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 2
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
cessors forever who shall hereafter from time to time successively be nominated & chosen by the major part of the Persons their Heirs and Successors Convened & successively to be convened in the sd granted premises upon the decease or removall of the said John Tatham, Edward Hunloke Nathaniel Westland or any of them as succeeding ffeoffees in Trust on the behalfe of the rest convened &c to be convened for the sd burying place which is to be ffree for all Christian People who shall be minded therein to bury their dead."
RESTRICTIONS OF UNLICENSED PERSONS.
April 20th 1696, at a Town meeting, "it was put to ye vote whether any person not having a Lycence shall expose & sell any strong Liquors by the pot at fair Times and it past in the negative." " It was likewise put to the vote, whether any Mer- chant or other unlicenced person shall sell any quantity of Rum or Brandy less than a pint and it past in the Negative; And it was Ordered That if any Mercht or other unlycenced person shall sell a less quantity than a Pint of the said Liquors that then such person so offending shall forfeit Ten shillings for every such Lesser quantity so sold the one half to the Burgesse and the other half to the informer : It was also Ordered by the sd meeting that no person shall ride a Gallop during the fair time betwixt the market house and the water side." Town Minutes.
ACT AGAINST WANDERING NEGROES.
" At a meeting of the Burgess and Inhabitants of the Town of Burlington, Aug 15th 1698, it was enacted, "That all and every Negroe that after the Publication hereof, shall be found wandr- ing about within the Limits of the sayd Town on first days during the Time of Religious meetings and not attending upon any such meeting or abiding at their respective homes or quar- ters, Shall be put in the stocks, and there continue till the said meetings are over, And that all & every Negro or Negroes that on First Day Nights after sun set shall be found wandring abroad or Absenting themselves from their Respective homes or Quar- ters, shall be put in ye stocks there to continue all that Night and on the next day be whipt at their Masters Charge." Town Minutes.
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IN BURLINGTON.
DESCRIPTION OF BURLINGTON.
Gabriel Thomas, in his quaint little HISTORY, printed in 1698, thus writes :- " Burlington is now the chiefest Town in that . Countrey, by reason that the late Governor Cox, who bought that Countrey of Edward Billing, encouraged and promoted that Town chiefly, in settling his Agents and Deputy-Governors there, which brings their Assemblies and chief Courts to be kept there; and, by that means it is become a very famous Town, having a delicate great Market-House, where they keep their Market : It hath a noble and spacious Hall over head, where their Sessions is kept, having the Prison adjoyning to it. There are many Fair and Great Brick Houses on the outside of the Town which the Gentry have built there for their Countrey Houses, besides the Great and Stately Palace of John Tateham Esq ; which is pleasantly situated on the North side of the Town, having a very fine and delightful Garden and Orchard adjoyning to it, wherein is variety of Fruits, Herbs, and Flowers ; as Roses, Tulips, July-Flowers, Sun Flowers, Carnations, and many more. There are kept also in this Famous Town several Fairs every Year ; and as for Provisions, viz. Bread, Beer, Beef, Pork, Cheese, Butter and most sorts of Fruit, here is great Plenty and very Cheap. There are also two handsom Bridges to come in and out of the Town called London and York-Bridges. The Town stands in an Island, the Tide flowing quite round about it."
THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL.
" The increase of religion in the colonies, and the moral culture of the inhabitants, had been the subjects of many private schemes and individual exertions which resulted in little benefit ; and it was found necessary, to make the endeavors effectual, to obtain a charter for a society calculated especially to subserve the purposes in view. In consequence of a representation made by Dr. Thomas Tenison (then Archbishop of Canterbury) to King William III, a charter was obtained, bearing date June 16th, 1701, incorporating several persons distinguished for their stations and virtues, by the title of "The Society for Propaga- ting the Gospel in Foreign Parts." The proper officers of the Society were chosen on the 27th of June, and measures were im-
B
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
mediately adopted for the obtainment of funds and perfecting the other necessary arrangements." Whitehead's Early History of . Perth Amboy.
MEMORIAL FROM REV. MR. KEITH.
Shortly after the foundation of the S. P. G., George Keith, who had returned to England in 1694, and received Orders in the Church of England, from the Bishop of London, in 1700, prepared a " Memorial," from which we quote :
" To the Secretary of the Venerable Society.
