History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 105

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 105

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The mill property, since the time of its sale to Stoffel Longstreet, has been in possession of the following-named persons, viz. : James Eng- lish, Jr., purchased May 1, 1761 ; John Rhea (a Philadelphia merchant), June 1, 1767 ; Rob- ert Rhea, of Allentown, August 12, 1774; Joseph Haight, November 4, 1776; Arthur Donaldson, March 12, 1779; Peter Imlay, March 2, 1781 ; Robert Pidgeon, January 22, 1788 ; John Imlay, November 14, 1792; Rob- ert Evilman, December 29, 1792; Aaron and George Stewart, 1796. George soon after sold to Aaron, whose heirs (April 1, 1835) sold to Richard Brewer, who conveyed the property April 2, 1845, to Abel Cafferty, who now owns it. In 1852 Mr. Cafferty built the present briek mill, forty by fifty feet, three stories high.

Around Nathan Allen's grist-mill there were soon elustered a store, tavern, blacksmith-shop and other kinds of business. It is certain that the place had taken the name Allentown before 1732. In that year Nathan Allen and Lewis Carree died. The latter, in his will, is mentioned as Lewis Carree, of Allentown, mer- chant. His executors were authorized to sell his lands, by virtue of which his widow, Mar- garet2 (who later became the wife of Gabriel Stelle), conveyed a lot of land in Allentown to Elisha Lawrence for one hundred and twenty pounds, lying on the north side of the main street, and extending from the Baptist Church to, or near to, the line of Church Street. His store was doubtless on this lot. About 1730 the Episcopal Church was erected, and in 1756 the Presbyterian (brick) Church was built. Dr. James Newell came to the place about 1770 and

2 Daughter of Thomas Gordon, surveyor-general.

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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.

practiced till after 1812. He lived on the site of the Baptist Church. Dr. Edward Taylor studied medicine with him about 1782. For a more full account of Dr. Taylor the reader is referred to the Medical Society chapter of this history.

Of the other early business interests of the village, but little has been learned. John Imlay removed to the place before 1790. Whether he was in business here before engaging in the ship- ping business in Philadelphia is not known. In 1790 he built an elegant residence that still stands in good condition on Main Street. His son William engaged in the hardware business in the village and also was postmaster for many years. The parlor and other rooms in the old Imlay mansion were papered with French paper, which now remains on the walls. It is as elegant in design as any modern papers. It was made in sheets of about two feet square. Mrs. Mary A. Fiske, a granddaughter of John Imlay, has framed the bill for the wall-paper, dated 1794, which she found among her grandfather's pa- pers.

Robert Debow, about 1805, erected the old brick store building that still stands on the south side of Main Street. This he occupied many years, and was succeeded by David Me- Kean, who later moved to a building farther up the street.

Samuel Rogers, who, in 1798, was appointed postmaster, was captain of a militia company in 1807, and on July 27th of that year offered the services of his company to the government for the war that was then expected to result from the " Chesapeake " outrage.

Allentown has the honor of being the first town in this State in the forming of a temper- ance society. In 1805 the " Allentown Tem- perance Sober Society " was organized with fif- ty-eight members. But little more is known of this society except that it kept its existence for several years.

Some idea may be formed of the active busi- ness of the village in 1818 by the history of the Perseverance Fire Company, which was organized in Allentown, with fifty-one mem- bers, on the 23d of November, in that year. A number of inhabitants met at the house of

William Arnd, for the purpose of forming a fire company. A constitution was drawn up and adopted. Each member was to provide himself with a fire-bucket. The following are the names of the original members :

