USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 15
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
On the 18th of February, 1830, an act of the Legislature was approved incorporating the Monmouth Steamboat Company, with a capi- tal of twenty thousand dollars. The corpora- tors were Martin Chandler, Peter W. Schenck, Joseph King, Thomas L. Parker and Jeremialı Chandler. The steamboat "Saratoga " was
built and run by Captain Joseph King between New York and Sandy Hook and the Highlands, at what is now Highland Bridge. The hotel was then owned by Woodward, and the next year was bought by Peter W. Schenek. The boat ran for several years.
In 1865, when the sea-shore railroad was built on the Sandy Hook peninsula, a ferry was established across the river by James Schenck, and was continued until the bridge was com- pleted in 1872. A small steamboat was also used in the summer season.
A dock was built by Peter W. Schenck, in 1834, in front of the East View House and south of the present bridge. It was washed away and rebuilt by the government in 1846. This afterwards shared the fate of the first, and since then has not been rebuilt. After the death of Peter W. Schenck the business was con- ducted by his son, Peter F. Schenck, uutil 1859. The hotel (now the East View House) passed to his mother, Mrs. Sarah A. Schenek. It is still kept as a hotel.
Iu 1852 a post-office was established at the Highlands, with Peter F. Sehenek as post- master. It was not continued over two years, but was restored about 1872, with Charles Van Berner as postmaster. He was succeeded by Mortimer Johnson, and on February 13, 1882, the present postmaster, J. H. Brainerd, was ap- pointed.
The Sea View House, owned by Mrs. Jarvis, was erceted between the East View House and the Atlantic Pavilion. At this house James P. Donnelly murdered Albert S. Moses, ou the 1st of August, 1857, for which he was hung at Freehold January 8, 1858.
In 1879, Benjamin M. Hartshorne built on the shore the Swift House, which was kept by Thomas Swift. It was destroyed by fire January 26, 1884, and rebuilt by Thomas Swift, who is the present proprietor.
The Highland Bridge Company was incor- porated in 1871, and erected a drawbridge across the Navesink River at this place, four- teen hundred and fifty-two feet in length, eighteen feet in width, with a draw of one hun- dred and eighty-six feet. The cost of the structure was thirty-five thousand dollars. It
1 Peter W. Schenck was the pioneer in the wrecking business on this and Long Island coast, and had control of it for many years. He and his brother, Henry, took off over sixty square rigged vessels and forty schooners and sloops.
*
536
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
was formally opened December 5, 1872, and continued in use until July 1, 1875, when a schooner ran into the draw and disabled it. The bridge remained in this condition three years, and was then sold on foreclosure. The Navesink Bridge Company was formed, bought the bridge, repaired the draw, making it one hundred and ninety-four feet in length, and opened it for travel June 27, 1878.
The Jackson Club have a building on the · coast on a small plot of ground purchased by them several years ago. In 1866 this club began to make this their annual summer camp- ing-ground, and in 1868 they leased ground of Peter F. Schenck and built upon it. On the expiration of lease they moved to the house they now occupy.
An actors' eolony has sprung up at the Nave- sink Higlilands, just above the mouth of the Navesink River. Three or four summers ago Mr. John Webster was at the Highlands, visit- ing his friends, and he became very much interested in the various attractions of the place. Up on the hill, just below the Highland Twin Lights, he bought an eligible building site, upon which he erected a fine mansion. Next on the right is the country palace of W. B. Hayden, manager of Thomas W. Keene, the tragedian, one of the most picturesquely situated of seaside residenecs. Mr. Wheelock's cottage flanks the Webster house on the other side. From all of these houses, situated some four hundred feet above the water's edge, there are very fine views. The buildings on Coney Island can be easily distinguished, as can also, in clear weather, the great Rockaway Hotel. Further down the road is the handsome summer resi- denec of Mr. Neil Burgess. Not far from his house is the cottage of Horace Me Vicker, who usually manages the starring tours of Edwin Booth. Mr. McVicker's wife is professionally known as Miss Affie Weaver, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Weaver, occupy a portion of the large, white Me Vicker cottage. At the base of the bluff along which these actors' sumn- mer houses are stretchel runs the Navesink River. On the other side of the stream there is a strip of land just wide enough to contain the tracks of the New Jersey Southern Railway.
Beyond the sand strip the ocean rolls upon as fine a beach as there is along the shore.
