History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 65

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 942

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Deacon Allen & Mr. Johnson who were appointed (in June, 1788) to carry subscrip- tions thro' the parish to get a sufficient suin subscribed for building a new meeting house -reported that they had presented the sub- scriptions to the greatest part of the people

of this parish-they then laid the subscrip- tions before the Board. It appeared that there was a sufficient sum subscribed for in- closing a house of timber according to the estimate heretofore made, whereupon the Board agreed to lay the same before the parish at their first meeting, and that Mr. President wait on the Rev. Doct. Johnes, and request him to appoint a day of meeting for that purpose, and to preach a sermon on the occasion.

December 11th, 1789.

At a meeting of the congregation of the first presbyterian church in Morris Town (at the request of the Trustees) on the 11th day of December, 1789, to instruct the Trus- tees respecting their proceedings in building a new meeting house or appoint a com mit- tee to direct the s'd building, & the con- gregation having met, the Rev. Doct. Johnes preached a sermon on the occasion and then the congregation proceeded to business. Presid't Condict opened the business of the day.

Voted that Deacon Allen serve as Mode- rator of this meeting. That Joseph Lewis serve as Clerk. A motion was made for ap- pointing a committee to superintend the building a new meeting house, as there was now a sum subscribed sufficient to provide materials, raise & inclose the same. Elder Phillips, Elder Condict & others objected, & alleged the old house would do for a number of years with some repairs-after some de- sultory debates a vote was taken-whether we should repair the old, or build a new meeting house & there appeared a large majority for building a new house-after one year.

Deacon Prudden, Mr. Kinney and others proposed that a vote should again be taken, whether the house should be built of Brick or of Timber, & the votes being taken there appeared to be a large majority for building of Timber.

The congregation then proceeded to elect a committee to consist of three persons who should employ workmen, provide materials & superintend the said building & it was agreed that if any of the Trustees were ap- pointed to serve in the committee their place in the Board of Trustees should be considered as vacant-& the votes being taken by poll there appeared a majority in

PASTORATE OF REV. TIMOTHY JOHNES, D.D.

favor of Moses Estey, Joseph Lewis & Dan- iel Phœnix, Jun.

A motion was made for some general in- structions to be given the committee re- specting the size of the building, where it should stand, what it should be inclosed with, &c. The congregation declined giving any instructions at present but impowered the committee to appoint a meeting of the parish at some future time for that purpose- then adjourned.

Jan. 25, 1790 .- At a meeting of the Parish on the 25th of Jan., 1790, for the purpose of giving Rev. Mr. Collins a call to serve the congregation as an assistant to Rev. Dr. Johnes in the Ministry.

Voted, That Deacon Allen serve as Moderator; That Joseph Lewis serve as Clerk.

Voted, Unanimously that the Rev. Mr. Collins be requested to serve the congrega- tion as an Assistant to the Rev. Dr. Johnes in the Ministry, and that he shall receive beside the use of the House and Parsonage and fire Wood a Salary of one hundred and thirty pounds for the first year and one hun- dred and forty pounds for the second and one hundred and fifty pounds annually thereafter so long as he shall officiate in the said congregation.

Voted, That the said Salary be raised as the Law directs State Taxes to be raised ex- cepting that three assistants or supervisors should be annually appointed by said parish whose duty it should be to make such abate- ments and alterations from the strict rules of Law as to them shall seem just and equit- able in consideration of the distance of resi- dence of some of the Parishioners from the place of worship, or for particular mis- fortune or embarrassment of circumstances. And voted that Silas Condict, Esq., Jona- than Stiles, Esq , and Jonathan Ford be ap- pointed for the above purpose for the first year.

