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 15
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" I Give and Bequeath unto Mr John Talbot forty Shillings. And do Constitute and appoint my Trusty and Well Beloved Friends and Kinsmen Mr John Budd of Philadelphia and Mr Robert Wheeler of Burlington my Trusties to be aiding and Assisting my Executrix in ye Execution and p'formance of this my Last Will and Testament. And Doe Give Each of them the sum of fifty shillings apeice Current Silver money. Item I give unto the Church of Burlington five Pounds Current money. Item I Give to my Son William Budd my vest with the State Buttons thereon. Item I give my Well Beloved Wife Ann Budd all my Goods Chattels and Plantation whereon I now Dwell and all my Land undisposed of During the Term of her Naturall Life and Doe hereby Give her full Power to Dispose Sell and Convey over to any Person or Persons to them their heirs and assigns forever. *
" In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal ye First Day of March in ye year of our Lord God one Thousand Seven hundred Seven and Eight.
" WILLIAM BUDD. } [L. S.]"
7 In nearly the centre of St. Mary's Church-yard, there is a headstone with this inscription ; "This in Memory of William Budd of Northampton Township who Dyed March ye 20th Anno Dom : 1723 Aged 73. Also Ann his Wife who Dyed Sepr. ye 30th Anno Dom : 1722 Aged 67."
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NONJURORSY CONSECRATE JOHN TALBOT.
Collier, Hawes and Spinckes had obtained, for the second time, the concurrence and assistance of the Scotch nonjurors, Campbell and Gadderar ; and they five, on the "26th of June 1716" says Percival, (adding a foot-note, that "Mr. Bowd- ler's MS. mentions January 25th 1715,") consecrated Gandy and Brett.
On the "22d of March, 1720-1," says the same authority, "Hawes Spinckes and Gandy " consecrated " Ralph Taylor;" and on "the 6th of April," consecrated " Hilkiah Bedford."
About this time a division occurred among the nonjurors ; " Brett, Collier, and the Scotch Bishop, Campbell, who had set- tled himself in England," says Percival, " insisting upon mak- ing alterations in the Liturgy, to which Hawes, Spinckes, Gandy, Taylor and Bedford would not consent." Taylor, singly, con- secrated Dr. Robert Welton-who had been deprived of the rectorship of Whitechapel, London, for his adhesion to the non- jurors-and Ralph Taylor and Robert Welton together, con- secrated JOHN TALBOT. This was previous to October, 1722.}
¡ Measures were taken, soon after the transfer of the crown to the Prince of Orange, for continuing a succession of bishops, among the nonjurors. King James was applied to, who ordered a list of the nonjuring clergy to be sent to him, in France. From these, he directed that one should be nominated by Sancroft, and one by Lloyd, late of Norwich, (see p. 11.) Hickes and Wag- staffe were accordingly designated; and consecrated, February 24th, 1693, in the lodgings of the Bishop of Peterborough, in Mr. Gillard's house-Henry, Earl of Clarendon, being present at the ceremony. "It was not," says Perci- val, in the appendix to his 'Apology for Apostolical Succession,' p. 133, "till all the deprived Bishops and Wagstaffe had died, that Hickes determined to keep up a succession of Bishops for the Nonjurors; for which purpose he applied to the Bishops in Scotland ; two of whom, Campbell and Gadderar, together with Hickes, consecrated Collier, Spinckes and Hawes, in 1713." "These memoranda," he says, " are drawn partly from some curious printed documents, in my own possession, and partly from information furnished by Rev. Thomas Bowdler, Incumbent of Sydenham, and Rev. H. H. Norris, Rector of South Hackney." Lathbury, in his "History of the Nonjurors," printed in 1842, gives similar, though not quite so full, or accurate, data.
¿The only error detected in Percival's account is the date he gives for both Welton's and Talbot's consecration, which he says, in his table, took place in "1723-4," whereas, in the same table, he gives the death of Taylor, in Decem- ber 1722; and moreover, we find that Mr. Talbot-who derived his Episco- pate from Taylor, as well as Welton-had returned to America, and was in Burlington, in November, 1722, a year before the date given by Percival ..
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IN BURLINGTON.
MR. ELLIS'S CERTIFICATE,
About the paragraph in his Letter, printed in the abstract of the Society's proceedings, with the Bishop of Carlisle's Sermon.
