Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I, Part 47

Author: Ogden, Mary Depue
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Newark, N.J. : Memorial History Company
Number of Pages: 980


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And be it further resolved, That as a slight token of the love and esteem in which he is held by the members of this Association, that these resolutions be entered at length upon the min- utes and that he be presented with an engrossed copy of the same.


A true topy of the minutes.


HENRY C. PITNEY JR., Secretary.


ALBERT H. VERNAM,


HENRY C. PITNEY, JR.,


STEPHEN PIERSON, H. A. HENRIQUES,


F. W. COGGESHALL, FRED. H. BEACH,


FRANCIS M. TICHENOR,


FREDERIC O. SPEDDEN,


ALFRED ELMER MILLS, WILLARD W. CUTLER.


Over the yearly gatherings of prominent Jerseymen on Washington's Birthday at the ยท Headquarters, Mr. Roberts presided during a quarter of a century. He had the pleas- ure of engaging and introducing as speakers some of the most notable men of the Nation. At the gathering of 1910 he was unable be- cause of a fall to attend, and there was sent him to Glenbrook by an express rider, imi- tating Revolutionary custom, a message of hearty good-will from the Association. To


the sympathetic onlooker there were in this scene many quaint and romantic suggestions, and none more so than the grand old Ameri- can of Glenbrook whose age harked back to the days when horsemen carried messages of national importance to noble patriots. Obliged during the last three years of his presidency to remain at home, the meetings of the executive committee and of the board of trustees of the Association were held at Glenbrook, his colleagues changing the meeting place in order to have the pleasure and benefit of his presence.


How deeply his death was felt by the Association may in part be learned from the following paragraphs taken from resolu- tions passed on November 27, 1912:


Never since the Association was organized, has it suffered such a severe loss, for to him, more than to any other person, it owes its present flourishing condition. He succeeded in convert- ing a debt of $15,000, which burdened the Asso- ciation, into a surplus of $25,000, increased our membership from ninety to over five hundred; and was instrumental in raising large sums of money with which the grounds of the Associa- tion have been nearly doubled in area, the La- fayette Building erected, and valuable additions made to our historical collection. He loved thie Association, and never hesitated to spend lavish- ly of his time and means in furthering its inter- ests. and we now express our deep appreciation for all his invaluable services.


Not only as president of our Association, but as president of the New Jersey Historical So- ciety, as the active and guiding force in church and charitable organizations, he has effectively used his great executive ability and unerring judgment, giving for many years all his time for the benefit of his fellow-men.


His death was not only a loss to the Associa- tion but we have lost a much loved friend, whose splendid example will ever remain as an inspira- tion to us.


As a tribute to his memory, and in slight recognition of his great service to this Associ- ation, we set apart pages of the minutes of both the trustees and the executive committee and cause these resolutions to be therein entered and an engrossed copy sent to his niece, Miss Altha E. Hatch.


ALFRED ELMER MILLS, JOHN H. BONSALL.


WILLARD W. CUTLER, JNO. H. LIDGERWOOD, HENRY C. PITNEY, JR., CHAS. M. LUM,


H. A. HENRIQUES, GEORGE R. HOWE.


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Mr. Roberts' connection with the New Jersey Historical Society in itself makes a narrative. For ten years he was its honor- ed and efficient president, directing its pol- icies and injecting into its work his char- acteristic enthusiasm. The records reveal that on January 15, 1885, one "J. W. Rob- erts, Morristown," was elected a resident member. Though even his place of resi- dence was erroneously recorded the election, then quite incidental, looks in retrospect most significant. With the single exception of his name being mentioned in 1891 as a donor of historical material, no record of his connection appears until January 23, 1894, when he was elected a vice-president. In that office he was continued for four years. He was appointed chairman of the executive committee on January 28, 1896, and immediately began to inaugurate system and punctuality. During the ensuing year was brought to practical completion the business of acquiring the present home of the Society at West Park street. through ob- taining the shares of the Newark Library Association, which owned the building. The Newark Free Public Library had occupied the building for a number of years but had removed to its new building on Washington street. At the meeting of the Society held on May 20, 1897, hearty recognition of the services of the Chairman was given in the report of the executive committee, as fol- lows :


