History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 148

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140

USA > New Jersey > Sussex County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 148
USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 148

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Leonard Stocker, another of the early emigrants from Pennsylvania, located on the west side of the The Morris turnpike began at Phillipsburg, and, township, near the Delaware River, at an early day, | running westerly, passed through Stewartsville, and where he purchased land which was occupied until on through Franklin. This was a very early highway. Before this turnpike was constructed a road ran from Easton to Stewartsville, and through New Village to Washington. his death. He had five sons and two daughters, of whom Samuel resided in the township, where he died. The remaining children chose homes elsewhere.

The road territory of Greenwich is now divided into 32 districts, over which the following supervisors are appointed :

No. 1, Wilson Metler; 2, John Heller; 3, William IIeller; 4, Abram Heller; 5, David Wieder; 6, C. Wallace; 7, William B. Fritz; 8, D. P. Cline ; 9, Andrew Lott ; 10, Isaac Wyant; 11, William Butler ; 12, Henry R. Stone; 13, Peter Myers; 14, William S. Purcell ; 15, John Nestley ; 16, A. B. Fritze; 17, Andrew Hawk : 18, J. Lanning; 19, F. Vanderbilt; 20, Jacob Bellis; 21, William Shipman; 22, Willianı B. Shimer; 23, George B. Cole; 24, Henry Super ; 25, Jacob Frey ; 26, Philip Reese: 27, Lewis Cline, 28, J. H. Hulshizer; 29, Peter Stamets; 30, William Sharrer ; 31, George W. Hance : 32, John Fine.

IV .- ORGANIZATION AND CIVIL LIST.

That Greenwich was formerly a township under Hunterdon and Morris Counties and had its repre- sentatives in the Provincial Assembly is proved by " A Pole of the Freeholders of the County of Hun- terdon for Representatives to serve in the General Assembly of the Province of New Jersey, for the County of Hunterdon, taken per Christopher Search, one of the Clerks, October 9th, 1738, before David Martin, Esq., High Sheriff."

Greenwich township was represented in this elec- tion by the following-named electors : Samuel Green, IIenry Stewart, John Anderson, Thomas Anderson.

Greenwich was in Morris County from 1738, when set off from Hunterdon, until 1753, when Sussex was formed from Morris. From that date until 1824 it was in Sussex County, but since the last-named year has been a civil division of Warren County .*

# Since writing the history of Greenwich the following act has been passed dividing the township. Approved March 24, 1881 :

" An Act to establish a new township in the county of Warren, to be called the township of Pohntcong.

"1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of Nem Jersey, That all that part of the township of Greenwich, in the county of Warren, contained within the following bounds,-to wit, beginning at the line between the townships of Lopatcong and Greenwich, at a point on said line between the farms of William Hamlin and Jacob Paulus; thence in a southeasterly course to a corner of the public road at the house ocenpied by the sexton of the Saint James' Lutheran Church ; thence along said road to Still Valley ; thence to the forks of the road at the farmhouse of Robert T. Smith ; thence in a direct course to a corner between the furms of Daniel Cense and Henry R. Kennedy ; thence along the line between - Robbins and Henry R. Kennedy ; thence on the line between the lands of Kase and Creveling to the Musconetcong

597

GREENWICH.

Although Greenwich is one of the oldest townships in the county in point of organization, no records prior to 1855 have been preserved by its township officers. It is therefore impossible to make the civil list of the township complete.

TOWN CLERKS.

1855-56, William G. Tomer; 1838-59, Georgo Van Ness; 1860-61, John Sherrer ; 1802, George Van Ness; 1863-67, James M. Lowo; 1868- 70, James M. Kennedy ; 1871, J. M. Hawk ; 1872-74, James M. Ken- nody ; 1875-76, Henry H1. Stone; 1877, A. J. Fulmer ; ISTS, Houry II. Stono; 1870-80, John Fine.

COLLECTORS.