D. Mckean,

R. MI. Stout,

Robert De Bow,

Graham Newell,

William Imlay,

John Vanhorn,

Joseph Robbins,

James Cox,

Samuel Savidge,

Gabriel Allen,

Michael Forman,

Samuel C. Sprague,

William Foster,

Samuel Newell,

Peter I. Wyckoff,

John Bunting,

Lewis S. James,

George Ford,

George Sinclair,

James Clutch,

Nathaniel Britton,

Charles Ford,

Edmond Tilton,

Cornelius Vanderbeek,

R. D. L. Beatty,

Richard Bruere,

John Clutch,

Lewis Steward,

George W. Taylor,

Gilbert Voorhes,

Eseck Robbins,

Charles Beatty,

William Sinclair,

Joseplı Lawyer,

Samuel Cafferty,

Jacob Ford,

David Hays,

John Rogers,

James Imlay,

William Butcher,

John Palmer,

Charles H. Britton,

John Chamberlain,

Isaac Rogers,

Samuel Rogers,

John Robbins,

Silas Dunsmore,

J. Beatty,

Garret Wikoff,

J. B. Beatty.

At that time William Arnd kept the hotel where the meeting was held (now the Union). His name is mentioned in the first business meeting, but does not appear on the original list. Ladders, fire-hooks and hand-engine, manufactured in Philadelphia, were purchased, and at a special meeting, held November 28th, five days after organization, a plan for an engine- house was presented and approved. The house was built, and still stands on the south side of Main Street. The original engine is still in possession of the company, and is kept in the house. The company has maintained its ex- istence to the present, but is in feeble condition having but ten members. The first officers were David Hays, president ; Richard L. Beatty, vice- president ; David MeKean, treasurer ; and Peter I. Wikoff, secretary. The presidents from that time to the present have been as follows : John Clutch, 1820; David MeKean, 1822; Garret P. Wikoff, 1823; William Imlay, 1837 ; George Sinclair, 1841 ; Richard L. Beatty, 1845 ; Cor-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

nelius Vanderbeek, 1847; William Imlay, 1852; George Sinclair, 1858 ; John H. Rulon, 1863 ; Henry H. Mayers, 1875. The last named was president until the death, in 1883. The company is at present without a president. A new constitution was adopted in 1829. Allentown in 1833 is thus described by Gordon's " Ga- zetteer :"1 " It contains from seventy-five to eighty dwellings, one Presbyterian Church with cupola and bell, handsomely situated on the hill on the west, an Academy, two schools, one Methodist Church, grist-mill, saw-mill and tilt- mill, on Doctor's Creek, and a saw-mill on Indian Run, below which, at a short distance west of the town, is a cotton manufactory."

The above shows quite clearly the condition of Allentown at that time. The old Episcopal Church had been torn down ; the academy was still in use ; the two schools were private, as elsewhere mentioned ; the grist and saw-mill were then owned by the heirs of Aaron Stew- ard. Of the " tilt-mill " nothing certain has been ascertained. The history of the cotton- factory is given below. A tavern and post- office were also here at that time.

William Arnd was succeded in the tavern by Samuel Forman, whose widow, Rebecca, suc- ceeded after his death and kept it until about 1835, when her son-in-law, John Hendrickson, became the landlord. Later, Barzillai Johnson kept it, and in 1865 the present proprietor, William D. Konover, came into possession. Gabriel Allen, Aaron Allen, David Holloway, Nicholas Bird, George Newell and others have kept taverns in Allentown at different times.

Allentown has had remarkable honors in its representation in State and national offices. The first chief justice of the State of New Jersey was David Brearly, who was a native and resi- dent of Allentown. He served as chief justice from 1782 to 1790. James H. Imlay served in Congress four years ; Samuel Cox, four years ; Dr. George Holcombe, twelve years ; Dr. Wil- liam A. Newell, six years; and George Middle- ton, two years. Dr. William A. Newell was

also Governor of the State, and afterwards Governor of Washington Territory.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Allentown is one of the most ancient in the county. The old parish of Christ Church was organized under the auspices of the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts about the year 1730, and subsequently was served by sev- eral missionaries. The church building was erected at that time. The church records were lost during the Revolution and the congregation was much scattered. Afterwards the few who remained were scarcely able to maintain the reg- nlar services. The church building had been used as a stable and somewhat injured by shot. The old Bible and praver-book that were used prior to the Revolution are still sacredly kept by the present congregation. After peace was declared the Rev. Mr. Frazer, rector of St. Michael's Church, Trenton, officiated once a month ; also Rev. Mr. Waddell, who succeeded him. From time to time only infrequent sup- plies could be obtained. A short time previous to 1810 the church building was taken down, as was reported in the "Journal of Convention" of that year, "in a ruinous state," after which only occasional services were held for the benefit of the remnant of the congregation in the churches and rooms kindly offered by the Pres- byterians and Methodists.