Your committee will be also excused, we are sure, if we say a word here of the valuable ser- vice rendered to the Society by Mr. Jonathan W. Roberts as chairman of the executive com- mitee. Under him was inaugurated the plan of having regular monthly meetings of the com- mittee, which he invariably attends, and estab- lishing the rule to incur no expenditures for any purpose unless there was money in the treasury to meet it. By precept and example he urged the adoption of strictly business methods in the af- fairs of the Society, and money was raised to pay off all indebtedness-then considerable-and to put the Society into a sound financial condi- tion. This sort of work is not apparent to the members of the Society at large, and we feel


that it is but proper that the members should un- derstand how much they owe to Mr. Roberts. It was with deep regret under the circumstances that it was learned that Mr. Roberts declined a re-election last January as chairman of the exe- cutive committee.


He was appointed chairman of the library committee in 1898, and a member the fol- lowing year. In 1900 he succeeded to the presidency upon the death of General Wil- liam S. Stryker, receiving the election from the board of trustees.


The appreciation in which he was held for his work as president until October 30, 1901, when he was succeeded by John F. Dryden, is shown by the following minute. under that date of a resolution presented by William Nelson :


Resolved, That the New Jersey Historical So- ciety desires at this time to place on record its high sense of appreciation of the indefatigable zeal and most effective labors of Hon. Jonathan W. Roberts, the president of the Society during the past year, to which we are largely indebted for the success of the movement which culminat- ed this year in the acquiring of the splendid new building in West Park street, in which the Soci- ety is now housed, almost free of debt; where- by for the first time since its organization in 1845, the Society has a home of its own for the safe and commodious keeping and exhibition of its incomparable and priceless collections.


During the following two years Mr. Dryden served as president, but in 1903 Mr. Roberts was again elected, and continued in office until his death. Though having reached the age of eighty-two his enthusi- asm and his energy were most remarkable. He presided with rare tact and wisdom at all meetings, and kept in touch with all de- partments of the work. His optimism and his peculiar ability in adding to the funds and to the membership of the Society were ont-standing characteristics. Words can- not convey how positive was his leadership and his usefulness during these ripe years of his long life. His monthly visit to New- ark to preside at the meeting of trustees was an event in historical circles. Reaching the rooms of the Society in the morning he


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gave his attention to people and matters re- lated to the Society, and after luncheon met with the board. Following the meeting he spent some time talking business or enjoy- ing conversation with his friends. At the annual and at the spring meeting of the Society his presence was a host of friend- liness and good humor.


Mr. Roberts was a man of strong con- victions. What to him seemed right he ad- vucated with great positiveness. His opin- ions in his own thought were principles. He was made for leadership and best worked when unhampered. He was a stickler for the honor of a gentleman. He was also very tender-hearted. His intimates knew that behind his great executive ability there was a real depth of sentiment and affection. It was his lot to see most of his old-time friends laid away, while he remained. It is remembered by the writer that he once said, with moist eyes, after the death of Francis M. Tichenor, a vice-president of the Historical Society, "How I miss that man !"


The sudden death of Mrs. Roberts on January 23, 1894. brought him great sorrow. They had no children, but after the death of Mrs. Roberts he took into his home his niece, Miss Altha E. Hatch, whose devotion to his happiness and comfort equaled any- thing the fondest daughter could have ren- dered. Miss Hatch not only looked after his well-being in the home, but attended more and more to his business affairs. When in his later years he was congratulat- ed upon anything successfully completed, he used to smile and say. "Get a niece."


The remarkable good health of Mr. Rob- erts almost until his eighty-eighth birthday seemed to promise still a number of years of happy usefulness, and that he might live to be a centenarian was not an unreasonable expectation. It was an unforeseen accident that finally interrupted his customary ac- tivities and forced him to virtually remain at home for several years before his death.


On July 25, 1909, when passing from the dining room of Glenbrook, he had a fall which slightly fractured his hip. Though within seven weeks he walked across the floor of his room, and within three months was out driving, and within eleven months was able ( accompanied) to walk up and down stairs, he was much confined to his own apartments. There attended by his niece and his nurse he received his friends and visitors, and continued to plan and direct the work of the Washington Associa- tion and the Historical Society. Six months before his death he ceased to go down stairs and only moved daily from his bed to his great armchair.


