USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Orange > History of the Oranges, in Essex County, N.J., from 1666 to 1806 > Part 15
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pressive acts of the British Parliament. He found the spiritual condition of his church in a low state; and the events which were coincident with, and which im- mediately followed, his installation, gave no promise of an auspicious adjustment of affairs. The clouds that had been gathering on the political horizon, were beginning to overcast the heavens. They broke, ten years thereafter, in open war and revolution.
During this time, he was not unmindful of his mission as a minister of Christ. His interest in his calling is illustrated, when, in 1770, he wrote to Dr. Bellamy: "It is a time of carelessness among us, about the great things of religion." He would not have written thus to his friend and instructor, if he had not a fixed purpose to preach the Gospel, how- ever discouraging its reception might be to him who proclaimed it. His Christian zeal is further manifest- ed in the same letter, when he says: "There is a general awakening in our college;" and when he re- marks that he had spent a week there by invitation, during which time he was wholly occupied in preach- ing, talking privately with the students, and meeting them in "their praying societies." In another letter, written in 1772, to the same gentleman, he again speaks of a revival of religion at Elizabethtown and at "our college," which "has been general ;" and alludes to a very pressing invitation to visit Princeton, which he says he intends "to comply with." He had been four years in the parish when he first visited the college. That he was invited there shows the reputation he had acquired as a preacher, and also how cordially he felt towards the institution itself. He was an alumnus of Yale; yet, he wrote of "our college" as that to which he had given his heart. During all the years of
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Rev. Jedidiah Chapman.
his residence in New Jersey, he was its zealous patron, and, in 1795, was elected one of its trustees. 1
Mr. Chapman was a lineal descendant, in the fifth generation, of Robert Chapman, who emigrated to America in 1635, and settled at Saybrook, Ct., where he purchased lands of the Indians. These lands have been held by his posterity through the succeeding gen- erations. The head of each tribe bore the name of Robert. Thus, Robert Chapman (4) was the father of Jedidiah (5), who was born September 27, 1741, at East Haddam, Ct. ; where his father, a son of Robert (3), had been born, and had been one of the first proprietors of the town. The mother of Jedidiah was Hester, daughter of John Kirtland, Junior. She married, first, Major Jedidiah Chapman, of West Brook; and, sec- ondly, Robert Chapman (4). Jedidiah, the subject of this notice, was educated at Yale College, whence lie received his degree in 1762. After two years of theo- logical study, he was licensed to preach the Gospel, and, in his twenty-fifth year, was ordained by Presby- tery. Saybrook had already sent two of its sons to the Mountain Society ; both having been trained as Congregationalists. In 1766, Mr. Chapman, with his Saybrook traditions, and of the like ecclesiastical tendencies, came to occupy the same field of pas- toral work. His subsequent history, from his ordina- tion by Presbytery to the close of his life, in 1813, was distinguished by his devotion to the extension and prosperity of the Presbyterian system.
About two years after Mr. Chapman was settled over the Mountain Society, he married Blanche Smith, the daughter of a respectable family in New England. By
I. Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, Vol. VI., p. 174.
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her he had three children, namely: William Smith, 1 Robert Hett, 2 and John Hobart. The last named died in infancy. Mrs. Chapman died, November 21, 1773, and her earthly remains are buried in the old grave- yard. He married again, (probably in 1777) the second wife being Margaretta, the daughter of Dr. Peter LeConte, 3 of Middletown, in Freehold township, Mon- mouth county, N. J. Her first born son was called Peter LeConte. 4
From the very beginning of Mr. Chapman's pastor- ate, he was an uncompromising defender of Colonial rights. When war came, he espoused the patriot cause with his whole soul. He preached Rebellion in the pulpit, and taught it from house to house. No portion of his large parish was forgotten. Every fire-
I. William Smith Chapman was born in 1769. He married twice : first, Abby, a daughter of Nathaniel Beach, of Newark, N. J. ; and, second, her sister Sarah. The first wife, together with her two daughters, were killed at Amsterdam, N. Y., in 1832, in a run-away accident, by being thrown from a bridge. He had issue also by the second marriage.
