USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of the church in Burlington, New Jersey : comprising the facts and incidents of nearly two hundred years, from original, contemporaneous sources > Part 12
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"In Witness whereof I the said Lord Cornbury have hereunto sett my hand and Seal this fourth day of October Anno Reg Reg. Annee nunce Anglice &c Tertio Annoq Dom. 1704.
" CORNBURY."
"By His Excellency's Command "J. BASS."
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are too large to be inserted in this Essay. Our Church for some time found no considerable alterations by the absence of our worthy Rector ; but that enemy of our happiness, who had been many times heretofore sowing the seeds of Division and Dissention amongst us, (which through the care and prudence of our Rector, were not suffered to grow and increase) took advan- tage of his absence, and stirred up such a flame, that had almost broke us to pieces, and occasioned the unhappy removal both of Mr. Moore and the Rev. Mr. Brooke, Rector of the Church in Elizabeth Town, (erected chiefly by the care and diligence of Colonel Richard Townly, who has given the ground it stands on, and a place for a Burying Ground,) who have not been heard of since their departure from Marble-Head, in the year 1707. But I willingly pass over this subject, too sad to be insisted on, charitably hoping that all who were any ways the unhappy authors of it, have since blotted out their sins by repentance, and I have good cause to believe that had we been so happy, to have enjoyed an Ecclesiastical Governor, to have dispensed the censures of the Church, and to have determined differences, that will sometimes unavoidably occur, betwixt Ministers and Mem- bers, and betwixt Ministers and the People, this mischief had been prevented or cured ; it is no wonder if our Communicants grew remiss and slack in their duty, if too many fell away in scandalous sins of schism, if error and heresy increased, if scan- dals were both taken and given (as there were in this case), when the Ecclesiastical sword was wanting, to punish evil-doers, to resist the unruly, to reduce the erring, and to cut off the obstinate and heretics. By this unhappy absence of our Rector, who was then in England, and of Mr. Moore who was gone from us, the number of our Communicants, and the Interest of our Church sensibly decreased, but began again to revive on the return of our Reverend Rector in the year 1708, who acquainted us that he had presented our humble Address to Her Majesty, and the other Letters that we sent ; and that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to give us Lead, and Glass, and Pulpit Cloth, and Altar Cloth, and a Silver Chalice, and Salver for
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the Communion Table, f and a Brocade Altar Cloth ; and that she had also sent Lead, and Glass, and Pulpit Cloths, and Altar Cloths for the Churches of Hopewell and Salem, which we received by the hands of the Honorable Col. Robert Quarry. He also brought us an Embossed Silver Chalice and Patten, the gift of Madam Catharine Bovey, of Flaxley ;} for all which our Vestry returned their thanks by Addresses and Letters of the 6th of November, 1708.
" His Excellency, the Lord Cornbury, being succeeded in the Government of this Province, by His Excellency the Lord Lovelace, whose Commission was published the 20th of Decem- ber, 1708, all things relating to the Church here, continued much at a stand, His Excellency never coming so far as Bur- lington, nor as I know of, having ever been at Church in this Province, whilst he enjoyed that Government. By the death of that Nobleman, in the year 1709, the Government devolved upon Colonel Richard Ingoldsby, then Lieutenant Governor of the Provinces of New Jersey and New York, under whose administration, our Vestry (that by some unaccountable neglect, had omitted to pass the charter designed for us, by the Earl of Clarendon) got it now passed, under the Broad Seal of this Province, whereby they became incorporated by the name of the Minister, Church-Wardens, and Vestry, of the Church of St. Mary in Burlington ; which was enrolled in the Secretary's Office, the 25th of January, 1709. By this Charter, the Rev. Mr. John Talbot, Rector, Mr. Robert Wheeler, and Mr. George Willis, Church-Wardens, and Col. Daniel Coxe, Lieut. Col. Huddy, Alexander Griffith, Her Majesty's Attorney General, Jeremiah Bass, Her Majesty's Secretary of this Province, and sundry others, were appointed, constituted and made a Body Corporate and Politic, in deed and in name, to have Com- munity and succession perpetual, with powers to purchase, take
¡ This "Chalice and Salver," are still (1876) in use. They are both without any ornament, or device ; each has engraved upon it, " Anna Regina."
