History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 170

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 170
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 170

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

the Lord, both at my own place at Amsterdam and elsewhere, that God would grant them a renewal of his loving kindness and larger measures of faith. Oh, that the Lord would bring many of the people out of their darkness, that a formal Christianity might pass away, and the power of godliness be made again to appear! For God's ministering servants I also found in my heart to supplicate much assistance in their weighty work, that they might be more and more faithful and firm in their attachment to the cause, truth, and people of God, and be enabled by a consistent and godly walk to be examples to the flock."

She attained the venerable age of eighty-two years, departing this life at the residence of her son, Hon. J. R. Hardenbergh, in Water Street, New Brunswick, March 26, 1807. The following verse appropriately testifies to her exalted attainments, and is engraved on her tombstone:

" Tell how she climbed the everlasting hills, Surveying all the realme above; Borne on a strong-winged faith, and on The fiery wheels of an immortal love."

" The children of her first marriage were a daugh- ter Eva, who became the wife of Mr. Casper Van Nostrand, of Ulster County, N. Y., where several of her descendants are still living, and Frederick, the father of the late Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen. All who bear this honored name in our section of country are the descendants of Frederick, the only son of Rev. John Frelinghuysen, of Raritan." 1

" At the close of Mr. Hardenbergh's ministry the church was in a settled, prosperous, and harmonious condition. . . As soon as the church could recover from the pain of their loss they sought a suitable successor, but were subjected to repeated dis- appointments. Dr. Livingston and Dr. Theodoric Romeyn were called jointly by the consistory of the church and the trustees of the college, but both de- clined. An effort was made to settle Rev. John Bas- sett, of Albany, in October, 1792, but without success. The pulpit remained vacant until Aug. 24, 1793, when a unanimous call was extended to Rev. Ira Con- dict, D.D., who accepted, and became the third pastor of the church. He had been previously associated with the Presbyterian Church, and on the Sabbath pre- ceding his call had preached for the Presbyterians of New Brunswick, making so good an impression upon those who heard him from this church that his ser- vices as pastor were immediately sought for and ob- tained.

" Ira Condict was born in Orange, N. J., on Feb. 21, 1764. He received his academic instruction un- der Rev. Dr. McWhorter, of Newark, and became a student at Princeton College, graduating from that institution in 1784. He pursued his theological studies with Dr. Woodhull, of Freehold, Monmouth

Co., and was licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1786. For six years he was settled over the churches of Newton and Hardwick, Sussex Co., before accepting the call of this church. He commenced his pastoral duties here in November, 1793. He resided on Church Street till 1798, when he removed to a farm near Milltown, still known as the Condict farm. Dr. Condict excelled in pastoral duties and labors, while as a preacher he was studious, able, and scholarly. In June, 1800, he was elected president of the General Synod, and when Queen's College was revived he was chosen vice-president and Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was mainly in- strumental in securing from Mr. James Parker the donation of the land on which the college building now stands. Connected with the revival of the col- lege, and as part of the plan, was the removal of the theological seminary to this city in 1810. Dr. John H. Livingston, who had charge of the seminary, re- moved to New Brunswick that year, and also assumed the presidency of the college.

" Under the efficient labors of Dr. Condict the church steadily increased in strength, and with the growth of the population enlarged accommodations were again demanded." It was decided to erect a new building, and on March 11, 1811, the following persons were chosen a building committee : Matthew Egerton, Staats Van Duersen, John Clark, John D. Van Liew, and Michael Garrish. While the arrange- ments were thus being completed a cloud was thrown upon the enterprise by the sudden and unexpected death of the beloved pastor, Dr. Condict. The last sermon by the pastor, and the last in the old church, was preached on Sunday, May 20th, from a text which seemed almost prophetic of his approaching dissolu- tion, although that event was entirely unanticipated by any of his people : "But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan : but ye shall go over, and possess that good land. Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of anything, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee."-Deut. iv. 22, 23. It is said that during the delivery of the sermon the congregation was very much affected, and that many shed tears.

