History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 168

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 168
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 168

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1874, Rev. Isaac S. Hartley, D.D., “ Prayer and its Relations to Modern Thought and Criticism."

1875, Prof. Tayler Lewis, LL.D., L.H.D., " The Light by which we See Light, or Nature and the Scriptures."

1876, Rev. Talbot W. Chambers, D.D., "The Psal- ter a Witness to the Divine Origin of the Bible."

1877, Rev. William R. Gordon, D.D., " The Science of Divine Truth Impregnable, as Shown by the Ar- gumentative Failure of Infidelity and Theoretical Geology."

1879, Rev. Chester D. Hartranft, D.D.

1880, Rev. Acmon P. Van Gieson, D.D.

PROFESSORS AND LECTORS SINCE 1784.

REV. JOHN IL. LIVINGSTON, D.D., Professor of Didactic Theology, etc., 1784-1825.

REV. HERMANUS MEYER, D.D., Professor of Languages at Pompton Plains, 1784-91 ; Lector in Theology at Pompton Plains, 1786-91.

691

CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

REV. SOLOMON FROELIGH, D.D., Lector in Theology, Hackensack, N. J., 1792-97 ; Professor of Diadactic Theology, Hackensack, N. J., 1797, 1822.

REV. DIRCK ROMEYN, D.D., Lector in Theology at Schenectady, N. Y., 1792-97; Professor of Didactic Theology, 1797-1804.

REV. JOHN BOSSETT, D.D., Professor of Languages at Boght, Schoharie Co., N. Y., 1804-12.

REV. JEREMIAH ROMEYN, D.D., Professor of Languages at Liulithgo, N. Y., 1804-6.

REV. JOHN M. VAN HARLINGEN, D.D., Professor of Languages and Eccl. Hist., Millstone, N. J., 1812-13.

REV. JOHN SCHUREMAN, D.D., Professor of Eccl. Hist. and Past. Theol., New Brunswick, 1815-18.

REV. JAMES S. CANNON, D.D., Professor of Eccl. Hist. and Past. Theol., pro tem., New Brunswick, 1818-19.

REV. JOHN MASON, D.D., Professor of Languages, pro tem., New Bruns- wick, 1818-19.

REV. JOHN LUDLOW, D.D., Professor of Bib. Lit. aod Eccl. Hist., New Brunswick, 1819-23.

REV. JOHN DEWITT, D.D., Professor of Bih. Lit. and Eccl. Hist., New Brunswick, 1823-31.

REV. I'HILIP MILLEDOLER, D.D., Professor of Didactic aod Polemic The- ology, New Brunswick, 1825-41.

REV. SELAH S. WOODHULL, D.D., Professor of Eccl. Ilist., Church Govt., and Past. Theol., New Brunswick, 1825-26.

REV. JAMES S. CANNON, D.D., Professor of Eccl. Hist., Church Govt., and Past. Theol., New Brunswick, 1826-52.

REV. ALEXANDER MCCLELLAND, D.D., Professor of Bib. Lit., New Brunswick, 1832-51.

REV. SAMUEL A. VAN VRANKEN, D.D., Professor of Didactic and Po- lemic Theol., New Brunswick, 1841-GI.

REV. WILLIAM CAMPBELL, D.D., Professor of Bib. Lit., New Bruns- wick, 1851-63.

REV. JOHN LUDLOW, D.D., Professor of Past. Theol., Eccl. Hist., and Church Govt., New Brunswick, 1852-57.

BEV. SAMUEL M. WOODDRIDGE, D.D., Professor of Past. Theol., Eccl. Hist., and Church Govt., New Brunswick, 1857.

REV. JOSEPH F. BERG, D.D., Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theol., New Brunswick, 1861-71.

REV. JOHN DEWITT, D.D., Thomas De Witt Professor of Bib. Lit., New Brunswick, 1863.

REV. DAVIO D. DEMEKEST, D.D., Professor of Past. Theol, and Sacred Rhetoric, 1865.

REV. ABRAHAM B. VAN ZANDT, D.D., LL.D., James Suydam Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theol., New Brunswick, 1872-81.

REV. WILLIAM V. V. MAVEN, D.D., James Suydam Professor of Di- dactic and Polemic Theol., New Brunswick, 1881.

