History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1, Part 75

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 974

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At a meeting of the church held January 10, 1835, David Perrine, Samuel Hall and Abra- ham Havens were chosen deacons, and Joseph F. Randolph was elected treasurer. They re- solved to ask the Upper Freehold Church to allow their pastor, Mr. Challis, to divide his services with them, but their request was de- clined. January 26th the officers of the church chose for trustees Clark Havens, J. F. Ran- dolph, Oliver Cox and David Perrine, of the church, and Richard Ely, Andrew Simpson and Joseph Parker, from the congregation. On the 23d day of March, 1835, Mr. Challis closed his labors in Freehold by preaching to the church from 2 Corinthians, xiii. 11,-" Finally, breth- ren, farewell .. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of the same mind, live in peace : and the God of love and peace be with you." A call to the pastorship of the church was given to and accepted by Rev. C. J. Hopkins, at a salary of four hundred dollars, one hundred dollars of which was received from the State Convention. and he began his labors March 28, 1835, and on the 26th of May following, the church was received into the New York Baptist Associa- tion.

Monthly observance of the Lord's Supper was established, and May 30th the trustees were

Eleanor Barkalow, Eliza Ann Mount, Mary Vonk,

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

" sworn in." We now find the church officered, recognized, associated and ready for church-work, yet there is no record of any church action until nine months after ; but the minutes of the Con- vention credit the church with fifty dollars and fifty cents paid into its treasury.

On the 25th day of June, 1836, the church held a special meeting for the purpose of raising the pastor's salary, and requested him to preach to them on the subject. But it appears that the . important sermon was delivered by the Rev. William D. Hires. In the autumn of 1836 the church made her second contribution to the Con- vention, amounting to fifty dollars, though num- bering but ninety-three members, and having received from the Convention ninety-five dol- lars. March 26, 1837, Mr. Hopkins closed his pastoral labors. But one person was added to the church by baptism during his pastorate. By invitation, Rev. Peter Simonson, of Providence, R. I., preached to them April 2, 1837, and was at once secured as their pastor, but re- signed his charge October 1, 1838, after a service of eighteen months, and settled in Cohansey ; but in that time he collected from the church $187.36 for the State Convention, and he im- mersed three converts into the fellowship.

Upon the recommendation of Mr. Challis, Rev. William Maul was invited to visit the church, and he received and accepted a call to the pastoral charge for one year, and commenced his labors November 13, 1838. The church then engaged his services for an indefinite per- iod at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. In order to secure happier church-meetings a committee of twelve members-half of them females-was appointed to investigate all bad reports that may be circulated about the mem- bers, and endeavor to settle all such matters without bringing them into the church, " which measure accomplished the end in view for awhile."

In October, 1840, the church withdrew from the New York Baptist Association, and joined the Central New Jersey Association, and, as a further sign of progress, "two new nine-plate stoves, with pipe to reach the ceiling," were purchased " for the better warming the · house."

February 13, 1844, after a period of five and a quarter years of faithful and successful labor, Mr. Maul retired from the pastorship of the church. One hundred and four persons were baptized by him into the fellowship.

Occasional pulpit supplies were obtained until June 9th, when a unanimous call to the pastorate was given to Rev. Joseph Beldon-then a licentiate of the Bordentown Church-to serve them one year. Mr. Beldon accepted the invi- tation, and began his labors August 4, 1844, but at the end of the year he was engaged for an indefinite period.

In 1845 the necessity of erecting a new house of worship was considered. On motion of Dea- con H. Ely, it was resolved to erect the building in the village of Freehold, though there was a strong opposition to locating it there.

The corner-stone of the new edifice was laid August 5, 1846, in the presence of a large con- course of people, among whom were Revs. J. Lansing Burrows, C. J. Hopkins, David B. Stout, W. D. Hires, Andrew Armstrong and Samuel Sproul. In connection with the laying of the stone, an eloquent address was delivered and other services held in the Reformed Church of Freehold, on account of the intense heat of the weather.

The new house, forty by sixty feet, was com- pleted and dedicated to God February 4, 1847. The sermon was preached by Rev. J. Lansing Burrows, of Philadelphia, from Psalm xcvi. 6, -" Strength and beauty are in thy sanctuary ;" prayer of dedication by Rev. D. V. McLean, of the Freehold Presbyterian Church. There was a debt on the house of eighteen hundred dollars, twelve hundred dollars of which was subscribed that day. There were also present at the dedication Rev. T. S. Griffiths and Ed- ward Hera, of the Baptist Church, C. F. Wor- rel, of the Presbyterian, and Mr. Putnam, of the Episcopal. The bell, weighing eleven hun- dred and fourteen pounds, was presented by Thomas Hunt, Esq., of New York. Pews were then first rented by the church.