įThis " Embossed Silver Chalice and Patten," are still (1876) in use. The chalice is richly ornamented ; having on its bowl, stem and base, heads of angels, in full relief, and emblems of the Passion. Under its base, and on the reverse of the paten also, is this quaint inscription, " The Gift of Mrs. Cartherine Bovey of fflaxley in Gloucestershire to St. Marys Church att Burling- ton in new Jersey in America."
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and receive Lands, &c., in fee and perpetuity, not exceeding &300 sterling per annum, with power to sue and be sued, im- plead and be impleaded, to make and use a Common Seal, and the same, to alter at their discretion, to choose New Church- Wardens and Vestrymen, as there shall be occasion, with many other powers and immunities, too large to be here inserted, from which time the members of the Corporation met together, and transacted all affairs, relating to the Church, under that style and title. And here I cannot forget mentioning the Donation of 250 Acres of Land given to this Church, the last Will of Thomas Leicester, deceased, which by this Charter, we were enabled to receive. We had nothing happened of any great note to us, till the year 1711; and some time in April in that year, the Church received the gift of a large silver Beaker, with a cover well engraved,t being the present of the Honourable Colonel Robert Quarry, for the use of the Communion; in the same month the minister, Church-Wardens, and Vestry, having received advice from the Rev. Mr. Evan Evans, Rector of Christ Church, in Philadelphia, and from the Vestry there, that their Assembly had passed an act directing affirmation, to such, who for conscience sake, cannot take an oath, together with a copy of the said act, and duly considering with themselves, the pernicious tendency of such proceedings to Religion in General, and to the best of Churches, the Church of England in particu- lar, they thought it their duty to give as public a testimony as they could, of their just detestation and abhorrence of such prin- ciples and practices, and in order, thereunto, at their meeting, on the 4th of April 1711, they caused the following Resolves to be entered in their minutes :
"""Resolved that the said act is contrary to, and destructive of
+ This " Beaker, with a cover, well engraved," is still (1876) in use. The let- ters T B R are wrought in a monogram on them both. The beaker is engraven with vines and fruits, and flowers pendant from ribbons, between which are the heads of cherubim. Other devices upon it, are, an eagle on a perch; a peacock ; a bird with fruit in its claw ; and another bird with a large serpent in its beak. Around, on the surface of the cover, is graven, very spiritedly, a hunter, with a horn at his lips and a spear in his hand, preceded by three hounds in pursuit of a stag. The whole is surmounted with a large and ex- quisite crown.
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the Religious and Civil Liberty of Her Majesty's subjects, and contrary to the Laws of Great Britain.
"' Resolved that an address be drawn up to her Majesty against giving her Royal Assent to the said act.
1
"' Ordered that the Rev. Mr. John Talbot, the Honourable Col. Daniel Coxe, Alexander Griffith, Esq., Her Majesty's Attorney-General, and Mr. Secretary Bass, do draw up the said address.'
" According to these Resolves, an Address was drawn, signed and sent home to Her Majesty, together with others, to the Right Rev. Henry, Lord Bishop of London, the Right Hon- ourable, the Earl of Clarendon, &c., which had that good effect at home that Her Majesty was pleased by her order in Council to declare her disapprobation of that act. } The gentlemen of this church, were rather induced to this, in that they had just cause to fear that the same enemies of our Church that had, with so much cunning and artifice, obtained that act, in the neighbouring Province, would be restless in their endeavors to obtain the same in this Province ; and indeed the party of the same sort of men, having got themselves chosen Representatives of the People, in this Province, in conjunction with some others, who in this too much betrayed the interests of the Church, had at the Sessions of the Assembly, in this Province, in December, January, and February, 1710, obtained a Bill, to pass the House of Represen- tatives, entitled an act for ascertaining the qualifications of Jurors, and enabling the Quakers to serve on them, and to enjoy places of profit and trust, within this Province ; which was by the majority of the Council, rejected at the second reading; who in this, as well as in many other instances, showed their zeal and fidelity to the Church, and its interest here in this Province.