First Reformed Dutch Church of New Bruns- wick .- Among the early settlers on the Raritan, in- cluding New Brunswick, Six-Mile Run, Millstone, Raritan, and North Branch, were many families of Hollanders or their descendants, who brought with them or inherited the customs and faith of the Fath- erland. As those who came earlier in the coloniza- tion of New Netherland had established churches at New Amsterdam, Bergen, Hackensack, Acquacka- nonck, and other places in what are now Bergen and Passaic Counties, so these settlers on the Raritan made it one of the first objects of their care to found churches of their faith and form of worship in their immediate neighborhood.

Early in the last century there were no less than five of these churches situated upon the Raritan River and its branches, which through the agency of Governor Belcher received a charter of incorpora- tion constituting their elders and deacons one body politic and corporate, by the name of the trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church of Raritan, North Branch, New Brunswick, Six-Mile Run, and Millstone, in the

counties of Somerset and Middlesex. This charter is dated June the 7th, 1753.

The First Reformed Dutch Church of New Bruns- wick, N. J., completed its one hundred and fiftieth year April 12, 1867. On the 1st of October following the pastor, Rev. Richard H. Steele, D.D., delivered a historical discourse, containing in addition to the history of the church much valuable information re- specting the early settlement and progress of the town. That which relates to the general history of the town we have aimed to utilize in such places as have seemed to us most appropriate, and to condense under the present head that which belongs strictly to the history of the church, of course in all cases giving due credit to the author. We regret that this sifting detracts somewhat from the raciness of Dr. Steele's work, and that we have not space to embody the whole of his valuable and interesting matter.

" In compiling the history of this church," says Dr. Steele, " I have labored under the difficulty experienced in other quarters of the imperfection of early consis- torial records and the loss of important documents. By diligent search I have recovered possession of a volume in the Dutch language which had been lost for upwards of thirty years, containing much valua- ble information. Some important facts are stated in reference to the origin of this church, as also that of Six-Mile Run. It contains the names of the first consistory, a complete list of the original members, a register of the additions to the church at each com- munion, and a full record of baptisms. The first en- try in this volume bears date April 12, 1717. . . .

" The first building erected within the bounds of our congregation for religious purposes was about one mile and a half beyond the limits of the present corporation of New Brunswick, on the lot at the east of the burying-ground near the residence of Abraham J. Voorhees. Our knowledge of the organization is quite limited, and derived mostly from the traditions of the neighborhood. ... There is in existence a subscription paper recently discovered, bearing the date of 1703, on which the sum of €10 168. 6d. is pro- vided to defray the expenses of a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church to be procured from Hol- land.1 This church may have existed some years be- fore that period, and was probably the first religious organization along the Raritan ; for the great high- way following the Indian path, as it is called in an- cient deeds, from Inians' Ferry to the Falls of the Delaware, was the first point occupied by the Dutch settlers in this section of the State. The families rep-

1 The names of the following persons ara attached to the subscription: Dullius Hageman, Tennis Quick, Hend. Eoions, Thos. Cort, Jac. Robasco, Nicolas Wyckoff, Mic. L. Moor, John Schedemeun, Nic. Van Dyke, John Van Houten, Wil. Bennet, Folkert Van Nostrand, Jac. Bennet, Hend. Fauger, Ab. Bennet, Cur. Peterson, Philip Folkerson, Avia L. Draver. George Anderson, Stobel Probasco, Isaac Le Pierre, Simon Van Wicklen, Cobas Benat, Garret Cotman, Lucas Covert, Wil. Van Duyo, Brogun Covest, Denuis Van Duyn, John Folkerson, Jost. Baust .- Hon. Ralph Voorhees, Middlebush.

692

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

resented in this list resided on both banks of the Raritan from near Bound Brook to New Brunswick, and along the route of travel to Rocky Hill.

"This congregation was known as the Church of Three-Mile Run. Its prominent elders seem to have been Frederick Van Liew and Hendrick Vroom. The building stood for upwards of fifty years, and was used for neighborhood services long after the project of making it a separate congregation had been aban- doned. This church never enjoyed the services of a settled pastor, although two efforts are known to have been made to procure one from Holland, the first in 1703, and the second in 1729.

