USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Amwell > The history of the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell > Part 13
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These clergymen were all connected with the Presby- tery of Newton, except Dr. Studdiford, who was a mem- ber of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. These min- isters, in connection with such elders as were present, whose names I do not have, except that of John Haga- man of this church, proceeded to organize themselves into a Presbytery, and assumed the name of Raritan. The Rev. Joseph Campbell, D. D., was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Albert Williams Clerk. The Rev. P. O. Studdi- ford was elected Stated Clerk, which office he held until his death in 1866. Dr. Studdiford was my preceptor for one year before entering college. He was a ripe scholar, an able preacher and a faithful Presbyter. He was, in fact, the leader in the Presbytery for many years, which position was accorded him willingly, and by a loving de- ference on the part of his brethren. But, though he held
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it in fact, he never assumed by any act or word on his part, an air of superiority.
The Presbytery, at this first meeting, approved the recommendation of the General Assembly that the sev- eral churches should celebrate the semi-centennial of the assembly that same year. And this gives us the additional interesting fact that when the assembly had existed as an organization for fifty years, our church had just taken down its church building in order to rebuild, after the church had stood for a hundred years.
A meeting of Amwell First Congregation was called April 18th, 1840, to take into consideration a commu- nication from the Dutch Reformed Church at Clover Hill. In this communication the Clover Hill church made overture for a union between the two churches. That church, in the most friendly manner, expressed the conviction on their part that such a union would be in the interest of religion, and an advantage to each con- gregation.
At the above meeting the Amwell First people fully reciprocated this friendly feeling and expressed the same conviction, providing there could be cordial agreement on the principles of such union. The congregation thus assembled, also stated the principles upon which they would be willing to form a union between the two churches, and appointed the following committee to con- vey their proceedings to the Clover Hill congregation, viz: George F. Wilson, Peter P. Young and John Hag- aman.
JOHN R. YOUNG, Moderator, GEORGE P. REX, Secretary.
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THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
A meeting was held at Greenville, May 28th, 1840, to hear the report of this committee. The report was read, and in substance was as follows, to wit:
Whereas, The Reformed Dutch congregation at Clover Hill has resolved to assume the form and to place itself in connection with the old school Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, in accordance with its government, discipline and doctrine; and,
Whereas, The said congregation did propose to form a permanent union with the First English Presbyterian congregation in Amwell, from the expressed conviction that the church so united would, under the blessing of God, the better promote the cause of religion, and be en- abled to give a pastor that support in their united ca- pacity, which separately they could not give without be- ing burdened; and,
Whereas, The First English Presbyterian congregation in Amwell did, after due deliberation, consent to a union with said congregation of Clover Hill. The said con- gregation, by their respective committees undersigned, do unanimously agree to the following terms, to wit:
First. That the Reformed Dutch congregation of Clo- ver Hill do assume the form and connection as above stated.
Second. That the said congregations from this time henceforth become one congregation and component parts of the same, under the corporate name of the First Eng- lish Presbyterian Congregation in Amwell, and that the congregation of that distinctive appellation, after this agreement shall be consented to, shall forthwith appoint Trustees to conduct and manage the affairs of the corpora-
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tion, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to assess on the pews in both churches, or places of worship, such an amount as may be adequate to support the pastor.
Third. That the ministerial services of the present, or any future pastor shall be equally divided between the two houses of worship situated at Greenville and at Clo- ver Hill, alternately without alteration every other Sab- bath forever.
Fourth. That all lands, houses of worship, and other property now possessed by them respectively, shall be the common property of, and fully and inalienably vested in said corporation forever; providing nevertheless, and it is the true intent and meaning of this agreement that no alteration shall ever be made in the division of the minis- terial services as expresed in this agreement.
Fifth. That this agreement shall be binding, permanent and conclusive in all and every part relating to said con- gregations when sanctioned by the whole congregation now being formed, and that it shall be signed by the re- spective committees, by which act they do become one congregation to all intents and purposes; and also to signify the consent and approbation so formed, to the terms of this agreement, that it be signed by the Trus- tees now to be appointed.
Now, we the undersigned, the committee appointed by the congregation above mentioned, in pursuance of the instructions of and authority vested in us by our respec- tive congregations do agree to and confirm all and every part of this agreement.
Witness our hands and seals this twenty-sixth day of
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THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and forty.