" Worthy Sir :- According to your desire I send you this short Memorial of the State of Religion in such parts of North America where I have travelled, and which I can give of my own knowledge, especially in relation to Quakerism, and some other things by letters from my friends there. In Pennsyl- vania, when I came to live there, which was in the year 1689, by the number of men and women that used to come to the yearly meetings from the several parts of that province, and from the West and East Jerseys, we did commonly reckon there might be at least fifteen hundred Quakers, two hundred of which might perhaps belong to the West and East Jerseys. After the breach that began in the year 1691, betwixt a party of Quakers that joined with me in opposing some of their errors, (especially their notion of the sufficiency of the light within every man to salvation without anything else) & another Party that joyned with Thomas Lloyd then Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania & a great Preacher among the Quakers, all the Meetings in those Provinces above mentioned were broken, and they set up Separate Meetings one from another, on the account of different Principles of Religion (especially in relation to the notion aforesaid
* which I & my Friends judged a plain opposition to Chris- tianity & an Establishing of Deism in its place) so that when I came from Pennsylvania to England which was in the year 1694, I left behind me fourteen or fifteen Meetings in Pennsyl- vania, West & East Jerseys that met apart from the Quakers
to the number of above Five hundred persons. " Since there hath been a Church of England Congregation set up at Philadelphia [1695] the Chief Town in Pennsylvania a
THE REV. GEORGE KEITH.
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IN BURLINGTON.
considerable number of those that did come off with me on the account of the Quakers Errors are joyned with the Church of England both Men & Women of good account, & others of them keep up their Separate Meetings particularly one at Philadel- phia & some of them have joyned themselves with the Anabap- tists in those Parts, as I have had particular Information by letters from my friends there, year after year. It would be of great service, as I judge, if one or two more Church of England Ministers were sent to Pennsylvania ; it is not to be doubted, but they would not only get hearers, but such as would join with them to make up Congregations.
" In West Jersey that lyes on the east side of Delaware River, I have several friends that joyned with me in the Separation from the Quakers, especially about Croswicks, which is about Fifteen or Sixteen miles from Burlington, (the chief Town in West Jersey lying by Delaware River ;) if a Church of England Minister were sent thither it is not to be doubted but he would be received and joyned with, both by some of my friends and some other sober persons. The most proper place to set up a Church would be at Burlington, and another at Croswicks abovementioned.
" There is not one Church of England as yet in either West or East Jersey, the more is the pity ; and except in Two or Three Towns there is no face of any public worship of any sort, but People live very mean like Indians. In New York there are but few Quakers, & some that were, are come off & joyned with the Church there. One Mrs. - -, a friend of mine, is lately deceased, but before her death was baptized & had the Lord's Supper administered to her, & got her Children baptized, whereof I had a late Account in a letter from one of my friends there, now a zealous Churchman. There is no Church of England in all Long Island, nor in all that great Continent of New York Province, except at New York Town."
ANNA REGINA.
On the 8th of March, 1701, King William died, and was succeeded by Queen Anne ; " who," says Hume, " ascended
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
the throne, to the general satisfaction of all parties." "Even" the Jacobites," he adds, " seemed pleased with her elevation. She had been taught to cherish warm sentiments of the tories, whom she considered as the friends of monarchy, and the true sons of the Church. X She was zealously devoted to the Church of England."
SURRENDER OF THE GOVERNMENT TO QUEEN ANNE.
" On the 17th of April, 1702," says Smith's History, " the several proprietors of East and West New-Jersey, in America, did in person, present a deed of surrender by them executed under their hands and seals, to her Majesty in council, and did acknowledge the same to be their act and deed ; and humbly desire her Majesty to accept the same, that it might be enrolled in the court of chancery, whereby they did surrender their power of the government of those plantations: Which her Majesty graciously accepted, and was pleased to order, as it is hereby ordered, that the same be enrolled in her Majesty's said high court of chancery; and the said instruments are to be delivered to Mr. Attorney General, who is to take care that the same be enrolled accordingly."
THE FIRST MISSIONARY OF THE S. P. G.
The familiarity of Mr. Keith-as exhibited in his "Memo- rial"-with the state of Religion in this country, led the Society for Propagating the Gospel to appoint him as their first missionary. His " JOURNAL OF TRAVELS from New-Hampshire to Caratuck on the Continent of North-America," printed in London, " by Joseph Downing, for Brab. Aylmer at the Three- Pigeons, over-against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill, 1706," begins thus :
" The Twenty eighth Day of April 1702, I sailed from Cowes in the Isle of Wight, in one of the Queens Ships, called the Centu- rion, whereof Captain Herne was Commander, who was very Civil to me, bound for Boston in New-England; and by the good Provi- dence of God we arriv'd at Boston the Eleventh day of June, our whole time of Passage being Six Weeks and one Day. Colonel Dudley Governour of New-England, and Colonel Povie Deputy
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IN BURLINGTON.