2. Robert Hett Chapman was born in 1771 ; was graduated at Princeton College in 1789 ; was licensed by the Presbytery of New York and Philadel- phia in 1793 : and was settled at Rahway, N. J. He married Hannah, a daughter of Isaac Amett, of Elizabethtown, and by her had twelve children. He died in 1833. One of his sons, also called Robert Hett, was a prom- inent clergyman of the Presbyterian Church in the South ; and died at Asheville, N. C., on October 30, 1884.
3. Peter LeConte was a Huguenot, who settled in New Jersey as early as 1734. He married Valeria Eaton, a daughter of John Eaton, one of the first settlers of Eatontown, in the same State. The Doctor died January 29, 1768. His wife survived him for twenty years, and, during the principal part of that time, resided with her daughter, Mrs. Chapman, at Orange When she died, in 1788, she was interred in the parish graveyard.
4. This son dropped the name of Chapman, when he was a young man, and was afterwards known by his baptismal name only. Family tradition says that he did this in order to oblige a young woman whom he wished to marry. and who did not find favor with the Chapmans. He was graduated at Princeton in 1797 ; became eminent as a lawyer ; and for many years was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Ovid, N. Y. He had several chil- dren ; one of whom became a clergyman, and died in 1847. Some of the daughters, if not all of them, removed to and settled in Illinois.
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Rev. Jedidiah Chapman.
side was quickened by his stirring words of "Resist- ance to Oppression." He took frequent counsel with McWhorter of Newark, Caldwell of Elizabeth, and Green of Hanover, as to the best methods of meeting the crisis. His parish abounded with tories ; the more numerous because it was practically neutral ground, contiguous to the enemy's lines, and open to the ma- rauding bands of hostile troops. The whigs were at all times in danger of robbery and death. Chapman, himself, was a marked man. He was oftentimes com- pelled to flee from his home for safety. More than once he served as a volunteer chaplain in the army. In our extracts from Jemima Cundict's diary will be found a record of a farewell sermon to his people, on the occasion of one departure for military service. He was not regularly commissioned, as were two of his coadjutors, McWhorter and Caldwell. His ringing voice and his eloquent appeals were none the less effi- cient, however, in encouraging the soldiers to heroic deeds. McWhorter left his home in Newark, to go with Washington and his army, when they were pur- sued by Cornwallis ; and together with one of his breth- ren, Rev. Mr. Vanarsdale, of Springfield, followed the retreat of the army to the other side of the Delaware. By invitation of the commander-in-chief, he was pres- ent and assisted in the council of war which decided the memorable re-crossing of the Delaware.
In 1779, by a vote of the Town, Messrs. McWhorter, Chapman and others, were appointed "a Committee to give such instructions to our Legislatures in this Country from time to time as Occasions may require." 1
It is a tradition, and quite authentic, that the Moun- tain pastor was a leading agent in locating on the top
I. Newark Town Records, p. 159.
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History of the Oranges.
of the first Mountain, and within his parish, the three signal stations which were to give notice to the inhab- itants of Morris County and to the military post at Mor- ristown, of the approach of danger from the enemy. One was near to, and a little north of, the South Or- ange and Morristown highway; another, at Orange, on the top of the Mountain, in a direct line with Main Street. Until within a few years, a tall tree marked the spot. It has been cut down in the process of im- provements. The third was a little north of the Bloom- field and Caldwell highway, opposite Squiretown, now North Montclair.
Mr. Chapman, with his wife, came to the Newark Mountains in his early manhood. At last, the war was ended. He had served the parish faithfully for thirty-four years. He had buried the fathers of the settlement, who welcomed him at his coming, and had given him the sympathy and counsel of their matured Christian life. He had suffered, in common with his people, all the perils and privations of the war; and had united with them in thanksgivings to God for its successful termination. Now there stood around him the young men and women, upon whom he had placed the seal of the covenant in their infancy, and for whom he cherished the affection of a spiritual father.
