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 27
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
"The people of my Mission in these times of public distrac- tion have in general discovered a spirit of moderation and have been almost unanimous in their aversion to independency ; but the progress of that party in the Country who seem long since to have been determined on that fatal measure has been con- ducted in such a manner as to preclude any effectual opposition. In fact the Independency assumed by the Congress long before they declared it, made it both difficult and dangerous to attempt any other opposition than a silent testimony of disapprobation.
" In such a situation, having no opportunities of consulting with each other, the Clergy have been obliged to conduct them- selves with delicacy and caution. About 15 Months ago we had a meeting of our Corporation for the Relief of the Widows & Children of the Clergy-when we shall be able again to meet is a question that gives us much anxiety-on that occasion we wrote a joint Letter to the Society which I hope has been received and with candid indulgence approved by the Society, who will have discovered that our unavoidable embarrassments were encreased by the indiscreet conduct (to say no more) of the Philadelphia Clergy. Since the declaration of Independency the alternative has been either to make such alterations in the Liturgy as both honor and conscience must be alarmed at, or else to shut up our Churches, and discontinue our attendance on the public Worship. It was impossible for me to hesitate a moment in such a case and I find that many of the Clergy in Pennsyl- vania and every one in New Jersey (Mr. Blackwell only excepted) have thought it their indispensible duty in this per- plexing situation to suspend our public Ministrations rather than make any alteration in the established Liturgy. At the same time we were persuaded that in every other respect to pursue a conduct inoffensive if possible even in the eye of our Enemies, was what the Society both wished and expected from us & what we owed to our own characters as Ministers of the Gospel ;
318
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
happy if in this most trying time our conduct meets with the Society's approbation.
" I am Reverend Sir &c "JONN ODELL."
THE FRIENDLINESS OF THE VESTRY TOWARDS DR. ODELL.
Dr. Odell to the Secretary. Extract. "New York, Augt 18. 1777.
" REVEREND SIR :
* * Since my being driven from home I have been occasionally employed as a Deputy Chaplain in the Army which has afforded me some relief; but still my losses are very consid- erable and without the aids I have received from England my Family must have suffered greatly. If I remember well the deduction which has been made from my Salary amounts to £15, which added to my Salary for the Six Months from Christ- mas to the 25th of June last makes £40 Sterling for which Sum I have this day drawn Bills on the Treasurer of the Society pay- able to the order of Mess's Edw & W™ Laight in which I hope I shall have the approbation of the Society.
" My present situation makes it impossible for me to send any Parochial Notices. I have been informed that the Vestry of Burlington met on Easter Monday last and Voted that my Salary of £30 currency should be continued notwithstanding my absence. It is very uncertain whether they may be able to carry this Vote into effect but it gives a pleasing proof of their friendly disposition in these times of Trial to
" Revª Sir &c "JONN ODELL."
CESSATION OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
In 1779, it is stated "that there has been a total cessation of public worship in the provinces of New Jersey and Pennsyl- vania, and almost every Missionary driven out." After this date we lose our venerable guide, the S. P. G., as the Churches lost the "nursing care and protection " which she had so long and generously supplied.
319
IN BURLINGTON.
JAMES LAWRENCE BORN AND BAPTIZED.
The Parish Register has the following :- "1781, Baptized by the Revª M' Frazer, Nov" 14, James, of John and Martha Lawrence."
This child, born in Burlington the same year, was Capt. James' Lawrence, who distinguished himself in the American Navy, and made immortal the words, "Don't give up the ship." His remains, buried first at Halifax, were afterwards brought to the city of New York, and deposited in Trinity Church yard, where a handsome monument was erected to his memory.
GEN. WASHINGTON, AND BARON STEUBEN.
That brief chronicler -- James Craft-before quoted, in his. curious MS. of "Daily Occurrences," still existing with some of his descendants, in Burlington, makes these notes : "1782,. 3 mo. 23 dy. Gen. George Washington in our city." "1782, 3 mo. 30 dy. Baron Steuben in our Town."
