History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 124

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 124

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Immediately after the settlement of Mr. Swain, measures were inaugurated for securing a lecture-room or ehapel in the village of Marlborough. Various canses rendered such a building desirable. The village was growing, and many of its inhabitants, in the communion

of the church, were unable to attend the services in this house of worship with regularity and | convenience. In 1869 a suitable lot of abont half an acre, on the west side of Main Street, in the eentre of the village, was purchased by the consistory, and a committee appointed to secure the erection of a chapel. Messrs. Uriah Smock, Peter L. Cortelyou, Lafayette Schenck and Dr. Lewis I. Gordon constituted this committee. They pushed the work forward with energy and zeal. The building they erected is twenty-six feet wide and forty-six feet long, and cost the congregation two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five dollars. The pulpit was provided by the consistory of the Second Reformed Church of Freehold. The bell was donated by Mr. Peter L. Cortelyou. The head light over the door was the gift of Mr. David R. Hobart. The clock was presented by the Hon. Garret A. Hobart, of Paterson, N. J., and the Bible and hymn-book by Mrs. John E. Conover. The building was dedicated, entirely free from debt, November 21, 1869.

In 1870 the congregation determined to dis- pose of the farm which for forty years had been the home of their pastors, and build a par- sonage at Marlborough village. To carry out this desire a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Peter L. Cortelyou, Uriah Smock, Peter C. Van Der Veer, A. W. Hobart and Peter C. Du Bois. A suitable lot near the chapel, but on the opposite side of the street, was purchased of Mr. William W. Herbert for five hundred and fifty dollars. The farm was sold for six thousand one hundred and ten dollars, and a pleasant home erected for the pastor's use. The building cost four thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars; the necessary grading and fencing and outside improvements, about thirteen hundred dollars. The house is an ornament to the village, and with slight alterations, to be made in the future, will be as convenient and ample a dwelling- place as any one could desire.

The present pastor was called from the First Reformed Church of Bayonne City, N. J., the latter part of July, 1873. He commeneed his labors the first Sabbath of September, and was installed the 7th day of October. The Rev.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Dr. Hageman presided, read the form and de- livered the charge to the pastor. The sermon, by request of Classis, was preached by the Rev. Ransford Wells, D.D., then of Brookfield, Com., from Hebrews xiii. 17,-"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit your- selves, for they watch for your souls as they that must give account." The charge to the people was delivered by the Rev. James B. Wilson.

Since 1709 the congregation has been in charge of ten pastors. They have been of various nationalities, and the record is amusing. Of Welsh, Hollandish, Swedish, French and English descent there has been one each ; of Scottish descent, two; of American Dutch, three. The present pastor is the only one "to the manor born,"-the only New Jersey Dutch- man, born, baptized, educated, licensed and ordained in the Reformed Church, who has ministered here.

Of the membership of the church, three have consecrated themselves to the gospel ministry. The first to do so was the Rev. William Schenck, who was born October 13, 1740. His parents were Court Schenck and Maria Cowen- hoven. They lived on the farm now occupied by Mr. Uriah Smock, and gave their child, William, to God in holy baptism, January 20, 1741. When twenty-three years of age he married Miss Anna Cummings, a daughter of Robert Cummings, high sheriff of Monmouth County, and a granddaughter of the wife of Rev. William Tennent. He commenced study- ing for the ministry in the fall of 1763, gradu- ated from the College of New Jersey, at Prince- ton, in 1767, studied theology with Rev. William Tennent, and was licensed by the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick in 1770. He was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Allentown, N. J., in 1771. In 1777 he assumed the pastorate of the Reformed Churches of North and South Hampton, Pa., where he remained for three years. This was his only charge in the chinrch of his fathers. In 1780 he removed to Pittsgrove, N. J., and became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in which Rev. Benjamin Dubois was baptized. After a ministry here of six years he settled at Ballston,

near Saratoga. Here he continued until 1793, when he removed to Huntington, L. I. This was his last pastorate. In 1817 he resigned his charge, retired from the active duties of the ministry, and moved to Franklin County, Ohio, where he died September 1, 1823, in the eighty- third year of his age. One of his grandsons has for many years been an admiral in the United States navy.

