iiiiiiiiiiiiiia. The first English Presbyterian Church In Amwell By Rev. John BacKer Hurler. A. M. CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE Date Due axgaiLAsTKos""""""-'""^ "'**iHiQiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'iSii,!;,'.''.?,l,.^.Pa''s'' Presbyterla oljn 3 1924 029 476 615 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029476615 1 'f^ REV. JOHN B. KUGLER. THE HISTORY OP THE FIRST ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMWELL BY REV. JOHN BACKER KUQLER, A. M. CLINTON, N.J. 1912 The Uhionist-Gazette association someeville, n. j. 19x2 Copyright, 1912, by The Unionist-Gazette Association Somerville, New Jersey DEDICATION. IT IS IN HARMONY WITH THE FITNESS OF THINGS THAT I Dedicate THIS HISTORY TO YOU ANN ELIZABETH CRAMER, MY BELOVED WIFE. I do this to express my appreciation of your great helpfulness in the work we shared for the Master; and with the intent, that it may serve as a Memorial of your faithfulness in his service, after we shall have finished our Mission. It was while the June roses were bloom- ing in eighteen hundred and seventy-three that you per- mitted me to call you by my own name. From that day onward, the charm of your personality has blessed my home. At once your enthusiasm for the Saviour's work kindled a like zeal among the Church women, so that they gladly followed your leadership without faltering during the ten years we continued in the home Church of your girlhood and young womanhood. This is an achievement, I believe, rarely equalled, never surpassed. And further, the same unswerving devotion to duty on your part was a large factor in accomplishing blessed results in the other churches in connection with which our lot was cast. John B. Kugler. FOREWORD. The writer is aware that from the viewpoint of the stranger this History may seem to be burdened with unimportant statements. Be it so. In reply he begs to say that in its production his aim has been to aid a venerable Mother to tell the Story of her life to her children. True, multitudes of these children have obeyed the Master's call to come home; yet there are others who fondly gather within her doors for worship, while vaster numbers of her children and children's children are scattered and settled in nearly every State of the Union. From these scattered children have come to the writer, again and again, requests for just such unim- portant facts (but very important to a child), as are here given. His deep regret is, that many of these requests must ever remain unanswered. Conscious of this, and other deficiencies, yet after long and persistent research, he submits this record of those whose memories we fondly cherish, along with this venerable Mother Church for which his affection has increased with years of de- voted service, with the desire that 'it may awaken a stronger attachment to this Church of Christ, and a gladness like that of the Psalmist, when they say unto us: Let us go into the house of the Lord. John B. Kugler. Clinton, N. J., March 5th, 191 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHUBCH IN AMWELL — PERIOD I. Page. First Things, — First Dates 15 First Families — The Cases, The Holcombes, The Coryells, The Stouts, The Chamberlins 21 The Hills, The Sutphens, The Griggs 30 The Henrys, The Pralls 37 The Readings 57 The Church in the Cemetery, its date ; the first meet- ing of Presbytery of New Brunswick, and first in Amwell 60 Rev. John Rowland 61 Whitefield at Amwell 67 The Lottery 70 The first pastor. Rev. Eliab Byram 72 Second Amwell organized 74 The oldest subscription paper 76 The second pastor. Rev. Benjamin Hait 79 The third pastor, Rev. William Kirkpatrick 87 His death 87 The Communion Cups 42 and 88 Bequest of Joseph Reed 89 PERIOD II. The fourth pastor, Mr. Warford 93 Mrs. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Warford are married ... g8 Salary paid in produce 102 Depreciated currency 106 vi CONTENTS Page. Means of heating the Church and the form of Church building ill Pews and pew holders iii Death of Miss Kirkpatrick 113 William, son of Mr. Kirkpatrick 114-117 Rev. Mr. Warford leaves Amwell 117 Roll (on parchment) for swearing Trustees 118 Appendix II, Captain John Schenck 120 The fifth pastor, Rev. Thomas Grant 122 Dr. John Witherspoon in Amwell 123 and 128 Petition for Church at Flemington 125 Argument for the same 127 Mr. Grant ordained and installed 129 Flemington formed themselves into a Church 130 First existing Minute Book of Trustees 130 Purchase of plantation 130 The plantation sold 132 Mr. Grant resigns 134 The sixth pastor, Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick 137 Limited call 138 The German Church became Presbyterian and united with Amwell First 142 The corporate name taken 142 Names born by these churches 143 The union dissolved 147 Business meetings of the two churches often held at the house of Joseph Kugler 146-148 Mr. Kirkpatrick goes with Amwell Second and the new Church 149 Sketch of Mr. Kirkpatrick 150 CONTENTS vii Page. Organization of the Hunterdon County Bible So- ciety 154 List of Mr. Kirkpatrick's supporters 156 PERIOD III. The seventh pastor, Rev. John F. Clark 163 Amwell First alone in support of pastor 163 List of people adhering to this Church 165 Flemington proposes union 1 68 Union consummated 1 70 Rev. Mr. Clark appointed as Supply for half his time 171 Smallness of subscriptions for support of Church. ... 175 List of members when Mr. Clark took charge 176 Mrs. Mary Wilson, daughter of Peter Fisher 177 What Mr. Clark did for the Church 178-183 Union with Flemington discontinued 184 Mr. Clark called for his whole time by Amwell. ... 184 Mr. Clark resigns 184 Sabbath School organized by Mr. Clark 184 Sketch of Mr. and Mrs. Clark 188 The eighth pastor. Rev. David Hull 190 Decide to build new Church 193 Funds in hand used for new Church, and to be built at Greenville 193 Built by contract, and cost 194 Date of the erection of new Church 194 Presbytery of Raritan organized 195 Union with Clover Hill consummated 196 Sketch of Mr. Hull 210 viii CONTENTS Page. The ninth pastor, Rev. Benjamin Carrell 211 Members received by Mr. Carrell 214 Total number 219 Mr. Carrell dismissed at his own request by Presby- tery 219 The work of the Church for Missions during Mr. Carrell's pastorate 220 Sketch of Mr. Carrell 221 The tenth pastor, Rev. Geo. P. Van Wyck 222 Result of labors 224 Pastor's sickness 224 Pastoral relation dissolved 225 Sketch of Mr. Van Wyck 225 Union of the Church with Clover Hill dissolved . . . 226 The eleventh pastor, Rev. J. B. H. Janeway 228 Mr. Janeway installed 228 Ingathering under Mr. Janeway 231 Death of Mrs. Janeway 232 Personal sketch of Mr. Janeway 233 The twelfth pastor, Rev. N. L. Upham 234 His installation 234 Favorable condition of the Church 236 Session enlarged 236 Loss of Elders by death 236 Members received by Mr. Upham 238 Parsonage built 241 Increased beneficence of the church 242 Personal sketch of Mr. Upham 243 Thirteenth pastor, Rev. John H. Scofield 245 Mr. Scofield installed 245 CONTENTS ix Page. Election of Elders and deacons 246 Members received by Mr. Scofield 248 Result of beneficient work of the Church 250 Report of interest on parsonage discontinued 251 Personal sketch of Mr. Scofield 251 He married a descendant of Gov. Reading 252 Fourteenth pastor, Rev. John S. Beekman 252 Rev. Mr. Macbeth supplied pulpit 253 Mr. Beekman installed 253 Persons received by Mr. Beekman 254 Amwell unites w^ith neighboring churches in support- ing Missionary on Sourland Mountains 255 "Difficulty" in the Church 256 Firm stand for orderly proceedings taken by Chair- man Hill 258 Beneficent work under Mr. Beekman 260 The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society organized under Mr. Beekman 260 Personal sketch of Mr. Beekman 261 The fifteenth pastor, Rev. J. W. P. Blattenberger. . 263 His installation 264 Gift from Mrs. John Quick 266 Pastor offered his resignation 267 Opposed by Congregation and he remained 267 Pastoral relation to Church dissolved 268 A great ingathering into the Church 269 New Elders chosen 273 The Church enlarged and greatly improved 277 Tabulated statement of Church's beneficence 279 Personal sketch of Mr. Blattenberger 279 X CONTENTS Page. Appendix No. i., Elder John Y. Bellis 280 The Sixteenth pastor, Rev. T. C. Potter 283 Called 283 Installed 285 Close of first year 286 Pastoral relations dissolved 287 C. E. Society organized 287 Personal sketch 289 Appendix, Geo. P. Rex, M. D 290 The seventeenth pastor, Rev. J. B. Kugler 294 Mr. Kugler installed 296 Foreign Missions pressed on the Church 297 Death of Elder Hill 300 Increased interest in Foreign Missions 305 Inter-Church evangelism 307 Mrs. Kugler organized Mission Band 309 Death of Deacon Sutphen 310 The 1 60th anniversary of the Church 311 Hunterdon County Church evangelism 314 Election of Elders 315 Death of Deacon John Quick 316 Pastor's sickness 318 Pastoral relation to Church dissolved 319 Review of pastor's aims and successes 320 Tabulated statement of beneficence 322 Sexton Wm. Cronce 324 Mrs. Christianna Wert 324 Personal sketch of pastor 324 Appendix, Elder Quick 326 Roll of ofEcers and members 329 PERIOD I. This is the Colonial Period; Extending From the Origin of the Church to the Declaration of Independence. The Amwell First Church PERIOD I. Section i. First Things. Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. — Ps. 48:12-13. THE text assigns two duties which claim our at- tention. The one is to recognize the full equip- ment of Zion for defense and safety and fellowship as shown by tower and bulwark and palace. And so confident is the psalmist of security that he asks for a military inspection of Zion's security. And yet it is patent to all believers that he does not so much rely on these fortifications for the protection of Zion, as upon the more essential fact, that God is known in her palaces for a refuge. It is this most precious truth, wrought into the very fibre of the Jewish patriot who, rejoicing in this relationship, exclaims, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer." We would be disloyal to our divine Master not to recognize his indwelling in the Church now, as really as in the past. For safety and for victory, the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. God is good to Zion, and he would have his goodness known. For lack of this knowledge men perish. Hence the second duty enjoined is to make known 3 4 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the fact of God's indwelling in his Church, as the source of her life, and strength, and safety. And knowing this each generation is to "tell it to the generations following." And while thus he continues to be his people's strength and safety, be it remembered that the instruments of his care, and the gifts of his love may differ. The tower and bulwark of the Church to-day are the finished atonement, the risen Christ, the gift of the Spirit, the completed Bible, the ministry of the Word, the appointed Sacra- ments, and the consecrated lines of her sons and daugh- ters. The monuments, documents and sacraments of both Old Testament and New, by stress of example, show how God would have us make known the former victories of his grace to the present generation; then, gathering up the achievements of the past and present, to "tell all to the generation following." Herein is divine authority for Church History. In obedience to this authority we arc assembled here to-day to tell the story of the Amwell First Presbyterian Church. So far as our own experience demands this would be an easy task. But to gather up the neglected and forgotten past in the history of this venerable Church, and from a line here and a name or date there, to tell what God has wrought in her, and by her, has been found most difficult to accomplish. And I am conscious that this attempt to tell the story of his doings in the past to the present gen- eration, and to put it on record for the generation follow- ing will be found far from satisfactory. To shield myself from too severe criticism for such deficiency I beg to state that the Records of the Session of the Church are lost from the unknown beginning up to 1821, or a period of THE COLONIAL PERIOD 5 at least eighty-four years. And the Records of Trustees and Congregational Meetings are also lost up to 1792, a period of at least fifty-five years. To cover this long period we must rely first upon the Records of the Presbytery of Nevir Brunswrick, w^ith a record or two on the minutes of the Presbytery of Phila- delphia. In addition to these chief sources of information we have a few subscription lists and other scattered papers, preserved by Jasper Smith, one of the early and most active members of this Church. We have also been able to cull a few facts from Hodges' Constitutional History of the Presbyterian Church, from Alexander's Log Col- lege, from Murphy's Presbytery of the Log College, from Nevius' Encyclopedia, from Mott and Blattenberger, who have reaped and garnered all the full sheaves from this field, from Sprague, and Webster, from Smith's, N. J., and Snell's Hunterdon County, from Cooley of Ewing, and Hall of Trenton, from Beatty, Kirkpatrick and Con- verse; from family records furnished by several members of this congregation, from correspondence with distant ministers and professors, and from visits of inquiry and research to distant cities, and last of all, from the me- morial stones and monuments in yonder cemetery, where sleep the beloved dead of the congregation. Yet we do not know the date of the organization of the Church, nor who were its first members, nor the names of the persons active in its establishment. However, there are many facts of much value pertaining to the early history, of the Church, which we deem worthy of being recorded. The small country Church is too often looked 6 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH upon as an institution of but little importance to the State or the Church at large. Yet I am confident that the history of this Church, along with scores of others, similar in location and numbers, will show how erroneous that opinion is. This Church not only has a history, but that history shows it to be a factor of great efficiency and influence in the nation and in the Church at large. In the first place, the Church stands on historic grounds, and is identified with "the beginnings of things." A tribe of Indians living near the site of Hartsville, Pa., had a path to and across the Delaware at Lambertville, and thence to Newark, by way of Mt. Airy, Ringoes and Reaville. In time this path became the Old York Road. In a deed for land at Ringoes, dated August 25th, 1726, this is described as the King's Highway, that is called the York Road. That road passed the doors both of the old Church and that in which we now worship. And this is historical ground in a higher sense. The oppressions of Charles II, who died in 1685, toward dissenters of every phase of faith, such as Quakers, Puritans, Independents and Presbyterians, and the greater sufferings visited upon the same people by that monster of cruelty, his brother, the Duke of York, who reigned as James II, until December 25, 1688, drove many of these most valuable citizens from the kingdom. Some went to Germany, others to Holland, and many came to the Colonies in America. And, though the government changed for the better, in subsequent reigns, yet religious privileges were much restricted, especially from 17 14 to 1 740. As a consequence, multitudes of the oppressed came to America for the freedom they could not find at home. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 7 The revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV ot France in 1685, and like oppressions in the Palatinate, now covered chiefly by Bavaria and Baden, had a similar effect, in driving many earnest souls from their own country, of whom thousands came to America. Fronde says that in two years, after the Antrim Evic- tion, 30,000 Protestants left Ulster, in the north of Ire- land, for a land where there was no legal robbery. Ships could not be found to carry the people who were eager to go. The rich and spacious Amwell Valley at an early day received many of these worthy immigrants. Some landing at Philadelphia, proceeded to Lambertville, and came into the valley from the west. Others landed at Perth Amboy or New York. Many settled on Long Island, others on Staten Island, who eventually came over to Jersey, journeyed up the Raritan, and finally settled in Amwell. Such a people will make history. They will also or- ganize a church and form a state. So worthy an ancestry should inspire us with the determination to be their worthy sons. These are the people who formed this Church. But when? We do not know. But in 1738 the Synod of Philadelphia ordered that the members of the Presbytery of Long Island should be united with the Presbytery of East Jersey, and be henceforth known by the name of the Presbytery of New York. The same year came a supplication of some members of the Pres- bystery of New York to be erected into a new Presbytery with certain members of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The petition was granted and the churches to constitute the Presbytery mentioned. And it was ordered that said 8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Presbytery be known by the name of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and that the time of their first meeting be the second Tuesday (which was the 8th) of August next, and that they meet at Newi Brunswick. Amwell First was at this time a member of the Presbytery of Phil- adelphia and was by this order made a member of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. It was then an organ- ized Church, having a house of worship. This date, 1738, 160 years ago, has long been that, from which the exist- ence of this Church has been known or recorded. That it was then an organized Church, with a house of worship, is evidence conclusive that its origin was prior to this date. After long research I have been able to carry the date back one year. From the records of the Presbytery of Philadelphia we learn that Francis McHenry, before leaving Ireland, married the eldest daughter of Hugh Wilson, who emigrated with his family and friends to America, and was among the first purchasers at Craig's Settlement in the Forks of the Delaware. McHenry appeared before the Presbytery November loth, 1737. He was licensed after examination and directed to supply Amwell, Bethlehem and other vacan- cies in Hunterdon County, N. J. The date of his preach- ing here is not given. Again, Hugh Carlisle, most prob- ably from Ireland, or Scotland, was admitted into the Presbytery of Newcastle in 1735. He joined the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia in 1736. He was called to New- town and Plumstead, in Bucks County, Pa., in 1737, but declined the call. He was sent by the Presbytery to sup- ply Amwell and Bethlehem, in Hunterdon County, N. J., with other vacancies. Which of these two men came first THE COLONIAL PERIOD 9 to our Church the records do not definitely state, but both were sent or ordered in November, 1737. Here again we have the Church, but not the date of its origin, but showing its existence 161 years ago. While unable to give that date definitely, we are war- ranted in placing it long