DR. ODELL MAKES AN ADDRESS.
Early in the Spring of 1782, standards were presented to the King's American Dragoons with imposing ceremonies, when the. Rev. Dr. Odell made an address, in the presence of a large number of distinguished officers of the British Army and Navy, including the Prince William Henry, (afterwards William IV,) who was, at that time, in New York, as a midshipman in the. fleet of Admiral Digby.
ENGLAND RECOGNIZES AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
" The recognition by England of American Independence was. first made in the provisional articles of peace signed at Paris,. November 30th, 1782. The definitive treaty to that effect was signed at Paris, Sep. 3d, 1783."-Anderson's Colonial Church, p. 399.
DR. ODELL GOES TO ENGLAND.
Sir Guy Carleton succeeding Sir Henry Clinton as com- mander-in-chief of the British forces in 1782, arrived in New-
320
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
York, in May. On November 5th, 1783, he evacuated the city ; after the signing of the treaty of peace. Dr. Odell accom- panied this gentleman to England.
DR. ODELL REGARDS HIMSELF AS STILL THE RECTOR.
Rev. Dr. Odell to his Wife. " London, 5 of July, 1784. " MY DEAR NANCY
"Your last letter of May 2d, gives me an account of conduct in the Vestry, which I confess surprises me. However I do not mean to upbraid them, if they are not of themselves con- scious of their ingratitude towards me, it were in vain to attempt convincing them, either by argument or expostulations. All I shall say is, let them look to their Church which they must confess I have a right to tell them is a monument of the indefagitable and disinterested Zeal of a Man whose Family had every reason to expect all the kind Returns and friendly attentions in their power especially at a time like that which has torn me so long from them. Give my love to Mr. Law- rence and Mr. Ellis, and tell the latter that I entrust you, as my lawful attorney, to make a formal demand of him for payment into your hands of all rents and issues arising from the Church Estate, whether in Burlington or at Stony Brook, from the time of my being forcibly driven away by an armed Body. As no part of that Estate can belong to or be disposable by any Person but the Minister of St. Mary's Church for the time being, to whose use that estate was given, not by the Inhabitants of Bur- lington, nor by their Ancestors, but by Strangers chiefly and one lot at least of it by aids contributed by my Friends and collected by myself, and they certainly know that I am in fact the Minister of that Church until I shall either voluntarily resign or be legally dispossessed of my right which is a real and Substantial Freehold, not in the smallest degree affected by the revolution. And you will further please to inform Mr. Ellis that the Vestry may expect, on my Part, that I shall not tamely relinquish my Claim to rigid Justice, but avail myself of every
321
IN BURLINGTON.
lawful and Practicable means to compel them to do that which they ought to Blush not to have done of their own accord.t
" I hope shortly to write to you more at leisure. At present I can only add that I have at last good reason to think my-
DR. ODELL IN PROSPERITY AT LAST.
When the Province of Nova Scotia was divided, Dr. Odell was called to a seat in his Majesty's Council in the Province of New Brunswick, and became the Secretary, Registrar, and Clerk of the Council, with a salary of a thousand pounds sterling.
+ Margaret Morris, a Quakeress, who purchased Gov. Franklin's house on the bank, when the Governor removed to Perth Amboy; and who occupied it during the stormy days of the Revolution, kept a journal from which we make the following extracts : "Dec 14th 1776. Several of our friends called to see us ; amongst the number was one (Dr. Odell) esteemed by the whole family, and very intimate in it; but the spirit of the devil still continued to rove through the town in the shape of tory-hunters. A message was delivered to our intimate friend, informing him a party of armed men were on the search for him-his horse was brought, and he retired to a place of safety. From the 13th to the 16th, parties of armed men rudely entered the town, and diligent search was made for tories : * a loud knocking at my door brought me to it-I was a little fluttered, and kept locking and unlocking that I might get my ruffled face a little composed -at last I opened it, and half a dozen men all armed, demanded the key of the empty house. I asked what they wanted there ; they said to search for a tory. The name of a tory, so near my own door, seriously alarmed me, for a poor refugee *
* was at that very time concealed like a thief in an auger hole-I fung the bell violently, the signal agreed on if they came to search, and when I thought he had crept into the hole, I put on a very simple look, and cried out, ' Bless me, I hope you are not Hessians.' * *
-but I'll go with you into Col. Cox's house. * So I marched at the head of them, opened the door, and searched every place, but we could not find the tory,-strange where he could be. We returned-they, greatly disappointed-I, pleased to think my house was not suspected.
