USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 37
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They were styled the Presbyterian Congre- gation of Freehold, which township at that time embraced the site of their place of worship, as also that of the two later edifices. In De- cember, 1705, " At ye Request of Mr. John Craig, Walter Ker, William Rennel, Patrick
! This statement has frequently been made, but there is some doubt as to its entire accuracy, though the error, if any, is but slight.
680
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Imlay, in behalf of themselves and their Breth- ren, protestants, desenters of freehold, called Presbiterions, that their Public Mecting-house may be recorded," it was accordingly recorded, as follows : " The Meeting-House for Religious Worship, belonging to the Protestant disenters called yo Presbiterians of yo Town of Freehold, In ye County of Monmouth, in ye Province of . New Jersey, is Scituate, built, lying and being at and upon a piece of rising Ground or little hill, commonly known and called by the name of free hill, in sd town."
The first pastor of the Scotch congregation was the Rev. John Boyd, who was qualified for the pastoral office, by the court on the 29th of May, 1706. He died in 1708, and was suc- ceeded as pastor by the Rev. Joseph Morgan, who appeared before the court in September, 1709, and asked to be qualified, which was done on the 6th of December following, on which occasion the pastor was accompanied in court by seven persons, presumably members of his con- gregation, viz. : John Lane, John Wikoff, John Sutfin, William Hendrickson, John Esmuth, William Williams and Avri Marbison. More extended mention of Mr. Morgan, and of his connection with the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches, is made in the history of the Brick Church, in Marlborough township.
Mr. Morgan continued to serve the Presby- terian Church for about nineteen years, after which it appears that some disagreement arose which resulted in the severing of the pastoral relation. This disagreement with Mr. Morgan; the appointment and ordination of his successor, the Rev. John Tennent, in 1730, and his death in April, 1732; the call to the Rev. William Tennent, Jr., and his ordination as pastor in 1733, as also the ereetion and occupation (April, 1731) of the first house of worship at White Hill, the site of the present Tennent Church, are all re- ferred to in the following extracts, taken from the original church record, by Mr. R. P. Craig, viz. :
" The minutes of Freehold congregation, Beginning Tuesday, June 9th, 1730.
" June 9th, afsd, The congregation met and chose John Henderson To be their clerk, and Charles Gordon, Timothy Lloyde, Jonithan Formnan, Robert Cumming and John Henderson as helps To Walter Ker and John Hutton, Elders, or to Represent the
congregation ; Capt. Archabald Craig & William Ker, for Trustces for the money that the congregation has in Bank; Wmn. Ker & Samuel Ker, chosen as Deacons, or to take care of the collections untill Dea- cons be Ordained. Monday, July 20th, the Elders & Representatives above mentioned met at the House of Charles Gordons and agreed to build a meeting- House between Win. Ker's Barrs and Rockey Hill Bridge; also that the Revd. Mr. John Tennent year Begin the 15th day of April last past, viz., 1730.
" August the 3th, at a meeting of the congregation at Win. Ker's House, agreed that the services be one Sabbath at the upper Meeting-House, and so to con- tinue successively. Also that Diligence be used to get subscriptions for the Building the meeting House, and that the Old or lower mecting-House To be re- paired with all Haste that can be; William Kerr & John Henderson to be clear of all charges Towards the Old Meeting-House, in consideration of their charges in going to New Castel Presbeterie ; that John Hutton bring in his accompt of charges that he was at in his going to synod & Presbeterics, &c., for the congregation ; That said accompt be paid out of the collection moneys.
"Saturday, August the 29th, 1730, The Elders & Representatives met at the House of David Rhea & chose for undertakers or managers, in Building the mecting-House, Wm. J. (illegible), Jonithan Forman, Timothy Lloyd, Archabald Craig, David Rhe, William Kerr & John Henderson, who is to go on Building with all the speed possible after this sowing time is over, and the congregation is to give each man Their Bill or Bond to the said Managers to enable them to go on with the work. The Meeting-House is to be made Forty feet long and Thirty feet wide, and each of the Builders to have one seat in it above their common Due.