The Moderator presented a paper from the Rev: Dr. Johnes in the words following, viz :

" Whereas, God in his Providence has been pleased to disenable me in a great measure for performing the duties incum- bent ou a minister for so large a congrega- tion as the one now in my charge, and it appearing necessary for the accommodation

and benefit of the congregation that some other person should be employed in the Ministry as an assistant or otherwise, and Providence at present apparently having opened a door for such supply, and it being my desire that peace and harmony with which we have been so long been blessed should continue, and least it should appear burden- some to my people to support more than one Minister, I do freely relinquish the obli- gation now subsisting between my people and myself from the time that another min- ister shall be settled here and his salary commence. Notwithstanding this resigna- tion I am content to assist in the sacred work of the ministry so far as God shall en- able me, and it shall be acceptable to the people, and shall entirely submit to the dis- cretion and generosity of my people to make me such compensation for the same as to them shall seem meet."

Voted, That an address containing the thanks of the Society be presented him in the words following, viz :

The congregation sensible of the long and faithful services which the Rev. Dr. Johnes has rendered this congregation by his care and prudence as a minister and the blessings they have been favoured with by means of his administration. Voted, That the thanks of the congregation be presented to the Dr. for such his services and for the friendly and benevolent manner in which he hath been pleased to relinquish the obligation subsisting between him and his people and for his kind offer of future assistance-and that Silas Condict, Esq., and Deacon Allen wait on him and inform him of this Vote. That the members of the congregation now present will endeavor that a generous com- pensation shall be annually contributed so long as his assistance and direction shall by a kind providence be continued.

Voted, That the same persons wait on Rev, Mr. Collins, inform him of the deter- mination of the congregation and request his answer.

Voted, That the Trustees hire a house for Rev. Mr. Collins,and that the same be levied on the people in the same tax with the salary.

SUBSCRIPTION FOR PRINCETON COLLEGE.

Morristown, Jan. 5th, 1769, the Trustees

MINUTES OF SESSION.

of the College of New-Jersey having repre- sented to the Presbyteries, that the interest of their capital was inadequate to the an- nual necessary expences of the College. The Presbyteries considering the necessity and importance of the object, are uniting their indeavours to increase said capital. And our presbytery, viz., of New-york, the 18th of October agreed to open a subscrip- tion to exert ourselves on that head, which motion the members of our Ch. Session not- withstanding the publick expence now ly- ing on them, do. both encourage it them- selves, and recommend it to others-The subscription is as followeth-We whose names are under written do promise to pay or cause to be paid to the Treasurer of the College and to the use and benefit of the College the several sums affixed to our names Proc., &c.

Rev'd Tim. Johnes

9. o. o

Jacob Ford, Esq'r 21.0.0

Dea. Matthias Burnet 9. 0. 0

Cap. Tim. Mills 6. 0. 0

Elder Daniel Lindsley 3. 0. 0 .

Abr. Ogden, Esq'r . 3. 0. 0

Elder Jno. Lindsley 3. 0. 0

Joseph Wood 6. 0. 0

Henry Gardiner 0.16.0

Nathan Reeve 3. 0. 0

John Ayres, Esq'r

9. 0. 0

Thomas Kenney 3. o.

Will'm DeHart, Esq'r 3. 0. 0

Thomas Morrell 4.10.0

Jonas Phillips 4.10.0 .

Isaac Pierson

3. 0. 0

Jonathan Cheever I. O. O .

Peter Condict 2.11.0

Peter Prudden

2.11.O

Moses Prudden

2.11.0

Joseph Prudden

2.11.0

Benjamin Pierson

9. 0. 0

Samuel Tuthill, Esq'r

3. 0. 0

Silas Condict

3. 0. 0

Ezra Halsey, elder

12.0.0

Samuel Robarts

3. 0. 0

Augustine Bayles

3. 0. 0

Wid. Phebe Wood

3. 0. 0

Jonathan Stiles, Esq'r

I.15.0

Cap. Benjamin Halsey

0.10.0

Mr. Sergeant, the Treasurer of ye College receit for £140 Proc. was seen and acknowl- edged by the Elders and the overplush was allowed for incidental charges, testafied in behalf of ye Rest by JACOB FFORD.

