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 5
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Lacking some parts broken off at the edges of the leaves the record goes on at some length to show what was done to make the parsonage farm safe to the church. At the strong insistence of John Henderson efforts were made to secure, in legal form, the plantation "for a Con- tinual Parsonage for a Presbyterian Minister." Accordingly by ap- pointment and with funds provided, Mr. Henderson went to Win. Smith, lawyer, of New York, and laid the whole matter before him, and paid him for the service. Mr. Smith wrote a letter to Win. Tennent describing the counsel he gave in the matter, and enclosing what he called a "Declaration of Trust," presumably to be signed by the acting trustees of the church. All this was done, first, because
54
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
evidently the church had no charter under which they could legally and with certain security hold and convey property ; and second, be- cause the congregation desired that the plantation be clear of all claims of interest therein or ownership thereof by any others, and also probably desired that the farm should always be held in posses- sion by the church alone. The farm embraced "All that tract of Land Scitnate Lying and being in the County of Monmouth aforesaid betwixt Spotwoods Middle Brook and his South Brook Supposed to Contain One Hundred and fifty Acres be the Same more or less." This speaks well for the liberality of the congregation, that having just undergone the expense of building the first church on White Hill they turned and bought this farm of such respectable propor- tions. And all the more so, since in 1751 when they were undertak-
VAN INGEN.SHIDER:
Old Tennent Famous Parsonage.
55
THE OLD PARSONAGE.
ing the greater expense of building the present church on White Hill, it appears they bought 100 acres of land from Isaac and Joseph Sharp "for the yous of the parsonage," thus making altogether a glebe of very extensive area. This 100 acre addition was a wood tract. The land in this parsonage farm was reasonably fertile. A paper, still preserved, states the conditions under which the farm was to be rented in 1777, after Wmn. Tennent's death, during the interim of pastors ; from which it appears that Indian corn, wheat, oats, and flax were the principal products at that time, and as such they prove the fruitfulness of the soil.
The parsonage house was situated about a mile and a half, around by carriage road, southeast from the present church building, and is described in Franklin Ellis' "History of Monmouth County," page 686, as "a low building, large on the ground, with four lower rooms, -two on each side of the hall, -- with kitchen attached in the rear. Above was the attic room, sloping on one side with the rafters, and with a window facing the north, which, as is said, was used as a study by both Mr. Tennent and Mr. Woodhull. During the battle of June 28, 1778, a round shot came through the roof into this room while the conflict raged furiously around the house and in the adjoin- ing orchard." In 1795 some move appears to have been made for the repair and improvement of the parsonage buildings, and although it does not state that the work was done the record paper reads :
"It is the opinion of the Commity Appointed to judg what Cash will be necery for the Repairs of the personage buildings &c that the Barn & garden Cant be well done under Seventy or Seventy five pounds : the house & Citchen to Repair them well and Inlarge the Sellar will take two hundred and twenty five. It is our opinion to take down one part of the house & build a New one from the founda- tion would be Most to the advantage of the Congr. and the Comfort of Mr. Woodhull.
Signed by order
April 10th 1795
Thomas Cook James Anderson Jon. Perrine."
This at least gives us an idea of the condition of the parsonage build- ings at that time. A new barn was built in 1802, and a new kitchen a few years later.
In this parsonage home Wm. Tennent lived for about forty years. Here his wife proved herself an able and skillful manager and true
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
help-meet, for "She took the care of his temporal concerns upon her, extricated him from debt, and by a happy union of prudence and economy, so managed all his worldly business that in a few years his circumstances became easy and comfortable." And she and Mr. Tement proved themselves genial and hospitable entertainers. Here Whitefield, the famous evangelist, was a guest and held fellowship with the godly pastor of Old Tennent. Doubtless to this parsonage David Brainerd occasionally came during his short and toilsome min- istry, and possibly also some of his Christian Indians to whom Mr. Tennent was a true friend. Here Wm. Tennent also entertained Jolını Brainerd, sometimes over night, and comforted him "in his sadness and depression." In this house also it appears, from the diary of John Brainerd, that Mr. Tennent entertained Governor Bel- cher and his wife in October 1749.
