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 18
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" REVEREND SIR
" I have nothing to add saving the poor Church here is destitute, here is no minister to perform divine service, neither have we had any these 5 or 6 month's, none has preached in the Church since M' Talbot who was required to desist by his Ex- cellency the Governor of this Province, there is a pretty Church and a large congregation and great pity its they be left destitute and perish through Famine | of the word | and go astray like sheep without a Sheppard. I humbly beg pardon for this digression and leave to subscribe myself Reverend Sir
" Your most humble &c
" ROWLAND ELLIS."
THE CHURCH DOORS DAILY SHUT UP. The Churchwardens of Burlington to the Governor.
"November 4th, 1725.
"Since your Excellency has been pleased to order, that the Rev. Mr. Talbot should surcease officiating in this Church, it heartily grieves me to see the doors thereof daily shut up ; but we humbly beg leave to acknowledge your Excellency's favour, and repeated willingness to assist and join with us in this affair. The hurry of country business that would not admit of our members to meet together, prevented our addressing your Excel- lency sooner, but we crave leave to acquaint your Excellency, that as it is our unhappiness to be without a Minister, we humbly hope for your Excellency's favourable countenance and good offices to obtain what is so expedient and necessary for the interest of our Holy Religion and the best of Churches, of which se acknowledge ourselves unworthy members.
" We are, &c., "ROWLAND ELLIS, and others."
.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
DR. WELTON COMMANDED UPON HIS ALLEGIANCE TO RETURN TO GREAT BRITAIN.
Sir Wm. Keith to the Lord Bishop of London. " Philadelphia, April 8th, 1726.
" MY LORD,
" I am glad to acknowledge the great honour your Lordship t was pleased to do me by your Letter dated last June which I received some time ago, and am glad that by your Lordship's great care I can now answer it so effectually as to acquaint you that I have by this conveyance returned an authentic Certificate into my Lord Townsend's office, of Dr. Welton's having been duly served with his Majesty's Writ of Privy Seal, commanding him upon his allegiance to return to Great Britain forthwith;
¡ A letter, from the Rev. John Berriman of London, to the Rev. Samuel Johnson, missionary in Connecticut, dated Feb. 17th, 1725, has the following paragraph ; "We hear of two Nonjuring Bishops (Dr. Welton for one) who are gone into America ; and it is said the Bishop of London will send one or more of a different stanıp as an antidote against them. God Almighty prevent the bad effects of the one, and in his due time accomplish the other." Beards- ley's Life of Johnson, p. 55.
" Your memorialist, as one of the [Philadelphia ] Vestry, humbly begs leave to give your Lordship a true information of the said Vestry's conduct towards Dr. Welton, who at his arrival there, about June, 1724, was a stranger, and his coming altogether unknown to every of them. The circumstances of the Church there being not a little melancholy at that time, for that being destitute of a Minister no Divine Service had been performed there for some months before, and a numerous congregation which if kept together were not only able but willing to raise a handsome support for a Missionary which was daily ex- pected from your Lordship.
" But the Church doors being shut, it was evident the congregation would soon dwindle, and be captivated among the many Dissenting Teachers in that growing city, and render them unable to perform their promises to your Lord- ship. To prevent which inconvenience several members of the Vestry met, and being well assured by some persons of the Doctor's acquaintance, that he. was esteemed an orthodox minister, and it appearing by several English printed newspapers that the Doctor had there lately taken the oathis, and con - formed to the Government, but had been deprived of his living, several men- bers of the Vestry asked the Doctor to officiate until such time as they were favoured with a Missionary from your Lordship, which he readily granted, and the Church doors were opened, and for that reason, and from the charac- ter of the Doctor's preaching, the congregation resorted to hear him.
"Your memorialist hopes your Lordship will be induced to believe their zeal for the Church (and not for any mistaken principles of the Doctor's) was the true cause of their frequenting the Church. Your memorialist, from his knowledge of and acquaintance with the people there for twenty-two years past, does believe it a piece of injustice to insinuate them as disaffected to liis Majesty, for your memorialist well knows that every member of the Vestry and all others of the congregation to whom it was tendered have conformed to the Laws, and given all the proofs of their Loyalty to his Majesty that is in their power.
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IN BURLINGTON.
in pursuance of which Order, the Doctor did us the favour about 4 weeks ago to depart for Europe by the way of Lisbon, so that I doubt not but your Lordship will now more easily find a way to supply this Church with a suitable Incumbent, and as the people's hopes are generally placed on your Lordship's pious care for that purpose, I am fully persuaded that any Gentleman who comes over recommended by your Lordship will be hand- somely received.
