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 13
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ment and good manners.' What could induce this gentleman to endeavour to fix so barbarous, so calumnious, so very false, and groundless a scandal, is to us altogether unaccountable, to which we think the shortest answer that can be given, is that of Nehe- miah to Sanballat, 'there are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.'
" The Church at Burlington, Right Reverend and Right Honourable, is the only Church that we know of, incorporated in the Jerseys, which was begun, by that steady protector of our Churches here, the Earl of Clarendon, when he was her late Majesty's Governor of this province, and finished under the administration of Colonel Richard Ingoldsby, and we are there- fore, more particularly concerned, to answer to this charge. Our Minister, the Reverend Mr. Talbot, having undertaken his own defence against what the Governor hath charged him with, we shall say no more, than what we have said, on this account."
MR. TALBOT'S ANSWER TO THE SOCIETY. Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Burlington, November 1st, 1715.
"SIR :
" First I am bound to render thanks to the Right Rev. and Right Honourable Society, for sending honest Mr. Walker, to my assistance ; I hope he will answer the good character given of him on all hands ; I have offered him my house at Burling- ton, and all my interest is at his service.
" Next, I am obliged to the Society, for giving me leave to answer for myself, touching the reflections cast upon me by Brigadier Hunter. To be an accuser is bad, to be a false accuser is worse, but a false accuser of the brethren is literally a Devil ; I make no difference, for I call God to witness, I know no soul, in the Church of Burlington, nor in any other Church I have planted, but is well affected to the Protestant Church of England and present Government in the house of Hanover ; therefore he that accused us all for Jacobites, has the greater sin. I can compare it to nothing more or less, than Doeg, the Edo- mite, who stabbed the Priests' characters, and then cut all their
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throats ; or Haman, the Agagite, who slandered all the Jews as Jacobites who did not observe the King's Laws ; so they were appointed as sheep to the slaughter ; but God delivered them, and so, I hope he will do us, from the hand of the Enemy. The Honourable Colonel Bass, our Chief-Church-Warden, as diligent and faithful a servant of the Church and Crown as any, has been belied out of his Secretary's Office, and fined, and confined in the Common Gaol, f for nothing but defending the Royal Law of King George, against an idol of the heathenish Quakers. Mr. Alexander Griffiths died heart-broken, being falsely accused and abused as a disaffected person to the Government ; he died at Amboy ; poor Mr. Ellis, the school-master, is very much dis- couraged in his business by a Quaker school-master being set up, in opposition to his license ; he has made his complaints oft, not without cause, but without effect ; he is a very sober, honest young gentleman, and deserves better encouragement. I wish the Society would take some better care of Burlington House ; as for Governour Hunter, he does not come here once in three years, and as soon as he gets his money, spends it all at New York ; so that we have only the burden, not the benefit, of Government ; therefore we have the greater need of a Chorepis- copus, a Rural Bishop or Suffragan, to impart some spiritual Gift, without which, there never was, or can be any being, or well-being of a Church. This is the burden of all our lamen- tations, and so it will be, till it is answered ; the sooner the better, Cum bono deo. So desiring prayers of the sacred Society, I remain,
" Your humble servant,
"JOHN TALBOT."
+ Jeremiah Bass was Clerk of the Council, Secretary of the Province, and Prothonotary of the Supreme Court. Among others who were prosecuted, he was indicted for altering the rules of the Court, and taking liberties with the book of Freeholders, but acquitted. Field's Provincial Courts of New Jersey, pp. 83, 84.
K
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"THESE TWENTY YEARS, CALLING TILL OUR HEARTS ACHE."
Mr. Talbot to the Secretary.
"Burlington, 1716.
"SIR :
"I have not had the favour of a letter, though I have sent several since Mr. Walker arrived. I have put him into the Church at Burlington, and into a house, which out of my pov- erty, I have prepared for the service of the Church, for ever, and for the use of the missionaries, for the time being, from the Honourable Society, if I die in the service, and be not forced to sell it again for pure necessaries.
" I hear that one of my bills was ordered to lie by for a half year. I wish I had known the reason of it, that I might have answered by the bearer, the Honourable Colonel Coxe, who comes home with another gentleman of the Vestry of the Church at Burlington, to clear that Church from the slanders that Colonel Hunter has raised against us, only because we were Christians, and could not serve God and Mammon, Christ and Belial, &c.