In this old parsonage Rev. John Woodhull also lived for more than two score years, and probably some of the young inen that studied under his teaching. Rev. D. V. McLean was the last pastor that occupied it, although his predecessor, Rev. Robert Roy, had not made it his home. Many and impressive sermons were prepared under its roof, and about a hundred years of daily family prayers sanctified it as a Bethel in the community. It was a silent witness to the struggle on Monmouth's field, and hard by its doors the gal- lant English colonel, Henry Monckton, fell mortally wounded. In the fields around the house, and even under its very windows, call- non balls and musket bullets have been picked up during the years since. And later on some New Jersey regiments that entered the terrible battles of the Civil War, drilled and equipped on their camp field very near the site where the old parsonage had stood.
In 1827 the parsonage farm was rented by the church for one year to Win. I Thompson for $300 : and again in 1831 it was rented to the same man for $290. Notwithstanding the design of the purchasers of the parsonage farm to have it secured "for the use of the Presby- terian Congregation forever," it appears that the trustees and con- gregation, after discussion and deliberation that extended through a period of more than twenty years, finally decided to dispose of it, and just one hundred years to the very month the farm was sold, as the paper of the conditions of sale dated March 16, 1835 records "Wil- liam T. Sutfin, being the highest bidder the Farm was struck off to him at the Sum of Nine Thousand nine hundred dollars." Thus
57
THE OLD PARSONAGE.
was made a break in the historical connections of the temporal pos- sessions of the old church, which never can be replaced, since the old parsonage was more venerable than the old church building itself, it being commonly alleged that the house on this parsonage farm was erected in 1706. For some years this old house stood empty, a sor- rowful reminder of men that were buried and of things that were past. It gradually fell into decay, and became lamentably dilapidated, partly by the ravages of time and partly by the hands of relic-seekers, who frequently stopped off the rail-road trains which ran close by, and carried away memento pieces. Finally, about 1861, the old building was taken down.
John Brainerd writes in his journal, "Tuesday. Aug. 22, 1749 .- Attended religious duties, and after some time took leave of Dr. Le Count and his spouse, and rode about three miles to a medicinal spring, where were a number of my people, who came there to drink the waters ; with these I spent considerable time in conversation and prayer. Took leave of them, and went to several houses in Freehold, where I had business, and in the evening came to Mr. Tennent's ; after some conversation with him, attended to religious duties and went to rest." The name of Dr. Peter Laconte with that of Velariah his wife appears in the early church records as a communicant in 1744 ; and again he is owner of pew No. 7 in the gallery, £8, 1755 ; also he had five children baptized some at home, and some possibly at one of the meeting-houses. Doubtless this is the same person of whom John Brainerd speaks, and whom Brainerd's biographer calls "a pious parishioner of Tennent's." Steen says that Dr. La Conte and his wife Velariah were members of Shrewsbury church ; that he was of Huguenot descent, and that he "preached" as well as "practiced ; " that his second wife was Velariah, daughter of John Eaton, founder of Eatontown : that some of his descendants became the celebrated California professors of Natural History ; and that his tombstone is about the oldest in the old Presbyterian graveyard at Matawan near Freneau depot ; that his wife's sister, Joanna Eaton, was the wife of Rev. Elihu Spencer, D. D., and in her descendants are to be numbered the celebrated Miller family of Princeton.
The medicinal spring, of which Brainerd speaks, may possibly be the one on the farm of Staats C. Stillwell, and about three miles from Old Tennent church ; but more probably it is the one that is located in the neighborhood of Tinton Falls.
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
CHAPTER IV.
REV. JOHN BOYD, 1705-1708.
The Rev. A. P. Cobb stated in a historical sermon that the Rev. Mr. Keith while a missionary at Topanemus preached in the Old Scots church, and that also probably John Gray preached there in 1708. But evidently the first pastor in Old Scots, as far as can 110W be definitely known, was Rev. John Boyd. He was virtually so, and considered so, though not regularly installed. Probably, before him, there was no stated preaching by one man, the church only being served when occasional supplies could be obtained. When such supplies could not be obtained it is only justice to those church mem- bers, trained in Covenanters' ways, to suppose that they gathered on the Lord's day, possibly in the Old Scots meeting-house, read the sacred Scriptures, sang Psalms, catechized the youth, and united in prayer unto the Lord who hears and answers prayer.
