USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Amwell > The history of the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
A meeting of the congregation was held at the Church November 19th, 1818, to decide upon their future course, and another meeting the 8th of December. It was de- cided that the pews should be free until May next, and that the money to pay the supplies should be raised by subscription.
Zaccur Prall and Garret Schenck were appointed col- lectors, from which it may be inferred that they also were Trustees. The church remained without a pastor until 1820, being served in the meantime by supplies.
We have the list of subscribers to this fund for supplies, which is especially interesting as showing who adhered to the church after the separation.
The first on the list is Captain John Schenck, which gives us the right to claim this revolutionary hero as be- longing to our church. His remains, as you know, rest in our cemetery. He was one of the largest contributors to this fund to pay the supplies for the next six months. His subscription was $3 for six months, only three others, viz., Peter Prall, Derrick Sutphin and Titus Quick, giv-
165
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
ing as much. It must be remembered that only a small amount was required for this purpose.
The whole list is as follows:
Captain John Schenck, Jonathan Hoagland, Abraham Williamson, Lucretia Williamson, Jacob J. Young, Wil- liam Hortman, William Young, Sen., Richard Sked, Peter Snook, William Fisher, Joseph Sutphin, Ralph Young, Benjamin Young, Mary Young, Uriel Phillips, John W. Young, John Campbell, Henry Young, Sen., William P. Young, Jacob J. Quick, Abraham Servis, John P. Young, John R. Wilson, Wm. Williamson, Jacob Schenck, Major Wm. G. Schenck, William Prall, David Rickoff, Peter Prall, Peter Prall, Jr., Garret J. Quick, Abm. Prall, Peter P. Quick, Arthur Sutphin, Derrick Sutphin, David Manners, Derrick Sutphin, Jr., Henry Young, Jr., Ruben Runyon, Garret J. Schenck, Jacob J. Young, Peter P. Young, John J. Young, Titus Quick, Tunis Quick, Benjamin Johnson, Abraham Gu- lick, Aaron Prall, Robert Stout, Abraham Sutphin, Jacob Wilson, Catherine Stout, Isaac Prall, Garret William- son, John P. Quick, Gideon Quick, Mary Schenck, John Kee, Isaac Taylor, John Blackwell, Thomas Prall, An- drew Blackwell, Mary Wilson, James S. Sutphin, Zaccur Prall, Joel Wolverton, David Bellis, Isaac Houshel, William W. Schenck, Johnathan H. Covenhoven, Thomas Wilson, Rebecca Schenck, Elizabeth Brooks, Mary Hoagland, Rebecca Hoagland, Enos Lanning, Lewis Labaw. In all seventy-seven subscribers. (From minutes congregation, pages 99 and 100).
The clergymen who supplied the pulpit during the two years in which the church was without a pastor were
166
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Revs. Garner Hunt, George W. Gale, John F. Clark, L. F. Leake, John Boyd, Jacob Kirkpatrick, Aaron Babbit, James S. Woods, Benjamin J. Lowe, John H. Smaltz, Cyrus Gildersleeve, Enoch Burt, David Bishop, William Sloan, Joseph Campbell and Horace Galpin.
The Rev. Joseph Campbell was at the time pastor at Hackettstown. From 1838 to 1840 he was pastor of the Milford and Kingwood Presbyterian churches. At this time I attended on his ministry with my parents, and at his hands received the rite of baptism. He married, for his second wife, a Mrs. Chamberlain, of Flemington, formerly a Miss Sutphin, whose kindred are with us at this day. The sum paid the supplies was sometimes six and sometimes eight dollars for the Sabbath service.
There was a meeting of the congregation held August 16th, 1819, when Jacob J. Young was chosen Moderator, and Thomas Wilson Clerk. The object of this meeting was to consider the propriety of uniting with the Re- formed Church of Neshanic and together becoming one pastoral charge. The movement was discussed with in- terest and a decided disposition for the union was mani- fested. A committee of conference was appointed to meet a similar committee from the Neshanic church. These committees were, from Amwell, Titus Quick, John Schenck and Jacob J. Young; from Neshanic, it was Henry H. Schenck, John Wyckoff, Jr., and Nicholas Williamson. The committees met at Cookstown, August 18th, 1819, when John Schenck was chosen chairman and Nicholas Williamson clerk. The following propositions were submitted by the Neshanic committee, viz .: Ist. That Amwell should come under the Classis of Philadel-
167
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
phia; 2d. Call the Rev. Mr. Smaltz, who was then the pastor of the Neshanic church; 3d. The Neshanic church should take one-third of Mr. Smaltz's service and pay one-third of the salary. The committee of Amwell agreed to these propositions. The last one shows the relative strength of the two churches at that time.