"I don't know any thing that I have done, contrary to my duty, either in Church or State; but if it be resolved that no Englishman shall be in Mission or Commission, apud Ameri- canos, I don't know what we have done, that we should all give place to Scotch-Irish; but I am content to suffer with Good Company, ferre quam sortem patiuntur omnes, nemo recuset. I suffer all things for the elect's sake, the poor church of God, here, in the Wilderness. There is none to guide her, among all the sons that she has brought forth, nor is there any that takes her by the hand of all the sons that she has brought up. When the Apostles heard that Samaria had received the word of God, immediately they sent out two of the chief, Peter and John, to lay their hands on them, and pray that they might receive the Holy Ghost ; they did not stay for a secular design of salary ; and when the Apostles heard that the word of God was preached at Antioch, presently they sent out Paul and Barnabas, that they should go as far as Antioch, to confirm the Disciples, and so the Churches were established in the faith, and increased in
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number daily ; and when Paul did but dream that a man of Macedonia called him, he set sail all so fast, and went over him- self to help them ; but we have been here these twenty years, calling till our hearts ache, and ye own 'tis the call and the cause of God, and yet ye have not heard, or have not answered, and it is all one.
" I must say this, if the Society don't do more in a short time, than they have, in a long, they will, I fear, lose their honour and character too ; I don't pretend to prophesy, but you know how they said the kingdom of God shall be taken from them, and given to a nation that will bring forth the fruits of it. God give us all the grace to do the things that belong to our peace, so God bless you all.
" And yours, " JOHN TALBOT."
" You may imagine what you please of the Irish missionaries, but I am sure we have lost Mr. Brook and Thoroughgood Moore, two English-men, that were worth all the Teagues that ever came over."
" QUID AGITUR IN AMERICA." Mr. Ellis to the Secretary. " Burlington July 9th 1716. " SIR :
" The worthy bearer hereof Dan11 Coxe Esq" one of the best members & benefactors to St. Mary's Church at Burlington (who in compassion to a poor distressed & almost ruin'd prov- ince, hazards his life & fortune, to serve and seek I hope from a Merciful Prince & a Gracious King, some speedy relief of the deplorable circumstances & unparalleld Calamities of his Majties Collony of west Jersey, now under the heavy lash & tyranical administration of Coll Robert Hunter & amongst other enormi- ties,) will shew & acquaint you wth a perfect account of the dayly discouragements I meet wth in relation to my School, as also of the many losses & damages that I have & do still sustain by the unreasonable allowance given to a Quaker to usurpe over me, & take my bread out of my mouth, which is intolerable, when
-
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at the same time, one can hardly subsist in, & by the whole town, these things are enough to discourage any man, neverthe- less I still hope for the better, & don't doubt but that the honble Society upon whose endeavours I beseech God to pour down the abundance of his spirit & wisdom, & grant me patience to bear these hardships with resignation & a fervent zeal towards Gods most holy Religion, will upon this honble Gentlemans applica- tion weigh my circumstances, and consider my abuses, & I humbly desire the favour of you, to be as serviceable to him as you can, be pleased to acquaint the honble Society that my School is indiferent, to thrive fast is not to be expected; as long as Quakerism is countenanced & prefered by men in high places before Christianity, & if there be not a speedy remedy of this, the propagation of the Gospel will be but of little effect when Xtian institution is wholely rejected & Quakerism set on foot, by which means the fundamental rules of Gods revealed religion & Gospel precepts tho never so early imbib'd & carefully instilled will by the depravity of nature & corruption of Youth with such tenets & the dictates of Stupidity & ignorance soon perish and decay, I could say more, Si memorem mora est, but this shall suffice for the present, that your Rt Revd & Rt honbie Society may understand quid agitur in America non consulitur de religione but of faction &c wch are very unhappy for this Country being so young & newly settled, & consequently very pernitious to Piety & Learning.
" To say no more its bad enough, God in his owne due time send us relief, be pleased to recommend my duty to the honble Society and accept of the hearty love & sincere regard of, Sir
" Your obliged Servant, " ROWLAND ELLIS."
JEREMIAHI BASS, A REPRESENTATIVE.
In 1716, Mr. Bass, was a member, for the county of Cape May, of the "House of Representatives of His Majestys Province of New-Jersey."
On the 30th of November, he was one of a committee to pre- pare an " Address " to the Governor ; and on the same day, by
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order of the House, he drew up "a Bill for preventing Money from passing at Nine Shillings and 2ª per Ounce."
