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 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
" I am Revª Dear Sir, Yours &c
" COLIN CAMPBELL.""
281
IN BURLINGTON.
A LETTER WHICH MAKES THE EARS TINGLE. Clergy of New Jersey in Convention to the Secretary. Extract. " Perth Amboy Oct" 3ª 1765.
" REVEREND SIR,
" It was very soon after the Incorporation of that Venble Body, that earnest Addresses were made from divers parts of America requesting a Bishop. Applications to the same pur- pose from Governors of Provinces, from the Clergy & from Vestries, were frequently repeated for a course of years, setting forth the great disadvantages the Church was under, since neither Ordination Confirmation nor a regular discipline could be had while it labored under so essential a defect, as to be with- out one. The Society fully convinced of the reasonableness of the request, and judging an American Episcopate, even so early, to be highly expedient, thought fit to engage very heartily in the Cause ; & Representations in favour of it were made to the Queen. A standing Committee was appointed to find out ways and means for the support of it-And a place was purchased in this Province at a great Expence for the Bishops Residence : but when the matter was in a fair way of being speedily accomplish'd the death of that excellent Princess alone prevented it.
" Altho' the most favorable opportunity was now lost, yet the Affair was not dropt with her death. For in the beginning of the next Reign we still find it to have been a principal object of the Societys attention-in conformity to a Resolution solemnly deliberated & agreed upon Vizt ' That the important Affair of Bishops and Bishopricks to be settled in America, be considered in the first place.'
" But what steps were afterwards taken and for what reasons so useful a plan, recommended and patronized by so respectable and venerable a Body with the most disinterested and charitable intentions was rejected we know not; nor have we at present the means of informing ourselves. All that we know with any certainty is that notwithstanding the discouragements they met with, they continued still to have the cause at heart ; and when nothing else could be done, a considble Fund was raised by sev- eral of its most illustrious Members for the support of a Bishop
-
282
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
-whenever so great a Blessing should be obtained for the Church in America.
" We fully believe the present worthy Members of the Society have the same sentiments on this subject, with their predecessors ; and indeed they have not been backward, on all proper occa- sions, to declare them to the World. We are also so happy at this time as to have a Prince on the Throne, whose favourable disposition cannot be doubted-And as by the increase of the Church through the natural growth of the Country, and more especially through the unwearied application, the inexhaustible Charity & amazing success of the Society, the reasons which at the beginning of this Century rendered American Bishops ex- pedient amount now in our opinion to an absolute necessity ; we therefore whose Names are under written, having long waited in hopes of seeing the Church put on a more respectable footing & never expecting a more favorable time for an application of this nature, have, upon careful consideration, thought it our duty, after the example of some of our Brethren, to Address the Throne -humbly imploring His Majesty's Gracious protection of the Church in these remote parts of his Dominions, and that one or more Bishops may be speedily sent us.
" The favor of presenting our Address we have requested of the great patron of the Church in America that most excellent Prelate, who so deservedly fills the first Post in the Church of England, and is at the head of the Society-The Mediation of the Most Reverend the Archbishop of York, and of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London we have thought it our duty particularly to request-And we beg leave also with all deference and submission to apply to our never failing & avowed Patrons, the worthy Members of the Society in general humbly imploring their influence, either jointly or separately, in such a manner as they shall think proper, that our Petition may be granted-without which we have reason to fear, that the great things they have done for the Church in America, at so pro- digious an Expence will in the end be ineffectual. We could enlarge both upon the necessities for, & the advantages of an American Episcopate; but as we are addressing those who have thoroughly considered the subject, it is sufficient to say, in the
1
283
IN BURLINGTON.
words of the Society to her late Majesty Queen Anne, that it would greatly 'tend to the Glory of God by the advancement of sound Religion, the Honor of His Majesty, the prosperity of his Subjects and the flourishing state of the Church in these parts.'