Parkertown lies at the head of Sandy Hook Bay on a level piece of ground at the foot of tlie Highlands. It contains a Reformed Church, a store and forty or fifty dwellings. It was set- tled by people who made fishing a business, and it is still carried on extensively.
In 1873 the Rev. A. W. Allen, a Congre- gationalist minister in failing health, eame to the Highlands and settled. He began teaching children and visiting the people from house to house. Religious services were held in this way, several were converted and a church was organ- ized. The majority decided to bring the church under the care of the Reformed Church Classis. The church was organized February 9, 1875, with twelve members. Mr. Allen was ealled to be their pastor, and labored with them until his death, in December, 1884. A church building was begun in 1874, and completed in 1875.
On the Navesink Highlands, the first light or beacon was put up in 1746, when the Brit- ish and French governments were at war with each other, and the merchants and people of the city of New York were in a state of alarm, in expcetation that French ships might enter the bay and destroy the city. At a meeting of the Council of New Jersey at Perth Amboy, Au- gust 13, 1746, President John Hamilton received a communication from the New York author- ities requesting that a beacon be erected on the Highlands to give warning of the approach of hostile ships. On receipt of this communication the Conneil took aetion, which is shown by the tenor of the president's instructions to the col- onel of the Monmouth County militia, as fol- lows :
"I am this day advised by His Majesty's Council that it will be for the security not only of this Prov- ince, but also of the City and Province of New York, that a proper Beacon be Sett up and Erected upon the most Convenient Part of the Highlands of Never- sinks in Order to Give the Erlyest Alarm of the Ap- proneh of an Enemy, And Do therefore, in pursuance of the said Adviee, Order that a proper Beacon be Erec- ted upon the Said Highlands of Neversinks in such place and in such manner as you shall think most prop- er. And I do hereby further Order and Direet that You Give or Cause to be Given Orders to the Severall Per- sons who shall be appointed to Keep Watch near the
.
537
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.
said Beacon, when Erected, that they do not Presume to Sett Fire to it without Your Order or the Order of one of the Field Officers of the Regiment under Your Com- mand, or the order of Richard Saltar, Nathaniel Leon- ard or Robert Hartshorne or of any one of you or them ; but upon the approach of Six Ships or more, the Person then upon the Watch is immediately to ap- ply to some one of the Persons above mentioned, who upon Such application, is Requested to Proceed to the Said Beacon, and if he Judges the said Ships to be Enemys, he is then to order the said Beacon to be fired, and is to send Immediate Notice to You or to one of the Field Officers of the Regiment of the said County, who is hereby Required, upon Receipt of Such Intel- ligence, to Send Notice thereof to Me or to the Com- mander-in-Chief of the Province for the time being."
On the same day that these orders were issued "the Board being informed that John Little, Esq., Lieuten't-Coll'l, and John Redford, Esq., Major of the Regiment of the County of Monmouth, were in Town, Requested their At- tendance," to give information as to how far the militia officers of that county had carried out the orders and instructions given in a proclama- tion by the late Governor Lewis Morris for the establishment and keeping up of watch-stations at several points along the Monmouth sca-coast. The lieutenant-colonel and major thereupon came to the Council meeting and " Informed His Honour and the Board that, Pursuant to the said Proclamation, on the 28th and 30th Days of April Last Watches were Stationed at Squan, Deal, .and the Highlands of Neversink, all upon the Sea-Coast, and that these Watches have been from Time to Time Relieved, and are at present supplyd from the Regiment of Foot of the County of Monmouth; that the Instructions given to these Watches are to give Notice to the next Commanding officers, who have orders upon such Notice to Call together their Companys, and to send forward the Alarme to the Commanding Officer of the County."
It was expected that the lighting of the bea- con would be seen in New York, and the alarm communicated thenee by the authorities to the commanding officers of the militia of Bergen and Essex Counties, who had instructions there- upon to march their commands to the assistance and defense of the city without delay. But about a month afterwards one of the beacons on the Highlands was set on fire (by accident, as
was stated), and no notice taken of it in New York, which called forth a letter from Presi- dent Hamilton, of New Jersey, to the Council of New York (dated September 27, 1746), in which, after mentioning the fact of the acci- dental firing of the beacon, he said : "However Lucky it may be thought that Your Province has Escaped a false Alarm, Yet I make no Doubt but that you are of Opinion with Me that an Alarm from any Quarter, when Rightly Given, must be of the Utmost Importance, and therefore hope you will, for Our Mutual Secur- ity, take such Steps in Regard to your Watches as will Effectually Prevent the Like Negleet for the Future." But this affair destroyed con- fidence in the efficacy of the beacons for the timely communication of alarms, and it does not appear that they were successfully used (or needed) as against a French invasion ; but years afterwards, during the Revolution, they were in almost constant use when the British fleets were in the bay or the offing, and they often did good service in calling the militia of the county to threatened points upon the bay and ocean coast.
