USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > Notes on old Gloucester County, New Jersey, Volume I > Part 5
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Especially is this true in religious work. One has but to look at the characters of John Knox, Martin Luther, Menno Simon, George Fox and John Wesley, leaders of what might be termed the more modern move- ments in the religious world, to see that this is un- doubtedly true.
The wonderful personality of these men made pos- sible the great movements which have influenced the world from their time till now, and no doubt will still roll on with greater or less velocity as the years shall come and go. Most every leader has some peculiar mannerisms which may attract a few, and some are enveloped in a perfect cloud of mysticism which allures many, but the masses demand something more than these to fasten their affection; they want to feel that convincing in- fluence of sincerity before they yield their obedience.
Strikingly true was this the case in regards to the founder of Herrnhutism, or what is more commonly called, the Moravians. Nicholaus Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf and Pattendorf, was born at Dresden, May 26, 1700. His early education was cared for by his grandmother, we are told, and at the age of ten years he was sent to Halle, where he spent six years under the special care of Francke, the philanthropist. At this early age, it is said, he began to form a design to gather to- gether a little society of believers among whom he might
* By GEO. B. MACALTIONER.
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live and who should entirely devote themselves in exer- cises of devotion under his personal direction.
Having become a priest, he travelled during the years of 1719 to 1721, through Holland and France, everywhere endeavoring to convert the distinguished persons whom he met to his own religious views.
Upon his return to Dresden he was appointed a member of the Saxon State Council, but as political life was not to his liking he returned to his country seat in Upper Lusatia, settling at Bertholdorf.
Finding a student in whom he found sentiments akin to his own, he gave him the curacy of his estate.
Bertholdorf soon came to be known for this sort of piety. While residing here he accidentally met a wan- dering carpenter named Christian David, a member of the old sect of Moravian Brethren, who told him of the persecutions of his brethren. The Moravians were an Evangelical Society which had its beginning in Bohemia among the followers of that noble martyr, John Huss, who was burned at the stake in 1415, originally known as the Bohemian Brethren. With the granting of the Bohemian charter, in 1609, they obtained a legal status, but afterwards were suppressed and exiled. Their growth in Hungary gained some importance, but at the peace of Westphalia, Austrian lands were excluded from religious liberty and their Polish parishes were gradually absorbed by other Protestant bodies. Still the seed re- mained in Bohemia, and their Bishop, Johann Amos Comenius, republished their history and confession, and endeavored to reestablish its discipline. A revival of religion in Moravia led the awakened to abandon their homes and go to Saxony for religious liberty.
According to Le Long, Christian David had been in Saxony before and he induced two or three families to migrate there. The Count received them gladly at Bertholdorf. They built their first house in the woods, in 1722, and soon a large number from Moravia and elsewhere had fixed their residence there.
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In a few years it became quite a village, having an Orphan house and other public buildings, so that in 1732 the inhabitants numbered 600 souls.
An adjacent hill gave the colonists a name for the place, Huth des Herrns or Herrnhuth, "The guardian or protection of the Lord."
They soon established the discipline of Comenius, which bound them closely with an entire dependency on their superiors.
The Society was divided into separate classes, with a director over each. The Count did not permit the so- ciety to expand, as other churches do, nor did he require its members to sever their relations with the State Church. His purpose was more especially to establish an exclusive system by which it was desired to secure a membership solely of converted men and women.
A great portion of their worship consisted in sing- ing, which they highly developed, the Count having writ- ten many of their hymns. The casting of lots was prac- ticed much among them, they making use of the same to know the will of the Lord. The Elders had the sole right of marriage, and no promise was valid without their consent.
One great feature of their work was that of mis- sions, extending all over the world. As early as 1733 they had a mission in Labrador, which continued till 1900, when they transferred it to the Danish Lutheran Church. While they had a ritual, free prayers were al- lowed in public worship.
Every ten years a general synod was held, and every detail of their work was thoroughly gone into. In the year of 1735 the Moravians emigrated to Georgia, and five years later found them in Pennsylvania, where they built Bethlehem and Nazareth.
The Count was the motive power of the whole So- ciety, the dynamo that ran the whole machinery. At the synod held at Marienborn, Germany, near Frankfort-on-
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the-Main, in November, 1739, news was received of the destitute condition of the Swedish Churches on the Dela- ware. A band of evangelists was at once commissioned to go to Pennsylvania. The Count soon followed the brethren to America, arriving in New York December 2, 1741, and on to Philadelphia by December 10th.