The other members of this church who have entered the ministry are the Rev. Garret C. Schenck, who nnited with the church February 2, 1827, and the Rev. Edward P. Livingstone, who united with the church in December, 1854, and who is laboring in the West with remark- able success.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT MARLBOROUGHI is of recent origin, as compared with many of the other religious organizations of the county. The first record of Baptist preaching in Marl- borough was by Rev. W. D. Hires, of Holm- del, who began some time in 1836, but how often and for what length of time there is no account. There were a few Baptists in the vicinity; among them was Miss Ella G. Her- bert, a member of the Freehold Baptist Church, who died October 16, 1861. In her last will she bequeathed five hundred dollars to purchase a lot upon which to erect a house of worship for a Baptist Church, yet to be formed. As no Baptist meetings were held in the place, no- thing was done until the spring of 1865, when Mr. O. C. Herbert, a brother of the deceased, purchased a small shoe-shop, placing it on Hudson Street, and fitted it up for a select. school. Soon after, Rev. James Teed preached in the school-room. Hearing of this, Rev. D. S. Parmelee, of Freehold, appointed a meeting for the fourth Sunday in June, 1865, in the school-room, and preached from Matthew vi. 33, and was followed in remarks by Rev. Sidney Dyer, of the American Baptist Publica- tion Society, of Philadelphia, when a Baptist Sunday-school was organized, of fourteen scholars and six teachers. William C. Reid, of the Freehold Church, was chosen superin- tendent. The Rev. Mr. Dyer secured a dona- tion of ten dollars from the Publication Society,

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MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

the Freehold Church gave ten dollars, and the friends at Marlborough added to those sums sufficient to purchase a library of one hundred volumes and other needed supplies ; Mr. O. C. Herbert gave the use of the room for the Sun- day-school and preaching services; the Rev. D. S. Parmelee engaged to supply with preach- ing the fourth Sunday of each month, and thus was commenced the school and embryo Baptist Church. During the summer the school in- creased to thirty scholars. At this time Rev. C. D. Warner, a licentiate of the Holmdel Baptist Church, commenced preaching on the second Sunday of each month.

In the autumn of 1865 subscriptions were taken in Marlborough, Freehold and Holmdel for the erection of the house of worship, and Mr. O. C. Herbert, of Marlborough, James W. Perrine, of Freehold, James C. Taylor and C. D. Warner, of Holmdel, were appointed a building committee, with instructions to ereet a house of worship at a cost not exceeding two thousand dollars, and on the 26th of August, 1866, the corner-stone of the meeting-house was laid in the presence of a large assembly. Ad- dresses were delivered by Rev. D. H. Miller, of Trenton, and D. S. Parmelee. The stone, in which were deposited the usual documents and papers, together with the history of the Baptist interest in Marlborough to that day, was laid by D. S. Parmelee. A collection was taken, amounting to about three hundred and ninety- five dollars.

About this time the Rev. C. E. Wilson, of Holmdel, began preaching in Marlborough the third Sunday of each month, and F. A. Slater on the first Sunday of each month, so that a ser- mou was heard at four P.M. every Sunday in each month, and the record adds, as a significant fact, " at no expense to us."

the same year, Revs. Parmelee and Slater con- tinuing for some time longer.

On the 16th of March, 1869, agreeably to the advice of a council, the Baptists of Marlborough and vicinity met in the lecture-room of the church, at four P.M., to take measures for the con- stitution of a regular Baptist Church. After a sermon from D. S. Parmelee, Rev. F. A. Slater was chosen moderator and D. S. Parmelee clerk, after which letters of dismission were presented by fifteen persons from the church at Freehold, eleven from Holmdel, two from Oxford, N. Y., one from Herbertsville and two from Matawan,-in all, thirty-one. After the read- ing of the letters, it was resolved to nnite iu covenant relations as achurch of Christ, subject to the judgment of a council of recognition, and to adopt as the church covenant and articles of faith that generally known as the " New Hamp- shire Confession."

On the 25th of the same month the council of delegates, from twelve Baptist Churches, met at Marlborough, and resolved that the recognition take place immediately after the dedication ser- vices. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. H. F. Smith, of New Brunswick; the prayer was offered by Rev. D. S. Parmelee. The recognition services followed immediately. Prayer by Rev. D. B. Stout ; hand of fellowship, Rev. C. W. Clark; address to the church by Rev. F. A. Slater. A statement of the debt upon the church property was then made, when a subscription of more than four thousand dollars was taken,-sufficient to liquidate the entire debt.

In October, 1869, the church was visited by E. C. Romine, a licentiate of the church at Sandy Ridge, who continued with us until No- vember. On the 26th he was, by a large coun- eil, ordained to the work of the ministry, the veteran evangelist, Rev. Jacob Knapp, preach- ing the sermon ; soon after which Mr. Romiue left to engage in evangelistie labors elsewhere.

