USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > Amwell > The history of the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell > Part 6
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The Presbyterian Churches are Amwell First, organized before 1737, Amwell Second, organized 1754, Fleming- ton 1792. Amwell United First 1810, although it had ex- isted as a Dutch Calvinistic meeting house since 1747.
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD
Lambertville 1821, Stocton 1867, Kirkpatrick Memorial 1868, with an aggregate membership of 1608, in 1898, and 1552 in 1907.
During Mr. Byram's pastorate in the year 1753, a subscription was made for purchasing a parsonage. There are on file three copies of the subscription paper circu- lated for this purpose. These are the oldest papers known to be in existence, pertaining to the Church. These pa- pers are so tender and torn that their further preserva- tion and use will be very difficult. For this reason the paper will be copied entire. It is certainly worthy this distinction. The paper is deeply interesting, as showing the earnest purpose of our ancestors and predecessors when they were making a subscription for Church purposes. They not only are careful to bind themselves for the pay- ment of the sum subscribed, but their heirs and execu- tors as well. The paper reads as follows:
"We, the Subscribers do hereby separately, apart and for himself, and his Several and Respective Heirs, Execu- tors and Administrators, Covenant And bind ourselves, and each of us in the penalty of Double the Sum affixed to our Several names to pay, or cause to be paid, to Derick Hoagland, Robert Combs, James Stout, Derick Sutphen or Abraham Larew; or the Survivours of them, or Such other persons as shall at any time be chosen hereafter, or by the Heads of the Presbyterian Congregation in Am- well, be appointed (as well as if they were expressed by name) their Executors, Administrators or Assigns, or either of them, Such sum and Sums of money as are Af- fixed or Subscribed to our Several Respective Names, to be in Such proportion as the payments equal to the pay-
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
ments that shall be agreed on by the Managers that may be chosen for the purchasing of a Parsonage, which shall be thought by the persons Appointed, fitting, necessary, and convenient for the Seat of a Presbyterian Minister which now is, or may hereafter be called, induced or or- dained for the Afforsaid congregation. Witness the Hands of us the Subscribers fully, freely and voluntarily Con- senting to the above engagement. Amwell Feb. 1753."
Then follows a list of the subscribers, which has many interesting features, but chiefly as showing who were on the ground, and interested in the Church at that early day in her history, one hundred and forty-six years ago.
The subscribers are as follows. I give the spelling as found on the paper as accurately as it can be made out. The money is in pounds and shillings, in the subscription. In the payment which I shall not quote, it is in pence also, which is accounted for, because evidently notes were given, and interest collected on the subscriptions when not paid down. There is also a distinction made of sub- scribers north of the Neshanic, and south of the Ne- shanic :
On the North. £ S.
John Reading Jr 2 10
John Reading 10 00
John Reading
3 00
Jacob Gray
5 00
Jacob Gray
I IO
Daniel Reading I
6 00
Jacob "Mattison
Jacob Mattison 2 00
Martin Ryerson 2 00
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD
Daniel Griggs
7 00
David Bartron 3 00
John Smith 1 00
George Reading 5 00
Eliz Harney
15
James Stout 6 10
Richard Philips 5 00
John Anderson
8 00
William Anderson 5 00
Samuel Carman
2, 00/
Samuel Furman
1 00
Thomas Hunt
4 00
Jonathan Hill
5 00
Samuel Fleming
6 00
Michael Henry
5 00
Richard Reading
15
Samuel Hill
5' 00'
Derrick Sutphin
5 00
Derrick Sutphin
I 10
John Frances
7-6
John Cox
I'00
William Davison
1 05
John Wood 1.5
Henry Dildine
1 00
Nathaniel Bogart
15
Abraham Larew
5' 00
On the South Side :
Peter Prall 10 00
Benjamin Johnson
5 00
Benjamin Johnson 1 00
Peter Prall, Jr.
I IO
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Abraham Prall 2 05
Garret Schenck 5 00
Garret Schenck 1 15
Garret Schenck 05
William Schenck
1 05
William Schenck IO
Daniel Larew IO
Thomas Harding
1 00
Jacobus Johnson 6 00
Gerardus Lequier
2 00
Samuel Kompton
15
John Corwin
I IO
Joseph Corwin
I IO
Simeon Kinney 2 00
Peter Lott
IO
Ester Corwin
05
James Stout
6 10
Jacob Sutphen
I 05
Alexander McElheny
15
Eliab Byram 10 00
Joseph Reading
15
Jonathan Stout
I IO
Benjamin Howell
1 00
Stephen Gano 15
Tunis Quick
15
Thomas Lake
IO
William Wilgus
6-3
Joseph Sargeant 12-6
Some of the names last given are not classified as to North and South side of the Neshanic, and consequently may not here be placed accurately. But the distinction
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between the North and South sides of the Neshanic was kept up in all subscription papers for many years. Later the North side was known as the Flemington division.
