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 7
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
" In Witness whereof I have set my hand & seal this
day of Novembr one thousand seven hundred & seven.
" THOR MOORE. [L. S.]" " Sign'd, sealed & delivered In ye presence of us Samuel Myles Tho: Barclay John Brooke John Talbot"
75
IN BURLINGTON.
WILL OF THE REV. JOHN BROOKE.
"I John Brooke Clerk one of ye Missionarys of ye Revª and Honble Society for propagating ye Gospel in Foreign parts being now about to leave America and to undertake a long and dan- gerous voyage to England and not knowing whether it shall please the Almighty yt I ever live to arrive there, I do by these presents certify yt if I dye in yt my intended voyage I do freely give my Dear Brothers Richard Brooke and William Brooke of Clark-Heaton near Bradford in Yorkshire ye half years Salary due to my executor after my decease by ye Bounty of ye said Society, and whatever else my Sister Agnes Hull in Basing hall street in London has of mine in her hands. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of November in ye yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seven.
"JOHN BROOKE. [L. S.]"
"Signed Sealed and delivered in ye presence of us John Talbot Rob: Owen John Brocas Hugh Venables"
CORNBURY'S ACCOUNT OF MOORE AND BROOKE. Lord Cornbury to the Secretary. " New York 29th Nov 1707.
"SIR :
"Yours of the 18th of April 1706 came to my hands on the 13th instant for which I return you thanks. I intreat you to assure the Honorable Society that nothing shall be wanting on my part to promote their good and pious designs to the utmost of my power and understanding. I could wish all those Gentle- men whom the Honorable Society have sent over had by a care- full performance of their duty answered the intent of their mission and it is with a great deal of grief that I am obliged to say that Mr. Thorowgood Moore and Mr. Brookes have not only not answered the intent of their mission but have done the church more harm than I am afraid they will ever do it good. I did in my letter of the 23d of August give you an account of the behaviour of Mr. Moore to the Lieutenant Gov" Colonel Ingoldsby at Burlington on Easter day 1706. I hope that letter came safe to your hands. I am sorry to find that Mr.
76
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Moores behaviour in that case has very near ruined that church but having writ to you fully upon that unpleasant subject before, I shall forbear saying anything of it now but shall proceed to give you an account of Mr. Brooke's last method of proceeding here in these parts : Mr. Brookes hearing that I had brought Mr. Moore to this place with me came to visit him frequently here, tho' at the same time he neglected his Churches in East Jersey.
"On the 12th day of September I left this place to go to Albany leaving directions with my family to take care that Mr. Moore should want for nothing in my absence; about ten days after I had left New York I had letters to acquaint me that Mr. Moore had made his escape out of the Fort and that Mr. Brookes & he were gone off together. I took no notice of it till I returned to New York which was on the 12th of Oct", then I enquired of the Officer of the guard what was become of Mr. Moore, who told me that the day he made his escape Mr. Brookes & Mr. Morris had dined with him, that after dinner Mr. Brookes went away and returned about 4 of the clock and coming through the gate asked the Century if he had orders to stop any body, who told him no. Mr. Brookes went up to Mr. Moore's room & in a few minutes Mr. Moore came down & went out of the Fort and a little afterwards Mr. Brookes, upon which the Century finding his error called his officer who immediately ran out of the Fort but could not find Mr. Moore.
"On the 16th of Oct", I left this place to go to Amboy to meet the Assembly of New Jersey, when I arrived there I enquired for Mr. Brookes. I was told he was gone to New England with Mr. Moore. I could not believe it at first for tho' I knew him to be very indiscreet in many things yet did not think him mad enough to leave his Churches but upon farther enquiry I found that after having travelled from place to place to get the ministers of the provinces of New York, New Jersey & Pensilvania to sign a petition to the Queen against me he was gone to join Mr. Moore in New England in order to go for old England together; now if the ministers which the Honble Society think fit to send over and maintain here are to be independent of the Government under no controul & at Liberty to do what they please to go where they please it is but
77
*
IN BURLINGTON.
reasonable that those who have the honour to serve the Queen as Governors of Provinces. ought to have it signified to them that they may not intermeddle with them, how it will be for the service of the Church to have it so I submit to better Judg- ment but sure I am that Mr. Moore's asserting as he did in all companies at Burlington that the Gov" had no authority over him, that he was accountable to nobody but to my Lord Bishop of London & that he would order the affairs of the Church as he thought proper has done the Church no service no more than his affronting the Lieut Gov" as is before mentioned.