1855, C. M. Fino; 1856-58, A. J. Runb; 1859-62, Jucob Vought; 1×63-64, Robert II. Abernethy ; 1-65-66, Jesso Stewart, Jr .; 1×67-73, Charles 11. Kremer; 1834, James K. Barber; 1853-77, Charles H. Kremer; 1878, Charles H1. Godfrey ; 1879-81, Duvid Webler.

ASSESSORS.

1855-56, Daniel Elbinger; 1857-58, John Sherrer; 1859-61, Willium Car- penter; 1862, John F. Hughes ; 1863-64, John Thatcher ; 1865-66, John Fino; 1867-68, Benjamin Swartz; 1869-75, William Carpenter; 1876, Nothun Carpenter ; 1877-78, William Carter; 1879, David F. Stone; 1880-81, Solomon W. Weller,

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1865, Gardon Moulton, R. I., Cline, J. F. Tinsman, William Hager ; 1856, John S. Tlusnin ; Isto, R. L. CHoe, J. S. Tinsmian, J. W. Low, Wil- Ham G. Tomor; 1861, J. M. Plumer, A. J. Raub; 1862, Benjamin Swartz, Isaac Shipman; 1863, Gurdon Moultoo; 1865, James W. Low, Peter Snyder, Inte Carpenter ; 1866, J. S. Tiusman, R. H. Aberuethy ; 1867, William S. Kase ; 1868, James M. Konuedy, William S. Carpen- for; 1869, Freeman Wood; 1870, William Carpenter, George W. Fackonthall, Benjamin P. Purcell; 1871, William Carpenter, J. C. Smith, B. P. Purcell; 1872, William Hunt, S. George Price; 1873, James MI. Kennedy; 1875, J. D. Gray, Abrain Seigle, T. G. P'rico; 1876, William S. Carpenter ; 1878, Thaddeus G. Price, John Fino.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

1x56, John Sharp; 1×57-58, L. C. Bowlby ; 1859-61, Nathaniel Jennings; 1862-64, Jantes Hulhizer ; 1865, P. F. Hulshizer.

FREEHOLDERS.

1825-30, Peter Kline, Jonathno Robbins; 1831, John Carpenter, Jona- than Robbins: 1832, Robert HI. Kennedy, Jonathan Robbins; 1:33- 39, Robert HI. Kennedy, Jucob H. Winter; 1840-41, Joseph A. Car- peuter, Isaac Shipman, Jr. ; 1812-13, William Hamlin, William Als- honso; 1844-45, Thomas Heese, Spencer C. Smith ; 18-16-48, John T. Rarick, Inmes Stewart ; 18-10-50, John M. Roseberry, James Stewart; 1851, Robert H. Kounedy, James Stewart; 1852-55, James Stewart; 1856, Johu Thatcher; 1857-58, Edward H. Bird; 1850-60, John Thatcher; 1861-62, Androw M. Fine; 1863, Isaac Shipman ; 1861, Andrew J. Fulmer ; 1865-6%, Peter S. Robbins; 1868, Williom I. Teel; 1860-71, Jacob S. Huwk ; 1872, Vinceut Sroith ; 1873-74, Jacob S. Hawk ; 1876-76, Jacob J. Stone ; 1877-79, Isaac S. Laubach ; 1880, Josse J. Lako ; 1881, Isaac S. Lanbach.

V .- SCHOOLS.

The memory of the present residents of Greenwich is not equal to the task of perpetuating in history recollections of the school-days of their ancestors. The facts with reference to carly schools are therefore meagre.

An early stone school-house was erected during the latter part of the last century, nearly a mile below

River at or near I'lue Hollow brilgo; thence down the middle of enil river to Its confluence with the Delaware River ; thence up the Delaware Itiver to the line between the townships of Lopatcong amt Greenwich; thence along snid line to the place of heginniog,-shall bo and is hereby set off from thu township uf Greenwich, in the county of Warren, nad mude a separate township, to be known by the name of the township of l'uhutcung."

Stewartsville, on the road to Bloomsbury. It is still standing, though not in use. Many of the rising youth of that portion of the township seventy-five years ago here acquired the rudiments of an educa- tion, under the tutelage of Master Philip Larch.

