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 6
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After this, another fund of $1000 was raised, the income of which is to be used primarily for the preservation of the monument and the care of the grounds. The trustees of Synod who hold the fund, and the trustees of Old Tennent who hold the deed for the yard, have executed a written agreement between them for the proper perform- ance of this work in the Old Scots ground. The old tombstone of Rev. John Boyd was taken to Philadelphia, encased in a strong stand- ing-frame made from locust trees grown at Old Scots, and set up in the Library of the Presbyterian Historical Society.
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FIENTISSIMI DOMIN JOANNIS BO DIJ CINERES ECCLESLE INNS CH. VINI PASTOR HIC DEFODIANTIR SV M OPERM TVAVIS STERLI SOLDO CONSVIPTM NON PERDIDIF IVI ILLIM PERNOVERVNT ATE VIRTUTIBUS INGENTIS IELO TE NPORE BIGNIEFEM EJVS EX PLORAVERVN LECTOR VESTIG TA ILLI'S PERSEATERE ET T E BETIM FORE SPERO MOR TEM OBIJT TRICESIMO DIE MGHSTI MILLESIMO SEP TINGENTESIMO OCTAVO EMTIS SILE VICESIMO NONO
FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL EPITAPH
THE ASHES OF THE VERY PIOUS MASTER JOHN BOYD PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH OF CALVIN, ARE BURIED HERE HIS LABOR. ALTHOUGH EXPENDED ON BARREN GROUND HE DID NOT LOSE THOSE WHO KNEW HIM WELL ALSO PROVED HIS WORTH 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 EIGHT. IN THE TWENTY-NINTH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
ERECTED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
THE SYNOD OF NEW JERSEY IN 1899
TO RECOGNIZE THE GOOD PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN PLANTING THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY AND TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST RECORDED ORDINATION BY À PRESBYTERY IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES
THE GENERAL PRESBYTERY ASSEMBLING IN THE
OLD SCOTS MEETING HOUSE ON THIS GROUND DECEMBER 29 1706 ORDAINED JOHN BOYD WHO DIED AUGUST 30 1708 AND WAS BURIED HERE
BRONZE TABLETS ON THE PRES. MONUMENT.
HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
CHAPTER V.
REV. JOSEPH MORGAN, 1708-1729.
Rev. Joseph Morgan was the second pastor in Old Scots. He was possibly of Welsh descent. His grandfather, James Morgan, came to New London, Connecticut, about 1647. His third son married April 1670 Dorothy Parks, daughter of Thomas. Their son Joseph was born in New London, Conn., Nov. 6, 1674. It is said that he graduated at Yale College, 1702, being in the first class that com- pleted its course in that institution ; but he had begun to preach be- fore this. The Association of Ministers of Fairfield County, Conn., ordained him. He served churches in Bedford, and in East Chester, N. Y., and in Greenwich, Conn. In the close of the year 1708, or in 1709, he came to Old Scots. He was pastor of this church ; and at the same time he was pastor, or "Dominie," of the Brick church at Marlboro, now called The First Reformed Church of Freehold, where he was installed Oct. 17, 1709. When he appeared before the court to qualify in Sept. 1709, the record terms him "Minister of ye Presbiterians in Freehold & Middletowne." (old Court Records p. 152.) The Dutch church at Marlboro (Freehold) was connected with a church at Middletown, "a double congregation of Dutch settlers, sometimes called 'the congregation of the Navesink.'" And accord- ing to Ellis' Hist. Mon. Co. p. 532, a Presbyterian edifice was built on its burying ground plot at Middletown soon after 1706, and that John Boyd and then Joseph Morgan had the care of the congregation. Rev. T. W. Wells says, "When he ( Mr. Morgan) appeared in Court to take the necessary oaths as a minister of the Gospel, he was pre- sented by representatives of both congregations (Old Scots and Marl- boro). These oaths were required because he was not a minister of the church of England. According to 'An Act of Parliament for Exempting her Majesties Protestant subjects discenting from the Church of England, from the penalties of certain laws,' every minis- ter not in the communion of the English church was obliged to take oath that he would not teach the doctrine of Transubstantiation, nor anything contrary to the doctrine of the Trinity, as taught in the
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REV. JOSEPH MORGAN.