On the 4th of December, he was one of the committee, to whom a Bill was referred, with reference to the " Conveniency of the Eastern Division of the Province relating to records where Titles of Land are concerned."
On the 5th, he was Chairman of the committee " to wait upon the Governor to know His Excellencys pleasure with reference to the Address of the House."
On the 14th, he " made a Motion, That a Bill be brought in to lay an Excise on all strong Liquors Retailed in this Prov- ince "-and was made Chairman of the committee to bring in such a Bill.
On the 18th, he was on a committee "to joyn a Committee of Council to meet from Day to Day till they have gone through " the Accounts of the Treasurer ; and, on the same day, he brought in " a Bill, entituled, An Act for laying an Excise on all Strong Liquors Retailed in this Colony."
On the 20thi, it was "ordered, that Mr Bass bring in a Bill for Repealing the Tenth Clause of an Act, entituled, An Act for shortening Law Suits, and Regulating the Practice of the Law, and for obliging Plaintiffs that are Non-Residents, to give better security for paying Costs of Suit."
On the 22d, his "Bill, on Excise on Strong Liquors," was read the third time, and passed ; and he was appointed to carry it to the Council for their Concurrence.
On the 8th of January, he was Chairman of a committee, to prepare " a Bill for the Support of his Majestys Government of New Jersey." And on the 15th of the same month, he made a speech, which was incorporated, in full, in the "JOURNAL of the Votes of the House," as follows :
THE SPEECH OF MR. BASS.
" MI Speaker,
" We have yesterday been upon a very great Work, the en- quiring into the Debts of the Province, and stating the Treas- urers Accounts, in which I think, and so doth the Majority of the House, (as far as we have gone) we have done that Officer
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Justice, and tho' some of the Members have differed in their Opinion, yet I doubt not but that Gentleman (and I'm very sure it is easy for him to do it) will before the Conclusion of this Session, place those disputed Articles in so clear a light, by producing the proper Vouchers, that the most scrupulous amongst us may acquiesce in the Report of the Committee of the whole House.
" These Accounts, Mr. Speaker, have opened to us a new scene of Affairs ; we see how much the Province is indebted for Arrearages of Taxes, and that if those arrearages had been duly paid, the Bills of Credit already issued for the emergent occa- sions of the Province would have been sunk, and some Money left in the Treasury to have been applyed to such uses as this Assembly should think expedient. But it is our Misfortune, that the case is otherwise, we are much indebted, Seventeen Hun- dred and odd Pounds in Bills of Credit are yet standing out, and the Treasury is quite empty, shall we, M" Speaker, venture to enquire into this Evil, and propose some means for the Removal of it? It is certain this is not lessened but increased by the deadness of Trade, the Poverty of the Province, the Cheapness of all Commodities that this Country produceth. But those things that seem more particularly to have plunged us into this Misfortune were two very Expensive and Fruitless Expeditions to Canada, and our entestine Discords and Divi- sions, which have much obstructed the payment of the publick Taxes. The negligence of the Officers in doing their Duties, and the Scarcity of Moneys.
" For the first, God be Thanked, we are not very likely to be exposed to any more Expences of that ; That Peace and Serenity that the Land of our Nativity enjoys under the auspicious Reign of his present Majesty, and the influence his Majesty has on the Affairs of Europe, &c. will prevent our sometimes Troublesome Neighbours the French or the Indians under their direction, from giving us any Disturbance there.
" As to the second, I could be glad to say, I could see an end of them, but hence Illc Lacrymo here is the Source and Rise of all our Misfortunes, our Divisions, Heats, Discords and Ani- mosities centre. We are using one another as the Heathens did
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the Primitive Christians, dressing each other up in the Skins of Wolves and Bears, and then beating them as such.
" Would to God, Mr. Speaker, we could each of us learn to look upon another to be better than himself; to let that Charity, which is the Golden Band that cements Heaven and Earth together, (and without which the most splendid Gifts, natural or Acquired Endowments, are but as the sounding Brass or Tink- ling Cimbal) govern both our Lives and Actions.
