USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Tennent > History of the Old Tennent church : containing : a connected story of the church's life, sketches of its pastors, biographical references to its members, all its earlier record lists, full quotations of its earlier historical records, a complete list of burials in all its graveyards, many of its local traditions, most of its important illustations and maps, an account of the battle of Monmouth, and a large collection of genealogical notes > Part 2
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
15
ORGANIZATION.
but further on he continues in a precise and exact statement, viz. "The first house of worship erected by the church of Freehold was erected cotemporaneously with the gathering to-gether of the congre- gation, on a rising piece of Ground at a place called Topenamus, near the residence of the late Garret Covenhoven and that church has always to this day been called "The Scotch Church' or 'Meeting house.' " (in Library of Presbn. Hist. Soc., Phila.) Steen, in his sketch, con- tends that "the first organization of the old Scots meeting, in all probability was at New Aberdeen (110w Matawan) and not on the site of the meeting house of 1705." (p.4) And he gives the list of thirty names of men to whom was surveyed and deeded the landing on Matawan Creek 1700, and to almost the same set of ie11 100 acres laid out on the site of New Aberdeen ( Matawan) 1701. (Compare N. J. Arch. Ist. Ser. Vol 21. p. 324 & p. 327.) This list remarkably corresponds with names in Old Scots' early record history, and may afford us some idea of the first Scotch attendants of the church, and also some idea of where their community interests centered. Now possibly Dr. McLean and Mr. Steen may both be considered correct by assuming that the earliest form of church worship for Old Tennent founders was something like the "conventicles" in Scotland, from house to house, that all the region from Shrewsbury to Matawan joined in such services, and that when some worshipers went southwestward and built Old Scots that movement started a distinct congregation by itself : and that the remainder finally developed into Shrewsbury & Matawan congregations. But this must only be taken as a plausible supposition.
Old Scots meeting house was certainly standing 1705 as the Court records show ; but how long before this is not known. By Aug. 3, 1730 it was in such a condition that the congregation determined that it "be Repaired With all the Haste that can be." And also on May 8, 1738 they agreed to "Repair the Doors & Defective posts of the Lower Meetinghouse" (Old Scots), and it "was forthwith Repaired." (in Old Tennent Ch Records.) This would seem to imply that the building had been standing a great many years.
Wm. Tennent says that Walter Ker was the chief instigator in the gathering of the settled church. Walter Ker received a deed for 50 acres "at Topenames" 1689-90 : and in the same year (& adjoining the Topenames plot possibly ), he had a deed for 30 acres "of head- land." In 1698 he is spoken of in connection with John Reid as
16
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
being "of Hortencie." It is easy to understand how this stanch Scotchman would early seek to establish a church in his own com- munity. Old Scots stood in Topenamus locality. But the exact date of the building of Old Scots meeting house is involved in doubt, possibly in interminable doubt. Considering all the record statements concerning the fact, and all the deductions based on relevant records, the best that now can be said is that the church was formed about 1692.
In connection with the organization it is in point to study the story of the charter of the church, the Royal charter. There is evidence of the fact that there was a strong desire in the Presbyterian churches of Monmouth County, if not some earnest efforts, for the possession of a charter some ten years and more before it was secured. It was finally effected under an application of three if not four churches as- sociated, viz. : Old Tennent ; Upper Freehold, now called Allentown, organized 1725 ; Shrewsbury formed about 1734 with Middletown and Shark River possibly to be considered as churches united to it in the first pastorate of that place ; and perhaps Cranbury formed as early as 1738. The record book shows that in the first election of trustees under the charter, viz. : on First Tuesday in Oct. 1750 ac- cording to the charter provision, Nicholas Stevens was one of the elders that took part. He had been made an elder in Cranbury 1744. The charter was finally secured largely through the strong character and indefatigable efforts of John Henderson, one of Old Tennent's early noblemen. Still treasured among the church's records is the Trustee book which opens its record cotemporaneously with the secur- ing of the charter. On the first pages is found a detailed account of how the charter was obtained, written in John Henderson's beautiful chirography. It is here quoted entire, as follows :-
"A Book of Record, belonging to The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Monmouth County Pursuant to their Charter of Incor- poration Dated February the 21th 1750-49 in the 23d year of his Majesties Reign-
When Colonel Morris Became Governour of this Province, John Little Esqr. Thinking him to be a Lover of the Civil as well as Relig- ious Priviledges & Liberties of all his Majesties Loyal Subjects & that he the Sd. Little had Considerable Influence with the Governour, Proposed to the Ministers, Elders, Deacons & Brethren of the Several Presbyterian Churches & Congregations in Sd. County to Petition
I7
ORGANIZATION.
