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 29
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"The Vestry consider it as the part of Candor to inform you of the state of their funds in order that you may be enabled to de- cide how far their offer may be an object of your attention in a pecuniary point of view. The Church is possessed of a clear Income from Rents and Interest Money of something more than one hundred Pounds # annum. The Pew Rents may be esti- mated at fifty or sixty pounds # annum-they have a parson- age house which rents at present for £26 # annum and a farther
.
340
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
annuity of £10 : 10 arising from a donation of a Member of the Church in consideration of four Sermons to be preached by the Rector of St. Mary's at Bristol during the Summer months. As the Vestry had made engagements with the Revd Mr. Vandyke really beyond the means in their power and have some other encumbrances to clear off-they do not conceive they could offer more to a Clergyman at present than a Salary of four hundred Dollars # annum clear of any deduction, the parsonage house and the farther Sum of £10: 10 } annum above mentioned.
"Under these circumstances should your determination be favorable to a visit to Burlington, we beg leave to suggest the idea of fixing the time at as early a period as possible and of arranging your visit so as to comprehend two Sundays. Our Congregation we are happy to say is blessed with harmony and Union and an opportunity of consulting the sentiments of those more distant members in the choice of a Clergyman may operate to preserve us in a situation so necessary to the prosperity and respectability of a religious Society. We will therefore thank you for an answer as early as possible and should you be dis- posed to pay us a visit you will be pleased to mention the time we may expect you that information may be given to our Country Members.
" We are very respectfully " & sincerely Revª Sir " Your friends & ob Servs " " THE REVP DOCTOR WHARTON.
THE WIDOW OF A FORMER RECTOR ASKS FOR THE BALANCE DUE HER LATE HUSBAND. Mrs. Colin Campbell to Mr. Thomson Neale. "Trenton, 30th August, 1796. " MR THOMSON NEALE :
" SIR,-You can be no stranger I immagine to an Account I sent to Your Vestry and Church Wardens of Money Due the Estate of my Dear Deceased Husband, the Sum was between £30 and 40 pound-the first I rendered in, was by the Hands of the Late M' Aron Schuyler, Sen a twelve month before
341
IN BURLINGTON.
he Dyed-he told me, he had laid it before the Vestry, that they had no Objection to the Account, and would pay me, but at that time their Church was poor, but that they would certainly at- tend to it, in future. The Account could not be found among Mr A. Schuyler's Papers, therefore I drew up another of the same, and gave it to M' Abraham Heuling, Sent and 2 or 3 years after M' John Lawrence brought me £15; for which I gave him my receipt, that sum was paid him after Easter, in the year 1791, at which time he said, the next Easter they would En- deavor to pay me the whole, which they have hitherto neglected. I applyed to M' Vandyke to speak to the Gentlemen of the Vestry and Church Wardens : he told me he had, and that the last time they met, they promised that in a Month after they would pay me, and also consider'd the long delay call'd for some compensation. M' Vandyke has removed. I, therefore, Now Apply to you, as an old friend and acquaintance, that you will please to exert yourself in my behalf. For I never stood in greater need, than at present .; I received a Letter from Mr Odell, ye 26 inst giveing me the Melancholy Account of the Death of my Dear Son Colin, which Event happen'd the 10th Day of July last, he had been Ill for three months, with an hectic Complaint. He was far from well, last Summer when he Visited us-by the advice of his Physicians, he was prevailed on to try the Change of Air up the River St John, at a place called Maugerville, about ten mile from Frederickton, his Wife and Oldest Daughter were with him. Mr and Mrs Odell went twice to see him, During his Illness, and Also attended his remains to the Grave. Among the many hard dispensations, which it has pleased providence to lay upon me, this last stroke, I find requires all my fortitude-my Heart feels most sensibly for his Dear Widow, who is a very Amiable worthy woman, they have had three Daughters and one Son, and only the two Oldest Girls are liveing.
+ "1796, Sep. 8th. To cash paid Mary Cambell as pr Receipt sent by the Hands of Tomson Neal being the ballence of the Reverend Collin Cambell account from the Church £18.15.0."-Treasurer's Account Book.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" My Love to Mrs Neale, your Daughters, and your Sisters Lindsey and Mrs Hulme, I am ST
" You sincere Friend, "MARY CAMPBELL."
THE REV. CHARLES H. WHARTON, D. D., RECTOR.
The Rev. Charles Henry Wharton, ; D. D., was unanimously elected to the Rectorship of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, Sept. 5th, 1796.