In the year following several companies of emi- grants came to America that had formed a church gov- ernment that should be observed during the long, tedious voyage at sea. These were known as the Sea Congrega- tions, the first of which arrived in Philadelphia, June, 1742, consisting of 56 members. Among this number was one, Paul Daniel Bryzelius, who was to inaugurate the work in New Jersey. He had been schooled in the college at Upsala, in Sweden, and was ordained at Frank- ford, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1742-3, as a Presbyter by Bishop David Nitchman, according to the orders of Count Zinzendorf, just before he left for home. He was commissioned by the Count for special service in New Jersey.
The Moravian Church in New Jersey found its be- ginning at this time, owing to the fact that the Swedish churches were pastorless and the German Lutheran Church, at Friesburg, neglected. The condition in the Swedish Churches was brought about by the govern- ment of Sweden withdrawing its financial support from the Colonial churches on the Delaware. They had ex- pended over $100,000 in trying to establish the State Church in New Sweden, and after a century's effort found that little real progress was being made. They therefore withheld their annual appropriation. This angered many of the members, causing them to stop paying into the church treasury, and absenting themselves from the services. The priests soon found their liveli- hood was not assured, and several of them returned to Sweden. John Dylander, the pastor at Wicacoa, died, and as no new ministers were coming over, there re-
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mained but one Swedish minister in the country, Prevost Tranberg, at Christine. Tranberg had been the pastor at Raccoon (Swedesboro, N. J.) and Penn's Neck (St. Georges), and at a parish meeting told the brethren how poor his support had been, and if it was not improved he would be forced to leave.
The conditions remained unchanged, whereupon Tranberg applied for a transfer from the Raccoon Parish, which Royal Commission was granted to him and he removed to Christine (Wilmington, Del), after having been their pastor 15 years. This left the New Jersey churches pastorless. On January 13, 1742-3, Paul Daniel Bryzelius travelled directly to Prevost Tranberg, at Christine, and proposed to supply the need for very little salary. Prevost Tranberg accorded him a hearty welcome, and gave him charge of three Swedish churches and one German Lutheran, at Friesburg, or Chohansey, which was neglected, having been built there in 1738, near the Glasshouse. The Swedish churches were at Maurice River, Raccoon and Penns Neck, Bryzelius preached his first sermon in the house of Goran Hyn, at Maurice River, with acceptance, on January 26, 1742-3. From Raccoon he received a call from 33 members, and thither moved his family. For almost a year he served the parish to the satisfaction of the majority of the peo- ple, but when Magistrar Naesman, the pastor at Wicocoa, came down on December 23, 1743, having but recently come from Sweden, he proceeded to rid the church of Bryzelius. This created an uproar, disturbing the peace, whereupon the Governor landed a number of men in jail. As this was a religious, and not a civil affair, the matter was referred to a jury of 25 men, whereupon the court advised Bryzelius, for the sake of peace, to refrain from preaching longer at Raccoon.
In the interim between the rumpus and the decision of the court, the Society of Friends offered Bryzelius their house of worship which was near, which he accepted and
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there gathered larger congregations than ever. In 1744 Laurence T. Nyberg, with his Moravian followers, were shut out of the German church at Lancaster, Pa. The followers of Bryzelius sent to Nyberg and asked him to send them Abraham Reinecke, who came in the spring of 1745, and gathered large audiences, holding services in the house of Thomas Denny, at Raccoon. Reinecke brought with him an evangelist by the name of Sense- man. They came from Bethlehem and were met at Philadelphia by Peter Rambo, who conducted them to Raccoon. Nyberg took charge of the work in New Jer- sey. He was a man of great resources and enlisted the services of energetic evangelists to help him. Among the men who itinerated through New Jersey were Sven Rosen, Thomas Yarrel, an Englishman, Owen Rice, Mathew Reutz, who died at Oldmans Creek while preach- ing there on October 7, 1753, Joseph Powell and many others. The efforts of these men were not to proselyte, but to lead men to Christ.
Of all the many preaching stations in New Jersey where services were held, but four seemed to have taken on any semblance of church formation. Maurice River, with which Bryzelius was identified in erecting, located about 3 miles from Leesburg, was dedicated December 18, 1746, in the presence of Reinecke, Rice, Rentz and Nyberg; Penns Neck was dedicated just one year later, December 18, 1747; the church at Raccoon, in March, 1748, with 24 members, and the church at Pilesgrove, as it was sometimes called.