his Excellency for a Charter of Incorporation for Securing of what Estates the Sd. Presbyterians Should Purchass, &c. for Pious & Religious &c. All the English Presbyterians agreed to his Proposal, but the Dutch when Conferred with upon that Affair Refused to Join Saying that they thought their Church Estates Secure enough by Virtue of the Articles of the Surrender of this Country Between Eng- land & Holland &c-
Mr. Little by the Consent, Approbation & Desire of Sd. Ministers Elders & Brethren Applied to James Alexander Esqr. and William Smith Esqr. & Gave Fees to Each of them for Councill and a proper Draught of a Petition & a Charter which he got and presented to the Governour before it Should be brought in Form before him-
but the Governr. put both in his pocket & neither Gave Answer neither got Mr. Little the Sd. Draughts Back again untill after Sd. Governours Deatlı-
At Christmas 1748 Upon his Excellency, Governour Belcher's In- vitation the Reverd. Willm. Tennent went to Burlington to Preach and John Henderson accompany'd him and in Converse with the Governour they Informed him of the above affair from whose Con- versation they took Courage to begin again and a Petition and a Draught of a Charter prepared & the Petition Signed with a large Number of persons of the Presbyterians living & Inhabiting in the County of Monmouth & Waiting untill the Governour & Council Should meet which did not Hapen untill the Month of February Anno Domini 1749-50 when John Little afd. & Stephen Pangburn Esqrs. and Sd. John Henderson were appointed Commissioners to Present Sd. Petition to the Governour & Council and Soliciat or Cary on the Affair of the Charter but Mr. Little being too Infirm to Travail to Burlingtown Impowered John Henderson afd. to Act in his Room & Stead with the Governour and Council for the purposes afd. Ac- cordingly on Monday the Twelveth Day of Sd. February Sd. John Henderson Set Out for Burlington but Mr. Pangburn Said he Could not go with him therefore Sd. Henderson went to Burlington and waited on the Governour and Council untill Fryday the 16th. Day of Sd. February when the Governour was pleased to Come to the Coun- cil Chamber where his Excellency and the Honourable Council was Graciously pleased to Receive and hear the Said Petition and Grant the Request petitioned for and Give the Sd. Henderson the Copy of a Rule or Order that was then Entered in the Council Books Direct-
18
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
ing the Attorney General to prepare a Charter for that Purpose. Accordingly Sd. Henderson Set out for Trenton to the Attorney General's and Came to his House and Gave him thie Copy afd. but he could not get a New Charter Drawn on Parchment but Indorsed his Approbation &c of the Same Charter on a Draught that the Sd. Henderson had Drawn on Paper and Sd. Henderson paid him Three Pounds proclamation Money for the Same and then the Said Hender- son made all the Haste that the very great Extremity of the Weather would allow back to Burlington and Waited on the Governour and Council who was pleased to meet on Wednesday the 21th Day of Sd. February at the Council Chamber and the Charter being Writ on two Sheets of Royal paper the Governour was pleased to Sign his Name on Each Sheet for fear of the Sheets Should be parted by any Acci- dent and the Governour and Council Ordered the Secretary forthwith to Affix the Great Seal of the Province which he Imediately Did the Governour & Council Refused to Receive anything for their Favour and pains & the Secretary & Other Officers would Take nothing but the Ordinance Fees."