" October 15th, 1730, The Revd. Mr. Joseph Mor- gan (having made a complaint against this congrega- tion that They owed him above £200 arrears of Sallerie) met the congregation at the old Scots meet- ing-House, where accompts were fairly made up, and Mr. Morgan gave the congregation a Discharge in full. The copy which is received, October 15th, 1730, from the congregation Frechold, full satisfaction To This Day for all sallcrie Due him as their Pastor, Joseph Morgan.
" A true copy by me, John Henderson, Clerk, Tues- day, November 19th, 1730. There the Presbytry, or a committee of the same, met at the Scots Meeting- House, and after fasting and prayer, and strict ex- amination and full approbation, Did ordain the Rev. Mr. John Tennent. The Ministerial charge in this congregation, William Tennent, Jonethan Dickinson, Joseph Morgan and Gilbert Tennent. The names of the committee for the congregation was Walter Kerr, Robert Cumming, John Henderson, Robert Newell, Wilson, George Walker, Timothy Lloyde and Charles Gordon.
.
681
MANALAPAN TOWNSHIP.
"April 18th, 1731, was The first Time That there was servise in the new meeting-House on White Hill. April 28th, 1731, Paid the Revd. Mr. John Tennent £19 178. 11d. May 3th, 1731, Charles Gordon was ordained an Elder of this congregation. Jonithan Forman, Arehiabald Craig, Esqrs., & Timothy Lloyd having Deelined serving as managers in earrying on the meeting-House, Aaron Mattison, of his own free will, served, and the said Mattison, Together with David Rhea, William Kerr and John Henderson, carry on the work which is now enclosed and glazed. 1731, November 13tli, paid Mr. Tennent, of Sallarie, £21 1s. 1731-32, March 8th, paid Do. £19 158. 2d. Lords Day, April 23, 1732, The Revd. & Dear Mr. John Tennent Departed this Life between 8 & 9 of the cloek in The morning, and was Burried on The Tuesday following, a mournful Providence & eause of great Humility To This poor congregation, To be bereaved of the flour of youth, The most Laborious, successful, well qualifide Pastor This age aforeded, Tho but a youth of 25 years, 5 months & 11 days of age, After which we lived Destitute of a Pastor or any constant supply until 8 day, 1732, when the Revd. Mr. Wm. Tennent, Jun., after mueh Relue- tanee, was prevailed upon to settle amongst us, at Least for a time. Saturday, March 10th, 1732-33, The Elders & The Major part of the Representatives met at the House of David Rhea & chose collectors to colleet the Ministers Sallerie for the ensuing year, Mr. Charles Gordon, Jonithan Forman, Robert Cum- ming, Samuel Ker & John Henderson, with John Hutton for the fresh Bonds. Saturday, September 8th, 1733, David Rhea & Robert Cummings was chosen our commissioner to Present a eall To the Reverend Mr. William Tennent, Jun., at the Synod of Philadelphia, which eall Mr. Tennent accepted. Thursday, October 25th, 1733, a committee of Presbtrey met at White Hill Meeting-House, and, after examination and approbation, Did, with Fasting and Prayer, and Laying on of Hands, Ordain the Revd. Mr. Will". Tennent, Jun., to the Pastoral charge in this congregation."
William Tennent, Jr., the fourth pastor of the First Presbyterian (Tennent) Church of Freehold, was born in Ireland, June 5, 1705, and was the second son of Rev. William Ten- nent, Sr., who came from Ireland to America in 1716, bringing with him his four sons,-Gil- bert, William, John and Charles. He first set- tled in Westchester County, N. Y., and then moved to Bucks County, Pa., and founded the "Log College." He was a man of rare attain- ments and of strong mind. He and all his sons became conspicuous in the carly Presbyterian Church of this country, by reason of their high
attainments, as also, in greater degree, because of their deep piety and the active part which they took in the propagation of the gospel.