+ Charles Henry Wharton was born in St. Mary's County, in Maryland, on the 25th of May, O. S., 1748. His ancestors were Roman Catholics; and the family plantation called Notley Hall, from a Governor of that name, was pre- sented to his grandfather by Lord Baltimore. From him it descended to the father, Jesse Wharton ; and at his death, in 1754, became the property of Charles Henry, liis elder son. When not quite seven years old he was at- tacked by a furious dog, which had already torn off part of his scalp, when his father, with signal presence of mind and promptitude of action, seizing a loaded gun from behind the door, shot the dog, while the child's head was still in his jaws. In 1760, he was sent to the English Jesuits' College at St. Omer's ; at the close of two years, the College was broken up by the expulsion of the Jesuits from France. The teachers and scholars retired to Bruges in Flanders. "Sequestered from all society " he writes, " beyond the walls of the College, and of course a total stranger to everything inconsistent with the strictest dis- cipline, in acquiring classical attainments, and those habits of devotion which were deemed essential to a Roman Catholic youth, I applied myself very dili- gently to my studies, and became prominent among my associates in a very accurate knowledge of the Latin language, which became nearly as familiar as English ; as we were obliged to converse in it during our ordinary relaxations from our studies." His Letters of Orders bear date in 1772; having been admitted in June of that year to the Order of Deacons, and in September to that of Priests, in the Roman Catholic Church. At the end of the War of the American Revolution, he was residing in Worcester, England, as Chaplain to the Roman Catholics of that city, deeply interested on the side of his country and anxious to return. He employed his pen at this time in a poetical epistle to General Washington, with a sketch of his life, which was published in England for the benefit of the American prisoners there. His mind was at this period much agitated on the subject of his religious creed. He returned to this country in 1783, in the first vessel, whichi sailed after the Peace. In May, 1784, he visited Philadelphia for the purpose of publishing his celebrated Letter to the Roman Catholics of the city of Worcester. "This production," says Bishop White, "was perused by me with great pleasure in manuscript, and the subject of it caused much conversation during his stay in our city. The result was my entire conviction that the soundness of his arguments for the change of his religious profession was fully equalled by the sincerity and disinterestedness which accompanied the transaction." On the death of his father, he was the legitimate heir to the paternal estate. Upon taking Orders, he immediately conveyed it to his brother. After the controversy had taken place with Archbishop Carroll, occasioned by the Letter to the Roman Catho- lics of the city of Worcester, it appeared that the conveyance was not complete. A meeting took place in the most amicable manner, the paper was executed, and an estate of great value,-the whole patrimony of the conveyor,-given, the second time, to a younger brother.
-
THE REV. CHARLES H. WHARTON, D.D.
343
IN BURLINGTON.
DR. WHARTON BRINGS HIS FAMILY TO BURLINGTON.
In the Parish Register, in the handwriting of Dr. Wharton, is the following :- " 1798, March 15th. Dr. Charles H. Whar- ton arrived at Burlington with his family, having been regularly elected to the Rectorship of St. Mary's Church, in this City, in consequence of his acceding to an unanimous and unsolicited call from the Vestry of said Church, communicated to him a few months before."
GIFT TO THE BURLINGTON ACADEMY.
" William Coxe Senior Esquire having generously presented the Academy with the sum of FIFTY POUNDS in order that the Interest of the same might be applied towards the salary of the Instructor of the English Language, writing and Arithmetic, Messrs. Bloomfield Wm. McIllvaine and Wallace reported that they had loaned the same to the Corporation of the City of Bur- lington agreeably to a Bond from the said Corporation dated March 6th 1798 which they presented to the Treasurer of the Academy in the presence of the Board.
" Resolved that Messrs. Wallace and Griffith be a Committee to wait on Mr. Coxe to thank him for this Donation and to assure him that it shall be applied according to his Intention. " March 17th 1798.
" Extract from the minutes.
"WM, COXE jun" Secretary."
For the first year after his return to America, Mr. Wharton resided at the paternal mansion ; on leaving which, in July, 1784, the principal residents of the vicinage presented him, unasked and unsolicited, with a most honourable testimonial of his worth as a gentleman, a scholar, a Christian, and a Chris- tian Minister. It is a document of singular excellence in sentiment, spirit, and expression ; and does high honour to them who freely gave, as well as to him who worthily received it.
While Rector of Immanuel Church, Newcastle, Del., he was an influential member of the General Convention, held in Philadelphia, in 1785 .- Sprague's Annals.
On the 28th of Sept., in that year, he was on the committee to " prepare and report a draft of an Ecclesiastical Constitution for the Prot. Epis. Church in the United States." On the 5th of October he was on the committee "to prepare a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Fourth of July ;" and, also, on the committee "to publish the Book of Common Prayer with the alterations, in order to render the Liturgy consistent with the American Rev- olution and the Constitutions of the respective States."-Journals of General Convention for 1785.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
ADDITIONAL GROUND FOR THE ACADEMY.