"I am Sir " Your very humble Servant " CORNBURY."
A GOVERNOR NEEDED IN CHURCH AND STATE.
Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. "N. York Jan. 10th 170g
" HONORED SIR :
"I got safe here, blessed be God, at Christmas, but I can't pro- ceed, no boat can cross the Sound for Ice. * *
I saw the Honble Col. Heathcote who is the finest gentleman I have seen in America. I wish the report were true that he were appointed Gov", it would be the best news next to that of the Gospell that ever came over. Methinks 'tis an easy matter for some of the Honble Society to prevail with the Queen that one of your Honble members might be a Gov" she having promised to be allways ready to do her part towards the carrying on so good a work, which cannot be carryed on without a good Govr in Church and State. Now Bishop Heathcote would serve for Both the best of any I know, if he had but his commission. We live in hopes and the wicked in fears that their days will be shortened. . I pray God for his elects sake they may, and mode- ration in getting of money may take place; the want of that is- the root of all evil. I am to send Colonel Heathcote my travel- ling library that he may try his hand with the Stiffnecked Quakers ; he if anybody will persuade them to see ; he has the best temper of all, if a man cou'd hit it to be gentle towards all
78
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
men and zealous of all good works. Some courses must be taken with these Anti Christians who are worse than the Turks and if they be let alone will encrease to an abominable desolation. I shall say no more but betake myself to my prayers. Arise, O Lord Jesu Christ, help us, and deliver us for thine honour. Since Mr. Brooke Mr. Moore and Mr. Evans went away there's an Independancy set up again at Elizabeth Town, Anabaptism at Burlington and the Popish Mass at Philadelphia. I thought that the Quakers would be the first to let it in, particularly Mr. Penn, for if he has any religion 'tis that, but thus to tollerate all without controul is the way to have none at all. My duty and service to the members of the Honorable Society; if they can do anything now is the time. I hope they will consider of them in time; so God prosper their good endeavors, and these of, Sir, yours &c
" JOHN TALBOT."
" I hope Mr. Brooke and Mr. Moore are safe arrived. There was the wisdom of the Serpent and the innocency of the Dove in those men, but neither will protect them from evil speaking &c."
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TROUBLE.
Col. Quary to the Bishop of London. Extract. " Philadelphia 20th Jany 170g
"I am obliged to give your Lordship some account of another gentleman of the clergy one Mr. Moore who goes for England with Mr. Brooke, or rather Mr. Brooke goes with him ; this gentleman I have always had a great value for, the first time I saw him was at Albany when I attended my Lord hither his Lordship paid him all imaginable kindness and respect the design of his mission was to live among the Indians but that not answering his Excellency consented to his going to Burlington in order to supply the Rev Mr. Talbot on his going for Eng- land; he had not been settled long in that place before an unhappy difference fell out between the Queen's Lieutenant Governor Colonel Ingoldsby and Mr. Moore the Lieutenant Governor had a very great kindness for him and in
79
IN BURLINGTON.
riding out with him to pay a visit or take the air amongst variety of subjects they discoursed of Mr. Moore asked Colonel Ingoldsby if he had so much patience and christian temper as to take a Box on the ear without resentment or returning the injury to which he answered with some warmth that he neither would nor could take such an affront from any man without a due resentment whether this may be called a proper question or an ensnaring one considering the Lieut. Governors circum- stances being a soldier and got his living by his sword I will leave your Lordship to judge some short time after Mr. Moore had appointed a sacrament at Burlington church the Colonel and his Family resolved to be partakers and in order to it was constantly all the week before at the Morning and Evening prayers in the church. Mr. Moore very well knew that it was his design to be a communicant. The Sunday came Colonel Ingoldsby with his Lady and Daughter were at church ; after the Sermon was ended and all things in a readi- ness for approaching to the Holy Ordinance Mr. Moore came to the Colonel's seat I think as he was going out of it and asked him if he was of the same opinion that he had formerly declared, the question surprised the Colonel who had forgot the discourse so that he told him that he did not know what he meant but Mr. Moore having put him in mind of the time place and cir- cumstances the Lieutenant Governor told him he was of the same mind still when Mr. Moore forbid him to approach the Holy Table, for he would not give him the sacrament, to which the Lieutenant Governor very prudently told him that he would withdraw and give no disturbance to the congregation and accordingly he went out of the church his Lady and Daughter following him. I need not tell your Lordship that this usage was resented by the Colonel as an affront and injustice done him this action made a very great noise in the Country and most gave their opinion very freely both Clergy and Laity. The members of the church were divided some condemning Mr. Moore others excusing him but the generality of all sorts thought it a very rash and unadvised action of Mr. Moore and thought that he ought to have gone to the Lieut. Governors house and discoursed him and followed the primitive method
80
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
and discipline.