On Monday the work of tearing down the old church was begun. On Friday intelligence was re- ceived that Dr. Condict was confined to his house by a serious illness. Wednesday of the next week came, and his recovery was considered doubtful. On Sat- urday, June 1, 1811, he departed this life at eleven o'clock P.M. The scene of his departure was mem- orable, as he gathered his family and near friends around him and bestowed his last benediction and blessing.

The next pastor was REV. JOHN SCHUREMAN, D.D., a grandson of the schoolmaster who came from | Holland with Dominie Frelinghuysen, and son of

1 This was formerly the name of Somerville.

700

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Hon. John Schureman. He was born Oct. 19, 1787, near New Brunswick, his parents having retired to the country upon the occupation of the city by the British in 1776. His father was a member of the congregation, and a prominent patriot during the Revolution ; his mother was a member of the Schuy- ler family, who came from Albany among the early settlers. In consequence of his father's absence in the public service his early education devolved chiefly upon his grandmother, to whom he was much indebted for his religious training. He became a member of this church in the nineteenth year of his age, being received into fellowship upon the profession of his faith under the ministry of his predecessor in the pas- toral office in April, 1797. He had completed his literary course before the age of seventeen, graduating at Queen's College, Sept. 30, 1795. After studying theology with Dr. Livingston he was licensed to preach in 1800, preaching his first sermon for Dr. Condict in the old church. Thenceforth his career was brilliant and successful. He was for six years pastor at Bedminster, two years and a half at Harlin- gen, and two years settled over the Collegiate Church of New York. In the latter charge his health failed, and he came to New Brunswick, succeeding Dr. Con- dict as vice-president of the college. Thus, after a season of rest and recuperation, he was prepared to ac- cept the urgent call of this church to become their pastor.

He has been regarded as one of the most useful and popular ministers of his day. Coming to his native town with the confidence and love of those who had known him from youth up, and with a reputation which had not disappointed his most sanguine friends, it is not strange that his settlement should have cre- ated his expectations as to his usefulness in his new field of labor. Nothing but failing health interfered with the realization of this expectation. Frequent hemorrhages of the lungs compelled him to resign in June after his acceptance of the charge, and he seldom after entered the pulpit.

The new church, whose corner-stone had been laid July 6, 1811, was finished and occupied Sept. 27, 1812. The dedication sermon was preached by Dr. Living- ston, from Ezekiel xliii. 12, and the pews were sold on the 5th of January following. The cost of the build- ing was $16,415, and was turned over by the commit- tee to the consistory on the day of dedication entirely free from debt. The dimensions of the building are ninety-four feet in length, including the tower, which projects four feet, and sixty-six feet in width ; it will comfortably seat eleven hundred persons. This build- ing has stood, with its massive proportions, nearly three-fourths of a century, and has been twice remod- eled,-in 1847 by lowering the galleries and erecting a new pulpit, and in 1862 by reseating and furnishing the entire edifice.

After his resignation, Dr. Schureman, in October, 1815, was elected a Professor of Ecclesiastical History

and Pastoral Theology in the seminary at New Bruns- wick, and died in that office, May 15, 1818.

REV. JESSE FONDA was called after a short va- cancy, Oct. 2, 1813, and was dismissed in order that he might accept a call from the Reformed Dutch Church of Montgomery, July 3, 1817. He was born at Water- vliet, N. Y., April 27, 1786, graduated at Union Col- lege in 1806, and was licensed to preach by the North Consociation of Hartford County, beginning his min- istry at Nassau, N. Y., where he preached successfully until he came to minister to this church.

"During the ministry of Mr. Fonda there was a healthy growth of the church, and at one communion twenty-eight persons made a public profession of their faith. The total number of communicants received into the church was one hundred and seven. Mr. Fonda continued the pastor of the church at Mont- gomery until his death in 1827. Few ministers excelled him as a preacher. He had a full, sonorous voice, well modulated, and would draw attention by the pleasantness of his countenance. He prepared his sermons with great care, writing them out in full, and then preaching from memory. He never paused for a word, but carried his hearers along in a train of rapid argument or pungent appeal to the close of his discourse."