A meeting of the First English Presbyterian congrega- tion was called at the church the first of September, 1819, for the purpose of receiving the report of their committee. Enos Lanning was chosen Moderator and Thomas Wil- son, Clerk. A motion was made and seconded to take the sense of the congregation on the first proposition made by the committee from the Neshanic church, viz .: "Shall Amwell come under the Classis of Philadelphia?" Car- ried in the negative. This action brought to a close the effort for a union with this neighboring church. And with all the good feelings toward this neighborly sister then and now the action of our church in the matter shows that attachment to the old Presbyterian name and the old ways was stronger than to a few dollars that would have been saved in salary by forming the union. And it is fair to infer if this crucial proposition had been submitted to the Neshanic people, asking them to change their name and ecclesiastical relation, the same negative vote would have been given.
The decision by the Amwell First Church was the more significant of a firm attachment to the church of their fathers, because, since the recent separation from the other Amwell churches they evidently felt themselves un- equal to the support of a pastor alone. Happily for the church at this crisis Providence had ready at hand relief
168
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
for them in this hour of need. Only a few days after the above action had taken place the following communica- tion was received from the Presbyterian Church of Flem- ington :
"To the President of the Board of Trustees of the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell:
"Gentlemen-At a large meeting of the pew holders of the Flemington Presbyterian congregation at their meeting house on Sunday, December 4th, 1819, it was unanimously resolved that a committee be appointed from their body to confer with a committee that may be ap- pointed from your body, in relation to a union of the two congregations under one pastor; and that Isaac Hill, Sen., Christopher Cool, Andrew Van Fleet, Cornelius Wyckoff and William Williamson be the committee for this congregation.
"This committee are entrusted with full and ample powers to negotiate for us in this transaction, and any assurances that they may give in writing, or any agree- ments or arrangements that they may make as our repre- sentatives, are to be considered as binding and obligatory upon us.
"On motion it was further resolved that the President of the Board of Trustees * * do immediately com- municate to the President of the Board of Trustees of your congregation. I would beg leave to re- quest, agreeably to a suggestion made at their meeting, that you would communicate to our Board what steps you may take in the appointment of a committee from your congregation; of whom it may consist, the time
169
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
and place that would be most convenient to them to meet the committee of this congregation.
"As a representative of the voice of this church, I can- not forbear to remark that a sincere regard to the inter- ests of the Gospel, and the good of society in this part of the county induces us to hope that the disposition and measures of this church will be reciprocated on your part. The event is with Him in whose hands are the hearts of all men, and who will do good to his church as shall seem best to his infinite wisdom, that both this church and yours, whether separated or united, may be blessed with the smiles of an overruling Providence is the sincere wish of
"Your friend and servant, "DAVID P. SHROPE, President."
The cordiality and spirituality of the above communi- cation are so marked that I have considered it worthy of being copied almost entire as an interesting part of this history. To this communication the following response was sent:
"December 20th, 1819.
"Sir-We have had a meeting of the congregation, at the old Meeting House, and agreed to appoint a commit- tee to meet yours at your request on the third day of Jan- uary next, at the house of Isaac Hill. The following is the committee appointed by the Amwell First Church: Derrick Sutphin, Titus Quick, Enos Lanning, Jacob J. Young and James Sutphin.
"TITUS QUICK, President."
170
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Following the conference of these committees, a meet- ing of the Amwell congregation was held at the church, April Ist, 1820, at which Tunis T. Quick was chosen Moderator and John Kee, Clerk. At this meeting it was decided to join with the Flemington congregation in sup- porting the gospel. The Rev. John Flavel Clark was at this time pastor of the church at Flemington, which office he had held since June, 1815.
