History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 146

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 146
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 146

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NEW BROOKLYN SCHOOL .~ This school district was among the first in Piscataway township, and it is said James Fullerton at an early date, living with his brother a short distance away on lands that were surveyed to them in the first allotment, 1669, taught here as well as in other parts of this county. In 1822 Mr. Campbell was a teacher, and also a Mr. Poulison. Neil Campbell taught here, when Capt. John Frasee came in 1825 and remained till 1830. Mr. Neil Camp- bell took his place. B. Ward taught in the years 1843-45, Mr. Cook in 1846, and there have been many who taught one quarter. The present teacher is Miss Ida Nelson, 1881.

The following statistics for the year 1881 furnish some information respecting the schools of the nine districts in this township :

District.

Value School Property.

Children.

Harris Lane

No. 1.

$1,200

Dunellen .....

No. 2.

10,000

213

New Market ..

No. 3.

1,500

Famptown.

No. 4.

1,500

New Brooklyn.

No. 5.

1,200

Fieldville

No. 6.

300

Newtown .....

No. 7.

1,000

Union.

No. 8.

400

Raritan Landing ... No. 9.

1,500

The whole number of children between the ages of 5 and 18 years residing in this township is 579, and the value of school property $18,600; amount of moneys received from all sources for public school purposes is $8347.66; number of male teachers em- ployed, 2; female teachers, 11.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

PISCATAWAY .- (Continued.)

Seventh-Day Baptist Church .- We find the first Sabbatarian Church, as it is called in America, origi- nated at Newport, R. I., and the first Sabbath-keeper was Steplien Mumford, who left London three years after the martyrdom of John James, and forty-four years after the landing of the Pilgrim fathers at Plymouth. He came as a missionary. Mr. Isaac Bacchus, the historian of the early New England Baptists, has made the following record :

Stephen Mumford came from London in 1664, and brought the opinion with him that the whole of the ten commandments, as they were delivered from Mount Sinai, were moral and immutable, and that it was the anti-Christian power which thought to change times and laws, that changed the Sabbath from the Seventh to the First day of the week. Sev- eral members of the First-Day Church in Newport embraced this sentiment, and yet continued with that church for some time, until two men and their wives who had done so turned back to the keeping of the First day ; but other followers came to assist Steplien Mumford, so that the first church of Sabbatarians was formed, and the following are the names: Tacy Hubbard, commenced keeping the Seventh day March 11, 1665; Rachel Langworthy, Jan. 15, 1666; Roger Baxter, April 15, 1666; and William Hiscox, April 28, 1666. These were the first Sabbath-keepers in America.

Dr. Edward Stennet wrote them, in behalf of the London Sabbath-keepers: " If the church will hold communion with these apostles from the truth, you ought then to desire to be fairly dismissed from the church, which if the church refuse you ought to withdraw yourselves." But they told the church publicly that they could not have comfortable com- munion with those four persons that had sinned. But the Sabbath-keepers replied that the ten precepts were as holy, just, good, and spiritual as ever, and they for several years went on with the church in a halvish kind of fellowship.

They soon left the Newport First-Day Church. On the 23d day of December, 1671, they covenanted to- gether in a church organization.

Such was the origin of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church in America. And now we find that the sec- ond of these churches owes its origin to this cir- cumstance : About the year 1700 one of the original

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

settlers of this frontier, a Mr. Edmund Dunham, of Hannah F. Randolph, Ann Smalley, Hannah Martin, now New Market, then commonly called Piscataway, Lucy Lennox. N. J., reproved a person for labor on Sunday. He Rev. Edmund Dunham we learn died in March, 1734, in his seventy-third year. The grave of this spiritual father, like that of Moses, cannot be found to this day. It was supposed that he was buried in the Piscatawaytown burying-ground, where scores of the early inhabitants of this frontier lie waiting the res- urrection morn, yet no monument can be found tell- ing us that he who was the founder of this church lies there. was asked for his authority from the Scriptures. On searching for this he became satisfied that the Seventh day is the only Sabbath in the Bible, and then began to observe it. Soon after others followed his example, and in 1707 a Seventh-Day Baptist Church was or- ganized at Piscataway with some seventeen members. Edmund Dunham was chosen pastor, and sent to Rhode Island to receive ordination.

