USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 70
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 70
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 70
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 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
The troubles and privations produced by the Revo- lutionary war fell heavily on the congregation, and, to increase their difficulties, it became necessary to build a new meeting-house. The ground was pur- chased in 1775, and subscriptions obtained to com- mence the work, but it was not until May 1, 1780, that the first stone of the "Old Stone Church" was laid, and on June 14th it was raised and the roof put on. On Sept. 7, 1780, Mr. Hollinshead preached the first sermon in it, but a year passed before it was completed and everything in good working order. In 1783 the society was incorporated by a special aet of Assembly, and in the same year Mr. Hollinshead left, having heen chosen pastor of the principal church in Charleston, S. C., where he remained until his death, in 1817. A very signal revival of religion occurred in the winter of 1780-81. The next spring forty-eight new members were added, and the sue- cecding winter forty-six more, followed by a few others; in all, during these years, one hundred and fifteen.
In 1786 the parsonage was rented on shares. In 1788 the Rev. Ethan Osborn, then thirty years old, of Litchfield, Conu., having visited Philadelphia, was induced by the Rev. Dr. Sproat to extend his journey to Fairfield. Hle preached for them on trial for six months, as was the custom. Having received a unani- mous call to be pastor, he accepted it, and was or- dained and installed Dec. 3, 1789. Ile married in 1794, and commenced housekeeping at the parsonage, but in a few years purchased the homestead about a inile from his church, on the northeast side of the road leading to Cedarville, where he took up his resi- dence in 1803, and continued to occupy it fifty-five years, transmitting it to his family. In 1807 it was resolved to sell the parsonage, and the salary was put at four hundred dollars. It was soon subsequently slightly increased. Judge Elmer says, "Mr. Osborn was a remarkable man, and obtained a character and influence not only in his congregation, but through-
out the county, which no one else can expect to emu- late."
The total number of members in 1831 was three hundred and thirty-six, and the congregation had so increased that the Old Stone Church had become filled. Not a pew, and scarcely a sitting either on the floor or in the spacious galleries could be obtained by a new-comer. During his pastorate, which lasted fifty-five years, he admitted more than six hundred members to the communion of his church.
'Iu 1836, having reached his seventy-eighth year, Rev. David Mckee was installed as co-pastor, and continued in this relation about two years. In 1844, at the age of eighty-six, Mr. Osborn offered his resig- nation, and in April the Third Presbytery of Phila- delphia (New School) dissolved this pastoral relation, and adopted a minute of peculiar interest. His last sermon was preached in 1850, in the Old Stone Church, just prior to the removal of the congregation to Fair- ton, being a solemn farewell to that place, hallowed by so many endearing associations, and to the people so long under his charge. From this time his faculties gradually decayed, but he survived eight years longer. lle died of old age alone, with no disease, May 1, 1858. At the time of his decease he lacked only three months and twenty days to make his age one hundred years. The number of marriages that he solemnized and the number of funerals he attended during his prolonged ministerial career were enormous. When he offered his resignation in 1814 there was but one person living who was a member of the church when he became pastor ; but few could remember his coming. The pastorate of " Father Osborn," as he was univer- sally styled in his latter years, was like his general life, tranquil, and marked chiefly by revivals. The story of his most remarkable and worthy life and min- istry is well told in the volume ou " The Pastor of the Old Stone Church," by his immediate successor, the Rev. Beriah B. Hotchkin, D.1).
The number of persons nurtured in this church who became distinguished in life, many of whose ancestors held high offices of trust therein, is re- markable. Brief sketches of a few such are given elsewhere.
The congregation worshiping in the Stone Church, which joined the New School party, removed in the spring of 1850 to J'airton, where a fine edifice, thirty- eight by fifty-two feet, was erected. John Trenchard and Theophilus Harris, the building committee, re- ported, March 29, 1850, the honse was completed. The pastoral relation of Rev. B. B. Ilotchkiu was dissolved, agreeably to his request, June 11th. The Rev. D. C. Mceker, having preached as supply, a call was extended to him, which he accepted, and he was installed Feb. 12, 1851. A new parsonage was com- pleted in 1853. The Rev. James Boggs, having been employed as supply for nearly nine months, receiving and accepting a call, was ordained May 19, -1857. Mr. Boggs continued to labor on until the autumn of
.