The house was inclosed and the lecture room finished and dedicated February 10, 1867 ; ser- mon by Rev. D. B. Stout, of Middletown, Rev. The following-named ministers have served the church as pastors during its history of fifteen years: Rev. George Johnson, from March, 1870, until February 1, 1871, resigned on account of ill health ; Rev. E. C. Romine, called for three months from May 1, 1871; Rev. S. L. Cox, D. S. Parmelee offering the prayer of dedication. Revival meetings were then commenced and continued until the 19th of April, and on the 6th of June following fifteen converts were bap- tized. Mr. Warner continued his services until April 1, 1869, and Mr. Wilson until May of | from February 25, 1872, until July 1, 1873;

744

HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY. NEW JERSEY.

Rev. James Thorn, from September 21, 1873, until August 23, 1874; Rev. B. C. Morse, settled as pastor December 20, 1874, ended by his being called up higher, April 29, 1876. Rev. S. L. Cox commenced a second pastorate over the church, the first Sabbath of September, 1876, and resigned September 2, 1878; Rev. J. James Baker, the present pastor, commenced his labors March 1, 1879. The first deacons were R. R. Sutphen and Ruloff Voorhees, since which time S. T. Hendrickson, HI. S. Conover, H. Emmons, Lemuel Wooley and P. V. Broach have served in that officc. The board of dea- cons at present consists of W. H. Heyer, O. C. Herbert and William C. Weeks. In the clerk- ship the church has been served by O. C. Her- bert, James E. Johnson and H. W. Heyer. The present clerk is George B. Herbert.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CONGREGATION OF ST. GABRIEL's, in Marlborough township, was first organized, in 1871, by the Rev. Father Kivelitz, of Freehold. Mass was celebrated once a month, and religious instruction given to the children once a week, in a private house. In 1878 a church building was erected (on a lot donated by Patrick Fallon), and was consecrated on the 4th of November in that year by Arch- bishop Corrigan. The church, which is located near the Bradevelt Railroad Station, is a brick structure, thirty by fifty feet in dimensions, and capable of seating two hundred and twenty per- sons. During the past four years Mass has been celebrated here every second Sunday by Father Kivelitz, who is still in charge of the congre- gation.

THE SCHOOLS OF MARLBOROUGH are taught in the seven school districts comprised in the township, which contain six hundred and eighty- six children of school age. The school property is valued at six thousand three hundred dollars.

Pleasant Valley District, No. 38 .- The earliest school-house in this district was doubtless the one that stood on the land of Captain John Schenck,1 now owned by his grandson, David

Schenck, Jr. David Schenck, Sr., was born in 1783, and attended school first in this old house, about 1790. This house was used until 1834, when it was abandoned. The present house was built about 1840, and, with occasional repairs, is still in use. The district now contains ninety- seven children.

Magee School District, No. 41 .- The lot on which this school-house stands was sold by John Quackenbush, December 2, 1822, to Richard Magee and Isaac Quackenbush, "trustees of the school in the neighborhood." A school-honse was erected on this lot soon after, and was in use until 1871, when it was rebuilt. It is known also as the Wooley or Union School- house. William Bayley, - Cassidy and William Crozier were among the early teachers in this house. The district contains forty-five children.

Morganville School District, No. 39 .- The land on which the school-house of this district stands was donated, over fifty years ago, for school purposes by Jonathan Morgan. The house was rebuilt in February, 1873. The district contains one hundred and five children.

Robertsville School District, No. 40 .- This house was built in 1832, for both school and church purposes. It is still in use. The dis- triet contains forty-three children of school age.

Marlborough School District, No. 42 .- The lot on which the school-house was originally built was donated for school purposes to the district by Joseph Vandeveer. It was situated a half-mile from the present location. Later, a house was built in Marlborough, a short dis- tance from the present house. About 1860 it was sold to Daniel Van Doren, on whose place it now stands. The present house was built at that time, and was rebuilt in 1874. The dis-

1 Captain John Schenck, whose residence was in the eastern part of Marlborough township, where, as above mentioned, his grandson, David Schenck, Jr., now lives.

and who, in his time, was one of the prominent men of Monmouth County, as also one of the bravest and best of her military officers. lle was a devoted patriot in the Revolution, rendering valuable service to the popular cause, and bearing a leading part in several well-contested skirmishes with the enemy. He was born August 28. 1745, and died on his birthday, 1834, at the good old age of eighty-nine years. He was buried in the old family burial-ground, in Pleasant Valley, in the western part of llolmdel township, where a fitting monument marky his grave.

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MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

triet contains two hundred and sixteen children liam Church, Captain James Stone and others. of school age. The present proprietor is J. Akinson.