For a copy of the Charter that was thus secured see Appendix. What is undoubtedly the original of this charter is now in fire-proof apartments in the custody of the Synod of New Jersey held by mutual agreement and in trust for the Old Tennent church. Through the care and efforts of Rev. Hugh B. McCauley, formerly of Freehold (town) church, large, beautiful, facsimile copies have been made of this document by photograph, one of which now hangs on the walls of the old church.
The names of the first trustees under this charter were John Little, Jun., Christopher Longstreet, Jonathan Forman, Esq., John Ander- son, Esqr., James Robinson, John Henderson, Stephen Pangburn, Esq., Robert Imlay, and Tobias Polhemus. Of this board of "Notable Church Trustees" James Steen has written interesting sketches, from which is mainly drawn the following facts :- Those having "Esq." after their name were County Judges or Justices at the time. Of the several corporators ;-
John Little, Jr., who represented the Shrewsbury church, was a son of John who was a Scotch Irish Presbyterian. This John, Sr. was a judge in the Monmouth Co. Court for twenty-five years. He had fought in the French and Indian War 1746 as Lieut. Col. of the Monmouth Militia. He lived near Eatontown, and died in 1750-51
19
ORGANIZATION.
leaving {200 to the Shrewsbury church, having been instrumental in its establishment. John, Jr., like his father, became an elder in the Shrewsbury church, and a judge in the County courts. He was a patriot in the Revolution, an active member of the Committee of Safety. He married first "Mercy," or "Moica," Longstreet, sister to Christopher the trustee. Second he married 1752 Elizabeth, widow of Rev. Eleazar Wales. He drove long distances in attending the meetings of the trustees, going as far as Allentown. He died in 1785.
Christopher Longstreet, representing Shrewsbury, was the son of Theophilus and his wife Mercy Lane. He was baptized in the Dutch Reformed church of Long Island Dec. 25, 1713. He married Abigail Wooley Dec. 1743. One of his descendants was Gen. James Long- street, C. S. A., and another, Virginia Lafayette Longstreet, married Hon. Lucius Q. C. Lamar, U. S. Supreme Court : and a large num- ber of others may be found in the South and West. In the trustees' book his name is sometimes put "Stoffil" and "Stoffel" the common abbreviation of Theophilus which was indeed his name. I11 1750 he purchased a grist mill in Allentown, and removed there. He died in 1784.
Jonathan Forman, Esq., representing Old Tennent, was a county judge. Some have claimed that he was the son of John Forman the Scottish exile and Covenanter. Others hold that he was the great- grandson of Robert Forman, an Englishman who came to this coun- try and died 1691 on Long Island. He married Margaret Wyckoff. A large number of notable and patriotic citizens claim descent front him. He died Dec. 28, 1762 aged 74 years, and was buried in Old Scots ground. About one and a half miles southeast of Monmouth Court-house is a locality long known as "Forman neighborhood" or "Forman square."
John Anderson, Esq., representing Old Tennent, was another county judge, and was the son of John Anderson, Sr. who was cap- tain of the "Unicorn." His mother was Anna Reid daughter of John Reid map-drawer and Surveyor-general. He had brothers and sis- ters, James, Kenneth, Jonathan, Margaret, Helena, Anna, Elizabeth and Isabella. His uncle, Rev. James Anderson, was the first pastor of Wall Street Pres. church, New York City. He died July 19, 1793 in his goth year, and was buried in Old Tennent cemetery.
James Robinson, representing Old Tennent, was of Scottish descent. He deeded the site for St. Peter's (P. E.) church, Freehold, N. J.,
20
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
March 28, 1738. His descendants intermarried with the Rhea, Hen- drickson, West, Vaughn, and English families. He died Jan. 22, 1773 in his 74th year, and his grave is in Old Tennent yard.