" My Lord, Your Lordship's most " faithful & most devoted " humble Servant,
"W. KEITH."
THE NON-JURORS DISAGREED AMONG THEMSELVES.
Commissary Wilkinson to the Bishop of London. Extract. " Chester River, in Queen Ann's County, " Maryland, June 15, 1726.
" I understood Dr. Welton has left Philadelphia and is gone for Lisbon.f He and the rest of the non-jurors disagreed very
" But for his and their defence against the information of Sir Willian Keith, your memorialist begs leave (and he hopes in case of self-defence and preservation he may be allowed) to observe to your Lordship that Sir William Keith has not been so happy in his conduct, or sincere in his relations as to acquire undoubted credit, as appears from the following Paragraph (taken out of the Lords' proceedings against him for being concerned in the Scottish conspiracy Anno 1703), viz. : 'It was declared by the Lords, spiritual and temporal, in Parliament assembled, that Mr. William Keith (upon his exami- nation by the Lords appointed to examine him by this House) hath prevari- cated with this House, and by his behaviour doth not seem an object worthy of his Majesty's mercy.'
" Your memorialist humbly begs leave to observe to your Lordship in vin- dication of himself and the said Vestry, that the said Sir William has for some years been elected member of the said Vestry, but taking upon him to overrule them, and entirely depriving them of the freedom justly due, he was left out of the Vestry in the time of Mr. Vicary, the last settled Missionary amongst us from your Lordship's predecessors, which was about three years ago, and from that time seemed displeased with the Vestry, and withdrew his subscrip- tion from Mr. Vicary, to whom the Vestry sliewed all due regard." Peter Evans' Memorial.
+ " LISBON, Aug. 31, 1726, N. S.
" One Wilton a non-juring clergyman, who some time ago arrived here from Philadelphia, died of a dropsy, refusing to commune with the English clergyman.
" After his death among his things were found an episcopal seal which he had made use of in Pensilvania, whereas, he assumed & exercised privily &
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
much among themselves, insomuch that they avoided one another's company. Mr. Talbot and Mr. Smith (who also differ very much in their sentiments of submission to our estab- lished Government) have been with us in Maryland. They behaved themselves very modestly, avoided talking very much, and resolved to submit quietly to the orders sent from England to prohibit their public officiating in any of the Churches, or to set up separate meetings."t
THE S. P. G. ALLOW THE REV. JOHN HOLBROOK TO REMOVE TO BURLINGTON. Mr. Holbrooke to the Secretary. Extract. " Salem New W. Jersey Sept™ 28, 1726.
" REVEREND SIR
" I received yours of March 15th 1725 wherein I am acquainted that the Honorable Society have allowed me to remove from
by stealth the character & functions of a Bishop. This coming to the know- ledge of the Privy Council he was ordered home but came to Portugal.
"N. B. [by Hearne.] This is the famous Dr. Welton, minister at White Chappel, who suffered much for his honesty (Jacobitism) & was, it seems, a Bishop, & is now removed from the malice of all his enemies." Reliquice Herniance, Vol. II, p. 257.
+ "The venerable prelate, who was so long our Presiding Bishop, [Rt. Rev Wm. White, D. D. of Pennsylvania ] was accustomed to relate a story which he heard from his elder brethren, when he was but a youth. The story was this : A gentleman who had been ordained among the Congregationalists of New England, [Mr. Whittlesey of Connecticut, perhaps Wallingford, says The Churchman's Magazine, Vol. V, p. 40,] and who had officiated among them as a minister for many years, at length to the surprise of his friends, began to express doubts about the validity of his ordination, and manifested no small trouble of mind on the subject. Suddenly about the time of the arrival of Talbot and Welton, he left home without declaring the place of his destination or purpose of his journey. After an interval of a few weeks he returned, and gave no further information of his movements than that he had been to some of the Southern Colonies ; he also said on his return that he was now perfectly satisfied with his ordination, and from that day never manifested the least solicitude on the subject, but continued until he died to preach to his congregation. It was soon whispered by those whose curiosity here found materials for its exercise, that the minister had been on a visit to the non- juring bishops, and obtained ordination from one of them. He never said so ; but among Churchmen it was believed that such was the fact." Hawks' His- tory of the Church in Maryland, p. 185.
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IN BURLINGTON.
