USA > New Jersey > The early Germans of New Jersey : their history, churches, and genealogies. > Part 17
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CALEB HORTON came to Roxbury from Southold in the year 1748. He was the great grandson of BARNABAS, of Southold, who came in 1633-8, from Mouseley, in Leicestershire, England. Caleb bought in 1747, of Isaac Pierson, 1,782 acres (the Gardiner tract), in what is now Chester township.
SAMUEL HORTON, about whom nothing is known, was sur- veyor of highways of Roxbury in 1746.
SAMUEL SWAZEY came from Southold to Roxbury, 17th May, 1737. This is the earliest date on record for the settlement of the above township, unless we consider John Colver, as a resi- dent, since his will is dated in 1732 at Roxbury. But Colver probably resided on Schooley's Mountain. Samuel Swazey was probably a son of John dd of Sonthold. He owned at his death, in 1759, nearly a thousand acres in Chester township, and in Warren Co. His son Samuel was the first psstor of the Con- gregational church, and in 1773 he and his brother Richard removed to Western Florida, now Mississippi. They had bought there of Captain Amos Ogden in 1772, 19,000 acres of land. The brothers took with them to Florida, a number of
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EARLY GERMANS OF NEW JERSEY
families, from whom the Farrars, Kings, Corys, Montgomerys, Pipes, Foules, Colemans, Jones, Callenders, Fowlers, Luses, Griffing, Hopkins, Nobles, Ashfords, and many others in that vicinity are descended. (See Part II, p. 523).
Two other sons of Samuel, viz .: Israel and Barnabas, set- tled near Hope, Warren Co. Mary, his youngest child, mar- ried John Seward and became the ancestress of the prominent family of that name.
JOHN BUDD, the grandson of John, who removed from Southoid to Westchester Co., N. Y., in 1661, came to Roxbury about 1740. He had ten children, whose descendants are still found in Chester township.
WILLIAM CORWIN, the great-great-grandson of Matthias of Southold, came to Roxbury before 1767, and resided about one mile and a half north of Chester.
ISAAC CORWIN, of unknown relationship to William, settled near Flanders during the Revolutionary war.
The DECAMPS were descendants of HENRY, of Middlesex Co., who was the grandson of LAWRENS JANS, an immigrant to New Amsterdam in 1664.
PHILEMON DICKERSON, of Southold, was the grandfather of THOMAS, whose five children, THOMAS, DANIEL, JOSHUA, PETER, and a sister ELIZABETH, came to Roxbury in 1745. Peter was the grandfather of Gov. Mahlon Dickerson.
DAVID LUSE, freeholder in 1741, came to Roxbury with his brother BENJAMIN, as early as 1736, when he bought land near Chester.
SAMUEL COLEMAN, assessor in 1741, had fifteen children and was probably related to the family of Orange Co.
OBADIAH SEWARD, collector in 1741, came from Brookhaven, L. I., and settled at first on land now owned by a descendant at the cross-roads: He removed to Berkshire Valley and JOHN, one of his sons, who married Mary Swazey, removed to Sussex Co., and from there his children removed to Orange Co., N. Y. The ex-Secretary of State was of this family.
The first of the name in this country was probably WILLIAM, who sailed from London 6th January, 1634, for St. Christopher
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SETTLERS FROM SOUTHOLD AND SOUTHAMPTON
and the Barbadoes. His son Obadiah ist, father of Obadiah of New Jersey, was in Brookhaven as early as 1664.
The SKELLENGER family in this State are descended from JACOBUS SCHELINX, who came to New Amsterdam in 1643. He removed in 1658 to Amagansett, L. I. DANIEL, his grandson, removed to Roxbury about 1776 and settled on a farm between Chester and Mendham.
WILLIAM LARASON, surveyor of the highways in 1745, bought a large farm on Pleasant Hill in 1748. He was the son of WILLIAM, constable of Hopewell township in 1721, and the grandson of JOHN, a Danish nobleman, who was on the rate list of Newtown, L. I., in 1683.
ABRAHAM DRAKE, the son of Rev. John, of Piscataway, bought land at Drakeville in 1751. His son Nathaniel was a freeholder of Roxbury in 1741. Abraham was the grandfather of Col. Jacob and father probably of Nathaniel of Sussex Co., and the grandfather of Silas of Draketown. The Drakes of Mendham were apparently of another family, who were of Holland descent. JOHANNES DRACK, of Jamaica, L. I., in 1715, was probably the ancester of this family.