PETER C. SCHENCK, JOHN W. BELLIS,
Committee of the Clover Hill Congregation.
GEORGE F. WILSON, JOHN HAGAMAN, PETER P. YOUNG,
Committee of the First English Congregation in Amwell.
The committee also reported the following resolution, as a part of their agreement:
Whereas, The foregoing agreement contains in itself no provision to authorize a dissolution of the union now formed, although the state of the congregation at some future time may urgently require a different organiza- tion; therefore,
Resolved, That if at any future time a majority of the congregation should be convinced that it would be beneficial to organize separately, and should decide ac- cordingly, then the property of whatever kind, held by either congregation previous to the union, should revert to the same, after the union has been dissolved.
A motion was made and seconded that the report of the committee of the two congregations be accepted and adopted as the bond of union between said congregations, whereby they become one from henceforth. This motion was carried unanimously.
It was then decided that the congregation, as formed, should proceed to choose Trustees, when the following persons were elected to that office, viz: Anthony L. Case,
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Gideon Quick, Abraham V. Polhemus, Jacob W. Schenck, C. P. Brokaw, Henry Van Derveer, Jr., and Joseph Van Marter.
GEORGE F. WILSON, Chairman.
JOHN KEE,
Clerk.
In connection with this account of the union formed between these churches in 1840, there is an additional fact that should be placed on record, viz: There is a paper in my possession, given my by Augustus Dilts, and found by him among some papers of his grandfather, Paul K. Dilts, which contains articles of agreement between these two churches, substantially the same as those here given, but expressed in better form. These articles were signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Peter I. Clark, by the following committee, the thirty-first day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty-four:
JOHN HAGAMAN, JONATHAN CONOVER, HART WILSON,
Committee on behalf of the Amwell Congregation.
JOHN R. YOUNG, ABRAHAM POLHEMUS,
Committee on behalf of the Clover Hill Congregation.
In the body of the articles the name of Abraham C. Schenck also appears as a member of the committee for Clover Hill, but his signature is not affixed to the ar- ticles at the close, as are the others.
The one fact of interest for these former articles,
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shows that the matter of a union between the two con- gregations had been under consideration for a long time before it was carried into effect. Why the action of the committee was not ratified by the two congregations does not appear from our records, although we have a minute on file dated as is this paper, and giving an ac- count of the proceedings up to the point of ratification.
The Board of Trustees, as named above, met and elected Cornelius P. Brokaw as their President and Treasurer. In giving a statement of the funds of the church at this time it appears that those funds had al- most wholly disappeared. For what purpose, except as used in erection of the new church, does not appear. There was one note remaining of $700, of which only one hundred dollars seems to have been collected.
At a meeting of the congregation, April 23rd, 1842, the following persons were chosen Trustees, viz: Jacob Voorhees, Gideon Quick, John Y. Bellis, Theodore Young, Cornelius P. Brokaw, Joseph C. Sutphin and Joseph Van Marter.
JACOB NEVIUS,
Chairman.
A. L. CASE, Secretary.
These Trustees re-elected Cornelius P. Brokaw Pres- ident and Treasurer.
A meeting of the congregation was held October 10th, 1842, when it was decided to make an effort immediately to raise by subscription the amount due the pastor since May Ist. This shows us that even in that day of "the
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good old times," and two churches united, that there was a shortage in receipts to meet the current expenses of the congregation. But when we turn to the records of the session we shall find that this was at a period of spiritual poverty as well. From this lack of interest there was an empty treasury, and need of extra effort.
At the same meeting it was decided to repair the cupola of the Clover Hill church. Also to sell a portion of the church lot at Clover Hill, east of the church, and apply the proceeds toward paying the debt on that church, for which three persons had given their joint obligation to Peter P. Quick, from whom the money had been bor- rowed.
A more generous thing was done when the united congregation decided, at a meeting held April 17th, 1843, to instruct the Trustees to give obligation as Trustees, and thus assume the obligation of the debt arising from building the Clover Hill church, and for which up to this time Peter C. Schenck, John W. Bellis, Jacob Ne- vius and Henry Van Derveer had been personally respon- sible, and that the Trustees he also instructed to make an immediate effort to raise, by subscription, the balance due Mr. Quick.' At the same meeting the Trustees were again directed to make an effort to raise, by subscription, the sum needed to pay the back salary.
JOHN D. HAGAMAN, Chairman.
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C. P. BROKAW, Secretary.
