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 16
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+ A counter statement to this appears in the following :
" December 19, 1723.
"To the Right Rev. Father in God, Edmund, lord bishop of London : The humble address and representation of the church wardens and vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia. May it please your lordship, * * Our church, for above twelve months last past, rather than the doors should be shut and the congregation scatter, has beeu supplied by one Mr. Urmston, heretofore missionary to the honourable society to North Carolina; but now by them, for good reasons doubtless, dismissed, as he is by us, and gone for Maryland." Dorr's History, pp. 53, 54.
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bouring clergy with his rebellious principles ; they dare not pray otherwise than he does when he is present. He caused many of my learers to leave the Church ; at last he gained his point, was accepted, and I kicked out very dirtily by the Vestry, who pretend that the Bishop of London is no Diocesan, nor hath anything to do there more than another Bishop, so that any one that is lawfully ordained and licenced by any Bishop, it matters not who, the Bishop of Rome I suppose Talbot and many more will say, or any other, is capable of taking upon him any cure in America. I was not sorry for my removal from so precarious and slavish a place, where they require two sermons every Lord's Day, Prayers all the week, and Homilies on Festi- vals, besides abundance of Funerals, Christenings at home, and sick to be visited ; no settled salary, the Churchwardens go from house to house every six months, every one gives what he pleases, sometimes liberally, and on the least pretence or dislike, or it may be the persuasion of the Churchwardens and their adherents, they'll give nothing, and so they forced that worthy gentleman, Dr. Evans, and many others to leave the places ; they love new faces. I was told that they had eleven ministers within the space of nine years. About three months after Tal- bot was gotten into his kingdom some had the courage to go to Sir William Keith, who otherwise was well enough pleased with Talbot, and to tell his Excellency that it was a shame such a fellow should be allowed to officiate in the Church, and that if his Excellency suffered him they would write to England against them both, whereupon Talbot was sent away, and the place hath been vacant these four months. What has become of this great Apostle I know not; certainly Governor Burnet will not suffer him to return to Burlington. Some of his confi- dants have discovered that he is in orders, as many more rebels are. I have heard of no ordinations he has made as yet, but doubtless he'll persuade all the clergy who are his creatures to be ordained again by him. To this end he came fraught from England with some of the most virulent and scandalous pamphlets he could pick up ; that one I met with by chance, whose title was, 'The Case Truly Stated,' proving that all ordained by Bishops consecrated since or such as conformed and approved of the revolution are imposters, and the divine service is only to be performed by those who have been re-ordained by non-jurors, and that there are enough of them all over England to serve the Church. Proh mores atque hominum fidem!
" As oldest Missionary he received the three years' interest of the £2000 the late Archbishop of Canterbury his legacy towards the support of a Bishop in the plantations, and is entitled to the
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same until a Bishop be appointed. My Lord Chancellor did not know the man, or certainly he would never have admitted him to so great a favour. I went by land from Philadelphia to North Carolina, in order to take a view of Maryland and Vir- ginia, and to sell my Plantation, stock, and goods ; that done, I returned to Maryland, and am settled in Cecil County, a very promising, thriving place ; the income is between 33 and 34,000, which will be considerable when Tobacco bears a price.
"I am, Reverend Sir, " Your most obedient
"JOHN URMSTON."
MR. TALBOT'S GIFT TO HIS SUCCESSORS.}
"TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whom these presents shall come or may concern I John Talbot Rector of St. Mary's Church at Burlington in the western Division of the Province of New Jersey, SEND GREETING: KNOW YE, that Doctor Robert fframpton Late Lord Bishop of Gloucester in the Kingdom of Great Brittain as well in Consideration of his great Zeal for Gods glory, the advancement of true Religion and ye propagation of the Catholick and Apostolick Church, and (par- ticularly) as a further Encouragement to the ministers & pastors of that pure branch of it planted here in AMERICA him there- unto especially moving, Did Bequeath the Sum of one hun- dred pounds to ye use intents and purposes as hereafter in these p'sents limitted and as by a clause in his Last will & Testamt it is at Large expressed and Declared in these words following, Vizt. I Give and Bequeath the Sum of one hundred pounds for the Encouragement of Ministers to propagate the Gospell in the western plantations according to ye order of ye Church of England which money my will is shall be Disposed off accord- ing to ye Direction and appointment of the Rt Reverend ffather in God Henry present Bishop of London AND whereas the said Henry Bishop of London upon the earnest Sollicitations of the Revª Mr. Talbot made for the Legacy aforesaid in behalf of the Church of St Marys aforesaid, by a Certain writing under his hand and Seal bearing Date ye 11th day of April in the Year
+ The following instrument-beautifully engrossed, in old English text, on a large piece of vellum-is still (1876) in the archives of the Parish.