THOMAS FAIRCLOE, who came from the border between France and Germany, was the first of his name in New Jersey and came hither probably about 1750.
WILLIAM GRIFFITHS (or Griffing), the first clerk of Roxbury, appointed 1741, was probably the grandson of Jasper, who came from Wales to Southold before 1679.
THEOPHILUS CASE, surveyor of highways, 1741, was probably the son of Theophilus of Southold. The latter was the son of William, who came from England to Rhode Island in 1635. Theophilus and Ichabod and John, three brothers probably came together from Southold to Roxbury.
RICHARD TERRY, from Southold, was the. first of the name in Roxbury. Three brothers, Richard, Thomas and Robert had come from England in 1635. Richard, of New Jersey, was probably the great-grandson of the first named of these brothers.
THOMAS and JAMES REEVES came to Southold about 1660 ; Thomas removed to Southampton in 1667. SILAS, of Roxbury,
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EARLY GERMANS OF NEW JERSEY
who died 1777, and had seven children probably came from Southold.
SETTLERS FROM SOUTHAMPTON.
Southampton is the next oldest town on Long Island to Southold. It was settled 1640, by people of the Presbyterian preference. The founders of the church of this order in Ches- ter came mostly from this place.
NATHAN COOPER came from Southampton, L. I., and pur- chased 600 acres in Roxiticus. He was the great-grandfather of General Nathan.
ELIAS HOWELL removed from Southampton to New Jersey and died on the way. His son Elias bought 200 acres of Nathan Cooper at Milltown in Chester township, 1822. NATHAN Howell bought a farm at Hacklebarney of Johannes Haas in 1760.
REV. WILLIAM WOODHULL, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chester, was the first of his name in this vicinity, He came in the year 1768. He was the son of John and great-great- grandson of Richard who immigrated in 1648 to Brookhaven.
JOSEPH HEDGES, M. D., was the first physician in the town- ship. He married a daughter of Rev. Will. Woodhull. He was descended from William, who settled in Southampton in 1644 and removed to Easthampton in 1649.
Other settlers of old Roxbury will be found in the Genealo- gies, Part II of this work.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught in a log house by the Rev. Mr. Woodhull until the Revolution. Miss Phebe Jagger also taught for a time 2 private school on the Cooper estate. From 1800- 1812 John G. Gardner, of Connecticut, taught a school in the village. Another teacher was Miss Hester Brackett, afterward the mother of Dr. T. F. White, of Summit, N. J. William Rankin removed hither from Deckertown in 1854 and taught school in the brick hotel until 1862, when he removed to Mend- ham. Rev. L. I. Stoutenburgh, Miss Susan Magie, Mrs. M. F. Hoagland, Rev. P. S. Smith, Mrs. C. Y. Baker and Rev. J. H. McCandless have taught successively in " The Chester Insti-
REV. ABNER MORSE.
REV. LUKE I. STOUTENBURGH.
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SETTLERS FROM SOUTHOLD AND SOUTHAMPTON
tute. In 1870 a three story building, erected by the Hon. Daniel Budd, was taken possession of and used for school pur- poses by Miss Magie. The Rev. James F. Brewster also con- ducted a private school while pastor of the Presbyterian Church. (History of Morris Co., p. 214).
IRON MINES.
Hacklebarney had a forge more than a hundred years ago. It was sold in 1786 by Samuel Ross to Frederick Bartles and a mortgage upon it was given by the latter in 1790 to Randall & Stewart. of New York. This 100 acres was the northern end of a tract bought by John Wortman, Sr., in 1771, of Peter Schenck. Hon. Daniel Budd, in partnership with Mr. Bartley, carried on this forge for many years. In 1867 mines were opened in various places and the transporting of the ore increased with the building of the Chester Railroad in 1869.
The Chester furnace, situated west of Chester village, was built in 1878 by the Jersey Spiegel Iron Company. In 1879 it was leased by the W. J. Taylor Co. This furnace was torn down in 1792 or 3
In 1872 the tracks (about five miles long) between the Hedges mine and Hacklebarney and the D., L. and W. R. R. were laid. In 1881 this track was extended a mile and a half through the village to the Swayzie, Leek and Cooper mines. No mining at all is now carried on at or near Chester.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized in 1881 and Rev. E. S. Ferry was appointed its first pastor. For five or six years services were held in the academy by the Peapack pastor. In 1881 the Methodist Church of Bedminster was removed and erected in Chester.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHESTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
REV. FRANK A. JOHNSON.