The Strong or Spring Valley School District, No. 44 .- More than half a century ago Abram Pease left by will to the people in this locality a tract of ground for use as a burial-place, which was accepted and is still in use. About 1854 a , school-house was erected by James Strong upon this lot and used until 1870, when the present house was erected at a cost of six hundred dol- lars, and the old house abandoned. The present lot was donated for school purposes only by Cor- nelius Honce. The district contains fifty-two children.

Brick Church School District, No. 43 .- The first school-house in this locality was on land now owned by John Herbert. Peter G. C'ono- ver, now eighty-seven years of age, attended school in the house several years after 1805, under Henry Smith, teacher. He says it was then an old house. It was abandoned abont 1825, and about two years later the present house (then a one-story building) was erected on the present site, adjoining the old Brick Church. Among the early teachers in this house were - Weisenfelt and James I. Ives. The latter taught seven years in this place. About 1857 a story was added to the building as it is at present. The district contains one hundred and twenty-eight pupils.

MARLBOROUGH is the most important of the several small villages of the township. Its lo- cation is in the southeastern part of the town- ship, on the line of the Freehold and New York Railway, of which Marlborough is a sta- tion.

Many years ago the place was known as " Bucktown," and here was located the old " Buck Tavern," kept by John Buck, and, after him, by his son of the same name. In 1831 it passed to the proprietorship of Kortenius Hiers (Hyers), by whom it was owned till after 1841. Its last proprietor was Isaac Herbert, and it was torn down in 1844. In 1845 the present Marlborough Hotel was erected at the corner, and was occupied by Uriah Smalley for several years. It has since been kept by John I. Sut- phin, Gordon Sanford, William Applegate, Wil-

The Marlborough post-office was established before 1840, from which time until 1848, John Heyer was postmaster. He was succeeded by his son, William Heyer, who was, in turn, suc- ceeded by James Thomson, in 1852. 1. W Hobart became postmaster in 1855, and was succeeded in 1861 by W. H. Heyer. The pres- ent postmaster is .I. A. Butcher, who was ap- pointed in 1873.

Of the old resident physicians who practiced in the township, were Drs. James Magee, Fain, Croft and Charles A. Conover. Dr. J. D. Ely is now a resident in Marlborough village.

The first store in Marlborough village was kept by John Smock, and the second by Daniel H. Van Mater. The village now contains, besides hotels and stores, a school-house, the chapel of the " Brick Church " (Reformed) and

a Baptist Church. The two churches here named will be found mentioned more fully in another part of the history of this township.

In the fall of 1866 an association was formed at Marlborough to establish a select school in the village. It was incorporated February 25, 1867, and Dr. D. H. Van Mater, O. C. Herbert, C. II. Conover, Uriah Smith and John Baird were elected trustees. A lot was secured and a house erected upon it. The school was opened and was conducted with varied snecess until the spring of 1884, when the building was sold and moved to the railroad, where it was fitted up as the Marlborough station, and is now in that use.

ROBERTSVILLE is a small settlement in the western part of the township. About 1830 a tavern was opened at this place by one Bowne, who died before 1835, when it was owned by Mrs. Ann Bowne and kept by her son-in-law, John Magee. In that year the property was sold to Mathew Roberts, who continued the tavern until his death, in 1876. The school- house at Robertsville was built in 1832, and services were held in it by the Methodists from that time. A society has been organized and a new church building is now being erected. Dewitt MeIlvaine is the pastor in charge.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

HILLSIDE, or Hulsetown, lies on the eastern . Honce, whose children were Tunis, John, David, boundary of the township, adjoining the north- western corner of the township of Atlantic. At this place, about 1825, John Hulse leased land of Peter G. Conover, and established a tannery, which was carried on about twenty- five years and then abandoned. A little settle- ment had grown up around it and a store had been started, which is still in business. Between the settlement of Hillsdale and the railroad station (now called " Bradevelt ") are the Brick Church (Reformed) and the Roman Catholic Church of St. Gabriel, both of which are else- where more fully mentioned.

MORGANVILLE, in the northeast part of the township, derives its name from the family of Morgan, who were carly settlers here W. S. | 1828, married to Mary, daughter of William Cloke established a store here in 1853, and built a store building in 1855. A school-house was at that time located on the present site. 1 post-office was established in 1868 and E. P. ('oats was appointed postmaster. He was sue- eeedled in 1879, by Charles Malcolm, the present incumbent. In 1869 a Methodist Church was erected at a cost of two thousand one hundred dollars. The pastors have been Rev. E. II. Bacon, S. P. Crasaboon and S. M. Nichols.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