Considerable research by different students has resulted in discover- ing scarcely anything definite concerning the history of John Boyd previously to his coming to Old Scots. He was born about 1680, and as is believed in Scotland. Webster (p. 90) suggests that when Rev. Francis Makemie returned to America in the fall of 1705 accompanied by the Rev. John Hampton and George MeNish, that it is not un- likely that Mr. Boyd came with them as a probationer. Rev. Dr. Alfred Nevin in his "History of the Presbytery of Philadelphia" says of John Boyd, "His name is entered in the University of Glas- gow, as a student of the 4th class, March 11, 1701, without national- ity." The surname Boyd is often found in the lists and records of that period. In the list of settlers that came with Lord Neil Camp- bell in 1685 is found the name of John Boyd, but this is evidently a different man from the preacher at Old Scots. Smith says (in Note 21) "The Rev. William Boyd, pastor of Lamington Presb. Church, 1784- IS07, was 'the son of Jolin Boyd, a Scotch-Irishman, was born in Franklin county, Penn., where his father settled on removing to America.' Manual of Lamington Church, p. 12. Mr. Johni Boyd Van Doren, of Princeton, considers Rev. Win. Boyd 'the son or direct
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REV. JOHN BOYD.
descendant of the Rev. John Boyd of Monmouth.' '' John S. Neill, of Phil. Pa., is a descendant of Sarah Knott, who had brothers Peter and John, and sisters Mary Knott (nee Holmes) and Lydia Knott (nee Hufman). Saralı Knott married a Mr. Boyd, and Mr. Neil thinks that this may have been Rev. John Boyd. A certain John Boyd, buried in Old Teunent yard in 1863 in his 75th year, came from Ireland, and was a teacher and afterwards a merchant in the Tennent community.
In the Monmouth Co. old record book, immediately following the statement about the recording of Old Scots meeting-house, Dec. 1705 as referred to in Chap. II, is this item,
"Mr. John Boyd Minnister of the sd Presbeterians of freehold did also Parsonally Appear & did desire that he might be Admitted to qualify himself as the law directs in that behalf. Ordered that fur- ther Consideration thereof be Refered untill the next Court of Quarter Sessions,"
Further on the old minute book reads,
"Att a Court of Generall Quarter Sessions Begun & Held att Shrowsbury for ye County of Monmouth on ye 28 day of May 1706. The Justices Present Were Capn. John Bowne, Capn. Richard Sal- ter, Jeremiah Stillwell, George Allen Esqrs." In the record of the next day's session, May 29, 1706, the same justices and also Obediah Bowne being present, is also this item,
"Whereas Mr. John Boyd, Minister of ye Presbyterians of freehold, Made applycation to ye Court of Sessions, held Last December, yt he Might be admitted to qualifie himselfe as ye Law Directs in yt be- halfe, and ye Court ordered yt further Consideration thereof should be Refered, and Now ye Sd. John Boyd appeared In open Sessions and Was by ye Court permitted to Qualifie himselfe ; and accordingly ye Sd. John Boyd hath Quallyfied himselfe as ye Law in yt Case directs, viz. Did take ye oathis Made in a Statue Made in the first Yeare of their Majesties' Reign, Intitled, An act for Removing and preventing all Questions and Disputes Conserning ye assembling of yt parlement ; and did Make and Subscribe ye Decleration Mentioned in ye Statute Made in the 30 yeare of ye Reign of King Charles ye 2d, Intitled, An act to prevent papist from Sitting in Either houses of parlement ; and Did also Declare his aprobation of and Did Sub- scribe ye articles of Religion Mentioned in yt Statute made In ye
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
30th yeare of ye Reigne of ye Late Queen Elizabeth, Except ye 34, 35, & 36, and these Words of ye 20th article, viz : the Church hath power to Decree Rite or Ceremonyes and authority in Controvercyes of faith, and Yet-all Which are here Entred of Record, according to ye Direction of an other Act of parlement, Intitled, an act for Exempting her Majesties protesants subjects Desenting from ye Church of England from the penalties of Sertain Laws."
About a year after John Boyd appeared in the Monmouth court he is found in Presbytery, for the first page of the earliest records of the first Presbytery in America opens in the midst of a minute concern- ing the examination of Mr. Boyd in view of ordination to the ministry. The ordination took place Sunday, Dec. 29, 1706. Because of the loss of the first leaf of the records the account begins abruptly, and reads as follows :
" BOOK :
De Regimine Ecclesia, which being heard was approved of and sustained. He gave in also his Thesis to be considered of against next sederunt.
Sederunt 2d. 10 bris. 27.
Post preces sederunt. Mr. Francis McKemie Modr. Mr. Jedidiah Andrew's and John Hampton Minis).
Mr. John Boyd performed the other parts of his Tryals, viz. preached a popular sermon on Jno. 1. 12. defended his Thesis, gave satisfaction as to his Skill in the Languages & answered to extemorary questions : all which were approved of & sustained.