The Church at Pilesgrove, Oldmans Creek, or Woolwich, was begun in 1747, by Laurence T. Nyberg, and dedicated by Bushop Spangenberg and Pastor Ny- berg, on August 31st, 1749. I have before me a com- munication from D. Jos. H. Muller, archiver, dated Herrnhut, Saxony, December 4, 1906, in which he in- forms me that among the "Spangenberg Papers" he found letters concerning his visits to New Jersey, and
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one especially, a 12-page manuscript, in which Brother Nyberg states that "on August 31, 1749, I accompanied Bishop Spangenberg to consecrate the new Swedish church at Pilesgrove, or Oldmans Creek, in the Jerseys." The membership at this time numbered 29, among whom were the following: George Avis, Nicholas Dahlberg and wife, Charles Dorsan, Andrew Holstein, Lawrence Holstein, Sr., and his son Lawrence, Jr., Larse Hop- man, Michael Kett, Mons Kyn, Peter Lauterbach, Adam Lehberger, Saml. Lynch, Christopher Linmyer, Bate- man Lloyd, Obediah Lloyd, Alexander Mueller, John Roalin Samson a slave, Garret Van Immen and wife, John Van Immen and wife, William Van Immen and wife, Andrew Van Immen and wife, Jechoniah Wood and Jeremiah Wood. This church was destined to have the longest life of all the Moravian Churches in New Jersey. It was built on the farm of George Avis, which lay between two branches of Oldmans Creek, along the King's Highway. Tradition says that the ground to build the church on was given by George Avis, and also a large quantity of lumber. Later, when the congrega- tion had grown, Bishop Seidel, of Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania, bought of George Avis and his wife Jane, Janu- ary 22, 1767, one and one-half acres of land on the King's Highway, for 5 £'s.
The following year there was an extensive awaken- ing among the people, and at the Synod held at Lititz, Pa. (1768), this congregation applied for recognition as an integral factor among the brethren. The petition was granted, whereupon a change in pastors took place, and Frederick Schmidt was in 1769 appointed pastor. The membership was now 120.
The church prior to this time was under the con- trol of the Mission Board. Pastor Schmidt served the church through that trying time of the Revolutionary War, from 1769 to 1783. In 1775 the parsonage was re- built. Pastor Schmidt's diary furnishes some very inter-
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esting facts about the war and affairs as they then ex- isted :
"On Friday, Dec 5, 1777, twenty American militia- men were quartered in the parsonage."
"On Feb. 25, 1778, over 2,000 English troops passed on their way to Salem. The house was full of soldiers, polite, but carried off all the rifles and arms they could find."
"Feb. 26, 1778. The garrison left for Bethlehem, having been here several months. The neighbors talk of flight. Myself and wife have determined to remain."
"May 10, 1778. Many militiamen at church."
"June 12, 1778. A skirmish took place near here between the English and the militiamen. One of the lat- ter was killed."
"Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 1778. Bishop Ettwein came and visited the church."
"Nov. 29, 1778. Several persons from Salem at- tended services. They complained that the bridges were destroyed by warfare."
The membership at the close of the war was 134, with one exception the largest in its history.
In 1783 the Rev. Francis Bohlen came as pastor, and in a report dated June 1I, 1786, sent to the confer- ence, he states "that the meetings are well attended by Presbyterians, Methodists and Quakers. Twenty chil- dren are in the Sabbath School, and a beginning has been made towards the erection of a new meeting house."
The church had been reorganized by order of Bishop Jan Von Waterville, son-in-law of Count Zinzen- dorf, in 1785, and in the following spring the present brick edifice was begun. The old church was built of logs and was about 24 feet square, sheathed inside. with scanty furnishings. As one looks at this ancient building he will notice the striking resemblance it bears to other churches built during this same period. The church at Swedesboro was built in 1784. The Friends' Meeting
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House, at Woodstown, in 1785, and this structure here at Oldmans Creek in 1786, all bear the same stamp and style.
From 1793 to 1798 Rev. Frederick Moehring was pastor, but the congregation began to fall off. I am in- formed by Dr. John W. Jordan, of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, that the cause lay largely in the fact that Moravians persisted in holding their services in the foreign tongues, and the young people thereby fell away.