Governour, and Mr. Morris, with all whom we sailed in the same ship, were so generous and kind both to Mr. Patrick Gor- don Missionary for Long-Island, and to me, that at their desire we did Eat at their Table all the Voyage on free cost.
" At my Arrival the Reverend Mr. Samuel Miles, and the Reverend Mr. Christopher Bridge, both Ministers of the Church of England Congregation at Boston, did kindly receive me and the two ministers in company with me, and we lodg'd, and were kindly entertained in their Houses, during our abode at Boston. " June 14, 1702, being Sunday, at the request of the above- named Ministers of the Church of England, I Preached in the Queens Chappel at Boston, on Eph. 2. 20, 21, 22, where was a large Auditory, not only of Church People, but of many others. " June 28, Sunday. The Reverend Mr. John Talbot, who had been Chaplain in the Centurion, Preached there.
" By the advice of my good Friends at Boston, and especially of Colonel Joseph Dudley, Governour of Boston Colony, I chose the abovenamed Mr. John Talbot to be my Assistant and Asso- ciate in my Missionary Travels and Services, he having freely and kindly offered himself, and whom I freely and kindly received, and with the first occasion I wrote to the Society, praying them, to allow of him to be my Fellow-Companion and Associate in Travels, &c., which they accordingly did, t and indeed Divine Providence did well order it, for he proved a very loving and faithful Associate to me, and was very helpful to me in all respect, and was well approved and esteemed every where, both with respect to his Preaching and Living, in the several places where we Travelled."
ENLARGING THE CHRISTIAN BURIAL-GROUND.
On the 16th of September, 1702, Thomas Revell, "Executor in Trust of Elizabeth Tatham late of Burlington Widdow deceased" for " Three pounds Currant Silver money " conveyed to " Nathaniel Westland Robert Wheeler & Hugh Huddy as ffeoffees in Trust " a "Lott" of land " Containing fforty foot in
+ The appointment of Mr. Talbot as a Missionary of the Society, bears date September 18th, 1702.
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front and bounded on the North side by a Lott late purchased from Robert Wheeler for a burying ground on the South side by the Land of John Hollinshead on the West by the Land of the late William Myers deceased, & on the East by a publick street called Wood street, for the Enlargeing the aforesaid bury- ing ground." "Several Persons (Inhabitants in & about Bur- lington) together with Nathaniel Westland, Robert Wheeler & Hugh Huddy disbursed certaine Sumes of money for the pur- chasing of the same Land & for the ffencing & Repairing of the whole for a Burying ground," " for all Christian People who shall be desirous to bury their dead therein." Original Deed.
THE MISSIONARIES ARRIVE IN BURLINGTON. " October 29, 1702. We arrived at Burlington in West-Jersey . " November 1, Sunday. We preached in the Town-House at Burlington, (the Church not being then built,) and we had a great Auditory of diverse sorts, some of the Church, and some of the late Converts from Quakerism. Mr. Talbot preached before Noon, and I in the Afternoon. My Text was, John 17. 3 .- [And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.] Col. Hamilton, then Governour of West-Jersey, was present both Forenoon and Afternoon, and at his Invitation we dined with him.
" November 3. At Burlington I detected the Quakers Errors out of their great Authors, George Fox his great Mystery, and Edward Burroughs Folio Book, and others, having given the Quakers Preachers Notice two Days before, to come and defend their Principles and Authors ; but none of them would appear in the Cause." Keith's Journal.
A MEETING OF THE CLERGY, IN NEW YORK.
" November 8, Sunday [1702.] I preached in the Church of Philadelphia, at the Minister's Request, on 2 Pet. 3. 15, 16, in the Afternoon. Mr. Talbot preached there in the Forenoon. And again I preached another Sermon, on the same, that Even- ing, after six a Clock, (it being usual once a Month to preach an Evening-Sermon in that Town.) We had a very great
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IN BURLINGTON.
Auditory, so that the Church could not contain them, but many stayed without and heard.
" That Week a Meeting of the Clergy being appointed to meet together at New-York by general Consent, we accordingly did meet, being Seven in number; at our Meeting we drew up an Account of the State of the Church in these American Parts of Pensilvania, West and East-Jersey and New-York Province ; } a Copy whereof we sent to the Honourable Society at London, for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Keith's Journal.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM QUEEN ANNE.