UR limits of space prevent us from giving in full the historical sermon of Mr. John- son, delivered in his church on the 2d of July, 1876, but it was substantially as follows: "I have thus sketched the growth of our national and denomina- tional life, that we may bear in mind some of the remarkable changes that have occurred while our own church was making its history.
Now let us consider in very condensed form, third, the his- tory of the First Congregational Church of Chester ; not only the oldest Congregational Church in New Jersey, but, so far as I can ascertain, the oldest west of the Hudson River.
The fathers of the Congregational Church in Chester, formerly called Roxbury, were descended from the company of English Puritans who first settled in Southhold, Long Island. Their fathers left England during the turbulent times in the reign of Charles the First. They fled from the tyranny and oppression, and were ardently devoted to civil liberty, and jeal- ous for the purity and simplicity of the Protestant religion. The Rev. John Youngs, who had been a minister of Hingham, England, came to New Haven, Conn., with a part of his church in 1640. He remained there but a short time and then passed over to Long Island, with his church and settled upon a tract of land purchased from the Conhony Indians. They were a
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godly people, and from the beginning of their settlement we find them careful to make provision for the support of the gospel, to exact punctual attendance on public worship and a strict observance of the Sabbath.
In 1702 the town court fined a person 6s. 7d. for a breach of the Sabbath, and in 1711 another man three shillings for pro- fane swearing.
Previous to 1645 they are supposed to have erected their first house of worship.
The constitution of this church was originally Congrega- tional and so remained till 1832.
The tract of land now constituting the township of Chester. was surveyed and run into lots in 1713 and 1714, and began soon after [?] to be settled with emigrants from Southhold, L. I., who had been brought up in the Congregational Church, planted there by their fathers, and were by conviction and pro- fession attached to its doctrines and customs.
It was in their hearts to do as their fathers had done, plant a church of the same faith and form of government as that in which they had been baptised and to which they owed so much.
Having settled from one to three miles apart, in a country to be cleared of heavy timber, with their private buildings to erect, roads, bridges and fences to make, and families to sup- port ; it is wonderful that they, as early as 1747, should have been able to erect a commodious house of worship, with pews and galleries to seat an audience of 400. This house stood about twenty rods northwest of the present meeting house.
This building was used for a house of worship till 1803.
Two generations worshipped in it, and many souls were born into the Saviour's Kingdom within its sacred walls.
It was remodeled in 1803, but a part of its timbers still exist in the frame work of a barn on the estate of Mr. William Seward at Chester Cross Roads.
Just imagine a Sabbath in 1776 when your fathers assem- bled in this old church. It is doubtful whether a wheeled vehicle drove up to the door. Some came on horseback, but more walked, winding their way for miles through woodland foot paths. The women often carried their shoes in their
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hands to save wear and tear, placing them upon their feet as they approached the church.
We should think it a strange appearing company which gathered in that meeting house, but there were men and women there who feared God, whom God loved as his dear children, who have long since entered the mansion prepared for the lowly as well as the great who truly love and serve Him.
About the time of the building of this first church the ex- citement which caused the separation in the Congregational Churches of Connecticut and Long Island reached this settle- ment, and a majority of the inhabitants became " separates" as they were then called. A separate Congregational Church was gathered, which was ministered nnto by Rev. Samuel Sweazy for about twenty years. These Separatists retained the doc- trines and form of government of the regular Congregational Churches. Their separation was a protest against the oppres- sion and worldly influence of the union between Church and State which existed especially in Connecticut. No wonder there was a protest against the punishment of ministers for preaching outside their own parish without special consent of the minister and two-thirds of the parish in which they wished to preach. Or against the treating as vagabonds of ministers who were traveling and preaching outside of their own States. Or against the fining or imprisoning of those who failed to attend the parish meeting, or the preaching of their own min- ister on the Sabbath.
All honor to the spirit of liberty that dared the opposition of a powerful State Church rather than submit to such oppres- sion. A.minority of the former worshippers in this church withdrew and joined another church.
They called the Rev. Marches to be their minister, and about 1755 built the house across the river, where the Presby- terian Church formerly worshipped.
Soon after the close of the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Sweazy the war of the Revolution began. The years 1777 and '78 were stirring times in New Jersey. Hostile armies crossed and recrossed the State, desolating its fair villages with fire and
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REV. B. F. BRADFORD.
REV. FRANK ALONZO JOHNSON.
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CHESTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
sword. Chester was off the line of conflict, and yet must have been a source of supply for the patriot army while encamped at Morristown.