They left us, and searched J. V's [James Veree] and the two next houses, but
no tory could they find. * In the evening I went to town with my refugee, and placed him in other lodgings. * Dec. 18th. * *
Our refugee gone off to-day out of the reach of gondolas and tory hunters. * Dec. 22d. * This afternoon we hear of our refugee again, and that he has a got a protection, as it is called. The rage of tory-hunting a little subsided. *
"Jan. 12th 1777. * We have some hopes that our refugee will be presented with a pair of lawn sleeves, when dignities become cheap, and suppose he will then think himself too big to creep into his old auger hole- but I shall remind him of the place, if I live to see him created first B -- p of B-n." The "auger hole," to which the Quakeress thus playfully alludes, was, no doubt, " the Secret Chamber," under the roof of the South East wing of her residence, entered from a room adjoining by opening a linen closet, drawing out the shelves, prying up the moveable back, and admitting a per- son, by stooping, to a dark, but quite roomy apartment, which had no window, or aperture for light, and could only be entered, in this mysterious way. Before the Gov. Franklin house was demolished in 1873, I went into this secret chamber, with extraordinary interest. G. M. IT.
322
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
There, after a long separation from them he was rejoined by his family .; The duties of these offices he faithfully discharged for
¡ In 1810, Dr. Odell addressed the following lines to his wife :
ON OUR THIRTY-NINTH WEDDING DAY. 6 May, 1810.
Twice nineteen years, dear Nancy, on this day Complete their circle, since the smiling May Beheld us at the altar kneel and join In holy rites and vows, which made thee mine.
Then, like the reddening East without a cloud, Bright was my dawn of joy. To Heaven I bowed In thankful exultation, well assured That all my heart could covet was secured.
But ah, how soon this dawn of Joy so bright Was followed by a dark and stormy night. The howling tempest in a fatal hour, Drove me, an exile, from our nuptial bower,
To seek for refuge in the tented field, Till democratic Tyranny should yield. Thus torn asunder, we, from year to year,
Endured the alternate strife of Hope and Fear;
Till, from Suspense deliver'd by Defeat, I hither came and found a safe retreat. Here joined by thee and thy young youthful train, I was o'erpaid for years of toil and pain ;
We had renounced our native hostile shore ; And met, I trust, till death to part no more ! But fast approaching now the verge of life With what emotions do I see a Wife
And Children smiling with affection dear, And think-how sure the parting and how near ! The solemn thought I wish not to restrain ; Tho' painful, tis a salutary pain.
Then let this verse in your remembrance live, That, when from life released, I still may give A token of my love ; may whisper still Some fault to shun, some duty to fulfill ;
May prompt your Sympathy, some pain to share ; Or warn you of some pleasures to beware ; Remind you that the Arrow's silent flight, Unseen alike at noon, or dead of night,
Should cause no perturbation or dismay But teach you to enjoy the passing day With dutiful tranquillity of mind Active and vigilant but still resigned.
For our Redeemer liveth and we know, How or whenever parted here below, His faithful servants in the Realm above, Shall meet again as heirs of His eternal love.
323
IN BURLINGTON.
upwards of thirty years .; He is called in the annals of that Province, "The Honorable and Rev. Jonathan Odell."-Sabine's American Loyalists, p. 485.
THE PARISH A LONG TIME WITHOUT A MINISTER.
