USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 8
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Holy Apostles' Protestant Episcopal Church, a frame building of Gothic style of architecture, twenty-five by forty-five feet in size, is located on Fifth avenue. The corner-stone of the edifice was laid August 12, 1877, by Bishop Scarborough, and the building was finished in the fall of the same year. The church is only used in the summer season.
The First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Beach was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Monmouth, March 20, 1877, the appli- cation being made by eight persons. Having no house of worship, ser- vices were held in the Methodist church, and on the incorporation of the society, July 19, 1880, a movement was made to secure lots for a church building. It was not, however, until the summer of 1881 that the effort proved successful. Two lots on the corner of E street and
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North avenue were donated by the Ocean Beach Association, and on October 12th, 1881, ground was broken for the foundation of a church. The corner-stone was laid October 18th, and the church dedicated June 13, 1883, at which time the Rev. James M. Denton was installed as pas- tor. The present pastor, Rev. Charles H. Everitt, has been in charge of the congregation for many years. The Westminster Presbyterian chapel was built in 1880 on lots on the corner of Seventh avenue and A street, where a large commodious pavilion was erected at a cost of $6,000 for the accommodation of summer visitors of all denominations. It was first opened for services July 4th, and dedicated July 11, 1880. The prop- erty was transferred to the Monmouth Presbytery in the spring of 1884. St. Rose's Roman Catholic Church was established in 1890, worshiping first in a building now used for a parochial school. The present attrac- tive church edifice was erected in 1906. The present rector is Rev. W. J. McConnell.
A post-office was established at Ocean Beach in 1873, and A. Bit- ner, Jr., was appointed postmaster. The principal fraternal organiza- tions are Ocean Beach Lodge, No. 86, Knights of Pythias, chartered May 22 ,1873; Ocean Lodge, No. 89, Free and Accepted Masons, which was first instituted at Bricksburg and removed to Ocean Beach in June, 1884; United Lodge, No. 199, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, instituted February 19, 1884.
Lying adjacent to Belmar, in a southerly direction, is Lake Como, a handsome little body of salt water. Within its borders is a small vil- lage consisting of two hundred and forty acres, with a population of two hundred and twenty-five persons. It is an ideal spot, with its excellent laid out streets lighted by electricity, and for pleasant and quiet bathing, fishing and driving its advantages are unsurpassable. What was for- merly known as Sea Plain and in an early day Pearce's, lies on the west side of the tracks of the Long Branch railroad. A schoolhouse at this place was used by the people of the locality for miles around; eventually a store was started by one of the Pearce family. A post-office was estab- lished in 1873, and a Methodist Protestant church was built and dedi- cated August 25, 1875. The land in its vicinity was purchased about 1880 by Captain Pitney Curtis and Judge John Remsen, who laid it out in building lots. Villa Park, about one mile south of Spring Lake, is situated on a tract of land which was purchased September 5, 1708, by Thomas Tilton from James Grover, of Middletown, one of the original patentees of the Monmouth patent. The tract as described contained one hundred and fifty acres lying between the north branch of Wreck pond and the highway from Manasquan to Long Branch. In the eigh- ties of the past century it was laid out into lots, the southern part being called Reid's Villa Park, and the northern part Rogers' Park. The popu- lation at the present time does not exceed one hundred persons.
Allaire and Allenwood are two stations on the Freehold & James-
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burg railroad; the former, five and a half miles from Manasquan, mn early days was a thriving village, owing to the establishment of the Howell Iron Works by James P. Allaire, from whom it derives its name. The abandonment of these works caused a decrease in population, which now numbers only about one hundred. Allenwood is situated near the Old Squan Bridge about three miles from Manasquan, and has a popu- lation of about one hundred and sixty persons.
