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 67
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 67
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213
The first Monthly Meeting held in Woodbridge oc- curred at the house of Benjamin Griffith, on the 17th of August, 1689. In 1713 Friends first met in their meeting-house in Woodbridge.
Application was made to the Woodbridge Monthly Meeting in the year 1722 for leave to hold First Day meetings at the house of John Laing in Plainfield, which was agreed to. John Laing dying in 1725, bequeathed a lot of land for a meeting-house, and in 1731 request was made for building a meeting-house thereon, which was granted. The meeting-house was accordingly built, and meetings held twice a week, on First and Fourth Days.
At a Monthly Meeting held at Woodbridge on the 16th 10th month, 1742, a motion was made by divers Friends at Rahway to hold a meeting for three months at the house of Joseph Shotwell, which was agreed to be held on the first days of the week. On the 17th 9th month, 1743, it was agreed by the Monthly Meeting that a meeting should be held twice a week at said Joseph Shotwell's till the middle of the second month following on the first and fourth days of the week, which meetings were continued by appointments from year to year till a meeting- house was built on a lot of land given by said Joseph Shotwell for that purpose in the year 1757, then were removed to the said mecting-house.
It appears from an entry in the records of Jan. 1, 1757, that the Friends in Rahway had "repeatedly
271
CITY OF RAHWAY.
made application to the Monthly Meeting for leave to build a meeting-house at that place, and that the Friends in Woodbridge referred the matter to the ' consideration of the Quarterly Meeting.'" The rep- resentatives brought word from that body, the sub- stance of which was that in regard to the matter in question it was " the solid sense of that meeting that a meeting-house ought to be built at Rahway." With- out further opposition the project was pushed forward. During February and March much was done towards the new enterprise. Solomon Hunt, Samuel Marsh, Abraham Shotwell, and Benjamin Shotwell were ap- pointed to purchase a suitable lot. Francis Bloodgood, Abner Hampton, and Robert Willis were appointed to assist in selecting the ground and determining the size of the plat. It was decided that the new build- ing should be thirty-four feet long and thirty feet wide. The building is still standing on Main Street. It was abandoned as a meeting-house in 1804, and was loaned to the First Methodist Society to hold services in before the erection of their church. In later years it was occupied by George W. Hall as a hardware- store, and is now used as a tea-store.
In the year 1766 a motion was made to the Monthly Meeting to settle meetings in the said meeting-house at Rahway in the following manner, viz .: two meet- ings on the first days of the week, the first to begin on the eleventh hour, and the second to begin on the third hour ; and the other to be on the fourth day of the week at the eleventh hour, which meetings have continued to this time.1
In 1751 one or more of the Quarterly Meetings, hitherto held at Shrewsbury, were removed to Wood- bridge, where they continued to be held till 1769, when one was renoved to Rahway and held on the third First Day of the eighth month.
The above account in relation to the settlement of meetings was prepared by a committee consisting of James Shotwell, John Webster, and Benjamin Shot- well, and was read at the Monthly Meeting held at Rahway the 21st of the 7th month, 1773, and approved of. So it is certified by Thomas Latham, clerk.
We find by the next entry in the record that the Preparative Meeting at Rahway required a certificate for Henry Shotwell to the Monthly Meeting at New York, and that Cowperthwaite Copland and Thomas Latham were appointed to inquire into his life and conversation and clearness in respect to marriage, and draw an essay of a certificate as they find things and bring to next Monthly Meeting. It appears that the certificate was approved of and signed by the clerk.
"Giving way to drowsiness" in meetings appears to have been an offense subject to discipline among the Friends, for the Yearly Meeting in 1773 requested the Quarterly Meeting to give an account at the next Yearly Meeting of "Friends' care in treating with such," and it was reported that they had "treated
with some who have given occasion of complaint on that account."
On the 19th of November, 1755, in accordance with the recommendation of the Philadelphia Yearly Meet- ing, a Ministers' and Elders' Meeting was established in Rahway, to be held monthly at the house of John Vail, on the third Second Day of the month, at eleven o'clock.