And yet it was found necessary at the next annual
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meeting of the congregation held February 27th, 1844, to repeat their instructions and renew the effort to meet the demands to pay back salary and to discharge the debt due Mr. Quick.
At this meeting the following persons were elected Trustees of the church, viz: Jacob W. Nevius, Jacob Voorhees, Paul K. Dilts, William Waldron, John E. Holcombe, Gideon Quick and Joseph C. Sutphin.
It remains to give a brief account of the religious life of the church under Mr. Hull, as shown by the records of the session.
The first meeting of session, with Mr. Hull as Mod- erator, was held June Ist, 1837.
GEORGE F. WILSON, Clerk.
September 22nd, 1837, a communication was received from Rev. I. M. Candee, presenting a plan of organiza- ization for greater efficiency in the cause of benevolence. The Session took action on the same and organized the congregation for benevolent work. The following objects were to be presented to the members of the congregation, viz: The Assembly's Board of Home and Foreign Mis- sions and Education, and the Bible and Tract Societies. The elders were to act as collectors, each in his own dis- trict, and directed to make collections monthly, and to make payments quarterly to the above named objects.
April 21st, 1838, Session appointed a standing prayer meeting to be observed on Thursday preceding each com- munion service.
The Session met the 28th of May, 1849. Mr. Hull, ·
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Moderator, being present, and Elders John Hagaman, John P. Quick, Peter P. Young and George F. Wilson. The following preamble and resolutions were unani- mously adopted, viz:
Whereas, This congregation, and that of the Reformed Dutch Church of Clover Hill, have this day ratified a union of the two congregations, the latter assuming the form and government of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and the corporate name by which we are designated and known, viz: the First Eng- lish Presbyterian Congregation of Amwell, thus forming one church and congregation; and,
Whereas, By this act the officers and private members of that church become officers and private members in this church; therefore,
Resolved, That the names of Peter C. Schenck, Henry Van Derveer, Sr., and Jacob Nevius, elders in that church, be received as elders in this church, and their names be enrolled as members of the Session of the United Church. And that all the names of the private mem- bers of that church, as found on their records, be enrolled as members of this church.
GEORGE F. WILSON, Clerk.
July 29th, 1840, the Session recommended a collection to be taken up towards raising five thousand dollars, as requested by the General Assembly, in aid of the Theo- logical Seminary at Princeton, November 26th, 1840. The Session confirmed the nomination previously made, of the following persons as suitable to be elected to the office of
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deacon, and if no objections be made, that they be or- dained next Saturday, two weeks. The names of these persons are Peter P. Quick, Lewis Labaw, Arthur Sut- phin, Jonathan Conover, John Bellis, Cornelius Brokaw and Ralph Sutphin.
At a meeting of the Session November 8th, 1843, the plan recommended by the Synod for the work of benefi- cence, was adopted, and is as follows. That a book be prepared with four columns, headed each with these ob- jects: Foreign Missions, Domestic Missions, Education and the Support of our Theological Professors, and that this book be carried through the congregation by the elders and deacons, acting in their several districts, in order to secure a contribution from each person in the congregation to these objects, and that this be done four times a year. The first quarter, beginning with January, be devoted to Foreign Missions; the second quarter, be- ginning with April, to Domestic Missions, and so on. And that these collectors should meet ever three months and report the amount collected.
The congregation convened at the call of the Session, March 26th, 1844, when the pastor, Rev. David Hull made known his intention to ask Presbytery at its next meeting to dissolve the pastoral relation between himself and the Amwell First Church, and requested the con- gregation to appoint commissioners to express their con- currence. This was done, and the relation was dissolved by the Presbytery of Raritan, April 16th, 1844.
The membership of the church when Mr. Hull began his ministry, was eighty-eight. The following persons were
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received into the membership of the Church during his pastorate :
June Ist, 1837, on certificate, Miss Mary Ann Wil- son.
June 2nd, 1837, on examination, Jane, a woman of color.
November 25th, 1837, on examination, Harriet, a wo- man of color.
June 2nd, 1838, Elder Tunis Quick, who had been suspended in 1833, on request, was restored, after the usual examination.
September 6th, 1838, on examination, Dr. George P. Rex and Gertrude, his wife. Mrs. Rex being still with us. She is the member of longest standing in the church.
September 6th, 1838, Mrs. Sarah Sutphin, an excom- municated member, was, on her own request, restored to church fellowship.