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of our Lord 1713 according to ye pious intention of our worthy Benefactor thought meet to Direct and appoint the Said Sum of one hundred pounds to be Laid out in the purchase of an aug- mentation to ye maintenance of the present Rector of St Marys Church in Burlington in New Jersey and his Successors Rectors of that Church for Ever, And further directed that the said Sum of one hundred pounds be, by the Exer, of ye Donor aforesaid, paid into the hands of Mrs. Catharine Bovey to be by her to- gether with the advice and Assistance of the Minister Church wardens and Vestry men of said St Marys Laid out for ye use aforesaid, AND WHEREAS the sd John Talbot by Certain good and Sufficient Conveyances in ye Law stands Lawfully seized in Fee Simple of a Certain Messuage and sundry Lotts of Land scituate Lying & being in the Town and Town bounds of Burlington aforesd, to wit. One messuage and Lot of Land containing Two Acres and half an acre of Land ffronting on the east Side of Sec- ond Street and west from High Street and is in breadth between land formerly belonging to Jonathan ffox and Walter Humphrey Twenty one perches & Ten foot, Also one other Lot of Land adjoyning to ye aforesd Lot containing Twenty three perches , Also one other Lot of Land ffronting broad Street on the South and bounded on ye west by the Second Street west from high Street begins at John Antrums, alias by Land formerly William Myres by the said Second Street and runs in length by the sd street South and by east ninteen perches & twelve foot to the corner of broad Street, then by broad Street Eastward thirteen perches & a half to Paul Watkinson's Lot, thence North- ward by Said Lot and parallel to the Second Street ninteen perches and Twelve foot thence westward by said Myres Land to the place first mentioned which said Lot is Supposed to be or contain one acre & three quarters of an Acre of Land. AND also all that Tract of Land Situate and being in the Town bounds of Burlington and according to ye Survey thereof is thus bounded beginning at a corner mark't oak by Land formerly Edward Hunlock Deceas'd, Thence west South west three chain thence South five chain unto a corner by Thomas Wrights Land thence west and by North along the said Wrights Land unto a corner markt oak by the same thence South west unto a birth
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creek, thence west North west Twenty four chain and a half along Said creek unto the Land formerly Said Hunlock to a corner mark't oak thence North East & by East to a Corner markt black oak by Land formerly George Hutchinsons Dec'd thence South East along the Said Hutchinsons Land and onward to the first mentioned corner or place of beginning which Said Last men- tioned tract of Land is Supposed to contain within the Limits afores'd at Least Two hundred Acres. NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that the said John Talbot for the great Regard he hath for the promotion of true and Orthodox Religion Xtian knowledge and advancement of piety, not only to Labour him- self in the ffaithfull Discharge of his ministerial ffunction but also to add Some part of what God of his bounty bestowed upon him for the Obtaining of the good Ends and purposes aforesd, As also for and in Consideration of the Said Sum of one hundred pounds Bequeathed as aforesd and to him the said John Talbot well and truly in hand paid by ye aforesaid Mrs. Catherine Bovey as likewise for the Sum of five shillings to him the said John Talbot in hand paid by Joseph White and John Allen both of the Town of Burlington and province aforesaid Gent. the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and himself there- tth fully Satisfied and paid and thereof and of every part thereof for himself and his Successors his and their heirs Exec'rs and Adm'rs Doth acquit Release and discharge as well the Said Mrs .. Catherine Bovey her Exec'rs and Adm'rs of and from the aforesd Legacy as also the said Joseph White and John Allen and their respective heirs Exec'rs and Adm'rs for ever by these presents, HATH given granted Sold released and Confirmed and by these presents doth fully clearly and Absolutely give grant Sell release convey and Confirm unto the Said Joseph White and John Allen present Church wardens of the parish of St Marys- Church aforesd and unto their Successors in trust for the use- hereafter in and by these presents to be declared the aforesaid Messuage and all and Singular the said Lotts and Tract of Land: as they Stand butted and bounded Limitted and above Described in the Town of Burlington and within the boundaries thereof : TOGETHER with all and all manner of houses out houses barns- Stables Orchards Gardens fences and improvements whatsoever