The representatives appointed to attend the Quar- terly Meeting in 1773 were Richard Dell, John Web- ster, Elijah Pound, Jobn Vail, Sr., and Abraham Shotwell.
Cowperthwaite Copeland had charge of the meet- ing-house for some time after its erection.
Robert Willis was one of the most active preachers among the Friends in this section of the country. He lived in Woodbridge, but visited the Friends in many localities. On the 17th of April, 1760, he informed the Woodbridge meeting that he had been "under an Ingagement of minde for sum time to Vissit the meetings of Friends in the Southern Provinces." For this purpose he received a commendatory certifi- cate. The record says, "He being under low Cir- cumstances, Joseph and Abraham Shotwell are ap- pointed to provide a hors and to furnish him with necessarys of all kinds suitable for that jarney."
He returned from the South in October with pleas- ant testimonials of his useful ministry in and about " West River," in Maryland. In 1761 he revisited South River, made a tour as far south as Fredericks- burg, Va., and visited New York and New England. In 1770 he visited the Friends in England, returning in September, 1774. He died in Rahway, and some of his descendants are still residing there.
Sarah Shotwell was well and favorably known as a speaker among the Friends of this section. She is spoken of as " a pattern of humility and faithfulness." After her death a memorial was prepared by a com- mittee consisting of John Webster and Abner Hamp- ton, which was adopted by the June Monthly Meet- ing, 1760.
The senior Jobn Vail, at a period somewhat earlier, had considerable eminence as a public teacher of the truth, and William Morris was at one time an honored and useful preacher among the Friends at Wood- bridge, Rahway, Plainfield, and throughout this por- tion of New Jersey.
In August, 1761, a Preparative Meeting was estab- lished at Rahway.
That the meeting at Woodbridge declined very much after the building of the house of worship at Rahway is quite evident. In the minutes of the Rahway Meeting in February, 1766, it is recom- mended that Rahway and Plainfield should appoint some of their members from time to time to visit the Friends at Woodbridge, and the same course is rec- ommended to those "Friends who feel a spring of love in themselves." In 1769 the Woodbridge Pre- parative Meeting was removed to Rahway, and in the
1 Report of 1773.
272
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
same year the Monthly Meeting ceased to be held at Woodbridge, from this time forward alternating be- tween Rahway and Plainfield.
At this time the meeting-house in Rahway was enlarged at an expense of £161. Delegates met in it for the first time after in August, 1769.
In 1785 the Friends erected a school-house in Rah- way upon the meeting-house lot. It fronted the road (now Main Street), and was twenty by thirty, one story high.
In 1804 the Friends in Rahway built another meeting house on Irving Street at the head of Poplar. It is a frame building, fifty by thirty-five, two stories. In 1827 the society was divided, and the other branch have a brick meeting-house on Irving Street between Lewis and Milton Avenue, the upper story of which is occupied for a school.
John Vail was very prominent in his day. He died at Rabway Nov. 27, 1774, in his eighty-ninth year.
Agnes Elston was prominent as a speaker. Died in Rahway.
Isaac Martin (most prominent since the Revolu- tion) died Aug. 9, 1828, aged seventy-one.
Hugh Davids (also well known), another early preacher.
CHAPTER XLI. CITY OF RAHWAY .- ( Continued.)
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Rahway. -Robert Cloud and Thomas Morrell were the first Methodist preachers appointed by the Philadelphia Conference to the Elizabethtown Circuit, in 1787. The circuit probably included Rahway. But at what time services were first held here is unknown. Revs. John McClusky, Simon Pile, John Merrick, John Cooper, Jethro Johnson, and Gamaliel Bailey were the circuit ministers from 1788 to 1792, and probably during their ministry, about 1790, the first class was formed in Rahway.