" But in our present situation our case in this respect is pecu- liarly unhappy. Altho' the Professors & Friends of the Church in these Colonies amount to near a Million, and are diffused over a Country far more extensive than any Kingdom in Europe, yet we still continue to be an Episcopal Church without Bishops, and to have Canons without Discipline. The Apostolical & most useful institution of Confirmation, we have no possible ways of obtaining. And yet such is the indulgence of the Government to every other Religious denomination, that there is not a Sect within any part of His Majesty's Dominions, but has the full enjoyment of all its Institutions and Rights. Even the Moravi- ans in the Neighbourhood of this Province whose principles both as Subjects & Christians have but a very doubtful appearance are allowed upon their barely asking it, the very privilege which the Members of the National Church, for more than half a Cen- tury have been trying to obtain-but with what success our Enemies can tell with pleasure. And yet that our conduct has been such as to deserve the frowns of the Government we are not conscious. On the other hand we firmly believe that its best security in the Colonies does and must always arise from the principles of Submission and Loyalty taught by the Church. The Clergy in general are constantly instilling these great principles into the people, and yet their most reasonable request, so frequently repeated has been unsuccessful ; while those who are equally zealous in propagating the principles of Independ- ency both in Church & State, have every possible indulgence ! When these things come to be considered by His Majesty and his Ministers, we flatter ourselves, that the trifling or malicious objections of our Adversaries will not be regarded.
" The plan that has been long settled and agreed upon, we understand is that the Bishops to be sent us are to be invested only with those powers which are inseperable from their Office with Jurisdiction over none but the professors of the Church. They are to hold no Courts for the Trial of Testamentary or
284
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Matrimonial Cases, they are not to interfere either with our Provincial Governors or Subordinate Magistrates-nor to in- fringe or diminish any privileges & liberties enjoyed by any of the Layety, even of our own Communion. This plan is so uni- versally harmless and unexceptionable, that we think every tolerable objection is effectually excluded. If any were to be injured, they would have reason to complain ; but since none can be harmed, and so many thousands will be greatly benefited, and probably the Salvation of many Souls is dependant upon it, in what light must the objections appear ?
" Indeed it has been given out with great assurance that send- ing Bishops to America would disoblige by far the greatest part of the Inhabitants (no less than 19 in 20 is the proportion that has been mentioned) and consequently would be ill policy in the Government-But we who are upon the spot can see with , our Eyes and hear with our Ears, and think ourselves capable of judging of the Fact ; and we beg leave to assure the Society that the assertion is utterly false and groundless. None would be disobliged at all but the Presbyterians and Independents, to. whom we may join the Enemies of Revelation in general; and in our Opinion they all united do not exceed a third part of the whole. The Lutherans amounting to many thousands, would not be disobliged-nor the Quakers who are more numerous : and who fear not any influence or authority the Church may obtain, but actually dread the increasing power of the Presby- terians in this Country-so that it appears to us here that the badness of the Policy of granting our request, can be supported only on this principle ; that it is more prudent to gratify one Enemy of the Church in a perverse & unreasonable humour, than two Friends of it in ye most equitable proposals.
" If the Dissenters and their Adherents at home must not be offended by assisting and supporting the Church in America ; our case is, and we fear that of the Church of England soon will be truely deplorable. If the Enemies of our Ecclesiastical Con- stitution have already become so formidable by the Indulgences & Concessions that have been granted them & if those Indul- gences & Concessions must still be continued : we can form some judgment of their future power, from their past improvement.
285
IN BURLINGTON.
And we are sadly apprehensive that the time is not far distant when they will be able ; not only to prevent our having Bishops in America, but once more to exterminate Episcopacy through- out the Kingdom & subvert the Church ; in which case the State must again shift for itself as well as it can.
" We are Reverend Sir &c
" MYLES COOPER President of ye Convention.
" RICHARD CHARLTON SAMUEL SEABURY
" ISAAC BROWNE
ROBT MCKEAN
" COLIN CAMPBELL
ANDW MORTON
" SAMUEL AUCHMUTY
LEO CUTTING
" SAM COOKE JOHN OGILVIE
" THOS B CHANDLER."
A SECOND, AND THIRD, LINE OF STAGES.
"In 1765, a second line of stages was 'set up' at Philadel- phia, for New York, to start twice a week, and go through in three days at two pence per mile. The vehicle used was a covered Jersey wagon without springs ;- but the lapse of nine years seems not to have worked any increase of speed. The following year a third line of 'good stage wagons, and the seats set on springs,' was established to go through in two days in summer and three in winter, at three pence per mile, or twenty shillings for the whole route. These lines, it is thought ran to the Blazing Star Ferry, on the sound below Elizabethtown. The wagons used were modestly called 'Flying Machines '-and the title soon became a favorite." Whitehead's Perth Amboy.
PASSED IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF GEORGE III.