Mr. Byram continued in the pastorate of the Church until his death, which occurred before May, 1754. His remains are supposed to lie under a horizontal slab in the cemetery, near the place where the old Church stood. But the hand of time has obliterated every trace of what- ever inscription may have been placed upon it.
So within less than three years of incessant labor in this large field, and doing the work of a missionary be- sides, the first pastor died, and was buried, and only by vague tradition can we tell his grave. But better than monument of marble is the work he did. These works follow him and testify of his zeal for the Master, nor will the unmarked grave be unknown, on the morning of the resurrection.
Derrick Hoagland is the first representative of the Church in Presbytery. He attended the meeting at Bound Brook, May 30th, 1753, when he asked for supplies for Amwell. As Mr. Byram was still pastor, this application leads to the inference that the pastor was either off doing some missionary work in the colonies, or was in too poor health to fill the pulpit. Mr. Hoagland subsequently ap- pears in Presbytery as an elder, which shows him to have been the first elder of the Church so far as is now known.
THE SECOND PASTOR WAS REV. BENJAMIN HAIT.
1755-1765.
The second pastor of Amwell First, was Benjamin Hait, or Hoit as his name is pronounced, and sometimes
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
spelled. Webster says Mr. Hait was probably a native of Norwalk, Connecticut. He graduated at Nassau Hall in 1754. While a student he went, in company with Davies, afterward president of the College of N. J., from Newark to New York. "A promising young man," he observes, "I had an agreeable conversation with him on original sin, and the influence of the flesh upon the spirit to incline it to sin."*
Mr. Hait was taken on trials by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, as soon as he had received his diploma September 27th, 1754. He was licensed October 25th and sent to supply the Forks of the Delaware. In the fol- lowing May, Amwell and the Forks asked for him, and Fagg's Manor made him a call. Amwell presented a call to him November 11th, 1755, which he accepted. He was ordained and installed December 4th, 1755 .* The pastoral relation was dissolved May 30th, 1765. From Amwell Mr. Hait removed to Walkill, N. Y., and after- ward settled at Connecticut Farms, N. J., where he died June 27, 1779.
During Mr. Hait's pastorate in the Amwell Churches, death entered his household. On a tombstone in our old burying ground is the only record the church has of his stay among us. That reads, "Nancy, daughter of Benj. and Ann Hait, born September 21st, 1757, died Septem- ber 20th, 1759."
In 1756 Michael Henry is named in the records of the Presbytery among the elders in attendance at that meet-
*Webster.
*Records Presby.
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD
ing. He is undoubtedly the same Michael Henry, at whose house the first meeting of Presbytery in Amwell was held.
Evidently Mr. Hait was a man of ability and had the esteem of his brethren as the Records of Synod show. The same minute is also interesting, as informing us of the manner of caring for theological students at that early day.
Newark, September 30th, 1756, Synod of New York in session.
"Whereas, the Synod appointed such Scholars as expect any part of the fund designed for the education of pious youth to be examined by Synod at their annual meeting and the Synod finding they are unable through multiplicity of business, and by reason of the absence of some that de- signed to offer themselves, to have their examinations be- fore their own body at this meeting, do appoint Messrs. Burr, William Tennent, Brainard, Davenport, Treat Mc- Knight, Cummins and Hait to be a committee to meet at Princeton 23rd day of November next, to examine such candidates as offer, and determine what proportion of said money each shall have the ensuing year. The committee met as appointed, and granted assistance as follows: to John Strain £24, to John Carmikle £12 for the year.
Again Synod met at Maidenhead May 18th, 1757. The Synod at this meeting (and you will notice it was during his pastorate in these Amwell Churches,) appointed Mr. Hait to go to the vacant places in the South as soon as his affairs will permit, and spend four months among the people there .* From this appointment we see that the
*Records of Synod.
6
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
Second pastor of this Church, like the first was personally interested in the cause of missions. And also that the Church surrendered his service that he might engage in this mission work for a period of four months.
I much doubt if this Church ever made a collection for missions during its entire history, equal in value to the services of their pastor, for a period of four months. It is also pleasing to record the fact to Mr. Hait's honor, that he was elected moderator of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia which met at Philadelphia May 22nd, 1776 (Mott). This honor came to him during his pastorate at Connecticut Farms. Of his subsequent history we know nothing except what has been stated.