"In the mean time the town around Inians' Ferry had grown into considerable importance, . . . and instead of completing their building at Three-Mile Run they wisely removed to this locality, and erected a larger edifice for the accommodation of the increas- ing population. This was the first religious organiza- tion in town, and owes its existence to the enterprise and foresight of that portion of the original congre- gation residing at this point and occupying farms along the Raritau River. The building was erected, according to an early map of the city, ' previous to the year 1717, but how long before is not known.' There are reasons for believing that it was built as early as the year 1714, at which time the place was beginning to assume some importance, and gave promise of con- siderable activity. It stood on the corner of Burnet and Schureman (then called Dutch Church) Streets, and at that date it was called the Church of the River and Lawrence Brook. The building fronted the river, and occupied the corner lot, subsequently and for many years in the possession of Dr. William Van Deursen. The structure was of wood, and, like most of the early churches, its breadth was greater than its depth. It was fifty feet broad and forty feet deep. There were seven pews on each side of the pulpit, and eight along the middle aisle. The total number of pews in the building was fifty, and the church ac- commodations three hundred. It was not completed until several years afterwards, and stood upwards of fifty years, giving place, in 1767, to the second church edifice, erected on the site of the one now occupied.

"The project of forming a church in this town did not proceed without some opposition. The old con- gregation at Three-Mile Run were reluctant to part with any of their members, and those families living still farther back in Franklin township urged the im- portance of all continuing in one organization. Sev- eral meetings of the church seem to have been held and the matter discussed, and on the 12th of April, 1717, 'in order to prevent disturbance and conten- tion, and thereby to establish peace in the church,' the following plan was harmoniously adopted : 'That the church built near Abraham Bennet shall be con- sidered as belonging to the church of Lawrence Brook and on the river, and that the members of the congregation residing in the neighborhood of Six-

and Ten-Mile Run shall also build a church for themselves at either of these places, or at some point intervening, as they may agree.' It was also deter- mined that the church at this place and at Three-Mile Run should each have a consistory, who should co- operate with each other, and 'notwithstanding these two places of worship the two congregations shall form one church, and in matters of great importance the two consistories shall meet as one body and trans- act such business as may come before them for the establishment of the Christian Church.' The agree- ment was not intended to be permanent, and seems to have been entered into out of respect for the older members of the church, who could not but feel an at- tachment to the first house of worship and the orig- inal organization. In a very short time this relation probably ceased, and all the services were held in the church of New Brunswick.

" In the old book of records, from which the above facts are taken, there is a decision that Roelef See- bring be the elder for the new congregation, and Hen- drick Bries and Roelef Lucas the deacons. This number was soon after increased to three elders and three deacons, and the names of the following per- sons are recorded as constituting the first full board of consistory : Aart Aartsen, Izack Van Dyk, Roe- lef Seebring, elders; Johannes Folkerson, Hendrick Bries, and Roelef Lucas (Van Voorhees), deacons. Thus was organized the Reformed Dutch Church of New Brunswick, one hundred and fifty years ago.1

"The register of baptisms begins on the 14th of August, when three children were baptized : Eliza- beth, daughter of Johannes Soothof; Cornelius, son of Martin Salem; and Jan, son of Jacobus Ouke. During the three years of vacancy twenty-nine bap- tisms are recorded, but who occupied the pulpit during this period we have no information.

" We know that Rev. Bernardus Freeman, of Long Island, took a deep interest in this church, and through him early efforts were made to obtain a minister from Holland, in connection with three other churches al- ready organized, viz .: Raritan (organized March 9, 1699), Six-Mile Run (organized 1703), and North Branch, now Readington (organized 1719). As the result of this combined movement there came to this country, commissioned by the Classis of Amsterdam, as the first pastor of this church, Jan. 1, 1720,

" REV. THEODORE JACOBUS FRELINGHUYSEN .- His name is one of the most honorable in the State of New Jersey, and the influence that he exerted among the early churches has given to this whole re- gion the name of the ' Garden of the Dutch Church.'

1 As this church is a continuation of the Three-Mile Run congrega- tion, which had an existence as early as 1703, there is a propriety in the statements made in public documents that we trace our origin as a re- ligions society to near the commencement of the last century, although we did not have a distinct organization until April 12, 1717. The coo- sistory was sometimes ordained at Three-Mile Run, at least thile ls known to have been the case in one or two instances.

693

CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

The field of his pastoral charge was very extensive, embracing all the churches in Somerset and Middle- sex Counties. Very little information in reference to this pioneer of the gospel ministry in this section has been transmitted to us, which is the more sur- prising from the fact that his descendants have al- ways lived in this vicinity, and have exerted a great influence in the political and educational in- terests of the State. Short biographical sketches have been published at different times, giving the few items of history which have been gathered from the per- sonal allusions in the sermons which he printed during his ministry, and from the traditional knowledge of the inhabitants covering his extensive pastoral charge. To Dr. Abrabam Messler and Rev. William Demarest the church is indebted for the valuable information which has been preserved of this most remarkable man.