" At a Meeting of the Minister Church Wardens & Vestry of St. Mary's Church on Monday 9th April 1798, in the forenoon of s'd Day at the Church, Present.
Rev'd Dr. Wharton, Rector.
Messrs. Thomson Neale Joshua M. Wallace
Wardens.
" Messrs. John Neale Daniel Hancock William Coxe jun"
Micajah Ellis John Larzalere Robert Lucas George Painter John Tonkin
Vestrymen.
" 'The Committee appointed to agree with the Trustees of the Burlington Academy for additional Ground reported that they had offered to let to the Trustees forty two feet in front in Addi- tion to the Sixty feet formerly let to them, and extending one hundred feet back from the most Northwardly Part of the Acad- emy, making about one hundred & fifty seven feet from the front for Six pounds # year, or the Same front & as far back as Paul Watkin's Lot extends for Seven Pounds ten Shillings ₱ year, but had not yet received an Answer from the Trustees. " Extract for the Trustees of the Burlington Academy.
" JOSHUA M. WALLACE " Sec'y pro Tempore."
AFFECTING RECORDS.
In the handwriting of Dr. Wharton, in the Parish Register, are the following affecting entries :-
" 1798, June 2d. Mary C. Wharton, the most beloved Wife of Dr. W., died at Philadelphia.
"June 3d. She was buried near the S. W. corner of St. Peter's burial ground in said City.
"June 25th. Buried my poor negro Man, Frederick, drowned the day before in Delaware."
345
IN BURLINGTON.
An Elegy to the Memory of Mrs. Mary Wharton, who died at Philadelphia, on the second day of June, 1798;
BY HER HUSBAND.
"O mihi tum quam molliter ossa quiescant, Si nostros olim tua fistula dicat amores." Virgil.
Sing our past loves, when I am gone, she said ; Thy tender strains shall cheer my clay-cold bed.
C. H. W.
I
Dull roll the hours, and heavy hangs the day, Oppress'd with wo my broken spirit lies, Since my poor heart, to wretchedness a prey, Heav'd its last sigh o'er Mary's closing eyes.
II
Stretch'd on the rack of thought, my tortured mind Recalls each image of the doleful scene ; Nor in the range of nature can it find One transient ray that borders on serene.
III
Creation's glories, once my keenest joys, On contemplation's eye unseemly pall, Ev'n friendship's balm my loathing bosom cloys, For she is gone who once gave zest to all.
IV
Flow on, ve tears ; pour forth, my wo-worn breast, O'er the cold clay your unavailing grief ; For nought but sorrow now can yield me rest, In nought but tears my heart can find relief.
V
O ye, who fann'd by Hymen's choicest gales Once floated gaily down the stream of life, While love's soft breath fill'd all your flowing sails, And all was harmony, unmix'd with strife :
VI
Say, from your arms did e'er the envious blast Dash some fond hope beneath a ruthless sea, Or on rude rocks some darling object cast ? Then, " if ye lost an angel, pity me."
VII
For she, alas ! was all to me, and more Than bright-ey'd fancy's fairest visions show Of female worth, when she surveys the store, And culls each antidote to human wo.
VIII
Soft was her heart, and gentle was her mind, They taught each wish at virtue's voice to move, While bounteous heav'n had in her soul combin'd With duty friendship, and with friendship love.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
IX
Thoughtless of self alone, her gen'rous breast On social duties dwelt with fond delight ; Each gnawing care found there a place of rest, Sooth'd by her voice, or melted at her sight.
X
O lovely Mary ! dearer far to me Than India's wealth, or pleasure's brightest charms,
What can, alas ! supply the loss of thee, For ever, ever absent from my arms ?
XI
How in this world, to me a desert grown Without my heart's best portion can I dwell ? For me forlorn, forsaken, and alone,
O toll full soon the last sad solemn knell.
XII
Farewell, bless'd spirit ; and if aught below Can still to thee a sense of pain impart, O witness not my agonising wo,
View not the gloom that broods upon my heart.
XIII
Thus to the winds I breath'd my sad complaint, Along great Delaware's majestic shore,
'Midst bitter sighs, impatient of restraint, And rising sorrows still demanding more:
XIV
When on my clouded soul a sudden blaze Slied its mild radiance of etherial light,
Such as a pitying angel oft conveys To chase the shades of intellectual night :
XV
Cease, faithful mourner, cease thy doleful strain ; A small still voice or said, or seem'd to say ; Dar'st thou the all-wise Disposer to arraign ? Or with rash grief control his sov'reign sway ?