The changed social relations in this parish at the close of the war, were not pleasant for the veteran min- ister to contemplate, and hindered his success as a teacher and guide. The animosities of the conflict, had alienated him from some of his people. The new political issues which had arisen, created new lines of division. Mr. Chapman was a Federalist. His love of country prompted him to be as ardent in his new political belief, as he had been in the patriotism of his
201
Rev. Jedidiah Chapman.
earlier years. In the bitterness of party spirit, which has had no parallel in our subsequent history as a nation, estrangements between families, neighbors and friends were of every day occurrence. That Mr. Chap- man was earnest and unyielding in his politics, cannot be doubted. His whole life in the past had shown that he would follow the Right as he understood it, in the fear of God, and that he would not turn aside through any fear of man.
On a certain parade day of the Orange Battalion, 1 under the command of Major Amos Harrison, the son of Mr. Chapman was standing in front of Munn's Tavern, (now the Park House,) wearing the Federal cockade. A certain Republican, named Condit, who happened to be somewhat excited by liquor, knocked off young Chapman's hat. An altercation ensued, and a few blows were exchanged between the two men. The affair started a great discussion throughout the parish, and, when Sunday came, the minister preached about it. Major Harrison was a deacon in the church, one of the minister's tried friends, and withal a strong Republican. He sought an interview with his pastor, and told him in plain English that he must "Stop, or leave the parish." How the old dominie received it, we know not; but the threat seems to indicate that his removal was an event which had even then begun to be considered. That a majority of the parish was
I. After the peace, the martial spirit was still fostered among the younger men, by the voluntary organization of a battalion of light horse, of seven companies, consisting of thirty or forty men each. It was made up of the sons of the farmers in Essex County, who furnished their own uniforms and equipments at a cost of over one hundred dollars each ; a large sum in those days. It was maintained with much spirit till after the War of 1812. At that time it was ready for service. Aaron Harrison was then Major. Jesse Williams was the last who held that office. Edward Truman Hillyer, a son of Rev. Dr. Asa Hillyer, was the last Captain of the Orange Company before it was disbanded.
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History of the Oranges.
in sympathy with him, appears from the fact that, in 1799, his salary was increased, and efficient measures adopted to secure its collection. This occurred not- withstanding the formation, in the year before, of the church in Bloomfield, with fifty-nine of its members drawn from the old parish.
The sermons which he left in manuscript, display a clear knowledge of Gospel truth and a logical mind. They are pervaded with an ardent zeal for the increase of practical Godliness among men. The formation of two new societies out of his own during his ministry, and the active part he took in their formation, illus- trate his desire to extend the bounds of Zion, even although it should diminish the strength of his own parish.
The times in which he served the church in New Jersey, were not favorable to religious progress. It was emphatically a period of seed-sowing-not of in- gathering. We cannot doubt that the great spiritual harvests, which were reaped here in the early part of the present century, were the matured fruit of the seed sown by Chapman, watered by his tears, and vitalized by his prayers. That fruit remains down to our own day.
In 1800, Mr. Chapman received a call from the Gen- eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, to assume the superintendence of its mission work in Western New York. He was present in Philadelphia in 1788, when the Assembly was first organized, and he preach- ed the sermon at its opening, as the Moderator of the last Synod, which at that time represented the whole body of Presbyterians in the United States. He had then a reputation for zeal and ability in the execu- tion of the work of the Assembly, which, probably, led to the call above mentioned, and which he ac-
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Rev. Jedidiah Chapman.
cepted. He resigned his charge in Orange in the month of August, 1800, and left to enter, at the age of threescore years, upon untried mission work in the western wilds. It is not surprising that he said to a friend, 1 who accompanied him as far as New York, where he was to begin his western journey: "I can- not bear to leave my old church ;" nor are we sur- prised at the reply : "Well, Mr. Chapman, go back with me ; we shall be glad to have you stay with us." His wavering answer to this hearty and affectionate appeal was, no doubt, in accord with the designs of a wise Providence : "No-no-it has gone too far, now."
Our plan does not admit of an extended notice of the last twelve years of our old minister's life. When he left Orange, he was commissioned to supervise the missionary work of the General Assembly, in a part of the Military Tract in the then wilderness of Western New York. This tract embraced 1,680,000 acres, now constituting seven counties, viz : Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Cortland, the most of Tompkins, Oswego and Wayne. 2
Rev. Mr. Chapman, of the Presbytery of New York, and the Rev. John Lindsley, of the Presbytery of Albany, were the first ministers of the Presbyterian Church who came into Western New York as perman- ent residents, and for several years they were the only ministers there of that denomination.