" Burlington in West Jersey Oct" 21st 1722. " In the abstract to the Right Revd Lord Bishop of Carlisle's anniversary Sermon preached before the Rt Revd & Rt Honble the Society for propagation of the Gospel &c in the year 1719 there is a copy of a complaint as the paragraph inserts it to be made by me underwritten sometime preceeding that abstract against the people called Quakers in these words vizt 'But that in the general education of his charge he meets with many hin- drances from the Quakers' what I meant by that charge is that I was sent here as Schoolmaster by the Honble Society They (the Quakers) sent their Children to other persons who from time to time have been hired by them to teach School in this Town the which I looked upon as a great hindrance and detri- ment to the business in which I was employed and to Catechis- ing the Children in School they never interrupted me but those few that sent their Children to me desired me not to instruct them in the Catechism for they would not have them educated in that way.
" ROWLAND ELLIS."
" M" Ellis acknowledged he was no otherwise hindred than he has here declared.
" Per W" HARRISON Min" of Hopewell &c."
"THE HOUSE AT THE POINT ALMOST TORN TO PIECES."
Churchwardens of Burlington to the Society.
" 1st Nov" 1722
" RT REVD & RT HONBLE:
" Sometime since sev1 of the principal of the people called Quakers residing in this Town made their applications to us with the vestry in relation to a passage in the transactions of the Socy and the end of a Sermon preached by the Lord Bishop of Carlisle in the year 1719 before the said Society in the words following (From M' Ellis Schoolmaster at Burlington) That on
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays in every week and on every Sunday in the Church he constantly catechizes the Children whose parents are of the Church but in the general execution of his charge he meets with many hindrances from the Quakers and desired that he would do them the justice to certify whether they had ever given Mr Ellis any manner of interruption in the general execution of his Charge.
" We thought it our duty to send for M' Ellis and to get him to give an account what occasioned him to write that paragraph which the whole Town knows to be an error after some time he gave us his answer in writing which we have enclosed that the people injured who contend to apply to you might be justified and the blame laid on the right person.
" We are extremely sorry that your House at the point is so miserably out of repair and almost torn to pieces since it was repaired by the care of one of us by the direction of Brigadier Hunter your Honors having taken the charge out of our hands and put it into others who have done nothing in it hath put it out of our power we shall at all times be ready in that or any other thing to show our readiness to serve you and to acknowl- edge the favors our Church hath recd from you and do assure you nothing in our power shall ever be wanting to testify that we are
" Rt Revd & R' Honble " Your most obliged & very humble Servts " J. BASS, "GEO. WILLIS, Churchwds."
ALL GLAD TO SEE MR. TALBOT IN BURLINGTON AGAIN.
Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Burlington, November 27, [1722.] "' SIR :
" I and Mr. Skinner arrived safe, in six weeks at Philadel- phia, never better weather, nor so good a Passage, as the Cap- tain said (who was a Quaker); they and the sailors used to say, they had no luck when the Priests were on Board, but now they are both prettily convinced, and finally converted, to say no more. All sorts and conditions of men, women and children
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IN BURLINGTON.
were glad to see us return, for they had given me over. I was yesterday at New Bristol, in Pensylvania, to call the people to Church, but they had almost lost the way ; it was so overgrown with Bushes, they could hardly find the Church, having had nothing to do there, for two years and a half .; Since I came away the Church there has suffered very much, but the Bishop's house here at the point, is in the worst condition of all; 'tis made nothing but a baudy-house, a sheep's cote and play-house ; the boys have broken the windows from the top to bottom ; they break the doors, steal the leads and iron bars, they pull down the pales, and cut the Cedar posts, they steal the fruit, and break the Trees ; 'tis in vain to repair it any more, unless some family be put in to guard it, I think. I have a house of my own just by the Church, and I would not live in the point House, if they would give it to me, but I am loath to see it fall down, as the Coach House and stables have already ; and what will they do for the meadows, they will be lost if not claimed speedily, the witnesses will be dead that know where the Lands lie ; if the Society think fit to send any Orders about these things, I hope they will come before it is too late ; I thought it my duty to lay these things before the Honorable Body, and hope you will read it to the Committee and Society, that something may be done, before the whole House drops through ; this is the last time of asking, so I crave your prayers and remain
" Your most obedient servant,
"JOHN TALBOT.