" An Act to enable the Reverend Mr. Colin Campbell, the present Rector of Saint Mary's Church in Burlington, with the Church-Wardens and Vestry-Men of said Church, or the major Part of them, to sell Two Hundred and Six Acres of Land in Somerset County, devised to the Ministry of said Church ; and to enable Trustees to put the same to Interest, until a convenient Glebe can be purchased near the said Church ; and other Purposes therein mentioned.
"Sect. 1. Whereas, Thomas Leciter, late of Piscataway, in the Eastern Division of this Province of New Jersey, did, in and
286
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
by his last Will and Testament, give and bequeath unto the Church of Saint Ann, in Burlington, now Saint Mary's, for the Use of the Ministry of said Church, Two Hundred and Six Acres of Land, lying and being upon Stony-Brook, in the said Eastern Division of this Colony. And Whereas, the Reverend Colin Campbell, the present Minister of said Saint Ann's, now Saint Mary's Church, hath presented a Petition to the Governor, Council and General Assembly of this Province, setting forth, that great Inconveniences have and do daily arise to the Minis- ter and Church, from the distant Situation of said Lands from the said Church, and that Waste may be committed, and the Estate lessened in Value, and the good Intentions of the Donor, for the Maintainance of the Minister of said Church, be in a great Measure frustrated ; and therefore praying Leave to bring in a Bill, to impower the Minister, Church-Wardens and Vestry- Men of said Church, or the major Part of them, to sell and dispose of the said Lands in Fee Simple, and to purchase for the Purposes in the said Will, other Lands nearer and more convenient to the said Church, and until the Produce of the said Two Hundred and Six Acres can be so laid out, that the same shall be put to Interest, and the Interest thereof applied yearly to the Use of the Minister: And it seeming reasonable and highly convenient, that the said Lands, for the Reasons above set forth should be sold, and the Monies therefrom arising, should be applied in purchasing other Lands more convenient and better situate for the Uses in the said Will mentioned;
"2. Be it Enacted by the Governor, Council and General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful, and the said Colin Campbell, together with the Church-Wardens and Vestry of said Church, or the major Part of them, (of whom the said Colin Campbell, or the Minister of said Church for the Time being, always to be one) are hereby authorized and impowered, to sell and convey the said Two Hundred and Six Acres, situate, lying and being at Stony-Brook, in the County of Somerset afore- said,
"3. And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Monies arising from the Sale of the said Lands, shall, by the Purchaser or Purchasers thereof, be paid into the Hands of the said Colin Campbell, John Lawrence, Esq ; and Edward Ton- kin, or any two of them, who are hereby impowered to receive the same; and upon Receipt thereof, the same to pay and lay out in the Purchase of such Lands adjacent to the said Church, as will best answer the intentions of the said Thomas Leciter, and shall be approved of by the said Minister, Church-Wardens.
-
287.
IN BURLINGTON.
and Vestry of said Church for the Time being, or the major Part of them, of whom the Minister for the Time being always- to be One ; and the Deed or Deeds, Conveyance or Convey- ances, for the same Lands so purchased, shall be given and executed to the said Minister, Church-Wardens and Vestry-men of said Church forever, for the Use and Support of the Minister of said Church for the Time being, agreeable to the Bequest of the said Thomas Leciter, and to and for no other Use or Pur- pose whatsoever ; and until such convenient Lands can be pur- chased, it shall and may be lawful for the said Colin Campbell, and the said John Lawrence and Edward Tonkin, to put the said Monies out to Interest, upon good real and personal Secu- rity, and the Interest yearly and every Year to receive, and the same to pay to the said Colin Campbell, or to the Minister of said Church for the Time being, whose Receipt or Receipts- shall be a sufficient Discharge or Discharges to them, or either of them, for the Interest so paid." *
THE NEW STAMP ACT CAUSES MUCH ALARM. Mr. Campbell to the Secretary. Extracts. " Burlington, Decr 26th 1765. " REVP DEAR SIR:
* " We have been much alarmed since the first of. last Month that the New Stamp Act was to take place here by virtue of an Act of the British Parliament. -X-
In this Province however they that have shown their dislike to the Act taking place; have hitherto forbore these public violences that others have been guilty of. But business of all kinds seems to be stagnated & a general cry for want of Money and decay of Trade : and yet Provisions of all kinds are kept up so. high at Market that it is with the utmost difficulty we of the Mission can support our Families with the utmost Economy : as I have little or nothing by way of support from my Congrega- tions ; and a large Family of 6. Young Children to maintain cloath & educate, & Exchange has fell lately so much that I have lost 40 | Sterling on the Sale of my present half years Bill which I have now drawn upon the Society's Treasurer for. payment.