Sept. 29. 1787. Then presented to the Trustees of Nassau Hall for the education of poor and pious youth as followeth, viz: Caleb Russell, Esq. 22 dol. & 45 ninetieths Joseph Lewis, Esq. & 5

Silas Condict, Esq. 42 "

Icabod Cooper, 1 & I

Dea. Gilbert Allen, I & 80

Phillip Lindsley, 3 " & 66

Jonathan Dickerson, Esq., 16 dol.& 12

Col. Benoni Hathaway, 3" & 30

John Mills 9 “ & 2

£ 41. 3. 9

For which they received the thanks of the Board of Trustees.

Test. TIMO. JOHNES.

MR. COLLINS ASSISTANT TO DR. JOHNES. MINUTES OF SESSION.

Jan. 11, 1791. At a church Session, duly noticed, met at the House of the Rev'd DD. Johnes Jan. 11th AD 1791. Present Pastors Messieurs DD. Johnes A. C. Collins, Elders, Messieurs Gilbert Allen, Joseph Prudden, Jonas Phillips, Caleb Munson, Joseph Linsley & Ezra Halsey. The Meet- ing was opened by Prayer, offered by Dr. Johnes, the Moderator. * * * The Ses- sion proceaded to distribute the money con- tributed for the Poor on Thanksgiving day, & gave to the wid. R. 6 shillings, to the wid. M. 5 shillings, to the wid. S. 5 shillings, to Mr. W. 5 shillings, to Mr. L. 5 shillings, & to Mrs. T. 5 shillings. The meeting was closed with prayer.

Jan, 23. AD. 1791. The Chh. Session, duly noticed, met at the House of the Rev'd DD. Johnes. Present the Rev'd Messers DD. Johnes, A. C. Collins. Elders, Messers Gilbert Allen, Joseph Prudden, Jonas Philips, Joseph Lindsley, Caleb Munson & Ezra Halsey. The meeting was opened by prayer, offered by the Moderator.

140. 5. 0 Proc. The question was then put whether the BENJAM'N LINDSLEY. Elders shall not with the Ministers, or April 27, 1873. The Elders being met, either of them, be a Committee to examine

MR. COLLINS ASSISTANT TO DR. JOHNES.

all candidates for Chh-membership ; which was unanimously agreed to The Session further resolve that a new Book shall be purchased, to contain all the Chh. records from the time of Mr. Collins's ordination ; which shall be kept by the Ministers, or either of them.

This question was then put : Whether those persons who have covenanted with God & [been] admitted members of the Chh. & have come to the ordinance of Baptism, but not to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, shall renew covenant in order to come to that ordinance ? In consequence of which they unanimously agreed that they need not, but that they be required to inform the Ministers, or Minister, that it is their desire to come to the Lord's Supper previ- ous to their coming, & that the Minister publish the same to the Chh.

The Session further agreed that the Con- gregation shall be informed, that those who bring Children to baptism are required to deliver the time of the Child's birth & its name, in writeing, to the Minister when it is baptised.

The Session directed that their procead- ings at this meeting be publickly read to the Congregation.

The meeting was closed with prayer.

[Minutes of only two other meetings, " Oct. 17, 1791," and " Feb, 8. 1792," appear in the Session Book, until " May 22d, 1795;" the minutes of Feb. 8, 1792, end at the bot- tom of page 2, and those of May 22d, 1795, begin at the top of page 3, in the "new Book."]

RECORDS OF THE TRUSTEES AND PARISH.

Feb. 1, 1790 -At a meeting of the Taus- tees at the house of Jos. Lewis present, The president Mr. Lindsly, Mr. Ford. Mr. Mills and Mr. Johnson.

In consequence of the vote of the Parish meeting the 25th ult. the Trustees prepared an obligation for the Rev'd Mr. Collins' Salary and house rent in words following- viz.