I have reason to believe that Mr. Moore was prevailed with by some friends to endeavor a recon- ciliation and to make some steps towards it. I went immediately to Colonel Ingoldsby and said all that I. could or was proper for me I found him very positive not to hearken to any accommodation unless Mr. Moore would own his own mistake before the whole congregation where he had affronted him. I told him I thought he carried his resentments too high and that in my opinion Mr. Moore ought not to do what he expected and gave him my reason and at parting I told his honor that I would advise Mr. Moore not to comply with what his honor expected from him * thus matters
* grew worse and worse every day till at last the Lieut. Governor resolved that my Lord should either remove Mr. Moore or him out of that government."
"THE GREATEST OBSTACLE."
Col. Morris to the Secretary. Extracts.
170g
* " I believe you will be surprised when I mention my Lord Cornbury as the greatest obstacle that either has or is likely to prevent the growth of the Church in these parts, the pernicious effects of his Arbitrary conduct if not prevented by the Society will render it (humanly speaking) impossible to pro- pagate the Church in this part if not in any part of America and make the best designs of the Society ineffectual.
" I cannot say I am very much surprised to find so large a character of him in the account of the proceedings of the Society because the best and greatest of men may be imposed upon by mercenary or mistaken pens; but I am sorry they have been so much abused by the accounts they have had of him ; for he is a man certainly the reverse of all that's good and a great reproach to the Church. In the first place he is a notorious breaker of his word, he has subscribed to several churches but can't be prevailed upon to pay a farthing, says he did it to encourage others and who ever asks for it is sure to feel the effects of his displeasure.
1
81
IN BURLINGTON.
" 2ndly He is avowedly and openly unjust in everybody's debt that would trust him and in the little Town of New York he · is said not to owe less than £8000 much of this to Shopkeepers Bakers Butchers &c who cannot get a farthing from him though under the greatest necessity for want of it and it's hardly credible what a damp to the Trade of that little Town the deten- tion of that Sum is. The scandal of his life is such that were he in a civilized Heathen Country he would by the public Justice be made an example to deter others from his practices, he rarely fails of being drest in Womens Cloaths every day and almost half his time is spent that way and seldom misses it on a Sacra- ment day was in that Garb when his dead Lady was carried out of the fort and this not privately but in face of the Sun and in sight of the Town ; But I'll not enter into his privacies, his public vices are scandalous enough; were there nothing in it but his ill example it must needs be a great hindrance to the growth of the church there being nothing more common in the mouths of the enemies of our religion than the instancing of my Lord Cornbury as a Churchman and an esteemed great patron of it, were there nothing else I say but his Scandalous life which makes our Holy profession be had in Contempt and evil spoken of it it were enough in so public a person as my Lord to put a great stop to the growth of it, but such is so far from being a patron of it that he has done more to ruin it than all its enemies put together.