The records of the church, now in the hands of Isaac Osborn, of Rahway, contain evidence of the existence of a society, with its board of trustees, as early as 1798 ; for in that year a lot of land was deeded to them on what was afterwards Mechanic Street, now a portion of Grand Street, in Upper Rahway. We quote a portion of the decd, as follows :
" This Indenture made this eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, between William Shotwell, of the County of E-sex, in the State of New Jersey, of the one part, and Jonathan Oliver aod Benjamin Woodruff, of Essex County, William Flatt, Jr., Abraham Storms, and John Marsh, of Middlesex County. all of the State of New Jersey aforesaid, trusteee in trust for the use and purposes hereinafter mentioned, of the other part, Witnesseth that the said William Shotwell, for and in consideration of the eum of fifty Dollars to him in hand paid at and upon the sealing and delivering of theee presente, the receipt whereof ie bereby acknowledged by the Baid William Shotwell : Hath given, granted, bargained, sold, released, confirmed, and conveyed, and by these presente doth give, grant, bar- galu, sell, release, confirm, and convey unto them, the said Jonathan
Oliver, Benjamin Woodruff, William Flatt, Jr., Abraham Storms, and John Marsh, and their successors ( Trustere in trust for the usea and purposes mentioned and declared by these presente) all the estate, right, title, interest, etc. . .. which he, the said William Shotwell, hath in, to, or upon all and singular a certain lot lying and being in Elizabeth Town, Rahway, adjoining the Road leading from John Tucker's, Esq., to Shotwell's Landing, being part of the Tract of Land which the afore- Baid William Shotwell lately purchased of Daniel Mloore, Beginning," etc.
The deed goes on to recite that the said trustees " shall erect and build or cause to be built thereon a house or place of Worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America ; and future trust in confidence that they shall at all times forever hereafter permit such Minis- ters and Preachers helonging to the said church as shall from time to time be duly acknowledged by the general or yearly district Conferences of the Ministers and Preachers of the said Methodist Episcopal Church to preach and expound God's Holy Word therein, and perform such religions exercises as are agreeable to the rules and discipline of the said Church forever hereafter."
The record contains the survey of the lot of land, returned by Joseph D. Camp, Oct. 20, 1798, and also a diagram of it drawn upon the page. It was never used, however, for the purpose intended, the society subsequently selecting a lot which suited them better. This is the lot on which the present church edifice stands, on Grand Street, although it has been enlarged by additions since made to it. It was conveyed to William Flatt and others, trustees, by Moses Jaques, Jr., April 4, 1808, and was recorded as shown by the following indorsement :
" Received in the office the 25th of March, 1817, and recorded in Book C 2 of deeds for Essex County, pages 354, 355, and 356. "S. WHITEHEAD, Clerk."
The first movement towards building a church edi- fice appears from the records to have been made on Nov. 26, 1806. At a meeting held on that day the trustees say that the members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and others who attend their meetings " are desirous of erecting a plain building, about forty feet square, for the public worship of Almighty God and to promote the practice of piety and virtue." They add that they " are encouraged to hope for snc- cess, as one person, not of their community, has gen- erously offered a lot of land suitable for this purpose, between the towns of Rahway and Bridgetown, on which they propose to erect the buildings."
We learn from this extract that in 1806 Rahway and Bridgetown were separate hamlets, the interven- ing country being an open plantation, and that the church was placed between the two villages for the accommodation of both. At this meeting William Flatt, Aaron Miller, and Enoch Moore were "ap- pointed Managers of the proposed building," or what we would call the building committee, and the fol- lowing subscribers pledged themselves to pay to them the sums set opposite their respective names. As this
273
CITY OF RAHWAY.
list will reveal the names of many of the residents of the town at that period, as well as furnish the curious reader with the amounts contributed by each for building the church, we give it in full :
NAMES.
Thomas Morrell $10.00
Aaron Miller.
40.00
Jonathan Oliver.
40 00
Samuel Moore .. 10.00
James Lozer
Javies Dougherty 1.00
William Farnote
4 00
Eliakim Ludlow
Asa Arnold 8.00
Simon Lott
1.00
William Wainwright.