He died on November 1, 1912. There was no struggle. He simply breathed out the last of a well-used life. There was an impressive dignity akin to majesty gracing his great figure and countenance in death. Influence outlived life. Services were held on November 6, in the commodious rooms of Glenbrook, and a memorial discourse was preached by Rev. Merle H. Anderson, D. D., of the South Street Presbyterian Church of Morristown, the texts being: John 6-68. "Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life." II Timothy 1-12. "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." His subject was: The Immortality of Influence and the Immor- tality of Existence. He said among other things: "Mr. Roberts was characterized by a beneficient industry, by a wise and thorough thoughtfulness as contrasted by impulsiveness, by calm patience and by an unshakable faith."


A special car the same day carried his remains and the mourners to Hoboken, and then by hearse and coaches the rest of the journey to Greenwood Cemetery in Brook- lyn was accomplished. There on a hillside looking westward, he sleeps beside his be- loved wife.


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JENNINGS, Samuel,


Member of Colonial Council.


Samuel Jennings emigrated from Cole's Hill, in Buckinghamshire, England, and lo- cated at Burlington, New Jersey, in 1680. Soon after his arrival he built himself a large brick dwelling, which stood on the bank of the Delaware, and was removed not many years ago. In this time-honored domicile the yearly meetings of the Friends of Pennsyl- vania and West New Jersey were held for several years. Jennings was a recommend- ed minister some four or five years before he left his native land, and as such was highly appreciated.


Soon after his arrival in New Jersey, Ed- ward Byllinge, the proprietary governor, ap- pointed Samuel Jennings his deputy, in which capacity he served up to 1683, when he was chosen governor for one year by the Assembly of New Jersey, and subse- quently re-chosen, serving continuously until his removal to Philadelphia in 1692. His abilities were highly appreciated by Wil- liam Penn. Soon after he moved to the province he was appointed to the commis- sion of peace in the city of his adoption. About that time the controversy with George Keith arose, in which Samuel Jen- nings was much engaged on behalf of the society. In the early part of 1694 he sailed for London as a respondent on the appeal of Keith to the London Yearly Meeting, in which body he ably vindicated the cause of his American brethren from the asper- sions of their detractors. Soon after his return from England he again took up his residence in Burlington. In 1702 the Crown of England, to which the government of New Jersey had been transferred by the proprieors, appointed him a member of the Provincial Council; and in 1707, the year preceding his death, he filled the office of speaker of the Assembly, in which position he distinguished himself by his bold and fearless opposition to the arbitrary misrule


of Lord Cornbury, with which the people of the colonies of New York and New Jer . sey became so dissatisfied that they deter- mined to send an appeal to Queen Anne for the governor's removal. Samuel Jennings had the credit of writing the address which was forwarded to the home government, and by so doing incurred the displeasure of Cornbury, who is reported to have declar- ed Jennings the most impudent man he ever knew. However, the address had the de- sired effect, and Lord Cornbury was recall- ed in 1708, the year of Jennings' death. Proud, the historian, wrote that "Samuel Jennings was worthy of memory, and en- dowed with both spiritual and temporal wisdom; was suppressor of vice and en- courager of virtue." He was one of those rare individuals in whom was concentrated a variety of qualifications and mental en- dowments, by which, under the sanctifying power of truth, he was made eminently useful to his fellowmen, both in his minis- terial and civil capacity. He did more than any of his contemporaries in organizing the civil government of West Jersey.


At his death he left three daughters, but no sons. Sarah Jennings, his eldest daugh- ter, married Edward Pennington, the young- est son of Isaac Pennington, an eminent citizen of London, a man of letters, who wrote extensively in defense of Quakerism. Edward Pennington's mother, was the wid- ow of Sir William Springett, a military of- ficer, who left a daughter, Gulielma Maria Springett, who became the first wife of Wil- liam Penn. There were two children-Wil- liam and Letitia Penn. The second wife of William Penn was Hannah Callowhill, who became the mother of John Penn, the only American born child of William Penn, and Richard Penn. Edward Pennington, the half-brother of Gulielma Penn, was Sur- veyor-General of Pennsylvania until liis death in 1701, two years after his marriage. He left one son, Isaac Pennington. Ann, Samuel Jennings' second daughter, married


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William Stevenson in 1706, and the same year Merey, the third daughter, married John Stevenson, brother of William.