XVI .
Know, then,("enough on earth for thee to know,") Thy Mary lives ; escaped from human sight, She soars triumphant over pain and wo,
And calmly waits thee in the realms of light.
XVII
Each murmur now sunk gently to repose, Reluctant nature felt the sweet control, What erst was hope, to bright conviction rose, And faith's whole radiance burst upon my soul.
347
CERTIFICATE OF HONORARY MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
To all PERSONS to whom these PRESENTS shall come,
GREETING.
The AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY held at PHILADELPHIA for
promoting useful Knowledge, desirous of advancing the Interest of the Society by associating to themselves Men of distinguished Eminenec, and of conferring Marks of their Esteem upon Persons of literary Merit, have Elected the Reverend
IN BURLINGTON.
CHARLES H. WHARTON, D. D.
a Member of the said Philosophical Society, hereby granting unto him all the Rights of Fellowship, with all the Liberties and Privileges thereunto belonging.
IN TESTIMONY whereof the said Society have caused the Seal of their Corporation to be annexed to this Certificate, and the same to be attested by the Names of the proper Officers this Twenty First Day of July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Six.
ATTESTED
James Hutchinson R. Patterson Sam Magaw John Foulke
Secretaries
B Franklin President
John Ewing \ Vice Presidents Wm: White Saml Vaughan
[L. S.]
348
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
ELECTION OF A BISHOP FOR NEW JERSEY.
"An adjourned Convention " of the Church in the State of New Jersey, was held at New Brunswick, August 15th and 16th 1798,-" for the express purpose of deliberating on the expediency of electing a Bishop"-the Rev. Henry Waddell, " President (in rotation)." The other clergy present, were the Revds Uzal Ogden, John Croes, Andrew Fowler, Menzies . Rayner, Walter C. Gardiner and John Wade; and lay dep- uties from twenty two congregations. The Rev. Mr Croes, and Col. Ogden-appointed to receive and count the ballots- reported, "That for the election of a Bishop, the votes of the Convention were as follows: CLERGY-for the Rev. Uzal Ogden, unanimously. LAITY-for the Rev. Uzal Ogden, 17 Congregations-for the Rev. Henry Waddell, 3 Congregations -for the Rev. John Croes, 1 Congregation .- (The Rev. Messrs. Ogden and Waddell did not vote.)" The testimonials of the Bishop-elect were presented to the General Convention, which sat in Philadelphia, June 14th 1799; and after postponement till the 18th, were met with the following :
" WHEREAS doubts have arisen in the minds of some mem- bers of the Convention, whether all the Priests who voted in the election of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D., to the office of a Bishop, in the State of New Jersey, were so qualified as to con- stitute them a majority of the resident and officiating Priests in the said State, according to the meaning of the Canon in this case made and provided : And whereas in a matter of so great importance to the interests of Religion, and the honor of our Church, it is not only necessary, that they who concur in recom- mending to an office so very sacred, should have a firm convic- tion of the fitness of the person they recommend, but that they should also be perfectly satisfied with respect to the regularity of every step which had been taken in the business,
"Resolved, therefore, That in the opinion of the House of Dep- uties all proceedings respecting the Consecration of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D., ought to be suspended until a future Convention in the State of New-Jersey shall declare their sense of the subject."
At a special Convention in New Jersey, "convened " Oct. 16th 1799, "for the express purpose of re-considering and declaring their sense of the regularity of the election of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D., to the Episcopal office," " after full and free discussion,"
349
IN BURLINGTON.
three resolutions were adopted declaring the election " regular in every respect." Among those who voted "Nay," on each one of these resolutions, we find among the laity, "St. Mary's Bur- lington." An "Address" was then signed, recapitulating the matter, to be communicated to the "several Standing Com- mittees in the different States, requesting their consent to the proposed Consecration." The vote for adopting this "Address," stood, "CLERGY-Yeas. Rev. M' Fowler, Rev. M' Rayner- Nay, Rev. M' Waddell. LAITY, by Congregations, Yeas, 10- Nays, 3, among which was that of St. Mary's, Burlington; and the vote of Christ Church, New Brunswick, was divided. Joshua M. Wallace, Esq., was at that time the leading layman, and deputy from Burlington. t-Convention Journals.
