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 9
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Mere Motion Willed Ordained Constituted and Appointed and by these presents for us our heirs and successors, Doe Will Ordain Constitute Appoint and Grant That the Reverend Mr. John Talbot, master of Arts and the Minister of our Towne of Burlington for the time being Robert Wheeler and George Willis Church Wardens of our sd Church and the two Church Wardens for the time being Coll: Daniel Coxe Lieut. Coll : Hugh Huddy two of our Councill for our said Province Jere- miah Bass Esq our Secretary of our sd Province, Alexander Griffeth, Esq., our Attorney Generall Thomas Revell Daniel Leeds William Bustill William Budd Nathaniel Westland John Roberts Abraham Hewlings, and their Successors to be Elected in Manner as is hereafter Directed be, and forever hereafter shall be one body Politick and Corporate in Deed and in Name by the Name of the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the Church of Saint Mary in Burlington and them and their successors by the same Name We doe by these presents for us Our heirs and successors Really and fully make Ordain Consti- tute and Declare one Body Politick Corporate in Deed and in Name to have Community and succession perpetuall and that they and their Successors by that Name shall and may forever hereafter be persons Able and Capable in the Law to purchase, have, take, receive and Enjoy to them and their Successors, Mes- suages Lands Tenements Rents Liberties Priviledges, Jurisdic- tions, Franchises and Other Heriditaments Whatsoever of Whatsoever Nature, kind and Quality they be, in fee and per- petuity not Exceeding the yearly Value of three hundred Pounds Sterlling per Annum and. also Estates for Lives or Years, and all Goods Chattels and things Whatsoever of What Name Nature Quality or Vallue soever they be, for the better Support and Maintainance of an Orthodox Minister in the sd Church and the promotion of Piety and Religion, and likewise the Maintaining and keeping in good Repaire the Fabrick of the sd Church and providing Decent Ornaments for the Same As Also full Power to Give Grant Bargain Sell and Dispose of any of the sd Lands either for Terme of years or in Fee: Pro- vided always that Such and so many Lands of the full Vallue of such as are sold shall be Bona Fide purchased and Settled for the Uses Aforesd And by the name aforesaid they shall and may be Able to Plead and be Impleaded Answer and be An- swered and to Defend and be Defended in All Courts and Places Whatsoever and before whatsoever Judges, Justices or Other Officers or Other Courts Whatsoever of us, our heirs and Suc- cessors in all and Singular Actions Plaints Pleas Matters and Demands of What kind Nature or Quality soever they be and to
3-
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IN BURLINGTON.
Act and Doe all other matters and things in as Ample manner and form as any Other our Leidge subjects in our Realm of Great Brittain being Persons Able and Capable in the Law within our Realm of Great Brittain can or may have, purchase Receive, Possess take Enjoy sett Lett Demize Plead and be Im- pleaded Answer and be Answered unto Defend and be Defended Doe permitt and Execute And that the sd Corporation forever hereafter shall and may have A Common Seale for the Causes and Businesses of them and their Successors and may Change and Alter the Same at their will and Pleasure AND: for the better Execution of the purposes Aforesd, We doe Give and Grant to the sd John Talbot Robert Wheeler George Willis Coll: Daniel Coxe Lieut. Coll : Hugh Huddy, Jeremiah Bass Alexander Griffeth, Thomas Revell Daniel Leeds William Bustill William Budd Nathaniel Westland John Roberts and Abraham Hewlings and their successors forever that on Monday in Easter Week Yearly at Some Convenient place to be by them Appointed of which Notice shall be Given by the Minister on Easter Day between the hours of Eight and Twelve in the Morn- ing to Elect and Chuse by Majority of Voices, two Church Wardens & so many Vestrymen as shall be wanting to Com- pleat the Number of twelve Vestrymen besides the two Church Wardens out of the most Substantial Communicants of and in the said Church, And we doe further will, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, Ordain and Grant unto the sd Minister, Church wardens and Vestrymen, and their Successors that they and their Successors or the Major part of them shall have power to meet and Assemble at such times and places, and soe Often as they shall think Convenient Publick Notice being Given thereof in the Church the preceding Sunday and shall and may Consult Determine Constitute Ordaine and make any Constitutions Laws Ordinances and Statutes whatsoever pro- vided they be not Contrary to our Laws of our Kingdome of Great Brittain and the present Constitutions of our sd Church of England as also to Execute Leases for three Lives or Twenty- one Years And Also Bargains Sales or Grants in fee upon the proviso Aforesd Which to them or the Major part of them there present shall Seem reasonable Profittable or Requisite for Touch- ing or Concerning the Good Estate Rule Order and Govern- ment of the sd Corporation and for the more Effectuall promoteing the Aforesd Designs AND Whereas it may soe happen that some person or persons that are now, or may hereafter be Chosen to be Church Wardens or of our Vestry of our sd Church may Either Change the place of their Aboad, and Reside out of our County of Burlington or may become Scandalous in his Life &
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Conversation, that then and in Such Cases it Shall and may be Lawfull for the said Minister, Church Wardens and Vestrymen provided there be not less than the Number of Eight that doe Agree to the Same to Suspend or Remove the sd Person or per- sons from being Voteing or Acting as Church Warden or Vestryman, and forthwith to proceed to a New Election of Some Other fitt person in his Roome as they shall see meet and Con- venient AND Lastly our Pleasure is that these our Letters Pattents, or the Involment thereof shall be Good Firm Valled and Effectuall in the Law According to our Royall Intentions herein before Declared IN WITNESS whereof : we have caused these our Letters to be made Pattents and Our Seale of our Province of New Jersey to be hereunto Affixed.