THE THIRD PASTOR WAS REV. WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK, 1766-1769.
From the time of Mr. Hait's dismission May 30th, 1765, to August, 1766, the Church was served by sup- plies. Among these was the Rev. William Kirkpatrick, who became the third pastor of the Church.
Mr. Kirkpatrick graduated at the college of N. J. in 1757, being a member of the first class that graduated after the removal of the college to Princeton. Judging from his age at the time of his death, as given on his tombstone, he must have been about thirty years old when he graduated. That was the year in which president Burr died. It was in that year the college was blessed with a precious revival of religion.
One of his classmates was Joseph Reed, afterward Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania. Another was Rev. Alexander MacWhorter, D. D. In the following year 1758, oc-
-
a 0 se cu th ex be tal sun tho ses tha
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curred the Union of the Synods of New York and Phila- delphia. At the meeting of the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick in June of that year, Kirkpatrick and MacWhorter were taken under trials as candidates for the ministry. Presbytery pronounced themselves so well pleased with their preliminary examination, as to encourage them to proceed in their design. The theme for Kirkpatrick's exegeses was, An certitudo subjectiva salutis sit de essentia fidei justificantis. His trial text was Rom. 3:28. On the 25th of next month the Presbytery met at Princeton, when the only business was to hear and approve the com- position of the two candidates, and giving them texts for further exegesis. Kirkpatrick's second trial text was Phil. 4:5. These were heard August 15th, when both were li- censed and sent out to supply vacant congregations till fall Presbytery. Kirkpatrick's appointments were Oxford- Forks of the Delaware, Greenwich, Bethlehem and King- wood.
In June, 1759, the united congregations of Bethlehem and Kingwood brought a call to Mr. Kirkpatrick. A call or "petition" as was the term then in use, was also pre- sented for his services from Tohikan, Tehicken or Tini- cum, the Church whence came Benjamin Carrell one of the pastors of this Church. But Synod, which at times exercised Presbyterial functions, had at its sessions a month before, ordered that Kirkpatrick, MacWhorter and Latta take a journey to Virginia and Carolina as early in the summer or fall as possible, and minister to the destitute in those parts for several months. Presbyteries also acted for sessions, as we find this item in the record of transactions, that in October, 1756, Jacob Reeder, a member of Hope-
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
well and Maidenhead congregations asked Presbytery to dismiss him to Amwell on account of convenience, which request Presbytery granted. On their return from the South Presbytery hastened to ordain Kirkpatrick and MacWhorter. Kirkpatrick's text was "The poor have the Gospel preached to them," and for a Latin exegesis "The Perseverance of the Saints."
These were presented July 4th, 1759, and both candi- dates were ordained on that day "Sine titulo." Kirk- patrick declined the calls to Bethlehem and Kingwood. The Trenton First Church asked for Kirkpatrick as a supply March 11th, 1760, and he was directed to preach there as many Sabbaths as may consist with his other obli- gations, between this and next Presbytery.
The French war was now drawing near its close, yet was calling out loyal colonists on the frontiers. May 2Ist, 1760, Synod directed Kirkpatrick to go with the New Jersey forces in the ensuing campaign for a short time."
He was back in season for the meeting of Presbytery in Princeton February 3rd, 1761, at which time he was clerk of Presbytery. Other congregations asked for his services. In April 28th, 1761, Trenton made a call for him as their pastor. May, 1761, we find him on a com- mittee of nine to devise ways for the better support of John Brainard, as missionary to the Indians. Brainard left his Church at Newark for this Mission on the solici- tations of the Indians themselves. They had become des- titute by the death of his brother, David. Crosswicks, the place hallowed by these associations is but a few miles from Trenton. Though last named on the committee, the
= ..
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD
overture urging an increase in the funds as well as the la- borers, is from the pen of Kirkpatrick.