"The residence of Dominie Frelinghuysen was within the bounds of this congregation, his grave is with us till this day, and as this was the centre of his charge his history properly belongs to the sketch we are giving.

" He was born in the year 1691, at Lingen, in East Friesland, now a province in the kingdom of Hanover, and was educated at his native place under the in- struction of Rev. Otto Verbrugge, Professor of The- ology and Oriental Literature. He was ordained to the ministry by Rev. Johannes Brunius at the age of twenty-six, and for about two years was the pastor of a church at Embden, in his native country. While thus engaged he received the call from the churches in New Jersey to labor in this destitute field. The circumstances of his selection by the Classis of Am- sterdam for this important mission, as related by Dr. Thomas De Witt, indicate the hand of God in the gift of the first minister of this church. A pious elder entertained a young traveler on his way through the town to Embden to assume the charge of an academy in that place. During the evening he was so well pleased with the spirituality of his conversa- tion and his eminent gifts, especially in prayer during family devotions, that he immediately informed his pastor, Sicco Tjadde, that he had ' found a man to go to America.' In answer to this call he made his ar- rangements to emigrate to this country, and arrived in the city of New York about the 1st of January, 1720, and on the 17th of that month he occupied the pulpit of Dominie Boel, immediately after which he came to New Brunswick and commenced his pastoral work.

" He brought with him from Holland, according to the custom of the church, a schoolmaster, holding also the position of chorister and 'voorleser,' Jacobus Schureman by name, the ancestor of this family in New Jersey. He was a well-educated gentleman and noted for his piety. He had the gift of poetry, and wrote several picces, which are said to have displayed considerable genius as well as literary taste and culti-

vation. They were both unmarried and resided in the family of Hendrick Reyniersz, in the neighborhood of Three-Mile Run. He had been promised in his call five acres of land, which was increased to fifty acres on his arrival, with the use of a parsonage. Quite early in his ministry he was married to Eva Terhune, of Long Island, after which he resided at or near the residence of the late John Brunson. About the same time Schureman became his brother-in-law by marrying the sister of his wife, Autje Terhune, and resided near the farm which is known as the Schureman property. . ..

" At the time when Mr. Frelinghuysen commenced his ministry the churches under his care were in a most deplorable state. They had been entirely desti- tute of the stated ministry of the gospel since the first settlement of the country. . .. But he was a man equal to the times, of great energy of character, of large attainments in knowledge and grace, and with a certain fearlessness of spirit that enabled him to go immediately at the heart of the people. From the sermons which have been preserved we gather that he was a warm, earnest preacher, dwelling princi- pally upon the necessities of the new birth, and hav- ing a dreadful antipathy to all manner of formalism. . .. He was charged by his enemies with preaching doctrines contrary to the standards of the church, and subversive of the whole spirit of the gospel. When he insisted on the necessity of experimental evidences as a qualification for the Lord's Supper he is repre- sented as introducing customs contrary to the princi- ples of the Reformed Church. A very elaborate pamphlet was published by his enemies in the year 1723, setting forth their grievances and making an appeal to public opinion against the course he was pursuing. The complaint is issued under the sanc- tion of Simon Wyckoff, a deacon of the church of Six-Mile Run, Peter Dumont, an elder at Raritan, and Henry Vroom, a former deacon at Three-Mile Run. In addition to these names, the signatures of sixty-four heads of families are appended from all the congregations to which he ministered with the exception of New Brunswick. The controversy seems to have been quite bitter, and was continued several years. Indeed, it seems to have disturbed the peace of the church in some portions of his field during his entire ministry, becoming so violent that on one oc- casion the door of a church was shut against him and he was not allowed to administer the sacraments. As late as the year 1729 a party existed of sufficient strength to make an attempt to bring over from Hol- land a pastor more after their own mind. ... But Dominie Frelinghuysen met all this opposition in the true spirit of a gospel minister, and was cminently successful at Raritan and New Brunswick in gather- ing together large congregations. Rev. Gilbert Ten- nent, who settled over the first Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick in 1726, and with whom Mr. Fre- linghuysen was on intimate terms, in a letter to Rev.