" In New Jersey the inhabitants have reason to grieve that ever such a person as my Lord Cornbury was bornt whose con-
7 In a long remonstrance of the Assembly of New Jersey, in 1707, against Cornbury's tyranny, we find this paragraph :
" Are not her Majesty's loyal subjects haul'd to goals, and there lie without being admitted to bail ? and those that are the conditions of their recogni- zances are, that if your Excellency approves not of their being bailed, they shall return to their prisons ; several of her Majesty's good subjects forced to abscond, and leave their habitations, being threatened with imprisonment, and no hopes of receiving the benefit of the law ; when your Excellency's absolute will is the sole measure of it: One minister of the Church of England, dragg'd by a sheriff from Burlington to Amboy, and there kept in custody, without assigning any reason for it, and at last haul'd by force into a boat by your Excellency, and transported like a malefactor, into another government, and there kept in a garrison a prisoner; and no reason assigned for these vio- lent procedures, but your Excellency's pleasure : Another minister of the Church of England, laid under a necessity of leaving the province, from the
F
82
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
duct as it was imprudently violent to the Dissenters in his government of New York so on the contrary it was unaccount- ably severe to the Churchmen in New Jersey as if he had studied to take measures diametrically opposite to the true interest of the Church : a great part of that people had their religion to choose and of those that had made a choice many of them were so indifferent that it was no very difficult matter to perswade them not to be over tenacious of their principles they had as it were by chance taken up. The Government being out of the hands of the Proprietors and the fame of a Society being erected for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts reaching here many of those who were indifferent and those who had their religion to choose were fond of being of the Church *
when behold a sudden change blasted all our growing hopes and has at last entirely ruined the church in New Jersey and in my humble opinion except the Country engages very powerfully in an affair of this consequence the example of the proceedings in New Jersey will prove fatal to all the churches in English America. To accuse so great a man as the Governor of a province may arraign me of want of that respect and due regard which is owing to my superiors and which in an especial manner ought to be paid but Sir I have a greater regard to God than man to truth and the trust the Society reposes in every Member of their Body than to my Lord Cornbury and tho' some men have been sur- prised into a good opinion of his Lordship I am well assured a longer acquaintance and better information will give them different sentiments."
reasonable apprehensions of meeting with the same treatment; no orders of men either sacred or civil, secure in their lives, their liberties or estates ; and where these procedures will end, God only knows." Smith's History, p. 333.
"Her Majesty graciously listened to the cries of her injur'd subjects, and divested him of his power, declaring, that she would not countenance her nearest relations in oppressing her people.
" As soon as my Lord was superceded, his creditors threw him into the custody of the sheriff of New York ; and he remained there till the death of his father, when succeeding to the earldom of Clarendon, he returned to England.
" We never had a governor so universally detested, nor any who so richly deserved the publick abhorrence." History of New York, p. 116.
83
IN BURLINGTON.
NO NEWS FROM MESSRS. BROOKE AND MOORE. Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Philadelphia, 20th August, 1708.
" HONORABLE SIR :
" I have written several letters to you from Boston and New York by Brothers Brookes and Moore; but I am afraid they are all lost together ; they have been nine months gone, and we saw them not since, nor any news of them. I met them at Boston and would persuade them to return, but all in vain ; they had been so dragooned that they had rather be taken into France than into the Fort at New York. I have carried on t ever since at Burlington as well as I could, and I thank God with success wherever I am; but I cannot stay long at any place, because there are so many that want, certainly the present state of that province is worse than the first ; we have lost our labour and the Society their cost, their being several Churches and no ministers in all East Jersey to supply them, so that they fall away apace to Heathenism, Quakerism and Atheism, purely for lack of looking after. Mr. Brooks and Mr. Moore are much lamented, being the most pious and industrious Missionaries that ever the Honorable Society sent over ; let the adversaries say what they will they can prove no evil thing against these men. I have heard all sides and parties, what can be said pro or con. Mr. Honeyman is outed, Mr. Nicholls scouted into Maryland ; he had come home had I not dissuaded him, and I could have hindered all the rest of these scandals and disorders but that we had no Bishop nor hopes of any ; you would not hear of it, therefore I said you must hear worse and worse still, if aught can be worse than that the bodies and souls of men are ruined and undone, and the Bounty of the Society lost, for lack of an overseer of the poor Church in America ; without which the Gospel cannot be planted, nor any good work propagated in the World. The Bible you sent to Hopewell I was willing to take to Burlington till more came over, because ours is worn out ; they that come I hope will bring Books with them. I shall
This expression, with reference to officiating, was common for nearly a century. It has a very different meaning now !
84
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
write more particularly by the next opportunity. God bless all our friends of the Honorable Society, remaining theirs and " Your humble servant,
"JOHN TALBOT."