" Mr. Speaker, It is the great Fault of those Gentlemen that in this Province have distinguished themselves to be of a Party, that they are generally more willing to believe others to be in the wrong than in the Right, and unwilling to have our Preju- dices removed. I have observed in Persons that have been of two opposing Parties, to have had something on each side excel- lently good, and something exorbitantly evil, although perhaps in unequal degrees, both mutually set, after an immoveable manner, before their Eyes, their own good, and the Evil of the other Party. And thus they blind their Minds to all sence or belief of good in any that oppose them ; Till this is spent, is abated, nay, rooted out of our hearts, there can be no expecta- tion of a Blessing to attend our Endeavours.
" We Complain, Mr. Speaker, of bad Crops, Blasts, Milldews, and sometimes of Epidemical Distempers Raging amongst us. It is no wonder if our common Parent sends these Scourges, that by these Means he might teach us to love one another. Let us then take that advice which his Excellency once gave the Representative Body of this Province ; Let us leave Disputes, &c. to the Laws, and Injuries to the Avenger of them: Let each one weed the Rancour of his own heart, &c. Let each of us look upon Parties and Divisions as a common Enemy, a common Evil, and use our utmost Endeavours to quench that fire that hath hitherto so Raged in this Province, that it hath more or less affected all Persons, all Relations, our Bodies, our Reputations, and our Estates. Let us unite in Love, and then how inex- pressibly beautiful would such a Union be! How would it strengthen our Interests, advance our Estates, restore our de- cayed Credit ; and make us a truly happy Province." * *
- Votes and State Papers, Vol. I, pp. 17, 18.
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" DISAFFECTION TO THE GOVERNMENT." The Secretary to Mr. Talbot.
" August 2ª 1717. " REVP SIR,
" The Society have rec'ed a letter from Coll Gooking, Lieut Gov' of Pennsylvania, wherein he charges you with disaffection to the Governm' and refusing the Oaths of Allegiance to His Majesty King George, that you may be able to form an exact Judgmt of the Charge I have given you the Governor's very words in his Letter inclosed. The Society expect you should forthwith give your answer thereto, and if you have not already taken the Oaths to his majesty King George that you do without delay, by the first convenience transmit to the Society an authen- tic Certificate of your having so done." *
-Colonial History of New York, Vol. V.
THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL. Mr. Ellis to the Secretary. Extract. " Burlington Augt 29 1717. " HONORED SIR
"In regard to your command and pursuant to the Hon- orable Society's Directions I have herein sent to their perusal the state of my school at present; the children of Christian Parents are in number 25 Quakers Nº 10
35 in all
LETTERS INTERCEPTED.
Revd M" Robert Walker to the Secretary. Extract. " Burlington Sept" 10th 1717. " WORTHY SIR,
"I am glad to find the Society is sensible our Letters are in- tercepted in answer to both of yours you honored me with one in June and the other in July 1716, I assure you there is no caution I can think of to prevent miscarriage, or being stopt, the Postmaster of Burlington who died about 4 months ago stopt
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four which I never could get from him, two of which was seen by several of our Townspeople, & the Post himself declared he delivered them into the post-masters Hands ; and whilst he was insisting for payments for the other two which I declared to Him I never received he swore to the charge of them by his book and by this blunder of his I discovered his Justice who was no less a man than one of his Majestys Council to Governor Hunter: and his Excellency is so jealous of his own mismanage- ment, that it is more than probable he has his Agents at the Ports about to catch up our Letters."
"LANDS BELONGING TO THE BISHOP'S HOUSE." Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. Extract. " Burlington, September 17th, 1717. " SIR :
"I received an Order from the Society, to look after some Lands belonging to the House at Burlington, together with Mr. Vesey, but he is not yet come this way, so I shall say nothing to that point at present, because it is but an acre or two, and that is safe enough.
" The Quakers would have got that, as they have all the rest of the meadow Lands belonging to the Bishop's House, and divided them amongst themselves."
SUPPLYING CHRIST CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA.
April 3d, 1718, Sir William Keith, Governor of Pennsyl- vania, chairman of the vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia, " acquainted the vestry that the Rev. Mr. Talbot, of Burlington, Mr. Humphreys, of Chester, Mr. Ross, of New Castle, and Mr. Sandell, of Wickacoa, had been invited by him, and most of them were now in town, in order to wait on this vestry and receive their proposals for supplying the vacancy of this Church, until the Bishop of London's pleasure was known.
" The vestry thereupon recommended it to the Governor to concert with the above-named clergymen how they might supply this vacancy with conveniency to themselves, and the least pre- judice to their respective cures.