After a faithful pastorate of nine years and eleven months, during which time twenty-eight persons were baptized into the church, Mr. Beldon closed his labors as pastor July 1, 1854.

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

In the following October, Rev. L. C. Stevens, of Maine, was called to the pastorship, and the church voted that "when any ten members shall certify to the deacons their dissatisfaction with the pastor, the deacons shall call a special meeting of the church, and the members shall, by vote, determine whether to retain or dismiss him." Mr. Stevens declined their call. They then invited Rev. D. S. Parmelee, of the city of New York, to visit them in view of a settle- ment, but he declined their request.

For nine months the church was without a pastor. The Rev. William D. Hires received and accepted a call to the pastoral charge, and began his work April 1, 1855. The next year a large and handsome parsonage was erected, with a lecture-room in the basement. The fail- ing health of their pastor compelled him to re- sign his charge April 1, 1859. His pastorate of four years had been a successful one, and the church parted with him with extreme regret. The Rev. Mr. Charlton, of Philadelphia, was immediately called to preside, but he declined the invitation. The Rev. Thomas R. Taylor, of Mount Pleasant, Pa., received and accepted their unanimous call, and entered on his pastoral labors among them July 1, 1859.

October 4, 1860, twenty-five members-seven men and eighteen women-were dismissed at their request, and constituted themselves -the " First Baptist Church of Howell," and located their place of worship six miles southeast of Free- hold, in the township of Howell. The war of the great Rebellion soon broke out, and questions involved in that contest disturbed the harmony of the pastor and some of the members, and he retired from their oversight July 1, 1862, after a service of three years, during which time twenty-seven were added to the church by baptism.

Before Mr. Taylor left, Rev. D. S. Parmelee, of New York City, received and accepted the unanimous call of the church, at a salary of six hundred dollars and use of the parsonage, and began his pastoral work July 1, 1862. The roll of members was revised, largely reducing it, leaving but one hundred and ninety-two members, and a baptistery was placed in the meeting-house the same year.

In 1866 the village of Marlboro' was made an out-station, and on May 25, 1869, an inde- pendent church was then recognized, and on November 27th, a council met there to ordain to the gospel ministry Rev. E. E. Romine.

On April 4, 1868, the question of enlarging the church building and placing a pipe-organ therein was considered, and unanimously agreed to, and the trustees were appointed to prepare a plan. The plan was submitted April 26th, and approved, and a subscription at once taken for its execution. On September 23, 1869, they entered the enlarged edifice, at which time the pastor's salary was increased to one thousand dollars. About this time regular Sunday even- ing services were established, still, however, sustaining preaching at the out-stations.

In July, 1875, the pastor announced that in October following his labors as pastor would cease, and on September 26th, Mr. Parmelee preached his farewell sermon, terminating a long and successful pastorate of over thirteen years, during which time one hundred and ninety were baptized into the fellowship of the church.

On October 4th, the church extended a unani- mous call to Rev. H. G. Mason, of Salem, N. J., at a salary of twelve hundred dollars, which was accepted, and he commenced his pastoral labors -

at once. January 1, 1876, two additional dea- cons were elected-namely, George Taylor, who declined serving, and Charles Truex.

Under Mr. Mason's ministry a Young Peo- ple's Association was formed, auxiliary to the church-work, and of this organization is re- corded successful activity on the part of the younger church members. Special mention is made at this time of the very excellent work done through the "Ladies' Church Sociables." The financial condition of the church was much improved through a better organization of methods of collecting. At this time, April 5, 1879, George Taylor, Jr., was unanimously chosen deacon. In the early part of 1880, Deacon H. Ely, who had held that position for forty years, resigned, and Deacon J. H. Denise was elected to succeed him.

After five years of labor Rev. G. H. Mason closed his pastorate, October 4, 1880, having

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

added to the church by baptism one hundred and ten persons. For several Sabbaths imme- diately following, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. S. L. B. Chase, of Buckfield, Me. On Sun- day, December 12th, a unanimous call was ex- tended him to assume the pastorship, at a salary of one thousand dollars. Mr. Chase commenced his pastoral work on the first Sunday of the year 1881. After a pastorate of two years and seven months, during which time he had baptized into · the fellowship of the church nineteen persons, Mr. Chase severed his relation with this people, Sun- day, August 12, 1883. Immediately following, the church resolved to paint and repair the church property, and a committee was appointed to supply the pulpit until a pastor should be chosen.