"Instructions for our right trusty and well beloved Edward lord Cornbury, our captain general and governor in chief, in and over our province of Nova-Cæsaria, or New Jersey, in America. Given at our court at St. James's, the sixteenth day of November, 1702, in the first year of our reign.
"1. With these our instructions you will receive our commis- sion under our great seal of England, constituting you our cap- tain general and governor in chief of our province of New Jersey.
"2. You are with all convenient speed to repair to our said province, and being there arrived, you are to take upon you the execution of the place and trust we have reposed in you, and forthwith to call together the following persons, whom we do by these presents appoint and constitute members of our council in and for that province, viz. Edward Hunloke, Lewis Morris, Andrew Bowne, Samuel Jenings, Thomas Revell, Francis Davenport, William Pinhorne, Samuel Leonard, George Dea- con, Samuel Walker, Daniel Leeds, William Sanford, and Robert Quarry, esquires.
"3. And you are with all due solemnity, to cause our said commission under our great seal of England, constituting you our captain general and governor in chief as aforesaid, to be read and published at the said meeting of our council, and to cause proclamation to be made in the several most publick places of our said province, of your being constituted by us our captain general and governor in chief as aforesaid.
¡ This was signed by GEORGE KEITH, EVAN EVANS, Cler. Minister of Philadelphia, ALEXANDER INNES, Presbyter, EDMOND MOTT, Chaplain of Her Majesty's Forces in New York, JOHN TALBOT, WILLIAM VESEY, Rector of New York, JOHN BARTOW.
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"4. Which being done, you shall yourself take, and also administer to each of the members of our said council so appointed by us, the oaths appointed by act of parliament to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and the oath mentioned in an act, entitled, An act to declare the altera- tion in the oath appointed to be taken by the act, entitled, An act for the further security of his majesty's person, and the succession of the crown in the protestant line, and for extinguishing the hopes of the pretended prince of Wales, and all other pretenders, and their open and secret abettors, and for declaring the association to be determined; as also the test mentioned in an act of parliament made in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of king Charles the second, entitled, An act for preventing dangers which may happen from popish recusants ; together with an oath for the due execu- tion of your and their places and trusts, as well with regard to the equal and impartial administration of justice in all causes that shall come before you, as otherwise, and likewise the oath required to be taken by governors of plantations, to do their utmost, that the laws relating to the plantations be observed.
* *
6. "And whereas the inhabitants of our said province have of late years been unhappily divided, and by their enmity to each other, our service and their own welfare has been very much obstructed; you are therefore in the execution of our commis- sion, to avoid the engaging yourself in the parties which have been form'd amongst them, and to use such impartiality and moderation to all, as may best conduce to our service, and the good of the colony.
x-
"51. You are to permit a liberty of conscience to all persons (except papists) so they may be contented with a quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the same, not giving offence or scandal to the government.
"52. And whereas we have been informed, that divers of our good subjects inhabiting those parts, do make a religious scruple of swearing, and by reason of their refusing to take an oath in courts of justice and other places, are or may be liable to many inconveniences ; our will and pleasure is, that in order to their ease in what they conceive to be matter of conscience, so far as may be consistent with good order and government, you take. care, that an act be passed in the general assembly of our said province, to the like effect as that passed here in the seventh and eighth years of his majesty's reign, entitled, An act, that the solemn affirmation and declaration of the people called Quakers,
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IN BURLINGTON.
shall be accepted, instead of an oath in the usual form, and that the same be transmitted to us, and to our commissioners for trade and plantations as before directed. * *
"69. You shall take especial care, that God Almighty be devoutly and duly served throughout your government, the book of common prayer as by law established, read each sunday, and holyday, and the blessed sacrament administered according to the rites of the church of England.
"70. You shall be careful that the Churches already built there, be well and orderly kept, and that more be built, as the colony shall by God's blessing be improved ; and that besides a competent maintenance to be assigned to the minister of each orthodox church, a convenient house be built at the common charge for each minister, and a competent proportion of land assigned to him, for a glebe and exercise of his industry.
" 71. And you are to take care, that the parishes be so limitted and settled, as you shall find most convenient for the accomplish- ing this good work.
"72. You are not to prefer any minister to any ecclesiastical benefice in that our province, without a certificate from the right reverend father in God the lord bishop of London, of his being conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the church of England, and of a good life and conversation : And if any person already prefer'd to a benefice, shall appear to you to give scandal either by his doctrine or manners, you are to use the best means for the removal of him, and to supply the vacancy in such manner as we have directed.