William Tennent, Jr., received his education from his father, in the "Log College," in Bneks County, Pa., and there he soon became a fluent scholar in the Latin and Greek languages. At an early age he determined to prepare for the ministry, and studied with his brother Gilbert, at New Brunswick. By too elose application to study his health failed, and he became fearfully einaeiated and discouraged. One day, while in conversation with his brother Gilbert, he fell, fainted, and, to all appearances, died. He was prepared for interment, and the neighbors were invited to attend his funeral. His physician, who was very much attached to him, was absent from home at the time, but returned before the time for burial, and could not be indueed to be- lieve that Tennent was really dead. He stayed by the body constantly three days and nights, and, at his urgent request, the funeral was post- poned several times. At last Gilbert insisted that the funeral should take place without further delay. The doctor pleaded for another hour, then a half, and then a quarter, and when he was giving up in despair, William Tennent, to the utter astonishment of every one in the room, opened his eyes and gave a terrible groan, and again relapsed into his former condition ; in a quarter of an hour he gave another groan, and again became insensible. Finally, he recovered enough to speak, but it was six weeks before he could leave his bed or his friends entertain any hope of his recovery, and a whole year before he recovered completely. He had lost his memory entirely, and was obliged to be- gin with the alphabet again, and go through his studies as if he had never seen a book.
He said, in conversation with some friends, that the three days he was in the tranee seemed to him only as a few minutes. He felt as if caught by some invisible power and carried up; away in the distance he beheld a sight of inex- pressible glory, indescribable and beautiful. His first thought was, "Blessed be God, I am saved at last." His agony and disappointment were great when his heavenly conductor informed him that he must return to earth. Then he gave
682
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
a groan, and as he opened his eyes, saw his brother Gilbert and the doctor, and heard them disputing about his burial.1
After he recovered he was licensed to preach in Philadelphia, and afterward supplied the place of his brother John, in the First Presbyte- rian Church of Freehold. He preached six months for his brother, and was then called to that charge himself, and after one year's trial was, on October 25, 1733, settled over the church as its regular pastor, as has already been mentioned. Some of the names of the princi- pal families who attended his ordination were Craig, Anderson, Watson, Covenhoven (Cono- ver), Ker, Gordon, Lloyd, Wilson, Henderson, Forman, Crawford, Little, Campbell, Newell, Rhea and English,-names which have since been among the most prominent in the county.
The salary at which Mr. Tennent was en- gaged was one hundred pounds per annum. There was a large and valuable farm at- tached to the parsonage; but Tennent, trust- ing liis business to servants, and taking no interest whatever in temporal affairs, soon became involved in debt. A gentleman sug- gested that he should have a good wife. Tenient said he knew nothing about such mat- ters. It was finally arranged that Tennent should go to New York and get introduced to a sister-in-law of this gentleman, which he did a few days afterward, and as his time was pre- cious, proposed to the lady at once, and within one week from the time she first saw Tennent was installed mistress of the Tennent parsonage. She, by her tact and management, rescued the farm from debt, and proved an excellent wife.
In 1753, the year of the completion of the present edifice, there was a great revival in the · church, and again a remarkable one in 1757. It was Mr. Temient's enstom to spend the time between services on Sunday in the underbrush,
near the church, praying in secret and reflecting on the mercies of God. One Sunday he swooned and fell senseless. Time passed, and the elders found him there, and carried him to the church and assisted him to the pulpit. It was on this occasion that he preached that memorable, thrilling sermon which he always after de- lighted to call his "harvest," and which was the direct means of the conversion of thirty per- sons.