SAMUEL ROE INVITED TO BE READER.
In the Records of St. Mary's Church is the following :- "At a meeting of the congregation of St. Mary's Church at Burling- ton, on Monday, the 18th of October, 1784, Mr. Samuel Roe having obtained a license from the clergy and laity lately met in Convention at the city of New York, to be a Reader in any Church that should give him a call for the purpose ; and whereas the Church at Burlington hath been for a long time without a minister to officiate therein, it was the unanimous voice of the congregation to invite the said Samuel Roe to be the Reader of this Church, which was accordingly done." }
SAMUEL ROE, ORDAINED.
"Samuel Roe was ordained Deacon, Sept. 16th, and Priest the 18th, 1785, in the City of New Haven, in the State of Con- necticut, by the Right Rev'd Dr. Samuel Seabury."-Parish Register.
Two others were ordained with him, one of whom was Samuel Spraggs.
This was the third occasion of ordination by Bishop Seabury, after he received the Episcopate from what has been so fittingly called, " the Catholic remainder of the Church of Scotland." § And "wheresoever " the "Apostles doctrine and fellowship" is
At an advanced age he relinquished his appointments and retired from public life. He died at Frederickton, N. B., Nov. 25th, 1818, aged 81 years. His widow, Anne, died at Frederickton, in 1825, aged 85 years.
¿ "Samuel Roe was Licensed to officiate as a reader in the Episcopal church, by the Rev'd Clergy of New York, October 7th, 1784, and was received by the Wardens, Vestry and congregation of the Church of St. Mary's, in the City of Burlington, Oct. 18th, to be their Reader."-Parish Register.
2 The Rev. Samuel Seabury, D. D., of Connecticut, was consecrated a Bishop, in Aberdeen, Scotland, Nov. 14th, 1784, by Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen ; Arthur Petrie, Bishop of Moray and Ross ; and John Skinner, Coadjutor Bishop of Aberdeen. He returned to America early in 1785.
324
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
carried, by the American Church, till the remotest times, " this, that " the Scottish Church " hath done, shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO RETAIN THE SERVICES OF THE REV. SAMUEL ROE.
"Whereas the Rev'd Samuel Roe Minister of St. Mary's Church in Burlington hath received a Call from some Churches in the Delaware State with a Salary of three hundred and fifty pounds { Annum besides perquisits. And whereas the said Samuel Roe has Signified that unless his Salary here is Aug- mented to two hundred pounds Exclusive of what he receives at Bristol, he shall not be Doing Justice to his Family, if he refuses to take up with the said offer. We the Subscribers in order to make up the said Sum Do freely and Chearffully Give the Sums affixed to our respective Names Over and Above the rents of our pews, and Do promise to pay the same unto Daniel Ellis-In Quarterly payments, that is to say on the first of May, the first of August, the first of November and the first February 1787 for the purpose aforesaid. And we Do further agree that should there be more subscribed than will pay the same the sur- plus shall be appropriated to the raising of a Fund for the main- taining a minister in the said Church. Witness our hands the thirtieth Day of January 1786 :
Daniel Ellis. € 6 00 0
Jno. Lawrence .. £6 00 0
Joshua M. Wallace 10 00 0
John Land. 0 17 6
Bowes Reed.
6 00 0
Wm. Smith. 1 00 0
R. Strettell Jones ..
6 10 0
John Stockton. 0 10 0
Thomas M. Gardiner 0 15 0
Jno. A. DeNormandie, ? order ..
5 00 0
Geo. Smith. 0 10 0
Geo. Mitchell.
3 00 0
D. Denny 1 10 0
Fred Kisselman.
10 00 0
John Baillie
3 00 0
Jos. Bloomfield
6 00 0
Ellis Wright.
2 00 0
James Esdall.
1 10 0
James Gregson
3 00 0
Aaron Schuyler
1 10 0
Samuel Hendry
2 00 0
Samuel Bullus. 3 00 0
John How.