Mr. Chapman was directed to take up his residence
I. James Crane.
2. On July 25, 1782, the State of New York passed an act setting apart a certain portion of its lands for the payment of military bounties to the soldiers of the State who had served in the War of the Revolution. The section so set apart was called the " Military Tract." It was surveyed into twenty-eight townships, each containing one hundred lots of six hundred acres each. Every private soldier and non-commissioned officer of the State troops had one lot. The officers more, according to rank.
·
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History of the Oranges.
in some place convenient for accomplishing the As- sembly's plans; to make himself acquainted with the whole field, and report to the Assembly ; as a mis- sionary bishop, to perform annually six months' labor on a tour through the destitute settlements, organiz- ing churches and preaching the Gospel. During the remaining six months of the year, he was expected to minister to some congregation where he might obtain compensation for his services. Thus he continued in, and ministered to, the church at Geneva, N. Y., (which he is believed to have organized in 1800,) until 1812, when, in connection with the Rev. Henry Axtel, he was installed its collegiate pastor. This relation was dissolved by his decease, ten months thereafter.
He died, May 22d, 1813. On the Sabbath previous to his departure, he preached to his people from II. Tim. iv : 7-8: "I have fought a good fight," etc. He was seized in his pulpit with the sickness which terminated in his death, in the 52d year of his minis- try, and at the age of 72 years.
Hotchkin, in his memorial sketch of Jedidialı Chapman, says of him : "He was an active, laborious minister, whether engaged in the duties of the pastor, or the more laborious work of a mission- ary in the wilderness. He was permitted to see the fruit of his labor in the conversion of souls and their ingathering into the visible folds of Christ. * * He was a man of ardent piety, of pure morals, urbane in his manners, sound in the faith, instructive in his preaching, possessing a highly cultivated mind and an acceptable mode of address. * In his the- ological views he embraced what, at that day, was denominated the system of the New School.
* He possessed a sound judgment, and stood high in the estimation of his brethren. *
* * His appointment as a permanent missionary, with a general supervision of missionary concerns, is highly indicative of the confidence placed in his judgment, integrity and diligence."
we learn compt Fora Day 21 Nov 119/ Orange Dale S. M. Text. Jai. 32.8 .. Nº 9. 1001
1 That true rel dig" har a direct Tendency to make men liberal Geneva 14 day 1803 Las 2. That a perfor no more of True relig? than he has of I Defusebe i liberal man. Il show how by liberal thing. hic shall stand -. imp- liberality. - - 3 how different this liber ality In that is in carnal a selfish / " the liberal man has the" I .... Some have no other greatest encouragement in yo Dea of a life man but one o is free ungwing away his money
for go life &another - - - ' weder to an urrant food- to an but we under of Gospel ought to odious wretch fielluhmann 6 here is something that w notur.
know better 1. The Life. confiden y universe. has nothing of however generous one Family. There a matter of shame foros ? fiori no more liber ality
2.900 ) Great parents Head -
NOTES FOR A SERMON BY REV. JEDEDIAH CHAPMAN ; 1791.
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Rev. Jedidiah Chapman.
NOTES OF A SERMON BY REV. JEDIDIAH CHAPMAN.
Lords Day 21 Nov. 1791. Orange Dale P. M. No. 9. 1801. Geneva 14 Augst 1803.
Text, Isai. 32 : 8.
I. Describe ye liberal man.
II. Shew how by liberal things he shall stand.
I impt. I. Some have no other Idea of a libl man but one wo is free in giving away his mony but we under ye Gospel ought to know better.
I. The libl considers ye universe one Family.
2. God ye great parent & Head.
3. himself & fellow Creatures members.
4. The Greatest gen1 good of the whole the common Interest.
5. with these liberal views he feels his soul enlarged, & gives up himself & all to promote ye gen' cause &c and serve ye common interest.
thus his feelings and actns are governd by supreme love to god & universal good will to mankind.
so he deviseth liberal things.
thus with him it is more Blessed to give than to receive.