May 28th, 1840. The following persons being mem- bers of the church at Clover Hill at the time of the union of the two congregations, were enrolled as mem- bers of this church, viz: Jacob Nevius and Hannah, his wife, Jacob Williamson and Martha, his wife, Henry Van Derveer and Charity, his wife, Peter C. Schenck and Catharine, his daughter, John W. Bellis, Zebulun Stout, and Letitia, his wife, Mrs. Anna Case, Mrs. Clorinda Case, Mrs. Theodosia Dilts, Mrs. Sarah Bellis, Mrs. Anna Nevius, Mrs. Aletta Kearney, Sampson M. Smith, John Wortman, Jacob Voorhees and Susan, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Dilts, Mrs. Ann Young, Mrs. Margaret Newal, Cornelius P. Brokaw and Catharine Susan, his wife, being twenty-six in all.
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August Ist, 1840, on certificate, Ralph Sutphin and Catharine, his wife.
December 10th, 1840, on examination, Miss Elizabeth Hagaman.
June 5th, 1841, on examination, Mrs. Elizabeth Young.
June 5th, 1841, on certificate, Mrs. Wilelmina Schenck.
November 11th, 1841, on examination, Mrs. Ann, wife of Peter D. Young, Mrs. Anna, wife of Theodore Young.
April 14th, 1842, on examination, Mrs. Maria Louisa, wife of Peter C. Rea, and Mrs. Sarah, wife of Joseph D. Moon.
July, 1842, on examination, Molly Rea, a girl of color.
October 16th, 1842, on examination, Harriet Phillips and Gertrude Nevius.
October 16th, 1842, on certificate, Mrs. Jane Hull, wife of the pastor from the Warior Run Church.
February IIth, 1843, on examination, Miss Nancy C. Schenck, Kuhl Dilts, Jacob W. Nevius and Mary D. Hudnut.
March 9th, 1843, on examination, Mary Voorhees, Hannah Nevius, wife of George Nevius, Derrick Sut- phin and Elizabeth, his wife, Theodore J. Young, Mar- garet K. Wert, Jacob J. Schenck, Elnathan D. Van Kirk, Abraham Polhamus and Eleanor, his wife, Alice Ann W. Polhamus, Rachel C. Polhamus, Mary Young, Mrs. Mary Prall, wife of Jacob F. Prall, David J. Bellis, John L. Bellis, Susan F. Prall, William V. Waldron and Laura, his wife, and Mrs. Mary Sutphin.
March 25th, 1843, on examination, Abraham P. Sut-
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
phin and Sarah Ann, his wife, Ann Sharp, Sarah M. Dilts, Mary Sutphin, Elizabeth Wortman, Clara L. Quick, William Van Marter, Jacob Prall, Katharine Prall and George B. Smith, the latter being a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
April Ist, 1843, on examination, Joseph Chamberlain Sutphin and Cornelia Ann, his wife, John Sharp, Mary Bellis, Margaret Deats, Katharine Higgins, Peter I. Nevius and Betty Wilson, a woman of color.
July Ist, 1843, Caleb T. Prall and Hester, his wife.
July 15, John J. Young and Mrs. Katherine Young, wife of Ketemes.
October 26th, Misses Mary Case, Annee Labaw and Bella Labaw, and Rose Anna, a person of color.
January 27th, 1844, Stephen L. Mershon was re- ceived on examination. Mr. Mershon was born in Lau- rel Co., Ky, March 4th, 1827. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1850, and was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Presbytery of Long Island, April, 1854, and was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at East Hampton, L. I., from 1854-66. He died at Napanock, New York, in 1874.
April 27th, 1844, received on certificate from the Re- formed Church of North Branch, Mrs. Sarah Van Der- veer, wife of Jacob Van Derveer. This was the last meeting of Session, at which Rev. David Hull was pres- ent. The pastoral relation between himself and the Am- well First Church having been dissolved by the Pres- bytery of Raritan, April 16th, 1844.