668
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
1866. The congregation so increasing that the build- October, 1838. when thirty-five came with certificat . ing became too small for them, it was resolved to enlarge the church, and Messrs. George E. Elmer and Theophilus Trenchard were appointed the building committee. In 1862 they reported the work com- pleted. The church as enlarged seats about five hundred. The Rev. HI. S. Johnson, ou the with- drawal of Mr. Boggs, was obtained as stated supply, which arrangement continued for a little more than two years and a half. Messrs. George S. Whitecar, Samuel II. Williams, and Theophilus Tomlinson ap- péared in Session for the first time as ruling elders March 31, 1867. A chapel was erected that year at the rear end of the church, which is used for Sunday- school purposes. The whole cost of lot and building in Fairton amounts to about five thousand dollars. The Rev. Mr. Johnson's labors closed May 9, 1869. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Beach Jones was invited to preach as supply on the following Sabbath, which invitation he accepted, and thus continued until laid aside by apoplexy, Sabbath morning, Oct. 4, 187-4. His services had been very acceptable to them. The Rev. Samuel Rutherford Anderson, of Tuckerton, was invited to come and preach for a year. Having accepted, he took charge Feb. 15, 1875. He was installed pastor Nov. 12, 1875. In April, 1883, Rev. Mr. Anderson resigned his charge, and his resigna- tion was presented by Rev. Henry Reeves on the first Sunday in May. Mr. Reeves has since been supply for the church, preaching regularly.
At present there are five elders and oue hundred and forty members.
The Sunday-school has had the following super- intendents : Joseph Dayton, Josiah Bennett, Theophi- ilus Trenchard, James Campbell, Ephraim HI. Whit- ecar, Levi J. Craig, and James II. Ehner. The school consists of one hundred and seventy members.
The First Presbyterian Church, Cedarville .- In 1818, when the Stone Church at New England Town was the only Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, and when nearly all the people of Cedarville attended worship there, there was a Sabbath-school organized and sustained in a school-house called "Friendship," situated on the south side of the dam in that place. This school was organized on the 13th of September, 1818, with one hundred and ninety scholars. The first officers were John (afterwards Rev.) Burtt and Norton O. Lawrence. It was organized by and under the supervision of a committee of twelve gentlemen, of whom the Rev. Ethan Osborn was one. It was made the duty of the superintendent to make a report quarterly to the patrons of the school, and from these reports, which have been preserved, we learn that this carly institution of the kind strictly adhered to the . original idea that the Sabbath-school is for the study of the Bible. The distance to the mother-church was very great, and a considerable number of people were compelled to walk to the church, so an organization of a church at Cedarville was effected on the 23d of
from the Old Stone Church and four from otur churches. The Rev. George W. Janvier preachr.l the sermon at the organization. On the 28th of No. vember following, Asa Fish (who had been an cher of the old church), David Whitecar, and David Harris were ordained elders. Previous to the ordi- nation of the elders, on November 10th a board of trustees, consisting of tive persons, was chosen. The Rev. David Mckee preached for a time for the new organization, but was not settled over it as pastor. The Rev. Richard Curran was ordained while they were worshiping in the school-house in August, 1:59. and was regularly supplying them ; he was not, how- ever, called to the church to become pastor until March 30, 1842. The reason assigned was that the church was receiving aid from the Board of Home Missions, and they wished to become self-sustaining before they should call a pastor. The new house of worship was built about 1810, commeneed in 1839, and was about thirty-seven by fifty feet in size, situ- ated on the north side of the dam, where the church now stands; it was built of briek. Mr. Curran's pastorate lasted to the 11th of January, 1818, when it was dissolved by the West Jersey Presbytery. The Rev. Thomas C. Cattell was ordained and in- stalled pastor within one week thereafter. His min- istry was extended a little over three years, when the pastoral relation was dissolved by the West Jersey Presbytery, sitting at Bridgeton, September, 1851. During this pastorate there were frequent additions , to the church, and the building was enlarged by the addition of twenty feet to its length.
The Rev. J. A. Annin, of Franklin, Ohio, com- mneneed to labor among them on Sept. 19, 1852, and on the 18th of January, 1853, a call was extended to him to become the pastor of the church, which he accepted. The pastorate of Mr. Annin was the long- est that has yet existed, extending over nearly four- teen years. At his own request the pastoral relation was dissolved by Presbytery on July 19, 1866.
On the 25th of August the Rev .. William E. Jones. having accepted a call, commenced his labors in this church.