In 1845, after a period of thirty-five years without a church building, and with naught re- maining to tell of the existence of the former one, save the old graveyard, steps were taken by a few individuals to ereet a small and inexpen- sive church, in which, for a period of fifteen years, occasional services were held by the rec- tors of Trenton, Princeton and Bordentown Churches. In 1860, the Rev. E. A. Fogg be- came rector, officiating also as missionary at Hightstown and Crosswicks. He was succeeded, in 1861, by Rev. Mr. Carroll, whose rectorship continued over eight years. In 1869 the small church building in Allentown was superseded by a larger and more commodious edifice, in which have officiated successively the Revs. Bawn, Isaac, Du Bois, Mortimer A. Hyde and W. E. Daw, who is now the rector, and also in charge of the churches at Hightstown and Crosswieks.

1 The "Gazetteer" was published in 1834, on data gathered in the previous year.

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UPPER FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Allentown and vicinity has a history, which is here given in very nearly the exact words used by the present pastor, the Rev. George Swain, in a historical discourse delivered June 20, 1876.

It is to Nathan Allen, a sturdy pioneer, and no doubt stanch Quaker, who built a grist-mill and his house hard by, that we owe the name of our town. Thus founded, we may suppose that the village and vicinity contained in the first years, few besides those of the Society of Friends. Scotch, no doubt, some of them were, and also in good circumstances, but they were the followers of George Fox, and had little sympathy with the religion of their country. Agreeing with this, Morgan,1 who, in 1709, was pastor of the church in Freehold township, speaks of having met with a cold reception as he sought to preach in our region. But though planted and named by those of West Jersey, our neighborhood very soon began to feel the influence of the more diverse population in the eastern province. A Hol- landish element was early introduced, coming mainly from the lower part of Monmouth, around Middletown and Shrewsbury. The Presbyterian Seotch, too, from about Freehold, reached out in this direction, and the result was, that by the year 1720 Allentown had a people well mixed as to nationality and religious belief. The Dutch and Scotch, how- ever, being followers of the same Calvinistic faith and practice, and having therefore much in common, were very naturally drawn to- gether, and to them both we trace the rise of the Presbyterian Church in this place.

So numerous had these two coalescing ele- ments become by 1721 that Morgan, above mentioned, writes in cheering strain of the great change hereabonts with respect to Presby- terian ministers. Where before they were seareely less hated than Papists,-he remarks to Cotton Mather,-now they are regarded with favor. Having preached here himself at inter- vals for a year or more, he felt the work to be of such promise and importance that he sought

for the growing congregation a stated minister. In 1722, by which time, says Webster, there was a house of worship,-and, we may suppose, a church fairly organized,-Morgan was able to send one Walton, a native of Connecticut and graduate of Yale, to take charge of the Presby- terian interests. His stay, however, was very short, for, proving an erratie genius, whose powerful preaching was accompanied by impru- dent and culpable conduct, he was the same year suspended by the Presbytery of Philadel- phia. This must have been a hard blow to the struggling, though hopeful, cause. Those in the community strongly enough opposed to what they termed a " hireling ministry," would scarcely forget to make the most of Walton's inconsistencies.

From this unfortunate event till the year 1730 Allentown appears to have had no regular preaching. Such supplies as could be obtained from Presbytery were the sole dependence for a period of more than eight years. At the date above mentioned, and in view of an urgent re- quest to the Synod of Philadelphia from this congregation, Eleazar Wales, also from New England, became the settled pastor.

He remained, however, but four years, resign- ing for the reason, as given to Presbytery, of in- sufficient support. At the meeting which severed the pastoral connection, September, 1734, one Mr. Ingliss (or English) represented the church. Mr. Wales, we have reason to believe, was a devoted and godly man, and though it seems that he had no marked success in this vieinity, we can well assume that his short minis- try was by no means in vain. We read of him afterwards as in warm sympathy with White- field and Brainerd, this fact bespeaking for him an earnest spirit and decided evangelical views. He died, says Webster, in 1749.

From 1734 till the erection of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in 1738, we have nothing definite or special with respect to the church. At the first meeting of this new body, however, to whose care Allentown was transferred, com- missioners appeared both from this, and the congregation at Cranbury asking for supplies. One of the representatives was John Chambers, said to have been from Cranbury; but while

1 Rev. Joseph Morgan, who then lived in what is now Marlborough (then Freehold) township.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

no such name appears in the record of that church, we know that one John Chambers owned lands adjoining those of Nathan Allen, in this vicinity. Pursuant to this request, Gilbert Tennent, whom Whitefield called that " son of thunder," was appointed to preach at both places. Similar petitions continued to come up, year after year, showing the want of a settled pastor, but at the same time no dispo- sition to allow the Presbyterian interests to perish. As the result of these, the names of Mr. McCrea and William Tennent are on rec- ord as visiting the people and helping on the work.