" WITNESS our Trusty and Well beloved Richard Ingoldesby, Esq our Lieut. Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over our Provinces of New Jersey, New York and all the Territories and Tracts of Land Depending thereon in America and Vice Admiral of the Same, &c. AT Burlington, in Our Said Prov- ince of New Jersey, the Twenty fifth day of January, in the Eighth Yeare of our Reign Annoq Dom : 1709.
" J. BASS, Secretary."
BURLINGTON, THE FIRST AMERICAN SEE.
The Report of the S. P. G., for 1710, says: "It having been frequently represented to the Society, that there is a very great want of a Bishop to govern those missionaries whom the Society has, or shall, from time to time, send over to New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and other parts of the continent of North America, as well as the rest of the clergy in those and the adjacent colonies ; and to ordain others, and to confirm the children of the clergy and the laity ; this matter has been most seriously considered of, and is yet depending before the Society ; and in the meantime, and till they can bring it to bear, they are looking out for the best and most commodious place, as near the centre as possible of the above-mentioned colonies, to fix the See for the said Bishop ; and having been informed, that at BUR- LINGTON in New Jersey there is a spacious and very convenient house, with some land belonging to it, (fit for the purpose,) to be disposed of upon good terms, they have empowered the hon- ourable Colonel Hunter, her majesty's governor of New York and the Jerseys, [there having been originally two provinces,
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IN BURLINGTON.
East and West Jersey, the whole when united, was often called ' the Jerseys,'] to treat with the owner for the purchase thereof."
" HONEST AND INDEFATIGABLE." Gov. Hunter to the Secretary. Extract.
" New York 7th May 1711. * * "We are happy in these provinces in a good set of Missionaries, who generally labor hard in their Functions and are men of good lives and ability. Mr. Talbot I have found a perfect honest man, and an indefatigable Laborer: If he had less warmth he might have more success but that's the effect of constitution."
"NOT MUCH PROGRESS." Mr. Bass to Secretary. Extract. "Burlington 17th Decr 1711. "SIR :
" The state of the Church here you will have a just and full account of from the Bearer I wish he were able to give you a good account of the purchase of the house at the point. I think there is not much more progress made in it than was when the Honble Coll Nicholson left these parts but hope it will be con- cluded in the Spring when his Excellency comes to Burlington. I should be very glad to be serviceable either to the Church or the Society in this or any other affair that lies in my power. I beg the favor of your good offices to the bearer and that you will use what interest you have with that Honble Society for the promoting the interest of the best of Churches in these parts by the accelerating the coming of a Bishop amongst us : the Clergy now are more numerous than they were some years past and tis to be feared differences may arise which can no ways be terminated but by his authority. But having wrote largely on this and what other things relating to the interest of the Church in these parts I shall only beg the honor of your continued cor- respondence and that you will believe me to be
" Sir " your affectionate friend " and very humble servant "J. BASS."
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ROYAL REPEAL OF THE NEW FORM OF PROTESTATION.
Locus Sigilli.
Att the Court at St. James's ye 19th of December, 1711. Present The Queen's most Excellt. Maj'ty.