New Bedford, a hamlet with a population of two hundred and twenty-five inhabitants, is situated in the eastern part of Wall township, about two miles from Belmar. It is a long rambling street, reaching from New Bedford Corners northerly to Allen Corners. A schoolhouse was built in 1830 on the site of the Wall Methodist Church, which was erected in 1854. A store was opened in 1844 by James L. Allgor, and the schoolhouse which was moved to the Corners was occupied as a store by Smith and Allgor until it was destroyed by fire. There are at the present day stores for the necessities of life, and at the northeast end of the street a wheelwright and blacksmith shop which have been in existence many years. About two miles and a half northwest of New Bedford is the hamlet and school district of Hopewell, sometimes called Chapel, the latter name being given to it on account of a chapel being built there in 1813 by the Independent Methodists (now the Methodist Protestants). Previous to this the Seventh Day Baptists had erected a house of worship on a lot of land near Hurley's Corners, which was taken up by Peter Knott as early as 1720. The building was old in 1813, but the Independent Methodists, purchasing a lot at Hopeville, bought the Baptist meeting house and removed the frame, repaired and refitted it, and used it until its transfer in 1850 to the Methodist Protestants. After the property came into the possession of the latter society it was remodeled, rebuilt, and dedicated June 27, 1874. Around this chapel a hamlet of a few buildings grew, and in 1873 a postoffice was established with D. H. Woolley as postmaster. The school district at one time had one hundred and twenty-one children of school age.
A considerable area of territory in the southeastern part of the township, north of the village of Manasquan, known as Blansingburg, has been merged into other districts. One of the earliest landholders was Edmund Lafetra, of Shrewsbury, one of the associate patentees of Monmouth. At his death, before 1687, the tract was purchased by Thomas Tilton, also an associate of the Monmouth patentees. The land passed through various ownerships, and the old homestead, a time-worn building with shingle sides, housed many generations and in the latter part of the past century was occupied by Robert L. Morris, who had married into the Tilton family. A school house was built in this loca- tion before 1812, and as early as 1830 Lawrence Newberry kept a store there. Nearly west and on the road to Bailey's Corners, named from the fact that Claude Bailey built a hotel there in 1865, to Manasquan or
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Long Bridge, a Friends' meeting house was erected probably about 1736, as that was the time when several Quaker churches were established throughout the country. The original lot was half an acre, to which another half an acre was added in 1825, when the church was repaired. Twenty years later the lot was increased in size by the purchase of an- other half acre of land.
CHAPTER XLIV.
MATAWAN
Matawan is the extreme northwestern township of the county and the boundary line between Monmouth and Middlesex counties. On the northeast it is bounded by Raritan bay, on the east by Raritan and Holm- del townships, and on the south and southwest by Marlboro township. The principal stream is Matawan creek, flowing through the township from the southwest to its northeast extremity, where it enters Raritan bay. The Freehold & New York railroad traverses the township, con- necting at Matawan with the New York & Long Branch railroad. The township was erected in 1857, at which time Holmdel was also created. the territory of both being taken from Raritan township. The boun- daries are set forth as follows:
All that part of Raritan township beginning in the division line between Marlboro and Raritan townships, near the house of Samuel Beers; from thence running in a northerly direction in a straight line to the intersection of the road leading from Beers' corner to Mount Pleasant with the road leading from Brown's Point to Holmdel; thence northerly along the centre of the last named road to the intersection of said road with the road leading from Mechanicsville to Middletown Point and Keyport Plank Road; thence in a northwesterly direction in a straight line to the mouth of the Mohingson creek, where it empties into Matawan creek; thence down the middle of Matawan creek to the mouth of said creek, where it empties into Raritan bay; thence along the shore of the bay to the division line between Monmouth and Middle- sex counties to the line of Marlboro; and thence easterly along the division line of Marlboro and Raritan townships to the beginning.
The earliest settlers at Middletown Point (Matawan) were Scotch, and the name of "New Aberdeen" was given to the place before 1690. The name of Middletown Point and Landing were known before 1768, as in March of that year mention is made of a road being laid out by way of Mount Pleasant to Middletown Landing "near the school-house on said Point." The first settlement seems to have been made at Mount Pleasant (now Freneau) which joins the present borough of Matawan on the south, their history being intimately associated and particularly rich concerning churches and the social conditions obtained under their influences. There was a church, school-house and burying ground lo- cated at Mount Pleasant about 1740, and Middletown Point was a land. ing for vessels, when a road was laid out in 1768. During the turbulent times preceding the Revolution, Mount Pleasant was a gathering place for the people, also during the continuance of that struggle, where they received intelligence from the outside world and discussed the burning questions of the day.