previous to 1737. This, on pre- sumptive evidence. Presumption, it is true, is not history, but presumptive evidence may be so strong as to demand consideration. Such it is as to the earlier date for the origin of this Church. In the first place, the people were on the ground in sufficient numbers, and with character and religious ten- dency of such a degree as to make a church a necessity to their full enjoyment. In fact they left home and settled in America in order to secure for themselves church privi- leges to the full. What here they sought more than any- thing else was "freedom to worship God." It is wholly improbable that such a people would remain long without a church. This is confirmed by a writer belonging to the Episco- pal Church, who, speaking of Amwell and Hopewell as early as 1718, regrets the presence of so many Dissenters in this part of the Colony. The Episcopal Church of Amwell, St. Andrews, was situated near the present vil- lage of Ringoes, where the old academy now is. It was in existence as early as 1725, having been organized under a charter granted by the Crown, by a Missionary of the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Because of this royal favor, and the bigotry of Lord Cornbury, the Episcopal Church was founded at this early day, but by its own testimony had the masses 10 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH of the people against it. Such testimony is of great value. Thirdly, Nevin in his History of the Presbytery of Phil- adelphia, page 104, states that Robert Orr, a probationer from Ireland or Scotland, having preached sometime for the churches at Maidenhead (Lawrence) and Hopewell (Pennington), presented his credentials to Presbytery in 1715. They were approved, and a call being presented by Phillip Ring, he was ordained at Maidenhead October 20th, 1 7 15. "His field," says the historian, "embraced the ground covered by Lawrence, Pennington, Trenton First Church, which is Ewing, Trenton City, Titusville, and perhaps Amwell." ' Dr. Sprague, in "Annals of the American Pulpit," contends that it is highly probable that Orr preached at Amwell. Webster, in his History of the Presbyterian Church in America, also maintains that Orr preached at Amwell during his pastorate from 1715 to 171 9. When we remember Mr. Webster's great diligence in searching the early records of the Church, his testimony adds much weight to the reasons given for believing in this early date for the existence of the Amwell Church. But taking either date, that of 1737, where we have solid ground from the mention of the Church in the Minutes of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, or the presumptive date of 1 7 18, at which time the Dissenters of Amwell are men- tioned by the Episcopal writer, or 1715, under Orr's min- istry, the Church comes into existence amid events of great, historic interest, and may rightfully claim a place with "the beginnings of things" in this country. Let us note things ecclesiastical. The first Presbytery was formed in 1705 or 6. The first Synod was formed THE COLONIAL PERIOD ii out of the four Presbyteries, in 1717. The Adoptive Act was passed in 1729. By this act the Westminster Stand- ards, Confession of Faith and Catechisms were made the doctrinal standards of the Presbyterian Church in Amer- ica. Simple as the record of this event is in the minutes, there never has been an act passed by what is now the Great Presbyterian Church in the United States of Amer- ica so far reaching and salutary as that which received "the Westminster Standards as containing the System ot doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures," or to give the exact language of the members of Synod, which "declared these Standards to be the Confession of their Faith." And, again, it is certainly a distinguished honor, at this day, to have been a charter member of the Presbytery ot New Brunswick at its formation in 1738. This Church likewise has the honor of having been identified with the "beginnings of things" of historic interest in the State. Hunterdon County was set off from Burlington, March nth, 1 7 13, only a year before the death of Queen Ann, and was named after Brigadier-General Robert Hunter, who was Governor-General of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey at the time. Hunterdon County then extended south tO' the Assan- pink, and Trenton was the county seat. It contained the territory now embraced in Morris, Sussex, Warren and most of Mercer, as well as the present territory of Hun- terdon. The boundary lines of the county on the north and northeast were fixed in 1738. Mercer was set off a century later. But it thus appears that the history of this Church and of the county run in nearly parallel lines. From its origin until 1728 the county was deprived of 12 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH representation in the General Assembly of the Colony. This privilege had been suspended by Queen Ann "until her Majesty's royal pleasure was further known." In 1728 King George declared it to be "his royal pleasure" "that Hunterdon County should, in the future, have two representatives." At that time John Reading, a member of this congrega- tion, assuming that the Church had an existence at that date, was a member of the Council of the Province of New Jersey, having been appointed to the office in 1720. His interests would lead him to co-operate with the repre- sentatives of the county for its welfare and advancement. From 1689 to 1702 the proprietors of the Colony of New Jersey were vexed and distracted by the many rival claimants for the Government. Wearied by this political intrigue, these proprietors surrendered their rights of civil jurisdiction to the Crown, retaining only ownership to the soil. Thereupon the Colony was accepted by her Majesty, Queen Anne, and united to that of New York, with Edward Hyde, known as Lord Cornbury, Governor of both Colonies.* Cornbury was a most unworthy Gov- ernor. The colonists found themselves in a worse state than before. They complained of the Governor to the Queen. They described him as "trifling, mean and ex- travagant." On this complaint the Queen removed him. He was succeeded by eight others from the time of his removal until 1738. The colonists wearied of their union with *Smith's New Jersey, p. 218, and Ridpath's History of United States, p. 208. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 13 York, by which they were overshadowed, and, be- : of her larger numbers and influence, that Colony ved the greater part of the Governor's attention. 1 1728 to 1738, petition followed petition on the part e Assembly for a separate Governor for New Jersey, evident that the Ciuncillors united with the Assem- n this petition, from the fact stated that they united them "in most hearty and sincere thanks to his :sty, George the Second, for having, at their earnest ion, appointed a Person to govern this Province y." This "Address" was signed "by order of the icil." John Hamilton, Spr. by order of the House of Representatives. Joseph Bennet, Spr. lew Jersey Archives, Series VI, p. 58.] ; that Council John Reading was an honored mem- ind had been since 1720. He was also at that time mber of this congregation. We have then these twt> ;sting facts, viz., that in the year 1738, in which this ch was received as a corporate member of the Pres- y of New Brunswick, a commission arrived, appoint- ^ewis Morris Governor of New Jersey, and separa- the Colony in its government from that of New . Here, again, this Church and the State, with Mr. ing connected with both, move forward on synchron- ines to that common date, 1738, when, under a new listration they were better fitted for their respective es of usefulness. Who were the people of the Church It early period? While this inquiry cannot be fully sred, there are some very important facts to gratify 14 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH us, gathered from the memorial stones in our cemetery and from family records. There are families in the Church at the present time whose ancestors reach back to her earliest days, and whose first records are on these tombstone memorials. We have with us other families with such memorials going back to nearly the same date, and when we examine the plots we find near these graves others unmarked and undated, but bearing evidence of being older graves, and hence showing that these families have also been on the ground from the earliest days of the Church. Then again there are many old graves marked with names no longer represented on the Church records. Among the oldest graves in our cemetery we mention the following: Jacob Mattison, died December 7th, 1804, aged 95 years. Ann, wife of Jacob Mattison, died June 30th, 1761, aged 52 years, 5 months, which makes the birth of both in 1709. Joseph Mattison, died August 26th, I745> aged 34, and Ann Bishop, wife of Joseph Matti- son, died May, 1748, aged 31 years. The Mattison family furnished several men for the Army of the Revo- lution. One of these was the ancestor of Mrs. Van Fleet, widow of the late Vice-Chancellor Van Fleet. The Hoag- lands are one of our oldest families, of which Jacob Hoagland is still with us as a member of the Church. John Hoagland, born 1761, and died 1842, aged 81 years. Derrick Hoagland was the first representative of the Church in Presbytery, of whom we have any record. He heads the list of elders of the Church, and was commis- sioner to Presbytery at Bound Brook May 30th, 1753. He was a prominent man in the affairs of the township THE COLONIAL PERIOD 15 ;ng that early period. John Brown, a native of Bris- England, born 1721, died March, 1797, aged 76 ■s. Garret Schenck, born 1716 or 171 9, died 1791. wife, Mary, born 1720, died 1778. William Schenck, 1 1727, and died 1806, aged 79 years. Captain John snck, born 1750, and died 1823, aged 73 years. See lendix 2, p. 284. Another member of this family is itain Garret Schenck, born 1782, and died 1858, aged years. Up to a very recent date the Schencks were lerous on the rolls of this Church. At present the ily is represented by only one family, viz., Mr. Rhut- Schenck, and his wife. ^he grave of Aaron Van Doren is found in the cemc- ■. He was born April 8th, 1730, and died September 1, 1792, which dates make him to have been one of the families of this congregation, but the family is no [er represented among us. The same is true of Jacob shaw. He was born 1744, and died 1818, seventy- r years of age. He is the representative of a large ily here in the early days of the Church, but is no jer found among our people. THE CASE FAMILY. ubsequent records will make frequent mention of the es. Dr. Mott, in his valuable history of the Presby- an Church of Flemington, says: John Philip Case le to this country from Germany in 1738, and pur- sed from Penn a tract of land on which he built the : house in the neighborhood of Flemington. The date lightly in error, both for the arrival of the family and purchase. 1 6 AM WELL FIRST CHURCH Chambers, in his history of the Germans in Hunterdon County, places the arrival of the Cases in 1730. And 1 have in my possession a deed conveying a tract of land from the same Penn plantation to one William Anderson in the year 1737. The deed describes Anderson's pur- chase as joining lands of one Philip Kase. The convey- ance was made by Thomas Penn, for himself and his brothers, John and Richard. The signatures were taken March 1st, 1737, by John Reading, "one of his Majesty's Commissioners." This document has additional interest because it bears the signature of John Reading, as well as that of Thomas Penn. The Cases have been connected with the Church all through its history. Several families of this name are now in the congregation, although Mrs. Martin Bellis and Mrs. Robert Smith, daughters of Lewis Case, are the only communicant members of the Church at the present time. The family was represented by Jacob Case, born Au- gust nth, 1765, and died January 4th, 1850, and John L. Case, born January 24th, 1806, and died September 23d, 1883, and more recently by Mr. Lewis Case, who, during my pastorate, moved to Flemington. At different periods the family has rendered efficient service to the Church. THE HOLCOMBES. Another of our old families is that of the Holcombes. John Holcombe, of Abington, Pa., purchased a tract of land November i6th, 1705, of one Richard Wilson. This land, then a wilderness, is now covered in part by the borough of Lambertville. At that time the name for THE COLONIAL PERIOD 17 the village was Corryell's Ferry. In 1724 John Hol- combe was appointed one of the freeholders for Amwell township. In 1725 he was collector. In 1726 he was again freeholder, showing him to have been a man of affairs in the early days of the township. John Holcombe bequeathed to his son Richard the farm he bought of John Ways. It was situated just north of the borough. Richard served in the Revolutionary War. He also entertained General Washington in the stone house erected by his father on the farm just mentioned. This was just before the battle of Trenton. The early Holcombes were Quakers. Tradition says they came from Devonshire, England, and not long after the arrival of William Penn. From John Holcombe are descended all the Holcombes in this part of New Jersey. During the early days of this Church Lambertville was a part of the congregation. Richard Holcombe and Hannah Emley, his wife, were the parents of Miss Ann Holcombe, who became the wife of Furman Romine, grandfather of Charles Romine, and great-great-grandfather of Dr. George L. Romine, of Lambertville, with whom Mrs. John Emiley Holcombe is connected. I may add to this Mrs. Holcombe was Miss Emma A. Skillman. The Church at Mount Airy, or Amwell II, was organ- ized in 1754, by our first pastor. Rev. Eliah Byram. The Church at Lambertville was organized much later. Both of these Churches contain families originally con- nected with our Church. The Holcombes have long been prominent in this Mother Church, also in these two Churches of later date. 1 8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Trustee Peter Q. Holcombe and his brother, Deacon John Emiley Holcombe, are son of John Holcombe, an honored elder and Sabbath School Superintendent of our Church. And the late esteemed Mrs. Caleb F. Quick, and Mrs. John Quick, both very active and useful mem- bers of this Church, were members of the Holcombe family. THE CORYELLS. The Coryells, an old family of Lambertville, were in this Church during its early history. After the Revoca- tion of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 they came to this country, landing at Perth Amboy. They settled soon after that near Dunellen and Newmarket. Their church connection was with the First Reformed Church, of Som- erville, where many of their children were baptized. In 1732 John Emanuel Coryell came to Amwell and pur- chased a large tract of land, on part of which Lambert- ville is located. He made other purchases in 1737. In 1743 his name appears as one of the witnesses to the will of John Holcombe. In 1748 he is named among the managers of the "Amwell Lottery, gotten up to raise funds to finish the Presbyterian Church, and to purchase a parsonage." At that time the family had control of the ferry at Lambertville, which connected the king's high- way from Philadelphia to New York. This family had the honor of aiding Washington crossing the Delaware and in preparation for the movement on the Hessians at the battle of Trenton. After the organization of Amwell II Church at Mount Airy, the Coryells were in connection with that Church THE COLONIAL PERIOD 19 and so continued, as did many of the Holcombes, until the organization of the Church at Lambertville in 1822. From that time onward the Coryells have been identified with the Lambertville Church. THE STOUTS. The Stouts, said to be one of the largest families in the United States, have been identified with the Church throughout its entire history, and they may be found to- day in nearly every department of human industry and in almost every section of the country. On the subscription paper of February, 1753, we not only have the names of James and Jonathan Stout among the subscribers, but James Stout is one of the four persons named in that paper for receiving the subscriptions. This paper is our oldest written document. The name occurs in many, if not all the subscription papers of the Church during that century. Because of the vast numbers of the family it will be impossible to give anything approaching a record of it in this history. But because of its early connection with the Church and intermarriage with a large number of its families, we must repeat a few of its widely known facts of the fam- ily's history. A history of the family was printed at the Herald office, Hopewell, N. J., in 1878, which was writ- ten in 1823. This part of the history has since been en- larged, and the whole referred to, or copied in part by subsequent writers. The first of the name in America was Richard Stout, who was born in Noitinghamshire, England, and was the son of John Stout. Richard, when quite young, left home and went aboard a war vessel 20 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH and served in the British navy for seven years. He got his discharge from this service at New Amsterdam, now New York. At or near the same time a ship left Amsterdam, in Holland, for New Amsterdam. She was driven by the wind out of her course, and landed near Middletown, Monmouth County, N. J. The vessel was freighted with passengers, who with great difficulty reached the shore. Here they were met with hostile Indians, who murdered or thought they had, all who landed. One woman, Pene- lope Van Princes, whose husband had been killed by the Indians, regained consciousness after the Indians had gone away. She crawled to a place of hiding, where, after she remained for a short time, she was found by an Indian of a friendly disposition, who cared for her until she recovered from her wounds. Then he took her in his canoe to New Amsterdam and sold her to the Dutch. Legendary as this appears, this narrative is considered genuine history by the Stouts themselves. The man Stout of whom we have spoken and this widow Van Princes became acquainted in New Amsterdam, were married, and soon after went to Middletown, where Penelope had lost her first husband. This was in 1648. At that time there were but six families in the settlement, including themselves. From this couple we have the Stouts of this country. As I have said you will find them on almost every record of our Church's history. Their name is found in the old cemetery of the Church. They will be found on the roster of the Army of the Revolution. You will meet with it to-day in the different communities to which you THE COLONIAL PERIOD 21 may go. We shall meet them in subsequent parts of our history and find them in places of usefulness and honor. THE CHAMBERLAINS. Elder James Prall Chamberlain represents another of our old families. Also a cousin, Lewis Chamberlain. Elder Chamberlain was born December, 1825, and is the son of Lewis Chamberlain, born December 18, 1797, and died November 24th, 1830. He and Lewis first men- tioned are grandsons of Lewis Chamberlain, born 1749, and died January 15th, 1812. They are great-grandsons of Lewis and Leucretia Chamberlain. It is not known