USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1 > Part 34
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second position in his class and was hon- ored with the salutatory.
After leaving college, Mr. Green, for a year, taught in the seminary at Coopers- town, N. Y., and the next year became the principal of the academy at Penn Yan, N. Y.
Being desirous of learning German, as it can only be learned, and also of improving himself by foreign travel, he spent the third year, after his graduation, at the university in Berlin, Prussia, and in visiting places of interest in Europe. In this manner he be- came so well acquainted with German, as to be able to read the works of the profound- est German theologians, printed in that lan- guage. He could also speak that language fluently, and while settled at Morristown, preached in their own vernacular to a small congregation of German Protestants, who occasionally gathered for worship.
Mr. Green's ardent desire for many years had led him to regard the preaching of the gospel as the dearest object of his life. At last he found himself in a position where he could hope to carry out his cherished in- tention. In 1870 he entered the. Theologi- cal Seminary at Auburn, as a student of divinity, and there finished a full three years course, graduating in 1873. In September of that year he accepted a call from the Presby- terian church at Westfield, N. Y., where he remained until June 1877,when he was instal- led pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Morristown. In October, 1881, he be- came pastor of the Lafayette Street Presby- terian Church at Buffalo, N. Y., where he is now engaged in an extended field of labor and where he fills a large space in that wide awake city. His congregation is one of the largest, most active in every good word and work, and alertly follows the lead of its pastor.
Mr. Green, while at Morristown, gained the respect and won the love of his people. Faithful in the discharge of his duties, un- tiring in his devotion to his church and its work, instant in season and out of season, he served the church and his parishioners with a zeal and a fidelity which could only emanate from one whose highest and best pleasure was to benefit mankind and do his Master's will.
His mind is logical, analytical, and he de- lighted in presenting to his congregation
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thoughts matured by reflection and adorned by scholarly studies. His perceptions of the nice shades between right and wrong are alert ; and his judgment, if exercised after due time was given to his subject, rarely fail- ed in the proper presentation of truth. He delights in literary pursuits, particularly those which are of a statistical character, and, while never suffering his taste in that direction to interfere with the full discharge of duty, he often devoted his mind and pen to subjects not exactly germane to his profession.
While pastor of the church here he wrote the article on Morristown, which appeared in the history of Morris County, recently published. It was well and conscientiously done. He must have expended much time in the investigation of his subject, and great labor in reducing his materials to the excellent shape in which they appeared. Mr. Green married, July 23, 1873, Miss Lucy Anna, daughter of the Rev. Samuel N. Robinson, and has three children.
The heartiest wishes of his former pa- rishioners in this city will ever attend Mr. Green in any field of labor in which he may be placed.
SILAS CONDICT.
Among the names of the men of Morris- town, of Revolutionary times, none appears oftener or with greater honor than that of Silas Condict. Born in Morris County, within the limits of the present town- ship of Morris, early connecting himself with the Church, he was ever foremost in promoting the interests of both the church of his adoption and the county and State of his birth. His name very early ap- peared on the pages of the book of Trustees and the frequency of its occurrence, and the circumstances surrounding its record there fully prove that he was an honored and trusted member of that body. In any emer- gency, when wisdom was required, and promptness of action demanded, he seems ever to have been called to the front, to aid by his counsel and to give the congregation the benefit of his alert endeavor. When the country, in its times of direst peril, needed patriots willing to devote themselves to its assistance, he never swerved from a
patriot's true duty, but with high resolve and firm devotion, gave to that country the best of his intelligence, and would have sac. rificed life, if necessary, for its salvation. And when peace came he sat in the coun- cils of State and Nation and aided by his voice and wise judgment in directing the unsettled affairs of the new commonwealth and of the new Republic to a firm and sub- stantial basis.
The frequency with which his name has been repeated, since his time, on the records of the church, given by those who cherish- ed his memory, fully attest the estimation in which he was held by those who knew him best. The name, Silas, does not seem to have been borne by any of his ancestors, The inference, therefore, is proper, that to the veneration for him is due the fact that so many have perpetuated his name by giv- ing it to their children. This has not been confined to the Condict family simply, but has found its way into the collateral branches bearing other patronymics.
It is well that some notice of such a man, so identified with church and State, espe- cially with this church, should appear on the pages of the RECORD. It is much to be re- gretted that it must necessarily be very meagre.