" The Church, all this while, had laboured under the burden of a Debt, contracted by several of its members, towards the building and finishing the same, which occasioned a new sup- scription to be made, which, not answering to a sufficient sum to pay the Debt, we find the same worthy member, Col. Coxe, by the Donation of £25, set us clear of that incumbrance we were uneasy under.
+ See the Royal Repeal, p. 102.
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" Our Church now began to have thoughts of providing some- thing in this Town like a Glebe, for the Rector of our Church, for the time being, but were almost discouraged by our paucity and poverty ; but Divine Providence, that never faileth those that confide in it, afforded us an unexpected supply, by means wholly unthought of by us. The Rev. Dr. Frampton,} late Bishop of Gloucester, having, by his last Will and Testament, left £100 sterling towards propagating the Gospel in America, at the sole appointment of the Right Rev. Henry, Lord Bishop of London, that Worthy and Reverend Prelate, at the instance and desire of Madam Catharine Bovey, of Flaxley, in the county of Gloucester, our worthy Benefactress, by a proper Instrument, in April, before he died, directed the money to be paid into her hands, for purchasing somewhat in America, that may be per- petual to the Church of St. Mary's in Burlington ; to which she is pleased in her Letter to promise an addition of her own to complete the purchase. This sum is appropriated towards the payment of the purchase money, for a convenient House, Orchard, and about Six Acres of Land, adjoining to the Church, in the Town of Burlington, to the use of the Rector of the said Church, for the time being, for ever ; and since I am mention- ing these smaller Benefactors, towards the Church here, I should be justly charged with ingratitude and inadvertency, if I had not remembered that act of generosity in the Right Honorable the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, who have not only constantly supported our Reverend Minister with a salary of &60 per annum, our schoolmaster Mr. Rowland Ellis with a Salary of £20 per annum, but have, at the expense of £600 sterling, purchased the House formerly built, and belong- ing to Mr. Tatham, with fifteen Acres of Land, and Twelve Acres of Meadow, for the use of a Bishop, when it shall please God to send one hither, and have since repaired the same, at very great additional expense.
.
1
" The same General Assembly that had not sat since the 16th of July, 1711, after many repeated prorogations, at last met his Excellency, Colonel Robert Hunter, Governor of this Province,. on the 8th of December, 1713, and continued their Session till
+ One of the original nonjurors. See foot note to p. 11 ..
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the 17th of March following, in which amongst other acts, having passed an Act, ' That the solemn Affirmation and Decla- ration of the People, called Quakers, shall be accepted and taken instead of an oath in the usual form, and for qualifying and enabling the said people to serve as Jurors, and to execute any office or place of trust and profit within this Province,' the Min- ister, Church-Wardens, and Vestry, on a due consideration of the danger the Church is in, by the increase of Atheism, Deism, Socinianism, Quakerism, and a new set of people that seem to be a compendium of all the ancient Heresies, known by the name of Free-Thinkers, and perceiving this Act of Assembly to give too great encouragement to these Enemies of our Church, thought it their duty to use their strenuous endeavours to obviate those apparent mischiefs ; and, therefore, in an humble manner, made a new application to Her Royal Majesty, (who is not only Titular, but indeed the Defender of the Church) to prevent the giving her Royal Assent to so mischievous an Act ; and at the same time addressed the Honourable Society for the propa- gation of the Gospel, for their countenance and assistance, to all which they are in hopes of a gracious answer. By this Act, the professed enemies of the Church, being made capable to be ad- mitted into all offices and places of profit and trust, it is easy to perceive how hazardous it is for any of the friends of the Church to appear in its defence, or to adventure to put a stop to this foment of evil, by the most regular methods of addressing against it; since some persons, not contented with liberty of conscience, are so fond of licentiousness in Government, that they will leave no stone unturned to obtain their darling Idol. It was for this end that by false suggestions and calumnies, sev- eral of the friends and favorites of the interest of the Church, Gentlemen of some of the best estates in the Province, were, to our very great grief, removed from being of her Majesty's Council and their places filled with others, that have been more favor- able to their designs and interests ; but it is time now to put a period to this Essay, it being sometimes more dangerous to assert Truth than to justify Error. In a word, since the first begin- nings of any Established Church in this Province, we may truly say, that the Church never was in more danger, by Enemies
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from without, and false Brethren, pretended Friends amongst us, and never had so few in public station to appear in her defence.