It was during this state of things that, one came to America who was destined to work great increase to the cause of evangelical religion. This was George Whitefield, who, in Novem- ber, 1739, landed at Philadelphia to commence preaching at once through the colonies. The way was well prepared for his coming; for not only had his fame reached from over the sea, but a great revival also was already in progress. New England was aroused, and the fire then burning spread to Long Island and likewise to New Jersey.

A great and wide door was thus opened for Whitefield, and he went rapidly over the conn- try preaching with astonishing power. Early in 1740, in company, no doubt, with the Ten- nents, he visited Allentown ; and while there is no special note of his success, we may trust that the word spoken did not fail to build up and convert. At any rate, we have cause to believe that by the stimulus thus received, as well as through the revival influence abroad in the land, the church grew in strength, though wanting a regular minister. In the summer of 1741 there appeared before the Presbytery of New Brunswick, Mr. Charles MeKnight, ask- ing to be licensed by that body, and his qual- ifications were such that his license was granted without delay. He soon received offers from Amboy, Baskingridge and Staten Island, none of which he accepted. He continued without a regular charge till 1743, when, at a meeting of Presbytery, August 10th, a call was presented for his pastoral services by the united congrega- tions of Allentown and Cranbury. After hold-

ing the matter in consideration for a year, he concluded to accept the call, and July 10, 1744, was duly installed pastor of the two churches. Rev. William Tennent preached the sermon, and the services were accompanied with fasting and prayer. But Mr. MeKnight was no sooner settled than an unhappy contest arose between the two places as to where the pastor should reside. Cranbury at first gained the preference ; and accordingly Mr. MeKnight removed thither, and, though in the beginning unmarried, kept house.

On the Minutes of Presbytery, October 15, 1744, is the record that Mr. MeKnight conkdl not attend with the committee to install Mr. Hunter, because he was absent marrying a wife. He, therefore, did not remain single very long. The dispute between the two churches as to the minister's residence continuing unsettled, it fin- ally became so serious that Presbytery was ap- pealed to for counsel. A committee from this body met with the disputants October 12, 1748, and the business was prefaced by a sermon by William Tennent. They advised that the pas- tor should remain at Cranbury, and that the people of Allentown obtain a minister of their own as soon as possible. This latter they did ; but it was Mr. MeKnight himself,-he relin- quishing the charge at Cranbury, and moving to Allentown in 1756. After this, he remained ten years,-this his sole charge, save that Bor- dentown appears to have shared one-fourth of his time, on from 1758. For twenty-three years altogether he had care of the church, when he removed, in 1767, to settle at Middletown Point and Shrewsbury. At the latter place, so obnoxious did he become to the British in the Revolution, that his church was burned and himself taken prisoner. After a tedious and severe confinement, he was released, but only to die from the effects of it. January 1, 1778, he passed away, his body being buried in Trinity Churchyard, New York, where his grave may be seen to this day.

Turning to the record of his ministry here, the first important item is the purchase of ground for a house of worship and graveyard, December 15, 1744. William Lawrence, for the sum of five shillings, conveyed to Robert

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Imlay and Tobias Polhemus one acre of land, for the use of thePresbyterian congregation. On this a brick edifice was erected, 1756, a struc- ture which some of the oldest citizens remem- ber well. It served the congregation till 1837. Further, in 1752, a parsonage farm was pur- chased, and however much it contained at the first, it was five years after increased to more than two hundred and twenty acres. The persons who conveyed it to the trustees were Gysbert Hen- drickson, Leaford Leason and Robert English. The temporal matters of the church were thus in prosperous condition, and we have cause to believe (thongh with no recorded data to draw upon) that spiritually also there was flourishing and growth. Like pastor like people is an old adage with sound basis of truth, and as Mr. McKnight seems to have been a firm, independent and withal a godly man, we may argne that his twenty-three years' pastor- ate made a deep and lasting impression for good. He no doubt had much from the very beginning to encourage. When he took charge a great wave of revival had just swept over the land, and moreover, he had about him for several years after his settlement that man whose constant prayer it was that he might be a flaming fire in the service of God. We mean David Brainerd, apostle to the Indians of this region. He came from New England, in the summer of 1745, to labor among the red men, still numerous about Crosswicksung. On his way thither he records stopping at Cranbury, and lodging with Mr. Mcknight, of whom he speaks as a " serions minister." After this, so long as Brainerd re- mained in the vicinity, their intercourse was most cordial, and much aid did they render each other as opportunity allowed. All that the pastor conld do to commend to Christians at large the missionary's work, pecuniary help when the lat- ter was building the town and church of Bethel, near Cranbury,-a home for the converted In- dians,-these he cheerfully gave, reaping much for himself and churches in return.