The Amwell congregation also agreed at this meeting to make out a call for half the services of the Rev. Mr. Clark. This action was modified at a meeting of the congregation held at the church April 29th, 1820, when it was moved and unanimously carried to have Rev. Mr. Clark for a supply for three years. It was also agreed to pay Mr. Clark three hundred and twenty-five dollars for his services, in half yearly payments. At this meeting Titus Quick was Moderator and George Wilson, Clerk. The congregation again met at the church July Ist, 1820, with Tunis T. Quick Moderator and John Kee Clerk, when nominations were made of persons to be chosen as Trustees. Also the following committee was appointed to confer with the Flemington congregation about getting a minister, viz .: Titus Quick, Jacob J. Young and Enos Lanning. The meeting then adjourned to meet August 12th, when the following persons were chosen Trustees, viz .: Titus Quick, Jacob J. Young, William W. Schenck, Aaron Prall, John P. Quick, Abraham Sutphin and Peter P. Quick.
The congregation met September 27th, 1820, to receive the report of the committee appointed to confer with the Flemington committee relative to the union of the two
171
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
congregations and securing the services for half of Mr. Clark's time. The Flemington people had modified the offer of the Amwell congregation by proposing that each congregation should pay Mr. Clark $350. This was not approved by the Amwell people and the committee was again instructed to confer with the Flemington committee relative to a union of the two congregations, and for se- curing the services for half the time of Rev. Mr. Clark. As a result of the conference it was agreed at a meeting, date not given, to make a call for one-half of Mr. Clark's time, and for this service each congregation was to pay him $325 annually, and that this arrangement was to continue for three years. You will notice that the union was finally consummated substantially on the terms of- fered by the Amwell people April 29th. At these several meetings Tunis T. Quick was Moderator and John Kee Clerk.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Newton, in New York, October 17th, 1820, a written application was re- ceived from the First Presbyterian congregation of Am- well requesting that the Rev. John F. Clark be appointed a supply in said congregation for one-half his time, for three years. Presbytery having satisfactory evidence that such an arrangement would meet the wishes of the people of Flemington, and Mr. Clark consenting, he was ap- pointed a supply to Amwell, as requested.
Dr. Mott gives some interesting facts on the State of the country, which led the Flemington people to propose the union of the two congregations, the influence of which were doubtless as weighty with the Amwell people as with those of Flemington. "The church had enjoyed
172
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
the exclusive services of Mr. Clark until 1820. But the last four years had been a season of financial depression. The whole country was very poor. Money was scarce. In the summer of 1816 there were frost and ice every month. Nearly all the crops failed. An extensive emi- gration to Ohio was the consequence. Farmers in this region had little to sell; and their produce was carried a long distance, and then the price obtained was small. More and more the congregation felt its inability to con- tinue the whole support of Mr. Clark. Arrearages now amounted to $580-more than a year's salary. So thoughts were turned toward a union with the old Am- well Church." And this church not having been alone in the support of a pastor since 1754, with the same con- ditions in the country, made our people feel the like need of union for the support of the gospel. Doubtless this common experience made them patient with each other during the numerous conferences held, and led each party to surrender enough of their own preferences to impart strength and harmony to the union secured.
At the same congregational meeting (minute not dated ) at which the Amwell people recognize the consummation of the union, it was decided to appropriate one hundred and sixty-two dollars and fifty cents of the interest money from the funds of the church towards raising the three hundred and twenty-five dollars which they agreed to pay the Rev. John F. Clark for one-half his ministerial ser- vices, and the remainder to be raised by subscription.
A congregational meeting was held September 6th, 1823, with Titus Quick as Moderator, and John Kee, Clerk. It was decided at this meeting to renew the call
173
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
to Mr. Clark for three years, with the same salary as before. At the same time a committee, consisting of John P. Quick, Aaron Prall and Abraham P. Sutphin, was ap- pointed to consult with Mr. Clark, and also with the Flemington congregation. At the meeting of Presbytery at Hackettstown October 7, 1823, a written request was received from Amwell congregation for the reappointment of Mr. Clark as Supply for three years on the same terms as heretofore. The Presbytery being informed that the pecuniary difficulties of the church were such as to render it inexpedient to present a regular call, the request was granted. This shows how slow the churches were to learn the blessedness of giving.
Presbytery met at Newton, October 3d, 1826. At this meeting calls in due form were received by Mr. Clark from the congregations of Flemington and Amwell First Churches to become their pastor, giving one-half his time at each place. These calls being found in order, were put into the hands of Mr. Clark, who stated that he was not at that time ready to accept them. At an adjourned meeting of the Presbytery held at Elizabeth, October 18th, 1826, Mr. Clark accepted the calls already in his hands. Strange that for the action of the congregation making this regular call we have in our books no record whatever. Our information is derived from the records of the Presbytery of Newton, through the kindness of Rev. E. Clark Cline, Stated Clerk of that Presbytery, to whom we are also indebted for the other references to the action of that Presbytery.