Silas Condict was born at Morristown, March 7, 1738, and was the fifth child of Peter Condict, the third of his name, who died in 1768. The family was of Welsh ex- traction and its genealogy can be traced back to the first settlement of the country and, beyond that, into Wales. The first of the family in America was named John. There is a family record in the possession of Frederick G. Burnham, Esquire, one of whose ancestors was a brother of Silas Con- dict, which gives many items of interest re- lative to the original family.
In 1760, April 10, Mr. Condict married Phebe Day, twin sister of Ezekiel Day, and daughter of Captain Samuel Day and Elizabeth, his wife. Mrs. Condict was born July 10, 1743, and consequently was not quite seventeen years old when she married. She died July 16th, 1762, soon after her marriage, leaving one child, born just before its mother's death. This child was named Elizabeth Phebe, and subse- quently married, November 25, 1781, James
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Cook and died June 21, 1785. Mrs. Cook, like her mother, died in carly life and left one child, a daughter, born December, 1782, called Elizabeth, who was taken by her grand-father, Silas Condict and his second wife, and reared by them in their Christian home. This grand-daughter afterwards married Gen. Joseph Cutler and died Jan- vary 27, 1846, having had four children, Silas Condict, James Richards, Abigail and Augustus W. Cutler. Silas Condict Cutler became a physician and died several years ago; Abigail married the Rev'd James B. Hyndshaw, and is now dead ; James became a clergyman and died in early manhood un- married ; Augustus W. is the only one sur- viving. He is living on a part of the farm formerly belonging to his great-grand-father Silas Condict. He has represented, several times, the Congressional District in which he resides, and is now practising his pro- fession, that of the law, at Morristown.
Silas Condict married a second wife, Abi- gail Byram, March 16, 1763. Abigail Byram was the daughter of Ebenezer Byram and Abigail Alden, who was the great-great grand-daughter of John Alden, of Mayflow- er memory,
" Fair-haired, azure-eyed, with delicate Sax- on complexion,
Having the dew of his youth and the beauty thereof, as the captives
Whom Gregory saw, and exclaimed, " Not Angles but Angels."
Youngest of all was he of the men who came in the Mayflower."
the old inhabitants of Morristown as one of the best of women. Childless herself, her motherly heaft went out with all its tender- ness to the orphan, and many motherless children were nourished and nurtured with loving care and Christian grace by this mother in Israel. She was the step-mother of the baby child of her husband's first wife, but that child showed her appreciation of her second mother's love by a filial affec- tion, and when her daughter had children of her own, she gave her grand-father's name to her first-born and the name of the only grand-mother she ever knew, to her only daughter. Silas Condict preceded his wife in death, dying in 1801, September 6, aged 63 years.
He was elected Trustee of the church, Oc- tober 19, 1772. The choice seems to have been made by the Elders. This is the entry of the fact which appears in the Book of the Trustees. "October 19, 1772, the Elders met at Mr. Jones and made choyce of Silas Cun- dict for a Trustee in the Roome of Samuel Roberts." At the next meeting he was cho- sen Clerk of the Trustees, and placed on two important committees. So that, at the outset of his connection with the Board, he was charged with weighty duties and put in places of responsibility. Early, his fellow Trustees discovered his fitness for the per- formance of these duties, and while he con- tinued to be connected with the Board, which was for several years and even after he was called to a more extended sphere of action, he was always regarded as the man most fitted to be intrusted with any busi- ness which required sagacity and sound judgment. For several years he acted as President of the Trustees, and a reading of the minutes fully shows the opinion of the Board to have been that when peculiar tact and wise action were required, Silas Con- dict was the man selected. October 18, 1773, it was " agreed" "that Silas Condict "again" request the Inhabitants who Subscribed on the old subscription for the purchasing a parson- age to discharge the same or " confess a judg- ment to the Trustees for the same." August 22, 1774, he was directed to " goe to Perth Am- boy and get the charter recorded," and at the same meeting, he was requested to " draw a copy of said Charter and keep for common