On the 1st of March, 1884, the church ex- tended a unanimous call to Mr. H. F. Stilwell to become their pastor, after his graduation from Crozer Theological Seminary, and on Sunday, March 16th, his letter of acceptance was read, stating that the pastoral relation would date from June 15, 1884.

On May 31st the church decided to send a call to each church in the Trenton Association, inviting them to sit in council at Freehold, June 16th, for the purpose of examining Mr. Stil- well preparatory to his ordination. Eighteen churches responded, being represented by thirty- one delegates. The council was called to order at 10.30 o'clock. Rev. E. J. Foote, of Calvary Church, Trenton, was chosen moderator, and C. T. Douglass, of Navesink, clerk.

After a "full, fair and deliberate examina- tion," the council decided to proceed to arrange for ordination, to take place on Thursday, June 19th, at 7.30 o'clock. Pursuant to the recom- mendation of the council, the Rev. H. F. Stil- well was ordained at the time designated, and is now pastor of the church.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Freehold,1 although only a little more than a half-century old in its present organization, is yet closely identified in its history with that of the old Methodist Church at Blue Ball, which was formed more than a century ago, being then

called " the Church at Monmouth, " which was the name by which the village now Freehold was then known. Afterwards the old church was often called "the Methodist Church of Freehold."

Of the rise of Methodism in this section the records are very meagre. Previous to 1774 the whole State was included in one circuit, supplied by two preachers. That year it was divided into two circuits,-Trenton and Greenwich,- but still there were but two preachers assigned to the State,-William Watters to Trenton Cir- cuit and Philip Egbert to Greenwich, exchang- ing, at the end of six months, with Daniel Ruff and Joseph Yearby, from Chester (Pa. Circuit.) Watters was the first native-born Methodist itinerant in America. Richard Owings, also native-born, was a local preacher before Watters entered the work, but he did not join the travel- ing connection until after Watters. Freeborn Garretson visited New Jersey in 1779, and doubtless traveled through the State.

Greenwich and Trenton Circuits disappear from the Conference minutes in 1776, and New Jersey and Philadelphia appear as separate cir- cuits until 1779, when they appear that year as one circuit, with Philip Cox, Joshua Dudley and Daniel Ruff as preachers.

Atkinson, in his " Methodism in New Jersey," says: "The society at Monmouth must have been formed at an early period, probably about 1780, as in that year Job Throckmorton, of Freehold, was converted under the ministry of Rev. Richard Garretson, and became a member of the society. He was one of the first mem- bers in that region. The Methodists were much persecuted there at that time. His house was a home for the preachers." In 1783, Benjamin Abbott visited Monmouth in his six weeks' tour in which he traveled about four hundred miles, passing through Cumberland, Cape May, Glou- cester, Monmouth, Mercer and Burlington Counties. Bishop Asbury visited Monmouth in 1785, and was entertained at the house of Job Throckmorton." The same year Ezekiel Cooper,

2 Prominent in Methodism in this section. A member and a class leader at Blue Ball in 1832, as appears by a record in Ralph Hulse's book of the payment of class money.

1 By Major James S. Yard.

....

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

who, in 1776, at the age of thirteen, was con- verted under the, preaching of Freeborn Gar- retson, was admitted to the Conference on trial.

The Methodists of this region in 1779 must have been few in number, as there were but one hundred and forty reported in the State. They perhaps formed a society,-or a "class," as we would now call it,-which counted its members scattered through a wide district. Blue Ball may have been a centre for its meetings, and Freehold on its borders. This is probable, for while Methodist meetings were frequently held at the court-house, there was no society in Freehold until 1831, and the members previous to that time were connected with the society at Blue Ball.

The first mention of Freehold Circuit is in the Conference minutes of 1793, when James Wilson and John Fountain were appointed to the charge. Before that it was included in Trenton Circuit. In that year Trenton Circuit reported five hundred and six members, while in 1794, after Freehold Circuit was cut off, it reported only one hundred and seventy-four, while Freehold reported four hundred and seventy-seven. This probably included all the Methodists in this section of the State east of Trenton.

is now known as Mechanicsville. The third Methodist society was organized at Chapel Hill, in Middletown. From that place it was the custom for the circuit preachers to come to Judge Murphy's father's house, at Bethany, on Fridays, and preach.