thirty-nine articles of the English church. This was called 'qualify- ing,' and in this manner Dominie Morgan 'qualified' himself, in December, 1709, having been 'presented by several of said congrega- tion, viz : Jacob Laen, John Wikof, John Sutfin, William Hendrick- son, John Essmith, William Wilkins and Auri Mattison, in behalf of themselves and the rest of their brethren.' The first three of these persons were in the communion of the Reformed church, the others represented the Scotch Presbyterians." Auri Mattison was probably Aaron Mattison, then twenty-eight years of age. Mr. Morgan lived on the parsonage farm belonging to the Dutch church, which had "one hundred acres of good arable land, as good as any in Freehold, on which a family may subsist comfortably." Speaking of his sons Mr. Morgan said "His eldest son had been more of an impediment than a help to him ; his second sou was at Yale ; and the third and fourth relieved him from the labour of the parsonage plantation" (see Webster.) The Dutch church and Scots church were not greatly distant from each other, and Mr. Morgan was able to preach both in the English and Low Dutch languages. But the Dutch church at that time was more flourishing than the Scots, and so all parties were willing that the Dutch church should employ three-fourths of the ser- vices of Mr. Morgan. Yet during the whole period of his pastorate he was a member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, or at least from the time he was received as a member of that body in Sep. 1710.
"At this time Monmouth county was little less than a forest. Here and there was a clearing, but the settlements were widely scattered, the streams unbridged, and the roads not much more than paths through the wilderness. Horseback riding for many years was a necessity. In the latter part of his ministry Dominie Morgan, it is said, attracted attention by riding through the country in a two wheeled cart or gig-probably the first thing of the kind brought into the county." (Wells ) Indians lived in the country during and long after Mr. Morgan's pastorate. In June 1727 a certain Indian King, Wequalia, was executed at Perth Amboy for the murder of Capt. John Leonard. When the sheriff asked him if any of the min- isters should pray with him before he died, he rather indifferently chose Mr. Morgan, and chose him only "because he was his Neigh- bor." This shows how heathen were at the very doors of Old Scots, and suggests the varied character of Mr. Morgan's ministrations.
He wrote and printed a number of treatises and dissertations, the
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
study of which as well as of his letters and the records concerning him might lead one to style him as somewhat eccentric. Certainly he was possessed of intellectual ability, and was a man of extended erudition for his times. A letter was preserved that he wrote in Latin to Cotton Mather in 1721. He was of an ingenious inventive turn of mind, but possibly might be called visionary. In his later life various charges were brought against his conduct, apparently without foundation. But later on, in 1736, Presbytery disciplined him on the unfortunate charge of intemperance, and suspended him for a season. He was subsequently restored to his good standing.
The only record the church possesses about Mr. Morgan is the following :-
"October 15, 1730. the Revd. Mr. Joseph Morgan (after having made a Complaint against this Congregation that that they Owed him above {200 Arreas of Sallarie) Met the Congregation at the Old (or Scots) Meeting House, where Accompts was fairly made up, and Mr. Morgan gave the Congregation a Discharge in full the Copy which is Received October 15th, 1730 from the Congregation Free- hold, full Sattisfaction to this Day for all Sallarie Due to him as their Pastor, Joseph Morgan. a True Copy p Me John Henderson." I11 1729, or 1730, he separated from the Old Scots church, but re- mained a while longer with the Dutch church at Marlboro, when he went to labor in the churches of Hopewell and Maidenhead. He died about 1742 while ardently engaged in missionary labors in des- titute districts along the seacoasts of New Jersey, and was buried in a grave now probably unknown.
What little is known about the church and congregation during these years apparently discloses a sad condition, especially toward the close of Mr. Morgan's pastorate. Divisions seem to have arisen among the people, and probably also an opposition to Mr. Morgan, in which perhaps was Walter Ker. Rev. Wm. Tement, Jr., in a letter to Rev. Mr. Prince of Boston, says of the Freehold church, "In the year 1729 their minister removed from them, and they were so grievously divided among themselves, that it appeared improbable they would ever agree in the settlement of another. In this miser- able, helpless and almost hopeless condition they lay, and few among them had eyes to see, or hearts to bewail, their woful, wretched cir- cumstances. Thus they seemed to be cast out, as the prophet Ezekiel represents it in the 16th chapter of his book, and 5th verse. But the
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REV JOSEPH MORGAN.