The first record on the church book after the ar- ticles of faith is as follows :

" The Church of God keeping the Commandments of God aud the faith of Jesus Christ living in Piscataway sod Hopewell, in the province of New Jersey, being assembled with one accord at the house of Benjamin Martin, io Piscataway, the 19th day of August, 1705, we did then and with one mind choose our dearly beloved Edmund Dunham, who is faithful in the Lord, to be our elder and assistant according to the will of God, whom we did send to New England to be ordained, who was or- dained at the church meeting io Westerly, R. I., by prayer and laying on of hands by their elder, William Gibson, the 8th day of September, 1705."

In 1706, at a church meeting held at Edmund Dunham's, Benjamin Martin was chosen deacon and ordained by the laying on of hands and prayer by the Elder Edmund Dunham. This took place the 29th day of December.

Rev. Mr. Dunham at the organization of this church was about forty years old. It is evident that numbers became members of this church during Mr. Dunham's lifetime, but to what extent cannot be now ascertained from the manner in which their records were kept.

The following names appear on the records, who were all members previous to 1722:

Edmund Dunham, elder; Benjamin Martin, James Martin, Benjamin Martin, deacon; Isaac Martin, Samuel Doty, John Doty, Samuel Dunn, deacon ; David Cummins, Thomas F. Randolph, Jr., John F. Randolph, Edmund Dunham, Jr., Jonathan Dun- ham, Thomas F. Randolph, John Martin, David F. Randolph, Hugh Dunn, Peter Martin, David Martin, Joseph Davis, Jonathan Martin, Lawrence Krith, Jonathan Smalley, Elisha Smalley, Gershom Hull, John F. Randolph, Jr., Ephraim Dunham, Joseph Dunn, Edmund Martin, James Martin, Jr., Benejah Dunham, James Lennox, Micajah Dunn, Hugh Dunn, Jr., John Dunham, Samuel Chandler, Samuel Dunn, Jr., Jonathan Dunn, Samuel Pyatte, Benja- min Martin, Azerial Dunham, Jonathan Martin, Thomas Noble, Jonathan Smalley, Mary Dunham, Sarah F. Randolph, Elizabeth Dunn, Margaret Martin, Martha Wooden, Hester Dunn, Dorothy Dunham, Sarah F. Randolph, Phebe Dunham, Eliza- beth Martin, Mary F. Randolph, Jane Lee, Abigail Allger, Elizabeth Chandler, Dinah Dunham, Mary Sutten, Jane Dunhanı, Temperance Martin, Philissa Martin, Dinah Martin, Rebecca Dunn, Hannah Davis, Esther Dunn, Elizabeth Dunn, Ann Drake,

" All traces of him should not be lost to you,

Record his deeds and look their meaning through."

During the lifetime of Mr. Dunham they held these meetings in private houses. They built their first house of worship in 1736. The house is still standing, though for fifty years it has been used as a barn. The timbers of this ancient building appear as perfect as when taken from the forest. The Revo- lutionary war about this time came upon these people with all its terrors. The British army took posses- sion of Piscataway, and for a long time this place was their encampment. The inhabitants were patriots, and entered the regular army or were enrolled in the militia. During the ravages of the war their beloved pastor, Rev. Jonathan Dunham, son of Ed- mund Dunham, died, March 10, 1777, aged eighty- three.

" Your birtb-place once wae home for me, And so will long remembered be, A long half century and more The bread of life I spread before Your fathers there. Through weal and woe I pointed theon the way to go As well as by my light I could, But not so faultless as I should Could I have knowo what now I koow About coul-saving there below."