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John Burrowes owned mills and warehouses at the Point at this time, and local history records that Tory refugees from Staten Island raided the Point in June, 1778, burned Burrowes' mills and store-houses, and captured his son John, an officer in the patriot army. His residence, later known as the Pitman house, escaped the flames. Dr. Henderson, son-in-law of Mr. Burrowes, and a lieutenant-colonel in the Continental army, proceeded to the Point with his command and captured William Taylor, a prominent loyalist, and informed Sir Henry Clinton that Tay- lor was held as a hostage for John Burrowes, and the exchange was promptly effected.
In Revolutionary days there were very few houses at the Point, and the Pitman house, the old building known as the Hospital, and the house occupied by Dr. Ness, were the only relics of Revolutionary archi- tecture known in 1876. The west side of Main street belonged to Richard Frances. A map is in existence, with a note appended, pro- posing that Richard Throckmorton will sell in lots or sections all the land between the Gully Bridge on the south, to Forman street, or a street leading to the wharf below the property of J. N. Disbrow. The Francis homestead stood on this tract, which contained fifty-seven acres. The names of Carhart, Vanderhoof, Conover, Forman, Bur- rowes, Walker, Quay, Ellis and others appear as business men about this date. A potash factory, brick yard, grist-mill and pork packing house were operated prior to 1800. John Quay sailed a packet to New York, and was succeeded by Robert and William Little. Van Mater, Hartshorne and Fountain were also prominent business men. From 1812 until the steamboats came, sloops were the only mode of travel to New York, the journey occupying three or four days. In the early part of the century Matawan was the only point of export and entry in Monmouth county. Corn, at that time the principal county staple, to- gether with flour, was carried across the State during the War of 1812 from Bordentown and shipped at the Point. Of the port, "Gordon's Gazeteer" in 1834 said: "It lies on a bank elevated about fifty feet above the stream, a marsh on the opposite side; contains a Presbyterian church, from 75 to 100 buildings, 8 or 10 stores, four taverns and a grist- mill. Large quantities of pork, rye, corn, cord-wood and garden truck are thence sent to New York." The firm of Fountain Horner & Co. and others were running sloops to the city, but increased business re- quired greater facilities for transportation. A company was formed in 1834, and three years later the "Monmouth," Captain G. Hiers com- manding, commenced to run between the Point and New York during April and May, touching at Seguines Dock, Staten Island, and Keyport. Stages met the boat and conveyed passengers to Freehold, Long Branch and Red Bank. William Little, Thomas I. Bedle and G. S. Crawford were the directors of the company.
Thomas I. Bedle located here in 1827, and a few years thereafter
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engaged in mercantile business, continuing until 1871, when he retired. His son, Joseph D., a Supreme Court Justice and Governor of the State, was born in the old Woodhull House. The first hotel opened in the vil- lage was kept by Derrick Whitlock, and afterward known as the Union Hotel. It was built by William Little, and had as its landlords Tunis J. Ten Eyck, John Campbell, Benjamin Cook and others. The site was about fifty yards west of the Matawan hotel. The post-office was estab- lished. in 1815, and first presided over by Cornelius P. Vanderhoof. There were in 1827 about thirty houses at Mount Pleasant and Middle- town Point, and for many years a tavern was kept there by Peter John- son, who was succeeded as hotel keeper by his son William. Mercantile business at the Point in 1835 was confined to a general store that was established in that year by Thomas I. Bedle, who had prior to this opened a shoe store. A lumber yard was operated by Francis P. Simp- son & Co., the senior member of the firm in 1853 building a brick store two stories in height, the second floor being utilized for a public hall, named Washington Hall. The Union House continued to be used for the entertainment of the traveling public till 1874, when the Matawan Hotel became the leading hostelery.
The hamlet of Freneau, about a half mile south of Matawan, was originally called Mount Pleasant, and was given its present name in 1890 in honor of "the Poet of the Revolution," Philip Freneau. About 1768 a Presbyterian church was built there, and an old tombstone indi- cated that the burying ground had existed as early as 1740. A school- house was built on the northeast corner of the church lot long before 1800 and was used for many years. Members of the families of John Burrowes, Dr. Peter Le Conte, Dr. Thomas Barber, surgeon in the Revolutionary army, the Formans, Major Thomas Hunn, also of the Revolutionary army, Rev. George S. Woodhull, pastor of the church, and Mathias Hulsart, are buried there.