The Rev. James H. Clark followed Mr. Jones. having received a call on Aug. 24, 1870. ITi- pas- torate lasted until July 12, 1874. Sept. 7, 1874, Rev. James K. Wilson was invited to supply the pulpit for one year, and was afterwards installed, and re- mained pastor of the church until April 17, 1878. Nov. 23, 1878, a call was extended to Rev. George L. Smith, late pastor, who was installed April 25, 1879. Ilis pastoral relation was dissolved July 28, 1843, and he preached his last sermon August 1st fol- lowing.
Of the original petitioners for the new organization there are but three living. The Sabbath-school con- nected with this church was organized April 5, 1810. The names of the superintendents who have served
-
..
į
-
669
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
in this school are Dr. B. Rush Bateman, William Ogden, George W. Ilires, David Whitaker, Jeremiah Hann, David Harris, Jasper Bateman, Dr. Robert MI. Bateman, and A. F. Bateman. The church bas a large and commodious parsonage. During the last summer the church has been further improved and beautified. The number of members is two hundred and twenty- two, and the number of Sunday-school scholars is one linndred and twenty-seven.
Second Presbyterian Church, Cedarville .- It was at the end of that period, from 1830-38, when . 1860. Rev. J. F. Baird was statedl supply from March the Presbyterian Church had been rent asunder by feuds and doctrinal di-cords, and when the churches once more began to have a foundation, that the of the people of Cedarville and vicinity, connected with the Presbyterian Church and congregation of Fairfield, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Ethan Osborn, concluded that the time had arrived to have a Presbyterian Church at Cedarville. The reason why a church there was judged necessary was that a greater portion of Mr. Osborn's congregation were considerably remote from the place of worship, which occasioned great inconvenience in attendance at the church. Although this church did not originate through the spirit of schism, yet the theological strife of this time within the Presbyterian Church did affect its ecclesiastical relations. But a little fanning was needed to cause the smoullering fire to burst into flame. The Rev. Mr. Mekce, co-pastor with the Rev. Mr. Osborn, preached a sermon which contained views in harmony with the majority of the General Assembly of 1837, and Mr. Osborn favored the minority of that Assembly. This, as is natura!, Cedarville Baptist Church .- The first Baptists in this. county settled in this township, at Back Neck, and the Cohansey Baptist Church was organ- ized and had their first house of worship there. After the removal of that church to the north side of the Cohansey, many of its members lived in Back Neck. In 1714, Rev. Valentine Wightman, of Groton, Conn., preached in the Presbyterian meeting-house at Fair- fiehl, and, as Morgan Edwards says, " forgetting his situation, he talked away as if he had been in a Baptist pulpit, and eight Presbyterians joined the society." In a foot-note he adds, "Since I have been informed but four joined the Baptists ; the other four dained ruling elder. Their first minister, Rev. Alex- , were baptized to case a scrupulous conscience, and then returned to their own church." caused two parties in the congregation. The congre- gation voted to be organized by the Third Presbytery of l'hiladelphia, retracting from a previous resolution to be organized by the West Jersey Presbytery. Ac- cordingly, the Rev. Alexander Porter came down and preached, aud acquainted himself with the situation. On the 6th of November, 1838, twenty-seven persons, with one general certificate of dismission from Rev. Ethan Osborn's church, were organized by the Rev. Robert W. Landis into a new church, to be known by the name of "The Second Presbyterian Church of Fairfield." Nathaniel Diament was elected and or- ander Porter, was employed for three months, whose term of service expired on March 24th the following year, 1839. The second elder was Isaac Harris, elected and ordained Aug. 10, 1839.
In the beginning of 1840, Rev. A. G. Moss began to preach to this church as stated supply, and con- tinned till in July, 1813, over three years. A num- ber of ministers preached to the church at stated intervals until Nov. 19, 1845, when Rev. Beriah B. Hotchkin was installed, by a committee of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, as pastor of this church, in connection with the First Presbyterian Church of
Fairfield. Thus the mother and daughter were re- united under one pastorate. This relation existed for nearly five years. June 11, 1850, the Fourth Presby- tery of Philadelphia di-solved the pastoral relation of Mr. Hotchkin with the "First and Second Presby- terian Churches of Fairfield."
April 24, 1851, Rev. William R. Durnett, called to supply the pulpit for one year, appeared. The Rev. . Charles F. Diver, pastor-elect, was installed Oct. 14, 1852. Ilis pastoral relation was dissolved Dec. 24, 27, 1861, to March 2, 1862. Rev. B. Emerson was supply from spring of 1862 to Sept. 3, 1865. Rev. C. F. Diver was stated supply from Oct. 1, 1865, to March Second Church was formed. A considerable portion ; 11. JSG7. Rev. Albert Worthington, of Vineland, was stated supply from March 31, 1867, to Sept. 4, 1870.