"73. You are to give order, that every orthodox minister within your government, be one of the vestry in his respective parish, and that no vestry be held without him, except in case of sickness, or that after the notice of a vestry summon'd, he omit to come.
"74. You are to enquire whether there be any minister within your government, who preaches and administers the sacrament in any orthodox church or chapel, without being in due orders, and to give account thereof to the said lord bishop of London.
"75. And to the end the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the said lord bishop of London, may take place in our said province so far as conveniently may be, we do think fit that you give all countenance and encouragement to the exercise of the same, excepting only the collating to benefices, granting licences for marriages, and probate of wills, which we have reserved to you our governor and the commander in chief of our said province for the time being.
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"76. And you are to take especial care, that a table of mar- riages established by the cannons of the church of England, be hung up in every orthodox church, and duly observed, and you are to endeavor to get a law passed in the assembly of our said province, (if not already done) for the strict observation of the said table.
"77. You are to take care, that drunkenness and debauchery, swearing and blasphemy, be discountenanced and punished : And for the further discountenance of vice, and encouragement of virtue and good living, (that by such example the infidels may be invited and desire to partake of the christian religion) you are not to admit any person to publick trusts and employ- ments in our said province under your government, whose ill fame and conversation may occasion scandal.
" 89. You shall endeavor to get a law passed for the restrain- ing of any inhuman severity, which by ill masters or overseers, may be used towards their christian servants, and their slaves, and that provision be made therein, that the wilful killing of Indians and Negroes may be punished with death, and that a fit penalty be imposed for the maiming of them.
" 90. You are also with the assistance of the council and assembly, to find out the best means to facilitate and encourage the conversion of Negroes and Indians, to the christian religion. * * *
"99. Forasmuch as great inconveniencies may arise by the liberty of printing in our said province, you are to provide by all necessary orders, that no person keep any press for printing, nor that any book, pamphlet or other matters whatsoever be printed without your especial leave and license first obtained." -Smith's History, pp. 230-259.
GREAT NEED OF A BISHOP.
Mr. John Talbot to Mr. Richard Gillingham. "New York, 24 November, 1702. "MY DEAR FRIEND:
"I take all opportunities to let you know that I live, and shall be glad to hear as much of you. Friend Keith and I have been above 500 miles together visiting the churches in these parts of America, viz., New England, New Hampshire, N. Bristol, N. London, N. York, and the Jerseys as far as Phila- delphia. We preached in all churches where we came, and in several Dissenters' meetings such as owned the Church of
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IN BURLINGTON.
England to be their mother church, and were willing to com- municate with her and to submit to her Bishops if they had opportunity ; I have baptized severall persons, whom Mr. Keith has brought over from Quakerism, and indeed in all places where we come, we find a great ripeness and inclination amongst all sorts of people to embrace the Gospel. Even the Indians themselves have promised obedience to the Faith, as appears by a conference that my Lord Cornbury the Governor here has had with them at Albany : five of their sachems or kings told him they were glad to hear that the sun shined in England again since King William's Death ; they did admire at first what was come to us, that we should have a squaw sachem, viz .: a woman-king, but they hoped she would be a good mother and send them some to teach them religion, and establish Traffick among them that they might be able to purchase a coat, and not go to church in Bear Skins, and so they send our Queen a present, ten Bear Skins to make her fine, and one for a muff to keep her warm; after many Presents and Compliments they signed the treaty and made the Covenant so sure that they said Thunder and Lightning should not break it on their part, if we did not do as the Lord Bellamont did, throw it into the sea. The papists have been zealous and diligent to send priests and Jesuits to convert these Indians to their superstitions ; 'tis wonderfully acted, ventured and suffered upon that design ; they have indeed become all things, and even turned Indians as it were to gain them, which I hope will provoke some of us to do our part for our holy faith and mother the Church of Eng- land. One of their Priests lived half a year in their wigwams (i. e. houses) without a shirt, and when he petitioned my Lord Bellamont for a couple, he was not only denyed but banished ; whereas one of ours, in Discourse with my Lord of London, said, ' who did his Lordship think would come hither that had a dozen shirts.' If I had their language or wherewith to main- tain an Interpreter, it should be the first thing I should do, to go amongst the thickest of 'em. Mr. Keith says if he were younger he would learn their language and then I'm sure he might convert them sooner than the Heathen called Quakers. Indeed he is the fittest man that ever came over for this province,
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