Whereas on the 25th day of January 1790 at a parish meeting for that purpose ap- pointed, it was unanimously voted that the Rev. Aaron Collins should be employed as

a minister of the gospel of the first Presby- terian Church and Congregation in Morris- town and that the said Mr. Collins should have besides the use of a house and parson- age and fire wood, as a salary the sum of one hundred and thirty pounds for the first. year, and one hundred and forty pounds for the second year, and the sum of one hun- dred and fifty pounds annually thereafter so long as he shall continue to do the duties of a minister to the said Congregation, and it being also voted that the said salary to- gether with the money for the hire of a house for the said minister, should be raised and levied upon the parishioners by the way of a tax as the law directs the State taxes to be raised excepting that three assist- ants or supervisors should be annually ap- pointed by the Parish, whose duty it should be to make abatements and alterations from the strict rules of law as to them shall seem just and equitable in consideration of the distance of residence of some of the parish- ioners from the place of worship or for par- ticular misfortune or embarrassment of cir- cumstances. Therefore we the subscribers sensible of the general utility and vast im- portance to ourselves and posterity of sup- porting the gospel, and being desirous that unanimity may subsist and continue, and that the burden of such support may be borne as equitably as possible and hoping jointly to participate in the advantages and blessings of the Gospel ministry, do hereby bind ourselves to pay the sums that shall be so assessed and levied upon us annually to commence from the Ist day of March one thousand seven hundred & ninety, unto the said Aaron Collins, or to such person or persons as shall by the said parish be ap- pointed to collect or receive the same, and that during the time he shall continue to officiate, and do the duties of a minister to said congregation, and we continue to be members thereof, or until the mode of pay- ment shall be revoked or altered by plurality of voices of the said Parishioners.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this first day of Feb. 1790.

The trustees also proposed a subscription for the Rev. Doct. T. Johnes' salary in the words following, vız.

Whereas, The Rev. Doct. T. Johnes in con- sequence of his being by divine Providence

TRUSTEES AND PARISH.

disenabled at least in part of performing the duties of a minister of the Gospel to the people of his charge, and they by his con- sent and advice having agreed to employ another minister to assist and perform the duties of the Gospel ministry to the said people, and the said Doct. Johnes having generously relinquished the obligation his people were under to pay him his stipulated salary at the same time kindly offering to serve and assist by his counsel & adminis- tration, as far as God shall enable him in the sacred work of the ministry. We the sub- scribers being sensible not only of his past long and faithful services to our Fathers and to us, and the blessing we have there- by enjoyed, but also of the need we still stand in of his pious advice and instruc- tions. do cheerfully agree and promise to pay to the said Doct. T. Johnes or order the sums severally affixed to our names and that from the time the other minister shall com- mence, annually, so long as the said Doct. Johnes shall continue to render such, his advice and assistance to the said congrega- tion, or until we shall each for himself with- draw this our consent and choice of reward- ing virtue.

Witness our hands this Ist day of Feb., 1790.

Voted, That Deacon Allen and Mr. John- son be requested to go through the Society with the said obligation and subscription and endeavor to get them signed.

June 21, 1790,-

Mr. President proposed to have a Church Treasurer in the room of Mr. Smith who is absent-whereupon the Board appointed Mr. Mills to serve in that office. Mr. Mills was appointed to settle the accounts of the late Treasurer, and report to the Board. The Board appointed Mr. Cherry to serve as Sex- ton, and that he be paid five pounds per year by the Treasurer, and be allowed to de- mand and receive from five shillings to a dollar for digging a grave and tolling the bell at each funeral ; and that the Sexton see that the meeting house is properly swept from time to time and be allowed three pounds five shillings to pay for that service with the reserve that Joseph Wood- man be allowed to continue to do the busi- ness as heretofore.

The weekly contributions falling short of the current expenses of ringing the Bell, sweeping the meeting house, &c. Voted, that Mr. Lewis wait on the Rev. Doctor Johnes and request him to address the peo- ple upon this occasion and request their future attention to this part of their duty and to be more liberal in contributing, and the 'next succeeding Sabbath be ap- pointed to make a collection for paying ar- rears which now amount to about 5 or 6 pounds.