After having faithfully served the church as its pastor for more than forty-three years, Mr. Tennent died unexpectedly, after a short illness, at the old parsonage, in the seventy-second year of his age. Being taken suddenly ill, he sent for his friend, Dr. Henderson, who was just starting for Haddonfield, where the Legislature was to meet, of which he was a member. He, however, stopped in his way there and saw Mr. Tennent, but gave no hopes of his recovery. On hearing this, Mr. Tennent said, " Blessed be God, I have no wish to live if it should be his will and pleasure to call me hence," and then, after a moment's silence, he varied the expression thus, " Blessed be God, I have no wish to live if it should be his will and pleasure to call me hence, unless it should be to see a happy issue to the severe and arduous controversy my conntry is engaged in ; but even in this, the will of the Lord be done." On returning from the Legis- lature Dr. Henderson called and stayed with his friend and patient till the latter's death, on the Sth of March, 1777. He said that Mr. Tennent on his death-bed seemed to have the other world opened before him and to have already a fore- taste of heaven.
Of the character of Mr. Tennent the Rev A. P. Cobb, pastor of the chureli, said, in a memo- rial sermon preached in 1877 : " He was a man of common sense and of plain thought. He was not an enthusiast, but labored faithfully and patiently. He was a pastor consecrated wholly to his work, humble, meek, a man of purity. The people called him the peace-maker, and from far and near they came to him to settle their disputes. He was not in favor of compromising with the powers and pretences of a wicked world. He was an advocate of revi- vals of religion, and was in full sympathy with
' It was twenty-nine years after the death of William Tennent, Jr., before any sketch or memoir of his life ever appeared in public print. Elias Boudinot, LL.D., was the first to write his history from materials furnished by Dr. Henderson, an elder of the Teunent Church. The identi- cal manuscript is now in Princeton, in one of the college libraries. This account of Mr. Tennent's remarkable trance was first published in the Evangelical Intelligencer, of Philadelphia, from the pen of Dr. Boudinot.
1
ـية / ج:
683
MANALAPAN TOWNSHIP.
Whitefield's work, when that great revivalist was in this country. Mr. Tennent was a Chris- tian patriot. A man is not fit to be a patriot unless he is a Christian patriot. To the day of his death he was an ardent supporter of the colonies in their struggles to shake off the op- pressive sway of England. He passed away and ascended to a bright home above before seeing the smoke of battle rolling around his earthly home. Mr. Tennent was eminently qualified to be a faithful minister, both by reason of his superb natural endowments and his at- tainments as a scholar. He could employ spir- itual devices to convert men. Furthermore, he was a man chastened by sorrow, having lost two of his sons after they had grown to manhood. Mr. Tennent, as a pastor, was honored by time and place. He had the whole county as his charge. He planted in this county the seeds of a noble Christian influence, which continue to bring blessings to us. He lived the life and died the death of the righteous. An old man full of years, he was gathered to his fathers. Throughout his whole life he seemed to have this saying ever sounding on the ear of his soul, ' Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.'"
The Rev. John Woodhull succeeded Mr. Tennent as pastor of the church in 1779. In the same year he established a classical school,1 which was taught in a small red house that stood near the parsonage gate. It was continued about fifteen years and obtained a wide celebrity. Mr. Woodhull was scarcely less famed for his piety, zeal and efficiency as the pastor of this church than was his predecessor, Mr. Tennent. He continued in the pastorate for forty-five years, and died, November 22, 1824, at the age of eighty years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Job F. Halsey, who was, in turn, succeeded by the Rev. Robert Roy. Both these pastorates were of comparatively short duration. The Rev.
Daniel V. McLean became pastor in 1831. His successor was the Rev. L. H. Van Doren. After him came the Rev. Donald McLaren, who re- signed November 5, 1862. The Rev. Archibald P. Cobb was installed August 8, 1863. He continued in the pastorate ncarly eighteen years, and until his death, which occurred February 26, 1881. His successor, the Rev. George G. Smith (the present pastor), was called May 31st and installed June 27th, in the same year.