This account by Judge Murphy was given in his old age from memory, and is in some respects erroneous. There was a Methodist organization at Long Branch years before Judge Murphy was born. In 1790 it was under charge of the Rev. Zenas Conger, with whom his congregation had some disagreement, which resulted in his taking away a part of the members and forming what he called an Independent Methodist Church, of which several were organized in this region a few years later. As to the society at Chapel Hill, it was not the third Methodist organization in this section, for it was preceded by that at Middletown Point, if not by others besides those at Long Branch and Blue Ball. The house of worship at Chapel Hill was in posses- sion of the Baptists until 1829, when it was sold to the Methodist society. With regard to these and other facts concerning the early Methodist organizations and worship in Mon- mouth County, reference may be had to the history of the Methodist Church at Branchburg, Eatontown township, and of the " Independent Baptist Church and Society at High Point" (Chapel Hill), in Middletown township.

Judge Joseph Murphy, of Freehold, then (1879) in his eighty-third year, informed the writer that the only building owned by the Meth- odists in this section for public worship was the one at Blue Ball. The Methodists of Freehold Judge Murphy had a clear recollection of the old church building at Blue Ball. The seats had no backs and the walls were unplastered. The pulpit was built high up on the wall. The building was very much out of repair. It would seat about one hundred and fifty people, but on Quarterly Meeting occasions a great many more could be crowded in. He remembered that Joseph Goodenough was a leading member of the church when he first knew it, The recol- lections of Mr. J. Forman Rogers and Mr. John J. Cottrell, concerning the old meeting-house and the early worship of the Methodists in the vicinity, are given in the history of the church at Blue Ball. and all the country around, from Keyport and Bethany and Cheesequakes, on the east, to Ben- nett's Mills, on the south, went there to worship. Among the preachers in early times he remem- bers Major Thomas Morrell (an officer of the Continental army, who was wounded at German- town and Long Island), Thomas Neal, David Bartine, Thomas Stewart, James Long, Joseph Holdich, Isaac Winner, John K. Shaw, Daniel Fidler, Edward Page, Joseph Lybrand, Charles Pitman and Anthony Atwood. The Quarterly Meetings were often held there, and were great gatherings. That was the only Methodist Church organization in the county when he first recollected it. The next society was formed at The first Methodist meetings in the vicinity Long Branch. They built a church at what | of Frechold of which there is any account were

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

held at Mount's Corner (West Freehold) in 1831, in the old store-house at that place, by James McBurney, a school-teacher and local preacher.1 Out of these meetings grew a revival of religion, and a number of persons were converted and joined the church. Some of these converts next held meetings in the old academy on Main Street, in Freehold, now occupied by the Gas-Light Company as a work-shop and dwelling.2

Previous to this time the Methodists living in and near Freehold belonged to William Rogers' class, and were members of the church at Blue Ball, near which place Mr. Rogers lived. He used to walk from his home to Freehold and hold prayer-meetings in the academy, in the grand jury room at the court-house (the room now occupied as an office by the sheriff), and in private houses.3

A class was now (1832) formed at Freehold, and Joseph Murphy was appointed leader. The old class-book, containing the list of members and the record of their attendance upon the meetings, and a collector's book, in which was recorded the money received for the support of the preachers and the names of the persons contributing it, were found among his papers after his decease by his daughter, Mrs. Louisa Wheeler. Ralph Hulse acted as steward and collected the money. On the inside of the cover of the class-book is the following indorsement :

"FREEHOLD VILLAGE CLASS-BOOK.

1832. JOSEPH MURPHY LEADER."

On the first page of the book is the following list of members :

1 McBurney's name appears in the old collector's book of Ralph Hulse, first quarter, 1832.

" Rev. D. W. Bartine, then in his twenty-first year, and employed as a supply on Middlesex Mission (1831-32), on his way to the Annual Conference of 1832, preached in the old academy. The next time that he preached in Free- hold was on the occasion of the dedication of the present church building.

8 Mr. Rogers did not move to Freehold until the spring of 1838. His name is first recorded in the old class book in May of that year.

Joseph Murphy, -

Alice Murphy, Enos R. Bartleson.4 Alfred Hance, Rebecca Hance, Hannah Smith, Ralph Hulse, Margaret Hulse, Hannah Lawrence, William A. Harvey. Jacob Blakesley, Ruth Blakesley, Samuel Conover,

Mary Conover, Tylee Sandford.

Handwriting unrecognized.

In Judge Murphy's handwriting.

In lead pencil. The last two names scarcely legible.

Upon the next page, where the names are transferred, all in Judge Murphy's handwriting, is a marginal record that Hannah Smith and the persons whose names follow hers joined the society August 6, 1832. On this second page Bartleson, Mr. and Mrs. Hance, Hannah Law- rence and Harvey are marked as removed, and Sandford as deceased.

These were all the members of the Methodist

+ Enos R. Bartleson was a brother of John W. Bar- tleson, and in partnership with him in the printing business and publication of the Monmouth Inquirer. He subse- quently removed to the West.