" I have only to add in obedience to your Excellency's com- mands, the methods in which, your Excellency may be most serviceable to the Church ; your long acquaintance with the interests of the Church in these parts of the world, during your Excellency's Administration of the Government, of the Prov- inces of Maryland, Virginia, &c., as it makes you a very good judge of all propositions, made for that end, so it might have been a very good reason for me to avoid any such attempt, lest I should too much expose my own weakness ; but since your Excel- lency is pleased to declare that you expect this service from me, I hope my obedience will apologize for my faults. I cannot but think the sending over a Bishop amongst us, to be of absolute necessity, and without which, all other attempts and methods to render the Church flourishing in these parts will be fruitless. Without government, no society or number of men can long be cemented, much less flourish and increase; without the censures of the Church are duly and impartially administered how shall either virtue be encouraged, or vice in all its forms detected and punished ? The authors or perpetrators of some crimes may be too great for the Civil government to take hold of in these parts of the world, that might soon be corrected by the Ecclesiastical Governor ; we need such an Ecclesiastical Governor that dare reprove and censure any that infringe the just Laws and Consti- tution of the Church ; let us have such a Bishop as St. Ambrose, and we shall soon have such Governors as Theodosius.
"I would also humbly propose that no persons be admitted into the Legislature or Executive Power of Government, but such as are in the Communion of the Church, if it be practica- ble ; if in some places, this is not practicable, let them be such at least as are under the sacred tie and obligation of an oath ; and, that our youth may not be tainted with erroneous principles, in their tender years, that no schools be permitted for the Educa- tion of youth, but such as are Licensed by the Governor's Instructions, that none be licensed but such as have a Certifi- cate of their Sufficiency, Ability, and Sobriety, from the Minister and Church-Wardens of the place, where they last resided, or if
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no Minister thereof, four of the soberest and most substantial Inhabitants. That all endeavours be used for a legal, regular, and honorable support of an Orthodox Clergy.
" That no Laws be passed by the Governor and Council, that in any way intrench on the rights and liberties of the Church ; or if any such by inadvertency should be passed, that they be of no force, until they have received Her Majesty's Royal approbation ; that the Laws that enjoin all persons to frequent some public place of Worship every Lord's day, and all Laws for suppressing of Immorality and profaneness be duly and impartially executed.
" That all the Clergy be encouraged to put all the Ecclesiastic Laws and Canons that relate to scandalous offenders, into execu- tion, without any respect of persons whatsoever.
" All which are humbly submitted to your Excellency's judg- ment by him who is,
"Your Excellency's most affectionate and very humble servant, " J. BASS."
THE REV. ROBERT WALKER.
On the 7th of April, 1715, the Secretary answered the letter of Mr. Talbot, dated October 28th, 1714, and sent the answer by "the Rev. Mr. Robert Walker," who " was dispatched to Burlington, for the care of that place in Mr. Talbot's sickness, and as his successor in case of his removal, with the provisional charge of New Bristol and Hopewell."