when this earliest Lewis was born, but he died about 1762. A family record in existence says that Leucretia his wife, was born in 1709, and died in 18 12, making her 103 years old. Another record, however, makes her age a trifle less than one hundred years. This family of the Chamberlins lived on lands now owned in part by the two Chamberlins first mentioned. The farm of Martin Hoffman, lying between the two, is alsoi a part of the original tract. Subsequent history will speak of the official relation of James P. Chamberlin to this Church. THE HILLS. The Hill family, well represented in the Church at the present time, appears on our earliest records. On the subscription paper of 1753 we have the names of Jonathan and Samuel Hill. The names occur in the same order on papers of a later date. As the name of Jonathan disappears, the name of Isaac occurs and . con- 22 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH tinues down to 1789, when we have the name of Richard. We have no family record to assure us that Jonathan was the fatlier of Samuel. They may have been brothers, but more probably it was father and son, as Samuel is believed to be the father of Isaac, because in each case they stand in the same order. Up to 1789 Samuel and Isaac are found on the subscription papers of the Church giving liberally for its support. Isaac Hill was the father of Joakim, the maker of the old fashioned eight day brass clock, still highly prized by those fortunate enough to possess one. In 1791 Isaac and Samuel joined in the movement to establish the Pres- byterian Church at Flemington. After this they became useful members of that congregation, Samuel being for several years a trustee and Isaac an elder. Other sons of Isaac were William and Thomas, They remained with the congregation of the Mother Church. Thomas lived on the farm now owned by Whitefield Case. His chil- dren were Joseph, William, Theodore and Calvin, and Ara, wife of Clinton Blackwell. Joseph resided on the homestead farm and his family attended, and some were members of the Church during my pastorate. His son, George, was one of our active trustees. William was himself a member of the Church and also several mem- bers of his family. It should be said in honor of the abiding consistency of his esteemed wife that according to a concurrent opinion of friends and neighbors, Mrs. William Hill exerted the influence more than any other that led her husband and several of her children to follow her example in the ser- vice of the Saviour. Of these, Ira and Miss Bessie, united THE COLONIAL PERIOD 23 with the Church during my pastorate, and later I was called upon to. perform the funeral services for both Joseph and William. And what was more sad, after re- tiring from the pastorate, to render the same service for Ira, who became entangled in the machinery of the mill and was killed. Bessie, after serving the Church many years during my pastorate and afterwards as organist and Isader of the choir, died early in life, "her sun going down while it was yet day," and I was called to officiate at her funeral. Alvin, son of William, became an elder of the Church, an office for which he was well fitted. Ara (Mrs. Blackwell), was one of our most faithful Christian women, ready at all times to serve the Church and the Master in the cause of missions, in whatever her hand found to do. And, again, for her, the funeral service was rendered after I had left the Church. So we meet "at the closing scene," and say farewell "until we meet be- yond the river." THE SUTPHINS. Deacon Lewis Sutphin, vwth his wife and children, are members of one of the original families of this Church. They are represented throughout the entire history of the Church. Members of the family are found on the Church's oldest document. They can be traced back as follows : The Sutphins, or Zutphens, may still be found at Zutphen, a town and fortress on the Yssel in Holland. There the Zutphens of Holland can trace back their family record for a thousand years, and even before this, to Denmark, whence they came with the "Northmen" to Holland. 24 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Derick, or Direk Janse Van Zutphen, married Lysbeth Van Nuys, stepdaughter of Aneke Janse Van Nuys. Her real name was Lisbeth Janse Jacobs. Derick Janse and his wife came to America and settled at New Amsterdam, Long Island, in 1651. Their chil- dren were Jacob, born 1684, John, born 1686, Derick, in 1688, and Guisbert, in 1690. That part of the family at present connected with the Amwell Church trace back to Jacob. Jacob married Engethe Bennet, and in 17 17 moved to Freehold, Monmouth County, N. J. Among the children of Jacob was his son, John, born 171 1, who died 1784. John married Penelope Stout, daughter of John Stout, and granddaughter of the John Stout who was the son of Richard Stout and Penelope Van Princes, his wife, whose tragic history has been given. These per- sons were married in 1648. The son of this John Sutphin was Derick, born July 14, 1743, and died 1831. Derick, or more probably his father, John, while Derick was yet very young, moved from Monmouth to Hunterdon County and settled in Amwell Township. He married Ann Chamberlain in 1767. The ceremony took place in the Amwell First Church and was performed by Rev. William Kirkpatrick, third pastor of the Church. This is the only marriage in the Church up to this time of which we have record. Among the children of Derick Sutphin and Ann Chamberlain was Arthur, born March 20th, 1785, who died January 28th, i860. Arthur Sutphin married Mary Cox. One of their children was Deacon Lewis Sutphin, who was born June 3d, 1829. The death of Lewis Sut- phin July 2d, 1898, will be more fully noticed in its THE COLONIAL PERIOD as proper place. Lewis Sutphin married Ann Waldron, who was born January 23d, 1842. She was a daughter of Samuel Waldron, bom August 6th, 1808, and grand- daughter of Jerome Waldron, born November ist, 1760. His son, William, was an elder in this Church. To this brief sketch, tracing an officer in this Church, should be added that members of the Sutphin family also settled in Somerset County. From this branch have sprung some very prominent men, among whom was Rev. Morris Sut- phen, D. D., who was with me in Princeton College and Seminary, and who occupied some of our leading pulpits. His son, Dr. Paul Sutphen, of Cleveland, Ohio, is fol- lowing well in the footsteps of his honored father. An- other of this branch is the celebrated oculist. Dr. Sutphen, of Newark, N. J. Jacob Sutphen moved from Somerset County to Amwell about 1700, and settled along the Neshanic, on the farm now owned by Robert Cain. On the old subscription paper of 1753 we have the names as written by themselves of Jacob Sutphen and Derick Sutfin. Many others of the name are settled in nearby places, but they do not have a record in these pages. THE GRIGGS FAMILY. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Griggs and their daughters, Belle and Nellie, all church members, together with younger children not members of the Church, represent another of our old families. With this family there have been periods of interruption, but during the first forty or fifty years of the Church's history, they were very active in all its undertakings. During these years their record 26 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH is similar to that of the family of the Hills, of which we have just spoken. In proceeding with the record of this family, I have the satisfaction of obtaining a part of my statement from two members of the family, viz., Mr. Samuel Griggs of the Church and a Miss Griggs, of Flemington, whose independent accounts are in full accord. Samuel Griggs is the son of Aaron, the grandson of Samuel, and the great-grandson of Joakim Griggs. Sam- uel, of our Church, had two uncles, Daniel and John. The Griggs' home, that is, where Samuel the elder lived, was on the farm, a mile and a half east of Flemington, or between Flemington and Reaville, where Mr. Theodore Hill now resides. There is a family burying ground on this farm. During the lifetime of the elder Samuel, the family became identified with the Church at Flemington, in fact were instrumental in its organization. As Dr. Mott had needed to refer to the records of Amwell in writing the history of the Flemington Church, so, to complete our record, we must refer to the history of the Church at Flemington. From Dr. Mott's history we learn that Daniel Griggs united on confession with the Church at Flemington in 1816, while a "Mrs. Griggs" is found on a list of mem- bers in 1 8 10, previous to which date the records of Session of the Flemington Church had not been regularly kept. Also that John Griggs and Mrs. Catharine Griggs united in 1834, and Aaron Griggs and Margaret Griggs in 1838. In the same record we find that John Griggs was ordained an elder in 1838, holding the office until his death in 1872. I was personally acquainted with Elder John Griggs, THE COLONIAL PERIOD 27 as during the early forties he moved to Frenchtown and resided there for one or two years. This was at the time when the Sabbath School in Frenchtown had just been organized by a governess in the family of Louis M. Prevost, Esq. Sometimes Mr. Griggs, and at other times my father, would come to the Sabbath School and open it with prayer, a service much appreciated by all. In the same history Samuel Griggs, the grandfather, is named among the trustees of the Flemington Church in 1 8 14, 17, 21 and 25. At some date in this period not known by my informant, Daniel Griggs moved to Sussex County "and settled on a tract of land belonging to the family." Here, the Hon. John W. Griggs, the most dis- tinguished member of the family, grew to manhood. It is well known that he was elected Governor of New Jersey and that during his term of office he was appointed Attor- ney General by President McKinley. He discharged the duties of the high office with credit toi himself and to the satisfaction of his superior, to whose regret he left the cabinet that he might resume the practice of law. So if not in one of her sons, yet in one of her grandsons, the Church is honored, by having a representative in the high- est councils of the nation, as also another Governor of the State. In many particulars we have gone beyond the information furnished by members of this family. But many facts remain to be mentioned. A paper was circulated, bearing date June 23d, 1791, stating why it was desirable to form a Presbyterian Church in Flemington. This petition was circulated with the known purpose of presenting it to the Presbytery of New Brunswick. 28 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH The first name on this petition is that of John Griggs. It also contains the name of Samuel Griggs and Joakim Griggs. Documents in our possession show that these persons all resided in what was popularly known as the "North Side," meaning north of Neshanic, the latter two being identified with the farm east of Flemington. A comparison of the dates here given shows a period of eighty-one years between the death of Elder John Griggs and the signing of this petition, which makes it plain that the John Griggs here signing is not Elder John Griggs. But the members of the family, to whom I am indebted for the relation of the different members of the family above given, knew nothing of this John Griggs. But from salary lists and other subscription papers, and a list of pew holders in the Amwell Church, some additional information may be obtained and also another name. On a salary list dated April 23d, 1779, there are many sub- scriptions of produce as well as money. Of this we shall speak at the proper time, but now to add to our history of the family under consideration. One of the subscriptions is that of Thomas Reading, who delivered two and one-half bushels of corn at the mill of John Griggs for Rev. Mr. Warford. And Charles Reading delivered one and one-half bushels of wheat at the same mill for Mr. Warford also. And be it remem- bered, in passing, that these two persons were among the prominent and active members of the Church at the time. In 1784 a subscription paper was circulated in order to raise funds for erecting a new meeting house in place of the two existing under the pastoral charge of Mr. Warford. This was one of several attempts made to get THE COLONIAL PERIOD 29 ; Church nearer to the people in and about Flemington. lough liberal subscriptions were made, the object failed, d among the subscribers we have the names of John d Joakim Griggs. A little presumption may be in- Iged in here in two respects. First, that the mill of hn Griggs was on the South Branch near the home of : Readings or near Flemington Junction. Second, that hn and Joakim Griggs were father and son, or, if not, 5n brothers. Either relationship would be possible with tes given, and others yet to be produced. But it is ident that Joakim and Samuel Griggs were more deeply terested in the Amwell First Church than this John riggs. As already noticed their names and that of John ;re on the petition of 1791, asking for the formation of Church at Flemington. At the time evidently the two jntioned were members of the Amwell Church, but it not so clear about this John. They were regular sup- rters of that Church, both being on the subscription pers from 1779 — the earliest one preserved up to 1791 •and on that to pay supplies for 89 to 91, as at this period ere was no pastor. There is preserved one list of pews the Amwell Church located and numbered. In the pew outheast" of the pulpit No. 2, Joakim Griggs has "2" iresumably sittings) and Samuel Griggs has "2." Earlier yet, we have the name of Daniel Griggs on the bscription of 1753 — our oldest Church document in istence. The purpose of this subscription was to pro- re a parsonage. It will be perceived from the above that we have a aniel Griggs and a John Griggs, not included in our formation derived from members of the family. That 30 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH these two persons belong to an earlier generation, or to two generations in the same family, is very probable. Evidence for this is their interest in the same Church, and especially the recurrence of the same Christian name in later generations. The date of 1753 would allow this Daniel Griggs to have been the father of John Griggs of 1779 and 1785, and grandfather of Joakim, providing he was an old man at the time ; or this John and Joakim may have been brothers or cousins. Be that as it may, we find the names, presumably of one family, on record from 1753 to the end of the century. And we find the names of the same family at the present time. There is evidence of devotion to the interests of Church all through her earlier history and we have decided evidence of the same interest on the part of this family in all departments of the Church's claims to-day. Note. — ^The above statements of this family, as well as similar ones of some of the other families, are here recorded as important facts in this history, although they are not as clearly digested as we wish had been the case. But they are gathered from perishable papers, not easily accessible to any who may be personally interested, and here inserted for their preservation. THE HENRYS. Another family on the ground in the early days of the Church's history is that of Michael Henry. Although the name has not appeared on our records for many years, Mr. Henry deserves a place in this history as among the first members of the Church. In fact, his name stands second in the roll of our elders. And from the Minutes THE COLONIAL PERIOD 31 of the Presbytery of New Brunswick we have the inter- esting fact that at the first meeting of the Presbytery in Amwell, which was in the second year of its organization, October nth, 1739, the Presbytery held its first session in the evening of that day at the house of Michael Henry. His name occurs again as one of the managers of a lot- tery held in 1749, for the purpose of raising funds to "finish the Presbyterian meeting house and to purchase a parsonage." We next have his name on that noted sub- scription paper of 1753, where we find Mr. Henry bear- ing his part in raising funds for that same parsonage. The name in his will, which is on record at Trenton, is spelFed Henarie, and this spelling occurs on a duplicate of the subscription paper above mentioned. In 1756 Michael Henry is named in the records of the Presbytery, among the elders in attendance at that meet- ing. These facts have been long familiar to all who have had to do with the Amwell Church, and their importance gladly recognized in this history. Among the new facts more recently discovered was the burial place of Mr. Henry. To this is to be added the more interesting fact that Michael Henry is the ancestor of my friend and classmate, the Rev. J. Addison Henry, D. D., of Phila- delphia. The remains of Michael Henry are interred in a private burying plot, known as that of the Rowe family. What relation, if any, existed between the Rowe family and Mr. Henry, I have not been able to discover. The plot referred to is about twenty feet square, inclosed by a common fence, and is situated between the South Branch of the Raritan and the Flemington branch of the Central 32 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Railroad of New Jersey. Its location is near the village of Three Bridges, Hunterdon County. Four members of the Rowe family are buried here, which are marked by a small granite obelisk. These are Jacob, who died Feb- ruary 15th, 1851, Christopher, who died April 25th, 1833, aged 77 years, Ida, wife of Christopher, died Oc- tober 31st, 1839, aged 81 years, Abraham, son of Chris- topher and Ida, who died October 12th, 1790, aged 3 years. The other two graves are those of Michael Henry and Jean, his wife. They are marked by small brown stone slabs bearing the inscriptions as follows: Here lie the Precious Remains of Michael Henry Who Died December 1760 Aged 77. The truly Pious Faithful, Loving Friend Who persevered in every Christian Virtue to the End. With other testimony to his worth. On another and similar slab we have: Here lie the Precious Remains of Jean Henry, wife of Michael Henry Who died June — 1761 aged 67 years. The accomplished Friend, ye Christian, Mother, Wife, Shone with ye brightest Charms thro' all her Life. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 33 Quaint as are these inscriptions we look upon them with ep interest, as we recall the important places the sub- :ts of them filled in the early Church. How that inter- ; deepens as we trace back to them one of our grandest d most useful and honored ministers of the Gospel, ore delightfully true is that to me. Since this minister, r. J. Addison Henry, and I sat together as students college and seminary at Princeton for six precious years, id, again, while I was settled at Strasburg, Pa., meet- y in the same Synod, and during which I was frequently ide a welcome guest in his charming home, and some- nes having the added pleasure of occupying his pulpit, very rare instance of this fellowship came to me in later 'J^j 1895, in the city of London, when the omnibus in lich I was riding with Mrs. Kugler stopped and the ssenger who entered was Dr. Henry. That the greet- l was cordial need not be stated, and the more surpris- l because neither of us knew of the other's presence in : city. As I am revising these pages this year, 1907, and add- l here and there a newly discovered fact, there came to J yesterday, from Princeton Seminary, the record of her IS who died during the previous year. In this record her honored dead is found the name of Dr. Henry. The leading facts of that record are already known by ; Church. Briefly, they are these: Dr. Henry was born Cranbury, N. J., October 28th, 1835. He graduated )m Princeton College in 1857, and from the Seminary i860. He was installed pastor of the Princeton mrch, Philadelphia, June 5th, i860, and continued in arge of the same until his death, which occurred at 3 34 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Asbury Park, August 8th, 1906. He was honored with the degree of D. D. by Centre College, Kentucky, and Washington and Jefferson College, Pennsylvania. This latter college conferred on him the degree of LL.D. in 1905, and he received the title of S. T. D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1906 just before his death. He was Commissioner to the General Assembly seven times, and the General Assembly meeting in Buffalo in 1 904 elected him as her Moderator. He was also a trus- tee of Princeton University from 1883 until the time of his death, and one of the trustees of the General Assem- bly. The Church bestowed on him many other offices and honors, but none of these was held by him in higher esteem than that of pastor of the Princeton Church, which office he held, and whose duties, with love and faithful- ness, he discharged for the long period of forty-six years/ During these years this Church grew under his nursing care and by the blessing of the Master from infancy to be a leading Church in strength, activity and influence. Naturally it is a matter of personal interest to me to know that this classmate is by descent a son of the Am- well First Church. His sister-in-law. Miss Steen, visited me in 1 905 to get the facts of his ancestry as related above. Dr. Henry traces back to Amwell First as follows : He was the son of Rev. Symmes Cleves Henry, D. D., of Cranbury, and Catherine Rowley, his wife ; the grandson of Colonel James Henry, of Lamington, N. J., and Abi- gail Woodruff McCrea, his wife ; the great-grandson of David Henry and Mary Rosborough, his wife. David was born in 1728, probably at Amwell. He died Janu- ary, 1783, asd was buried at Lamington. J. Addison was THE COLONIAL PERIOD 35 the great-great-grandson of Michael Henry, and Jean, his wife. It may be noticed that the age given of Michael Henry carries his birth back to 1683, while the date of Dr. J. Addison's death in 1906 extends our record of the family to a period of 223 years, the greater part of which was passed in America. THE PRALLS. Of these old families no one has been more uniformly identified with the Church than the Pralls. They were here at the beginning and they are with us to-day. At present we have Deacon William Bellis Frail and his brother, Elder Abraham Prall. And at the one hun- dredth and sixtieth anniversary of the Church, 1898, they both had children on the roll of the Church, and William had grandchildren. Going back to the earliest known date of the family in America we give the record only so far as it concerns the ancestry of those connected with this Church. Arent or Aaron Praal owned land in Staten Island in 1684. Peter Praal, a son of his, born date unknown, who died October 27th, 1 748, was an assessor in Staten Island in 1702. He came to Amwell between 171 1 and 17 16. In 1 716, May 25th, he purchased 750 acres of land in Amwell. His son, Pieter Praal, born March 29th, 1700, and died May ist, 1761, belonged to the last generation in which the German spelling of the name was practiced. His son, Abraham Prall, was bom February 6th, 1723, and died June 9th, 1812. Peter A., son of his, was bom June 3d, 1 75 1, and died March 2d, 1829. The next generation we have Abraham again who was 36 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH born November 2ist, 1770, and died June 21st, 1851. And his son, Abraham, born December 9th, 181 1, and died September 6th, 1843, was the father of William Bellis Prall, born April loth, 1834, and his brother Abra- ham, one of our elders. William B. Prall died January 26th, 1906. Of Pieter Praal born March 29th, 1700, we have the interesting fact that he gave the land for the old Church, and also for the cemetery within whose walls the old Church was situated. In this venerated spot sleep the dead of the Church and congregation for many generations. It contains the remains of many noble pa- triots of the revolution, and of many valiant soldiers of the Civil War. By this generous act of Pieter Praal, the family is closely identified with the Church in all its sub- sequent history. William B. and Abraham Prall represent the sixth generation of the family in the Church from the time of that generous gift, and the eighth generation of the fam- ily in America. Remembering that these brothers have baptized grandchildren, we can say we have eight genera- tions of the family in the Church. This is truly a very interesting fact, and I am convinced, a very unusual one in American Church history. Members of this family may be found in many states of the Union. I met one of them in California at the Christian Endeavor Convention in San Francisco in 1897. A grand nephew of Pieter Praal the early benefactor of the Church was John Prall, born September 20th, 1756, and died September 21st, 1 83 1. He married Amelia Coryell, of Lambertville. This John Prall built the mill at Prallsville above Centre Bridge, now Stockton. He THE COLONIAL PERIOD 37 was a member of this Church when it stood on the hill, where his great uncle had given it a plot. And not- withstanding the distance of ten miles away, to this day the statement Is remembered and repeated to his credit that he was noted for his regularity in attending the Church. He would be found in his place, almost without failure, both winter and summer. His remains and also those of his wife lie in our cemetery. I was impressed by the unique inscriptions on their tombstones and copied them, before I had learned the interesting fact just stated. They are as follows: John Prall — A Christian, a philanthropist and a pa- triot. The other is Amelia Prall — Sixty years a Christian. Records like these well authenticated are an honor to any Church. During my pastorate these brothers did very much to show the continued attachment of the family to the Church and their interest in its welfare. THE READING FAMILY. In a subordinate sense the families I have named, with others, wlhose record has passed out of sight, have con- stituted the "towers and bulwarks" of this Church for generations. It has seemed becoming that we should "mark them in our Walk About Zion." There is yet another name no longer represented among us, yet by common consent, holding, in the early days of the Church, the place of greatest prominence. The ref- erence is to John Reading. Mr. Reading was born June 6th, 1686. It was my purpose, originally, to dwell at length upon the facts of his life. But I recently learned 38 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH that Mr. J. Granville Leach, acting for Hon. Stephen B. Elkins,* is now publishing a fuller history of his life than I could possibly give, I, therefore, confine myself to the statement of only a few of the interesting facts of his life, and I do this both because of the fitness of such a record in the history of this Church, of which he was so important a part in the early period of its organization ; and I do it also to show how wide and beneficent the influ- ence of the small, and often lightly esteemed country Church may be. The father of John Reading was also John. He and his wife Elizabeth came to America some- time before 1683, and settled in Gloucester, N. J. Dr. Mott and Mr. Covley give his wife's name as Elizabeth. (The New Jersey Archives IV, page 62, say her name was Rebecca). He was a prominent man in our early colonial history. While at Gloucester he was Clerk, or Recorder of the county from 1683 to 1 701. Archives IV, p. 62. We find him a member of the Council in 1706, and again in 1707, (N. J. Archives III, pages 158 and 221). He was nominated as a member of the Coun- cil again in May, 1711, and confirmed in 1713, and held the office until his death in 1717 (Archives IV, pages 62, 171, 333)- From what place in England he came, is not positively known, Mr. Leach asserts that it is almost certain that he came from London. He sent his children, John and Elsie, in charge of his wife, back to England for a better education than could be secured at that time in the col- *Senator Elkins is a descendant of Elsie, sister of Gov. Reading. The colonial period 39 ony. They remained nine years and then returned to America. The father, with two other persons was sent in 1730 to purchase the great tract of land of one hundred and fifty thousand acres between the Delaware and Rari- tan rivers. He also made extensive purchases of land for himself in Amwell, and about this time, 1703, removed to his estate at Howell's Ferry, now Stockton and Pralls- ville. He named his estate Mount Amwell." To Mr. Leach's contention that Mr. Reading the elder, came from London, I wish to say that my belief is, he or his an- cestors came from Amwell, a small village N. E. of Lon- don. Snell (Hist, of Hunt. Co., p. 346) says from 1709- 14, Amwell was one of the three towns that constituted Burlington Co. Hunterdon was set ofif March 15th, 1713-14 making the Assunpink the southern boundary and Amwell was one of the four towns which lay to the north of it. So far as I have been able to discover, and I have the aid of one of the best authorities* on the State Archives, that there is no mention of the word Amwell previous to its use by the elder Reading to name his estate at Howell's Ferry." The custom of bringing names from home or fa- miliar places in the old home land to the new, leads me to the belief that this is the origin of the name, "Amwell." A uniform tradition up to the present time has asserted that he was a Quaker, and that at his death, in 171 7, he was buried in the grounds of the Buckingham Meeting House, Bucks Co., Pa. Mr. Leach stoutly contests both of these traditions, adding "there is not a scintilla of evi- dence to show that he was a Quaker, but much to the con- *Mr. Frank Transue of Trenton. 40 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH trary. In the first place he is never alligned with the Quakers, when they dissent from any action on the part of their fellow citizens." I can confirm this contention from personal examination of the State Archives. Second- ly, he bears military title, as Captain and Colonel, which a Quaker did not. But there is no question about the more important fact to us "that the son, John, during his stay in England, became a Presbyterian, to which Church he was warmly attached until the time of his death" (Dr. Mott's First Cent, of Hunterdon Co.). He was a most liberal supporter of the Amwell First Church, as the meagre documents and subscription lists fully show. He, like his father, was a surveyor. He was one of the Commissioners appointed to run the State line between New York and New Jersey, July 25th, 1719, Archives IV, page 394. As a surveyor, he became acquainted with the rich lands in the Amwell Valley. He had formerly surveyed tracts in this valley for parties in Burligton, who were locating lands here. He improved the opportunity afforded, and purchased for himself six hundred acres along the South Branch, a short distance from Flemington, where he subsequently built the Reading homestead. Governor Reading was noted for his fair dealing with the Indians, and in this way gained their confidence and high regard. He was trusted by them as truly as he was by the whites. He came thus to have frequent dealings with them, and was often employed for purchasing lands from these original owners. Mr. Reading was recommended by Governor Hunter SILVER CHALICE. Presented to Amwell Church by Governor John Readins;, 1767. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 41 a suitable person to be appointed a member of his Majesty's Council, November, 1718, when he was only irty-two years of age. The appointment was confirmed :ay 31st, 1720. Archives IV, p. 377. He held this ice, under repeated appointments, until 1758, when he signed on account of age and infirmity. Archives IX, 7. He was Lieutenant Governor for two terms, and the oldest Counselor became Governor, by virtue of this sition on the death of Governor Hamilton in 1747, ing the first native born Jerseyman to govern the prov- ce. Again, on the death of Governor Belcher in August, 57, he was Governor for the second time, holding the ice until the arrival of Governor Bernard in June, 1758. His name heads the list of the trustees of Princeton allege, under the new and more liberal charter granted Governor Belcher in 1748, when the college was trans- rred from Elizabeth to Newark. "His influence, services and money were freely be- )wed to lay the foundation of religious privileges, edu- tional advantages, and national freedom." — Mott. Mr. Reading married, November 30th, 1720, Mary, ughter of Yoris or George Ryerson, and Ann Schoute, ! wife, of Pequenac, Passaic County, N. J. Governor ;ading died November 5th, 1767, in the 8ist year of ! age, and is still "remembered for what he has done." rs. Reading died April 17th, 1774, aged 78 years. They 5 buried, as are many of their kindred, in the old Am- :11 burying ground, near to the spot where the old lurch stood. Over the grave of the Governor and his fe was erected within a few years a monument of Quincy 42 AMWELL FIRST CHURCIi granite, by John G. Reading of Philadelphia, and Frank- lin Reading of Williamsport. The monument states that Mr. Reading's death occurred November 7th. But Mr. Leach discovered an obituary notice, printed at the time of his death, and almost certainly written by Rev. Wil- liam Kirkpatrick, pastor of the Church at the time, w^hich says the death took place on the 5th of November. The closing paragraph of the obituary reads "He manifested an high regard to religion, and was a constant attendant on public worship; was Catholic in his sentiments, and loved good men of every denomination of Christians." While Governor Reading is gratefully remembered as, perhaps, the most liberal benefactor of this Church in its early days, there is no one gift of his that stands out so distinctly and awakens so much interest to-day as that which he made just before his death. In a codicil to his will added October 29th, 1767, only one Week before his death, we have the statement. "I give also the sum of ten pound proclamation money towards the making of a silver chalice, or such other need- ful Church utensil for the use of the Eastern part of the Presbyterian congregation in the township of Amwell in the administration of the Lord's Supper." These cups are of heavy hammered silver, and still in a perfect state of preservation. On one of them, is the following in- scription: A Gift of the Honorable John Reading, Esq., deceased, to the Eastern Presbyterian Congregation in Amwell, 1767. They came into use during the pastorate of the Rev. William Kirkpatrick tO' whose pen we ascribe the obituary notice of Mr. Reading, to which reference has been made. These cups are still in use in this Church, THE COLONIAL PERIOD 43 as they have been for one hundred and thirty-three years. There are, I am sure, few objects of deeper and more sacred interest, or more venerable w^ith age, in the whole Presbyterian Church in America, than are these conse- crated vessels of the Sanctuary. They have passed through the hands of fifteen pastors of this Church, besides many who have supplied the pulpit, when the Church was with- out a pastor. Among these, was the venerable John Witherspoon, D. D., President of Princeton College who administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in this Church, June 21st, 1789. And now 1910 at the revision seventeen pastors and 145 years. Your parents and grand- parents to the third and fourth generation who now "asleep in Christ," have pressed them to their lips, and taken from them the consecrated wine. What a chain of tender associations between the living and the dead, do they suggest! How blessed to feel, as "we receive" from these sacred vessels that we are communing with our Lord, and with those who* have gone to commune with Him in his Father's Kingdom. Was Governor Reading a communicant member of this Church? This question was asked by his biographer. We have no records in existence to which we can appeal for an answer. But it seems to me that these communion cups do give answer. They certainly testify to his appre- ciation of Christ's death for our redemption, and of the blessed Sacrament by which that death is commemorated. And whether a member of the Church or not, we have here an act of faith and devotion, that would adorn the profession of any Church member; which, with many oth- er acts of his, for the furtherance of the Church leads us 44 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH to regard him as numbered with believers, who' consti- tute the Church of Christ. The relation of Governor Reading to the Church and State seems to warrant me in adding a few statements con- cerning his family. To Governor and Mrs. Reading were bom seven sons and three daughters. The children were all baptized in the Reading Reformed Church of which Mrs. Reading was a member at the time. John, born March 30th, 1722, died November, 1766. Anne, born in May or June, 1723, as inferred from her baptism July 21st, 1723. George, born February 26th, 1725, died August, 1792. Daniel, born February 2nd, 1727, died October, 1768. Joseph, born November 23rd, 1730, died November, 1806. Elizabeth, born December or January, 1731. Richard, bom December 8th, 1732. Thomas, born September 27th, 1734, died December, 1814. Mary, born July (?), 1736. Sara, born Septem- ber (?), 1738. Samuel, born November 25th, 1741, died August, 1749. He and many of the family are buried in the cemetery near the grave of Governor Reading. You will notice that the date of the birth of the daughters is not given. It can only be inferred from the baptism. Judge James N. Reading, formerly a prominent lawyer in Flemington, was the son of Joseph and Eleanor Grand- in Reading, and a great-great-grandson of the Governor. Mrs. James N. Reading who died recently in Illinois, was Sara C, daughter of Isaac Southard. James N. Reading built the imposing residence in Flemington, now owned and occupied by Mrs. J. Newton Voorhees. Their children are now living in Morris, III. Another son of THE COLONIAL PERIOD 45 ;ph and Eleanor Grandin Reading was Philip G. iding, late of Frenchtown, N. J. )f Joseph Reading, born in Amwell, November 23, o, it may be said he was the first judge of the Hunter- County Orphans' Court. He was a member of the pernor's Council from 1781-1783. He was a member an elder of the Amwell Second Presbyterian Church, . Airy, and frequently a delegate to Presbytery. He led a plantation near Rosemont. The family bury- ground is at that place. He married Amy Pierson lit 1754- Vhile I have had but the slightest acquaintance with lies N. Reading I was intimately acquainted with lip G. Reading, also with their sister Mary Ann, 3 became the wife of William Hedges, of Somerville. k/Ir. and Mrs. Hedges came to Frenchtown about .0, and Philip Reading a short time afterward. Mr. dges was engaged in mercantile business, and later he '. Philip G. Reading united in conducting the lumber iness which they carried on for several years at French- m. Joseph, the oldest son of Philip, was a pupil of le a few years later, when I was engaged in teach- , while preparing for college. Phis was in the early fifties, Mr. Reading and Mr. dges had both been associated with my father, Joseph gler, in establishing and sustaining the Presbyterian urch in that village. The first Church building was :ted in 1845, and was used as a place of worship and the Sabbath School, but was not organized as a Church il May 16, 1849. Of course many others were active pers in building and sustaining the Church. 