Another building, of logs, was erected for school purposes in the northwest portion of the township, in which the teachers were Masters William Wilson, John Simms, Phineas Barber, and Jacob Melliek. The schools were at this early day maintained by subscription, the parents signing two dollars per scholar for a quarter of twelve weeks and agreeing to board the master.

In 1837 an academy was erected by the private en- terprise of the citizens of Stewartsville, which was opened by Master Moore as instructor. John S. La Bar was a later teacher. The building is now occupied by the district as a public school. The township is now divided into the following districts, presided over by the teachers named in connection with each :

No. 1, Finesville, D. R. Williamson ; No. 2, Hughesville, Win. C. Free- man ; No. 3, Carpenterville, J. K. Stauffer ; No. 4, Springtown, E. F. Schug ; No. 5, Kennedyville, Peter Hulshiver ; No. 6, Still Vudley, E. F. Cline ; No. 7, Stewartsville, T. G. Price.

The number of pupils in attendance during the past year was 693. The amount of State appropria- tion was $211.41, the amount of township school tax $806, the amount of two-mill tax $2167.64, making a total amount for school purposes of $3185.05.

VI .- CHURCHLES. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GREENWICH.

The following extracts, embodying a history of the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, are taken from a centennial discourse delivered June 17, 1875, by its former pastor, Rev. D. X. Junkin, D.D. :

" No doubt Presbyterian families had come among the carlier settlers of the volley, and it is very probable that some visits from muluisters of the gospel would be munde before any attempt at organization would be proposed, so as to become matter of record. The earliest record which I have been able to fud carries us back almt one hundred and thirty-six years. In 1739 the minutes of the Presbytery of New Brunswick in- form us, in their antique style, that 'there came before Presbytery u supplication for supplies of preaching in Mir. Barber's neighborhood near Musconnekuuk,' and a minister ()Ir. Cross or Mellea) was directed tu supply certain Sabbaths at Lamintunk (now called Lamington and dir. Barber's. This Mr. Barber was probably the ancestor of )Ir. Jewe Bar- her, who, an old man at the time I came to Greenwich, atill worshiped with this church. Mr. Jesse Barber lived at the southwest base of Scotch Mountain. 'Barber's neighborhood was identical with what was afterwards called Greenwich.' Mention is repeatedly made of supplies being sent to Mr. Burber's and Mr. Green's, these names being used in- terchangeably. Farther down in the minutes the locality designated as Mir. Green'e Is called Greenerlige, Greenridge, sometimes Greenage, and at last Greenwich, the different modes of designation and spelling being arlditrary on the part of the clerks.

" From 1739 forward frequent mention la made of supplies being ap- pointed for 'Greenwich,' for ' Greenwich upon Delaware,' for ' Mansfichi- Wirlhouse,' and other points In this general region.

" At what precise time the first house of worship was built for this congregation wo have not ascertained. It must have been between the years 1740 and 1714, for in the journal of that man of God, David Hrain- erd, who was Inboring among the Indians fu the ' Forks of the Dela- ware,' he mentions having preached twice un Sabbath, Dec. 9, 1741, lu Greenwich, N. J.

598

WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

" That the Greenwich thus hallowed by the prayers nud tears of the saioted Brainerd wns our Greenwich is rendered certain by the fact, which he mentioned, that it was ten miles from his honse in the Forks of the Delaware. That house was n rnde cabin, nud stood about one- half a mile south by west of where the church of Lower Monnt Bethel now stands, near the banks of Martin's Creek, the Indiao name of which was Sukhanwotung. The site of the cabin was pointed out to me some forty years ago. It is just abont ten miles from the site of the original Greenwich meeting-honse, but not more than six or seven from Axford's neighborhood, sometimes called, in the old records, 'Greenwich upon Delaware.' The original meeting-honse, built of logs, stood upon the farm formerly owned by John Riley, Esq., now by Henry R. Kennedy, Esq. The site of the church and graveyard was to the left of the old road as yon ascend the hill from the farmhouse going towards the sonth. Be- neath the soil of that field sleep the bones of many of the early inhabi- tants of the valley. There, as 'the Elders' have informed me, was a large burying-gronnd, in which slumber the mortal remains of many who, one hundred and thirty years ago, heard the gospel from the lips of the saioted Brainerd. And that there was n house of worship erected as early as 1744 is proven by the fact that he did not preach in a private honse or he would have mentioned it, and that the congregation could not have worshiped on the 9th and 10th of December in the open air or woods. The fact, too, that thirty-one years after Brainerd's visit the old log church was so far decayed as to call for n new erection renders it probable that it had been built some two or three yenrs before his visit, -probably abont 1741. That locality was abandoned in 1775. The plowshare has long ago leveled every mound that covered the bosoms of the sleepers. Few of the present generation can tell exactly where thuut ' God's acre' lies."