SMYTH, Frederick, Colonial Jurist.


Frederiek Smyth was appointed Chief Justice of the colony of New Jersey in 1764, and continued in office until 1776, being the last Chief Justice of the colony before the Revolution. At the beginning of his term of office, the Stamp Aet was passed, and it was charged that he had been a candidate for the position of stamp distributor, but he exonerated himself. He was a decided loyalist, and never refrained from fairly and openly defining his position, but he was honest in his opposition to what he deemed treasonable attempts against the regularly constituted authorities. When in 1772 the British sehooner "Gaspee" was burned by the Rhode Island Whigs, he was appointed one of a committee to examine into the af- fair. The examination was fruitless of any result, but the appointment of this commis- sion gave authority to the first Continental Congress to issue an address to the people in which it was charged that "a court had been established at Rhode Island for the purpose of taking colonists to England to be tried." Two years later a eargo of tea was burned by eitizens of Cumberland coun- ty, New Jersey, and Chief Justice Smyth made an attempt to punish the perpetrators of the "New Jersey Tea Party," but the grand jury refused to listen to his charges, and ignored the bills of indietment. After the war of the Revolution was actually be- gun, he removed to Philadelphia, where the last years of his life were spent.


DE HART, William,


Officer in Revolutionary Army.


Colonel William De Hart was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, December 7. 1746, and was the son of Dr. Matthias De


Hart. Before the outbreak of the troubles between the colonists and Great Britain, he was actively engaged in professional labors as a legal practitioner, but relinguished his voeation at the beginning of open hostili- ties. On November 7th, 1775, he received the appointment of major in the First New Jer- sey Battery, and in the course of the ensu- ing year was promoted to the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel. On September 6th, 1780, he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonel- cy of the Second Regiment, Continental army. Before the close of the war he re- signed his eommission, and resumed the profession of the law in Morristown, New Jersey. He was a leading member of the bar, and was noted for his brilliant sallies of wit and humor, which seemed ever ready to flash forth at an instant's warning, and at the slightest provocation. In 1779 he aeted as president of the St. Tammany So- ciety. Two of his brothers were efficient partisans of the patriot eause, one of them having been an aide to General Wayne be- fore he was killed at Fort Lee, in 1780. Colonel De Hart died at Morristown, New Jersey, June 16th, 1801.


SMITH, Rev. Samuel Stanhope,


Clergyman, Educator, Author.


The Rev. Samuel Stanhope was born in Pequea, Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, March 16th, 1750.


His early education was acquired in his father's academy, and in his sixteenth year he entered Princeton College, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1769. He then became an assistant in his father's academy, and in 1770-73 was engaged as tutor at Princeton, pursuing at the same time the study of theology. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle. and after his ordination in 1774, spent some time as a missionary in the western coun- ties of Virginia. For the purpose of secur- ing his educational services there, a semi- nary was established, of which he was made


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principal, and which afterward became the famous Hampden-Sidney College of the present day. After remaining at the head of that institution for a few years, in 1779 he was appointed Professor of Moral Phil- osophy at Princeton College and was suc- ceeded in Virginia by his brother, John Smith. Upon establishing himself at Prince- ton, where the ravages of war had been most severely felt, dispersing the students, reduc- ing the building to a state of dilapidation, and greatly embarrassing the institution fi- nancially, he made strenuous exertion and great pecuniary sacrifices to restore it to prosperity ; and accepted the additional of- fice of Professor of Theology, and in 1786 that of vice-president of the college. In the previous year he delivered an anniversary address, which was subsequently expanded into a work on the "Causes of the Variety in the Figure and Complexion of the Hu- man Species," 8vo., published in 1787. In 1786 he was associated with other clergy- men of the Presbyterian Church in prepar- ing the form of presbyterial government which is substantially in force at the present time. In the absence of Dr. Witherspoon as a member of Congress, much of the care of the college devolved upon him, and. af- ter his death in 1794, he was elected his suc- cessor. In 1812, however, he resigned that office in consequence of repeated strokes of palsy, and for several years occupied him- self in preparing his works for the press. Besides two orations, and eight miscellan- eous sermons in pamphlet form. and the work above mentioned, he published the following works: "Sermons." Svo., 1799: "Lectures on the Evidences of the Christian Religion," 12mo., 1809: "A Comprehensive View of the Leading and most Important Principles of Natural and Revealed Relig- ion," 8vo., 1816; "On the Love of Praise," 1810; "A Continuation of Ramsey's His- tory of the United States, from 1808 to 1817"; and "Lectures on Moral and Politi- cal Philosophy." His "Sermons," with a


memoir of his life and writings, were pub- lished in 1821, two volumes, 8vo.