During the pastorate of Mr. Hull sixty-nine persons were received on examination, and six on certificate. This
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THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
gives a larger average yearly than were received by Mr. Clarke, but it must be remembered that our statistics for Mr. Clarke only included Amwell First, while for Mr. Hull there was the added territory of this congre- gation and that of Clover Hill to draw from. In addi- tion to the number given, twenty-six were received, or rather transferred from Clover Hill at the time of the union of the two churches. When the Rev. David Hull came to the church the membership was 88
Received by him on examination 69
Received by him on certificate. 06
Transferred from Clover Hill. 26
189
From these dismissed to other churches 16
Leaving 173
But there were some persons suspended from member- ship by discipline, and others removed by death, of which we do not have the record; nor do we have the report for 1844, Mr. Hull's last year. The report for 1843 gives the membership as 168. This is doubtless too large, inasmuch as this occurs in all our churches, that in a short time names of persons will be found on the rec- ords who have moved away without taking their letter of dismission with them, or who otherwise disappear. But in the absence of a more accurate statement we ac- cept 168 as proximately correct.
We have noticed the several efforts made of the Ses- sion to secure contributions for the work of beneficence by this united church, and while there was a better sys- 14
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
tem, it does not appear that there was much advance in contributions. We give them for only the year of 1843, as in this particular the records are very deficient. For this year we find the contributions for beneficence as fol- lows: Domestic Missions, $9; Foreign Missions, $15; education, $10; miscellanious causes, $50; commission- ers and contingent fund each one dollar.
Of Mr. Hull personally a brief statement should be added. The record given, bears evidence of his industry. A part of his pastorate he resided in his own house, which I understand was where Mrs. Stout Servis now resides.
He is spoken of by members of this church with inter- est and evident appreciation. A brother, not in this church, has described him to me as "a spiritually minded man."
David Hull was born near Milton, Pa., June 8th, 1806. He graduated from Jefferson College in 1832. He studied theology at Princeton for a little more than two years. He was ordained as an evangelist by the Pres- bytery of Northumberland, January 15th, 1836. Hav- ing been invited by the Session of this church in March, 1837, to visit the church and preach as a candidate, he came soon after and filled the pulpit for several Sab- baths. The congregation met April 14th and agreed to ask for his appointment as a stated supply. He was re- ceived by the Presbytery of Raritan, April 25th, 1837, from the Presbytery of Northumberland, and appointed supply for the next six months.
He was pastor of the First English Presbyterian Church of Amwell from November 23rd, 1837, until April 16th, 1844. He was stated supply at Nippenose, Pa., from
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THE MODERN PERIOD-1820-1900
'44- 45. He was stated supply at Pennsdale, Pa., in 1846, and pastor until 1848; was pastor at Shamokin and Elysburg from 1848 to 1852; pastor at Lycemery Centre from 1855 to 1860; stated supply again at Penns- dale from 1861 to 1862; agent and missionary at Co- gan's Station from 1863 to 1867; stated supply at St. Mary's from 1868 to 1870; stated supply at Dewart from 1868 to 1872; resided at Williamsport in poor health for several years and died at Alexander, Arkansas, August 12th, 1886. Thus ends, after a varied experience and many labors, the life of one who was with you as pas- tor, teacher and comforter in time of great changes in the history of your church.
THE NINTH PASTOR, REV. BENJAMIN CARRELL, 1844-1859.
By the resignation of Rev. David Hull the church was once more without a pastor. The Session met at Green- ville, July 6th, 1844, and elected George F. Wilson Chairman. The elders present were John Hagaman, John P. Quick, Peter P. Young, Jacob Nevius, Peter C. Schenck and George F. Wilson.
William Waldron was nominated by the unanimous vote of the Session for the office of deacon. Due notice of this nomination was given for two Sabbaths, and no objection to him being made the Session confirmed the nomination, and he was set apart and ordained to that office on the first day of July.
The church having been vacant for six months the con- gregation was convened by the Session September 9th, 1844, and was moderated by the Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick,
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
D. D. The congregation proceeded to vote for a pas- tor, when the Rev. Benjamin Carrell of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, Pa., and pastor of the churches of Waynesburg and Newton, was unanimously elected.
Mr. Carrell being present signified his willingness to accept the call, which was made out for his pastoral ser- vices, with a salary of $500 per year, the same as was given to Mr. Hull. He was received by the Presbytery of Raritan which met at Greenville, November 26th, 1844, and the call put into his hands and accepted by him. The Presbytery then proceeded to install Mr. Car- rell as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and con- gregation of Amwell. In this service Rev. James M. Olmstead preached the sermon. The Rev. Samuel F. Porter presided and proposed the constitutional questions. The Rev. P. O. Studdiford, D. D., gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, D. D., the charge to the people.
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