The Rev. Elihu Spencer, of the Shrewsbury church, mentions in his records of preaching at Middletown Point from 1761 to 1764, where there was a congregation and which in 1766 united with Shrewsbury in called the Rev. Charles Mcknight. The church alluded to was evidently the one at Mount Pleasant (Freneau) burned in 1778, and not rebuilt until 1798. It was a community church at first, but later became the property of the Presbyterians. Of its early pastors but little is known, as the church records were lost at the time of the fire. The Rev. Eli F. Cooly became pastor in 1820, after serving three years retired in April, 1823, and the church was without a regular pastor until 1828, when the Rev. Clifford S. Ames commenced his labors, continuing until 1832. On March 5th of that year, Rev. George S. Woodhull was installed, and con- tinued until his death, December 25, 1834. His successor, Rev. Joseph L. Shafer, was a stated supply, and on November 6, 1838, Rev. Charles Webster was installed as regular pastor, continuing until April 24,
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1849. The next pastor, Rev. John M. Rogers, was installed February 20, 1850, and at the time of his resignation had served the congregation over seventeen years. He was succeeded by Rev. James O. Denniston, who resigned after two years service and was succeeded by Rev. J. Henry Kaufman, who continued until his death, October 27th, 1873. His successor, Rev. J. M. Anderson, was installed June 30th, 1874, and remained until December 13, 1881, and on his resignation the Rev. W. H. Ford accepted a call in April, 1882, began his labors June 1st that year, and on his resignation in April, 1883, Rev. Robert Kent became pastor, December 11, 1883. In the meantime the present church in the borough of Matawan was erected in 1844 and was afterwards enlarged and materially improved, a lecture and Sunday school room being added in 1877. The next pastor was Rev. William C. Alexander, who com- menced his labors early in the winter of 1889, remaining until January 1, 1894. The Rev. Alexander H. Young was installed as pastor that year, and was in charge of the congregation for fourteen years. After his retirement the pulpit was filled by supplies for two years, after which Revs. Herbert B. Smith and Edward I. Sterling each served a year, and in 1912 the present pastor, Rev. Charles H. Bruce, was installed. The membership of the church is 260, and during the ministry of Mr. Alex- ander the church building was remodeled and renovated.
Prior to 1830, "Father" Roberts, pastor of the Middletown Baptist Church, occasionally visited at Middletown Point and preached at the residence of Mrs. Rachel Bent. Later, Rev. James Goble, of the old church at Jacksonville, Middlesex county, preached at the hotel of James Lockerman, at the lower end of the village. Rev. William V. Wilson preached once a month at the Mount Pleasant and Morganville school houses. On these occasions the pastor had to travel nearly thirty miles. In 1850 a church was erected in Matawan, above the Stone bridge, and on October 22d of the same year the First Baptist Church of Middle- town Point was organized, with Rev. Job Gaskill as pastor, the thirty- two members being from the churches of Holmdel, Keyport, Middle- town, Old Bridge (Middlesex county) and the Amity street and South churches of New York. The church was totally destroyed by fire Feb- ruary 14, 1858, the alarm being given just as the congregation began to assemble for Sabbath worship. Through negligence the policy of insur- ance had been allowed to expire. The pastors who succeeded the Rev. Job Gaskill were Revs. D. F. Twiss and J. W. Crumb, the latter being in charge of the congregation at time of the fire, but had tendered his resig- nation. Washington Hall was secured for holding meetings, and on November 1, 1859, Rev. J. E. Barnes was settled as the regular pastor; during his two years of service the present church was completed at the cost of $3,300. Mr. Barnes closed his pastorate January 30, 1862, and the following July 6th, R. G. Farley, a recent graduate of Rochester University, was called, and shortly afterwards ordained, and during his
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three years and half of ministry the church debt of $1400 was paid. The Rev. F. A .Slater undertook the oversight of the church October 1, 1866, at which time it was greatly reduced in membership and financial strength. The membership was only about fifty, and its financial re- sources were very limited. Mr. Slater's pastorate terminated after years of faithful service, and there was spent in the church building in repairs and improvements as much as it cost in the beginning. His successor, Rev. Charles E. Percy, was installed April 17, 1890, and continued to fill the pulpit until January 6, 1895, when he was succeeded by Rev. Henry Whalon, remaining until December 23, 1898, when Rev. Joseph Y. Irwin was placed in charge of the congregation. The next pastor, Rev. Samuel Bower, preached his initial sermon January 10, 1904, con- tinuing as pastor to May 16, 1916, when he was succeeded by Rev. Luther L. Holmes. His retirement occurred in the later part of 1919. the in- stallation of the present pastor, Rev. William W. Ludwig, taking place January 4, 1920. The present membership of the society is 212. In late years the church building has been renovated and modern improve- ments introduced.