The first permanent light-house on the High- lands was ereeted a short time prior to 1765. Smith, in his "History of New Jersey," pub- lished in that year, says: " At the Highlands of Navesink the New York merchants have lately erected a commodious light-house for the security of navigation."
The "twin light-houses" on the Highlands were built by the Umted States government on land purchased for the purpose of Nimrod Woodward, July 26, 1826. The first appro- priation for the Highland light-houses was made in an act of Congress approved May 18th, in that year, which authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to have them built by contract. They were first in use in 1828, rebuilt in 1840, and again in 1862. The two towers stand one hundred yards apart. The lights are two hun- dred and forty-eight feet above the level of the sca; heights of towers from base to light, fifty- three feet. The lanterns are first-class lens, both fixed, visible over twenty-two nautical miles, at an elevation of fifteen feet above the level of the sea. The north tower is octagonal, and the south one square. The lights are farther
-
538
.
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
above the level of the sea than any on the At- lantie coast.
At the twin lights a signal code of numbers was used to communicate from the place to the bluffs on Staten Island and to Holt's Hotel (now the United States Hotel). A signal tele- graph station, one hundred and eight fect in height, was erected between the keeper's dwell- ing-house and the south light, from which the signals were shown on large arms. This was used until the telegraph superseded it. The keepers of the Highland lights since 1828 have been,-Joseph Doty, James Wilson, Joseph Lo- pez, Joseph I. Thompson, James D. Hubbard, Samuel Mullen, Gordon Sickles, Smith Cono- ver, Taber Chadwick, - Van Allen and Captain Daniel Calkins, who is the present keeper. The cannon that lies on the brow of the hill near the light-house was found there when the land was cleared of timber.
Navesink post-office village is a small settle- ment lying west of the Highlands and near the head of Clay-pit Creek. The lands of this place and vicinity are west of those which formed the extensive Highiland estate of Rich- ard Hartshorne more than a hundred and eighty years ago. These lands were owned by John Bowne, and in 1765, David Burdge had pur- chased a tract of land and built a saw-mill on a branel of Clay-pit Creek. In 1795 one John Bowne sold to Jacob Burdge a small piece of land on Clay pit Creek, on which was situated the "old saw-mill dam." He bought a small tract the year before of James Lewis, adjoining his brother, Benjamin Burdge, who purchased, June 28, 1786, of Joseph Brown and his wife; and Rachel Maclise. As early as 1820, Rice Hatsell came to the place now called Navesink, and opened a store. The place was called Riceville until 1867, when the post-office nanie was changed to Navesiuk, as at present. It contains a post-office, with John M. Johnson, postmaster, a Methodist Church, Baptist Church, the All Saints' Memorial Chapel, and a publie hall, which was built in 1879.
THE NAVESINK BAPTIST CHURCH,1 pre-
vionsly known as the Second Middletown Bap- tist Chureli, was the outgrowth of the First Baptist Church of Middletown. It was occu- pied as an ont-station or missionary field by the First Church; and, as far as can be ascertaincd, the first pioneer or mission-work was eoni- meneed in this part of the large territory of the First Church by Rev. Thomas Roberts, in his settlement with the First Church in 1823. This part of the country at that time was thinly settled; large tracts of land were held by pat- ents and grants from the mother-country by the Hartshornes and others; very few of the inhabitants were found to be in sympathy with the Scriptural principles of the Baptists; High Churchism and Antinomianism strongly pre- vailed; yet there were a few prominent and carn- est Baptists; snch were Deacon John D. Burge, the sisters Debowe, Captain W. Leonard and others who were always foremost in good words and works.
About this time the first Sunday-school was established, with a limited means and inexper- ience, but which proved an important element in building up a strong Christian sentiment in both the past and present generations. Father Roberts, as he was known, labored in this part of the field under many difficulties, having no house for public worship, preaching in a school- house and in private houses in the different neighborhoods, holding service every two or four weeks, in the evenings during winter and afternoons in the summer.