" P. S .- The Society had better never have bought this House, for some Gentleman or another, such as Colonel Coxe, would have done very well with it, but since they have bought, and can't sell it again for the worth, they had better make a Free School or a College ; it is very well contrived for that purpose. Several of Mr. Skinner's scholars at Philadelphia are fit for the Academy, but here is no place to send them to ; they can't afford to send their children to Europe for Education ; sailing is now too dangerous and troublesome and chargeable, something of a College must be had here, the sooner the better.
" J. T."
+ The duration, in round numbers, of Mr. Talbot's last, and most memorable, sojourn in England.
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THE RUIN, AND THE REPAIRS, OF THE SOCIETY'S HOUSE.
Messrs. Coxe & Trent to the Secretary.
" Trenton 20th Sept" 1723.
" SIR
" Having received the honor of the Societys commands by your letter of the 21st of Sept" last relating to the repairs neces- sary to be done to their house and Gardens at Burlington and keeping up all the fences round them, the Orchard &c.
" In pursuant of these orders and discharge of the Trust re- posed in us as soon as our affairs would permit-we repaired thither to inspect the circumstances and condition thereof and to give proper directions about the same. Upon the first view we are sorry to say nothing could appear more ruinous and desolate -The Orchard Garden and Fields behind the house were quite open and become a common pasture to the Horses Cattle and Sheep of the Town-The fences round them being down and many of the rails rotten though the posts which consisted of cedar were standing, many of the Fruit Trees were entirely de- stroyed and others had their best branches broke off or hanging down and dead. As to the house all the doors were open & all the locks except one with the latches and bolts stole away- The windows from top to bottom were broke few pannels remain- ing whole and even many of the casements were missing, the rooms below stairs were the usual retreat and harbour of the Sheep in the night time and severity of the weather-Their dung lay many inches thick on the floors & on the walls were various unseemly figures drawn with charcoal besides immodest and wicked descriptions-The well was filled with the skeletons of sheep and other rubbish and the iron handle of the pump taken away but since by us recovered-The Lead on the top of the house was for the greatest part gone, and as we have lately re- ceived some intimation through whose hands it past we shall endeavor to discover them if possible-several of the Chamber doors above stairs were broke to pieces & the flooring in many places rent up together with some hearths chimney pieces and ceilings, to search as is said for hidden treasure-The Cellars and Offices adjoining were one continued heap of dung and nastiness
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IN BURLINGTON.
-we are obliged to employ Indians and Negroes to perform an almost herculean labour in cleaning them for none of the white men could be persuaded to undertake the task in short every thing was in the utmost disorder and confusion.
" Wherefore finding it absolutely necessary either immediately to repair the whole or else to suffer it to run to entire decay- we sent for workmen the best could be procured and computed the charge of the work according to their several calculations if they undertook by the which being very extravagant we altered our purpose and resolved to employ each man by the day which method proved the best and saved almost half in half as well as created a speedier dispatch of the business so that we can assure the Society that the house and fences are in very good repair-we saved indeed every thing that was needless and served only for ornament or ostentation, however tho' the work is mostly plain yet its very good and substantial and will as we believe answer the Societys intentions and with some new rails which we shall add next Spring to the fences and the Societys half of a new fence betwixt their lands and the Southern lots will last many years with a small expence.
" We have persuaded with much difficulty an honest Gentle- man who is deputy Secretary to the Province and a Justice of the Peace to live in the house and we find already from his bear Interest and authority a very great alteration for the better none attempting since his residence there to break the windows destroy the Fruit Trees or pull down the fence to let their Cattle into their Orchard or pasture which before it was impossible to prevent.
" The Garden we have contracted into a narrower compass but it may be enlarged when ever it is necessary-All the out- houses except the Stable have been demolished & the materials destroyed several years past and we presume its needless at present to erect them again yet it shall be done whenever the Society sends their orders for that purpose.
" We find it necessary that some sheet lead should be sent over with all convenient speed for the covering of the Top of the house in the room of what has been taken hence.
" We have not yet received the original deeds of the Societys house and lands left by Coll Hunter in the custody of Coll
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Depeyster of New York that unhappy Gentleman being at present deprived of the use of his reason, but a friend of ours has undertaken to procure them speedily and send us, and then we shall immediately put them on record at Burlington and transmit to the Society an authentic copy of them together with a Survey of the lands and meadows belonging to the house.