Lord, who is rich in mercy, of his unexpected and unmerited love, passed by them lying in their blood, and said unto many of them since that day, Live ; and live they shall to all eternity." The church had undoubtedly grown in some degree during Mr. Morgan's time, even though it was somewhat distracted when he left. But re- freshing times, and better days were coming, and the beginning of a long period of prosperity and comparative peace.
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
CHAPTER VI.
REV. JOHN TENNENT, 1730-1732.
The third pastor of the church was Rev. John Tennent, who entered upon his ministry and continued through his short career in all the ardor and consecration natural to youth. He was a young man eminently pious, and "thoroughly furnished unto all good works." He belonged to the family of Tennents that have become famous in Presbyterian history. Rev. Wm. Tennent, Sr., his father, was born and educated in Ireland, and ordained a priest 1706 in the Episcopal church of that country. In May 1702 he married the daughter of Rev. Gilbert Kennedy, and by her had four sons, Gilbert, William, John and Charles. With his wife and four sons he came to America 1716, and preached in New York and Pennsylvania. In 1718 he united with the Synod of Pa. writing out the reasons for his changing to the Presbyterian denomination. He was settled as pastor of the church at Neshaminy, Pa., 1726 about twenty miles north of Phila- delphia, and being a man of classical learning, so much so that he could converse freely in the Latin language, and seeing the need of higher schools of learning for young men, he erected an academy house, about twenty feet long and nearly as broad, built of logs, close by his own dwelling, and began his teaching. This school came to
H
THE LOG COLLEGE, Suggestive of the Possible Appearance of Old Scots Church.
be known as the "Log College," from which has "proceeded streams of blessings to the church." Its founder died 1746 aged 73 years. Log College may be considered the virtual beginning of what is 110w Princeton University.
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REV. JOHN TENNENT.
John Tennent was born in county Armaugh, North Ireland, Nov. 12, 1707. When a boy he came to America with his father, and was afterwards educated in the "Log College." His conviction of sin was unusually deep and intense, bringing him sometimes almost to despair ; and he continued in agony for about four days and four nights with "doleful lamentations." On the other hand his conver- sion was a remarkable experience of inexpressible joy and abiding consolation. Distinguished for piety and consecrated zeal in his Christian life, he was a modest, gentle, humble young man ; yet he proved to be possessed of the traits of an attractive and powerfully effective preacher.
Walter Ker, went to Neshaminy (as will be related in Chapter X) and was instrumental, under God, of inducing John Tennent to make a preaching visit to Old Scots, which resulted in the congregation giving him a unanimous call April 15, 1730. The following autumn he was settled as pastor, and entered upon his labors which he ful- filled with "prudence, diligence, and success." John Henderson's congregational record reads "Thursday, November 19th, 1730 Then the Presbytry or a Committee of the Same Met at the Scots Meeting house and after fasting and prayer and Strict Examination and full Approbation Did Ordain the Revd. Mr. John Tennent Minis- * that terial Charge in this Congregation : The Ministers N- * * * William Tennent, Jonathan Dickinson, Joseph Morgan, and Gilbert Tennent. The Names of the Committee for the Congregation was Walter Ker & John Hutton Elders, Jonathan Forman Esqr. Richard Clark, David Rhe, Richard Watson, William Ker, Robt Cumming, John Henderson, Robert Newall, Waltar Wilson, George Walker, Timothy Lloyd & Charles Gordon." As has been said, the congregation was in a deplorable condition when John Tennent was requested to preach in the church. Wm. Tennent, Jr., in his letter, previously mentioned, says that his brother shrunk from going to preach in Freehold, for he wrote that John "often told me, that he was heartily sorry that he had engaged to go among them, for it seemed to him that they were a people whom God had given up for their abuse of the gospel. But the Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor his ways our ways, for when he had preached four or five Sabbaths in the place, which was the whole time he tarried among them at first, the Lord so blessed his labours, engaging people to at- tend to the things which were spoken, and in stirring them up to
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
search the Scriptures whether these things were so or not, and withal enabling him to preach to them with such uncommon freedom and earnestness, that he told me he was fully persuaded Christ Jesus had a large harvest to bring home there ; so that, though they were a poor broken people, yet if they called him, he would settle among them, albeit he should be put to beg his bread by so doing."