3 00 0
Sterling & Norcross 4 00 0
Joseph Scott. 3 00 0
Dr. Samuel Treat.
2 00 0
Abraham Scott. 1 10 0
George Griscom.
1 10 0
Jos. Stoute. 0 10 0
John Smick. 0 15 0
Rich'd Stoute. 0 10 0
Nathaniel Coleman.
0 15 0
Sam'l Allen, & order .. 1 10 0
-Parish Archives.
325
IN BURLINGTON.
THE REV. SAMUEL SPRAGGS, TEMPORARILY OFFICIATING.
On the 4th day of September, 1786, St. Mary's Church being vacant, f a committee was appointed to treat with the wardens of St. Andrew's Church, Mount Holly, with a view to obtaining the services of their minister, the Rev. Mr. Spraggs, ¿ until they could " supply themselves with a gospel minister." The result was an arrangement § that Mr. Spraggs should preach in Bur- lington, one-fourth part of the time, which appears to have con- tinued for more than a year.
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM ENGLAND.
" A Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the State of New Jersey," was held in St. Mary's Church, Burling- ton, on the 27th & 28th of Sep., 1786, " being the third sitting," (the two former Conventions having been, at New Brunswick, July 6th, 1785, and at Perth Amboy, from May 16th to 19th, 1786.) Among the members, those from Burlington were Ab- raham Hewlings, Esq., and Col. Blathwait Jones.
" A letter from the Lords Archbishops of Canterbury and York, addressed to the president of the general convention, received by the June packet, was read ;" also
¡ Sometime after July 28th, 1786, " a difficulty having arisen between Mr. Roe and his people, the connection between them was dissolved."
į At a meeting of the vestry of St. Andrew's Church, Mount Holly, held Oct. 29th, 1785, "Mr. Spraggs produced to the Board his admission to the Order of Deacon and Priest by the Right Rev'd Samuel, Bishop of Connecti- cut and also a License and Authority to officiate a Minister of the Gospel according to the Liturgy of the Church of England except such part thereof as shall be repugnant to the Civil Constitution of the American States which were read in order." "It was moved to the Board by Mr. Spraggs weither some persons from this Congregation ought not to be appointed to meet a Convention of the Clergy & Laity of the Episcopal Church of this State at their next sitting & it was unanimously Agreed that some persons ought to be appointed and thereupon, Resolved that Mr. Spraggs & Mr. John Clark, Mr. Wm. Budd & Mr. Read be appointed for that purpose."
2 At a meeting of the vestry of St. Andrew's Church, Mount Holly, Nov. 18th, 1786, this record only appears ; " Whereas the Wardens and Vestry of Burlington Church have made application for a part of Mr. Spraggs time we do agree with the Consent of a majority of the Vestry that Mr. Spraggs has our approbation to be there } part of his time and we do also agree, that Mr. Spraggs and Mr. John Clark be a Committee to meet with the Wardens and Vestry of Burlington in that City to Confer and agree with theni concerning said matter on Saturday 25th inst."
326
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" A letter addressed to the committee of the general conven- tion, from the Archbishop of Canterbury, dated July 4, 1786, enclosing an act of the British Parliament respecting the con- secration of Bishops for foreign countries, together with the said act, was read ;
" Ordered, That the said letters and act of parliament lie on the table.
" A journal of the general convention, held at Philadelphia, . from the 20th to the 26th of June, 1786, inclusive, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
" Resolved, That four clerical and four lay-delegates be ap- pointed to represent the Church in this state, in the general con- vention to be held at Wilmington on the 10th of October next.
" Agreed, That the clergy and laity severally appoint their own delegates, and that each order submit their choice, when made, to the approbation or rejection of the other; but that this mode of electing delegates be not drawn into precedent. The Reverend Messrs. Beach, Ayers, Frazer and Ogden-John Chetwood, Henry Waddell, Joshua M. Wallace and John Cox, Esquires, were duly elected, and approved delegates, for the pur- pose aforesaid."-Journal of said Convention.