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as also the mines minerals ways waters wood under woods fishing fowling hunting hawking hereditamants & app'tenances what- soever unto the said messuage Tract of Land and every of the. above mentioned Lotts of ground belonging or in any wise ap- pertaining and the Reversion and reversions Remainder and remainders rents issues and profits thereof, with all the estate right Title property Claim and Demand whatsoever of him the said John Talbot his heirs or Assigns of in to or out of the Same.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Messuage Tract and Lotts of land as aforesaid, with all ye rights members and appur- tenances unto them the sd Joseph White and John Allen and their Successors to the use and behoof of him the Said John Talbot present Rector of St Marys church aforesaid During his natural Life, and after his Decease to the use benefit and behoof of a Presbyter of the Church of England as by Law now estab- lished that hath received Episcopal Ordination and is admitted into the Cure of St Marys Church at Burlington by the appro- bation of at Least one Church Warden and the major part of the Vestry men of the Church aforesd Signified under their hands and Seals (or appointed minister for ye said Church by the Bishop) and Such presbyter aforesd that doth comply with reading and performing of Divine Service and other Duties in the Said Church according to the Lyturgie of the Church of England as is now appointed upon the Lords days Holy days and other Set days for Divine worship Set forth in the Book, En- tituled, the Book of Common prayer and Administracon of the Sacraments and being so admitted and Conforming to and Com- plying with the Rubricks and Canons of the Church of England as aforesaid, that Such incumbent Shall, after Such admission into the Cure aforesaid, upon Easter day or Whit Sunday or upon the munday immediately following either of the ffeast days that shall happen to be after every Such admission in ye Cure aforese after Divine Service is Ended in the ffore noon publickly before the Congregation with an audible Voice read the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England as they are now Set forth according to Sundry Acts of parliament in the Book of Common prayer and publickly Testifie his assent and Consent to all and every of them, and thereunto Subscribing his name in the said
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Common prayer Book, belonging to the Said Church. That Such Incumbent being so qualified ordained admitted in manner aforesaid (and not before nor otherwise) shall may or is hereby intitled to the possession of the aforesaid Settlement, and be en- abled to take and receive the rents issues and profits of the hereby granted or mentioned and intended to be granted Land Messuage and Sundry Lotts aforesaid, according to the purport and Design of the proprietor of the aforesaid Legacy, and the true intent and meaning of these presents.
AND now to the End that the above rented premises and every part and parcell thereof may be established Vested and Settled unto the said John Talbot during his natural Life and after his Decease to the use and behoof of the next minister being admitted as aforesaid and So Successively, the said John Talbot for himself his Exe'rs and Adm'rs Doth by these pres- ents Covenant promise grant and agree to and with the said Joseph White and John Allen and their respective Successors that at the Time of the Ensealing and Delivery hereof he hath good right full and absolute authority to grant Enffeof and Confirm the Same in manner and form as above Expressed to the use aforesaid or to any other use whatsoever without any Con- dition matter or thing heretofore made or Created to any person or persons whatsoever to alter change Defeat Determine or make void the Same : But that the aforesaid Messuage Tract of Land and Lotts aforesaid with their and every of their appurtenances now are and so from time to time and at all Times forever here- after shall be, remain, and Continue to the uses intents and purposes aforesd, and to no other use Limitation or intent what- soever Clearly acquitted Exonorated and Discharged of all and all manner of former and other gifts, grants, Bargains, Sales Joyntures Dowrys Entailes charges troubles or incumbran- ces whatsoever.