John Henderson, the fourth trustee for Old Tennent, was born in New Jersey about 1697. He was a very prominent and active men- ber and officer in Old Tennent for more than forty years. June 9, 1730 he was chosen clerk for the congregation, and much of its ear- lier history and Baptismal Register under Wm. Tennent is thus written in his fine hand-writing and accurate statement. He was the first president of the board of trustees, and for many years occupied this position. He lived about one mile east of Freeliold (town) on the Colts Neck road. He died Jan. 1, 1771 in his 74th year, and his grave is in Old Scots yard. See, further, "Genealogical Notes" in Appendix.
Stephen Pangburn, Esq., was a justice. It is difficult to determine which he represented in the college of churches. In 1754 David Knot was chosen to fill his place in the list of trustees. He had lived in Middlesex Co., and married 1742 Rebecca, of Upper Freehold, widow of William Imlay. He removed to Monmouth Co. In 1754 he mar- ried for second time Anne Montgomery. He owned a grist mill, and probably a saw mill, at Mannahawkin. He died about 1779.
Robert Imlay, representing Allentown, purchased a mill in Upper Freehold 1727. He died there 1754, and Peter Imlay, son of Win., was chosen in his "room and stead" as a trustee. He had property at Middletown Point and Mount Pleasant. Possibly he was the son of Patrick Imlay who 1705 joined with others before the court to have the Old Scots meeting-house recorded.
Tobias Polhemus, also trustee for Allentown, was a lineal descend- ant of Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, who preached in the Dutch Reformed church Brooklyn and Flatbush, L. I., as early as 1654. He married first 1748 Parthenia daughter of Samuel Imlay. His sister, Elizabeth, married Guisbert Hendrickson. His daughter, Mary, by his second wife, married Theophilus Little, son of John, Jr., of Shrewsbury. He died in 1780.
Immediately on the securing of the charter the trustees met at the house of James Robinson March 26, 1750, when they qualified by "Taking the Oaths of Aliegance, Abjuration Declaration &c.," and also they took the following for the discharge of their office or trust, "You and Each of You shall faithfully and Truly Discharge Your
21
ORGANIZATION.
and each of Your Duties and the Trust Reposed in You & Each of You, as Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Monmouth County Pursuant to his Majesties Charter of Incorporation to You for that purpose According to the best Of Your Understanding So help You God." They acknowledged the oaths "by Each Man Signing his Name hereunto."
According to a provision in the charter the trustees adopted a seal choosing their own device. Unhappily this seal has been lost or somewhere mislaid. But in 1896 through the combined study and effort of James Steen and Rev. Allen H. Brown an impression of this seal was discovered on a deed given by the trustees May 5, 1760 to Elihu Williams, and at the time in the possession of Arthur W. Little, of Philadelphia, who kindly loaned it for inspection. This deed was submitted to the Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook, a connoisseur in church seals and emblems, who deciphered the devise in the dim impression, and wrote an interesting article in regard to it, which was published in "The Presbyterian" May 27, 1896. He thought
Seal of Monmouth Churches, full size.
that the rough figure of a bush or tree on the center of the seal was probably an attempt to reproduce the "Burning Bush," the symbol on the seal of the Scotch Church, from which the Covenanters of Old Scots had come ; or that possibly it was meant to represent a "tree of liberty," which he said "has been the well-known symbol of pop- ular freedom from early ages." Also he called attention to the simi- larity of the phrase "Religious Liberty" on the seal, with the words
22
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
"Free Hill" and "Freehold," as suggesting "a clue to the spirit which prompted these liberated exiles to perpetuate their gratitude and their sentiments in the motto upon their corporate seal." The seal he said is "the oldest known corporate seal of any American Presbyterian church."