Here the first temperanee society was formed, ealled High Point Temperance Society. Alco- hol reigned supreme; no household was without it; it even entered into the sanctity of the pulpit; engrafted, in fact, into all the phases of society. Entrenched as it was by long usage, it was not so formidable a foe but that these few devoted followers of truth and right ventured to make an attack upon it; and in a few years a marked change had taken place, which had been accomplished through their unostentatious labors. The good work progressed until publie sentiment compelled the evil to disappear from the sideboards, etc., and a healthier Christian feeling began to prevail, the meetings began to be better attended and larger numbers added
1 By Edward Hooper.
.
539
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.
to the church. A large number of the mem- bers traveled five or six miles, almost every Sunday, to hear the preaching of the Word. About this time Father Roberts resigned, and the Rev. D. B. Stout was called; he accepted, and commenced labor with distinguished honor to himself and usefulness to the community. R. A. Leonard, co-operating with the pastor, began to hold what was called a two or three days' woods-meeting; large revivals were the result; weekly prayer-meetings were started; preaching in the publie school-house was com- meneed on every Sunday afternoon in the sum- mer, and evenings in the winter; and a series of meetings in the fall or winter, resulting in the conversion of large numbers.
The school-house accommodations having be- come too small, a large number of the members determined on the erection of a house of wor- ship, which object was accomplished. Weekly Sunday-school was commenced and kept open the year round; weekly prayer and conference meetings also. Many remarkable revivals were witnessed, and scores were added to the church. The way was now open for a change; many of the members determined to avail themselves of this part of the field for the organization of another church; steps were immediately taken for the accomplishment of this object.
The First Baptist Church of Middletown met at their meeting-house for business July 30, 1853; fifty-five members of said church, living in Riceville and vicinity, requested to be dismissed, to constitute a Baptist Church at . Riceville, on the 3d day of August following.
"Middletown, July, 1853.
"To the First Baptist Church in Middletown :- A number of the members of this. church invited their pastor to meet with them in the meeting-house in Riceville, to take into consideration the propriety of organizing a Church of Jesus Christ at that place for the benefit of brethren and sisters living too remote from Middletown for constant attendance there, and also for others who incline to favor Baptist principles. Our beloved pastor spoke decidedly in favor of the design as laudable and Christian in its character; for we had no design of taking any step in the business without his approbation and the cordial concurrence of the church. Therefore, we, whose names are here- . unto appended, respectfully ask to be dismissed for the purpose above stated. We have no self-interest
to answer ; the Gospel of God and the good of souls are the objects which we seek to advance; and, as we believe this church to be equally interested in the promotion of the cause of Christ with ourselves, therefore, we submit the matter to your decision. If an organization is needed there, and you say to us, go there and labor for God, in His strength we will go. "And may the Spirit of our ascended Redeemer go with us, and also remain with you, that both may live and labor in perfect love and harmony and know no other interest but that of Christ.
"We remain affectionately yours,
"R. A. LEONARD.
"Richard A. Leonard,
Elizabeth C. Roop,
Sarah Leonard, Martha N. Carhart,
Richard Carhart,
Louisa Carhart,
Catharine Carhart,
Edward Hooper,
R. A. Leonard, Jr., Mary E. Leonard,
Thomas Bowne, Elizabeth Bowne,
Thomas Leonard,
Rev. Thomas Roberts,
Mary A. Leonard,
Elizabeth Leonard,
Harriet Solly,
Catharine Debowe,
Alice Debowe,
Walter Maxson, John Morris, Elizabeth Brown,
Joseph Davis,
Valeria Skidmore,
Sarah Davis,
George Eldridge,
George Davis,
Mary Ann Eldridge,
Sarah Davis,
Ursula Hooper,
Anna Tilton,
Mary A. Tilton, Julia Yarraw, Tenbrook Davis,
James Brown,
Nehemiah Brower,
Susan Jenkins,
James Applegate,
Jonathan Maxson,
Letitia Applegate,
Sarah Maxson,
Lydia Smith,
William Roop,
George Alley,
Vilimpa Roop,
Catharine Alley,
Matthias C. Roop,
Joseph Maxson,
Joana Roop,
Maria Maxson,
Charles Merrit.