Lord Keeper
Earle of Orkney
Lord Treasurer
Earle of Islay
Lord President
Earle of Dartmouth
Lord Privy Seal
Earle of Ferrers
Lord Chamberlain
Earle of Orrery
Duke of Beaufort
Lord North & Grey
Duke of Hamilton
Lord Lexington
Duke of Kent
Lord Barkley
Lord Steward
Lord Guernsey
Earle of Northampton
Mr. Speaker
Earle of Winchelsea
Mr. Pagett
Earle of Thanet
Mr. Comptroller
Earle of Clarendon
Mr. Secry St. John
Earle of Rochester
Mr. Chancell'r of ye Exchequer
Earle of Abbingdon
Lord Chief Justice Trevor
Earle of Cholmondley
Sr. Charles Hedges
Earle of Mar
Lieut. Gen'll Erle
The Lords Comm'rs for Trade and Plantations having this Day Represented to ye Board, That in Obedience to her Majes- ties Order in Council, they have Considered of ye Address of ye Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry of ye Parish Church of St. Mary's in Birdlington in her Majesties Province of New Jersey, Complaining of an Act lately passed in Pensilvania Constituting a New form of Protestation, repugnant to ye Affir- mation, Enjoined by Act of Parliament here, Entituled, an Act directing an Affirmation to such who for Conscience Sake can- not take an Oath, which the Comisioners find materially to differ from ye Affirmation Enjoined ye Quakers by Act of Parliament here And therefore humbly offerr it as their Opinion that the sd Law be Disallowed, her Majesty taking the same into Consider- acon is pleased with ye advice of her Privy Council pursuant to ye Powers reserved to her Majesty by ye Letters Patents under ye Great Seal of England to William Penn, Esq., Proprietor of ye sd Province of Pensilvania, to declare her Disallowance & Disapprobation of ye sd Law, And According to her Majesties Pleasure, the same is hereby repealed, and Declared Void & of none Effect.
CHRISTO: MUSGRAVE.
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IN BURLINGTON.
THE LATE MR. MOORE'S AFFAIRS.
Col. Morris to John Chamberlayne, Esq. " Feb. 20, 1711.
"' WORTHY SIR :
" My Lord of London laid his commands on me to transmitt him an account of the affairs of Mr Moore, which I have done, and inclosed me duplicates of what Affidavits I sent to his Lordship, and of Mr Sharp's narrative, who kept a Diary while in N. York. I wrote also to the several ministers in New York to tell me what they knew of it to take away all Pretence of acting clandestinely, and to give those of them, who were my Lord Cornburys friends an opportunity of saying what they could in his justification, for you must not wonder that Mr Vesey begins to set up to head a party of those ; I have got no answer from any body but honest Elias Neau, who tells me he has give you what account he could of that matter, which is in- closed with my letter. You may see by those affidavits there could be no such thing as a Parole given, for my Lord was so far from admitting any thing like it that he would not even permitt him to go to Church, tho' security was offered for his return, and most certainly the officer in my Lords absence, durst not besides how can a man be said to be at liberty on his Parole when orders are given from officer to officer, to keep him a Prisoner, and a centinel charged with him ; if he was on his Parole, why was the centinel put in irons, and so severely pun- ished for letting him make his escape, this ought not to have been done if he was on his Parole. I am sure I never heard of any such thing till I saw a Paragraph of your letter to M' Sharp; His Lordship or his friends in England have started that which nobody here ever dream't, could have been possible to offer in a case so well known but the Affidavits will sett that matter in its true light. This pretence that Mr Moore deny'd the Queens Supremacy is as weak as its untrue, for if he really had my Lord had then scope enough to gratify a resentment, which his conduct to M' Moore shew'd he did not want. Bur- lington was not without a strong Goal which would have been a more severe confinement than the Fort of New York, and a
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Tryal upon the Spot where evidences (if any) were to be had, was much more natural as well as justifiable, than sending him to England 3000 miles off, where no such thing could be proved against him. All that M' Moore wanted was to go to England, to lay his complaints at the feet of his superiours, and would he or any of his friends in the least have believed my Lord would have sent him there, he never would have undertaken so hazardous expensive and fatigueing a journey to New England in order to procure a passage home, no, his fears suggested other things and whether groundless or not I shall not determine, I have heard it offered that the reason of my Lords intentions in sending Mr Moore home, was because he was cautious in meddling in Ecclesiastical affairs, why then did he confirm that ridiculous- suspition of Mr Moore by Coll Ingoldsby that was properly an ecclesiastical affair, and meddling with a witness but of this- enough." Colonial History of N. York, Vol. V : pp. 318-9.
"THE CONGREGATION ALL IN A FLAME."
Gov. Hunter to the Secretary. Extracts. "New York Feby 25th 1711
"This serves for Prologue to a story which I believe will no less surprize you than it startled me.