The wife of Dr. Smith was a daughter of Dr. Witherspoon, and his daughter was married to I. M. Pintard, consul at Madeira. Dr. Smith was distinguished for his ac- quaintance with ancient and modern litera- ture, and for his eloquence and popularity as a preacher. He was courtly in person and manners, and wrote with notable ele- gance and perspicuity. He received the de- gree of D. D. from Yale College in 1783; and that of LL.D., from Harvard in 1810. He died at Princeton, New Jersey, August 2Ist, 1819. "vacating a place and station difficult to fill."


ALEXANDER, Rev. Archibald,


Clergyman, Educator.


The Rev. Archibald Alexander, D). D., was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, April 17th. 1772. His grandfather, Archi- bald Alexander, came from Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1736, and about 1738 set- tled in Virginia.


Wlien ten years of age, young Alexander was sent to the academy of Rev. William Graham, at Timber Ridge meeting-house. Some six or seven years later he was en- gaged as tutor in the family of General John Posey. He subsequently entered upon a course of theological studies, was licensed to preach October Ist, 1791, and during the ensuing seven years labored zealously as an itinerant missionary in his native State.


In 1796 he succeeded Dr. Smith in the presidency of Hampden-Sidney (Virginia) College, serving until 1801, when he re- signed that office and also his pastoral charge. A year later he resumed his posi- tion at Hampden-Sidney College, but owing to insubordination and the refractory spirit of the students under his charge, he severed his connection with the institution, and ac- cepted a call from the Pine Street Church, Philadelphia, where he was installed as pas-


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tor on May 20th, 1807. From 1811 until the time of his death, he served as professor in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. He was the author of "Out- lines of the Evidences of Chrisianity," pub- lished in 1823: "Treatise on the Canon of the Old and New Testaments," published in 1826; "Counsels of the Aged to the Young," published in 1833; "Lives of the Patriarchs," published in 1835; "Essays on Religious Experience," published in 1840; "History of the Log College." pub- lished in 1846; "History of the Israelitish Nation," published in 1852, and "Moral Science," in the course of the same year. He published also a memoir of his old in- structor, Rev. William Graham, "History of the Presbyterian Church in Virginia": and many biographical sketches of eminent American clergymen and alumni of the Col- lege of New Jersey, and contributed to the "Biblical Repertory," and other periodicals of a literary and religious character. At his demise he left a number of manuscript works, which will probably be published at no distant date. His son, Rev. James Wad- dell Alexander, D. D., a distinguished Pres- byterian clergyman and author, published his "Life" in New York in 1854. He died at Princeton, New Jersey, October 22, 1851, after a career of eminent usefulness and scholarly labors.


FURMAN, Moore, First Mayor of Trenton.


Moore Furman was born about 1728 in Mercer county, New Jersey. He was an active participant in the Revolutionary War, a loyal and eminently useful citizen, and a leading spirit in all that concerned the pub- lic welfare. At the opening of the Revolu- tion he at once declared for the patriot cause, and served as deputy quartermaster- general and in other capacities.


fice with marked ability. On June 120 :. 1760, lie was elected a trustee of the Tren ton Presbyterian Church, and treasurer ::: 1762. He subsequently removed to Pitt .. town, and thence to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. Upon his return to Trenton from the latter city, he was re-elected to the church board, in 1783, and continued in it until the time of his decease. Though s long connected with the temporal affairs of this Presbyterian congregation, he was no: a communicant until November Ist, 1806.


He died at Trenton, New Jersey, March 16th, 1808, in the eightieth year of his age. He had made a written request of Mr. Arm- strong that, in case he should be called to officiate at his funeral, he would speak front the words, "Into thine hands I commit my spirit : Thou hast . redeemed me, O! Lord God of truth," Psalm xxxi .; and his re- quest was faithfully followed in the body of the discourse, to which the pastor added as follows :




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