The Rev. Francis Peppard, the Rev. James Camp- bell, and others ministered to this people at an early day. Besides these, it is learned from the minutes of the Presbytery that

" John Cross, Rev. Daniel Lawrence, Rev. John Clark, Rev. Robt. Cross, Rev. John Boyd, the Rev. James McRea, and others, visited the churches of this region and dispensed ordinances ; but there was probably no settled pastor before Mr. Roseborongh.

"The Rev. John Roseborongh* was pastor of Greenwich, Oxford, and Mansfield-Woodhonse abont 1755. Late in 1769 he removed from this side of the river Delaware, and became the pastor of the churches in the two Irish settlements, in what is now Northampton County. Mr. Rose- borongh continued to serve those churches until 1777, when, in the darkest hour of our Revolutionary struggle, he roused by his eloquence the brave hearts of his parishioners to rush to the help of their country. A battalion was raised. The patriotic pastor was chosen to its command. He marched at its head to the camp of Washington, then near to Cor- yell's Ferry, and tendered their services in the cause of freedom. He requested the general to appoint an experienced officer to command them, and he himself remained as chaplain. They shared in the strug- gle and glory of Trenton. But, a few days after that victory, the patriot pastor, who had not recrossed the Delaware with the main body of the army, was surprised by a scouting-party of British horse in a farmhouse Dear Pennington. Finding that he was a Presbyterian, and of course a Whig, they stabbed him in cold blood, and he died under their murder- ons hands, a martyr to the cause of American liberty."

After this, during the anxious period prior to the Revolutionary war, the church had no settled pastor, though many ministers officiated as supplies. In 1776, Rev. Joseph Treat came to this valley and Mount Bethel, and preached at each point upon alternate Sabbaths. He subsequently removed to the congre- gation and remained until his death, in 1797 or '98.

"The old stone church, which was erected on this spot one hundred yenrs ago, remained in good condition until it was pulled down to give place to the present edifice, in April, 1835. It must have been one of the best church edifices of its day in the State, and reflected honor upon the congregation which at so early a day, and in tronblous times, could erect such a building. It was built of stone masonry so solid nnd well cemented that the walls seemed as firm and weather-proof in the last

year of its existence as in the first. It wns 49 by 38 feet, with walls 17 feet high; ceiling slightly arched across the narrow dimension of the house ; gables on the east and west ends (the reverse of the present edi- fice) ; two doors in front, opening on nisles which led back to another aisle, which extended, in front of the pulpit, the entire length of the house; pulpit of the ancient tnb species, with a precetor's box in front of it. The pulpit stood against the north wall, opposite the doors, and galleries were on three sides of the auditorinoi, reached by stairs which arose from each door.

" After the death of Mr. Treat the Rev. William B. Sloan became the pastor of the two congregations of Mansfield and Greenwich, and was ordained and installed near the close of 1797 or the early part of 1798. For about seventeen years he served the two churches, and then became the sole pastor of this one, which he served until the fall of 1834,-about thirty-six years in all.