From 1798 to 1800 the church was without a pastor.
Rev. Saml. Towle served in 1801 and 1802, and Pastor John Casper Treytag, from 1802 to 1803. This was the last settled pastor the Moravians had.
In 1807 the Methodists were allowed to worship here until they were forced away, and went and built the Pilesgrove Methodist Church, a short distance away.
In 1834 the Episcopalians asked for the use of the building and it was granted them, since which time they have spent much effort and money to maintain the services in this place. This Moravian Church was the last one in New Jersey, until the modern Moravians were established.
One cannot leave this intensely interesting study of this once active theatre of religious work without re- ferring to that which still remains. Where once the tread of hurrying feet was heard as they wended their anxious way to the worship of the Lord, silence now per- vades the scene, and it is only broken by an occasional visitor who comes perchance to see the old landmark or read the epitaphs upon the markers of the silent city of the dead.
Here in this sweet spot of earth, rich with the mem- ories of the past, lie buried the noble men and women who stood for right and who defended our homes and gave to the nation its power to be born, and to us a home for which we feel the deepest gratitude. As we linger in the shadow of these moss covered walls, as if in hope-
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ful fancy we might hear the echo of those wonderful words of life that fell from the lips of those ancient sol- diers of the cross, there comes floating to us on the wings of the past those inspiring words of the leader and founder of these ancient soldiers, Zinzendorf, 1721 :
Jesus, still lead on, Till our rest be won ; And although the way be cheerless, We will follow, calm and fearless ; Guide us by thy hand To our Fatherland.
The Gloucester County Board of Freeholders *
FIRST RECORD BOOK OF PROCEEDINGS BEGINS IN 170I.
The first volume of the Minutes of the Board is bound in leather, in a fair state of preservation, and is marked Book A., on outside cover, in a bold, plain hand, the color of the ink being still very black, and is now in the custody of the Gloucester County Board of Free- holders.
On the first page, entries appear as follows :
1701.
"Glo. County, December 7th, Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and One."
"The Grand Jury held at Gloucester ye 6th day of First Month, Anno Domini, 1701, does order that Thomas Sharp and John Wood, Treasurers of ye last County Taxes, do bring in an accompt to the next Grand Jury of ye disposal of ye sayd taxes, in order to know what remaynes in Bank."
On the second, third, fourth and fifth pages, under dates from 1694 to 1706, there appear accounts with Andrew Robeson, Thomas Sharp, John Ashbrook, Wil- liam Wardner, John Kay and John Wood, for Taxes in the Townships of Newton, Waterford, Gloucester, Dept- ford and Greenwich.
The first regular entry of minutes is under date of July 13th, 1704. This record is as follows :
TAX ORDERED.
"We, the Grand Jury for ye Court, held at Glouces- ter, the 13th day of Seventh Mo., 1704, do order a tax
* By GEORGE E. PIERSON.
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to be levied, in manner following, for the discharge of a debt to ye Sheriff, John Shay, and other emergencies, re- lating to this County of Gloucester, and ye remaining part or overplus to be assessed by ye Grand Jury: For each 100 acres of land, surveyed and taken up, sixpence; for each horse and mare exceeding one year old, six pence ; for neat cattle exceeding one year old, three pence; for sheep exceeding one year old, one pence; for each free- man in hired service, or otherwise, one shilling and six pence; for each negro exceeding twelve years old, one shilling and six pence, to be paid in a month's time, after ye old tax is all got in. Out of which tax we allow twelve pounds and ten shillings to be paid John Shay for defraying the expenses of the Justices of Gaol Delivery the last Court, and for his trouble for going to Burling- ton about the County's business."
LORD CORNBURY VISITS GLOUCESTER.
On December 19, 1704, this record appears :
"We, the Grand Jury for the County of Gloucester, do order eighteen shillings to buy twelve bushels of char- coal for the prisoners, and two pounds two shillings to buy three match coats for the prisoners' use, so long as shall have occasion for it, and then to be returned for the County's use. We allow seven shillings and six pence to the Clerk for five warrants to gather the above tax. We allow Matthew Medcalfe twelve pounds six shillings for defraying the Lord Cornbury's retinue's ex- penses when he was lately at Gloucester, and six shillings to John Gideon for a coffin for the murthered child, and six shillings more we allow him by discount of his old tax in the year 1694, for bringing the Justice and Coroner to Gloucester. We also allow eight pounds twelve shil- lings and four pence to John Shay, for defraying the Lord Cornbury and his attendants' expenses when he was lately at Gloucester."