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" An arrangement was made with these gentlemen for supply- ing the Church for several months, and a liberal compensation was voted them by the vestry ; but they declined 'receiving any pecuniary reward' for their services." Dorr's History of Christ Church, Philadelphia, pp. 44-5.
" CANNOT DESERT THE POOR FLOCK." Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Burlington, May 3d, 1718.
" SIR :
"I used to write to you now and then, though I seldom have the favour of an answer, or not to the point. All your mission- aries hereabouts, are going to Maryland, for the sake of them- selves, their wives and children ; for my part, I cannot desert the poor flock, that I have gathered, nor will I, if I have neither Money, Credit, nor Tobacco. But if I had known as much as I do now, that the Society were not able, for their parts, to send Bishop, Priest, nor Deacon, no Lecturer nor catechist, no hinter, nor holder-forth, I would never have put the good People in these parts to the charge and trouble of building Churchies ; (nay, now they must be stalls, or stables for Quakers horses, when they come to market or meeting) as I said before, but some people will not believe till 'tis too late. Dr. Evans himself is gone to Maryland, for he says nobody will serve the Church for nought, as I do ; for my part, I cannot blame the People in these parts, for they do what they are able, and no body can de- sire more, rich or poor, for those that do them any good. My Duty to the Honourable Society.
" I am your most humble servant,
" JOHN TALBOT."
" THE HUMBLE PETITION OF MANY OF THE FAITHFUL IN NORTH AMERICA."
June 2d, 1718. " A representation to the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England was presented to the Vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia, by the Rev. Dr. Evans, and the Rev. Mr. John Talbot," of Burlington, N. J., which was read, and it was thereupon " ordered that the Churchwardens sign the
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said address in the name and by order of the vestry." The
address is as follows :
"To the Most Reverend Fathers in God, the Archbishops, and the Right Reverend the Bishops of the Church of England : The Representation and humble Petition of many of the faith- ful in the communion of the Church of England in North America, most humbly showeth :
" That whereas the British Collonies and Settlements in America, have now for many years been blessed with the pure and primitive doctrine and worship of our Mother the Church of England of which you are happy at this day in being great ornaments and prime rulers
" And whereas for want of Episcopacy's being established amongst us, and that there has never been any Bishop sent to visit us, our churches remain unconsecrated, our children are grown up and cannot be confirmed, their sureties are under solemn obligations, but cannot be absolved & our Clergy some- times under Doubts and cannot be resolved
" But whereas more especially for the want of that sacred power which is inherent to your apostolate the Vacancies which daily happen in our Ministry cannot be supplied, for a con- siderable time from England, whereby many congregations are not only become desolate, and the light of the Gospel therein extinguished but great encouragement is hereby given to secta- ries of all sorts which abound and increase amongst us and some of them pretending to what they call the power of ordination the Country is filled with fanatick teachers, debauching the good inclinations of many poor souls who are left destitute of any instruction or ministry. May it therefore please your Lordships in your great pity and regard for the government of the Church by Bishops, to think of some means whereby these our sorrowful complaints & most grievous misfortunes may be heard and redressed, and that Almighty God may of his infinite mercy, inspire your thoughts and assist your pious endeavors to accomplish this evidently necessary work is the most earnest and daily prayer of may it please your Lordships
" Your Lordships most humble petitioners & most obedient sons and servants.
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"In the name and by the order of the Vestry of Christ Church at Philadelphia the second of June 1718.
" JAMES TUTTHILL Church JR. BASS Atty. Gen.
" CHARLES READ Wardens of the Jerseys"
" and six others.
" In the name & by the order of the Vestry of St Mary's Church at Burlington the ninth of June 1718.
" JNO TALBOT, Rector
" JNO WHEELER Church
" ABR. HEWLINGS { Wardens
" and many others from all parts of America."
"THE SCHOOL INDIFFERENT WELL." Mr. Ellis to the Secretary. Extract.
" Burlington in New Jersey July 10th 1718
" SIR :
" My School is indifferent well having of Christian Parents Children 20, of Quakers 12, of others 5. I know not what to term them besides sectaries having no knowledge, and yet obstinate ;
FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE PARISH REGISTER. THE FIRST CHURCH LIBRARIES.
Up to the year 1719, the pages of the Parish Register are filled, almost exclusively, with the entries of baptisms. No burials are recorded ; and only three marriages, one of which is that of " Rowland Ellis and Sarah Allison, April 17, 1715."
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