"Therefore, on the 30th of July, 1853, at Middle- town, it was moved, sceonded and carried that the above said members be dismissed to be constituted a regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, at Riceville, in the township of Middletown, in the county of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey.
"Done by order and in behalf of the Church. "JAMES FROST, Church Clerk."
A conneil was held in the meeting-house at Riceville, August 3, 1853. Rev. D. B. Stout appointed president; R. Middleditch, vice- president; E. Hooper, secretary. The Rev. Mr. Votey, of Eatontown, opened the meeting with prayer. Sermon by Rev. R. Middleditch, of Red Bank. Recognition, Rev. Mr. Jenkins.
:
Nathaniel Roberts,
Phebe M. Roberts,
Eleanor Roberts,
James H. Leonard,
540
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
The church represented by R. A. Leonard. The church to be called the Second Middletown Baptist Church.
An adjourned meeting was held on the 20th of August, 1853, for the election of officers for the church. The Rev. Thomas Roberts was appointed moderator ; E. Hooper, clerk. By a unanimous vote, Messrs. R. A. Leonard and Thomas Leonard were elected deacons, and E. Hooper clerk. At this meeting was unani- mously adopted the New Hampshire confession of faith and covenant. The members of this infant church, possessing many elements which secure prosperity, were, nevertheless, men and women of limited means. The house belonged to the parent church. A committee was ap- pointed by the church to confer with the First Church in regard to it. The committee re- ported, conveying to the church the house of worship, together with the lot of ground upon which it is erected, without any incumbrances. In October of the same year the following persons were elected trustees : R. A. Leonard, David B. Swan, George Carhart, Daniel Roberts, Richard Carhart, Joseph Davis, Silas Tilton.
A call was tendered to the Rev. W. V. Wil- son to become pastor. He accepted and com- meneed work October, 1853. After one year's service he resigned, October, 1854.
The aged and venerated Father Roberts, after many years of absence, returned to Mid- dletown and became a member of this church, which now being without a pastor, Father Roberts consented to serve as a supply until the church should call a pastor. He success- fully served the church four years. Twenty- four were added to the church by baptism.
The church extended a call to the Rev. E. S. Browe, which he accepted, and commenced his pastorate July, 1858. After four years of labor he resigned, January, 1862. Twenty one baptisms. The church now remained a few months without a pastor. Rev. W. B. Harris became pastor, and entered upon his duties July 13, 1862, and served until March, 1867. Baptisms, forty-eight.
It was during the pastorate of Mr. Harris 'that the death of Father Roberts occurred.
After preaching the gospel for more than fifty years (four years of which he spent among the Cherokee Indians) he died, on September 24,1865. In the usual letter to the association, the Second Middletown (now Navesink Baptist Church) writes : "One event has occurred within our church which is of interest to the members of the association. Our aged and venerated brother, Thomas Roberts, has gone from our midst to his rest above. We can truly say that his place, probably, can never be filled. Aged, wise and experienced ; lovely in spirit and life, generous, and devoted to Christ and His cause; always ready, as far as the infirmities of age would per- mit, for every good work. He has lived long among us, and ever exhibited the spirit of the journeying pilgrim, expecting to reach the land of rest. Suddenly his journey ceased, and the aged pilgrim entered the gates of pearl, leaving his brethren and numerous family the legacy of his meek, laborious and persevering example."
The church was without a pastor until Janu- ary, 1868, when Rev. J. J. Baker was called to the pastorate. He served the church over eleven years; resigned February, 1879 ; baptisms, sixty. He served the church longer than any other one. Before his settlement the church owned a par- sonage, three-quarters of a mile distant, pur- chased at the time of Rev. E. S. Browe's set- tlement ; it was sold and a new parsonage bought in the village, near the church, the Rev. J. J. Baker being the first occupant. Other changes were made during his ministry. The relation with the East New Jersey Baptist Association was changed to the Trenton Baptist Association May 29, 1872; also the name of the church, and, according to the new aet of the Legislature ofthe State concerning Baptist Churches, changed the corporate name of the Second Middletown Baptist Church to the corporate name of Nave- sink Baptist Church.
The following trustees were elected March 24, 1877 : Thomas Leonard, R. A. Leonard, N. H. Roberts, William H. Posten, George Davis, James HI. Leonard. At the same meet- ing R. A. Leonard, Jr., was elected deacon. Among the events of interest occurring during this period, and one of the most important, as well as afflictive, was the death of the senior
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.