46 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Elizabeth R., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hedges was also a pupil of mine. During my college days I met her socially at the residence of Governor Olden of Prince- ton. Previous to this, and in my boyhood, and early man- hood, I was often thrown in social relations with Mrs. Reading Hedges. She was a woman of culture and re- finement and I always have been thankful that in early life, I came under her influence. Mr. Reading also in- fluenced me in a way different from my old neighbors. There was a frankness of speech and manner about him in keeping with his manifest integrity, and the evident courage of his convictions that greatly helped me. Mr. Reading had several children, as Charles and James, mer- chants in Frenchtown, Charles having been once a member of the Senate. George, a physician in Southern, N. J. ; Philip in business in Philadelphia, and John a distin- guished lawyer at Williamsport, Pa. Having stated my indebtedness to Philip G. Reading during my boyhood, it will not be amiss I trust, to add another pleasant fact of my connection with this family. The only daughter of Mr. Reading, Miss Eva, I came to know in Clinton, N. J., where I am residing since retiring from the pastorate and am engaged in revising this his- tory. She is the w^fe of Hon. W. C. Gebhardt of the New Jersey Senate, and herself the distinguished presi- dent of the W. C. T. U. of Hunterdon Co., also active in Temperance, Sunday School and Church work. Here relations have been reversed, as I have had two of her daughters, the granddaughters of my old friend, Philip G. Reading under my instruction in the Sabbath School, and THE COLONIAL PERIOD 47 icularly in a Teacher-Training Class, in which, at luation, they received along with one other. Miss ;abeth Fox, by the bestowment of the State Superin- lent of this department, the highest honors at his dis- J. There are other descendants of the Reading fam- residing in or near Clinton. Of these we men- Mr. John Stryker, son of Mrs. Theodosea Reading Larison Stryker, also Nelson, the son of John Stryker, > with his wife are active workers in the Presbyterian irch of Clinton. liss Elizabeth Grandin, daughter of Dr. John G., lives he old Grandin homestead, and is a devoted student of ^htn there are large groups of the family residing in about Sergentsville, N. J., and others at Rosemont along the Delaware. These cannot here be traced. to my pupil. Miss Elizabeth Reading Hedges, I feel ranted in making additional statements, because this il of mine afterwards became the highly esteemed s of one of your pastors, the Rev. John H. Scofield, alas no longer living. It is gratifying to have with us ay at our anniversary services, and also at the parson- her daughter. Miss Mary Scofield. And this interest icreased by the fact that the parsonage is the birthplace Hiss Scofield. Ls Miss Scofield is the only representative of the Read- family attending these services, we deem it fitting to ;e her relation to the Governor. /[ary Reading Scofield is the daughter of Rev. J. H. Seld and Elizabeth R. Hedges, his wiie; granddaugh- of Mary Ann Reading and W. W. Hedges; great- 48 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH granddaughter of Joseph Reading and Eleanor Grandin ; great-great-granddaughter of Captain John Reading and Elizabeth Hankinson; great-great-great-granddaughter of John Reading and Isabella, daughter of William Mont- gomery* of Ayr, Scotland, and great-great-great-great- granddaughter of Governor John Reading and Mary, daughter of Yoris or George Ryerson, of Pequenac, Pas- saic Co., and his wife, Ann Schoute. This makes Miss Scofield of the seventh generation from Governor Read- ing. Captain John Reading in the above line styled "Valiant John" was ensign in the company commanded by his Un- cle Thomas, Second Lieut, in Captain Dougherty's Com- pany, and Jan. ist, 1777, was made First Lieut, in Cap- tain Cox's Company same Batallion (Leach, page 55). Mrs. John H. Scofield was the second of the descend- ants of Governor Reading who has presided in the Am- *This William Montgomery, son of William, came in his ninth year, with his father to America. He settled in Upper Freehold, where he died in 1771, aged 78 years. William, the elder son of Hugh, was the heir and owner of the property in Bridgewood about one mile from Ayr. He married Isabel, daughter, of Robt. Burnett, of the family of Gilbert Burnett, Bishop of Salsbury, and also one of the proprietors of East Jersey. Having lost much of his property, he moved in 1701 with his family to New Jersey, and settled on the lands of his father-in-law at a place to which he gave the name of Eglington, two miles from Allentown. The ancestry of this William traces back to Lord Hugh Montgomery, who in 1508, was cre- ated by James IV of Scotland, Earl of Eglington. ( Early settlers of Trenton by Cooley, page 223). THE COLONIAL PERIOD 49 well parsonage. The other was Theodosia, daughter of Daniel, who married Rev. Thomas Grant, the fifth pas- tor of the Church. William Reading, a grandson of Daniel, attained the rank of Brigadier General in the regular army during the Mexican War. He was distinguished for gallantry in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Molino del Rey in Mexico. Ann also daughter of Daniel, married Thomas Wood, an eminent lawyer of New Jersey, and afterward of New York. Another descendant, Anna Far- lee, became the wife of the late Augustus Richey, a dis- tinguished lawyer of Trenton. In early life, and up to manhood Mr. Richey resided in Asbury, N. J., and was connected with the Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church, of which I was for many years the pastor. These are but a few of the names which show how widely ex- tended the influence and widely scattered the members and children of this Church, who, when they sit down to tell the history of their own lives or families, must turn back to the Old Amwell First Church as the home of their ancestors. There was Major Pierson Reading, grandson of Joseph who went to California, when it was a wilderness, and before the discovery of gold there. He was there before Commodore Stockton's arrival, and in command of a division in Stockton's little army, partici- pated in the victories which won for our country that paradise of the Pacific coast. His children are still there, holding positions of influence and responsibility. I must not pass by Thomas, the youngest son of Governor, except- ing Samuel who died in childhood. Thomas died in 18 14, in the 80th year of his age. It is claimed for him by Dr. 4 50 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Miller K. Reading, of Virginia, that he was by far the ablest and most active man in war, in Church and in State, of Governor Reading's sons. He was Captain of the 6th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the New Jer- sey Brigade. He was mustered into service in 1774. He took part in the operations before Quebec, in 1776, and continued in command until his regiment was mustered out in 1777. He was chosen Member of the Colonial Congress February 9th, 1776. He was a Trustee in our Church and our very meagre records of the time, show him to have been very active in measures for the Church's advancement. It is asserted that he was also a communi- cant member of the Church. And while he naturally went with the Flemington Church at the time of its or- ganization, he was not only an active member there, but the first man to be ordained to the office of Ruling Elder in that Church. John, a grandson, entered the company of his Uncle Thomas. Another grandson of the Governor, Thomas, was First Lieutenant in Captain Stout's Company of the Jersey Line. He was taken prisoner at Three Rivers, June 8th, 1776. He became Captain February 5th, 1777, and Ma- jor of the First Regiment December 29, 1781, and served until the close of the war. Yet another, Charles, was Lieutenant of the Third Regiment, and afterward Cap- tain. Dr. Miller K. Reading, great-grandson of Thomas, re- siding in Aden, Va., has shown much interest in the pub- lication of this history. He informs me that his grand- mother, wife of Joseph Reading, was a Miss Waldron, whose family at the time attended this Church, which THE COLONIAL PERIOD 51 enables us to place the Waldrons among the early wor- shippers at Amwell. This lengthy account of the Read- ings must admit of one more branch, in justice to the Church's record, as well as to the family. We have stated there were seven sons and three daugh- ters born to Governor and Mrs. Reading, "Woman is too much to the fore" in this day, to be left "unnamed, unhonored and unsung." The daughters were Ann, married to Rev. Charles Beatty. Mary, married to Rev. William Mills of Ja- maica, Long Island, and Elizabeth, married John Hack- ett, from whom Hackettstown takes its name. Of Ann only, and a few of her children we wish to speak. She was the second child of Governor Reading, having been born early in 1723. Her baptism took place at the Re- formed Church of Readington, July 21st, 1723. June 24th, 1 746, Ann Reading was married to the Rev. Charles Beatty, Mr. Beatty was a graduate of the Log College at Neshaminy. The Rev. William Tennent was the able head of this school. Mr. Beatty came to this country from the North of Ireland. His mother was Christina, daughter of James Clinton. She was the sister of Charles Clinton, whose son, George, was successively General in the Army of the Revolution, Governor of New York and Vice-Pres- dent of the United States with Jefferson during his second term. This show« good blood for young Beatty. The Beattys were of Scotch-Irish descent, and of the Presbyterian faith. The elder Beatty having died, Mrs. Beatty and her "four sorts, accompanied her brother, Charles Clinton, to this country in 1729. Charles Beatty was then a lad of 52 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH fifteen years. He undertook to support himself by sell- ing linen fabrics, and carried his goods, as was the cus- tom, on his back. In one of his excursions, as the tra- dition has given it to us, he approached Mr. Tennent, and addressed him in Latin, seeking to sell his goods. The result of the interview was that Mr. Tennent persuaded him to sell the goods on hand and return to the Log Col- lege and study for the ministry. Whether this is all true or not, it is given on the authority of Dr. Rodgers, and there is no doubt about his studying at the Log College and entering the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. He was licensed by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, Octo- ber 13th, 1742, adhering to his teacher, Mr. Tennent, in what was called the New Side. His license was one year after the division of the Synod. He was called to suc- ceed Mr. Tennent at the Forks of the Neshaminy, May 26, 1743, and ordained and installed there on the 14th of December. Mr. Beatty possessed, in a large measure, the missionary spirit, and sympathized with the celebrated David Brainard, in his efforts to evangelize the Indians. He entertained Brainard at his house in 1745, when on a visit to confer with the Governor on business connected with his mission. In June of that year occurred a mem- orable communion, when Brainard on Mr. Beatty's invi- tation came to assist, and preached to a large audience of two or three thousand, and many were deeply affected. Mr. Beatty and Ann Reading were married as already stated, June 24th, 1746. In the fall of that year Mr. Brainard's health having failed, and he having decided to leave New Jersey, Mr. and Mrs. Beatty called to bid him farewell, to which Brainard refers in his journal "as THE COLONIAL PERIOD 53 unexpected, and refreshing to his Spirit." Mr. Beatty's personal connection with this Church was not as pastor, but only as a supply. It was in this way the Church was served from its origin to 1751. Mr. Beatty was prominent among these supplies. In October Mr. Beatty was appointed by Presbytery "to supply Amwell one- quarter of his time, and Mr. James Campbell before our next." Again in 1748 and 1749, Mr. Beatty, Mr. Camp- bell, Mr. Allen and Mr. Chestnut are some of the sup- plies. During these years you will remember he was, by his marriage to Ann Reading, the son-in-law of the Gov- ernor, which perhaps had something to do with his fre- quent services of this kind. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Beatty were able, godly and influential. So from this Amwell girl, Ann Reading, wife of Charles Beatty, sprung men and women to benefit and bless both the State and the Church at large. One daughter, Mary, married the Rev. Enoch Green, a member of the Green family of Ewing and Trenton, who graduated at Princeton College and was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Deerfield, N. J. He entered the Army of the Revolution in 1776, as Chaplain, con- tracted fever and died in December. But Mary lived until 1842. When she died in the ninety-sixth year of her age, and was buried in the grounds of the Presbyterian Church, corner of Fourth and Pine Streets, Philadelphia. Elizabeth, another daughter, mar- ried Rev. Philip Vicars Fithian. He, too, was a Presby- terian clergyman, and entered the army as Chaplain. He was at the battle of White Plains and soon after died from exposure in camp. Their son, John, graduated at Prince- 54 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH ton, in the first class under Dr. Witherspoon, whose com- ing to Princeton was due as much to his grandfather, Charks Beatty, as to any other man. But as the war broke out he entered the army, received a Captain's com- mission in the Fifth Penna. Batallion, attained the rank of Major, was taken prisoner at the surrender of Fort Washington, November 1776. On his exchange, he was appointed commissary-general of prisoners. As a man of busin^ess he held many positions of great responsibility. He returned to Princeton after the war and represented the State in Congress from 1783 to 1785. Dr. Reading Beatty, son of Charles and his wife, Ann Reading, was a student of medicine when the war broke out. He at once entered the army, and was taken pris- oner with his brother at the surrender of Fort Washing- ton. He was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at Newtown. Pa. His daughter, Ann, married the Rev. Alexander Boyd of Newtown, Pa. His daughter, Mary, married the Rev. Robert Steel, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Abington, Pa. Another daughter, married Rev. Henry Wilson and died as a missionary in Arkansas. A daughter of Rev. Robert Steel, D. D., Mrs. Mary Har- vey, is now (1898) residing in Hoboken, N. J. She is an eminently brilliant woman and active in church and educational work. This at least, was true of her, during the time of my pastorate in that city, but being the widow of an Episcopal clergyman, her connection was not with the Church I served. She has rendered me material as- sistance in the preparation of this history. Col. Erkuries Beatty, another son of Rev. Charles Beat- ty was. preparing for college when. the war broke out. At THE COLONIAL PERIOD 55 the age of sixteen he entered the army under Lord Stirl- ing, who had espoused the cause of the Colonies. He was in the battles of Long Island and White Plains. He ob- tained an Ensign's commission in the Fourth Penna. Bat- talion. He was engaged in the Battle of Brandywine May 1777) and in that of Germantown in which he was severely wounded. He fought at Monmouth, June 28th, 1778, under Wayne. He then joined LaFayette and was present at the capture of Yorktown, October 19th, 1781. Dr. Charles Clinton Beatty, son of Erkuries, was a distinguished clergyman of the Presbyterian Church. He was settled at Steubenville, Ohio, where in connection with his wife, he founded a large Female Seminary. He was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1862. He was an influential member of the Committee which con- summated the Union between the old School and the new School Presbyterian Churches. He was a very liberal benefactor of the Church and educational institutions. His gifts to the Female Seminary at Steubenville, to Jefferson College and to the Western Theological Seminary at Pittsburg are said to amount to $500,000. And he and his descendants must trace back to Amwell, and to Ann Reading when they would write up their history.* Just one more illustration of this wide influence of our Church. Mary, a daughter of Ann Reading and Charles Beatty married Rev. Enoch Green, Lydia Elizabeth, a grand- daughter of this Enoch Green married James W. Moore, D. D., and settled at Little Rock, Arkansas, and was *We are indebted to Dr. Charles Beatty's History of the Beatty family, for many of the above facts. 