At the meetings of Presbytery, during the intervals of Synod, applications were made for the service of Mr. Kirkpatrick from Elizabethtown, Brunswick and Deer- field. Presbytery allowed him to dispose of his time as he deemed best. The Trenton call had not been accepted, though he was still with them much of his time. It seems that while he was inclined to Trenton, "the congregation were so backward on the point of salary, that he held the matter in suspense." When Presbytery met August 11th, there was placed before it a call for Mr. Kirkpatrick to Hanover, Va., presented by Captain Samuel Morris and Captain William Craighead, the commissioners from that Church. To this Trenton made objection. Towards the end of 1761 Trenton Church appeared before Presbytery with some advance on the amount of salary previously of- fered, and Presbytery expressed their gratification at the exertion made to this end, but pronounced the "medium proposed to be inadequate." As the commissioners gave reason to hope that a still further effort would be made for said medium's being increased. Presbytery advised Mr. Kirkpatrick to officiate among them until next spring. In 1762 the Trenton congregation made an advance toward settling a pastor by purchasing a parsonage. In 1763 a call was made for Mr. Kirkpatrick to become col- league with Rev. Ebenezer Prime of Huntington, Long Island. The call was irregular and no action was taken. These informalities were corrected, and the call was re- newed in 1764. The Trenton people became somewhat impatient, but Presbytery replied that there was no satis-
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
factory evidence that Mr. Kirkpatrick could be duly sup- ported, if settled, and that he was under no obligation to settle among them. Some even claimed that if not settled, he should be dismissed, which Presbytery declined to en- courage.
In the Synod, as well as in Presbytery, the minister of Trenton was a punctual and active member. In the Synod of 1763 he was on committees for education of pious students at Princeton, and for the direction and sup- port of missionaries on the frontiers. In 1765 New Bruns- wick and Metuchen, White Clay Creek and Christiana Creek, also Walkill applied to Presbytery for the services of Mr. Kirkpatrick with a view to settlement. In April, 1766, there came once more a formal call from Trenton and at the same time one from Amwell. Both congrega- tions made their pleas before Presbytery. "Presbytery advised Mr. Kirkpatrick to accept the call from Amwell."
The dilemna was not wholly relieved by this action. At a subsequent meeting of Presbytery, two members of the Presbytery of Philadelphia were present as correspondents. They urged the reconsideration of the vote in April. Their plea was that by this action a most important Church would be so discouraged as to be prevented from future ap- plications to Presbytery. The matter being thus opened afresh, the Presbytery at six o'clock of the following morn- ing resumed the discussion, and consented to adjourn to the next month at Trenton, and there re-consider their de- cision. The congregations of Trenton and Amwell were notified of the opportunity of being heard. On the 24th of June, the parties were again present. The Presbytery were unwilling to decide. They placed both calls into the
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD
hands of Mr. Kirkpatrick, and told him to make his choice. He decided for Amwell."
Following this decision Presbytery made arrangements for his installation at Amwell. This took place the second Wednesday of August, 1766.
To Mr. Kirkpatrick it is believed, belongs the honor of being the first Stated Clerk of Presbytery, to which he was elected October 23rd, 1766.
In 1767 he was elected a Trustee of the College of N. J., from which he had graduated ten years previously. In 1769, he was both Treasurer and Clerk of Presbytery. He was also Clerk of Synod, and in 1769 was chosen Moder- ator of Synod in Philadelphia, and a member of the Pres- bytery's committee to draft a memorial to obtain funds for the college at Princeton. This eminently useful and busy pastor had but a short career. He died in Amwell on the 8th of September, 1769, not yet forty-three years of age. His body was buried in front of the pulpit of the "Old House," in yonder cemetery where our Church stood for one hundred years. Over the grave of this pas- tor is placed a granite slab, which, together with the in- scription, is in excellent preservation, and is as follows:
"Here lieth the body of the Rev. William Kirkpatrick, Late Pastor of this Church,
who died in the 43rd year of his age. Reader, wouldst thou know his character for good.
Think what a man, a Christian, a minister of the Gos- pel, a Friend, a Husband, a Father, a Master should be; For in imitating this pattern (if justly drawn) thou shalt imitate him, and with him, shalt with distinguished honor,
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
attain to the resurrection of the just." Says Rev. J. P. W. Blattenberger tradition represents Mr. Kirkpatrick as an eloquent man and distinguished for his piety. The late Dr. John Hall of Trenton, to whom we are indebted for the larger part of what we have said of Mr. Kirk- patrick, quotes in 1857 from a venerable mother in Israel, aged ninety-seven, who, has a distinct recollection of his personal appearance. She describes him as being above the average size, but not corpulent; grave, dignified and commanding in his aspect, and of most engaging address.
We are deeply impressed by what Mr. Kirkpatrick ac- complished in the short period of twelve years from grad- uation. He was evidently a man of great ability, and marvellous versatility of talent. And there still lingers a charm about his exalted character, and thorough consecra- tion to the interests of the Church, such as is seldom felt. And now in 1907, while reversing this history, I wish to add that having studied the lives of all the pastors of this Church, as fully as material allowed, Rev. William Kirkpatrick impresses me as the ablest man, all in all, who filled the pastoral office in this Church.