Of course, after the separate corporation was secured, the use of this Monmouth seal ceased. The Trustees of the new corporation immediately decided March 13, 1787, "to procure a seal for the Cor- poration with the following words and device engraven thereon viz. The seal of the first Presbyterian Congregation in Freehold and a dove with an olive branch, that Genl. David Forman be requested to procure the same." The device chosen is suggestive of the spirit and desire in the church at that date. Later, May 2, 1859, the trustees resolved "to procure a seal for the corporation and that the device be a key and that Joseph Combs procure the same." If this resolution was carried out, then this seal could not long have been used, since now for some years the trustees have not been accustomed to place any adopted device on their documents.
The churches, associated with Old Tennent under the Royal char- ter, were all of early origin.
Shrewsbury Church .- Definite data concerning the organization of this church is meagre and unsatisfactory. The place was settled very early, and George Fox, the Quaker, visiting it in 1672 found the Friends building a meeting house. The Presbyterians of that place possibly came up to Old Scots for a time. But preaching services must have been held and a nucleus begun before or by 1734, for in that year a call from the people of Shrewsbury and Middletown was made to Samuel Blair, a native of Ireland, and a student of the Log College ; and he settled among them. The church was compara- tively weak, and for many years of slow growth. It suffered much from long interims of settled pastors : but a few faithful souls kept the little flame of sanctuary worship alive. Those who have served as pastors or supplies are Samuel Blair 1734-39. Elihu Spencer, D. D. 1761-64. Charles McKnight 1767-78. Ebenezar Grant 1800-02. Horace S. Pratt 1822. Nathaniel A. Pratt 1824-26. James M. Huntting 1828-30. James Woodward 1830-39. L. S. Bebee 1839. Rufus Taylor, D. D. 1840-52. Thaddeus Wilson, D. D. 1852-97. Samuel D. Price 1898 -.
23
ORGANIZATION.
Allentown Church,-or Upper Freehold, probably got its name from one Nathan Allen, who in 1706 bought a large tract of land there, and on it built a grist mill and a house. The settlement was largely made up of Friends. But the Dutch from near Middletown and Shrewsbury, and the Scotch from Freehold moved in, and thus a Presbyterian element was begun. Joseph Morgan of Old Scots church visited and preached in the settlement and helped to start the movement toward gathering a church :- later also Wm. Tennent preached there as an occasional supply when the people were without a pastor. George Whitefield was a visitor there in 1740. The church was organized, or formed, 1725, although a house of worship had been built and preaching services conducted some time previous to that date. During its history it has suffered from the lack of pas- tors at times, of which some were long interims : but the Lord kept the church to prosper. At one time it was joined with Cranbury in the collegiate pastorate of Charles McKnight, preacher and martyr- patriot, whose tablet may be seen in Trinity Churchyard, N. V. In 1752 a parsonage farm was purchased, which eventually contained more than 220 acres. The pastors at Allentown have been Eleazar Wales 1730-34. Charles Mcknight 1744-66. Wm. Schenck 1774-78. Geo. Faitoute 1779-81. Joseph Clark 1788-96. John Cornell 1800-20. Henry Perkins, D. D. 1820-64. K. P. Ketcham 1864-71. Lawrence M. Colfelt 1872-74. George Swain, D. D. 1874 -.
Cranbury Church,-by 1738 was organized sufficiently to have com- missioners appear in the first meeting of the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick and ask for supplies. In 1740 a church building was erected on a site which is now covered by the old cemetery. Its pastors have been Charles McKnight 1744-56. Thomas Smith 1762-89. Gilbert Tennent Snowden 1790-97. Geo. Spafford Woodhull 1798-1820. Symmes C. Henry 1820-57. Joseph G. Symmes 1857-94. Joseph E. Curry 1894 -.