"Col. Heathcote told me he was privately informed that there had been a representation against me carried about to some of. the Clergy for Subscription ; I could not believe it being con- scious to myself of nothing that I had done, left undone, or intended, with relation to the Churchs Interest, that the most consumate malice could ground a representation. upon. That worthy gentleman was of the same opinion but positive that there was such a representation, for which reason he in con- junction with Coll Morris as members of the society thought fit to write a letter to Mr. Vesey & Mr. Henderson in whose hands they understood this paper to be & who were the principal con- trivers and Promoters of it. there came over hither one Mr. Henderson a missionary with a new Light * he is upon his departure to England charged with the clandes- tine representation. This young Gentleman came from England
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IN BURLINGTON.
not long agoe for Dover Hundred of Pensilvania whether he disliked the people or the people him I cannot tell but lie remayned but a very short time among them and returning to Burlington in the Jerseys Mr. Talbot got him to supply his place during his absence, being come himself to New York to pursue a resolution he had taken of going for England ; Col. Quary acquainted me that in his passage through Burlington he found that poor congregation all in a flame, Mr. Henderson it seems had thought fit in performing Divine Service to leave out that prayer in the Litany for Victory over her Majtys Enne- mies, and the prayer appointed to be said in time of War ; The chiefe of that Congregation had took exceptions at this, but he gave them no other reasons for so doing but that Mr. Talbot had done so, they replyd that having been long acquainted with Mr. Talbots exemplary life they were willing to bear with his scruples, but he could pretend none having formerly never omitted them & further that this would look as if that congrega- tion could not bear any such prayers which was a thing far from their hearts, and entreated him to pray as he was appointed by his superiors, or they would not willingly assist at them for the future. Mr. Quary desired me to speak to Mr. Talbot upon this head ; I begg'd of him first to do so, and then if there was any necessity I wou'd, he did so, & the result was that Mr. Talbot went back to Burlington and Mr. Henderson came hither to go for England in his place, having in charge the secret Rep" mentioned ; I have now bargained with Mr. Tatham for that House and Land at Burlington & as you will observe by the enclosed Deed marked (C) have reserved the space to four months for the Societie's Assent or dissent, which I beg I may have speedily that we may not be loaded with Interest. The house is much out of repair and will be in a Short time uninhabitable, if there be not directions given for repairs."
MR. TALBOT BUYS A HOUSE.
On the 16th of March, 1711, Hugh Huddy, " for the sume of One Hundred & fforty pounds of currant silver money att the
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rate of nine shillings & two pence pr ounce," conveyed to " John Talbot, Clerk," a house, and lot containing 23 acres of land fronting on the East side of Second [afterwards named Talbot] street, between the land of John and Jonathan Fox and the land of Walter Humphrey, 21 perches and 10 feet. Also, 23 perches of land next adjoining. M' Huddy delivered the property into the possession of Mr Talbot in the presence of Robert Wheeler, Thomas Gilberthorp and George Willis, and received £140, "in full sattisfaction therefor."
The Deed was acknowledged before Daniel Coxe, Oct. 27th 1711, and " entered in the publique Records of the Province," in " Lib A. A. A. folio 376, 377, by J. Bass, Secretary." Original Deed.
THE S. P. G. BUY THE TATHAM PROPERTY.
On the 29th of October, 1712,-" in the Eleventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne, by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith "-"his Excellency Robert Hunter Esq, Captain Gen- eral and Governor in Chief of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey and the Territories depending on them in America, &c, and one of the Members of the Right Honorable, the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in fforeign Parts," in behalf of said Society, purchased for " £600, sterling money of England," t the famous property " at the Point ; " the Survey of which, by Daniel Leeds in 1689, and the description of its " Great and Stately Palace," # by Gabriel Thomas in 1698, are given on pp. 11 and 17.
+ In 1712, there is the following report: "The Society did little else this year in the cause of the Church abroad, but finish the contract for the house at Burlington, [known afterwards as BURLINGTON HOUSE,] mentioned in the abstract of 1711, as the best and most commodious place for fixing one of the Bishops' Sees ; which was effected by agreement between John Tatham, gent., and his excellency Robert Hunter, Esq .; the former having made over the fee simple for ever to the Society, on the valuable consideration of six hun- dred pounds English sterling, or nine hundred pounds current money of New York, to be computed eight shillings each ounce, at the expiration of four calendar months, after the date thereof, Feb. 26, 1711."
¿ The first occupant of this "Palace"-John Tatham, a man of great wealth and culture, (whose Will, and Inventory, in the Secretary's office at Trenton, afford much information concerning him)-died in 1701, and left
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IN BURLINGTON.