Mr. Fonda left New Brunswick in the summer of 1817. In the graduating class of that year there was a young man, a member of this church, of great abilities and promise, to whom all eyes were imme- diately directed as a suitable person to fill the vacant pulpit. It was not necessary for him to preach as a candidate, for all knew him; and so urgent was the consistory that even before he had received his license a committee waited upon him with an informal pre- sentation of a call. This student, who became the next pastor of the church, was

REV. JOHN LUDLOW, D.D .- His call bears date Sept. 17, 1817. The first invitation was declined, but on its renewal he accepted the charge, with the un- derstanding that he was not expected to preach but once on the Sabbath during the first year, and be released from all pastoral labor. He, however, broke through these conditions almost immediately, and labored zealously, both in and out of the pulpit, for two years, at the expiration of which he was ap- pointed to a professorship in the theological semi- nary, and resigned his charge as pastor.

His character and history are well understood in this community, where the last years of his life were spent in the education of young men for the ministry. After spending four years as professor under his first appointment by the General Synod, he returned to the pulpit, for which he had special qualifications, and was for eleven years pastor of the North Church at Albany, N. Y. In 1834 he accepted the position of provost in the University of the City of Philadel- phia, which office he held for fourteen years, and i only resigned that he might obey the will of the Gen-

701

CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

eral Synod in his election to the professorship of Ec- clesiastical History, Pastoral Theology, and Church History in the seminary at New Brunswick, succeed- ing the venerable Prof. Cannon, which position he filled with great ability until his death, Sept. 8, 1857.

The resignation of Dr. Ludlow left the church vacant for the third time in the short space of six years. Rev. Gabriel Ludlow, the brother of the late pastor, was called, but declined the invitation. The pulpit was supplied by the professors in the seminary for about one year, during which time the attention of the consistory was directed to another young stu- dent, and on Jan. 21, 1821, there was called as the eighth pastor of this church

REV. ISAAC FERRIS, D.D .- Dr. Ferris was in- stalled pastor of the church on the third Thursday in April, 1821. The pastoral relation was dissolved in October, 1824, when he removed to Albany and be- came pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch Church of that city. He subsequently removed to the city of New York, where he was chancellor of the Univer- sity from 1852 till the time of his death.

During the pastorate of Dr. Ferris seven young men who devoted their lives to the work of the min- istry united with the church upon the profession of their faith. One of these was Rev. David Abeel, one of the most devoted of foreign missionaries. He united with the church on the 10th of November, 1821, and has been called "the beloved Abeel," on account of his gentleness and amiableness of temper. " His early death at the age of forty-two filled the whole church with mourning."

REV. JAMES B. HARDENBERGH, D.D., was the ninth pastor of the church, and the second minister of that name. He was called April 2, 1825, and re- mained in charge until December, 1829. Born in Ulster County, N. Y., he graduated at Union College in 1821, at Rutgers Theological Seminary in 1824, and was immediately after installed pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Helderberg, Albany Co., N. Y.

After his resignation as pastor of this church Dr. Hardenbergh preached in New York City, at Rhine- beck six years, to the First Church of Philadelphia four years, and then to the Northwest Church in New York fourteen years.

The property on which the church edifice stands was enlarged in 1823 and 1825 by the purchase of two lots of forty-three feet front on Bayard and Paterson Streets, with a depth along the alley of two hundred and forty-four feet, at a cost of $395.50. The first lecture-room owned by the congregation was erected in 1826 on the corner of the alley and Bayard Street, at an expense of $1468. All the weekly services of the church up to this date had been held in the Lancasterian school-room in Schureman Street. The church edifice was further i improved by the erection of a steeple in 1827, under the direction of Staats Van Deursen, Matthew Eger-

ton, and Peter Spader, the amount expended being $2725.