Methodism had its beginning in Matawan in 1826, at that time a class having been formed. Prior to this, however, for fully forty years Methodist preachers had visited the place by regular appointments, holding services at the home of a Mrs. Francis, the only member of the church in the vicinity. This was when New Jersey was included in the Philadelphia conference and five years before the Freehold circuit was formed. The circuit was supposed to cover the territory from New Brunswick round to Tuckerton, and the first supply was Rev. John Fountain, a native of Maryland, of French descent. Though reared an Episcopalian, he joined the Methodists, became a minister and a mem- ber of the Philadelphia conference, and traveled through a large section of New Jersey. He settled about 1797 in the neighborhood of what is now Jacksonville, became well known throughout a large section of the surrounding country, and officiated in the ministerial capacity at funerals and weddings. A record in his own handwriting extending from 1797 to 1835 shows that no less than four hundred and six marriage services were performed by him. This certainly shows a remarkable average of those seeking connubial happiness, as the entire circuit included only four hundred and fifty-three members. During the interval between 1793 and 1807 there is no account of preaching in this vicinity, but from the latter date to 1822 there were regular services held in the Bethany neighborhood. The church at Bethany was built in the last mentioned year and became the center of Methodism in the surrounding section for several years. Regular services and prayer meetings were held at various residences of the members of the church. When efforts were made in 1836 to secure means for building a church, this met with some opposition, as it was contended that a Methodist church was not needed
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at Matawan. After much discouragement a church was erected at a cost of $1,800, and dedicated December 14, 1836. The site of the church on Jackson street was not very desirable and was in the immediate location of barns, and after an occupancy of eighteen years the building was sold. The sum of $5,000 was raised, and on June 13, 1854, the cor- ner-stone of the present church building on Main street was laid. The church was completed at a total cost of $11,000, and dedicated November 1, 1855. Improvements were made in 1872 by modernizing the high and massive pulpit, purchasing an organ, painting and preserving the walls, at an expenditure of $1,600. The present pastor is Rev. Elijah F. Reed.
Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church of Matawan was founded in 1850 through the liberality of Colonel John Travers, who resided at the mouth of Cheesequakes creek. The present neat and substantial brick edifice was erected in 1854, and the pulpit for many years was supplied by young men from the New York Theological Seminary. On Novem- ber 1, 1884, the Rev. J. W. Norwood assumed charge in connection with St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church of Keyport. The church at present is without a resident rector.
Masonry in Matawan has been attended with disastrous results. A warrant was issued November 10, 1807, by the Grand Lodge, for institu- tion of Trinity Lodge, No. 20, which was duly organized, but work was suspended at the time of the Anti-Masonic excitement. Another at- tempt was made to establish a lodge when six members of Caesarea Lodge No. 64, of Keyport, petitioned the Grand Lodge for a charter for Aberdeen Lodge, No. 90. Their request was granted and the lodge was duly instituted early in 1868. Meetings were held regularly for a decade of years, but the charter was finally surrendered in 1879. Knickerbocker Lodge, No. 50, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was chartered February 5, 1847, and instituted March 30th that year, the lodge still being in active existence. J. W. Shackleton Post, No. 83, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized November 1, 1883, with twenty-seven members, soon increased to sixty, but in late years death has ravaged the ranks of the members.
Matawan has full fire protection; Washington Fire Company No. 1 was incorporated March 17, 1870, and Matawan Hook and Ladder Company in October, 1878.
A special election was held March 7, 1885, for the purpose of de- termining whether a majority of the voters were in favor of the for- mation of a borough commission government authorized under the gen- eral act of the State approved March 7, 1882. The measure was adopt- ed by a majority of eleven in a total vote of 277. The boundaries were described as beginning at the dock of the propellor "S. S. Wyckoff," on Matawan creek, thence easterly up the road to and across the turnpike to what is known as the African road and following said road to the first overhead bridge over the Freehold & New York railroad, thence
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