THE VESTRY RECOMMEND MR. JOHN WADE FOR ORDERS.
Towards the close of 1787, the vestry agreed to recommend Mr. John Wade to the Rt. Rev. Bishop White, f for orders, provided the congregation at Mt. Holly join with them in said recommendation.
THE REV. JOHN WADE, MINISTER.
At the Easter meeting in 1788, the Rev. John Wade appears as minister. At the same meeting however, a committee was
+ The Rev. William White, D. D., of Pennsylvania, and the Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D., of New York, were consecrated Bishops in the Chapel of the Archiepiscopal Palace, at Lambeth, England, February 4th, 1787, by John Moore, Archbishop of Canterbury, William Markham, Archbishop of York, Charles Moss, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and John Hinchliffe, Bishop of Peterborough. The two American Bishops soon returned, reaching the United States, April 7th, 1787.
327
IN BURLINGTON.
appointed to confer with the Rt. Rev. Bishop White, and ascer- tain whether it will be in his power to recommend "a faithful servant of Jesus Christ," as minister of St. Mary's Church, in Burlington ; and also to confer with the vestry of St. Andrew's Church, Mount Holly, with a view to obtaining the services of the Rev. Mr. Spraggs, until a minister can be procured.
THE REV. MR. WADE'S ONLY RECORD.
The only record in the Parish Register of Rev. Mr. Wade, is this : "John, born September the 1 Day 1778, son of Abraham Van Sciver and Mary his Wife, and baptized March the 19 Day 1788, per John Wade."
THE REV. LEVI HEATH, RECTOR.
The Rev. Mr. Heath, f was settled as minister, April 13th, 1789, having officiated for some months previous.
He preached the opening sermon at the Eighth Convention in the State of New Jersey, held in Trinity Church, Newark, June 1st, 1791 ; for which he received a vote of thanks.
The following exists in the Parish archives, in his own hand : " Feby 14th 1792. Recd of Wm Updike the sum of Three pounds paper money in part for the last Years Rent due last Easter.
" Recd by me LEVI HEATH Rector
£ SD
of St. Mary's Burlington."
3: 0: 0 Paper.
JAMES FENIMORE COOPER.
James Fenimore Cooper, was born in Burlington, Sep. 15th, 1789. His father, William Cooper, had founded the village of Cooperstown, New York, in 1785, to which place the son was taken when a few months old. The family, originally
į Levi Heath was ordained Deacon, in the Cathedral Church of Hereford, England, June 29th 1783, by the Bishop of Hereford ; and Priest, by the same Prelate, Oct. 18th, 1784.
328
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Quakers, became Churchmen, soon after their removal to the State of New York.t
ARRANGEMENTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE PROPOSED
ACADEMY.
"Agreed, that the Salary of the Principal be One hundred and twenty pounds per Annum, till the number of Students and Scholars amounts to Forty five in the whole, and that the Trustees be accountable to him until they pay the same. That when the number exceeds forty five the Salary shall be One hundred and fifty pounds per Annum. The Salary of the Prin- cipal, and of the Assistant Teachers shall be paid in four equal quarterly payments. That the hours of School shall be from the first day of May till the first day of September, from six till eight oClock in the morning, from nine till twelve in the fore- noon, and from two till five in the afternoon; in the other months from half an hour after eight till twelve in the forenoon, and from two till half past four in the afternoon. That the Instructors shall be punctual in their attendance. The Princi- pal to attend during the Summer Session, two hours in the morn- ing, two hours in the forenoon, viz : from ten till twelve oClock, and three hours of the afternoon, during the Winter Session the whole time appointed for School hours. The Assistant Teachers to attend during the year the whole time appointed for School hours. That there shall be a vacation of a week at Easter, of ten days beginning with Christmas day and ending on the third day of January, and a vacation from the fifteenth of September till the first of October both days exclusive. That five Trustees
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.