AND Lastly that the said John Talbot his heirs and Assigns and all and every person or persons Claiming or to claim any Lawfull Estate Right Title or interest of in to or out of the hereby granted premises or any part or parcell thereof by from or under or in Trust for him or them shall and will from Time to time at all times hereafter upon the request and at the cost
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and charges in Law of the said Joseph White and John Allen and their Successors Church Wardens of the Church aforesaid make do acknowledge and Execute or cause or procure to be made done acknowledged & executed all and every Such further and other Lawfull and reasonable acts matters and things Conveyances and assurances in Law whatsoever for the further better & more perfect assuring and Conveying of the premises hereby granted and Conveyed or meant menconed or intended so to be & every part and parcell thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Joseph White and John Allen and their Successors as afsª To the uses and intents aforesd according to the purport true intent and meaning of these presents, as by the said Joseph White and John Allen or their Successors or their or any of their Counsell Learned in the Law Shall be reasonably Devised or advised & required, So as the party or parties required to do and Execute the same be not Compelled or Compellable to go or Travell above Tenn miles from his or their places of abode for the making and Executing of such further assurances, and So as the same do not Contain or Extend unto any further warranty than against him the said John Talbot his Exec's or Assigns.
" IN TESTIMONY whereof the party first mentioned in this p'sent Indenture hath here unto Set his hand and Seal, this thirteenth day of July in ye Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty and ffour 1724
John Talbot
[L. S.]t
7 No seal is now on this instrument.
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"Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us: " Thos Hunloke John Holbrooke
" George Willis Rowland Ellis
"Burlington July 13th 1724 Received of M" Catherine Bovey the within mention'd Legacy of one hundred pounds as also of Mess's Joseph White and John Allen the Sum of five shillings in full of ye Consideration money for the within granted Premises
" pr JOHN TALBOT
" Recorded in the Publick Records in ye Sec'rys Office at Burlington in Book H fol. 22d &c.
" Personally came before me John Allen Esqr. one of the Judges of the Supreme Court for the province of New Jersey, Rowland Ellis one of the Evidences to the within written Deed, upon his Solemn Oath doth declare that he was present and Saw the within Grantor Sign & Seal the within Instrum and Deliver the same as his own Act and Deed for the uses therein men- tioned and that he saw the other Subscribing Witnesses write- their names as Evidences thereto
"Sworn the 24 of December 1745
" Before me
. " JNº: ALLEN."
"SOME OF THESE NONJURING CLERGYMEN PRETEND TO THE OFFICE OF BISHOPS."
Sir William Keith to the Bishop of London. Extract. " Philadelphia, July 24, 1724. * " It seems to me necessary further to acquaint your Lordship that the management of Christ Church in Philaa is in the hands of a Vestry and the Churchwardens. * I am for peace sake obliged to be passive in things which are both indecent and disorderly, such as suffering some of the Clergy- men to read prayers and preach without mentioning the King,
*
*
Prince, and Royal Family according to the rubrick.
It is confidently reported here that some of these nonjuring. Clergymen pretend to the authority and office of Bishops in the- Church which however they do not own and I believe will not dare to practice for I have publickly declared my resolution to- prosecute with effect all those who either in doctrine or conver- sation shall attempt to debauch any of the people with schis- matical disloyal principles of that nature."
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IN BURLINGTON.
FURTHER RAVING AGAINST TALBOT AND WELTON.
A Letter without a signaturet to Rev. Dr. Bray. " Cecil County in Maryland, July 29th, 1724. " REV. SIR :
" In a former I have acquainted you with my treatment at Philadelphia,¿ how villainously and barbarously I was supplanted by Mr. Talbot, who has been years at Burlington in the Jerseys, some time Itinerant with George Keith, and very famous for his disaffection to the Crown. Ever since the revolution he and one Smith a rigid took some pains to persuade me not to pray for the King and Royal Family, but to say as they did, only the King and Prince ('tis obvious whom they mean) and since I was not to be wrought on, I was by their contrivance very unhandsomely kickt out, and in order to proselyte that province he, the said Talbot, supplyed the place till some honest hearts addressed the Governour, and he ordered the Church doors to. be shut up, but now set open again to your late neighbour Dr. Welton, who I hear is lately arrived there. If more such come of that kidney all the clergy both in and out of the Government will be corrupted, and the people all seduced from their allegi-
ance to his Majesty-there will be no need of popish priests and Jesuits any longer-they who should oppose and resist will effectually carry on and promote the Romish designs. I can't but wonder how my Lord Chancellor was induced to let Talbot when last in England have the interest of the late Archbishop Cant. his legacy towards sending a Bishop over into America, with assurance of having it for the future till one be appointed. I am now settled here in an easy parish well disposed people. I have a fine glebe and between 30 and 40,000 lbs. worth of tobacco yearly ; but I fear I shall receive none this year, that and corn all being burnt up with the excessive drought. I am with all humble respects,
"Rev. Sir, Your, &c."