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On January Ist, 1705, a pair of stocks was ordered built before next Court, and "Matthew Medcalfe had undertaken to get them to be built."
On September 12th, 1705, five pounds was ordered paid the Sheriff for prison charges, and Matthew Med- calfe to procure twenty bushels of charcoal, and two shifts for the prisoners' use.
Under the same date, this record appears :
"We, the Grand Jury for the County of Gloucester, having taken into our consideration the great expenses that our Assemblymen are at, and have been hitherto and mostly at their own charges, and likewise that they want money for the defraying of some debts, on necessary oc- casions for the County's use, do order a tax to be levied, and that our Assemblymen for time to come, be paid for every day that they shall serve in Assembly, each of them, five shillings per day, and the rest to be appropriated as the Bench and Grany Jury shall direct."
The tax was levied in the same manner as the pre- vious assessment had been made. Matthew Medcalfe was nominated and appointed County Treasurer, and Collectors were appointed for Waterford, Newton, Glou- cester, Deptford, Greenwich and Egg Harbor Town- ships.
EARLY ACCOUNTS.
On January 12, 1706, this minute is recorded :
"We, the Grand Jury of the County, having called John Reading and Matthew Medcalfe to make up their accounts concerning the County's money that was raised in the year 1694, and paid them to build the Prison and Court House, and they affirm that they did formerly make up and balance accounts with the Grand Jury, at Gloucester, and think it hard to be called to account now over again, and Thomas Sharp being now one of the Grand Jury, affirms that he was then on the Grand Jury some years ago, when the said John Reading and Mat- 6
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thew Medcalfe made up and balanced account with the Grand Jury."
"The Grand Jury orders John Kay and John Heri- tage on behalf of his father, to bring their Duplicates of the County Tax that was raised in the year 1694, and make up their accounts with the next Grand Jury which shall be at Gloucester."
COST OF KEEPING PRISONERS : SECRETARY BASS COMES FROM BURLINGTON.
On January 12, 1705, allowance was made John Shay, late Sheriff, 2 shillings and 6 pence per week for keeping prisoners 1231/2 weeks, which amounts to 15 pounds, II shillings and 3 pence. Whereof he has been paid 5 pounds, and the remainder being 10 pounds, II shillings and 3 pence, with 2 shillings and 6 pence for care of the prisoners; Ordered paid by Thomas Sharp and John Kay, Treasurer and Collector of the old County Tax, if there be so much in their hands, at or before the next County Court; if not, then by Matthew Medcalfe, present Treasurer. Secretary Bass was allowed 40 shillings for his services to the County for coming from Burlington to qualify the Justices.
On February 2, 1707, an allowance was made "John Ashbrook, Sheriff. for eight pounds, six shillings and seven pence for keeping of the prisoner, Christian Boll, 60 weeks, and procuring her one shift, a pair of socks, and one petty coat, to be paid by the Treasurer of the County, if there be so much in his hands after the As- semblymen are paid; if not, then out of the County Tax is now raised."
PAY FOR MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
On April 2, 1707, "We, the Grand Jury of the County of Gloucester, do order Matthew Medcalfe, County Treasurer, to pay our Assemblymen each of them
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five shillings per day, for each day that they have served in Assembly, since the 12th day of September, Anno Domini 1705, as soon as they shall bring the accounts under the Clerk of Assembly's hand." A tax levied at this meeting provided that it should be paid the County Treasurer, "in money or Country produce, at the prices following, viz: Wheat, 4 shillings 6 pence per bushel ; rye, at 3 shillings per bu., and Indian corn at 2 shillings 6 pence per bu .; to be delivered and brought into the County Treasurer, Medcalfe, at his dwelling house by the respective inhabitants, within the date of September Ist." The Treasurer was allowed six pounds, with his reason- able charges, in receiving and paying off the corn, etc.
ADDITION TO COURTHOUSE.
At a meeting held August 3, 1708, the Grand Jury met at Gloucester to consider emergencies, concluded it was "necessary that an addition be made to the Prison and Court House, in manner following, viz: that it he joyned to the south end of the old one, to be made of stone and brick, 12 foot in the clear, and two story high, with a stack of chimneys, joyning to the old house, and that it be uniform from ye foundation to the Court House."
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