" I have lately obtained an Act of our Assembly in this Pro -- vince for the benefit of my Successor for. the Sale of a. Traot of."
288
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Land devised to my Church of Burlington in the year 1709 by way of Glebe cont" 200d and six Acres but being at the distance of thirty or forty Miles therefrom renders it of little value to the Mission here, but being sold & the Money arising from the Sale appropriated to the purchasing of Lands near this place; may be of much service to my Successor, tho' this is not a proper time to sell, yet being in power to sell may wait for a more proper opportunity.
" I am Revd Dear Sir &c
"COLIN CAMPBELL."
A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
" Burlington April 28th 1766.
" These do certify and declare to all whom it may concern, that Adam Sheppard,t and Margaret Burrs Widdow, both of this City, were this day lawfully married-according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England as by law estab- lished, by virtue of a Lycence, of this date from his Excellency Wm. Franklin Esqr, our present Governor, in such case, directed to me; I say married by me, date and place as above.
"COLIN CAMPBELL Clerk and "Missionary-" -Original MS.
ON FIRE ABOUT THE STAMP ACT.
The Archbishop of Canterbury to Rev. Dr. W. Smith of Pennsyl- vania-Aug. 2, 1766. Extract.
" The beginning of last year we thought an ecclesiastical set- tlement of Quebec was almost made, on which a Bishop might easily be grafted. But that was opposed by one great man as too favourable, by another as not favourable enough, to the Papists. Then the Ministry changed : we were to begin again ; and could get nothing but fair words, though the King inter- posed for us. Now it is changed once more, and whether we shall fare better or worse for it, I cannot guess. I have begged the Bishop of London to take out a Commission. He is back- ward ; but I hope at length to prevail, and then we may set up our Corresponding Societies. There were no improper expres-
¡ The coachman of Governor Franklin.
289
IN BURLINGTON.
sions in the Address of the Connecticut or of the New York and New Jersey clergy ; but they came when both you and we were on fire about the Stamp Act; and so were not presented. But the King was apprised of the contents of them, and desired they might be postponed."
DEATH AND BURIAL OF THE REV. MR. CAMPBELL.
In the Providence Gazette of August 23d, 1766, we have the following :
" Aug. 14. On Saturday last, (Aug. 9) died after a short Ill- ness, the Rev. Mr. COLIN CAMPBELL, many years Missionary at Burlington in New Jersey ; and on Sunday last he was in- terred in Burlington Church, t his Remains being attended to the Grave by a great Number of People of different Persuasions, assembled from various Parts of the Country, to testify their Regard to his Memory. A suitable Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. SMITH, of Philadelphia ; who having introduced a short and just Character of the Deceased, in the following Para- graph, a Copy of it was requested to be here inserted, viz .:
" Methinks according to the usual Mode, you now expect an Application of this Subject, in a long and circumstantial Account of Him whose Dust we have just consigned to its kindred Dust. But I knew my worthy departed friend so well-such was his Abhorrence of the too frequent Prostitutions of Truth and Jus- tice, in many of our modern Characters of the Dead-that were he now alive, and to speak for himself, he would suffer no more to be said of him, but that-He endeavoured to be (what you will all allow he was) a Man of strict and severe Honesty ; faith- ful in the Discharge of every Trust, and particularly of his most sacred Trust, as a Minister of the Gospel of JESUS. He was a Lover of Peace, and rather willing to bear any tolerable Wrong than ruffle the Serenity of his own Temper. His loss to you is great, but to his worthy bereaved Wife and Children, irreparable."}
f An original, life-size portrait (in oils) of the Rev. Colin Campbell, received from some of his descendants residing near Trenton, N. J., was placed in the sacristy of St. Mary's Church, in December, 1870. It represents its subject with a large white wig, and in academic gown, cassock and bands.
¿ Mr. Campbell had nine children, five daughters and four sons.
T
290
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
ON THE DEATH OF COLIN CAMPBELL. By Elizabeth Graeme.t
[ Daughter of Dr. Graeme, grand-daughter of Sir William Keith. ]
Shall vice and power claim the farewell tear, And shall it flow not, for the soul sincere ?
Forbid it truth, forbid it honor too,
And mark out COLIN to our mortal view.
The faithful pastor of a little flock,
Plac'd in their hearts, he ne'er shall be forgot ;
Firm honesty ; his every deed did plan ; With pure religion join'd to form the man.