Three sisters, Huldah, Abigail and Anna Byram married three brothers, Ebenezer, Silas and Peter Condict, and from these three families have descended many of the name and many collateral branches which have given to Morris County and the State illustrious names. The late Lewis Condict, for many years a member of Congress from New Jersey, came from one of them. Frederick G. Burnham, Esq., is a lineal descendant from Ebenezer Condict and Huldah Byram. Ab- igail Byram, Silas Condict's second wife, died January 14, 1822, at the ripe old age of eighty years. By her Mr. Condict had no children. The name of Mrs. Abigail Con- dict, who was familiarly known as "Aunt Abby." is cherished to this day by many of perusal to save the original." March 22,
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1776, "agreed that Silas Condite take the fur- ther trouble to call on such of the Inhabitants as have hitherto neglected to discharge their subscription for a Parsonage." April 27, 1778. he was elected President of the Board, and, at the same meeting, was appointed one of a Committee to settle with the Rev. Dr. Johnes. This seems to have been a very important settlement, as the time over which it extended, ran from 1769 to 1775 ; , but Mr. Condict reported July 13, 1778, that he " had settled accounts with Mr. Johnes Respecting his salary from a former Settlement in the year 1769 untill the year 1775 inclusive and made an even Ballance." Mr. Condict appears, not only to have filled the position of President of the Board, but also to have been its Secretary and Treasurer. In April, 1781, he declined serving any longer as Clerk, and Mr. John Mills was selected to fill his place, so that he held that position for nine years, but continued to fill the Presidency until at least the year 1788, and for some time after that date. In that year a new organization of the Board was made.
March 25th, 1788, the members of the old Board unanimously resigned their appoint- ment as Trustees. April 24, 1788, the con- gregation met according to advertisement, and elected " Ist, Silas Condict ; 2d, Fona- than Ford ; 3d, John Mills ; 4th, Benj. Lindsley ; 5th, Richard Johnson ; 6th, Fos- eph Lewis ; 7th, James Smith, to serve as Trustees.", Mr. Condict was again chosen President of the new Board, and seems to have held this position for several years after the new organization.
While performing these duties in the church, Mr. Condict was not unmindful of those calls upon him, leading him to as- sume positions in more public and more ex- tended spheres. He was a member of the State Council of New Jersey from its organ- ization in 1776 to 1780. In 1781 he became a member of the continental Congress, and continued such member until 1784. From 1791 to 1800, excepting the two years, 1792 and 1799, he was again a member of the New Jersey Legislature and was Speaker of the house for four sessions, 1792, 1793. 1794 and 1797.
In whatever position he was placed he secured that loving respect, that great con- fidence, which could only be rendered to
one who had the rare combination in his nature of the greatest integrity, of true jus- tice, of kindness of heart, of an intuitive perception of right and wrong, and of an in- herent judgment of human nature.
He was of a loving nature and his heart went out to the young. His brothers died early in life, leaving children. The orphans were transferred to his Christian home, and under the godly tuition of his wife, educa- ted and nurtured with loving care to be- come honored and respected members of society.
His home was open to the needy to be fed, and his large heart delighted in finding under his roof and around his table, those whom he could delight and honor with his hospitality.
During the Revolution and while the army was encamped on the hills around the then sparsely settled village, he gathered in his house officers and men and dispensed with a liberal hand such good gifts as he had to bestow. While thus mindful of the duties of neighbour and friend, of the boun- tiful host and of the almsgiver, he did not forget his then distressed country. He was untiring in her service and heartily devoted. to her cause. He and his only surviving brother Ebenezer, spared no effort to secure the independence of the colonies and cheer- fully gave their time and their substance to accomplish that end.
A part of the house, which he then occu- pied, is still standing near Sussex avenue on the road which formerly ran from that avenue, toward the farm formerly owned by Boyd Headley, and which left Sussex ave- nue, near the former residence of Mr. Samuel Eddy. The house has been desig- nated by some of the older residents of Mor- ristown, the " Hyndshaw Place," for the reason that his great-grand-daughter, Abi- gail, daughter of General Jos. Cutler and the wife of the Rev. J. B. Hyndshaw, formerly owned the old house and some of the sur- rounding land, receiving it as her portion of her mother's estate.