In 1802 the second meeting-house was built on the lot where the old one stood, concerning which we find the following record :

The new meeting-house was built by Jonathan Lenox, and cost about one thousand dollars. The money was raised hy a tax. The old house was given to Elder McLaferty, except the inside (in- cluding seats, etc.), for him to use as a barn.

At the first meeting for business held in the new house a record was made of the names of all who were present, twenty-six in number. Not one of them is now living.

In 1835 and 1836 they built their present house of worship on the parsonage farm, two miles north of the old location, and near the village of New Market. This house is thirty-eight feet by fifty-one feet, with full galleries, neat in appearance, and costing some three thousand six hundred dollars. It was dedicated to the service of God with appropriate exercises in February, 1837.

In February, 1838, fifty-six of the members of this church were dismissed to a church in Plainfield,

597

PISCATAWAY.

where they had been building, and now completed their first church. This reduced the number of the Piscataway Church to about one hundred and forty members.

During the year 1849 the church built a parsonage house, which adds much to the comfort of their pas- tor's family.

This church has been in existence nearly two hun- dred years. During that time it has built three meeting-houses and installed some eleven pastors, building is a frame, situated on the main road from recapitulated as follows : Edmund Dunham, who planted this church ; Jonathan Dunham, son of Edmund; Nathan Rogers, Henry McLaferty, Gid- eon Wooden, William B. Maxon, Walter B. Gillet, Halsey H. Baker, Lester C. Rodgers, Lewis A. Plates, L. E. Livermore. They at the present have good con- gregations, their pastor, Rev. Mr. Livermore, doing them good service, and occasionally supplying other pulpits in the neighborhood, he being very acceptable to the other denominations.

I find that in 1802 their General Conference was organized. At their first session they comprised in its organization eight churches, nine ordained ministers, and some thirteen hundred members. The Confer- ence was organized with only advisory powers, the individual churches retaining the matters of discipline and church government in their own hands. The Conference now has about one hundred churches and some twelve thousand members. These churches are found in most of the Northern and Western States, and are divided into five associations, which, however, have no legislative nor disciplinary power over the churches which compose them. There are belonging to the denomination five academies, one college, and a university, with academic, collegiate, mechanical, and theological departments in operation. The Sev- enth-Day Baptist missionaries sustain many import- ant missions, and are receiving a good degree of suc- cess in this work. It has also a missionary station at Shanghai and other parts of China, and a mission church there of faithful Christians. They have a publishing house at Alfred Centre, New York State, and publish the Sabbath Recorder, their church organ, and many publications upholding their Seventh-Day doctrine. They have many members scattered through the land who have not the opportunity to worship with the people of their choice, and do as did the members of the first church at Newport, R. I., two hundred and sixteen years ago, worship with the First- Day Christian, feeling that the God of their Sabbath is the God of the Christians of other churches. Many · eminent men of talent and moral worth are found among them.

The history of the Sabbath embraces the period of six thousand years. The act which constituted it such were first, the example of the Creator ; secondly, his placing his blessing upon the day ; and thirdly, the sanctification or divine appointment of the day to a holy use. The Sabbath therefore dates from the

beginning of our world's history. The highest of all possible honors therefore pertain to the keeping holy one day of the week. This divine appointment grows out of the nature and fitness of things, and was made directly to Adam.

Baptist Church .- This church was constituted in the year 1852, of a number of members from the church at Stelton, and others who united by letter from the churches at Samptown and Plainfield. The Dunellen to New Market, near the latter place. The cost of the ground and edifice was about six thousand dollars. The following have been pastors: William D. Hires, George W. Clark, Isaac Newton Hill, Levi, Osborn, Grinnell, and the present, E. Everett Jones, who came first as a supply Jan. 1, 1873, and on April 1, 1873, was ordained as pastor. Revivals have passed over. In that period nearly one hundred and ninety converts have been added by baptism, and about forty by letter. Mr. Jones is also clerk of the East New Jersey Baptist Association, and secretary of the East New Jersey Baptist Sunday-School Convention. Eu- gene Runyon, Esq., is the stated clerk of the parish. Members, two hundred and nineteen; sittings, five hundred ; Sabbath-school teachers, seventeen ; schol- ars, one hundred and forty.