May 11, 1746, was one occasion on which the earnest apostle assisted in administering the sac- rament at Allentown. He states that the word then preached was received with deep feeling and that after the public service he was much refreshed by the conversation of Christian friends.

Upon his removal, the church was again to suf- fer from a protracted vacancy. For the long period of eight years there was no pastor living among the people ; but in 1774 commissioners appeared from Allentown in Presbytery to pros- ecute a call to the Rev. William Schenck, a na- tive of Monmouth County, and graduate of Princeton Seminary. From records in possession of a branch of his family, it appears that he had preached much for the congregation prior to this date. He had spent fifteen Sabbaths here before 1772. Indeed, from this time he continued a sort of stated supply-with occasional inter- ruptions-till the call was formally made out as above. There is no minute of his installation ; but from the fact of his removal to the place and occupation of the parsonage, we may suppose that he was regularly inducted as pastor. He evidently remained till 1778, as there is found a record of baptisms administered by him as late as that year. He removed from Allentown to South Hampton, Pa., and after other changes died at Franklin, Ohio, 1823, at the age of eighty-three. Of the character and success of his pastorate among us we have no record. It appears, however, that he gave part of his time to a station at Imlaystown. He mentions the sum of one pound twelve shillings for labors there.

The Rev. Mr. Schenck having removed about 1778, we find that in the spring of the following year a call was presented from Allentown and Nottingham for the pastoral services of Mr. George Faitoute. Of Nottingham, to which he was to devote one-third of his time, this is the earliest mention, and, however the congregation of this place came into being, it was destined for many years to be, to all intents and purposes, one with Allentown. As long as the connection ex- isted there seems to have been one Session caring for both churches. Mr. Faitonte was pastor but for two years, as the minutes of Presbytery record his dismission in 1781. Following his removal there was again a protracted vacancy, the church becoming dependent for three years or more on Presbyterial supplies. These fur- nished the people with preaching once or twice a month. At length, in the spring of 1784, a call was presented to Mr. Joseph Clark, a grad-

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

nate of Princeton and a lieentiate of the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick. Of his previous history we have the following : Mr. Clark was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., October 21, 1751. He early felt the power of religion, and, though apprenticed as a carpenter at the age of seven- teen, strong was his desire for knowledge, and, if possible, to become a minister. Having bought a Latin grammar, he would often, after the day's toil, sit up nearly all night, conning over it by the light of a pine knot. He thus, by hercie effort, fitted himself for the junior elass at Prineeton College in two years. His collegiate course was, however, interrupted by the war, during which he served several years as a soldier in the army. At the close of the war he returned to college, and graduated in 1781. Having also studied theology two years, he was, in 1783, licensed to preach the gospel.

He had been sent to Allentown as one of the appointed supplies, and immediately, by his excellent preaching and evident piety, had won the hearts of the people. He did not forthwith accept the call, but requested time for due eon- sideration. We may, perhaps, imagine as the canse of this a precarious condition of health, for it is manifest that in his earlier ministry Mr. Clark was not robust. Meanwhile it was agreed that he preach one year as supply; and having, at the request of the congregation, been ordained as an evangelist, he began his work. Not one, but four years did he thus continue. For this long period he held the call in abey- ance, though all the while acting faithfully and fully as the pastor. He remained in this position till the summer of 1788, when, doubtless to the pleasure of the church, he accepted the eall and was regularly installed. The celebrated With- erspoon, together with Rev. Messrs. Woodhull, Smith, Armstrong and Morton, were the com- mittee from Presbytery to perform the duty of formal induction. Having been thus regularly settled among the people, Mr. Clark beeame growingly abundant in labor; he was a work- man, earnestly devoted to the work of Christ. His toils were such that they soon told upon his health, and in 1792 he was obliged to ask Presbytery for supplies that he might take a season of rest. He was probably much out of

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 105

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148