Voted that Jesse Cuttler and Samuel Day be appointed to carry about the collection box in the gallery when contributions are to be made.

Voted. That the Assessor be requested to assess twenty-two pounds ten shillings (in addition to the Rev, Mr. Collins' salary) for the purpose of paying the rent of a house hired for the use of Mr. Collins,

Oct. 8, 1790 .- At a meeting of the congre- gation pursuant to advertisements for that purpose.

Resolved, That Deacon Allen serve as Moderator. That Joseph Lewis serve as Clerk.

James Smith having removed and Joseph Lewis having resigned his office as a Trus- tee, the congregation elected Jonathan Og- den and Jacob Arnold, Esq., to serve as Trustees.

Resolved, That the committee of Direc- tion proceed to provide materials for the new meeting house as soon as convenient. that the house be built seventy feet long and fifty feet broad. That a committee of Council be appointed to give further instructions to the Committee of Direct- ors from time to time as they may think proper.

That Judge Condict, Doct. Johnes, Jr., Doct. Jab. Campfield, Squire Carmichæl, Squire Lindsley, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Jonathan Dickerson, Major Lindsley, Deacon Allen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mills and Mr. Halsey be a committee for that purpose. That the said committee have leave to add to or take from the length or breadth of the said new meet- ing house any number of feet not exceeding five. That the said Committee have leave to apply to the Legislature for the privilege of a Lottery to raise a sum of money equal

Sept. 6, 1790, at the house of Joseph Lewis. 'to the expense of building the new meeting

MR. COLLINS ASSISTANT TO DR. JOHNES.

house. That the Board of Trustees have leave to purchase a stove for the Rev. Mr. Collins.

November 24th, 1790.

The Trustees met at Mr. Lewis', present : the President. Mr. Lindsley, Mr. Ford, Mr. Johnson & Jonathan Ogden attended in consequence of his being appointed instead of Joseph Lewis, who had resigned his seat. in the board, & Mr. Ogden being duly sworn, and subscribed the oath as the law directs, took his seat in the board.

Voted that the subscriptions signed for the purpose of building a New Meeting House, dated 15th day of Sept., 1788, be de- livered to Joseph Lewis, Moses Esty & Daniel Phœnix, Jr., appointed a Committee of Directors to superintend the said Build- ing-and that the several sums therein sub- scribed be, & the same are hereby made pay- able to them.

Voted that Mr. Ogden be & he is hereby appointed Clerk.

At a meeting of the Parish on the 22nd Feb., 1792. Voted that in the room & stead of a Dwelling House an addition be made to the Rev. Mr. Collins' Salary equal to the interest a House proper for a Minister would cost ; to be estimated by a commit- tee consisting of Benj. Lindsley, Deacon Alling, Joseph Lindsley, John Britton, Silas Condict, Cornelius Locy & Jonas Phillips. The Trustees wished the Parish to deter- mine on the propriety of selling the Parish land to the Rev. Mr. Collins for building on. And the proprietors of the Academy for a building spot on which to place an Academy.

Voted the Trustees shall act in the business above mentioned as they think proper.

At a meeting of the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, at Morris Town, the 15th day of March, A.D., 1792.

Voted that Jonathan Dickerson serve as Moderator ; that Joseph Lewis serve as Clerk.

Subscription, the Subscriber is at liberty at the end of every year to declare of from Mr. Collins, if so the second year ends next March ; I declare of from paying any fur- ther Salery to Mr. Collins as a preacher than two years, and further : if his subsistance as a preacher depends on the trustees to the congregation, I declare off and mean to ap- ply to the Presbytery to silence or discharge said Collins from Morris Congregation as a preacher. This notification I give in be- half of myself and the Congregation. I re- main Gent'n. Your humble Serv't, Jacob Arnold.