" The several tradesmens bills already delivered in and paid amount to £69 11. 1 lawful money of America according to Act of Parliament which reduced to sterling is £52 3. 32 for which sum we have drawn on the Honble Society payable to John Moore Esq" or his order.
" We shall write you further next November if any ship sails from Philadelphia or New York by which time we may be able to send you a state of the whole account and other affairs of the Society as directed particularly about the Meadows which a Gentleman of Philadelphia has been in possession of many years.
" What seems to us most for the Societys Interest is that a suit at law be immediately commenced for the recovery of their rights because several antient people who will appear good evi- dences in their behalf are very infirm and can't by course of nature last long and that it may be less tedious and expensive will endeavor to persuade the Gentlemen to go to law by con- sent if its the opinion of the Society and they send their com- mands so to do.
" We are Sir &e " DANK COXE "WM TRENT."
MORE WORK TO DO NOW THAN BEFORE.
Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Burlington, 20th September, 1723.
" REV. SIR:
" I have more work to do now than I had before, and I have no assistant; they are both gone, and have left me and the Church in the lurch. I have fifteen miles to travel from the Capes of Delaware to the Hills and Mountains in East Jersey, and none to help me but Mr. Lidenius, a Swedish minister, and
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IN BURLINGTON.
he is going away. I have been this month at Trenton, at Hopewell, and Amwell, preaching and baptizing nineteen per- sons in one day. I visited several persons that were sick, who had been Quakers, and who were come off their errors, with Mr. George Keith ; they were 80 years of age, and had never received the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in all their lives, but were loth to die, without the benefit and comfort of it ; so I was fain to come back again to Burlington, to get the Ele- ments, then returned to the Mountains, and did administer to. their great satisfaction. They are preparing to build a Church in the Spring, but when they will have a minister I cannot tell ; but it is a solemn thing (as they say in New England) for the lost sheep to go astray in the Wilderness ; to be among Wolves is worse, but for sheep to be without a shepherd, is the most deplorable case of all ; meanwhile it is some comfort to see the Bishop's house at Burlington, in repairs again; it is as well finished and furnished, as ever I saw it. The Governour of New York is coming to reside here for a month or two. We have got an honest Churchman, as we suppose, to live there and keep it in good order, now it is so, by care and order of Colonel Coxe; if the account comes not by this ship, ' Old Annise,' it will by the next this fall, in Captain Richmond. I have set up one Mr. Searle, a schoolmaster, to read prayers, and preach on Sundays, at Springfield; I lent him some sermons of Drs. Tillotson and Beveridge; several Quakers came to hear him, and are much taken with him ; they say they never thought the Priests had so much Good Doctrine. I am sure he is a much better Clerk than Mr. H-n, saving his orders, there- fore I commend him to the Society for their encouragement ;. and hope they will count him worthy to be a half-pay officer in their service. I pray God bless all our benefactors, and prosper all the labours of all their honest missioners, especially
"Your &c. " JOHN TALBOT."
DISMISSAL OF MR. URMSTON FROM PHILADELPHIA.
The vacancy in Christ Church, Philadelphia, occasioned by the death of the Rev. Mr. Vicary was temporarily supplied by
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the Rev. John Urmston, who had been a missionary in North Carolina. His conduct, however, was such as to bring great reproach upon the church, and he was dismissed, after having preached there but about a year. The following proceedings were had, in consequence of Mr. Urmston's removal :
" At a meeting of the vestry, October 29th, 1723, Mr. Fra- ser, church warden, laid before the vestry a minute of the con- vention of the clergy of this province, held at Chichester the 23d day of this instant, October, which was read, and is as followeth :
""' A member of the convention having laid before the brethren the reflections cast upon those missionaries who recommended Mr. Urmston to supply the cure of Philadelphia, and the said member having significd what reasons such reflections were grounded upon, agreed that the Rev. Mr. Talbot and the Rev. Mr. Weyman do acquaint the vestry and wardens of the church of Philadelphia, that the clergy of this province are willing and ready to concur in the removal of the said Mr. Urmston from Philadelphia, provided they do signify their uneasiness to the convention, and make their application to them, or any three of their number, under their hands to that purpose.
"Signed, JOHN TALBOT, "GEORGE ROSS, "JOHN HUMPHREYS, "ROBERT WEYMAN, "WILLIAM BECKETT.'