"The eu liest record of session that can be found is dated Nov. 14, 1803, seventy-two years ago. The first page contains this inscription : 'Green- wich Presbyterian Church Consistory, opened Nov. 14, 1803; Rev. Wm. B Sloan, Moderator, Peter Davis and Thomas Stewart, Elders ordained, Thomas Kennedy, Wm. Kennedy, ond Wm. Smith, Elders elect.' The record is in the writing of the venerable Judge Stewart.

" From that time to the present the records of Session have been kept with a good degree of regularity. Adam Ramsey, Peter Sharps, Sr., and Abraham Carpenter were elected elders Sept. 25, 1811; Charles Carter, Peter Smith, and Dr. Silas Cook in July, 1819; Lefferd Haughawout, Aug. 22, 1822; Jonathan Robbins and Samuel T. Stewart, March G, 1825 ; William Carter and Daniel Hulshizer, Sept. 19, 1833; Peter Sharps, Jr., and John A. Creveling, Feb. 2, 1839; Jolin Carter, Robert S. Kennedy, and Spencer C. Smith, June 6, 1848; James Stewart and John Kelly, May 4, 1851; William Stewart, Peter Pursell, nnd John P. Smith, July 26, 1857; William Carpenter, Peter S. Rebbins, Robert S. Kelly, and William U. HInmlin, Sept. 8, 1866; Joseph W. Carter, Sept. 27, 1873, the last five constituting the present Session. Of those who were ordained to the office of deacon, the following is a list: John Carter, Spencer C. Smith, Robert S. Kennedy, Henry Gardner, John Kelly, and Jesse Stewart were ordained Feb. 21, 1841; William Stewart, William J. Fish- baugh, and Henry R. Kennedy, July 30, 1848; Peter Pursell, Robert L. Cline, and William Carpenter, April 8, 1849; Joho H. Hamlia, Robert K. Hamlin, Spencer C. Pursell, Philip L. Hawk, and Joseph W. Curter, io 1869; Lefferd H. Pursell, John Hart, and Joseph F. Young, May 1, IS70."

Feb. 7, 1835, Rev. D. X. Junkin received a unani- mous call from the congregation, and on March 25th was ordained to the ministry and installed as pastor of the church. He continued with this people until 1851 (when he accepted a call to the F Street Preshyte- rian Church of Washington City). During the first year of his pastorate in Greenwich the structure of 1775 was taken down and the present edifice erected, the building committee having been the venerable William Carter, then an elder of the church, Robert HI. Kennedy, and John A. Creveling. All of the stones needed, in addition to those of the old building, were taken from the hillside beyond the mill, and were the gift of Mr. Kennedy, besides a liberal cash subscription.

The succeeding pastor was Rev. A. II. Hand, who was called June 17, 1851, and was installed Sept. 2, 1851, continuing here until November, 1870, more than nineteen years, when he accepted a call to the church of Palisades, N. Y.

The present pastor, Rev. Thomas S. Long, was in- stalled May 18, 1871. Under his ministry the church enjoys a high degree of prosperity.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF STEWARTSVILLE.

A Sabbath-school organized in the Stewart school- house as early as 1819 or 1820 formed the nucleus of

* Spelled also Rosebrough and Rosebrugh.

599

GREENWICH.

a later church organization. The building was located on the site of the old stone school-house, a short dis- tance south of the village, on the road to Bloomsbury. Here the Rev. MIr. Sloan conducted his catechetical examinations, though it is not known that other re- ligious services were held there. Within that old building, now no longer in existence, many a chapter of the Bible was memorized and recited by a genera- tion that is rapidly passing away. This Sabbath- school was continued until 1840, when it was merged into the more recently organized one which met in the academy at Stewartsville.

In 1837 the present academy was built, and in De- cember of the same year dedication services were conducted by Rev. D. X. Junkin, pastor of the Green- wich Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Daniel Miller, of the St. James Lutheran Church. From this date until the erection of a church edifice in 1850 the pas- tors of these churches preached in the academy once in four weeks. A union Sabbath-school was also or- ganized, which continued in a flourishing condition, with Eller Robert S. Kennedy as superintendent, until a school was organized in the church in 1853.