694

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Mr. Prince, a historian of Boston, in 1744, bore the in this country. The time had now arrived when following testimony to the services of his contempo- rary :

"' The labors of Rev. Mr. Frelinghuysen, a Dutch Calvinist minister, were much blessed to the people of New Brunswick and places adjacent, especially about the time of his coming among them, which was about twenty- four years ago. When I came there, which was about seven years after, I had the pleasure of seeing much of the fruits of his ministry ; divers of his hearers with whom I had the opportunity of con- versing appeared to be converted persons by their soundness in principle, Christian experience, and pious practice ; and these persons declared that the ministrations of the aforesaid gentleman were the means thereof. This, together with a kind letter he sent me respecting the dividing the word aright and giving every man his portion in due season through the divine blessing, excited me to greater earnestness in ministerial labors.'

" The eminent evangelist, George Whitefield, paid frequent visits to New Brunswick, and preached to large congregations gathered from this whole section of country. He frequently speaks in his journal of the pleasure he enjoyed in the society of Mr. Freling- huysen. He is very earnest in his praise, and repre- sents him as a sound, fearless, and highly-successful minister. Mr. Whitefield, under date of Nov. 20, 1739, writes in his journal : 'Preached about noon for near two hours, in Mr. Tennent's meeting-house, to a large assembly gathered from all parts.' On the 26th of April, 1740, he again passed through New Bruns- wick, reaching the town about four in the afternoon, 'and preached to about two thousand in the even- ing.' 'The next day,' he adds, 'preached morning and evening to near seven or eight thousand people ; and God's power was so much amongst us in the afternoon service that had I proceeded the cries and groans of the people I believe would have drowned my voice.' It was upon this occasion, according to the statement of Rev. Dr. Cannon, received from per- sons who were present, that Mr. Whitefield preached in front of the Dutch Church in Burnet Street, stand- ing on a wagon, and the immense audience were spread over a meadow sloping down to the river, list- ening to the sermon."

Mr. Frelinghuysen was one of the originators of the movement for the independence of the churches in this country of the Reformed Church of Holland, and was a delegate with Hendrick Fisher, an elder of ! this church, to the convention in New York which drew up the plan for the "Coetus," an assembly of ministers and elders who should exercise jurisdiction over the American churches, subject to the super- vision of the Synod of North Holland, in 1738. Hitherto cases of discipline had to be referred to the mother-church, and all ministers were required to be ordained and sanctioned by the Classis of Amsterdam before they would be allowed to preach

the Reformed Dutch Church in this country had grown to sufficient strength and importance to man- age its own affairs, and the action of the convention of 1738 was the beginning of a movement which soon grew into entire independence of the Reformed Church of Holland. Of course the measure was strennously opposed by the church in Europe. The more aged and conservative of the ministers and elders in this country also vigorously opposed it, and organized the opposition known as the "Conferentie." "This was the beginning of a strife which has hardly been surpassed in the history of ecclesiastical disputes, and was not finally adjusted until Dr. John H. Liv- ingston matured a plan of union in 1772."

Mr. Frelinghuysen was a thorough representative of the Coetus party, and exerted great influence in connection with this and other reforms. He saw that the interests of the church demanded an independ- ent organization, with all the facilities of school, col- lege, and seminary to provide a well-educated minis- try. Although he did not live to see this result, yet he is justly honored as one of the originators of a system which at first greatly agitated but finally prevailed to the establishment and enlargement of the church. There were a few in this congregation who sympathized with the Conferentie party, but they never attained to any considerable strength.

On account of the accession of Dutch population from Albany between the years 1730 and 1734, and of families from Long Island, who continued to ar- rive aud settle on farms along the Raritan on both sides, above and below the town, the increase and prosperity of the congregation became such that the completion and enlargement of the church edifice was demanded, and in 1735 the object was accomplished under the direction of a committee, of which Dirck Schuyler was chairman. The amount expended in reseating the church was about £200. At this date the pews were sold under an article of agreement, to which the names of the heads of families in the con- gregation were affixed. As a matter of general inter- est, as well as completeness of this record, we give them as they are found in the Appendix to Dr. Steele's Discourse :

LIST OF FAMILIES IN THE CONGREGATION, 1732-35.

Jan Acten.

Jacobus Cornell.

Jan Acten, Jr.

Johannes Fontyn.

Thomas Acten.

Reyner Fontyn.

Gerardus Banker.

John Guest.

Jacob Buys.

Gerrit Gerritsen.

James Bennet.

John Gedeman.

Jan Bennet.

James Ilude.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 168

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