"JACOBITES IN THE JERSEYS." Gov. Hunter to Secretary Popple. Extract. " New York April 9, 1715. " To WM. POPPLE, EsQ. : * * "I have been obliged to turn out that vile fellow Griffith, the Attorney General of the Jerseys, who has been all along an impudent tool of Lord Clarendon's and that noisy fool Cox has betrayed the publick service so avowedly, that I verily believed he had orders from home to do so, Mr. Talbot has in- corporated the Jacobites in the Jerseys under the Name of a Church, in order to sanctifye his Sedition and Insolence to the Government. That stale pretence is now pretty much discussed,
4
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and I am easy and shall make them so in spite of themselves. Cox Griffith and Bass are his main props, if the Society take not more care for the future, than has been taken hitherto, in the choice of their Missionaries, instead of establishing Religion, they'll destroy all Government and good manners." * *
-Colonial History of New York, Vol. V, p. 400.
THE CHARGE SENT TO MR. TALBOT. The Secretary to Mr. Talbot.
" August 23d, 1715. "REVEREND SIR:
" I wrote to you on the 7th of April, in answer to yours of the 28th of October last, which will come by the Rev. Mr. Walker, but because possibly this may come to your hands before his arrival, I have enclosed a copy thereof. I am ordered to acquaint you that at a meeting of the Society, the first of July last, the Right Reverend, the Lord Bishop of London, laid before them an Extract of a Letter, communicated to him by the Lord Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, which was sent to them from Brigadier Hunter, Governor of New York, containing a complaint against you, with respect to your beha- viour in those parts. The Society considered the same, and thereupon ordered a Copy of the said Extract, should be sent you, that you may have an opportunity of giving your answer to that charge, a Copy of which Extract is likewise here in- closed. I have nothing more in charge to communicate to you at present.
" I am, &c., "W. TAYLOR."
THE CHURCHMEN AT BURLINGTON NOT JACOBITES. Mr. Bass to the Secretary. Postscript. " Burlington Oct" 6th 1715. " RT REVP & RT HONBLE. * x
" P. S .- I had concluded my letter when in that very instant, I recd a copy of a clause of a letter from Brigadier Hunter dated 9th April 1715, in which are these words, ' M' Talbot hath incor-
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porated the Jacobites in the Jerseys under the name of a Church in order to Sanctify his Sedition & Insolence to the Government.'
" I was extremely amazed, at the reading of it, being well assured it is entirely false. Your Society may have a history of our incorporation & all our proceedings from one of your worthy members Coll Nicholson, & I dare call God to witness that as far as I knew the Jerseys or the Church there the matter of fact is entirely false : it is true the Minister Church Wardens & Vestry of the Church at Burlington are incorporated, but it is as true we are no Jacobites for my part I cannot see any ground for so base a scandall unless it be our early & constant zeal for the Church against the prevailing heresy of Quakerism as may be seen in our addresses home. I am sure we as soon as we knew of his Majties accession to the Crown, Addressed his Majtie & Congratulated his Arrival & in our families & churches do daily pray for his prosperity, God grant that he had none worse inclined amongst his most intimate friends, one of wch to my knowledge has refused the Oath's when tendered, but the scandall shall not pass without a publick & Satisfactory answer & Vindication.
" Excuse this & believe me to be, Rt Revd & Rt Honble " Your most humble Servant
" J. BASS."
MR. TALBOT A WILLIAMITE FROM THE BEGINNING.
Mr. Talbot to the Lord Bishop of London. " Burlington, Oct. 21, 1715. " MY LORD :
" We had the honor of your Lordship's letters on Saturday last which were delivered according to order to the Governor and Mr. Phillips. They both promised obedience but neither intended to perform. I waited on the Governor on Sunday morning with Mr. Trentt the chief man in the Church. So we
+William Trent, a native of Inverness, Scotland, who purchased a plantation of 800 acres, lying on both sides of the Assanpink, N. J., whither he removed : a town was laid out on his estate, which, in his honor, was called Trent's Town-now the capital of New Jersey. Field's Provincial Courts of New Jersey, pp. 105-6.