The calls being accepted, Presbytery adjourned to meet at Amwell First Church on the fourth Tuesday of No-
174
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
vember next and install Mr. Clark pastor of the congre- gations of Amwell First Church and of Flemington. Pres- bytery convened at Amwell November 28th, at which meeting the following members were present: Revs. Jacob Kirkpatrick, John F. Clark, Jehiel Talmage, John C. Vandervoort, William Blauvelt, of Lamington, and Elder John Hageman from Amwell First. In this service Rev. Mr. Blauvelt preached the sermon, Rev. Mr. Kirkpatrick presided, Rev. Mr. Vandervoort gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Mr. Talmage gave the charge to the people. In consequence of this service the church once more had a pastor, instead of a Supply, and the relation continued for ten years. To go back one year, and we find that at a meeting of the congregation held August 30th, 1825, the question of building a new meeting house was agitated. The decision, however, was to repair the old house to an amount not exceeding $600, of which sum one-half might be taken, if necessary, from the funds of the church. John P. Quick, William G. Schenck and William P. Prall were appointed a committee as man- agers of the repairs. When they rendered their account it was found that the sum expended was $432.62. The committee received from the congregation a vote of thanks for their diligence and punctuality.
April 6th, 1826, the following Trustees were elected, viz .: John P. Quick, John Kee, George F. Wilson, Peter P. Quick, William R. Prall, Titus Quick and Jonathan Hoagland. This is the last record of the election of Trustees during Mr. Clark's pastorate.
Titus Quick had been President of the Board and Treasurer from 1821 to 1825. The receipts for salary
175
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
show that John P. Quick filled that office from 1826 to April, 1831, and George F. Wilson from November, 1831, to the close of Mr. Clark's connection with the church in 1836. While the books give the names of fifty- eight contributors to the salary in 1821, and sixty-two in 1822, one is impressed with the small amount given by each, ranging from twenty-five cents to four dollars for the half year, and very few reached the larger amount. The books show that the total amount contributed each six months for several years was from sixty-two to sixty- four dollars, instead of eighty-one, as promised in the call. But as the receipts of the pastor show that the salary was paid in full, it must have been taken either from the funds or raised in some other way. The former is the more probable. These statements are in accord with that made to Presbytery in 1823, that the church did not make out a call in due form because of financial inability. The church at this time either was very poor, or felt itself very poor. The minutes of the Session also show that at this time there was a low state of piety in the church, and the common tendency of this state of things is to produce a low condition in treasury. The philosophy of the situation is that men only give voluntarily to that in which they are interested. The Amwell Church is again evidence for this, because very soon after the re- vival of 1829 and 1830, the church began to agitate the question of having a pastor's whole time, and actually ac- complished this and built the new church too, while pass- ing through the financial crisis of 1837.
One is also impressed with the small number of com- municants in the church now, when it had been organized
176
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
nearly or quite one hundred years. We must remember, however, that the case is not nearly so bad as it appears, because while we notice the small number of the church's members, we must remember the larger number of com- municants who have gone out from this mother church to the new churches formed on what was originally the field occupied by this church alone. And yet here is the fact alluded to. We discovered a small half sheet of paper on which is inscribed, evidently in Mr. Clark's own handwriting, the list of communicants of the church as he found them when he began preaching for the church as a Supply October 28th, 1820. That list is as follows: Titus Quick, Elder, Mrs. Hannah Quick, Mrs. Mary Prall, wife of Dr. William Prall, Mrs. Mary Hoagland, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Mr. Isaac Taylor, Mrs. Margaret Taylor, Mr. John Kee, Mrs. Mary Schenck, wife of Wil- liam G. Schenck, Mrs. Sarah Prall, wife of Abram Prall, Mrs. Ann Sutphin, wife of Derrick Sutphin, Mrs. Lu- cretia Prall, wife of Theodore Prall, Mr. Tunis Quick, Mrs. Rhoda Quick, Mrs. Mary Schenck, widow, Mr. and Mrs. Enos Lanning, in all seventeen. There was not a young man nor a young woman among them.