Silas Condit, Esq., president of Morris Con- gregation & to the Deacons & Elders of said church."

On motion whether Mr. Arnold was au- thorized by the Congregation to give the aforesaid notice, and sign said letter in their behalf, it passed in the negative, On motion whether the Congregation approves of the contents of said letter, it passed in the neg- ative. On motion, it is resolved, that this Congregation highly disapprove of the con- duct of the said Jacob Arnold, as it directly tends to disunite and disturb the peace of this congregation and that his assuming to act in behalf of this Congregation in a matter of so great importance and that so essentially affects their interests and happi- ness, without their knowledge or consent & contrary to their desire, is altogether un- justifiable, and that he the said Jacob Arnold be discharged from the office of Trustee to the congregation.

At a meeting of the Trustees at the house of Caleb Russel, Esq., 5th day of September, 1792. The President, Mr. Lindsley, Mr. Ford, Mr. Mills, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Ogden being met, a deed being made out for one hundred feet of land in front and one hundred and thirty feet deep on the hill opposite the Connors land agreeable to a vote of the parish requesting the trustees to act discretionary on this affair, the 22d Feb. 1792-the sd. deed was then signed Conveying twenty-nine hundredths of an acre of land to the proprietors of the in- tended Academy for the sum of thirty pounds Jersey money. Caleb Russell, Esq., gave his obligation for sd. sunı. A commit- tee consisting of Mr Condict, Mr. Johnson

A letter was presented by Silas Condict, Esq., signed by Jacob Arnold, dated Feb. 25, 1792. On motion whether the said letter shall be read, it passed in the affirmative, and is in the words following : "Gent'n., I know not who to direct to, but if I understand the J and Mr. Ogden was appointed to examine

TRUSTEES AND PARISH.

the acct. of the managers of the new Meet- ing House.

At a meeting of the Parish on 24th Jan. 1793, Dea. Gilbert Alling chosen Moderator, and Israel Canfield chosen Clerk.

Resolved, That in order to discharge the debts contracted, on acct. of Building sd. Church and to proceed in further furnishing the same that the sum of twelve hundred pounds be raised this year by subscription.

Resolved, sd. subscription be payable the Ist of April next. Resolved, that Israel Canfield draw the subscription, and that Deacon Alling and George Tucker call on the people of the parish to subscribe on or before the first of march next.

The parish proceeded & chose Joseph Marsh in place of John Mills who declines as manager. Doctor William Campfield, man- ager in place of Joseph Lewis who declines. Benja. Linds, Esquire, declines serving as manager, whereupon Israel Canfield was chosen manager in his stead. The congre- gation having been advertised agreeable to law in order to chose a Trustee, Benjamin Pierson was duly elected to that office.

At a parish meeting held at the meeting house, 2nd Sept., 1793.

Resolved that the confession made by the Rev'd. Aaron C. Collins before the associa- tion, be read.

Whereas, the Rev. Mr. Collins has re- quested to be discharged from this Church and congregation as their pastor, and at the same time submitted to them to fix the period when his salary should terminate, and the church and Congregation having maturely considered the same, Resolved that they agree to his proposition for a separation from him as their pastor. Re- solved, that the Trustees take charge of the parsonage & that they settle with Mr. Col- lins with respect to that part thereof which contains the nursery of mulbery trees agree- able to justice at their discretion. Resolved. that Silas Condit, Jacob Arnold, Caleb Rus- sell. Gilbert Alling, Joseph Prudden, Benj. Lindsley, Jonas Phillips, Jonathan Stiles, Joseph Lewis, Matthias Crain, Dr. Wm. Campfield & Timothy Johnes, Jr., be a com- mittee to ascertain and settle with Mr. Collins the arrears of salary that may be due to him.

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History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N.J., 1742-1882 pt 1, Part 65

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print Number of Pages: 942

Author: First Presbyterian Church in Morristown (N.J.)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Morristown, N.J. : "Banner" Steam Print
Number of Pages: 942