"SOMEBODY MUST ANSWER." Mr. Talbot to the Secretary. " Burlington, 24th August, 1708. " HONORABLE SIR :
" It is now nine months ago since I parted with Mr. Brooks and Mr. Moore at Boston; I sent letters by them, but we are much afraid all are miscarried. I was always glad to see them but much surprised to meet them both there ; they told me what hardship they met with from the Governors of New York and Jersey, and how they escaped out of their hands; I was for converting them back again, telling them the dangers of the sea and the enemy, but poor Thorowgood said he had rather be taken into France than into the Fort at New York ; and if they were sunk in the sea, they did not doubt but God would receive them, since they were persecuted for righteousness, that is for Christ's sake and his Gospel, and doing their duty to the best of their knowledge. Truly as it was in the beginning so I find it in the end ; all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ; but somebody must answer for these things at home or abroad. If I could have given them any hopes of a Bishop or Suffragan to direct or protect them, I believe they would not have gone; nay, I would have hindered them ; but, alas ! I had no such hopes myself: I came over to be as good as my word rather than on any encouragement to do any good; mean- while, I am pure from the Blood of all men ; ye are my Wit- nesses that I pleaded with all my soul to send an overseer of this poor Church, but you would not hear ; therefore is this evil come upon us. I don't doubt but by God's mercy their souls are not miscarried, they are in peace wheree'r they be I don't doubt ; but we Christians in Jersey are most miserable ; we have Churches now but no ministers to open them, and
85
IN BURLINGTON.
if the gate of Heaven be shut, the gates of Hell will soon prevail against us.
" This comes to you in the bosom of Mr. Moore's which he gave me at Boston, which was the last that I had of him ; he is much lamented, as indeed they are both ; as for Thorowgood, I never knew his fellow of his age, nor ever shall again I fear ; nothing can make this country amends for their loss but a good Bishop; but alas ! that is rara avis in terris, &c. I preached the Gospel at Marble-Head, where the people offered to sub- scribe some hundreds of pounds to build a Church ; but I have resolved to build no more Churches till there are more ministers to serve the Churches that are built. I preached at Stratford as I came along in Connecticut Colony, where was a numerous auditory, and Mr. Muirson had forty Communicants there the first time ever the Holy Sacrament was rightly administered ; and upon the Islands, Rhode Island, Long Island, and Staten Island, I preached till the Winter broke up, when I got to Amboy and Elizabeth Town, where had been nobody since Mr. Brook left them, who was an able and diligent Missioner as ever came over ; I got home about our Lady day, where I was very welcome to all Christian people, but alas ! I could not stay, I am forced to turn Itinerant again, for the care of all the Churches from East to West Jersey is upon me; what is the worst is that I can't confirm any nor have not a Deacon to help me. My Clerk is put in prison, and was taken from the Church on the Lord's day upon a civil action of meum and tuum. I don't know how soon I may be seized so myself, but I bless God I fear no evil so long as I do none; Exurgat deus dissipentur inimic, &c. I hear there is another Governor coming for these provinces ; people are sorry it is another Lord, for they say there never came a good one into these parts. I may say of them as the Quakers did of me, 'Thee comest for money,' but I proved them Liars, for I have taken no money of them nor yet of others since I came. I shall say no more on this point but refer all to Mr. Moore's letter, which I hope will have some weight with the Honorable Society, because they are the last words of their best Missioner when he was in prison for the Gospel of Christ. and for a good conscience. His humble proposal is that the
86
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Honorable Society would use their interest with the Queen that we might have men of morals for Governors, if not of Religion ; I say the same, and pray God direct them all for the best; so I desire your prayers for,
" Sir, " Your most humble servant, " JOHN TALBOT."
LORD LOVELACE SUCCEEDS CORNBURY.
" John, Lord Lovelace, baron of Hurley, being appointed to succeed lord Cornbury ; he summoned the council to meet him at Bergen, December 20, 1708, published his commission, and met a new assembly in the spring, at Perth-Amboy, and in- formed them : That he was very sensible of great difficulties attending the honourable employment in which her majesty had placed him, and he hoped they would never fail to assist him to serve the queen and her people ; that her majesty had shewn, in the whole course of her reign (a reign glorious beyond example) how much she aim'd at the good and prosperity of her people ; having with indefatigable pains united her two kingdoms of England and Scotland, and continued the same application to unite the minds of all her subjects ; that this was her great care, and ought to be the care of those whom she deputed to govern the distant provinces ; that as he could not set before him a better pattern, he should endeavour to recommend him- self to them, by following as far as he was able, her example ; that he should always be ready to give his assent to whatever laws they found necessary, for promoting religion and virtue ; for the encouragement of trade and industry, and discourage- ment of vice and prophaneness, and for any other matter or thing relating to the good of the province.
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.