During his pastorate John Tennent preached both in the Old Scots church and in the new and first church on White Hill. The next month after his ordination he baptized Jane Henderson, daughter of John, who made this entry in the church record of baptisms "The first Child ever the Revd. Mr. John Tennent Baptized." She died in her 19th year, and her tombstone may still be seen in the Old Scots yard. John Tennent's ministry was remarkably fruitful. He came to the Freehold church seemingly as a ready and tireless reaper to a ripe harvest. Again Win. Tennent's letter says of his brother "his labours were greatly blessed, so that the place of public worship was usually crowded with people of all ranks and orders, as well as pro- fessions, that obtained in that part of the country, and they seemed to hear generally as for their lives ; yea, such as were wont to go to those places for their diversion, viz. to hear news or speak to their tradesmen, &c., even on the Lord's day, as they themselves have since confessed, were taken in the gospel net. A solemn awe of God's majesty possessed many, so that they behaved themselves as at his bar while in his house. Many tears were usually shed when he preached, and sometimes the body of the congregation was moved or affected. I can say, and let the Lord alone have the glory of it, that I have seen both minister and people wet with their tears, as with a bedewing rain. It was no uncommon thing to see persons in the time of hearing, sobbing as if their hearts would break, but with- out any public outcry, and some have been carried out of the assem- bly (being overcome) as if they had been dead." A great reforming work began. Religion was the common topic. Many sought the saving power of Christ. These reviving times in old Freehold under John Tennent formed a portion of the early workings of "The Great Awakening" in America in the eighteenth century. Dr. D. V. Mc Lean's lecture on John Tennent says "According to tradition his zeal was ardent, his style beautiful with remarkable fluency of expression, and luxuriance and aptness of illustration, while a peculiar tender- ness, compassion and pathos, breathed in all he said, even while de-
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REV. JOHN TENNENT.
nouncing the terrors of the law against the secure and impenitent. His memory was long and lovingly cherished by his people."
But God soon took this young servant to himself ; for, only two years after the church had called him, this saintly young man, on a Sabbath morning April 23, 1732 entered his eternal rest. The peo- ple, who had greatly respected and trusted him, mourned deeply over his early departure. This is expressed by John Henderson in his congregational record, "Lords Day April 23th 1732. The Reverd. & Dear Mr. John Tennant Departed this Life between 8 & 9 of the Clock in the Morning and was Buried on The Tuesday following A Mournful Providence & cause of great Humiliation to this poor Con- gregation to be bereaved of the flour of Youth The most Labourious Successful well Qualified & pious Pastor this Age aforded tho. but a Youth of 25 Years 5 Months & 11 Days of Age." For about six months before he died he was physically unable to preach in the pub- lic services, but "his love for his people and concern for their welfare" rather increased than diminished. He was quick to see the work of God in the heart. He, with his brother William, believed in early regeneration, for just two months before he died a little girl, Hannah Hankinson, aged 13 years, was received into the full communion of
the church. The results of his ministry continued to be manifested in the conversion of souls very conspicuously after his death ; and which his brother William said were reaped by him especially during the early years of his long pastorate in the church. Thus in what- ever credit that may be attached to human agency under God's bless- ing in making the life of Old Tennent vigorous and influential, the name of John Tement, in some respects more than that of Wm. Ten- nent, deserves a position of distinguished honor.
John Tennent was buried in Old Scots yard, hard by the old build- ing ; and for his tombstone, that lies horizontally sinking into the turf, the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson of Elizabethtown composed the epitaph, which still may plainly be seen :
"Here lies what was mortal of The Rev. Mr. John Tennent Nat. Nov. 12, 1707 Obijt April 23 1732 Who quick grew old in learning Vertue Grace. Quick finished well yielded to Death's Embrace.
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
Whose moulded dust this Cabinet contains. Whose soul triumphant with bright Seraphs reigns. Waiting the time till Heaven's bright Concave flame And ye last trump repairs this ruined frame. Cur pracmaturam mortemque queramuracerbam Mors Matura vinit cumbona l'ita fuit." 1
The grave stone is quadrangular in form, lies flat in the ground, gray and brown with age, and sacred with the memory of his godly life, a very inspiration to the thoughtful observer. Two sermons of John Tennent's writing are left, one on "The Nature of Regenera- tion," and the other on "The Nature of Adoption."
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REV. WILLIAM TENNENT, JR.
CHAPTER VII.
REV. WILLIAM TENNENT, JR., 1733-1777.