On Dec. 20, 1870, the Presbytery of West Jersey changed the name of this church from the Second Church of Fairfield to the Second Church of Cedar- ville, by which name it is now known. On Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1870, Rev. L. H. Parsons was called as pastor, and was installed Dec. 21, 1870. The building of the parsonage was commenced in the fall of that year and finished that winter. Mr. Parsons Icit Nov. 20, 1871. Rev. William W. MeNair was elected Jan. 26, 1872, and stayed to July 1, 1876. Rev. John E. Peters was stated supply until Jan. 20, 1877. Rev. C. W. Winnie, late pastor, commenced March 25, 1879. Ile resigned on account of failing health, and preached his last sermon Sept. 23, 1883. The church is now without a pastor. When the last report was made there were eighty-four members and ninety-five Sunday-school scholars.
Nathan Lorrance, who resided on the south side of 'Cedar Creek, at Cedarville, became a Baptist, and was probably one of the converts of Wightman. He built a meeting-house on his land, which stood on the same lot where now is the Baptist meeting- house. In this house, there is no doubt, the pastors of the Cohansey Church frequently preached. Mr. Lorrance by his will, dated Nov. 23, 1744, left to his daughter, Abigail Elmer, his property at Cedarville, "except one acre where the Baptist meeting-house now standeth, where the Baptist members that liveth
GTO
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
on the south side of Cohansey Creek shall think fit to take it," and he also laid a penalty on all his chil- dren if they should contribute to the support of a Presbyterian minister. He was buried in the ground adjoining the meeting-house. where his tombstone formerly stood. His children became supporter- or members of the Presbyterian Church, and disregarded the provisions of his will. Whether the Baptists used the meeting-house after his death is unknown, and they do not seem to have claimed it under the will of Lorranee. Daniel Elmer, Jr., the husband of Abigail, seems to have been in possession of it, and it is said to have been used by preachers of the New Light side after the split in the Presbyterian ranks, among others by Whitefield, in 1745. Timothy Elmer, son of Daniel. removed it during his lifetime (he died in 1780) to his property below the hotel at Cedarville, and con- verted it into a barn. The lot was sold under the Elmer title, about 1828, although some claim was made to it by the Baptists at that time.
In 1835, Rev. Michael Frederick, pastor of the Bridgeton Baptist Church, established a mission sta- tion at Cedarville, where he preached regularly every two weeks. In the fall of that year several persons living at Cedarville were baptized and united with his church. Feb. 21, 1836, he baptized thirteen per- sons at Cedarville, and in April, July, and September others were baptized there. In June, 1836, the ques- tion of church organization was agitated, and steps taken to effect it. A council having been called at Cedarville on Sept. 6, 1836, met in Butler Newcomb's wood-, and thirty-one persons, members of the church at Bridgeton, were constituted a regular Baptist Church. Their meetings had been held in a I'nion meeting-liou-e, preference only being given to the Reformned Methodists, but their success aroused the opposition of those of a different faith, and they were deprived of the use of the house. A temporary place of meeting was found in a shoemaker-shop. In March, 1837, they resolved to build, and the lot where Nathan Lorrance's meeting-house stood was bought, and thus finally became the property of the Baptists. A meeting-house thirty-two by forty feet with a gallery was built, and was formally opened June 15, 1838. The total cost of house and lot was $1375.371.
Rev. W. B. Bingham was the first minister in charge of the church, but he only remained a short time. In the fall of 1838, Rev. Edward D. Fendall hecame the pastor, and finished a very successful pas- torate in March, 1843. He was succeeded in the summer of that year by Rev. Henry Westeott, during whose short pastorate the church was much harassed by debt. After his departure the church obtained . the services of Rev. Ephraim Sheppard, the pastor of the Millville Baptist Church, until he closed his labors with both churches in the fall of 1846. Rev. William Maul became pastor of both of these churches in January, 1817, and remained until May, . where the first house of worship of the Presbyterian-