During these years worship was suspended and the Con- gregational Meeting House was used as a hospital for wounded and disabled soldiers. It is to be regretted that the church records do not give us a more complete account of the events of this important historical period. Every patriotic impulse is stirred to know more of those scenes that transpired upon this hillside ; when, in this old chureh, patriots suffered and yielded their lives for the holy cause of freedom. But the entries in the books for those years are very meagre. During these ex- citing times, when worship was suspended, the moral and religious habits of the people suffered greatly.
About 1779 a union of the two churches was attempted under the REV. DAVID BALDWIN, who, for six years preached on alternate Sabbaths in the two houses of worship.
Failing to accomplish the desired inion Mr. Baldwin left his field of labor and soon after the church was pronounced dissolved. But immediately a new Congregational Church was organized, and in June, 1785, the REV. JAMES YOUNGS was ordained and installed as pastor. The ministry of Mr. Youngs was very short. He died in November, 1790, aged 32, deeply lamented by his people and his brethren in the ministry. The church records have this entry concerning him : "All accounts go to prove him a most amiable man, a sincere, exemplary and devoted Christian. The effects of his ministry, short as it was, were extensive and happy. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."
From 1790-1801, the church was without a regular pastor, but ministers from Long Island frequently visited the people, and through their preaching sinners were converted and the church edified.
In November, 1800, the church held a day of fasting and prayer for direction in the choice of another pastor. They were led to extend a call to MR. STEPHEN OVERTON, who was ordained and installed pastor on the 16th of June, 1801. The congregation rapidly increased. In 1803 the original house of
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worship was replaced by another more modern in appearance, 50 feet by 40 in size, with front and side galleries, a steeple and bell.
Great revivals occurred during Mr. Overton's early minis- try, and many substantial members were added to the church, but many, sad to relate, dishonored their profession, and re- turned to the world.
From 1817 to 1828 the church and congregation sadly declined in spirituality and in regard for the prosperity of the church. It was feared that a final dissolution would result from this indifference.
Mr. Overton was dismissed from his long pastorate in March, 1828. He died on September 18th, 1839. The church records refer to him as possessed of strong intellectual powers with "a clear melodious voice and thrilling elocution, endowed with one of the strongest constitutions ; he travelled much, preaching more than once a day for weeks in succession."
From its formation till 1810 the church and pastor were enrolled as members of the "Separate Congregational Con- vention of Connecticut and Long Island."
In 1810, with other churches in this State, it formed a new and similar convention, which in 1828 was dissolved.
Let us try to picture a Sabbath in this second house of wor- ship in 1826, half a century ago.
Since 1776 there have been many improvements, yet even now nothing we could call a carriage approaches the door. Many of the congregation still come on horseback, others walk, while now and then a rude wagon deposits its load at the door.
As we enter the door everything seems very strange to us in 1776. The pulpit is so high that necks are fearfully wrenched in efforts to see the preacher.
A row of box-pews with high backs, facing toward the centre of the church extends along the wall and several rows of pews of like pattern occupy the space directly in front of the pulpit. The remainder of the house is filled with ordinary seats. If it be a winter's day we shall find no fire, and will wonder why these people make such a sacrifice of comfort to hear the gospel, when, in our days a slight fall in the ther-
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mometer would keep half the congregation home from a com- fortably warmed church. The congregation is dressed with severe simplicity and gives token of a sturdy and hard working race.
In the autumn of 1828 the REV. ABNER MORSE was called to the care of the church as acting pastor for three years.
He found its spiritual life at a very low ebb. It was resolved that it would not be right to commune at the Lord's table till the church had purged itself of a large number of neglectful and immoral persons. A meeting was called for those only who still considered themselves the cordial friends of Christ, and who were ready to renew their covenant with Him. Some fifty persons responded to this call, two of whom are now living. While under the pastoral care of Mr. Morse the church was prospered and its membership largely increased.
Mr. Morse was dismissed at his own request in the spring of 1833. The REV. CHARLES JONES officiated as acting pastor from August, 1833-'35. The church, in granting him his dis- mission, paid him a high compliment as "an able and faithful minister of the Gospel.
The REV. JOHN FISHPOOL, a native of Essex in England, was stated supply of the church from October, 1835-October, 1836.
From 1836 to 1840 the church was supplied by different members of the New York State Congregational Association, with which the church was now connected.
For some eight months in 1839 the REV. LEWIS F. TERRILL acted as stated supply. During these years there was much discord among the membership, few were added to the church, and its spiritual interest suffered greatly.