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went to the Church warden and I demanded the Church in your Lordship's name and I would see who hinders me. He said he would not. When the Governor and he came together they agreed that . Philips should not preach so I went to church peaceably and quietly and brought the people back again to the great joy of that city. But the Governor went away to the Sweedish Church which he understands as much as I do Arabic. I have written to the rest of the Brethren and given them a copy of your Lordship's order to serve till Dr. Evans comes. Mr. Jenney has been gone to New York 2 or 3 months ago. I am very glad to hear that Brother Vesey is arrived safe at Boston with the King's letter for his Salary. For the Gover- nor had put in such a mayor as said he should never have it. He told me so himself. God help us for Governm't here- especially your outlying members, I don't know one of them good. I am sorry I should be accused of sedition in my old age after I have travelled more than any body to keep the peace in church and state. My Lord, please to ask Mr. Secretary Hall and he will tell you that I was a Williamite from the beginning. Let them consult the admiralty office and they will find I took all the oaths that were necessary to qualify me for the service which I have performed faithfully abroad and at home. As soon as I have time I will call the Church together to answer for themselves and me too to the illustrious Society for propagating the Gospel, &c. Meanwhile the Lord rebuke that evil spirit of lying and slander that is gone out against the Church. Here and there they spare none. I suffer like my Lord and Master between two at Philadelphia and New York, but God has been my succour and I doubt not but he will still deliver me from the snare of the Hunter. The people of Phila- delphia said if your Lordsp's letters had been directed to the Governor they had been stifled but I hope I shall be always zealous to approve myself.
" My Lord, Your Lordship's, &c.,
"JOHN TALBOT."
"P. S .- Mr. Philips gives out that he will come home & clear himself. I wish he could, but I believe he designs for the West Indies where the worst priest the best Clerk."
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IN BURLINGTON.
A CALUMNIOUS AND GROUNDLESS SCANDAL.
The Church- Wardens, &c., of Burlington to the Honourable Society.
" Burlington, 28th, 1715.
" RIGHT REVEREND AND RIGHT HONORABLE :
" We cannot but adore that Divine Providence that has raised up so illustrious a Society, to be the propagators and defenders- of the best of Churches, in these dark corners of the world, where the members are so frequently exposed to the malice and rage of those who are declared enemies, both to her doctrine and discipline. We acknowledge with the highest degree of gratitude, the sensible effects of your favour and protection, which we have already received, and hope we shall, by the grace of God, be enabled so to carry ourselves, in this troublesome age, that no calumnies of our enemies, may anyways lessen your opinion of us ; we have had the happiness, at your expense, of being educated under the care of a truly Pious and Apostolic Person, the Reverend Mr. Talbot, the fervour and excellencies of whose discourses, and the piety of whose life are the best recommenda- tions of the religion he professes, in now better than this 12. years, that he hath had not only the care of us, but on all emergent occasions, that of all the neighbouring Churches, hath lain on him, and in all that time, we are bound to assert, that we never heard either in his public discourses or private conver- sation, anything that might tend towards encouraging sedition, or anyways insolencing the government ; it was therefore with the greatest surprise imaginable, that we read the following clause of a letter from Brigadier Hunter to the Board of Trade and Plantation, dated the 9th of April, 1715, by the Right Reverend, the Bishop of London, communicated to your Rev- erend and Honourable Society, in these words, ' Mr. Talbot has incorporated the Jacobites in the Jerseys, under the name of a Church, in order to sanctify his sedition and insolence to the government; if the Society take not more care for the future, than has been taken hitherto, in the choice of their Missionaries,. instead of Establishing religion, they will destroy all govern-
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