+ At a special Convention in the State of New Jersey, held at Perth Amboy, Dec. 19th 1804,-called "for the purpose of taking into consideration, and adopting such measures as may bring to a termination certain controversies existing between the Rev. Dr. Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, in Newark, and the Vestry and Congregation of said Church, which appears to be of such a nature as cannot be settled by themselves, and which threaten to destroy the peace and prosperity of the said Church "-as soon as the Convention was ready to proceed to business, the Rev. Dr. Ogden read "a declaration, that he withdrew himself from the Protestant Episcopal Church ; but that he would still continue to discharge liis duty as Rector of Trinity Church, in Newark, and as a minister of the Church of England, conformably to the Constitution and Charter of his Church, and his letters of Orders, and Licence to preach, under the land and seal of the Right Rev. Father in GOD, Richard, late Lord Bishop of London; a copy of which declaration he handed to the President, and instantly retired." In the afternoon, the Convention adopted the following: "It appearing to this Convention, that cer- tain controversies are now existing, between the Rev. Dr. Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, at Newark, and the Vestry and the Congregation of said Church, which have proceeded to such lengths as to preclude all hope of a favorable termination-it is resolved that this Convention do earnestly recom- mend and advise the said Dr. Ogden to relinquish his title to the Rectorship of said Church within thirty days from this date, and give notice thereof to the Chairman of the Standing Committee of this State: and we do also earnestly recommend and advise the congregation and vestry of said Church, upon such his resignation, to allow and secure to Dr. Ogden, the sum of $250., per annum during his life. And if Dr. Ogden refuse to comply with the terms abovemen- tioned; that then, authority is hereby given by this Convention to the Standing Committee, with the aid and consent of a Bishop, to proceed to suspend said Dr. Ogden from the exercise of any ministerial duties within this State." The deputation from Trinity Church, Newark, informed the Convention, that in behalf of their Church, they were willing to accede to the conditions. At the Convention held June 5th, 1805, the Standing Committee reported that Dr. Ogden had refused to comply with the recommendations of this Convention and that with the aid and consent of Bishop Moore of New York, they did unanimously resolve to suspend the said Rev. Dr. Ogden from the exercise of any ministerial duties within this State, and he was thereby suspended accord- ingly." "On motion the following were agreed to: 'Whereas the Rev. Dr. Ogden has been suspended from the exercise of any ministerial duties within the State of New Jersey, and in consequence of that suspension Trinity Church
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
THE OCEAN.
[ Written at Long Branch, 1799.] Roll on, vast ocean, lash the sounding shore, Till earth decay, and time shall be no more, Whilst each succeeding wave this truth proclaims, That HE whose mighty voice thy fury tames, With equal power fierce nations can control And hush to calm each passion of the soul. O then, whilst ruin, like the unfettered deep, O'er half the globe extends its madd'ning sweep, Let Him, Columbia, be thy hope and guide, That, anchor'd fast, thou may'st securely ride :
On His commands, thy laws, thy conduct form,
Then smile at tempests and defy the storm. C. H. W.
A NEW PARSONAGE BUILT.
A new Parsonage was built in 1799, for the Rev. Dr. Whar- ton, on the corner of Broad and Talbot streets. It cost "$1217- 6-9." This house was occupied by Dr. Whartont during all the rest of his long rectorship ;} and afterwards by Bishop Doane and his family, until they removed into " Riverside" on the bank of the Delaware.
MARRIAGE OF THE REV. DR. WHARTON.
" 1799, Nov. 28th. Married by the Rev. James Abercrom- bie, C. H. Wharton, D. D., to Anne Kinsey."-Parish Register
THE CHURCH MOURNS FOR THE DEATH OF WASHINGTON.
James Craft's 3d Vol. MS. of "Daily Occurrences" has these entries :
"Dec 14th, 1799. This day our beloved George Washington died."
at Newark is destitute of the stated services of the ministry, Resolved, that the Wardens and Vestry of the said Church, be authorized to invite, occasionally, any minister of our communion, to officiate in their Church ; and every min- ister of the Church, in this State, is permitted and requested to accept such invitation, during the pleasure of this Convention. Resolved further, That the Bishop of the Church, in the State of New York, be requested to assist the said Church by occasional supplies .- In the meantime, the Rev. Dr. Wharton of Burlington and the Rev. Mr. Jones of Amboy, are particularly requested to officiate there on Sundays the 16th and 23d of the present month, and as often afterwards as either of them conveniently can attend."-Convention Journals of New Jersey.
+ " Memoranda-made on Easter Monday April 6th 1801, Mrs. Pitman takes the House in Pearl Street, the fence & windows to be repaired."-Treas- urer's Account Book.
"Joseph Turner's Bond and Mortgage for purchase of House & Lot on Pearl st. June 3, 1806, $600.00."-Ibid.
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