3.00
Elizabeth Widagan.
2.00
Name unknown
5.00
William Clark
3.00
John Morris ...
5.00
Classon Martin ...
2.00
John Jackson
3.00
John Cheddick
10.00
Stephen Winans,
5.00
Isaac Wyman, in work
5.00
Sammel Winans, 3 loads of stone.
10.00
Enoch Moore
30 00
Enoch Moore & Co.
5.00
William Flatt, Jr ...
50.00
John Flatt ...
20 00
John Wilson.
3.00
John P. Thorp.
1.00
Palatiah Whitehead.
1.00
James Thorp, Jr.
1.00
William Moore ..
1.00
Freeman Worth.
1.50
John Bergun.
1 00
George Harrison
5.00
William Martin.
1.00
John Williams.
1.00
Jolın O, Jagnes ..
2010
John Jagnes. 1. 3 dollars
3.00
Joseph Croswell
1.00
John Noe ....
1.00
John Crowell, work ..
2.00
Jotham Randolph, work.
1.00
Philip Brown, Jr.
3,00
Thomas Morris ...
1.00
John Bunn.
5.00
Robert Morris :
3.00
Saninel Jaques.
5.00
William Martin, in work
5.00
Nathaniel Bennett.
1.00
Cowperthwaite Moore ..
1.00
Davil .Jaques ...
5.110
Aaron Brokaw
2.00
Cornelius Brokaw.
5 00
John Brokaw
2.00
Abel Clarkson 2.00
James 11. Marsh. 2.00
Ira Weeks ...
1.00
Jatues Jaques.
15.00
John Spinning.
2.50
George Marsh.
2.00
Freeman Force.
2.00
James Edgar, work. 5.00
Ephraim Harned, work
2.00
Mary Cook
5 00
Benjamin Drake,
4.00
Edward Mundy
3 00
Robert Luke, work
2.50
Joseph Nesbitt.
1.25
James Milven, work
2.00
Barron Mundy, work
6.00 8.00
Thomas Crowell
4 00
Thumas Crowell
6.00
Samuel Kinsey, work
2.00
N. Morse ....
5 00
Heury Force ...
3.00
Samuel Anderson.
1.00
Sarah Galuman 2.00
10,00
Jack Ryno, 2 days' work
4.00
Joseph Stansbury
20 110
Mary H. Winants.
5.00
Samuel Freeman
2.00
John C. Marsh.
5 00
John Compton
1.00
Abraham Flatt
15.00
Ira Mundy.
2.50
William Ross
2.00
Thomas Terrell
1.00
Isanc Winants, in stone.
Isaac Stansbury .. 5 00
John Marsh 10.00
William Laurence, work
NAMES.
Robert Clarkson, Jr.
$2.00
James Lambert.
5.00
Sarah Hetsel. 1 00
3.00
Cornelius Baker
1.00
Peter Craig
Thomas Brown
1.00
Jane FreeDian
10,00
Elihn Marshı
5.00
John Wainwright
5.00
Nathan Harned .
5.00
Charles T. Tucker.
10.00
Merritt Martin, timber
. James De Camp, stope ...
John Ludlow, stone
Grleon Deramp ..
5.00
James Clarkson.
2.00
Elias Dunning ..
1.00 5.00
Samnel Winauts
8,00 2.00 10.00
Alstain Bishop.
2 00
Daniel Pierson
4.00
Sophia Harned
4.00
Robert Clark
2,00 2 00
Thomas Morrell
5.00
Sophia Warned.
2,00
Phehe Freeman.
6.00
Rebecca Edgar
2.00
Jane Freeman
10,00
Thomas Edgar
1 00
John Mecan.
1.50
Gideon Decamp
10.00
Isaac Freeman.
3.00
Abel Jackson ...
1.00
Edward Mundy
3.00
Compton Cutts.