His social virtues, strong I could paint forth, The tender parent, and the husband's worth :
Domestic bliss his house did still afford ; A hearty welcome from a cheerful board :
What e'er he gave he freely did impart, And shared his bounty with an open heart;
The best affections in his mind did blend, Too well I feel he was the steady friend.
The starting tear does here that truth reveal, Nor wish the honest weakness to conceal ; The struggling sigh will heave for those we love, Though faith beholds them with blest saints above. Dated Graeme Park,
-- Providence Gazette. 30th Oct. 1766.
REV. NATHANIEL EVANS OFFICIATING OCCASIONALLY.
" The Rev. Mr. Evans, a short time missionary at Glouces- ter, officiated occasionally at Burlington, during the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Campbell's death. He died early, but estab- lished by his zeal and fidelity, the character given him by the Society, of 'a pious promising young gentleman.' In a letter dated 'Haddonsfield, New Jersey Dec. 12, 1766,' he writes to the Secretary, 'I have been to Egg Harbour and travelled the Shore over, which is full 30 miles long & preach'd daily always using the Common Prayer. * I preached in two Dissenting Meeting Houses twice, at the peoples request ; and made use of the Liturgy, with which the people appeared well pleased.' He adds : 'My present situation is in the centre of Quakers, who are a majority of people in this County & with whom I live in great harmony and in an intercourse of mutual civility.'"
¡ Afterwards, the celebrated Mrs. Ferguson.
291
IN BURLINGTON.
THE SOCIETY'S LANDS AT BURLINGTON.
Mr. Evans to the Secretary. Extract. " Haddonsfield, Jany 20, 1767.
" REVEREND SIR :
* * " I obtained at Burlington a Certified Copy of Surveys of sundry Parcels of Land the Society's property which I thought might be of service to enclose. The first and last of which are held at present without any equitable claim by others. If the Society should see proper to transmit to any person here their Power of Attorney, there could be no difficulty in dis- possessing the present holders as the Title is indisputably clear, these two parcels are thought to be worth at least £250 this Currency.
" Revd Sir &c " NATH" EVANS."
THE REV. JONATHAN ODELL, M. A., RECTOR. }
In the Parish Register, in the handwriting of Mr. Odell, is this record :
" Jonathan Odell, M. A., was appointed, by the Society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, to succeed Mr. Camp- bell, as Missionary at Burlington, Decem'r 25th, 1766, and he arrived at Burlington, on the 25th of July, 1767, and was the next day regularly inducted into St. Ann's (now St. Mary's,) Church, in the said city of Burlington, by his Excellency Wm. Franklin, Esqr., Governor of the Province of New-Jersey."}
Mr. Odell was born at Newark, N. J., Sept. 25th, 1737; was M. A. of Nassau Hall; educated for the Medical profession, and served as Surgeon in the British Army; left the Army while stationed in the West Indies, went to Eng- land, and prepared for Holy Orders. He was ordained Deacon, Dec. 21st, 1766, in the Chapel Royal of St. James' Palace, Westminster, by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Terrick, Bishop of London ; and in January 1767, he was advanced to Priest's orders.
į Induction, in the Church of England, is thus performed : The Inductor, on the day appointed, goes with the new Incumbent to the Church, and taking his hand places it upon the key in the Church door, saying, "I induct you into the real and actual possession of the Rectory of - with all its profits and appurtenances." Then he opens the door, and puts the rector in possession of the Church, who offers his private devotions, and tlien tolls the bell to sum- mon his parishioners. Hook's Church Dictionary.
292
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
THE CHURCH VERY MUCH OUT OF REPAIR.
Mr. Odell to the Secretary. Extract. " Burlington October 2ª 1767.
" REVEREND SIR:
* * " There are in Burlington about 200 Families of Inhabitants, of which number we may rate about one in four to belong to the Church of England; the rest except three or four Presbyterians are all Quakers. There is a considerable number from the Country in the Neighbourhood of the Town, who also attend Divine Service at Church where they all behave decently & not a few devoutly. The Church itself is very much out of repair: but a Lottery having been some time since granted by the Provincial Legislature in order to facilitate the necessary reparations, I hope to be able ere long to give you an Account of the accomplishment of that undertaking. I should have mentioned before that the Parishioners at Mount Holly are at least as numerous as those at Burlington and likewise give a decent devout attention to the publick Worship.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.