DAVID I. VAN DERVEER .- The earliest rep- resentative of the Van Derveer (signifying “from the ferry ") family was Janse Van Derveer, who emigrated from Alkmaar, in North Hol- land, in the ship " Otter," in 1659. He mar- ried, about 1672, Jannetje, daughter of Giles De Mandeville, to whom were born six sons and four daughters. Dominicus, one of the sons. born 1679, married, first, Jannetje, and, second, Maria Margaretta Nortlyek. He was the father of seven sons and five daughters. Tunis Van Derveer, the first member of the family to set- tle in Monmouth County, was born about 1704, and married, about 1723, Alhie Sehenek, whose children were John, Jacob, Phoebe, Garret, Nelly, Tunis, Cornelius, Allchy and David. Tunis, of this number, the grandfather of David 1., was born April 19, 1739, and married Jance

Arthur, Jane, Helen and David (second). John, the father of the subject of this biographieal sketeli, was born April 4, 1763, and married, in 1789, Ann Bowne, whose birth occurred Mareh 23, 1769. Their children are Joseph, born in 1790; Tunis, in 1792; John, in 1895; Jane, in 1798; Lydia, in 1800, who died in 1802 ; Hannah, in 1803; David I., April 19, 1806 ; Anna, in 1808; Catherine, in 1811; and Sarah, in 1814. David I. spent his early youth on the homestead, now occupied by his son, D. Arthur Van Derveer, receiving his education in the rudimentary branches at the neighboring public school, after which he engaged with his father in farming. He was, on the 13th of February, and Ann Davis Covenhoven, whose children are Hannah (Mrs. David C. Perrine), born in 1829; William C., of Carlisle, Ohio, in 1831 ; John D., of Monmouth County, in 1836; and David Arthur, in 1844. Mr. Van Derveer, desiring to retain possession of the homestead which had been for a century and a half associated with the family history, after his marriage purchased the property, and continued during the remainder of his life to cultivate its productive acres. The political antecedents of the Van Derveer family are Democratie, and David I., though in this regard in full sympathy with them, rarely in- terested himself actively in the local political issues of the day, and invariably declined office. His integrity and executive ability rendered his services frequently in demand as trustee, execu- tor and guardian, which offices were filled with fidelity and acceptance. He was a member of the Monmouth County Agricultural Society, and much interested in matters pertaining to agriculture. In 1831 he became connected by membership with the Tennent Church, in which he filled the office of deacon, and later trans- ferred his membership to the Presbyterian Church at Freehold. The death of Mr. Van Derveer occurred on the 23d of July, 1884, in his seventy-ninth year. His son, D. Arthur Van Derveer, now cultivates the farm and gives special attention to the breeding of Jersey cat- tle, in which he has been successful. He mar- ried, on the 2d of November, 1865, Miss

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MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP.

Ella G., daughter of Tunis V. Schenek, and has two sons,-Tunis S., and Arthur P.

JOHN W. HERBERT .- Francis Herbert, the first representative of that name in New Jersey, and a grandson of Philip Herbert, fourth earl of Pembroke, with thirty associates, came from Long Island in 1677, and settled in Middle- town, Monmouth County. He married Han- nah, daughter of the celebrated Quaker, John Bowne, who located on Long Island in 1659.

proprietors of East Jersey, and settled in Mid- «lesex County. Their children were three sons -John, William and Obadiah-and two daugh- ters,-Sarah and Elizabeth. William Herbert, father of John W., who was born in 1771, in Middlesex County, N. J., married, in 1801, Eleanor, daughter of Benjamin Conover, of Monmouth County, and granddaughter of Gar- ret Conover and Neeltje Van Mater. They had children,-Obadiah, Conover, William W., John W., Abby E., Hannah (wife of Garret C'ott-

Davint & Vanderveer

They had four sons-Thomas, Francis, David | rell) and Eleanor. John W. Herbert was born and Obadiah-and three daughters-Elizabeth, on the 13th of June, 1820, in Madison town- Deborah and Mary. Obadiah, in 1729, mar- ship, Middlesex County, and at the age of seven ried Hannah, daughter of William Lawrence, years removed with his family to the farm now owned by him in Marlborough township, Mon- month County. His father, though a success- ful farmer, was largely engaged in building, and later. in the production of ship-timber, which was attended with much profit. He was actively identified with the public interests of Jr., grandson of Sir Henry Lawrence, president of Cromwell's Council, and son of William Lawrence, Sr. William Lawrence, Jr., mar- ried Ruth Gibbons. Obadiah, one of the nine children of Obadiah Herbert and Hannah Law- rence, married, in 1765, Elizabeth Warn, grand- daughter of Colonel Thomas Warn, one of the | Middlesex County, as justice of the peace for

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 124

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