1853. In the early fall of that year Rev. John T ... ] became pastor of Cedarville, and resigned Oct. 1. 1857.
During the year 1854 the church, after making ho progress for several years, again commenced moving forward. Their burdensome debt was paid, and in 1855 they erected a parsonage at a cost of nine hun- dred dollars. Rev. E. D. Farr, M.D., became the next pastor, early in 1858, and resigned June 25. 1860, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel L. Cox, in January, 1861, who remained two years. Rev. Enoch M. Barker commenced his pastorate.in October. 1563, and during the next year they moved their meeting- house a few yards to a more eligible site on the other part of their lot, fronting on the main street, and en- larged and greatly improved it. Mr. Barker resigned Oct. 1, 1870, and was succeeded by Rev. George Ti. Craft, May 1, 1871, who remained until May, 1872. Rev. William .A. Durfee became pastor Sept. 1, 1:72. During 1873 the church erected the present hand- some Gothic meeting-house, and the old building was placed at the rear of the new, and remodeled into a lecture- and Sunday-school-room, correspond- ing in style to the main edifice. The dedication of the builling took place in February, 1874. Mr. Dur- fee closed his labors in 1877. Rev. William Swin- den became pastor April 1, 1878, and remained until Sept. 1. 1879, and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. William W. Bullock, April 1, 1880. Their large debt having been previously reduced to five thousand dollars by the liberal contribution of Ananias Mul- ford, one of their members, an effort was made, after the coming of Mr. Bullock, to pay it off; and with the assistance of Mr. Kimball, the noted church debt raiser, it was accomplished. The church is now in a prosperous state, and numbers one hundred and sixty- two members, with two Sunday-schools and one hun- dred and ninety scholars. .
Fairton Methodist Episcopal Church .- About 1790, Michael Swing, the pioneer of Methodism in Fairfield, removed from Pittsgrove, Salem Co., and settled on a farm which he purchased at New Eng- land Town. His father-in-law, John Murphy, who was a local preacher, accompanied him, and they two held incetings throughout the surrounding coun- try in private houses. In 1791, Mr. Swing received license as a local preacher, and the same year a class was formed at New England Town. Rev. William Walton, in his " History of Methodism in Bridge- ton," says the first meeting-house at New England Town was built in 1791 ; but this is a mistake, as the records of the church show that the subscription papers for this purpose were dated Jan. 5, 1819, and that it was built in that and the succeeding year. This house was built on a part of Mr. Swing's farm, on the road from Fairton to Back Neck, about a half- mile from the village, directly in front of the old graveyard of the Fairfield Presbyterian Church, and
1
-
..
671
TOWNSHIP OF FAIRFIELD.
in this county stood. The total amount of the sub- scriptions, which were made by persons of all denom- inations, and residing in different parts of the county. as recorded iu the church records, was $2058.15, and also donations of materials, labor, etc., amounting to $294.86 additional. Mr. Swing was the treasurer and active manager, and the largest contributor towards the building, and it being located on his land the house was generally ealled Swing's meeting-house as long as it existed.
This church belonged to the Salem Circuit. as it was originally called, and then, upon its formation from Salem, to Cumberland Circuit. These circuits included the different preaching-places in their limits, and were generally served by two preachers, who were appointed by the Conference. These traveled the circuit from church to eburch, alternating their services every two weeks at each place. At a later date the circuits were generally composed of four preaching-places, two of which were served by each preacher every Sunday, preaching at one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, and the next Sunday at the other two appointments in like man- ner, thus giving each of them a preaching service every Sunday.
The toils and privations of the circuit-riders were great, and the heroie manner in which they not only endured but zealously sought the service, not- withstanding it, arduous work and exposures, is a convincing proof of the earnestness of their faith and their self-denying desire for the good of souls, and bore the legitimate fruit which self-denying labor by those thoroughly imbued with the impor- tance of the great truths they promulgate will ever produce of a rich harvest of many souls.
Raybold, in his " Reminiscences of Methodism in West Jersey," says that R. Swain and R. Lyon were the preachers on this circuit in 1800, and that at one of his meetings at Fairfield, Lyon announced that on four weeks from that day he would be there again, "preach, pray, work a miracle, and have a revival." Mr. Swing wrote to Swain to try to be there at the same time, so as to keep Lyon in order. Both ap- peared, and an immense crowd, including almost the whole neighborhood, was present. After Swain preached, Lyon arose and proclaimed, " Lyon is here, and he will yet preach ; the miracle is there," point- ing in the midst of the audience. " Who ever saw the Presbyterian minister and his flock here before ? Now I shall preach, and the Lord will do the rest ; we shall see the revival." A great revival did follow his preaching, and the strange method he adopted to attract the audience was forgotten in the beneficence of the results.
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.