin, born in 1742, died in 1830, and Eleanor, his wife, born in 1752, died in 1846, aged ninety-six ; Joseph Chamber- lin, born in 1732, died in 1816, and Amy, his wife, born in 1729, died in 1784. These have representa- tives living in this township, as well as those whose names follow. Samuel Lott, died in 1819, aged forty- seven ; Cornelius Hoff was born in 1740 and died in 1826, and Margaret, his wife, was born in 1748 and died in 1815. Charles Tomlinson, born in 1767, died in 1829, and Mary, his wife, died in 1857, aged eighty- four. John Thomson, born in 1734 and died in 1805; John Roat was born in 1734, and died aged eighty, and Ann, his wife, was born in 1743, and died aged eighty-two; Jesse Dalrymple, the Revolutionary sol- dier referred to elsewhere, was born in 1756 and died in 1844, aged eighty-eight, and Esther, his wife, was born in 1758 and died in 1830, aged seventy-two; George Warne, an elder of the church, descended from Thomas Warne, one of the first settlers of Bur- lington, was born in 1745 and died in 1805. A broad marble slab, gray with age, has this inscription : "Sacred to the memory of Thomas Lowrey, Esq., died Nov. 10, 1809, in the 73d year of his age." By the side of it is the last resting-place of his amiable wife, Esther, who died Oct. 13, 1814, aged seventy-six, and on the tablet over the grave is written, " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Near their graves are those of their sons, Samuel, who died in 1791, aged twenty-seven, and William, died in 1802, aged forty-two; also Martha (wife of Dr. William McGill), died in 1833, aged seventy-four. Here also is the grave of Dr. William McGill, a physician at French- town. He died June 23, 1815, aged forty-seven.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 99

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