Early in Mr. Kirkpatrick's pastorate, occurred Novem- ber 5th, 1767, the death of Governor Reading, eighty-one years of age. An obituary of Governor Reading was pub- lished at the time in the Pennsylvania Gazette to which reference has already been made, as evidently written by Mr. Kirkpatrick. And the communion cups given by Governor Reading date from this pastorate. The names of the following elders are gleaned from the records of Presbytery, as representing the Church at Presbytery while Mr. Kirkpatrick was the pastor, viz., April 19th, 1768,
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THE COLONIAL PERIOD
Abraham Le Rue; May 20th, 1768, Jacob Ruder ; Octo- ber 18th, 1768, Peter Wilson; November 16th, 1768, William Norcross; April 18th, 1769, Alexander White. In this connection, there is another name deserving of mention. It is that of Joseph Reed, who died in Am- well, 1774. In his will, he mentions the children of his brother, Andrew, the father of General Joseph Reed, who came to Amwell in 1759 and died in 1769. Joseph left £30 to Princeton College in addition to £20 previously given. He also left £50 to the First and Second Amwell Churches each, and directed that his body should be in- terred in the Old Presbyterian House burying ground.
PERIOD II.
THE INTERMEDIATE, OR PERIOD OF CONFLICT WITH THE MOTHER COUNTRY, 1776-1820.
PERIOD II.
THE FOURTH PASTOR WAS REV. JOHN WARFORD, 1776-1787.
After the death of Mr. Kirkpatrick, the two Churches of Amwell remained without a pastor for about seven years, during which time they were served by supplies. The Rev. Samuel Kennedy, pastor at Basking Ridge from 1751 to 1787 is most frequently mentioned among these supplies.
Mr. Kennedy was at once a clergyman, a teacher, and a physician. Rev. William Mackey Tennent is another of these supplies. The minutes of the Presbytery of Phila- delphia May 17th, 1771, say "Mr. Tennent, a candidate under the care of the Presbytery of Lewis Town, and who is now in these parts, is requested to supply Amwell as many Sabbaths as he can, between this time and the next Presbytery." Mr. Tennent was a son of the Rev. Charles Tennent and a grandson of the Rev. William Tennent. He died while pastor of Abington, Pa., in 1810. Our his- tory will have impressed you with the fact that there was, and had been from the beginning of the Church in this country, a great scarcity of ministers of the gospel. To supply that need, and to evangelize the American Indians were the chief objects of Christian beneficence at that time, and up to the early part of the present century. While Mr. Tennent was supplying Amwell a very lib- eral collection was taken at that church in 1772 for the education of candidates for the ministry. The subject was discussed at Presbytery meeting at Kingston October 8th,
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AMWELL FIRST CHURCH
1771. It was then resolved to notify all the Churches of this matter. Mr. Tennent was directed to present the subject to the vacant Amwell Church presumably both Churches. The report to Presbytery at Trenton April 14th, 1772, says the subscriptions amounted to £114, 17s. 6d, paid £87, 7s, 6d. This was the largest sum sub- scribed except at Bedminster, and the largest paid by £25.
The fourth pastor of this Church was the Rev. John Warford. Mr. Warford graduated at Princeton College in 1774. He was licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1775. He received a call to the Amwell Churches April 3rd, 1776. He was ordained and installed at what in the minutes, is called the Upper House, mean- ing Amwell second, July 31st, 1776
At this ordination and installation of Mr. Warford, the Rev. Elihu Spencer, successor of Rev. William Kirkpat- rick as pastor of the Trenton First Church, presided, and preached the sermon. We must not overlook the fact that these interesting services held July 31st, 1776, occurred in the same month in which the Fathers of the Republic signed and sent forth the Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Warford had graduated only two years before the Nation's birthday at Princeton College, of which the President, Rev. John Witherspoon, D. D., was at the same time a member of the continental Congress and but a few days previously, had pledged his property, his life and his reputation, in advocating and signing that immor- tal document. It goes without saying that "patriotism was in the air."
What specific utterances if any on the state of the country were expressed either by the Presbytery or the
S
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INTERMEDIATE PERIOD-1776-1820
congregation at this time, have perished with the lost rec- ords of the Church. But the numerous military titles born by members of the Church and congregation during the "Struggle for independence," and the records else- where preserved of efficient service rendered to the cause by her members, abundantly prove the Churches abound- ing patriotism. Members of the Reading family, as al- ready shown, were conspicuous in the service of their country. Other names will occur to the reader or be pre- sented in order as we proceed. The cemetery bears its witness to these in many cases though not always.
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