The present church edifice, which (as already mentioned) was first used for worship in 1753, contained seventy-eight pews, which, in 1754, were sold to persons whose names (as also the price paid for each) are given in the following list,2 viz. :
PEW NO. £
..
1 Thomas Davis & Son . 17
00
2 Aaron Matteson and William Norcross 17 00
3 Samuel Karr . . 15
00
4 Darick Suttfin, Jacob's son 15
00
5 William Van Kirk 16
00
6 John Henderson . 16 00
7 Michael Johnson 15
00
8 William Hugen, Darick Suttfin and his son Darick 15
00
9 David English 16
00
10 Samuel Forman and Robert Rhea . 16
00
11 Peter Forman 12 00
12 Cort Schanck and Son, Garret and John Longstreet . 12
00
13 Passage into the pews .
14 George Rhea 8 00
15 By the stairs a short pew 3
00
16 John Garton 10
00
17 Richard Pittenger 10 00
18 John Forman, son of Jonathan, Esqr .
10
00
19 Benjamin Vancleve and Richard Van- mater . 10
00
20 Peter Wilson, son of Peter 10
10
21 John Clayton 10
10
22 Gawen Watson 11
00
23 Samuel MeKonke . 11
00
24 Jonathan Forman, Esq . 11
10
25 Two pews for the minister of the place,
26 the Rev. William Tennent 11
00
27 Mr. Joseph Forman 11
00
28 Timothy Lloyd and his son, John Lloyd 11 00
29 John Reed 10 10
30 David Rhea 10
10
·
1 In April, 1782, John Woodhull (doubtless Rev. Dr. Woodhull) advertises that the Latin School at Freehold is again revived in a peaccable and agreeable neighborhood, where board can be had on reasonable terms. A number of gentlemen of first character, trustees. Mr. Clark, a very worthy, capable gentlemen, late of the College of New Jersey, was an instructor,
2 This list, furnished by llon. William P. Forman, of Millstone, was found among the papers of Peter Forman, who, before and during the Revolution, lived on a farm near Monmouth Court-House.
684
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
PEW NO.
31 William Wikoff . 10
10
32 John Anderson, Esq 10
33 William M. Knight 10
34 Michael Sweetman 10
35 Jolin Van Skoyak 10
10
10
37 James Craig . 10
10
38 William Craig . 10
10
39 William Crawford 11
00
40 James Robinson . 11
00
41 James English 11
00
42 Peter Gordon, Esq. 11 00
43 Lewis Forman 11
00
44 Zebulon Baird.
11
00
45 John Little, Esq .
11
00
46 Robert Daviso
10
10
47 David Baird .
10
10
48 John Truax, Thomas Craig and William Shaw 10 10
49 Andrew Baird .
10 00
50 William Compton and John Clayton,
51
Aaron Matteson, Jr .
52 Charles Hibbets (by the banisters) 3
00
53 The open entry.
54 55 Michael Errickson 12
00
56 Joseph Cheeseman, William Cheeseman and John Reed, Jr . 12
00
57
William Laird and James Dey 15
00
58 . Abram Clayton, William Purton and 15 00
00
Ligged Smith .
15
00 59 , Robert, James and Thomas Thompson . 15
60 William Covenhoven, Jr., and his son, Peter and John Cheeseman . 15
00
61 Joseph Karr . 16
00
62 Nicholas Cook. 16
00
63 John Vorhis and his father and father-in-
law . 15 00
64 Robert Coming, Esq., George Walker and David Barkly . 17 00 David Gordon, £14 108 .; Peter Gordon, Esq., £2 10g. . 17 00
Gallery pews, beginning at the northeast cor- ner :
PEW NO.
£
8.
1
8 00
2
7
00
3
7
00
4
7 00
5
7
00
6
7
00
7 Dr. Peter Lacount 8
00
8
7 00
9
7 00
7 00
PEW NO.
£
s.