Salem + to Burlington for which Instance of their favor I re- turn my humble thanks But finding that the people of Burling- ton do not appear so desirous of a Missionary as the poor people among whom I am, do of my continuance with them, I choose to continue among the people of Salem, though with the hazard of being troubled with the Autum sickness, and do humbly presume that the Society will allow and approve of it. Religion as professed by our Church indeed Sir makes but a poor figure in this and the neighbouring province which is in a manner eclipsed by quakerism ; the Missionary's in these Country's may be said to be under the same conflict St Paul was at Ephesus, and with respect to these in particular. I find that of Mr Ditton true | vizt | that christianity being now the same religion it was formerly there is the same Enmity in the world still against it as ever which would produce the very same effects it formerly did, if he who stills the raging Sea, and bridles the fury and madness of the people, did not set bounds to it by his wise all governing providence."
IMPORTUNITIES IN FAVOUR OF MR. TALBOT. HE IS UNIVER- SALLY BELOVED.
Rev. Archibald Cummings to the Bishop of London Extract. " Philadelphia, October 19th, 1726. " MY LORD :
" I have been here so short a time that all the account I can give of the place as yet is, that the soil and clime seem to be better and more regular than the temper of the people ; how- ever, I have been very well received by those of any note, and am in a particular manner obliged to Mr. Moore, our Collector ; he is a sober and pious man, and has all along endeavoured to support the Church, in opposition both to Welton's and the principles of the other Schismaticks and Sectaries, which are indeed here very numerous. I hope in a little time, by proper
¡ In the report of the S. P. G. for 1725-6, we find that the Rev. Nathaniel Horwood was appointed to succeed Rev. Mr. Holbrook, at Salem, on the latter's removal to Burlington.
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and moderate methods, to cancel all the bad impressions the angry Doctor had given of his successor. Your Lordship will observe by his favourite sermon, printed here, in what a scurri- lous manner he falls foul upon all the Clergy of the present Establishment, charging the people that as they tendered their salvation not to receive but reject any that should be sent among them. He is now in Lisbon ; 'tis well if he ben't got into the Convent. I ha'nt seen all the Clergy of this province as yet, but have heard a good character of them all. I have been importuned by numbers of people from Burlington and by some of this province to write to your Lordship in favour of Dr. Talbot ; they made me promise to mention him, otherwise I would not presume to do it. He is universally beloved, even by the Dissenters here, and has done a great deal of good. Wel- ton and he had differed and broke off correspondence, by reason of the rash chimerical projects of the former long before the Government took notice of them. If he were connived at and could be assisted by the Society (for I am told the old man's circumstances are very mean), he promises by his friends to be peaceable and easy, and to do all the good he can for the future." *
"THE GREATEST ADVOCATE FOR THE CHURCH THAT EVER APPEARED ON THIS SHORE."
Memorial to the S. P. G., from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. [Without date, received Jan. 20th, 1726.] " SHEWETH :
" That the melancholy circumstance of the Church of Eng- land in these Colonies, is a subject, we hope, worthy, not only your compassion, but tender regard, having not above one Min- ister to seven or eight Churches or Congregations, and we bemoan our case, when we behold so many Churches, lately built, lie as desolate around us, convincing arguments of our affection for the Church, and of our great misfortune in being destitute of pastors. When at the same time we daily see Dis- senters of all denominations, continually supplied, and increase,
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IN BURLINGTON.
through this, our misfortune, and upbraid us with this defect. It is, therefore, with the utmost concern, we express our unhap- piness, when we view our circumstances rather decline than flourish. In particular, that Mr. Talbot, who for nigh thirty years past, has behaved himself with indefatigable pains, and good success in his Ministry, among us, under your Honour's care, has by some late conduct (nowise privy to us), rendered himself disagreeable to his superiors and departed from us. We cannot, without violence to the principles of our Religion, ap- prove of any acts, or give in to any measures inconsistent with our duty and Loyalty to his Majesty, whom God long preserve; yet in gratitude to this unhappy Gentleman, we humbly beg leave to say, that by his exemplary life and ministry, he has been the greatest advocate for the Church of England, by Law Established, that ever appeared on this shore. This unhappy accident, together with the death and removal of some other clergymen from us, has very much increased the cause of our complaint, and we have no other recourse but to your Honours for relief. Having well-grounded hopes, the same good spirit which prompted you to undertake the glorious work of propa- gating the Gospel in foreign parts will continue your pious re- gards to these Colonies, and the rather, since so many stately monuments are erected for God's service, testifying our sincere willingness to embrace your charitable assistance, and to answer the glorious ends you have in view.