In 1849 the expedieney of erecting a house of wor- ship in the village of Stewartsville was agitated by the Presbyterians residing in the vicinity of the village. The interests of the community called for a weekly service, and many of the citizens were obliged to make weary pilgrimages to neighboring churches for the purpose of regular Sabbath worship. The matter was first brought before the Session of the Greenwich Church on Jan. 1, 1850, but it met with little encour- agement. At a subsequent meeting, held January 31st, at the academy, it was unanimously resolved by the citizens that steps be at once taken to secure a separate organization and erect a suitable church edifice. Upwards of $2400 was at once subscribed.

On March 7, 1850, the Presbytery granted the re- quest of the petitioners for the new organization, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Greenwich Church. Accordingly, on May 29, 1850, the Stew- artsville Presbyterian Church was organized with 76 members, 5-t of whom were from the Greenwich Church, 9 from the Scott's Mountain Church, 3 from Harmony,

The church edifice, a frame building capable of seating about 500 people, was dedicated on the first Sabbath of January, 1851. The controversy growing out of this church was not easily settled. The men- bers of the Session who had formerly been members of the Greenwich Church, feeling that unjust reflec- tions had been made upon their motives and conduct in the matter, and entered on the records of the Green- wich Church, complained to the Presbytery, and finally carried the matter to the Synod, who, in Octo-

ber, 1851, appointed a committee to examine and report. They reported that

" After examinlug all the papers, documents, and minutes and fully Iscaring tho Sesalons of the two churches, they are unanimously of the opinion that the whole conduct of the persons who engaged In and car- ried out the organization of the church In Stewartsville, so far as we have beeu able to discover, was proper, unobjectionable, and praiseworthy, and deserving of commendation rather than censure and disapprob- tìun."

A minute to this effect was entered on the Session books of both churches.

May 13, 1851, Rev. George C. Bush was installed as the first pastor of the church. During a pastorate of eleven years in the field Mr. Bush did much mission- ary work, preaching more or less frequently on Scott's Mountain, at New Village, Broadway, Uniontown, Lowe's Hollow, Goodspring, and elsewhere, and had the satisfaction of seeing the church very greatly strengthened. Its membership was increased from 76 to 222, the congregations much enlarged, and the benevolent contributions doubled. The basement of the church was in 1853 fitted for a Sabbath-school room, and, the union school at the academy having been closed, the Presbyterians and Lutherans each organized a school. The same year a parsonage was built on a lot selected by the pastor and occupied by him the same year. MIr. Bush was noted for his social qualities and his excellence as a pastor. In January, 1862, the pastoral relations with this church were dis- solved, that he might accept a call to the church at Hackettstown.

On Feb. 19, 1862, the church extended a unanimous call to Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, then of Plainfield, N. J., who was installed April 23d, his father and brother by invitation taking part in the installation service. Mr. Studdiford's pastorate covered a period of four years. His ministry was eminently acceptable to the people, and his associations with them of the most genial character. He speaks of the congrega- tion as " united and harmonious," and of his residence here as full of delightful memories. During this pas- torate 59 persons were added to the church, and a membership of 253 were reported to the Presbytery before his departure.

llis successor was Rev. William Laurie, who had 2 from Mansfield, and the remainder from other places. | but recently completed his studies at Princeton. He At the same time Messrs. Phineas Barber, Daniel Hulshizer, Robert S. Kennedy, and William J. Beers were elected and installed ruling elders of the new church.

was ordained and installed June 6, 1866. After a successful ministry, during which Gl persons were added to the church on profession of their faith, and 24 by letter, Mr. Lowrie ended his pastoral labors at Stewartsville, Sept. 23, 1872, and accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of P'enn Yan, N. Y. Rev. Wil- liam Thomson, the present pastor, assumed charge of the church Oct. 1, 1873. Under his ministry there have been considerable accessions to the church mem- bership, and a degree of prosperity has been enjoyed fully equal to that of former years.

The present officers of the church are:

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History of Sussex and Warren counties, New Jersey, with Illustration and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, Part 148

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Snell, James P; Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1140