REV. JACOB J. JANEWAY, D.D., the tenth pastor, was called Feb. 23, 1830. He had previously been called to the Presbyterian Church of this city as the successor of Dr. Joseph Clark in 1814, but had de- clined. Previous to his settlement here be had occupied prominent positions in the Presbyterian Church, and at the date of his call had just resigned the professorship of theology in the Western Theo- logical Seminary at Allegheny, Pa. Yet his early affiliations had been with the Reformed Dutch Church. His parents were members of the Colle- giate Church of New York, into whose communion he was received upon profession of his faitlı after graduating from Columbia College. His theological studies were pursued under the direction of Dr. Livingston. Dr. Janeway served the church but one year, when upon his petition to the Classis the rela- tion was dissolved, Feb. 24, 1831. After a short residence in the city of New York he returned to New Brunswick, and in 1833 was called to the vice- presidency of the college and to the professorship of Belles-Lettres and Evidences of Christianity, and filled the positions with eminent ability till he resigned in 1839. He died June 27, 1858, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

REV. SAMUEL B. How, D.D., was called to the pastorate of this church May 18, 1832. He was born in Burlington, N. J., graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1811, was licensed by the Presby- tery of Philadelphia in 1813, and before his settle- ment over this church had preached two years for the church at Salisbury, Pa., five years at Trenton, N. J., two years as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, seven years as pastor of the Independent Church of Savannah, Ga., and for a short time had been president of Dickinson College, Pa. He had resigned this latter position, and was engaged in a new enterprise in the city of New York at the time of his call to New Brunswick.

Under Dr. How's ministry the church of Middle- bush was organized, March 17, 1834, of a part of the New Brunswick congregation living in that vicinity. In 1837 a noted revival occurred among the churches. One hundred and thirty-seven were added to this church, and about five hundred to all the churches of the city. The additions from year to year under Dr. How's ministry increased the number of communicants in the church to five hun- dred and forty-nine, according to a report made to the Classis. On Feb. 14, 1843, the Second Reformed Dutch Church of New Brunswick was organized. Rev. Dr. Demarest, now of the theological seminary, was their first pastor.

The failure of Dr. How's health in the winter of 1860 led him to seek rest from mental and physical exercise. June 14, 1861, he resigned his charge. During his ministry there had been received into the

702

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

church five hundred and thirty-eight on profession, and two hundred and twenty-five by certificate from other churches. He had been pastor nearly thirty years, and the most harmonious relations had existed in the church.

The pulpit remained vacant until Dec. 3, 1863, when REV. RICHARD H. STEELE, D D., was installed, the sermon being preached by Rev. Dr. How.

First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, N. J.1-The first positive date in the history of the church is A.D. 1726, when the Rev. Gilbert Tennent became its pastor. Its organization may have oc- curred previous to this settlement, but concerning this, for reasons which will appear hereafter, nothing can be stated with certainty. So far as can be ascer- tained, therefore, it completed the first fifty years of its history in 1776. On the year that the nation was born it might have celebrated its semi-centennial.

The records of the church during its first half-cen- tury are not to be found. The subsequent care takeu on this point justifies the inference that records were made, but they are supposed to have been destroyed during the war of the Revolution, when the house of Dr. Moses Scott, a prominent elder, was entered and plundered by the British troops. For this reason our acquaintance with the history of this period is ex- ceedingly meagre. The names of the founders, of the first officers, of the families originally composing the congregation are all wanting.

But while there is this obscurity in regard to the church, its first pastor, as is well known, was one of the most celebrated religious characters of his day, and his personal prominence brings his people into view. Moreover, through his correspondence and memoirs, even if names are wanting, we can learn something at least of their religious character and sympathies. It is as when we read general church history of the first two or three centuries. We see the colossal men here and there, and so through them and their writings the church.

It is needless to reproduce here with any particu- larity the well-known portrait of Gilbert Tennent. He was a man of great natural gifts, excellent men- tal training, ardent piety, dating from an early con- version, and with a zeal so abounding as to become at once his strength and his weakness. Son of a | minister, William Tennent, Sr., himself celebrated, and with three brothers in the sacred office,-John, William, and Charles, each a conspicuous figure,-he easily surpassed them all in talents and influence, and in fact in these respects was second to but few men in his generation. Born to be a leader, he sprang with eagerness to that place at the front which others as willingly resigned to him. We read with delight of the piety of his brother William, which has undoubtedly left behind it a sweeter savor,

but we find at the same time that in all public mat- ters this saintlier spirit was content to follow where Gilbert showed the way.