+ Undoubtedly from the Rev. John Urmston, as will appear from its corres- pondence with the letter he wrote in June preceding. See p. 177.
¿ Peter Evans, in his " Memorial to the Bishop of London," says of Mr. Urmston : "Ye misfortune that drove him from Carolina and other places still attended him, and his behaviour became such at Phila. as is not proper to be mensioned or allowed in any Sober Society which obliged ye Vestry to dismiss him."
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MR. TALBOT "NEVER WOULD TAKE THE OATHS TO THE KING." Gov. Burnet to the Bishop of London. Extract. " New York Aug 3d 1724.
" I have no cause to complain of any of the Mis- sionaries in either of my Governments except M' Talbot Mis- sionary at Burlington from the Society who never would take the Oaths to the King, and never prays for him by name in the Liturgy and yet as I am informed, he now enjoys Archbishop Tenisons bounty as oldest Missionary in America. It is true, he is seldom in Jersey when I happen to be there but avoids me, and goes to Philadelphia where he has always officiated in the same indecent manner, and has had the folly to confess to some who have published it, that he is a Bishop.
"P. S .- I am informed that the present incumbent at Phila- delphia is D' Welton formerly Rector of White Chapel."
"A BISHOP IN BURLINGTON WOULD PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF THE CHURCH."
Rev. Wm. Vesey to the Bishop of London. Extract. " New York August 10th 1724.
" My Lord I humbly conceive that one Bishop subordinate to your Lordships authority sent over to govern the Church in the Continent of America and seated in Burlington (which is the centre) would very much promote the interest of the church and religion and the peace and prosperity of the Clergy."
MR. TALBOT "RETURNED FROM ENGLAND TWO YEARS AGO IN EPISCOPAL ORDERS."
Rev. Mr. Henderson to the Bishop of London. Extract. " Maryland, August 16th, 1724.
" Mr. Talbot, Minister of Burlington, returned from England about two years ago in Episcopal orders, though his orders till now of late have been kept as a great secret, and Dr. Welton is arrived there about six weeks ago, as I'm cred- ibly informed, in the same capacity, and the people of Philadel-
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IN BURLINGTON.
phia are so fond of him that they will have him right or wrong for their minister.
" I am much afraid these gentlemen will poison the people of that province. I cannot see what can prevent it but the speedy arrival of a Bishop there, one of the same order to confront them, for the people will rather take confirmation from them than have- none at all, and by that means they'll hook them into the schism.
" I am well assured they'll get no footing in this province, for I dare say his Majesty King George has not subjects any- where in his dominions more zealously attached to him than the. Clergy and Protestant laity here, are.
" I question not but your Lordship in your great wisdom will find out some expedient to prevent the ruin that threatens the Church in that province. I need say no more but to beg your Lordship's prayers for,
" May it please your Lordship, " Your most dutiful son and " Most obedient humble servant, " JACOB HENDERSON."
"THE ORDER OF PRAYER DAILY THROUGH THE YEAR."
Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Burlington, 7bris 7th, 1724. " REV. SIR :
" I have been here altogether this last half-year; I preach once on Sunday morn, and Catechize or Homilize in the after- noon. I read the prayers of the Church, in the Church, decently, according to the order of Morning and Evening Prayer, daily through the year, and that is more than is done in any Church that I know, apud Americanos. I bought a house and two or three lots of land, adjoining to the Church-yard, and since I came over last, I have settled by deed, upon St. Mary's Church at Burlington, a parsonage and glebe ; though there was neither Church, house, nor glebe, before I came, I hope there will be one now, for ever. I design to send the Society some account of the particulars of this in my next ; and this is more than any body has done before, that I know, of my own proper cost and charge ; so that I have been a good husband, to do this of my poverty, for I have no salary from the people. I had formerly
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£20 per annum, when there was money, but now, here is neither money, credit, nor tobacco, nothing but a little paper coin, that is nothing but sorry rags, and we can hardly get them to pay the Clerk £10, that is allowed him by the year. We are amongst a set of people called Quakers, who have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels; they serve no God but Mammon, and their own Bellies, and it is against their conscience to let the priest have anything, either by Law or Gospel. I have com- monly the Sacrament administered once a month, and at the great feasts two or three days together ; the number of Commu- nicants is uncertain, 20, 30, 40, or 50 persons.
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