56 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the first missionary of the Presbyterian Church in that part of the State. A son of this James W. Moore, was Charles Beatty Moore, who graduated at Princeton in 1857, in the same class with myself. When I began to write this history I was struck with the name Charles Beatty and made inquiry as to his ancestry. You may imagine my surprise and delight to find that this classmate whom I love as a brother was also a descendant of the old Am- well Church of which I am pastor. For years we sat to- gether in grand old Princeton. During the war he was in the Confederate Army, and I in the Church, and my sym- pathies with the North. The war is ended, and old friends clasp hands with the friendship of earlier days. I believe him to be as true to the flag as I am, or any other man. He is an elder of the Presbyterian Church at Little Rock. In 1897 Major Charles Beatty Moore, such is the record in the minutes of the Synod of Arkansas, was elected to the office of Moderator of the Synod for the second time. Unfortunately, I have lost the date of his first election, which was said to be the first time that a layman had filled that office in America. I am confident he honored the office as truly as the office honored him. Naturally he is interested in this Church of his ancestors, and in this history. This family history should not close without recording the fact that a Miss Beatty, a great granddaughter of Ann Reading and Charles C. Beatty was a pioneer mis- sionary in India, stationed at Dehra, where, after a life spent in obedience to the Saviour's last command, she died and was buried. So it comes to pass that we have representatives of Old Amwell, or their descendants, scat- THE COLONIAL PERIOD 57 tered over the whole country. We find them on the At- lantic Coast, in the great Central States, in the Central and Southern part of the Mississippi Valley, on the Pacific Coast, and among the missionaries of far off India, all making a deeply interesting history of the family and an honor to the Church. And yet "the half has not been told," nor can we even mention the vast multitudes who trace their origin back to the Amwell Church, and to those honored ances- tors whose faith in God, and whose Christian character have stamped themselves upon their numerous descend- ants. Truly we have a wonderful heritage in the vener- able and sacred organization whose story we are trying to tell to the present, and the generation following. In presenting these family records I have answered with sufficient fullness the questions who was on the ground at the beginning of the Church? and presumably by whom was it organized? And who sustained the Church in the days of its infancy? For some of these I have car- ried the record down so as to connect the past and the present. Now, leaving the records of families, or individuals, we recur to the organization of the Church. The date of the organization I have been able to give only proximately. But I have the pleasure of stating for the first time to the present generation at least, the date of building the old Church which stood in the cemetery grounds between Reaville and Ringoes. This date is not given either by Dr. Mott or Dr. Blattenberger, in the sketches they have published of the Church. We have on file a paper in the handwriting of Jasper Smith, which was prepared 58 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH in order to secure the removal of the Church to Flem- ington, and rebuild it there. This paper was presented to Presbytery, and its facts used in an address before Presby- tery, as an argument for the change of location. The paper gives numerous reasons for such removal. The very first reason mentioned is this, "Because the house," (meaning the old Church) "is ex-central. It was built fifty-two years ago, for the people between the Del- aware River and the Dutch Congregation in Reading Town." This paper is dated November, 1791. But fifty- two years before 1791 gives us 1739, thus fixing the date of building the old Church. That building continued to be the house of worship, though undergoing numerous and extensive repairs for one hundred years. For the other record is, that in 1839, during the pastorate of Rev. David Hull, the old Church was taken down, and the present Church building erected. That event closed a marvellous century in the history of this Church, and yet, so far as I have been able to learn, it was allowed to pass without a centennial celebration ; most likely without the knowledge that the Church had stood there for one hundred years. Who the people were who were inter- ested in the erection of that Church, we have already shown with very strong probability, if not certainty. A brief description of that building was given by the late George P. Rex, M. D., and was included in a sketch of the Church furnished by Dr. Blattenberger, for Snells History of Hunterdon County, published in 1881. Un- like our present Church building, its greatest length was p^allel to the highway. The door was on the side fac- ing the XPad, and directly in front of it was the pulpit. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 59 There were galleries on three sides. It was built of wood. It contained neither stove nor fire place. "It was unfinished, and ever likely to be, and very cold," is given as the second reason, in the paper of 1791, already quoted for removing and building in Flemington, "And because when the people arrive, there are no houses nearby, with fire, where people can warm." A third rea- son for moving the Church was, "There is no place by the Church where victuals and drink can be procured for the hungry and thirsty." Last winter I called on Mr. Peter R. Young, then in his 90th year, and living with his daughter at Morris- town, to learn something of the old Church. But his memory had failed, and there was but little that he could give in a way that I could rely upon it. But this is a part of what he said. The floor of the Church was of brick and the means of heating was to build a fire of logs outside the Church. Coals from such fire were gathered into a large iron caldron or kettle and carried to the cen- tre of the Church. The fumes arising from these coals would some times cause persons in the gallery to faint. He had some interesting reminiscences about the Schencks who he said came to this country in 1630 and that they owned a very large tract of land, extending from Ringoes to Pennington. Also he said that General , Washington advised the oldest of the Schencks then living not to join the army, but to continue on the farm to raise grain to feed the army. This reminiscence of Mr. Young I men- tion,, but because of his failing memory, it is to be re- garded rather as a subject for inquiry, than as a statement of fact. 6o AMWELL FIRST CHURCH The Presbytery of New Brunswick was organized 1738, and directed to hold its first meeting August 8th, at New Brunswick. It was ordered at that meeting that "Mr. Wales preach at John Fraissier's upon the third Sab- bath of this instant, upon Monday following at Edward Barbers, and upon Tuesday at Amwell meeting house." Thus it appears there was a meeting house in existence in 1738. Hence the date I have quoted from Jasper Smith's paper, making the "Old House" our previous Church fifty-two years old in 1791, was not our first Church building, or else there is a slight error in the date. I think it altogether more probable that there was this still "older house" in existence, somewhere in the Amwell Val- ley, which was supplanted by the one built on the York Road in 1739. A fact of greater historic interest than the date of the origin of the Church is the first meeting of the Presbytery at Amwell. The Synod, then the highest court of the Church, had ordered that every candidate for the minis- try, not having a degree from a university, must, in lieu of that, have a certificate from the Synod's Committee on Candidates for the Ministry, before it was in order for a Presbytery to proceed with his license. The Presbytery of New* Brunswick, however, at its first session disre- garded this order of Synod. John Rowland, a native of Wales, appeared before the Presbytery and was taken on trials. It is true he was a graduate of the Log Col- lege, but that,by no means answered the requirement of Synod for a degree from some university. Neither had he the certificate in lieu of it, from Synod. September 7th, 1738, the Presbytery proceeded with his license. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 6i liming that to the Presbytery belonged the original risdiction in granting a license, and that the Synod had p right to interfere. The Synod at its next meeting en- rtained a complaint of this action of Presbytery, and pressed its disapproval. At the meeting of Presbytery St mentioned, which was held at Freehold, more sup- ies were requested by Amwell. Though there was a eat scarcity of ministers John Rowland was appointed preach at Amwell. The Rev. William Tennent was so appointed to preach at Amwell the first Wednesday September, 1739. In that same month the people of mwell ofifered a petition for the ordination of Mr. Row- nd. That meant his settlement as pastor. On the nth ■ October, 1739, the Presbytery met at Amwell, with a ew to ordain Mr. Rowland. This is the first meeting ' Presbytery at Amwell. It held its first session on the ■ening of the first day at the house of Michael Henry, mong those present were William and Gilbert Ten- :nt, also graduates of the Log College, under their fath- . The record of this meeting in the minutes of the Pres- tery of New Brunswick, which is the authority for these itements, is as follows: "The affair of Mr. Rowland being resumed, the Pres- rtery do report that, after deliberate consideration upon e present circumstances of Amwell, inasmuch as they ;sired, but one-third part of Mr. Rowland's time and bors among them, judged it improper to ordain him to at place in particular, and therefore the necessitous state ■ the Church so requiring, they proceeded to ordain him, le titulo, i. e. to the ministry of the word in general," ence he was not installed as pastor at Amwell. He, 62 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH however supplied Amwell and Lawrenceville for about six months, and this ordination took place in the Amwell Church. There is to-day, 1898, an added interest ad- hering to this license and ordination of Mr. Rowland, because the license was granted contrary to a standing rule of Synod, and the ordination in face of the admoni- tion of Synod; and because the act, and the plea that original jurisdiction in this matter belongs to the Pres- bytery, and not to the Synod, is substantially the same as the case of the Presbytery of New York, which claims original jurisdiction in the matter of granting license, and disregards the deliverance of the General Assembly, which grew out of the Briggs case. And this was maintained with great spirit and earnest- ness, only two weeks ago, in the Presbytery of New York, so we had substantially a Briggs case in the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and this old Amwell Church, directly concerned in the matter as long ago as in 1739. And while this act of the Presbytery was a leading factor in causing the Schism of 1741, yet it is pleasant to know that New Brunswick acted without personal bitterness, and long before the union in 1758, came to recognize the fact that unity was much to be preferred to division, and that authority and mutual concession are better than dis- order and variance. It will be interesting to have a brief account of Mr. Rowland's labors on this field. At the time "the piety of the Church, both among the ministry and laity was in a languid condition." There had been an awakening a few years previous, in Freehold, under John Tennent. This began to be felt in other sections, Whitefield came to THE COLONIAL PERIOD 63 America in 1738. His preaching deepened this interfest. The Tennents and Whitefield were in full accord in Spiritual matters and withal sometimes uncharitable, not to say unchristian, in their utterances about what they regarded as an unconverted ministry. Rowland embraced the views of Whitefield and the Tennents. He writes that at the Presbytery in 1738, the congregations of Maid- enhead (Lawrenceville) and Hopewell (Pennington) put in a supplication for me. The opposition to him that arose afterward about the manner of his license increased to so much dislike to him at Hopewell (Pennington) that the use of the Church was denied him. Hence he preached in private houses, and in barns. Shortly after the people of the Hopewell Church, who desired him, obtained permis- sion from the Presbytery, and erected a Church for his use. It was nearer the river than the present Church at Pennington. After the reunion, this part of the congre- gation returned to the old Church, and the new building went down. Rowland labored zealousy in these two Churches. He writes "there is another town (township he means) lying contiguous to Hopewell, which is called Amwell. The people there, are something numerous like- wise, and having none to labor among them, they peti- tioned for a part of my time, namely, one Sabbath in three." His ordination for this field, as we have seen, led to the serious difference between the Presbytery and the Synod. He continues, "there was a small number in Hopewell and Maidenhead, truly acquainted with vital religion, as far as I could judge, before I came among them. They seemed so earnest in prayer, night and day, to have the gospel in power among them, as if they would 64 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH take no denial. But in Amwell there were very few who knew the Lord Jesus when I came among them. Yet in many ways they were an agreeable people." "The subjects I insisted on for about six months were conviction and conversion. Usually I made use of the most rousing and awakening texts. Some began to be convinced that they were in misery, and knew not the way to the Kingdom of heaven. I commonly preached at night as well as in the day, and frequently on week days. The people of God were much enlivened to see poor sin- ners convinced of the perishing nature of their State, and their absolute need of Christ. The efEect was they bore great love to one another, and sweet peace among them- selves, so that I was not interrupted from my work, in making up differences among them." "In the month of May, 1739. I began to preach on the most inviting and encouraging subjects. A sermon from the text, The Master is come and calleth for thee, was brought home, through the divine influence, upon many Souls. Solemn weeping, and deep concern appeared throughout the congregation." Again in Amwell, July 27th, 1740 and in Maidenhead August 3rd, God was pleased to magnify his grace, in vis- iting poor sinners. He opened their eyes, to see themselves without Christ, and without hope in the world. Their convictions were attended with great horror and trem- bling, and loud weeping, which I suppose could not be stopped so easily as some do imagine for I observed that many did continue crying in the most doleful manner along the road, on their way home." On one occasion after sermon I enquired of these per- THE COLONIAL PERIOD 65 sons the real cause oi their crying out in such a manner. Some answer'ed me "that they saw hdl opening before theta, and themselves ready to fall into it. Others an- swered that they were struck with such a sense of their sinfulness, that they were afraid the Lotd would never have mercy on them." "As to the isstie of these convictions, many of them were followed' with sound conversion. Others backslided and became stifiE-necked again, though the numbers of the back- sliding in theSe towns. Was not so great as I have seen in some placfes. One great means to prevent backsliding from convictions iri Amwell was this; when the husband was taken, the wiie was also taken ; or, when the wife was visited, the husband was also ; so they were ever stirring up each other. Many such instances are in the town of Am- well, uporl Which account that corlgregation appears to me peculiarly beautiful. As to Maidenhead and Hopewell, I believe that Orie great means the Lord used there to prevent backsliding, was the care and diligence of some of the Christian people in cionversing with the convinced." Mrl Rowland was a real Boariferges in denouncing the termors of the law against impenitent sinriets, and because of his faithfulness, the ungodly nicknamed hifn "the hell- fire Rowland." A very brief notice of Mr. Rowland after he left Am- well, Hojiewell and Maidenhead, will show ho\v the' in- fluence of the first Amwell preacher has been extended. He went from here to the Great Valley of Providence and Norristown, Pa. While laboring there, the grandfather of Archibald Alexander was converted.* Also the an- *Dr. Murphy's Log College Presbytery. 5 66 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH cestors of Revs. Robert, Samuel and Hugh Hamell, D. D., were converted under his ministry. Likewise under his preaching and that of Whitefield the soul of that pre- eminent preacher, Rev. Samuel Davies, afterwards presi- dent of Princeton College caught its inspiration. Another fact of deep interest was the visit of Whitefield to Am- well. He was undoubtedly the greatest preacher since the Reformation. Mr. Webster and Dr. Mott have placed this visit of Whitefield to the Amwell Church in 1739. Long ago I became convinced there was an error as to this date, believing the time to have been in 1740, I wrote to Rev. Mr. Dulles, librarian of the Theological Seminary Library at Princeton, asking him to investigate the matter. He answered that I was correct, since a volume in the library made Whitefield's visit to Amwell in 1740. I was not satisfied to make the correction on this tes- timony alone. Hence, when I was in Philadelphia re- cently, searching for material for this history, I looked up the matter of Whitefield's visit. In the memoirs of the Life of Whitefield, compiled by Rev. John Gillies, D. D., and published in 1772, I found extracts from Whitefield's journal, written by William Seward, White- field's companion in travel. In a continuous extract from that journal we have: April 13, 1740. Mr. Tennent informed us of the great success which had attended on brother Whitefield's preaching when last here. April 14. Mr. Jones, a Baptist minister, told us of two other ministers who were affected with our brother White- field's spirit, viz., Mr. Treat and Mr. Morgan. April 18. This day was published our brother White- THE COLONIAL PERIOD 67 Id's letter to the inhabitants of Md., Va. and N. and Carolina about their abuse of the poor negroes. April 22nd. Agreed with Mr. Allen for 5,000 acres land at the Forks of the Delaware for 2,20o£ Sterling ; E conveyance to be made to Mr. Whitefield, and after at assigned to me, as security for my advancing the jney. Mr. Whitefield proposes to give orders for build- g the negro school on the purchased land before he ives the province. April 24th. We came to Mr. Wigner's plantation in ippack, where many Dutch people are settled, and where e famous Mr. Spalenburg, (Spangenburg) resided late- It was surprising to see such a multitude of people thered in such a wilderness country, thirty miles distant )m Philadelphia ( !) Our brother was singularly carried t in his sermon to press poor sinners to come to Christ faith, and claim all their privileges, viz, not only jhteousness and peace, but joy in the Holy Ghost. Af- r he had done, our dear friend, Peter Boehler preached Dutch, to those who could not understand our brother English. Before our brother left Philadelphia he was sired to visit one who was under a deep sense of sin, )m having heard him preach. And in praying with this rson, he was carried beyond himself, so that the whole mpany who were about twenty, seemed to be filled with ; Holy Ghost, and magnified the God of heaven. "April 25th. We rose at three o'clock and though our ather Whitefield was very weak in body, yet the Lord abled him to ride near fifty (50) miles and to preach about five thousand (5,000) people at Amwell, with ; same oower as usual. Mr. Gilbert Tennent. Mr. 68 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Rowland, Mr. Wales, and Mr. Campbell, four godly ministers, met us here. These brethren are said to have given the people three sermons before the arrival of Mr. Whitefield. Saturday, April 26, we came to New Bruns- wick, and preached there and on Sabbath to seven thou- sand people. New Jersey Archives XII, page 26, corrob- orates this date. The statement of 5,000 at Amwell April 25, 1740, looks almost like an impossibility. Know- ing how people are prone to overestimate numbers at any gathering, I so regarded it when I first saw it. But the evidences convince me it may be received as accurate. Let us remember the intense religious feeling now awakened, and the marvellous oratorical powers of the preacher, Ben- jamin Franklin went to hear him in a