5.00
$667.25
Up to Sept. 3, 1807, the building appears to have progressed so far as to have been inclosed, lathed, and plastered. From the bill of items presented by William Flatt, Jr., it appears that the pine lumber was obtained in New York, the timber of Merritt & Martin, one pair of hinges fron William Martin, and one pair from William Ross, wrought nails from S. Martin. Judging from the amount of white lead charged, six pounds, only the wood-work and doors were painted, perhaps a single coat. Unlike most churches at that early day, this church enjoyed the luxury of being heated, for in the bill are the itens of "1 Box Stove, £9," and "Pipe for the Stove, £2 48. 10d.," the account having been kept in pounds, shillings, and pence. Joseph Stansbury did the mason-work, and William Bell the carpenter-work. Under the head of "Vote of Trustees to pay Wm. Bell," at a meeting convened by the "advice of a Quarterly Conference held at Turkey," in the church at Rahway, the 22d of March, 1814, it was resolved that "the six trustees present for themselves sever- ally to pay 8 dollars and 87-100. Two of the said trustees made themselves liable for the absent trustee. The whole was 60 dollars, for which one general re- ceipt was taken in full of all demands from said Bell against said church and its trustees."
June 14, 1814, a subscription of $66.25 was raised. The paper was prefaced by the following appeal : " Whereas the Methodist Episcopal Church in the township of Rahway has been for a long time in an unfinished state, in consequence of the funds being exhausted, and the house being in debt, the trustees have individually and collectively assumed the debt against said house. They have concluded to make
25.00
Frederick Mundly
James Moore ..
James Brown.
Gershom Cheddick
Stephen Wianuts
Joseph Oliver, Jr.
Saminel Force. 3 00
Henry Mundy, work
William Ohver.
Robert Marsh.
274
HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
an effort to seat it, that the people who wish to attend there may sit with convenience, and in order that they may be enabled to effect their desire do hereby most earnestly solicit the charitable aid and assist- ance from the benevolent of every denomination. The trustees do hereby pledge themselves that money coming into their hands shall be faithfully applied with all possible dispatch."
To this paper was subscribed the sum of $66.25. On June 30, 1814, an additional subscription of $27.50 was raised, but these sums were not sufficient to finish the building. At a full meeting of the board, July 29, 1816, Thomas Potts, secretary, it was resolved, " on motion made and seconded, that the church building, Liberty Chapel, be finished. Car- ried unanimously. On motion made and seconded, that the sum of $50 be borrowed to purchase materials for finishing the aforesaid chapel. Carried unani- mously." The money was authorized to be borrowed of James Barber, and Anthony Oliver and Thomas Potts were appointed to purchase the material. At that time Aaron Miller and others held accounts of long standing against the church, which were ordered "paid out of the Legacy due the Church when re- ceived."
" Moved and seconded that Milan Ross be ap- pointed to make provisions for the preacher's horses out of the church collections. Carried." Also " that one dollar per month be paid to the sexton." Several efforts had been made to incorporate the society pre- vious to the date of the certificate of incorporation given below, which had proved unsuccessful, or bad not fully conformed to the requirements of law :
"This is to certify that Thomas Foster, Thomas Potts, Milan Ross, Peter Morgan, Bennett Bowman, Charles Jaques, and John Decker have been duly elected trusteee of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the township of Rahway, County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, agree- ably to an act of the Legislature of said State passed on the 13th day of June, 1799, to incorporate religious societies, and whereas said true- tees have taken and subscribed the oaths required by law with view to become an incorporate body under the name and title as above written, to be known and designated in law as such.
"Given under our haude and seals this 27th day of February, iu the year of our Lord 1817.
" THOMAS FOSTER. [Sea]]
" THOMAS POTTS.
[Sea]]
" MILAN ROSS. [Sex]]
" PETER MORGAN.
[Seal]
" BENNETT BOWMAN. [Seal]
"CHARLES JAQUES.
[Seal]
" JOHN DECKER.
[Seal]
" Received in the office the 7th day of March, 1817, Book A of Miscel- lanies for Essex County, page 114.
" SILAS WHITEHEAD, Clerk."