The fourth pastor of Old Tennent (formerly called Freehold) was the Rev. William Tennent, Jr., famous in religious and church his- tory. He was born June 3, 1705 in the county of Armaugh, Ireland, and was a boy in his teens when he came with his father to America, as related in the foregoing chapter. In his studies he showed great industry, and became particularly proficient in the Latin language. Early in life he was deeply impressed with a sense of divine things, and soon determined to devote his life to the ministry of the gospel. His biography is of surpassing interest, a fascinating story of the un- usual and extraordinary in spiritual life ; the main features of which are too well known to recount here in detail. The memoir of Mr. Tennent was first published in "The Assembly's Missionary Maga-
REV. WILLIAM TENNENT JR
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HISTORY OF OLD TENNENT.
zine" 1806, and was prepared by Hon. Elias Boudinot, LL. D., but at his request the greater part of the narrative was written by Thomas Henderson, M. D., one of Old Tennent's faithful elders and most distinguished sons. The original manuscript has long been in the possession of the Historical Society of New Jersey. The story has been published in book form by Dr. Archibald Alexander in his "Log College" (Presbyterian Board of Publication, Phila. ) from which quotations are herein made ; and also the story is published in neat booklet forın (Robert Carter & Bros., New York). To these the reader is referred for further account than herein given. The most prominent feature in Mr. Tennent's life and personal experience is the account of his remarkable and celebrated trance. He had com- pleted his course in the languages, and then had gone to New Bruns- wick, N. J., to study theology under his brother Gilbert who was preacher of the church in that town. While there he experienced the trance ; and it is said, that the house, in which it is supposed to have taken place, can still be pointed out. The story is told in the book "Log College" as follows :-
' "After a regular course of study in theology, Mr. Tennent was preparing for his examination by the Presbytery as a candidate for the gospel ministry. His intense application affected his health, and brought on a pain in his breast, and a slight hectic. He soon became emaciated, and at length was like a living skeleton. His life was now threatened. He was attended by a physician, a young gentle- man who was attached to him by the strictest and warmest friendship. He grew worse and worse, till little hope of life was left. In this situation, his spirits failed him, and he began to entertain doubts of his final happiness. He was conversing one morning with his brother in Latin, on the state of his soul, when he fainted and died away. After the usual time he was laid out on a board, according to the common practice of the country, and the neighborhood were invited to attend his funeral on the next day. In the evening, his physician and friend returned from a ride in the country, and was afflicted be- yond measure at the news of his death. He could not be persuaded that it was certain ; and on being told that one of the persons who had assisted in laying out the body thought he had observed a little tremor of the flesh under the arm, althoughi the body was cold and stiff, he endeavored to ascertain the fact. He first put his own hand into warm water, to make it as sensible as possible, and then felt under
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REV. WILLIAM TENNENT, JR.
the arm, and at the heart, and affirmed that he felt an unusual warmth, though no one else could. He had the body restored to a warm bed, and insisted that the people who had been invited to the funeral should be requested not to attend. To this the brother ob- jected as absurd, the eyes being sunk, the lips discoloured, and the whole body cold and stiff. However, the doctor finally prevailed, and all probable means were used to discover symptoms of returning life. But the third day arrived, and no hopes were entertained of success but by the doctor, who never left him night nor day. The people were again invited, and assembled to attend the funeral. The doctor still objected, and at last confined his request for delay to one hour, then to half an hour, and finally to a quarter of an hour. He had discovered that the tongue was much swollen, and threatened to crack. He was endeavoring to soften it, by some emollient ointment put upon it with a feather, when the brother came in, about the ex- piration of the last period, and mistaking what the doctor was doing for an attempt to feed him, manifested some resentment, and in a spirited tone said, 'It is shameful to be feeding a lifeless corpse ;' and insisted with earnestness, that the funeral should immediately proceed. At this critical and important moment, the body to the great alarm and astonishment of all present opened its eyes, gave a dreadful groan and sunk again into apparent death. This put an end to all thoughts of burying him, and every effort was again employed in hopes of bringing about a speedy resuscitation. In about an hour the eyes again opened, a heavy groan proceeded from the body, and again all appearance of animation vanished. In another hour life seemed to return with more power, and a complete revival took place to the great joy of the family and friends, and to the no small astonishment and conviction of very many who had been ridiculing the idea of re- storing to life a dead body.
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