" Therefore, your petitioners most humbly beg your Honour- able Society will please to extend your wonted charity and necessary supply to the several Churches and Congregations, of which particular accounts are hereto annexed.
" And your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, "Shall ever pray," &c. " Christ Church, Philadelphia. " SAMUEL HASELL, Churchwardens. " ROBERT BOLTON,
" THOMAS LAWRENCE, CHARLES READ,
" THOMAS FENTON, BENJAMIN MORGAN,
" JAMES TUTHILL, THOMAS TRESSE,
" THOMAS LEECH, JAMES BINGHAM,
Vestrymen, Christ Church, Philadelphia.
0
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" Thomas Polgreen, Thomas Chase, William Fraser, Robert Asheton, George Plumly, Arthur Oliver, Daniel Harrison, John Brooks, Henry Dexter, John Orton, John Knowles, George Meall, R. Asheton.
" St. James' Church in New Bristol.
" JOHN ABRAHAM DENORMANDIE, - "F. GAUDOUETT,
"JOHN ALLEN,
S
Church wardens.
" St. Mary's Church at Burlington.
" ROWLAND ELLIS,
Churchwardens. " JONATHAN LOVETT,
" Peter Bard, Samuel Bustill, Richard Allison, James Gould, John Dagworthy, F. Bowes, James Trent, Jacob Baillergeau, Edward R. Price, William Cutler, Thomas Fosgate, James Thompson, Anthony Elton, Simon Nightingale, Thomas Shreen, Thomas Hunloke, George Willis."
THE PARISH DISPERSED, AND VERY COLD.
Mr. Horwood to the S. P. G. Extract. " Burlington April 28, 1727. "MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN
" May it please you to know that I
got to Salem in January where I found Mr Holbrooke fixt & resolved to stay, what to do in a strange country I knew not but returning to Philadelphia, consulted with M' Cummings who
* thought it advisable to go to Burlington where Mr Holbrook had been appointed. These movements I hope will not be displeasing to your Honors, since the only expedient thought left. If the Society in their great wisdom & goodness approve of the proceedings I shall always endeavour (by the grace assistance & blessing of God) so to demean myself, in my sacred function and the gracious mission as may in some measure deserve their future favours & countenance in the meantime wait your further orders & commands. M' Talbot is here. I found the church very much dispersed but shall spare no pains prayers or endeavours to reunite then. I found the Inhabi-
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IN BURLINGTON.
tants very cold having but very lately brought them to a small subscription, so that if the Honble Society shall in their good- ness think fit to continue the additional £10 per ann™ which you were pleased to order me when appointed for Salem, it would be very agreeable & most gratefully received or if your Honors shall think fit to remand me to Salem or otherwise it shall be most readily complied with. The Mis- sionary's Library would be a great assistance to the place. M" Talbot says he has none nor ever had only a Bible Common Prayer Book & a single Book of Homilies, so that the place is at present destitute of that advantage.
" Your most Obedt & devoted "NATH" HORWOOD."
DEATH OF THE REV. JOHN TALBOT.
The " American Weekly Mercury," for Nov. 23-30; 1727, published in Philadelphia, has the following : "Philadelphia, November 30th, 1727. Yesterday, died at Burlington, the Rev- erend Mr. John Talbot, formerly Minister of that Place, who was a Pious good man, and much lamented."
THE CHARACTER AND DEEDS OF JOHN TALBOT.
After his consecration, as we have seen, M' Talbot officiated, with Burlington as headquarters, for nearly two years before Dr Welton-the other nonjuring bishop-arrived in America. What Episcopal acts, if any, either of them may have performed, is not definitively known. Welton was of such a different spirit from Talbot, that they soon "avoided one another's com- pany." The Government became alarmed at the existence, in the colonies, of an Episcopate independent of both the Church and State of the realm. Welton was "served with his Majesty's Writ of Privy Seal, commanding him upon his allegiance to return to Great Britain forthwith." Talbot was " discharged " the service of the S. P. G., and ordered, through the Governor, to " surcease officiating." Both obeyed, but not with the same submission.
To one who reads thoughtfully the preceding pages, there can be no doubt, but that in receiving consecration in the way that
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
he did, M' Talbot was actuated by the purest desire to advance the real interests of the Church.