During 1840 and 1841 the church was very much dis- couraged ; the ordinances of the gospel were neglected and for nearly a year not more than one sermon was heard in the church.
On October 6, 1841, MR. LUKE I. STOUTENBURG, of Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., a licentiate of the New York Association, supplied the pulpit and was invited to continue the supply for several Sabbaths. On December 15th, 1841, it was voted to call Mr. Stoutenburg to the pastorate of the church. The call was
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accepted, and on June 14th, 1842, he was ordained and installed pastor of the church.
Mr. Stoutenburg remained pastor till December 17th, 1867, when his resignation was accepted by the church. The events of this pastorate are so comparatively recent, and are so well- known to you, that I will pass them by without particular mention. Suffice it to say that during these years the church was greatly prospered, and, indeed began a new and more healthy life. The congregation and membership were much increased. On one Sabbath, February 2Ist, 1842, forty-eight persons united with the church, (the largest addition at any one time) eight of whom are active members.
In 1854 the second house of worship was taken down and the building in which we are now assembled was erected. In December, 1867, the REV. JAMES I. EVANS was called, and in June. 1868, was installed pastor. During this pastorate the parsonage now owned by the church was built.
On April 1, 1871, the resignation of the pastor was tended to and accepted by the church.
For some months after the close of this pastorate a period of trial and discouragement intervened, but the preaching ser- vices were continued, usually by ministers of sister churches.
In September, 1872, the REV. B. F. BRADFORD, pastor of the Congregational church of Charlotte, Michigan, was invited to the pastorate. Mr. Bradford acted as stated supply till May, 1875. The events of his ministry are so fresh in your memory that I need not recall them. He was the intimate friend of most of you : and a large proportion of the membership of the church is the fruit of his labor. He left the church united, happy and prosperous.
On June 15, 1875, the present pastor was called; the call was accepted. He entered upon his duties on August ist, and was installed pastor by a council convened for that purpose.
Such is the historical narrative of this dear old church down to the present date. We should like to know more of its early history, especially in the Revolutionary period, those days that tried men's souls ; but we should be thankful that the church records are so complete, that no period in its long life is
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CHESTER.
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CHESTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
shrouded in utter darkness. It is to be regretted that the statistical portion of the church records previous to 1830 were in such an imperfect state that we cannot ascertain the total membership, baptisms, etc.
At this time the membership is 240. In all probability the membership at any one time was never larger than at present.
In 120 years there have been six pastors whose terms of service aggregate 81 years, viz .: Mr. Swazy, 20 years; Mr. Youngs, 5 years ; Mr. Overton, 27 years ; Mr. Stoutenburg, 26 years; Mr. Evans, 3 years, and the pastor now in office. Dur- ing the same period there were five regular stated supplies, viz .: Mr. Morse, 5 years ; Mr. Jones, 2 years; Mr. Fishpool, I year ; Mr. Terrill, 8 months ; Mr. Bradford, 3 years. * * * * * *
The REV. E. B. ENGLAND, of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Newark, was called to be the successor of Rev. F. A. John- son, the 15th of November, 1889, and remained until 1894, when he resigned to accept the call to the Presbyterian church of Washington, N. J. In November, 1894 REV. ABRAHAML. SHEER accepted the call to this church, and is now its pastor.
The present deacons are, J. H. CRAMER, S. H. LEEK, D. STRYKER, S. SCHUYLER.
The trustees are, H. P. SANDERSON, E. T. HOWELL, J. K. DAVIS, GEORGE SQUIER, H. Y, HALL.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE CHESTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
BY REV. JAMES F. BREWSTER.
HE first minister ordained over this con- gregation, or the church of Roxbury as it then was called, was REV. SAMUEL HARKER, or Harcour, who was probably of Huguenot descent. In Foote's sketches of North Carolina, to which State some of his ancestors removed, he is described as remarkable for size, vigor and strength, and is said to have spent his early youth in manual labor. He grad- uated at Princeton College and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, Dec. 6th, 1751. The records of that Presbytery inform us that being called to Roxbury, on Black River, in Morris County, New Jersey, he was ordained there October 31st, 1752.
In an autobiography of Dr. Caldwell, published at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by order of the editors of the University Magazine, he makes the following record concerning Mr. Harker : " My grandmother's name was Rachel Lovel [daugh- ter of a French Protestant, residing at Oyster Bay, Long Island]. She married a Mr. Harker, who was a minister of the Presby- terian Church. My grandfather Harker was remarkable for personal size and strength. He was experienced in all or-
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