Conspicuously associated with Gilbert in friendship and in labor was the celebrated George Whitefield, who during his visits to America came several times to New Brunswick, and on one occasion, April 26, 1740, preached in the open air to a congregation of from seven to eight thousand. A detailed ac- count of these services may be found in Dr. David- son's sketch, which want of space forbids us to re- produce. Copious extracts are also given from Mr. Tennent's narrative of his labors in New Brunswick, -the character of the truth presented, the serious and powerful impressions produced by it, the " melt- ing seasons" enjoyed, especially on sacramental oc- casions, with other matters of a like nature. It is noticeable, however, that the best statement which can be made concerning this community, even during the period of the Great Awakening, 1740 and there- about, is that "New Brunswick felt some drops of the spreading rain, but no general shower." In the same connection notice is taken of the character and labors of the good Dominie Frelinghuysen, first pas- tor of the Reformed Dutch Church, without abundant reference to whom no history, and especially no re- ligious history, of early New Brunswick could be written. He and Mr. Tennent seem to have been kindred spirits in many things, and to have labored together for the spiritual welfare of the people.

A building was erected by the congregation in 1727. It was of wood, small and unpretentious, standing on Burnet Street, the west side, just north of Oliver, in the centre of the old Presbyterian burying-ground. From this ground the remains of the dead were removed now several years since and the space built over, with the exception of lot No. 140, so that no trace of its original use now appears. As nearly as can be ascertained, the build- ing stood on lots 140 and 142.

Concerning this building, the accepted tradition has been that it was set fire to and destroyed by the British troops in their attack on New Brunswick during the Revolutionary war, a force of Americans under Capt. Adam Huyler having previously been dislodged from it. With this the statement upon the tablet in front of the present edifice corresponds, reading : " The First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick was erected on Burnet Street, A.D. 1727, and was destroyed by the Public Enemy during the war of the Revolu- tion."

Upon the substantial facts in this story no doubt has ever been thrown; the question which has since been raised, as to whether the destruction was partial or entire, may be of interest to the curious, but does not invite serious investigation. 2

1 Condeused from a historical sermon by Rev. Thomas Nichols, preached July 2, 1876.

" The following statement in the excellent paper read before the New Brunswick Historical Society in December, 1875, by Charles D. Deshier, Esq., may tbrow some light upon the subject :

703

CITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK.

In connection with the labors of the Tennents and of Whitefield, with others of a kindred spirit, arose the first great controversy in the Presbyterian Church of this country, resulting in the disruption of 1741, not healed till 1758. The question between the two sides, the original " old" and " new" in Presbyterian history, was, briefly, whether revivals are to be encouraged or the contrary, and whether piety or education is the more important in the gospel ministry. In this state- ment, however, exactness is sacrificed to brevity, and it is not supposed that it would have been perfectly acceptable to either party in the controversy.

In this strife, as in almost all similar cases, there were faults on both sides. Of the New Side Gilbert Tennent was the acknowledged leader, "so com- płeteły the soul of the party," says Dr. Hodge, as quoted by Dr. Davidson, "that without him it would never have existed ;" and his church adhered to him.

It is in this position that lie makes so striking a figure in the religious history of the times. The im- partial historian must set his approval upon him, in view of his refusal to be satisfied with a dead ortho- doxy, his earnest efforts for a more aggressive relig- ion, and his sympathy with the great revival move- ment which was then sweeping over the land.

"The Presbyterian Church in New Brunswick, before and at the opening of the Revolutionary war, stood on Burnet Street, on what is aow the northerly corner of Oliver Street, below Lyle's Brook, and was built in 1726. A tablet in the present ' First Presbyterian Church' states that the old church on Burnet Street was Destroyed by the Public Enemy During the War of the Revolution ;' and Rev. Robert Davidson, D.D., in his 'Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New Brunswick,' states that it was set fire to by the enemy and W88 'consumed.' [P. 17.] But ia the 'Book of Regiatry and Copy of Inventory of Damages done by the Enemy and their Adherente to the Inhabitants of Middlesex Conaty,' [preserved in manuscript in the State Library at Trentoa, No. 172] the inventory presented by the congregation does not state that the church waa wholly 'consumed,' but that it was ' damaged.' The following is a transcript of the inventory :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 170

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