Jacob Blakesley was a storekeeper at Mount's Corner, and shortly after this removed to Ohio.

Alfred Hance was an assistant to Blakesley, and at one time peddled wooden clocks for him throughout this sec- tion. These clocks then sold for twenty-four dollars apiece. Mrs. William Cooper, of Freehold, now has one of them, and it is still a good time-keeper. He also removed to the West. and, it is said, became a preacher.

Hannah Smith is the widow of John Voorhees, deceased, and the mother of the Rev. William Voorhees, of the Newark Conference. She now resides on Elm Street, in Free- hold.

Hannah Lawrence is the widow of John Lawrence, for- merly of Jerseyville, and the mother of Rev. R. V. Law- rence, deceased, and Jacob C. Lawrence, Esq., of Freehold. She resides about three miles south of Farmingdale, is about eighty years old, and still in possession of all her faculties.

William A. Harvey was an apprentice to Ralph Hulse, who then carried on the manufacture of hats in Freehold. Harvey removed about 1837.

Mary Conover was the wife of ex-Sheriff Samuel Con- over, of Freehold, and died about 1838.

Tylee Sanford was a brother of James Sanford, de- ceased, of Freehold, and of Daniel I. Sanford, of English- town. He was killed while at work building the parsonage of the Reformed Dutch Church in Freehold, by the fall of a piece of timber, shortly after he joined the class.

.... .....

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

Church then residing in Freehold and its imme- diate vicinity, so, far as can be now ascertained. Sally Throckmorton, who was a Methodist, and who kept a school in part of Alexander Low's cabinet-ware shop, had removed to Palmyra, N. Y., Mrs. Stillwell (Mrs. Judge Murphy's mother) had died and McBurney had removed.1

At the bottom of the original list in Judge Mur- phy's old class-book appear the following names

Ann Archy,

. John M. Mount,

Mary Goble,

Eliza Solomon,

Alice Johnson,

Elizabeth Boud,

Tunis Patterson,

George Vancleaf, Caroline Stillwell,

Michael Maghan,

Jane Murray, Sarah West,

Mary Matthews,

William B. Potts, Eliza Potts,

Ann Hulse,

Joseph Lewis,

George Mount,

Phebe Stillwell, Sarah Lokerson,

Content Stillwell, Mary Clayton,

Eliza Bills,

Rachel Bills,

Eliza Conover, John Conoly,

Emeline McChesney, Samuel Warden, Mary Ann Warden, Rebecca Coward, Content Maghan, Apollo W. Borden, Hannah Borden, Elisha McCabe, Harriet McCabe, James Harris, Deborah Patterson,

Richard Pearson,

David Lokerson,

Abigail Barkalow,

Abigail Pyle,

George Goble,

Simon Pyle,

Ida Hendrickson,

Lydia Ann Chambers,

Rebecca Ann Sandford,

Eliza Price, Jemima Stillwell.

Mary Sandford,

1838.

Phebe Patterson,

Sarah Neafie,

Mary Conoly,

Hannah Still (colored),

Lydia Vancleaf,

William Pettit,

William Rogers,

Hannah Pettit,

Lucy Rogers,

Mary Bryan,

Sarah Rogers,

Elizabeth Rogers.

Abraham G. Neafie,

1840.

- Newman,

Hannah Asay, David Price,

Amy Strickland,

David Applegate,

Jane Conk,

Priscilla Richmond,

Edward Asay,

Mary Richmond.

1 Mrs. Stillwell owned and occupied a dwelling above the present Episcopal Church parsonage, about where Mulhol- land's tavern now stands.

1841.

Daniel Sanford, Fanny Cook, Elizabeth Conine.

Mary Ann Sanford, Rachel Cubberly,

Mrs. David Lokerson (Sarah Stillwell), a sister of Mrs. Ralph Hulse, says she well re- members the revival at Mount's Corner in 1832. It was the first year of the cholera, and the excitement attending the prevalence of the pesti- lence tended to make people serious. The meet- ings were held by Stewart and James Moore. Moore was an old man, and was familiarly known then as "Daddy " Moore. She does not remember McBurney, although he might have been there. She lived in the Stillwell neigh- borhood, about three miles southeast of Mount's Corner. She had been married nine years. She went with her husband to attend the meetings and both were converted. She was taken into the society there and her husband at the church at Blue Ball. The meetings at Mount's Corner were held in a store building, where Job Throck- morton, Jr. (son of Job), then recently deceased at the age of forty-five years, had kept store. The store goods had all been removed; Job Throckmorton, the elder, was still living and was a member of the Blue Ball Church. William Rogers was a class-leader at that time.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 1, Part 75

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 974

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 974