" The above communication having been read, it was 'Re- solved that the thanks of this vestry be given to the gentlemen of the convention for their expressing themselves so willing and ready to concur in the removal of Mr. Urmston from Philadel- phia.' It was further 'ordered that the church wardens wait upon as many of the above clergy as they conveniently can, and deliver them a copy of this minute, and let them know that if they please to supply this church till we can be otherwise pro- vided, we shall gratefully acknowledge the favour.
" Signed, William Frazer, Church Warden ; and by ten Ves- trymen, among whom were Peter Evans and Samuel Hasell." Dorr's History of Christ Church, Philadelphia, pp. 51, 52.
BURLINGTON MORE PLEASANT THAN SALISBURY.
Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Philadelphia, 9th December, 1723.
" REV'D SIR,
" This place is my head quarters. I was taken very ill in the church last Sunday at Burlington with Cholera Morbus so that
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IN BURLINGTON.
I was forced to leave the church. After I read the Psalms I could go no further. After I had laid by some days I came down to Philadelphia to consult the Doctor and, thank God, I have had my health very well. When I can get any help I send them to Burlington and go myself some times, but 'tis a thousand pities this place should be destitute. Here are much people and tho' they are poor, they ought not to be lost for lack of looking after. They are well rid of with [blank in MS.+] at last. He was worse than Phillips and would not go away till he was starved out. Here's nothing but a little paper coin cur- rent, neither money, credit nor Tobacco. The best of the people had left the church so they would muster nothing but they would give him some what to go away so they got rid of him at last. Col. Coxe and Mr. Trent have done their parts towards the Society's house at Burlington. They have put it all in good order both within and without. The Gardens, Orchard and pasture are fenced all round and, what is more than ever was done, they have got an honest man (as we suppose), to live there as Adam did in Paradise to dress it and keep it so 'tis fit now for any Governor in Church or State. Mr. Burnet has been there this quarter almost, & he says 'tis more pleasant than Salisbury # in England. Therefore I am not fallen out with my first love, Dear Bur : but I have some pity of poor Philadelphia. Because she has none to help her, there is most need there at present. I can do most good till some body else comes so I commend myself and service to the Hon'ble Society & desiring their prayers I rest their &
" Your humble Servant,
" JO : TALBOT."
THE RAVING OF THE REV. JOHN URMSTON. "Cecil County in Maryland, June ult. 1724. " REV. SIR :
" You may remember that I once had a mind to have gone with the D. of Portland; you were pleased to offer me that letter to a French Marquis who went with his Grace. I thought
Presumed to be the Rev. John Urmston.
The Governor was the son of the Bishop of Salisbury.
M
1
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my Lord D. of Kington who married the other's sister might be more effectual. He spake to his brother and his answer was that he should take no more into his family and yet soon after entertained Charles Lamb. This was one of the many dis- appointments I met with whilst in England last. I was rude in not acquainting you with my departure, but believe you will be so good as to pardon that and many other liberties particu- larly this long scroll which with humble respects will give you a further account of my unfortunate circumstances which I the rather communicate to you knowing you to be no half papist, as too many of the clergy now-a-days are.
" You're to be acquainted that I went from London to New England, where I had some hopes of staying but was prevented by the New Converts, one whereof had the offer if he would go to England and be ordained, and forthwith did, and is now minister of the New Episcopal Church in Boston, the only man that could be thought of; he'll do more good there than any other. I left the place very contentedly, and went from New York, where I narrowly missed of being Chaplain to the Fort and assistant to Mr. Vesey. Hearing that the Incumbent of Philadelphia was gone to England for his health, and left the place ill-supplyed, I hastened thither, and was gladly received of the people.' About six months after, we had the news of the death of the Incumbent aforesaid. I had written to my corres- pondent to get some friend to intercede with my then Lord of London to appoint me minister there. I never doubted of my friend's diligence nor his Lordship's favour, but my letters from England must certainly have been intercepted. Mr. Talbot, the famous Rector of Burlington, in the Jerseys, supplanted me here.+ Governor Burnet had been long displeased with him by reason he is a notorious Jacobite, and will not pray for the King and Royal Family by name, only says the King and Prince, by which 'tis obvious whom he means. He hath often endeavoured to persuade me to do so too (little less than treason, I think, to go about to pervert the King's subjects from their duty and allegiance to his Majesty). He hath poisoned all the neigh-
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