During Mr. Clark's connection with this church and that at Flemington the arrangement was that he should be with each church on alternate Sabbaths. There would be a sermon in the morning, then an hour for recess, and after luncheon another service. "On communion Sab- baths the members of the two churches, as far as possible, assembled around the table in whichever church the ser- vice was held" (Mott). To some degree the same inter- change in attendance took place on other Sabbaths.
177
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
The first meeting of the Session under Rev. John F. Clark was held March 27th, 1821, at the house of Mrs. Mary Wilson near the church. And this is the first meeting of the Session of this church of which we have any record. All previous Sessional records in any form whatever being lost. The place of this meeting, at the residence of Mrs. Mary Wilson, is worthy of historical reference. Mrs. Wilson was the widow of Nathaniel Wilson, who purchased the parsonage and adjoining plan- tation in 1806. The records show that after this date the Session frequently convened at her home. And there is a pleasing tradition that her home was made the hos- pitable home of any and all clergymen visiting or in any way serving the church. She was the daughter of Jacob Fisher. Her birth is not given in family records in hand, but occurred evidently at or near the beginning of the last quarter of the eighteenth century, as shown by the births of brothers and sisters. She was a granddaughter of Peter Fisher. Peter Fisher came to this country from Germany in the early part of the eighteenth century and settled on lands long owned by the late Caleb Fisher. Snell's History of Hunterdon County places his coming in 1729. While a writer on the Fisher family says his oldest son, Anthony, was baptized in the Reading Church in 1725. This Mary Wilson was the mother of George F. Wilson, who for more than twenty years was an Elder in the church, and long the Clerk of the Session. The Session above referred to was opened with prayer. Mem- bers present: Rev. John Flavel Clark, Moderator, and Titus Quick, the only Elder in the church, Mr. Isaac Hill, an Elder in the church at Flemington, being present,
12
178
AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
was invited to sit as a corresponding member. Also Messrs. Tunis Quick, Enos Lanning and John Hagemen, all church members, being present, were invited to sit with the Session. Mrs. Mary Sutphin, wife of Colonel Sutphin, and Miss Martha Foster, presenting themselves, were examined and received into the membership of the church. Session closed with prayer.
TITUS QUICK, Clerk.
April 22d, 1822, the Session received William Hall, on examination, to membership in this church. Septem- ber, 22d, 1822, John Hageman and his wife, Lucretia, were received on certificate for the Reformed Dutch Church at Neshanic, and Miss Catalina Van Harlingen from the Reformed Dutch Church of Millstone. Also Miss Rebecca Van Pelt, on certificate from the Presby- terian Church of Princeton.
Messrs. Hageman and Tunis Quick were on this day nominated and elected to the office of Ruling Elder. And on the fouth day of October they were set apart to this of- fice by ordination.
The Session met October 10th, 1822, and was opened with prayer. Mrs. Tenbrook, Mrs. Prall and Mrs. Sarah Sutphin were received after examination into the mem- bership of the church; also Mrs. Leah Mattison on cer- tificate from the United First Church of Amwell.
April 8th, 1823, Peter Prall, Senior, was received on examination.
October 20th, 1823, the Session met the church, all the members being present. After conversation on the low state of religion it was resolved to recommend Friday
.
S
179
THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
next, to be observed by this church as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. Mrs. Frances, wife of Polhemus Higgins, applied to be received to the sealing ordinances of the church. After careful examination her request was granted.
May 8th, 1824, Mr. Derrick Sutphin appeared before Session and applied for church privileges. After satisfac- tory examination as to his views of divine truth and his acquaintance with experimental religion, it was unani- mously voted to receive him.
At a meeting of Session October 18th, 1824, the mem- bers all present, it was again recommended to the church to set apart a day for fasting, because of the languishing state of religion and earnestly beseech of God the out- pouring of the Holy Spirit.
November 17th, 1825, the Session met at the house of Mrs. Mary Wilson and received the following persons on examination, viz .: Mr. John Quick (evidently John P.), Mrs. Ann Blackwell and Mary Bellis, and Miss Betsy Ann Mattison.
May 3d, 1826, Session met at the residence of Mrs. Sarah Wilson and spent an hour together in prayer and free conversation on the state of religion. Also pledged themselves to each other and to God to be more earnest in prayer, to God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.