Pursuant to the charter, the trustees procured a book (as above mentioned) into which they entered the record of the business they performed and also copies of deeds. This book is still in the posses- sion of Old Tennent, and contains interesting information as to the successive trustees and how they disposed of business, with hints as to the names of elders and deacons in the respective churches. The trustees met, according to circumstance and convenience, at different places, at the Old Tennent church frequently, and at the houses of
24
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
the following persons, Capt. John Little in Shrewsbury Feb. 1752, Rev. Chas. McKnight in Upper Freehold June 1752, Widow Allen in Allentown April 1756, Mr. Petter Forman Oct. 1767, Jolin Hen- derson, Esq. Oct. 1768, Widow Marfords in Freehold Oct. 1769, Hartshorne White in Lower Freehold Oct. of 1771, '72, '73, Widow White in Freehold Oct. 1774, and frequently at James Robinson's in Freehold.
25
EDIFICES.
CHAPTER II.
EDIFICES.
The first house for worship, in the history of Old Tennent, was erected on the site of what is now known as Old Scots' grave yard, a lonely, retired, and sacred God's acre, in Marlboro township, Mon- mouth Co., and near to Wickatunk depot, Central R. R. of N. J. The sanctuary stood on a little eminence which the early settlers named "Free Hill." It is about 195 feet above mean sea level, and water flows away from its vicinity in several directions. The current tradition is that the church edifice was built of logs, possibly smoothied on the outer and inner sides. Or it may have had a frame with an inclosure of heavy boards without paint. It must have been of primi- tive fashion as the facilities for house-building were necessarily limited in those early days. Monmouth Co. was then a wilderness with Indians and wild beasts through it, many years even after Old Scots house was built. As late as 1730 the Council sitting at Perth Amboy passed "An Act to Encourage the Killing of Wolves and Panthers." A few months previous to this The New England Weekly Journal, Feb. 23, 1730, had the following item, "Philadelphia, January 13. On Monday sennight was killed near Shrewsbury in the Jerseys a monstrous large Phanter, the like never seen before in these Parts. Its Legs being thicker than that of a Horse, with a Body propor- tionable, and the Nails of its Claws longer than the middle Finger of a Man's Hand. It seems the Indian who killed him was creeping up on the Ground, in order to have a Shot at a Buck, but hearing a · rustling of Leaves behind him accidentily saw the Panther a few yards off, just ready to leap upon him he thereupon instantly fires, and luckily, with about 4 or 5 Swan shot, hit him in the Head, and Killed him. The Indian received a considerable Reward for the Service, from the Liberality of the neighboring People."
It is interesting and amusing to note also the following item in The American Weekly Mercury, Sep. 2-9, 1731, "Upper-Freehold, Sep- tember 7. Yesterday one Thomas Deacon a Servant to Robert Lawrence, and a Boy of about 11 Years of age, coming from Meeting
OLD SCOTS GRAVEYARD IN 1895. PROBABLE SITE OF THE CHURCH. BOYD'S STONE IN FOREGROUND.
27
EDIFICES.
together heard their Dog (who for Fashion sake had been to Meet- ing) bark very much, sent the Child to see what was the Matter, who running back told him it was two great Bucks fast together by the Horns. The Man with much difficulty Cut both their Throats, their Horns being so lockt together that several have tried to part them, since both their Heads are cut off, but find it cannot be done without breaking or cutting of them."
These incidents afford some idea of the condition of the localities through which the people traveled long distances in attending church service. Indians and their descendants remained within the bounds of the congregation for 100 years after the first church was built. It is to be regretted that we do not know more about the style and size of this Old Scots meeting house, which stood about five miles to the northeast of where Old Tennent now stands. Dr. Arch. Alexander said, about 1840, that the remains of the old building might yet be seen. Rev. H. G. Smith in 1895 said "Of the building itself, 110 memory, tradition, or trace remains except the slight depression in the soil, which would indicate the humble dimensions of a structure perhaps some twenty feet square" ( History of Old Scots Church p. 13. ) In a note he says "These dimensions would make the building larger than the famous 'Log College,' built over thirty years afterwards." Thus one of the most famous landmarks of this section, and of Pres- byterianism in this country, has passed into oblivion.
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.