Appointed his ordination to be on ye next Lds. day ye 29th Ins. which was accordingly performed in the publick Mecting house of this Place, before a numerous Assembly. And the next day he had ye Certificat of his Ordination."
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
Of Mr. Boyd's popular sermon on John 1: 12 "But as many as re- ceived him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name", Rev. H. G. Smith (p. 25) exegetically remarks "This is one of those texts that Luther aptly names 'little Bibles', and in it the young preacher, before his stern but kindly critics, could manifest his ability to expound, defend and apply the great doctrines of Election, Adoption, Faith and Conversion".
Mr. Boyd was faithful in being present at every meeting of Pres- bytery until his death, and he was chosen by the Presbytery to mat- ters and positions of importance; in 1707 on a committee with Mr. Andrews to "prepare some overtures to be considered by the Presby- tery for propagating religion in their respective congregations"; in 1708 on a committee with Mr. Wilson and Mr. Andrews to "wait upon them at Cohansey, in order to his (Mr. Smith's) ordination, and the people are to present them a call to the said Mr. Smith"; in 1708 at the same meeting on a committee with Mr. Andrews and Mr. Mc Nish to "read over the letters from Woodbridge concerning the differences betwixt that people and Mr. Wade, and make a summary report thereof at the next meeting"; and also at the same meeting Mr. Boyd was appointed to preach every third sabbath at Woodbridge if those people desired it, and if the people of Freehold would consent to it, and under certain conditions of a meeting place. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Boyd's ministerial duties in his short career, called him out on long horse-back rides through the state of New Jersey, beside his regular pastoral seivice at Old Scots. Dr. Mc Lean says that Mr. Boyd "devoted some portion of his time to Middletown".
On May 20, 1708 a letter was presented in Presbytery by the people of Freehold about the settlement of Mr. Boyd, and it was "referred till the next meeting". The reason for this postponement is not given. Before the next meeting Mr. Boyd had gone to the house appointed for all living; and so in the meeting of 1709 the Presbytery made this sad, short, expressive record "The Rev. Mr. John Boyd being dead, what relates to him ceases". He died August 30, 1708, and was buried in the Old Scots sacred acre, close to where the church is supposed to have stood. A tombstone of brown sandstone inscribed in Latin was set over his grave. At first it was laid horizontal on a packing of stone and lime. In this position it rested for nearly 175 years, until, about 1883, in a neglected and dilapidated state and covered with a luxuriant growth of lichens it attracted the attention
5
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ALÈRES LOĆ
SONS HPTIGN OIS PERDIDO
SIMO
Old Tombstone, Formerly on Rev. John Boyd's Grave in Old Scots Yard.
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
of Gideon C. Mc Dowell, living nearby the cemetery, who respectfully thinking to preserve it, raised it to an upright position, fastening one end of the slab to the ground. Rev. Prof. H. C. Cameron, of Prince- ton University, thinks that this stone possibly was brought across the ocean as ballast for a ship. He has made a very careful study of the Latin inscription, which is intricate in its diction and becoming much time-worn on the face of the stone. The following is Prof. Cameron's copy of the Latin inscription and his translation into English :
PIENTISSIMI DOMINI JOANNIS BOYDII CINERES ECCLESIAE HUJUS CAL VINI PASTOR[IS] HIC DEFODIUNTUR. SU AM OPERAM QUAMVIS STERILI SOLIDO CONSUMPTAM NON PERDIDIT. QUI ILLUM PERNOVERUNT ATQUE VIRTUTIBUS INGENTIS ILLO TE MPORE DIGNITATEM EJUS EX PLORAVERUNT. LECTOR VESTIG IA ILLIUS PERSEQUERE ET T E BEATUM FORE SPERO. MOR TEM OBIIT TRICESIMO DIE AUGUSTI MILLESIMO SEP TINGENTESIMO OCTAVO AETATIS SUAE VICESIMO NONO.
"The ashes of the eminently pious Mr. John Boyd, pastor of this church of Calvin, are buried here. His labor, al- though expended on barren ground, he did not lose. They who knew him well also proved his worth [who was] at that time distinguished for [his] virtues. Reader, follow perseveringly his footsteps, and I hope thou wilt be happy. He died the thirtieth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and cight, in the twenty-ninth year of his age.