Mr. Condict had large possessions, his farm containing many hundred acres. Its bounds cannot now well be defined, but the land now owned and occupied by the Hon.A. W. Cutler is a portion of the old homestead. Our church is largely indebted to this ex-
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cellent man. His wisdom guarded it from many dangers ; his cheerful counsel inspir- ited its members and officers, when evil menaced its existence ; when immediate action was required his alertness led others with prompt energy ; when emergencies arose which required sagacity to meet, his tact never failed ; when it became necessary to direct, his voice of command was heard and always succeeded in leading towards the right; when entreaty was needed, his was the kindly heart which persuaded, and when great endeavor was required for the church's best interests, his was the beneficence which led the way and prompted others, by an excellent example, to provide the means for the church's wants. His piety led him to seek in the Church of God for that wor- ship which alone could satisfy such natures as his. His patriotism was manifested at a time when dangers crowded around the pa- triot. His name has come down to us un- sullied, without a blot. Time may take away from his memory but cannot destroy the good he has accomplished. That good will remain so long as the church lasts, for it is the work of one who loved God, feared evil and trusted in his Savior.
THANKS !
To Mr. Jotham H. Condit, of Orange, who has given, from his very extensive notes on the genealogy of the Condict family, much information which has been used in the preparation of the biographical notice of Silas Condict, appearing in this month's RECORD.
Mr. Condit has been, for many years, gathering these genealogical notes. He has sought for information in all directions, and has obtained a mass of knowledge on the subject of his family which is perhaps un- equalled in its extent and variety. He is still seeking to extend these notes and will gladly receive any additional information relative to the pedigree of the family, of which he is a worthy member. If the readiness with which he afforded aid to the RECORD, when it was needed, be any criterion of his good will, it can be very confidently asserted that any proper in- quiries made to him, on a subject which he undoubtedly has very near his heart, will receive a hearty response.
Thanks! too, to our excellent fellow townsman, F.G. Burnham, Esq., for his kind- ness manifested in substantially aiding by information on the subject of the life and memory of Silas Condict.
WANTED.
Information is needed as to the precise date of the installation of the Rev. Samuel Fisher, D. D. It was in July or August, 1809. The actual dates of the installations of all the other Pastors are known, but, for some reason, that of Dr. Fisher does not appear.
If possible, sketches of the lives and characteristics of other Pastors of the church will be given hereafter. Any infor- mation respecting them, of any kind, is earnestly requested and will be appreciated.
The Rev. Dr. McDowell was dismissed in 1823, and was succeeded by the Rev. Albert Barnes, who was ordained and installed Feb. 3, 1825, and remained in charge until June, 1830. The Rev. Charles Hoover came next to Mr. Barnes and he was Pastor until March 1836. The Rev. A. Henry Dumont was settled over the church in January, 1841, and was dismissed July 1845. His successor. was the Rev. A. R. Thompson, who came January, 1846, and remained only until July of the next year. Then came the Rev. Jas. R. Richards, D. D., who was in- stalled December, 1847, and dismissed April, 1851. The lamented Townley, who died in February, 1855, while Pastor, came Decem- ber, 1851. The Rev. David Irving, D. D., still living, was with us nearly ten years, from 1855, in November, until May, 1865. The Rev. Mr. Langmuir, whose recent death saddened so many hearts, came in July, 1866, and remained until Sept. 1868. The Rev. John Abbott French was Pastor for a little more than nine years, from December, 1868, until January, 1877. Then came the Rev. Mr. Green, of whom, a short notice, too short for the subject, appears this month. These dates are repeated so as to enable those, who are able and willing, to recall, if possible, some facts, relative to the various Pastors with whose names they are connected. It is very desirable to put those facts in some enduring form, that they may be accessible, for future reference.
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CHURCH DIRECTORY.
PASTOR : REV. WILLIAM DURANT.
RULING ELDERS :
Joel Davis,
Enoch T. Caskey,
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Theodore Little,
Joseph H. VanDoren,
Henry M. Dalrymple,
Aaron D. Whitehead,
Lebbeus B. Ward,
William W. Stone,
James R. Voorhees, William D. Johnson.
Theodore Little,
Joseph H. Van Doren,
Stated Clerk. Clerk pro. tem.
DEACONS :
Victor Fleury, Henry M. Olmsted.
TRUSTEES :
Aurelius B. Hull,
. President.
Henry C. Pitney, Edward Pierson, Committee on Buildings and Grounds.
William E. Church, Joseph H. VanDoren. Committee on Seats, Music, &c.