II. Shew how by liberal things he shall stand.
I. our Text affirms it.
2. The Apostles reasoning confirms it. I Cor. 13 C I.
3. All the promises support it.
4. It is impossible yt ye liberal man should finally fail.
for ye cause in wc he is engaged and where his Interest lies shall forever stand.
but he stands not of debt, merit or desert, but it is of the bound- less mercy & Grace of God thro' J. X.
We learn impt.
I. That true relign has a direct Tendency to make men liberal.
2. That a person has no more of True relign than he has of liberallity.
3. how different this liberallity fm that we is carnal and selfish.
4. the liberal man has the greatest incourgement in ye or ys life & another.
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History of the Oranges.
5. We see wt an errant fool, wt an odious wretch ye selfish man is.
6. here is something that ye natur has nothing of however generous.
7. here wt matter of shame yt professors no more liberallity.
RECORD OF THE MOUNTAIN SOCIETY DURING THE PASTORATE OF REV. JEDIDIAH CHAPMAN, FROM 1766 TO 1783, INCLUSIVE.
ENTERED INTO COVENANT.
1766. Sep. 8. Abigail, wife of Job Crane. Crane, Rhoda, w. of Stephen Crane.
Nov. 23. Tompkins, Sarah, dau. of Obadiah.
16. Cesar, the negro servant of Elder Pierson.
1767. June 28. Baldwin, Aaron, and wife.
Aug. 31. Freeman, Joseph, and w.
Nov. I. Baldwin, Aaron, Elizth dau. of.
1768. Ap. 17. Crane, Eleakim, w. of.
Smith, Joseph, Jr. Phebe, w. of.
Harrison, Jared, and w. Hannah.
Bostedo, Sarah.
Baldwin, Josiah.
Dec.
Soverill, widow Jane.
Pierson, Phebe, w. of Dr. Matthias. Camfield, Mary. Williams, Hannah.
1774. July IO. Quimby, Josiah, w. of.
" Jones, James, Hannah, w. of.
Mun, Phebe.
Dod, Moses.
.6 Baldwin, Jonathan.
¥ Baldwin, Eunice.
Oct.
16. Williams, Sam1 w. of.
Jones, Cornelius, Joanna w. of. '
Harrison, Simeon, Hannah w. of. Harrison Isaac, w. of.
Quimby, Moses, Mary w. of.
Vincent, Levi, Mary w. of.
Crane, Timothy, and Sarah his w.
Canfield, Jos., Phebe w. of. Smith, Hiram. Baldwin, Simeon. Akin, William.
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Rev. Jedidiah Chapman.
Crane, Elizth Harrison, Phebe. Jones, Phebe. Mun, Abigail. Mun, Sarah. Headden, Mary.
Gray, Elizth.
Coalman, Mary.
Crane, Jonathan.
Crane, Rachael.
Crane, Matthias, and w. Elizabeth.
1776. Feb. 23. Lindsley, Ebenezer, w. of. Crane, Samuel. Bostedo, Agnes. Ward, Bethuel, Hannah w. of.
1783. June I. Jacob Callahan, and Rachel wife, joined from Horse-neck. Tomkins, Job.
Sept.
Nov. Bruen, Timothy, w. of.
Bruen, Charlotte, their daugh. ( Crane, Hannah, w. of Joseph.
Dec. 21. Crane, Joseph. David Gardner, 1767, John Gildersleeve, 1767, Ebenezer Hedden, 1767, were chh. mem- bers, and also John Jones, in 1774.
RECORD OF BAPTISMS BY MR. CHAPMAN.
1765. Oct. 12. Jared, son of John Peck. Rhoda, dau. Daniel Riggs. Jane, dau. Timothy Davis.
Nov. 16. Gershom, son widow Martha Williams.
1767. Jan. 18. Sibel, dau. David Gardiner.
Feb. I. Jane, dau. Arthur Perry.
Mar. 29. Mary, dau. Elder Crane.
May 31. Nehemiah, son Timothy Ward.
June 7. Mary, dau. Silas Baldwin.