TO BE MADE HABITABLE FOR A BISHOP. Messrs. Evans and Talbot to the Society. " Burlington, December 4th, 1712.
"RIGHT REVEREND AND RIGHT HON. SIRS :
" In these parts of the world the great enemy of mankind hath for many hundred years ruled with an uninter- rupted sway, and we are sensible that he doth and will use all the means possible to hinder and discourage the Missionaries, whose business it is to promulgate the Gospel, and by that means to deliver his Captives from the greatest slavery into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Our Great Master hath, in these parts, raised us up some faithful friends of all ranks who are zealously affected both to us and the work we are engaged in, and nothing now seems more wanting to establish the Church, in a flourishing state, than the residing of a Bishop amongst us in these parts ; which we are in hopes it will not be long before we are blessed with, since we are informed the Hon- orable Society have closed the bargain for the house at the point, and directed the fitting it up for the reception of a Bishop. We are sorry any accident should have altered so charitable and good a design, and therefore you may imagine it was with no little concern that we beheld the damage done by fire, on one part of the house, since the closing of the bargain, (though before any possession was given to any person on account of the Society.) On the 23d October, in the afternoon, by the foul- ness of the chimney and carelessness of one Stiles, who kept possession for Mr. Tatham, the fire took on the top of the Roof, but by the industry and care of all sorts of people was extin- guished with the loss of part of the Roof of that part of the house that lieth next the Town, and little other damage. His Excellency the Governor, by his letter to Mr. Talbot of the 3d November, 1712, hath directed him to repair the house and make it habitable for a Bishop; which since it could not be
it to his widow, Elizabeth. She died shortly afterwards, and left it to Thomas Revell, in trust for her children, being minors. Her son-likewise named John-and Mary, his wife, of New York, executed to Gov. Hunter, the Deed, from which these particulars are drawn, and which was acknowledged before David Jamison, Esq., Chief Justice of the Province of New Jersey.
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done this winter, as your Honours may see by the enclosed cer- tificate, we thought it more advisable to acquaint the Society thereof, as also. our opinion that it would be less chargeable and more certain, if the Society would please to give order to some person in this Town to manage that work, and believe Mr. Sec- retary Bass hath already (without any directions) taken care to provide some things necessary for the covering the House and fencing the Garden, &c., and whose zeal for the interests of the Church, and particularly for the coming over of a Bishop, we believe is not unknown to the Honorable Society, if his letters of the 22d May, 1711, with the enclosed papers, were communi- cated to the Society. We herewith send the Honorable Society the carpenter's opinion about the repairs, and believe that the sending Glass, Sheet Lead, Nails, &c., from England would be both better and cheaper than to purchase them here. We earnestly pray for a blessing on your pious endeavours for the Glory of God and good of his Church, and remain with all imaginable deference,
"Right Reverend and Right Honorable, " Your most obedient and faithful " Humble Servants,
"EVAN EVANS, "JOHN TALBOT."
FROM THE CLERGY AT A GENERAL MEETING.
" May it please the Honorable Society
" As your Honble Body has recommended to us in particular manner the maintaining a correspondence among ourselves in order to cherish a Brotherly affection so we have made it our business ever since we had the Letter by our Revd Brother Mr Henderson to take the most effectual measures we could think of to carry on the said most useful christian design and as we of the province of Pensilvania have fixed upon certain times to meet together so to render the correspondence so earnestly recommended to us the more extensive and consequently the more acceptable to our Honble Superiors.
" We at our meeting at Philadelphia agreed at a Motion made
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IN BURLINGTON.
by some of our Bretheren of New York and New Jersey con- cerning a General Meeting of the Clergy of the said provinces and us in prosecution of the said Motion, we fixed upon this day and place and tho' we make no doubt of our Bretherens good inclinations to give us a Meeting, yet to our surprize none of them besides one Reverend Brother M' Talbot thought fit to be present ; the reason of this unexpected disappointment we cannot find out except the Governor of New York his summon- ing our Bretheren to meet at New York much about this time, which we cannot chuse but construe from what we can learn from very good hands, to be done to frustrate our well designed endeavours to follow the Instructions given to us by the Honble Society in this particular we have nothing further that is material to add having by this very opportunity written at large to the Board we beg leave to conclude this with an account of our going directly from this place to the opening of a New Church at Oxford where M' Talbot is to preach upon that occa- sion & with our hearty prayers for a constant blessing upon the most Christian endeavors of our Hon'ble patrons and Benefac- tors, we are with all imaginable deference
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