The Church of Holy Innocents, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was purchased from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1872, as the building had be- come too small for their congregation, they having built a larger edifice in Dunellen. This parish is feeble and has passed through many discouragements. But by the liberality of Benjamin Smith, Esq., it was presented with the edifice clear of all encum- brances Oct. 6, 1881, at which time it was consecrated by Bishop Odenheimer, of this diocese. The Rev. E. Wenman, of the Bound Brook Church, is the present rector, and under his care, with the few families inter- ested, are in hopes of seeing the growth of a larger parish.

Presbyterian Church .- (For the history of this church we are indebted to the courtesy of Charles A. Coriell, secretary of the board of trustees, and Rev. Alexander Miller, the present pastor.) There were many Presbyterian families located in this vicinity (Dunellen), and it was but natural that they should make some effort to establish a church in their neigh- borhood. The great distance to Bound Brook, and also to Plainfield, where many had attended, was an- other inducement to seek the location of a church here. At a meeting held for the purpose in the office of William J. Stevens, Esq., Sept. 7, 1870, suitable lots were offered by the Improvement Company on Dunellen Avenne, which were unanimously accepted, and on Sept. 19, 1870, a meeting was held for the pur- pose of electing trustees, when the following gentle- men were chosen : Francis A. Estey, president of board; Charles C. Morgan, secretary ; Cornelius Boice, treasurer ; Henry Oakley and Abner S. Coriell.

598

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Arrangements for building were immediately made. Chauncey G. Graham, Esq., was requested to draw plans for a church, which in due time he presented before the board and they were accepted.

At a meeting held for purpose of organization, at the Dunellen Academy, Rev. Jolin C. Bliss, modera- tor, and other clergymen assisting, the following- named members were received: William Vail and Elizabeth, his wife; Charles C. Morgan and Lucy Ann, his wife; Miss Mary F. Morgan; Abner S. Coriell and Catherine, his wife; Adam Craig and Catherine, his wife; James Craig ; John A. Reed and Julia, his wife; Mrs. Harriett A. Humpstone, Henry Oakley, and Charlotte E. Reed. The following were elected the first elders : William Vail, Adam Craig, John A. Reed.

The corner-stone was laid May 15, 1871. The Rev. Ravaud K. Rodgers, D.D., then pastor of the Presby- terian Church at Bound Brook, and Rev. John C. Bliss, D.D., of Plainfield, were present and assisted the elected pastor, Rev. Merrill N. Hutchinson, in the ceremonies of the occasion. The community gave liberally to this new enterprise, and Jan. 26, 1872, the day named for its dedication, Rev. Edward Hop- per, D.D., made the opening prayer. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. John Hall, D.D., of New York, prayer by Rev. W. C. Roberts, of Eliza- beth, and the venerable Rev. Lewis Bond, of Plain- field, pronounced the benediction.

The whole cost of this beautiful building was $10,400. The following gentlemen have been elected as elders, and their term of office :

William Vail, 1870-73; Adam Craig, 1872-81; John A. Reed, 1872-81 ; Charles C. Morgan, 1874-81 ; George Beckwith, 1877-78; Charles A. West, 1877- 80; Chauncey G. Graham, 1877-80; J. Wilbur Price, 1879-81; Orlando E. Chamberlain, 1880; James Lowrie, Nov. 2, 1881.