11. Philip Conine, Esq., £5 108 .; John Siliman, £1 10s. 7 00
12 James Mulligan and David Brooks 7 00
13 Hugh McFarren 7 00
14 Robert McChesney and son, May 29, 1755 . 8 00
With regard to the building of this old edi- fice, the Rev. A. P. Cobb, in the memorial ser- mon preached in 1877, and before referred to, said : "On the 29th of May, 1750, all the trustees, except Tobias Polhemus, being present, it was determined to build a larger church. John Davis, being appointed chief carpenter, eonstrueted the present building, which is forty by sixty feet, twice the size of the former church. There were one hundred and ninety-two sub- scribers. The largest subscription was fourteen pounds, by Peter Gordon. The form of the church has not been essentially changed since its first construction, although a few alterations have been made. Many of the descendants of the original members sit in the same seats in which their forefathers sat. The charter of the corporation was procured February 21, 1750, of Governor Belcher, in the reign of George II. As soon as we obtained an independent govern- ment, the trustees of the church were obliged on going into office to take three oaths,-the first, diselaiming allegiance to England ; the second, swearing allegiance to New Jersey ; the third, swearing devotion to the church. After the church was built, for a long time no fire was kept up in winter, our ancestors giving as reason that they had determined not to be luke- warm, but to be either cold or hot. They had two services right in succession, separated only by an intermission of half an hour in order to partake of some refreshments. This was neces- sary because some persons came very long dis- tances."
The pulpit of this church was several times occupied by that most celebrated preaeher of his time, the Rev. George Whitefield. The famous Indian missionary, the Rev. David Brainerd, also preached here, to congregations largely composed of savages, on several occa- sions, notably in 1746, to which the following, from the "Memoirs of David Brainerd," has reference, viz. :
·
£
8.
10
10
10
36 William Hampton 10
10
00 Jr . 10
.
.
683
MANALAPAN TOWNSHIP.
"We, whose names are undersigned, being elders and deacons of the Presbyterian church in Freehold, do hereby testify, that in our humble opinion, God, even our Saviour, has brought a considerable nuniber of the Indians of these parts to a saving union with himself. Of this we are persuaded from a personal ac- quaintance with them, whom we not only hear speak of the great doctrine of the Gospel with humility, affeetion and understanding, but we see as far as man ean judge them, soberly, righteously and Godly. We have joined with them at the Lord's Supper, and do from our hearts esteein them as our brethren in Jesus.
"For those who were not God's people may now be called children of the living God. 'It is the Lord's doing and is marvelous in our eyes,' until lie has subdued all things to himself, this is and shall be the unfeigned desire and prayer of
"WALTER KER,
"ROBERT CUMMINS,
" DAVID RHEA,
"JOHN HENDERSON,
"JOHN ANDERSON,
"JOSEPH KER, "Elders.
" WILLIAM KER, "SAMUEL KER, "SAMUEL CRAIG,
" Deacons.
"Presbyterian church, Freehold, August 16th, 1746."
A description of the old church, written by the Rev. James M. Freeman, was printed in the National Magazine in January, 1854, as follows:
"In size the building is forty by sixty feet, with three entrances on the longer side. The old oak frame is covered with shingles, which, though in good preservation for their age, confess the wasting assaults of time and storms. The pulpit is on the north side of the house, immediately opposite to the central door, so that the minister faces the width of the church instead of its length. It is very narrow, and is surmounted with a sounding-board, according to the eustom of our fathers. A number of wooden pegs are placed in the panel work immediately back of the pulpit, on which the preachers used to liang their hats and overcoats. Leaning against the pulpit are several long and slender rods, at the extremity of each of which is suspended a silken bag, terminating in a tassel. These singular-looking things are used by the deacons in taking up collections, and must be very convenient in the long pews. The pews are high and very narrow, suggesting the idea of penance rather than devotion. The gallery is wide and lofty and will seat three hundred people. In former times one side of it was partitioned off for the colored people, but during the administration of the present
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