28. Jeptha, son Isaac Dod.
Aug. 31. Rachael, Phebe, children of Joseph Freeman. Samuel,
" Lois, dau. Stephen Crane.
Nov. 15. Lydia, dau. George Parsonette. William, son John Gray.
Dec. 27. Desire, dau. John Freeman.
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History of the Oranges.
1768. Jan. 18. Elizabeth, Rachael, twins of Benj. Mun.
Mar. 6. Amos, son William Crane.
Ap. 17. Eunice, Sarah,
daughrs Joseph Smith, Jr.
July 24. Mary, dau. David Harrison.
1768. Oct. 2. Zenas, son of Richard and Elizabth Harrison.
13. Joanna, dau. Joseph and Phebe Smith.
Dec. 25. Elizabeth, dau. Samuel Dod.
Nancy, {
=
66 Sarah, § daus of Phebe and Dr Pierson.
1769. Jan. I. Caleb, son Samuel Condit, Jr.
29. Phebe, dau. Nathaniel and Eunice Ogden.
Feb. 26. Esther, dau. Jared and Hannah Harrison.
Ap. 9. Elizabeth, dau. John Peck.
16. David, son Elihu Pierson, and Elizabeth d. of Jeremiah Martin.
30. Josiah, son Eliakim Crane.
May 14. Phebe, dau. Arthur Perry.
June 4. Rachael, dau. John Headden.
July 2. Job, son Silas Baldwin.
9. Silvanus, son Timothy Davis.
Sep. 3. Zebulon, Elizabeth, 5
childn Benjamin Baldwin.
Dec. 6. Electa, dau. Aaron Baldwin.
1770. Feb. 18. Lidia, dau. Benjn Mun.
Mar. 4. Jairus, son Isaac Dod.
25. Wm. Smith, son of Jedidiah Chapman, Pastor.
May
6. Naomi, dau. Eunice Cundit, widow.
13. Jeremiah, son Stephen Crane.
27. Jane, ¿ children of Cæsar, Deac. Pierson's Lois, § negro.
July 8. Abigail, d. Timothy Ward, Junr.
22. Elijah, son John Freeman.
1771. Aug. 19. Nehemiah, son Elder Crane, (Noah).
Sep. 9. Isaac, son Phebe, wife of Matthias Pierson.
Dec. 6. Samuel, son of Samuel and Thankful Crowel.
1774. Feb. 27. Sarah, dau. of Caleb and Rebecca Baldwin.
Mar. 13. Uzal, son Jonathan and Mary Crane.
26. Mary, dau. Joseph and Esther Baldwin.
Ap.
I. Zenas, son Samuel and Mary Crane.
July 10. Rachael, dau. John and Hannah Jones.
" Eunice, dau. Benjamin Baldwin.
Aug. 12. John, Joseph, § sons Josiah Quimby.
Rev. Jedidiah Chapman. 209
28. Janne, dau. Jolin and Elizabeth Wright.
Oct. 16. Smith, Hiram.
Headden, Mary.
Children, of Hannah, w. of Simeon .
names not given, § Harrison.
Lois, children of Mary, w. of Moses Caleb, Jotham, Quimby.
= Child of Mary, w. of Levi Vincent.
23. Abigail, dau. of Matthias and Elizth Crane.
30. Phebe and ) chdn of Phebe, w. of Isaac others. Harrison.
Nov. Naomi, Samuel, Matthias, Nancy and Mary, the children of Cornelius Jones.
Mary, dau. of Richard Harrison.
1775. Oct. Nov. Joanna, dau. of Joseph Baldwin.
19. Joanna, Į chn of Isaac Mun.
Joseph,
12. Linus, sons of John Dod.
Joseph, §
26. Katharine, children of
and Matthew, § Thomas Williams, Jr.
30. Amos, son of Isaac Harrison.
Dec. 18. Jane. dau. of John Freeman.
1776. April 7, Isaac, ch. of Bethuel Ward and Hannah, Jane, John, ) his wife.
14. Mary, dau. of - Ward.
21. Martha, dau. of Cornelius Jones.
May
19. Prudence, dau. of Daniel Crowel.
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