The Rev. Merrill N. Hutchinson resigned the pas- torate Jan. 1, 1873, and the Rev. Theodore S. Brown was elected by the church as stated pastor March 26, 1873, and resigned June 21, 1880, after a pastorate of little more than seven years ; he removed near Chat- ham Four Corners, N. Y. The Rev. Alexander Mil- ler was installed Oct. 12, 1880; he came from the Ringoes Church, N. J. Rev. Dr. W. C. Roberts preached the installation sermon, assisted by Rev. John C. Bliss, D.D., of Plainfield, and Rev. Knee- land P. Ketchum, D.D., of First Presbyterian Church, Plainfield, who delivered the charge to the people. The following gentlemen compose the present board of trustecs :

J. Roberts, president ; Charles A. Coriell, secretary and treasurer; Arthur V. P. Sutphen, John P. Con- ever, Ruloffe J. Swackhamer.

The sittings, 350; membership, 117; teachers in Sunday-school, 15; scholars, 118.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - In July, 1865, Rev. Charles E. Little, a supernumerary member of

the Troy Conference, took up his residence in New- town, about two miles distant from New Market, and found but a single Methodist family in New Market village, consisting of James Rutan and wife. The Rev. James O. Rodgers, of Newark Conference, had a few years before held a few Sabbath afternoon ser- vices in the Academy. The first services held by Mr. Little was by invitation of Hopewell Bigelow, Abner S. Coriell, James Rutan, Isaac H. Dunn, Arthur S. Cox, and George Osman, on Sahbath evening, Jan. 21, 1866, in the Academy, and this meeting was the start of a new church. On Feb. 25, 1866, the first Sabbath morning service was held, a class of twenty- three members was organized, which was subsequently increased by several Methodist families moving into the place. Abont the 1st of March a subscription was started and some $2000 or $3000 raised, and on the 22d of November, 1866, the church was dedicated. The entire expense of church and lots amounted to $4800. At this time this church was connected with the Plainfield Church as her mission, the Rev. George H. Whitney pastor, and Rev. Charles S. Little, as- sistant pastor.

During the Conference year of 1867-68 this church experienced a great loss in the removal of several of the brethren to other places, and its social meetings suffered. Mr. Little closed his pastorate March 24, 1864, and Rev. Theodore D. Frasee was appointed his successor. He remained until the spring of 1869, when Rev. Henry M. Simpson took charge of the church. He was succeeded by the Rev. Martin Herr in the spring of 1870, who was a non-resident and only supplied the pulpit on the Sabbath. In March of 1871, Rev. G. W. Gibson, a member of the Black River Conference, was put in charge by Rev. James Avres, presiding elder of the Elizabeth district.

In the fall of this year (1871) the growing village of Dunellen was attracting many families from the city to become permanent residents, and the church had become quite too small, so that nearly all were in favor of building a new church in Dunellen. The old edifice in New Market was accordingly sold to the Episcopal Church for $3950 in February, 1872. The Rev. J. A. Kingsbury was appointed March, 1872, and upon him rested the labor and responsibility of building the new church, which in the fall of that year was completed and dedicated at an expense of nearly eight thousand dollars.

Rev. James W. Marshall was appointed to the pas- torate in March, 1873, and remained for the term of three years, and during that term built the present parsonage ; a large number were added, and the con- · gregations increased to double what they had ever before been. In the spring of 1876, Rev. Charles S. Woodruff was appointed pastor by the Newark Con- ference, and remained three years. He was followed in 1879 by the Rev. Salmon D. Jones, who remained two years. The church prospered greatly under his ministry. In the spring of 1881, Rev. Ambrose S.

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PISCATAWAY.

Compton was sent as their regular pastor, and by his interest in the temporal as well as the spiritual affairs has made considerable increase in the membership and improvement in the church property. Valua- tion of church, $9000; parsonage rectory, $3200; sittings, 350; membership, 70; officers and teachers in Sunday-school, 13; scholars, 100.

St. John's the Evangelist .- This new church of the Roman Catholics was built but a few months ago (1880), upon lots donated by Mr. Peter Moore, of Plainfield, N. J. Located upon Washington Ave- nue, Dunellen. The edifice is of brick, neat in architecture, and cost $2500. The Rev. Father Burgneda is the present pastor. The parish con- tains some thirty-five families ; sittings about two hundred.