Thus it is noticed that Mr. Boyd's ministry at Old Scots was of short duration, and his death must have been a sad experience to the hopes of the little church. Mr. Steen claims that Rev. John Boyd
65
REV. JOHN BOYD.
came to Old Scots largely through the influence of Peter Watson. Searching for record of Mr. Boyd's will in corroboration of this, he says, "Instead of a will, however, we found that on September 8, 1708, Governor Richard Ingoldsby, Governor of New York, New Jersey, etc., granted letters of administration upon the estate of 'John Boyde', of Monmouth county, to Peter Watson. Which, considering all the circumstances, seems to indicate Peter Watson as the intimate friend and acquaintance of the dead pastor."
The church possesses no records concerning Mr. Boyd's pastorate, and no papers showing his hand-writing or in any way suggesting the location of his home, the salary that was paid him, or his family connections, or the church officers associated with him.
Much interest in Presbyterian circles, especially in New Jersey, has centered of late in Old Scots yard, from the fact that Rev. John Boyd was the first minister ordained by the first Presbytery in America, and the fact that Old Scots was the church of which he was pastor, and the fact that his grave had been marked with a tombstone promi- nently inscribed, while the grave of Rev. Francis Makemie, the moderator at his ordination, is unknown. In 1894 Rev. Allen H. Brown brought these facts into prominence before the Synod of New Jersey, and at that time the Synod appointed a committee, of which Mr. Brown was chairman, to consider what might be done to com- memorate the establishment of the Old Scots and Tennent church, and to arrange for a visitation of these historic places. Largely through the leadership and the untiring efforts of Mr. Brown such a commemorative gathering was arranged and pleasurable accomplished on Tuesday, June 4, 1895. It was called the "Boyd-Tennent-Pil- grimage." Invitations were sent out to different ecclesiastical bodies, to various institutions, and to high public officials, to be present at the exercises ; and general notices were given through the press. At the forenoon session in Old Scots yard Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Studdi- ford presided : and after devotional exercises, addresses were made by Rev. Dr. George Swain "On the Beginnings of Monmouth," by Rev. Frank M. Kerr "On Walter Ker and his Posterity," by Rev. Dr. John S. McIntosh "On Makemie, Our First Father and his Monu- ment," by Rev. H. G. Smith "On Rev. John Boyd : "-Greetings etc. followed. At the afternoon session in Old Tennent church Rev. Dr. F. R. Brace presided assisted by Mr. Brown. The pastor of the church extended a welcome and exhibited some relics. Addresses
66
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
FANT. UFENK
ELXEUS UBER!Y
New Pres. Hist. Monument on Rev, John Boyd's Grave in Old Scots Yard.
67
REV. JOHN BOYD.
were made by Rev. Dr. Howard Duffield "The Pioneer Guard of New Jersey Presbyterianism," by Rev. Dr. J. Henry Sharpe "The Presbyterian Historical Society," by Col. James S. Yard "The Battle of Monmouth," by James Steen, Esq., "Prominent Scotch, Irish and Huguenot Settlers of Monmouth County : "-Greetings etc. followed.
It was decided to raise in Old Scots yard a monument to Presby- terianism, and Mr. Brown was placed at the head of this movement. By his indefatigable exertions the funds were raised in due time, churches and individuals contributing. The monument was built by Messrs. J. & R. Lamb of New York after carefully studied designs. It is suggestively composed of Scotch and Vermont granite and Irish greystone, surmounted by a Scotch thistle carved in Scotch granite. Fastened to the monument are tablets and seals all of bronze, and all bearing historical significance. Its cost complete was $1300. It is known by the name of "The Presbyterian Historical Monument." A similar visitation to that of 1895 was arranged, and successfully accomplished on Thursday, June 14, 1900. At the forenoon session in Old Scots ground Rev. Dr. A. N. Hollifield presided. After de- votional exercises Rev. A. H. Brown gave the history and description of the monument, and Walter Kerr, Esq., of New York, unveiled it. Rev. Dr. Geo. D. Baker made the dedicatory prayer. Rev. Dr. R. F. Sample presented the greetings and congratulations of the North- ern General Assembly, and Rev. Dr. Robt. P. Kerr bore the saluta- tions from the Southern General Assembly. Rev. Dr. W. H. Roberts made an address on " Characteristics of the Presbyterian Church." At Old Tennent church in the afternoon Dr. Hollifield again presided. Rev. Dr. Parke P. Flournoy made an address on "Presbyterians be- fore Presbytery." Then followed brief addresses by Revs. Dr. H. C. Cameron, H. G. Smith, H. B. Mc Cauley, F. R Symmes, Win. M. Rice, and Robert Alexander.
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