Thomas C. Bushnell, Stephen Pierson, M. D., Committee on Finance.
Joseph H. VanDoren, Clerk of the Board of Trustees.
The President is, ex-officio, a Member of each Committee.
A. B. Hull, James R. Voorhees, Francis L. Whitehead,
Treasurer. Parish Clerk. Sexton.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN, N. J. " THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME."-Psalms 102 : 18.
VOLUME III.
FEBRUARY, 1883. NUMBER 2.
[Printed with the Approval of the Session.]
THE RECORD
Will be published monthly at Morristown, N. J. Terms $1.00 per annum, in advance: Subscriptions may be made at the book- Mores of Messrs. Runyon and Emmell, or to Messrs. James R. Voorhees and William D. Johnson, or by letter addressed to the
EDITOR OF THE RECORD, Morristown, N. J.
Entered at the Post Office at Morristown, N. J., as second class matter.
In the RECORD for January an error oc- curs in the statement of the death of Mrs. Catharine Smith, afterwards Mrs. David Mills. Mrs. Mills died in 1865 and not in 1855. A great favor will be conferred upon the editor if any person discovering mistakes will report them. Proper corrections will always be made.
A very strange omission occurred in the mention of the names of the pastors of the church, made in the last number of THE RECORD, It was an inadvertence very much regretted. No notice was made of the Rev'd Orlando L. Kirtland. It was simply an oversight, entirely accidental. Mr. Kirtland was installed March 23, 1837, and dismissed August 26, 1841, becoming then the first pastor of the South Street Presby- terian church of this city. The request made for facts and information relative to our former pastors is renewed, especially with reference to Mr. Kirtland. This saintly minister of God cannot be forgotten.
The first and second volumes of the RECORD may be had upon application to either Mr. James R. Voorhees, Mr. Win. D. Johnson, or to Francis L. Whitehead, the sexton of the church.
Price 75 cents, each volume.
REV. JOHN ABBOTT FRENCH.
Of the seventeen pastors, who have min- istered to the First Presbyterian Church, five only survive. One of these bears the name at the head of this article. He is still in the full flush of manhood. He came to us in his youth, when he had the hope of a life of usefulness before him, and left us be- fore the bloom of that youth had left him. We had the freshness of his young life and the energy of his opening manhood. The few years, which he gave us, were filled with the evidences of his desire to serve his Master and to benefit his kind. None of the present generation who have listened to his efforts, will forget him and none speak of him but to praise.
John Abbott French was born at Bosca- wen, N. H., in 1840. He was prepared early for college in the high school at Nashua, N. H., and in 1858, he entered Williams col- lege, where he graduated, in 1862. After graduation he entered the Union Theologi- cal Seminary of N. Y., where he remained a short time and finished his theological course with the Rev. Charles Robinson, D. D., now of the Memorial Church in N. Y. He was ordained in 1867, and, shortly after ordination, took charge of the Congrega- tional Church, at Flushing, L. I. While preaching at Flushing he received a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Morris- town, N. J., which was accepted and on December 21, 1868 he was installed pastor. He remained in charge of our church until January 31, 1877, when he was transferred to the Fourth Presbyterian Church at Chicago, succeeding Professor Swing, at the close of the Swing and Patton contro- versy. His health failing, he resigned in January, 1880. Improving his health by rest and travel, he became so far restored that in October, 1881, he resumed the charge
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of the Congregational Church at Flushing. where he now is.
The relations between Mr. French and his people here in Morristown were pecu- liarly pleasant and his memory will long be cherished.
Mr. French possesses great cordiality and sprightliness of manner. He has a keen sense of the ludicrous and much native wit. His ability to clothe his utterances, while addressing an audience, when the severe rules, which checked him in presenting re- ligious truth, could be cast aside, was almost marvellous. The irrepressible smile, often he merry laugh, were sure to follow his addresses when he gave full expression to his humor and wit. His wit was never ex- ercised at the expense of others. It was keen but it never wounded, and never de- scended. The smile, the laugh which it ex- cited, were never the boisterous merriment induced by broad humor, and his wit was such, that if he chose, he could make it appreciable by all. It was simply a delight to see him and hear him in the Sunday school, or at some meeting, where children formed the larger part of his audience.
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