The Samptown (New Brooklyn Baptist Church dates its existence from Dec. 1, 1792, when twenty- one members drew letters of dismission from the Scotch Plains Baptist Church, and Joseph Manning and Christianus Lupardus were elected deacon -. The church remained without a settled pastor, they hav- ing preaching by supplies from the neighboring Bap- tist Churches until October, 1793, when the Rev. Jacob Fitz Randolph accepted a call. He remained for nearly twenty-five years, and it is said there was scarcely a church meeting in which there were not candidates present for admission into the church fel- lowship. In November, 1818, the Rev. Mr. Fitz Randolph, with thirty-two members of this church, took their letters of dismission for the purpose of constituting the First Baptist Church of Plainfield, Union Co., N. J. From that time until May 23, 1819, the church had no pastor. Rev. Lebbeus Lathrop then accepted a call. He remained a period of twenty-one years, which closed his active work in the ministry. He died Nov. 5, 1843, aged eighty-two years, and is buried in the cemetery of this church at Samptown.

Rev. E. M. Barker succeeded to the pastorate May 28, 1841, and remained for eight years as minister in this church. A remarkable revival of religion oc- curred, with a large accession of members, on Jan. 21, 1843. He extended the hand of fellowship to ninety-nine persons whom he baptized. One hundred were expected, but one was detained by sickness.

The following ministers have succeeded to the pas- torate : Rev. W. D. Hires, Rev. W. Maul, Rev. J. J. Baker, and Rev. Mr. Gurr for less than one year- from May 1, 1868, to March 2, 1869, the shortest of any ; followed by Rev. S. L. Cox, Rev. W. H. Bur- lew, and the present incumbent, Rev. Andrew Arm- strong, who came from Easton, Pa., Aug. 1, 1878. This church, then located at Samptown, about one mile from New Brooklyn, was burned the 23d of April, 1879, by a cinder from the engine, which set fire to the roof. The (now) new church was built at the latter place in the fall of the same year at a cost of $4200, and the parsonage, $3000. The following

named have been deacons : Joseph Manning, Chris- tianus Lepardus, Samuel Drake, Benjamin Manning, Daniel Fitz Randolph, Reune Runyon, Sr., Reune Runyon, Jr., Jephtha L. Runyon, Ephraim J. Runyon, Joseph Tingley, Jeremiah Blackford, William Lap- ham, Louis Dayton, E. D. Boice, Thaddeus Drake, D. Toppin, Mr. Dayton. Boice and Toppin are the present deacons. Sittings, 250; membership, 100.

Tavern-Keepers in 1742 .- There was a tax called the excise on all the tavern-keepers in 1742. We find the following names and dates of those who were taxed to keep inns :

John Hull, 1740; Joseph Michiel, 1750; Elijah Dunham, 1752; George Vroom, 1755; Aaron Boorom, 1774; James Gilman, 1774; Hugh Dunn, 1775; Jo- sephus Drake, 1777 : Samuel Moores, 1755; Joseph Woods, 1752; John Pound, 1770; Joseph Drake, 1771; Thomas Fitz Randolph, 1773; John Dunn, 1776.

New Market .- In the early settlement of this vil- lage it was known by the name of Quibbletown, and in Gordon's "Gazetteer of New Jersey" he speaks of it by this name, and also as being called New Market in the year 1834. It then contained a grist-mill, a tavern, a store, and some twenty dwellings, being seven miles north of New Brunswick, on the left bank of Cedar Creek, as the stream of New Brooklyn Pond was then called, which runs through the village. The village now contains about eighty dwellings. There are many residents doing business in the neigh- boring cities. The Easton and Amboy Railroad passes through the centre of the village, having a commodi- ous station and freight-houses. There are a number of shops and one large clothing establishment in the place.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 146

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224