A burying-ground was located in the rear of the church soon after the purchase of the lot. By action of the trustees in 1820 an addition was made to it by the purchase of a piece of land from Elias Stansbury. Milan Ross was appointed to procure the deed. (Re- corded in B L 3 of deeds of Essex County, pages 16-17, July 18, 1832.1) We find in the book of
records a diagram of the burying-ground made by Anthony Atwood in February, 1835. It is laid out into lots ten feet north and south, and nine feet east and west.
A new burial-ground was purchased and laid out in 1848. It lies in the rear of the church, extending back to the next street, and was also purchased of Elias Stansbury.
In 1832 the meeting-house was repaired and an addition built to it. At the same time the building was newly seated in the lower part, and a room par- titioned off under the gallery next the street.
At a meeting held in 1832 it was resolved "that the females be seated in the middle of the church, and, if necessary, occupy the wing on the left of the pulpit. Carried." Also, " Resolved that the presi- dent (William Granville) get the church insured for fifteen hundred dollars."
A Sunday-school house was built on the rear of the church lot on Seminary street in 1832.
The first resolution proposing the building of a " parsonage house" was offered at a meeting of the stewards and leaders held on April 23, 1832. It was not agreed to, but in lieu of this the house of Anthony Atwood on Seminary Street was rented and used as a parsonage for several years. In 1848 a lot was purchased of William Inslee, and a new parsonage erected thereon the same year. It is still the parson- age of the society.2
The church was constructed with a gallery across the front and on the sides, and had a circular window about three feet in diameter in the end next the street. When the church was enlarged by the addi- tion of twenty feet in the rear the windows were all made with circular tops, some of which may now be seen in the office of Mr. Isaac Osborn, who bought the old church property.
New Church .- At a meeting of the trustees, June 17, 1856, a full board being present, "it was then and there unanimously
" Resolved, That we build a new brick church fifty feet front by seventy feet deep, said church to have a gallery at the side -. 3
" Resolved, That the old church be advertised and sold to the highest bidder, reserving the seate up and down stairs, with the pulpit, altar- railing, and inside doors to entrance.
" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed as a building com- mittee to superintend the building of exid church, that committee to be the following persons: Isaac Osborn, William H. Flatt, Francis E. Terrill."
The property of the old church and lecture-room were taken by Isaac Osborn, he agreeing to finish the new church complete, except the blinds, and to paint the outside three coats and the inside one for the sum of ten thousand dollars. On the 17th of March, 1857, this proposition was accepted by the board in the words following :
" Resolved, That we give Bro. Isaac Osborn the entire charge of fin- ishing the church, and that he forthwith finish the same."
2 Ihid .. p. 39.
3 The plan was modified so that it was built with an enil gallery.
1 Church Records, p. 23.
275
CITY OF RAHWAY.
The church was completed and dedicated in June, 1857. The sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas Sargent, of Baltimore.
We find from Mr. Osborn's complete statement of the moneys received and expended in the erection of the building that its entire cost was eleven thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven dollars and thirty- three cents.
The following is a list of the ministers who have offi- ciated in this church from the first to the present time, with the dates of services, so far as they can be ascer- tained :
1799. Joseph Totten. 1848. James Ayers.
Thomae Pitte.
1855-56. Charles Larue.
John Robertson.
Jemes H. Dandy.
1821-22. Bartholomew Weed.
Sedgwick Rnsling.
William Bull.
1857. David Tead.
1824-25. Thomas B. Sargent.
Curtis Talley. Robert A. Yard.
1829. William H. Bull.
N. Vanzant.
1831. John Dobbine.
David Gravee.
Jefferson Lewie.
George W. Treat.
Jamee M. Tuttle.
1832. William Granville. Isaac N. Felch.
John I. Morrow.
1834-35. Anthony Atwood.
William H. Day.
1840-41. Isaac N. Felch.
1871-73. H. D. Opdyke.
1844. William A. Willmer.
1874-75. Alexander Craig.
1845. Vincent Shepard.
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.