"In the history of the diocese of New Jersey," wrote the late Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, many years ago, " M" Talbot's character and deeds will find a conspicuous place ; it is enough for our present purpose to remark, that the Society never had, at least in our view, a more honest, fearless and laborious missionary."}
ST. MARY'S CHURCH MINUTELY DESCRIBED.
Mr. Horwood to the Secretary. Extract. "April 22nd 1728
" MOST HONOR'D SIR
-"The Church of St Mary's at Burlington, was built about the year 1703 by the privy contributions of the Parish and County adjoining with abundance of other pious, & goodly dispos'd Persons, among which the extraordinary zeal & liberality of Gov" Nicholson, will always most gratefully be acknowledged by Burlington ; as to the materials of the Church, it is a fair fabrick erected of Brick, the dimensions 40 foot in Length, in Breadth 22, very decently seated, with regular Pews, below, and a fair Gallery above at the West end, Endowment as yet none, no Salary to the Minister, except some small subscriptions, which being very low, are readily enough subscribed, but with difficulty, if ever collected, there is a House belonging to the Minister with a little orchard, & small, [illegible in MS.] belong- ing to it which M' Talbot, who is now dead, returned, & which I have not taken Possession of till further Orders from the Society.
" 2nd The number of Inhabitants Erst frequenting the place was very small, it being a Woody Country their Chief Employ & business, was each to get a Little Spot of Land & to clear
¡ In the new St. Mary's Church, on the North side of the sacrarium, in the double lancet window, on a band in the stained glass, is this inscription :
IN MEMORIAM Hujus Ecclesic Fundatoris,
Rev. Iohannis Talbot, A. M. A. D. MDCCIII ++
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IN BURLINGTON.
it & to build a Little Cote & so in process of time associating together hath built a pleasant and regular Town but the main body of Town and Country adjoining are Quakers ; there being now not above 40 families belonging to the Church in the Town & thereabout, but they are Industrious in their respective Trade and occupation, but Philadelphia lying so near has swallowed up their Trade and commerce very much ; but still their Coun- try wants for Inhabitants, to make it a glorious Country.
" There is no other church within 14 or 15 Miles for the Inhabitants to resort unto, in the Winter also very difficult to attend by reason of rivers.
" 3rd There are two meeting Houses (are seldom or never used) of Quakers of whom there are great numbers and have found great Encouragement from the Late Assemblies, there are few other Dissenters or Independants if any as to the Quakers Teach- ers their number is uncertain, there being more or less as they by their [illegible in MS.] think themselves inspired, they pretend (if to be Credited) no maintainance allowed for them.
" 4th There are two Schools, one settled by the pious and Honble Society kept by the Missionary M' Rowland Ellis, a person of application & Industry & highly qualified for the Employ but the number of the Church Children being few in comparison of the Quakers (who in course give him no encour- agement) having set up a school of their own, is not so numer- ous as it could be wish'd.
" 5th The Donations that have been made to the Church are a very handsome set of Plate for the Communion Table, by the late Queen Anne, of most pious memory & others, with decent furniture, by the said Queen for the Communion Table and Pulpit. The benefactions to the Minister and Schoolmaster is what Their Honors the pious and most Christian Society has been Graciously Pleas'd to settle, there is no Library (as I in- formed in my last to the Society, but since have found a Cata- logue in the Register Book of 197 Books signed a Catalogue of books, belonging to Burlington Library revis'd by Mr John Talbot Incumbent and Mich : Piper (formerly Schoolmaster) the 25th of March 1719. Now these said Books I have made a demand it is not in Mr Talbots own hand nor signed by him,
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but in M' Piper's, so that the Widow of M" Talbot denies any such matter ; and therefore I know not what to do but shall wait the Directions of the Society in a matter of such Consequence.
" 6th There are no large Plantations here about, so that the Substance of the Inhabitants does consist in Negro Slaves but in trade, they keeping only White Servants generally, and they few that keep Negroes not above one to a Family who are per- suaded, Since my abode here to send them to Church on Sab- bath days and attend Instructions in order to their being baptized which that they may all in time come in and embrace Christianity shall be the Prayers and most constant endeavours of Your most Devoted Servant and Missionary
" NATH" HORWOOD."
Since the preceding pages left the press, the MS. book, mentioned in the Preface, as having been seen many years ago, has come to light ; from which we give the following :
Sola Deo Gloria:
BURLINGTON CHURCH BOOKE
Anno Dom :
1702-1703-
NATHANIELL WESTLAND
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