cold calculating way to find out the secret of his power, but soon found himself a captive. His statement is that so loud and clear was Whitefield's voice and so distinct his articulation that he estimated he could be heard by 30,000 people. He was less than a month in Philadelphia and yet so great was the change wrought that there was religious service held every day for a year after, and three times on Sabbath. Twenty-six associations for prayer were formed. The judges at Chester hearing he was to preach in their town, sent him word they would adjourn the court until after the sermon. A platform was erected and he preached to seven thousand. At Wilmington he preached twice to five thousand. At Philadelphia ten thousand assembled on Society Hill to hear his last sermon. On Sabbath at White Clay Creek to eight thousand. When he left Phil- adelphia, a thousand people accompanied him on horseback out of the city. But where did the five thousand come THE COLONIAL PERIOD 69 IS known to walk fifty miles to attend communion at ■osswicks in the days of David Brainard. When White- Id arose at three o'clock in the morning so weak as to ed help to mount his horse, and rode from Philadelphia Amw^ell to preach, could not the people go an equal stance. The reputation of the man, his matchless ora- ry, and the intense interest of the people make it possi- 5. To-day people interested, will go from twenty to rty miles to attend a State Fair, to see some machinery, ne fancy work, some fine horses, cattle or sheep, because 'erested. Those were the days, when a man was thought be better than a sheep, and an interest in the Kingdom more moment than the success of a party, and a man's al of more value than earthly goods. So I believe it, 'ive thousand at Amwell to hear Whitefield." And as ; are to-day working and preserving and honoring every use where Washington may have stopped for a night or few days at most, so may we count it an honor, and erish the fact with much pleasure that April 25th, 1740, Tiitefield, the prince of preachers, honored our church th his presence and his labors, and drew together this St audience of five thousand people to hear him. Of urse the sermon was delivered by the Church, not in it. After Mr. Rowland left Amwell, the Church continued be served by supplies. August 2nd, 1742, a call was jsented to Presbytery for the services of a Mr. McCrea, apposed to be Rev. James McCrea, licensed by Presby- y November 5th, 1739, and ordained August 4th, 41). The answer of Presbytery was that Mr. McCrea jply Amwell as formerly. He continued with the lurch, as supply until May 28th, 1745. May 26th, 70 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Bethlehem one-quarter of his time, Amwell one-half his time, and the remaining quarter at Hopewell and Maiden- head. May 19th, 1747, Amwell petitioned for three- fourths of Mr. Davenport's time, which was granted. This arrangement soon ceased. Mr. Davenport sup- plied Amwell only occasionally after that, in 1747, and in 1 748. In October, as already stated, the Rev. Charles Beatty was appointed to supply Amwell one-fourth of his time, and Mr. James Campbell three Sabbaths before our next. Mr. Beatty, you remember, married Ann, daugh- ter of Governor Reading. He and Mr. Campbell, Mr. Allen and Mr. Chestnut were among the supplies. Mr. Campbell was the principal supply until June 12th, 1750, when he declined a call to Amwell, previously received, and accepted one to New Providence and Charlestovm. It will be a surprise to many, I am sure, to be informed that May 1st, 1749, this Church held a Lottery. This was a common practice at that day among the churches and colleges when they wished to raise money. The Col- lege of New Jersey did this, (See New Jersey Archives, Vol. XII, First Series), which also gives an account of the Amwell Lottery, as here presented, and of many others. The Legislature, however, passed an act at that very time, making them unlawful. SCHEME Of The Amwell in New- Jersey LOTTERY, For raising Six Hundred and Thirty Pounds, for the finishing the Presbyterian Meeting-House, and buying a THE COLONIAL PERIOD 71 Number of Prizes. Value of Each. Total Value. 2 of £100 are £200 3 of 50 are 150 8 of 30 are 240 12 of 15 are 180 25 of 10 are 250 40 of 5 are 200 150 of 3 are 450 200 of 2 are 400 990 of £ I . los. First drawn are 1 1485 Prizes 1430 5 Blanks 4170 Last drawn From which 10 5600 3570 Tickets at 15s. each, is £4200 deduct I5£ per 630 Cent. is £4200 The Drawing to commence on or before the First Day of November next, at the Meeting-House abovesaid, if filled by that Time, under the Care and Management of Martin Ryerson, Esq. ; and Messrs. Peter Prall, Mich- ael Henry, and Emanuel Coryel, who are to dispose of the Tickets, and to be under Oath for the faithful Man- agement of the same. The Fortunate are to receive their Prizes entire; the 15 per Cent, being deducted from the whole Sum produced by the Sale of the Tickets be- fore the Drawing begins, and not from the Prizes after they are Drawn: Fourteen Days Notice at least to be given before the Day of Drawing; the Prizes are to be 72 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH printed in this Paper, when the Drawing is concluded. — The Pennsylvania Journal, September i, 1748. The Managers of ,the Amwell Lottery, hereby give Notice, that they intend to put the Numbers in the Boxes, the latter End of April next, so as to begin the Drawing thereof on Monday the first Day of May, when they will certainly proceed therein without any further Delay or postponing; Mean while there remains some Tickets in the Hands of the Managers to be sold as usual. — ^The N. y. Gazette Revived in the Weekly post Boy, Feb. 27, 1749. See N. J. Archives, First Series, Vol. XH, page 483. THE FIRST PASTOR, REV. ELIAB BYRAM. 1751—1754- The time came at length, however, for relief from the unsatisfactory system of supplies. The first settled pastor of the Church, was the Rev. Eliab Byram. Mr. Byram was born at Bridgewater, Mass., and graduated at Har- vard College in 1740. His ancestor Nicholas Byram, set- tled in Brid,gewater in 1660. He became pastor of Roc- siticus, now Mendam, New Jersey, in October, 1743. Rocsiticus was placed under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick in 1738, but at its own request was restored to the Presbytery of New York, the next year, Mr. Byram was present at the formation of the Synod of New York in 1745. The celebrated David Brainard had Mr. Byram for his companion in his first journey to the Susquehanna in 1746- Brainard speaks of him with much affection. Mr. Byram afterward labored in 1 746, and 1 747, in Augusta Co., Va.j and his labors there were greatly blessed. The THE COLOlSilAL PERIOD 73 awakening resulting therefrom, lasted until 1751 (Web- ster). Frilling Spring and Providence called him in ,1747, having had experience of his faithfulness and ability, but he declined to settle in Virginia. His very success in Vir- ginia, brought him into trouble, for there was a very bit- ter feeling excited against him by "The Old Side," wrhich stirred up the government of Virginia against the reviv- alist.* Mr. Byram had Mr. Deane, pf Brandywine Manor, Pa., and a graduate of the Log CQllege, with him, in these missionary labors in Virginia. Mr. Byram joined the Presbytery of New Brunswick May 22nd, 1751. He became at this time a supply for Aia- well. He was called to the pastorate of this Church June 25th. He was duly installed as pastor of Amwell First Church, August 14th, 1751. He married "Phebe, daughter of Ephraim Leonard, of Raynham, of an ancient and honorable family," the his- torian says. So there was a good beginning in the first pastorate of this Church in this, that the pastor's wife was as is becoming, of an "honorable family." And we must not overlook, what it is very pleasant to record, that the first pastor of this church, was so imbued with the mis- sionary spirit, that he was an acceptable companion to the Sainted Brainard, the great missionary to the Indians, and that he himself gave a part of his early years to other missionary labors. In the Amwell Valley, after he settled here, he cherished the same spirit, for we learn that here Mr. Byram's labors were so successful that in 1754, the year of his death the Presbytery was petitioned by the *Pr. Mott. 74 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH people bordering on the Delaware," to give them the privilege of building a meeting house for their own con- venience. This was granted, and a separate congregation was formed, and a Church built at Mount Airy, which was called the Second Amwell Church. These two Am- well Churches continued as united charge, served by the same pastor down to 1818, (Dr. Mott). The petition presented to Presbytery for the organization of a church at Mt. Airy was presented "by the people bordering on the Delaware." This gives the western boundary of the charge as at first constituted, and continued until the church at Lambertville was organized. On the east there was no church until you come to Reading Town, as it was then called. Many of the strong families on the north came from Flemington and miles beyond, as the nearest churches in that direction were those of Bethlehem and Kingwood as now named. The only churches within these boundaries was the Episcopal Church at Ringoes, and the Dutch Calvinistic Church at Larison's Corner, organized in 1749. To the northwest was the German Baptist Church at headquarters organized in 1732 (Con- verse) . Upon this territory constituting the pastoral charge of Mr. Byram, when he was installed, and from all parts of which he had members in attendance, there are now seven Presbyterian Churches, two Reformed Churches, and many Methodist and Baptist Churches. The Presbyterian Churches arc 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 1 747. THE COLONIAL PERIOD 7s 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- 76 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. I753-" 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 accoimted 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 lo John Reading lo oo John Reading 3 c»o Jacob Gray 5 00 Jacob Gray i 10 Daniel Reading i Jacob Mattison 6 00 Jacob lyiattison 2 00 Martin Ryerson 2 00 THE COLONIAL PERIOD 77 Daniel Griggs 7 oo David Bartron 3 66 John Smith i 00 George Reading 5 00 Eliz Harney 15 James Stout 6 lO Richard Philips 5 00 John Anderson 8 cxi William Anderson 5 00 Samuel Carman 2 00 Samuel Furman i 00 Thomas Hunt 4 00 Jonathan Hill 5 00 Samuel Fleming 6 00 Michael Henry 5 00 Richard Reading 15 Samuel Hill 5 OO Derrick Sutphin 5 00 Derrick Sutphin i 16 John Frances 7-6 John Cox I 06 William Davison i O^ John Wood 15 Henry Dildine I OO Nathaniel Bogart 15 Abraham Larew 5 OO On the South Side : Peter Prall 10 06 Benjamin Johnson 5 00 Benjamin Johnson i 00 Peter Prall, Jr. i lO 78 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Abraham Prall 2 05 Garret Schenck 5 00 Garret Schenck i iS Garret Schenck 05 William Schenck i 05 William Schenck 10 Daniel Larew 10 Thomas Harding i 00 Jacobus Johnson 6 00 Gerardus Lequier 2 00 Samuel Kompton 15 John Corwin i 10 Joseph Corwin i 10 Simeon Kinney 2 00 Peter Lott 10 Ester Corwin 05 James Stout 6 10 Jacob Sutphen i 05 Alexander McElheny 15 Eliab Byram 10 00 Joseph Reading 15 Jonathan Stout i 10 Benjamin Howell i 00 Stephen Gano 15 Tunis Quick 15 Thomas Lake 10 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 mav not here be olaced accurately. But the distinction THE COLONIAL PERIOD 79 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. I755--I765- The second pastor of Amwell First, was Benjamin Hait, or Hoit as his name is pronounced, and sometimes 8b AMWEEL FIRST CHURCH spdled. Webster says Mr. Hait was probably a riative of Norwalk, Cortnecticut. He graduated at Nassau H^U in 1754. While a studfent he went, in company with DaVies, aftferward 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 oil Original sin, and the influence of the flesh upon the spirit to incline it to sin."* Mr. Hait was taken on trials by the PresbyteJry' of New Brurtswicki as soOn as he had received his diploma September 27th, 1754. He was licensed October 25th aiid 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 preisenfed a Call to him November nth, 1755, which he accepted. He was drdained 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. Halt'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 Berij. 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- *Web's(ter. •Records Presby. THE COLONIAL PERIOD gi 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. ; j . U, , j "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 i8th, 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 bis affairs will permit, and spend four months among the people there.* From this appointment we see that the *Records of Synod. s 82 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, 1 766-1 769. 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- THE COLONIAL PERIOD 83 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- 84 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 nth, 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 2 1st, 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 THE COLONIAL PERIOD 85 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 nth, 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 1 76 1 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 settUng a pastor by purchasing a parsonage. In 1 763 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- 86 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 1 765 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 fmn 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 THE COLONIAL PERIOD 87 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 1 769, 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 Am\vell on the 8th of September, 1769, not yet forty-three years of age. His body was buried iri 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, 88 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 fek. 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, THE COLONIAL PERIOD 89 Abraham Le Rue; May 20th, 1768, Jacob Ruder; Octo- ber i8th, 1768, Peter Wilson; November i6th, 1768, William Norcross; April i8th, 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, i 776-1820. PERIOD II. THE FOURTH PASTOR WAS REV. JOHN WARFORD, I776-1787. 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 1 75 1 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, 1 77 1, 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, 94 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 1 77 1. 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 INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 95 congregation at this tipie, 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. There were many, doubtless, like the Mattisons, an- cestors of Mrs. Elizabeth Bonnell, widow of Vice-Chan- cellor Van Fleet, who when I chanced to ask her what of- ficial positions these ancestors of hers had filled, said, "Oh, they just fought and bled for their country.'' As we look back to-day and recall their devoted fidelity under trials hard to be bom we count this honor enough surely. However we are especially concerned with the Church itself, and her record. We can well conceive that the struggle for national freedom, imposed burdens numerous and heavy to be born, upon the Church in her own sphere of action, but without definite facts before us, this concep- tion will come far short of the actual condition. Bear in mind that Mr. Warford had been installed the same month in which the Declaration of Independence had been made. From that time onward the whole country was in- tensely occupied with national affairs. He was only the fourth pastor installed over this church and but twenty- eight years from the installation of the first one. The seven years immediately preceding this installation — the 96 AMwelL first church Church had been without a pastor, in which condition a church is uniformly losing more or less of its vital force. Two of these former pastors had died on the field, after a period of only three years service each. This undoubtedly indicates great hardships and exposures connected with the service. These hardships often befel the membership as truly as the pastor. These difficulties were greatly augmented by the state of the finances of the colonies, diminishing as this did the resources of the Church. Added to this, the Church was never fully finished and consequently although the Church building had been on its foundation only thirty-seven years, it was already needing repairs. The Rev. Mr. Warford was called on a salary of £iOO per annum from the two Amwell Churches, £50 to be paid in semi-annual payments. The congregation had from the first provided a parson- age for their pastor. We learned this, as you will recall from the object stated in ordering a lottery to be held in 1749. This occurred before there was a pastor on the ground. Again in our oldest subscription paper that of 1753, there is a vigorous e£Eort made to supply this need. When the parsonage was secured, there was connected with it, a piece of land which they always speak of as a plantation. When the pastor Rev. William Kirkpatrick died in 1769, his widow Margaret Kirkpatrick, with her two children, was allowed to remain in the parsonage free of rent, so long as not needed by a successor to Mr. Kirkpatrick. This was indeed becoming and generous treatment. The generosity, however, received a spot on the feast INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 97 of charity. At the annual meeting of the congregation April 22nd, 1773, it was mentioned that leave had been given Mrs. Kirkpatrick in April, 1770, to occupy the par- sonage free of rent until the congregation should settle another minister. At the meeting now held, considering their former action, they think the minute before made was not fully expressive of the true intent of the vote then taken. That intent was, that Mrs. Kirkpatrick might have leave to occupy the parsonage for one year free of rent, unless a minister should be called, and it is the sense of this meeting that Mrs. Kirkpatrick ought to pay a rea- sonable rent to the said congregation since April, 1771, and that Mr. Mattison serve Mrs. Kirkpatrick with this minute. Mr. Mattison reported that he had agreed with Mrs. Kirkpatrick, "that as she has put up two hundred rails within two years, if she buys and puts up five hundred more rails this year, it shall be in full for the rent of two years last past." Also agreed by Mrs. Kirkpatrick to give ten pounds paper money for ye year, and to have ye privi- lege of sowing ye field over ye brook with winter grain. But amid the present stringency and impending hardships there occurred a charming piece of romance connected with Mr. Warford and the inmates of the parsonage. When Rev. John Warford came to Amwell fresh from his studies at Princeton, unlike most young clergymen of more recent times, he seems tq have been free from all en- tangling alliances. Once on the field, he took in the situ- ation. It was not in his heart to displace Mrs. Kirkpatrick and her children, by bringing a wife to the parsonage. He did the vastly better thing. He went to the parsonatic 7 98 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH for a wife. So in due time, he and Margaret, the widow of the Rev. William Kirkpatrick were united in holy wed- lock. I am sure a new joy came into that parsonage from that union, the exact date of which I have not been able to discover. We may be equally sure, that notwithstanding the stringency of the times, and the impending hardships and privations awaiting the pastor, he found unfailing help and encouragement in this wife whose wise management and resourcefulness, have already been manifest. And for the impending hardships, they had not long to wait. As previously stated the minute book of the trustee and congregation is no longer in existence, but from 1779 we have some unengrossed minutes of congregational action, also several lists of pewholders and other subscription pa- pers. In such a minute dated Jan. 21st, 1779, we have the record of the following action : "Whereas the Prices of Country produce are much risen to what they were when the Rev. Mr. Warford settled in Amwell, when his con- gregations agreed to pay him a salary of one hundred pounds per annum, to which we respectively subscribed or engaged to pay. We who had subscribed or taken seats in order to pay the salary, now engage to make up our re- spective engagements in produce, at the price they respec- tively bore when we made such engagements. Or to pay as much money as will purchase such, or so much produce. And this to commence from October last past. Witness our hands the 21st January, 1779. Jasper Smith. The prices prevailing in 1776 are then annexed — Wheat 7/, which means 7 shillings; Rye 3/9, is three shillings INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 99 nine pence; Oats at 2/, Corn 3/6, Buckwheat 2/, Hay 6/ per ton, best sort. Of course this was the coinage of the Mother country. It will be of interest to see the names of the persons making this agreement. They are as fol- lows: Arthur Gray, Samuel Carman, David Jones, Samuel Furman, David Bishop, Garret Schenck, Abm. Devemer, James Stout, Captain Peter Phillips, Cornelius Stout Major, Samuel Hill, John Phillips, Thomas Reading Ma- jor, David Bartron, Charles Reading Captain, John Read- ing Captain, son of David; Wm. Abbit, Tunis Quick, Wm. Schenck, Abrm. Williamson, Peter Prall, Thomas Lowney, Isaac Hill, James Stout, Jacob Mattison, Jas. Hankinson, Jr., John Hankinson, Thomas Wilson, Jona- than Pidcock, Jacob Bowman, Walter Wilson, Thomas Burrows, Abraham Hagaman, Thomas Hankinson, Dan- iel Wilson and surely Jasper Smith who drew up the pa- per to which he signs his name as here given, considered himself a signer to its obligation. From this date down to the forming of the Church at Flemington, he was the most active man in the Church. A sketch of his life is given by Dr. Mott in his history of the Church at Flemington. It may only be stated here that he was a lawyer and to his care as a lawyer, we owe the preservation of these subscription papers to which we are indebted for the valu- able information they furnish of this interesting period of the Church's history. On the same day January 21st, 1779, on which the above action was taken, we find an- other paper was circulated on which generous subscrip- tions were made. Although the purpose of this act was not then accomplished, we quote a few of its statements. 100 AM WELL FIRST CHURCH The paper opens as follows : Whereas a good parsonage is of great consequence towards supporting the Gospel and the place in Amwell wherein the Rev. Mr. Warford lives, being small, and but little wood on it, and not capable of much improvement, it is judged best by many to sell it, and purchase a plantation if to be had, that may be suitable and convenient. The persons named to receive the money and make the purchase were — David Chambers, Nathan- iel Hunt, Jonathan Pidcock, David Jones, Tunis Quick, Jr., David Bishop, Cornelius Stout and Jasper Smith. From the first subscription paper after this meeting of January 21st, 1779, we learn that that meeting was a joint one of the two Amwell Churches, as undoubtedly the above names represent both Churches. Although the sub- scriptions as far as made were most generous, there were only eight subscribing, and this movement to sell the old parsonage was abandoned, but not the main movement to secure better accommodations for the pastor. We are especially interested in this paper, because it as- serts that Mr. Warford was living in the parsonage Janu- ary 2 1st, 1779. This gives us a strong probability that the marriage between Mr. Warford and Mrs. Kirkpatrick had taken place previous to that date. May loth, 1779, another subscription paper was circu- lated in the interests of the parsonage. I shall venture to quote this paper also in part, because it seems to me that the tenacity with which the members of old Amwell ad- hered to their purpose, is truly refreshing. This paper reads — "Whereas the parsonage in possession of the Rev. Mr. Warford in Amwell is small, the committee of the two congregations * * * have hired a plantation ad- INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1 820 loi joining the parsonage to be used with it, in order the bet- ter to support the minister. They agree to pay one hun- dred and fifty pounds rent for the year, a part of which plantation is since rented out (so as to ease the congrega- tion) at fifty pounds, leaving fifty pounds a year for each congregation to raise by subscription. And as these con- gregations have heretofore been noted for their zeal in supporting the Gospel, and the hiring of this place, being absolutely necessary for that purpose, the Committee have the highest confidence of the approbation of the congrega- tions in their proceedings. * * * And any overplus money, is to be laid out in repairing the parsonage or the Meeting Houses as the committee may think best. The persons appointed to receive the subscriptions, were Jas- per Smith, Cornelius Stout, Tunis Quick and David Bishop. There were two of these papers circulated (in Amwell First as it appears). There vi^ere twenty-one sub- scribers on this paper, and the amount subscribed was six- ty-three pounds two shillings and six pence. I shall not give the names, because they all and many others appear on the first paper next circulated, for the salary. That is, the First Church secured on their subscription circulated for the first time to raise funds for renting a plantation, thirteen pounds, two shillings and six pence more then the £50 required for the purpose. We must now go back a month and give an account of the new methods of paying the salary, each Church paid £50 per annum in two equal payments, April and October. April 23rd, 1779, atten- tion was called to the fact that the salary was due for six months past and collectors sent out. On this first paper there are sixty-two subscribers, with I02 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the amounts each had been accustomed to pay in the cur- rency of the Mother Country, but which they had agreed to pay either in that currency or in produce at the price prevailing before the war, or in full value in continental currency. April 23rd, 1779, the collectors were notified that the half year's salary settled on the pews at the rate of £50 for the year, was now due, and they were urged to collect the same as soon as possible. It is also stated that there had been an addition made at the rate of nine pence in the pound, to each subscriber, to meet the deficiency arising from a number of vacant pews. We add the full list of these subscribers or pew holders, their amounts and in what each paid, whether money or produce : £ s d John Reading ... o 10 4 Joseph Hankinson 010 4 David Bartron .. o 14 9 Thomas Reading 052 Isaac Hill o 9 7 John Reading. ..097 ! Jasper Smith.... o 14 5 Received £9.18.9 in cash. That is in colonial cur- rency. — John Warford. Promised wheat after har- vest. Delivered 2j^ bushels of corn at Griggs' mill. The overplus to be on next collection. Delivered 15 lbs. of flax to Mr. Warford. Promised wheat after har- vest. Not legible. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 103 Samuel Hill . o 8 10 Richard Phillips, o 8 lo Rulif Schenck. Henry Bailie. . .. Thomas Lowrey. Mary Carman. . Cornelius Stout.. Thomas Stout . . . Hannah Clark. . James Clark. . . . James Stout. . . . Samuel Furman . James Stout, Jr.. Jos. Moorehead. . 080 C. Reading, Capt. o 10 4 052 I o 8 o 8 10 o 8 10 045 045 045 096 096 096 079 Delivered ij4 bushels of wheat at James Stouts' mill for Mr. Warford. Received 4 5 dollars towards this and next half year's salary. — John Warford. Promised i bushel and 4 quarts wheat after har- vest. To deliver ij4 bushels of wheat at Jno. Griggs' mill. To work to this amount at the old price. Received 53 dollars in cash. — John Warford. Delivered 4 bushels of oats to Mr. Warford. Promised to deliver i}i bushels of wheat at Jno. Stout's mill. Promised wheat. Delivered i J4 bushels wheat at Stout's mill. Promised wheat. 104 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Arthur Gray. . .. u 3 Promised to deliver lyi bushels of wheat or a little more at Griggs' mill. Joseph Mattison. o 5 8 Received of Jos. Mattison £5.8 in cash, and id, Mr. Warford the same July. Moses Estey, Jr. o 5 8 27 dollars yd for this and next half year's salary, and Estey moved avs?ay. John Henry. . . . o II 3 Promised w^heat. Joachim Griggs. o lO 5 To deliver ij^ bushels of wrheat at James Stout's mill. Samuel Griggs . . o 10 4 To deliver 2 bushels rye at James Stout's mill, to be 7-6, 2-10 to be paid next collection. James Furman . . o 5 2 Delivered to Mr. War- ford 3 bushels of oats. Isaac Gray o H 3 1 Promised to deliver at Griggs' mill 2 bushels of vi^heat. Jacob Mattison . . o 9 6 Delivered to Mr. War- ford I bushel of wheat and one of rye. Rich. Hankinson. o 3 II Paid Mr. Warword £3. 15 in cash. John Haviland . . o 7 9 Promised a pair of shoes. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 105 The following names belong to members South of the Neshanic, as those already given are on the north side or in the Flemington district. This distinction runs through the subscription papers although there may be individual exceptions. The old subscriptions are here giv- en, but how they paid is not stated : £ s d Lewis Chamberlin o 8 O John Schenck, Capt o 8 O Stout Sutphin o 4 o George Hyde o 11 o David Bishop o 9 7 William Schenck o 9 7 Cobus Johnson's widow o 9 7 Sarah Williamson o 410 John Sutphin o 8 o George Prall o 8 o John Williamson o 4 o Tunis Quick o 11 o Abraham Prall on 3 John Prall o 5 8 Benjamin Prall o 5 8 Jared Sexton o 5 8 Douck Sutphen o 5 8 Peter Prall o 10 5 Abraham Williamson 010 5 Jacob Sutphin o 8 8 Derick Sutphen o 5 8 Guisbert Gulick o 8 8 Garret Schenck o 7 9 Isaac Prall 088 io6 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Jacob Kershaw o 3 ii Benjamin Johnson o lO 5 The subscription paper for the next half year for the Flemington district has not been found. Only a few items need be given for the same period from the paper circulated in the district south of the Neshanic. The sub- scribers and their amounts remain the same as before given excepting that for Guisbert Gulick, we have his estate. And in the payment by Isaac Prall, whose subscription was 8 shilling, 8 pence, we have the Cr. received £17.7.6, rate 2j/4 bushels of wheat at 20 dollars continental. In the collection for October 23rd, 1779, to April 1780, in the Flemington district, we see evidence of the burden of the church from the greater depreciation of the currency. In this paper we have collections for salary in arrears, and also the current dues together with an in- crease of two shillings to the pound, assessed on those who hold pews, to make up for the increased number of vacant pews. Our list of subscribers remains substantially the same, as it was a year before. We only select a few of the name, in order to bring out more clearly the state of things existing. John Reading 1 1 shillings, and arrearage for a year preceding £1.0.8. Received in cash 380 dol- lars in full. Joseph Hankinson 11 shillings, and arrearage for six months, 10 shillings, 4 pence. Received in cash 256 dol- lars in full. That is, in the colonial currency they paid twelve (12) dollars to the shilling of hard money as they termed the English coinage. Thomas Reading 5/6, re- ceived sixty-six dollars in full. Jasper Smith 10-2, deliv- INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1 820 107 cred Mr. Warford two quires of paper at three shillings per quire and eighty-six dollars cash in full. Isaac Hill 9/4, received flax on last collection overpay to 8/7, 9 pence now due. Richard Phillips 9/4, received 7 lbs. of flax badly cleaned, and 5j^ lbs. well cleaned. Thomas Lowrey, subscription £1.2, received in specie £1.2.6. Joseph Moorhead 8-3, arrearages for a year preceding 15-6, received weaving 34 2-3 ells at eight pence per ell, £1.3.2. John Haviland 8-3 credit, 1-9 before paid, and a pair of shoes 8 shillings. Dr. Jacob Kirkpatrick in his reminiscences of fifty years, being at one time pastor of this Church, tells also of a pair of shoes extra finish, for Mrs. Warford, but that record is no longer to be found. In the subscription paper for salary for April to October, 1 780, only the following need be mentioned, Joseph Han- kinson, salary 11 shillings, paid by giving 132 dollars; Jasper Smith salary is 10-2, pays by sending Mr. War- ford 15 lbs. of veal at 2J/2 pence per lb., making 3 shillings iy2 pence and 80 dollars in continental currency. Sam- uel Hills' salary 9-4, Mr. Warford receipts for pasturing two heifers. On the salary list from October, 1781, to April, 1782, we have a new subscriber, William Searles, 4-2. In the list from October, 1782, to April, 1783, we have in place of John Henry, John Henry's estate £1.11.3, showing the death of Mr. Henry, and as was the case with many sub scribers, that his previous salary had not been paid. Also the collector chosen for this period was Isaac Hill, who was charged to collect in hard money only. In the direc- tion on the previous list the collector, Thomas Reading, io8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH was informed that Mr. Warford was in great want of money. In the list from October, 1783, to April, 1784, Joseph Mattison is credited with 15 shillings for a wheel- barrow, as part payment of his salary of which there was the sum of £2.14.8 in arrears. Also in this paper the statement that James Furman had moved to Reading Town, and that William Searles had moved to Lebanon (twp.). In the list for October, 1784, to April, 178.5, in addition to the usual heading, we have the statement that at a meeting of the congregation held April 29th, 1782, it was ordered that to make up the de- ficiency arising from the vacant seats, and all deficiency since October, 1778, the Church should levy a sufficient amount on the seats occupied which would occasion an ad- dition of 6-8 in the pound. This heavy increase showed again the earnest purpose of the church members to sustain the Church. It is the more noteworthy, because the action was taken in the face of many, and large amounts in arrears. This, too, among leading families. Such members as the Readings, Griggs, Hills, Stouts and even Thomas Lowrey who paid the largest salary at this period, and always in specie, are at times in arrears. This arrearage, in some cases, was as high as four and five pounds, but it was eventually paid.* But we can well understand that in doing so there were cases in which the burden seemed very heavy, because of the depreciated con- *Of several of these in arrears, it should be said the heads of families had been many years in the army. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1 820 109 dition of the currency. We may be pardoned for illus- trating this state of the currency by an example from civic afEairs. Snell's History of Hunterdon Co., informs us that Am- well township before the war paid £100 for keeping the poor, and at a later period so great was the depreciation that it required £6000 to pay for the same service. In the illustrations we have given, our statements have been taken from old manuscripts, with subscribers names, amounts and how and in what it was paid, just as re- corded. Besides articles mentioned, we find almost every pro- duct of the farm used to pay the pastor's salary, such as hay, buckwheat, oats and apples. At length the congregation grew weary of this method of paying the pastor's salary, and doubtless he did too. It was more satisfactory to both to do it, even with the depreciated currency of the colony, when it could not be done in the specie of the Mother country. Amid these struggles for existence, it was very grateful to the Churches of Amwell, to be aided, as they were by a legacy, even though the amount received was not large. This legacy was bequeathed to the Amwell Churches in 1774. The record reads Samuel Turken, Esq., Executor of Joseph Reed, deceased, late of Amwell, Dr. to the Churches of Amwell. To a legacy bequeathed said Churches by Jo- seph Reed, and kept in the hands of S. Turken £50.00.0 no AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Interest on the same from July, 1775, being one year after the death of the testator to July, 1790 52.10.0 £102.10.0 Deduct four years' interest, from July, 1777, to July, 1 78 1, on account of the war, and depreciated state of the money 1 4.00.0 £88.10.0 Credits: — Received interest by Rev. Mr. Warford, minister of the Churches: In favor of the First Church. . . . £10.16.7 In favor of the Second Church. . 10.16.7 21. 13.2 Bal. due £66.16.10 At a meeting of the members of the corporation of the first English Presbyterian Church in Amwrell, it w^as agreed that if the above amount as stated, should be paid vifithout difficulty, they v\?ould agree to remit four's in- terest for the reason as above, by order. Jasper Smith, President of the Corporation of First Church. I I shall copy another of these papers, because I believe it wfill be of real interest to the members and descendants of the Church. You will recall the fact that the old Church, used by the congregation as the place of worship at the time of which we are writing, stood in the cemetery INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 111 where sleep the dead of many generations. It was on the north side of the old York road, and unlike modern custom was placed lengthwise to the road. The entrance was in the side facing the road, and the pulpit in the centre on the north side. There was a large space in the centre aisle to which was carried a large caldron filled with live coals. These were obtained from burning logs outside the Church. This was the only means of heating the Church in the early days of its history. There was neither fire- place nor chimney. The fumes rising from these hot coals often caused persons sitting in the gallery to faint. These facts I have from Peter Young in the ninetieth year of his age, whom I visited at the suggestion of Miss Kuhl of Brazil. She is a descendant of the Church. Mr. Young had lived when a boy, with his maternal grand- father, Peter Gano, near Greenville, as Reaville was then called. This description will make intelligible the paper referred to. This paper contains a list of the pews, and the persons occupying them at the time, the paper being dated 1785. Remembering the location of the pulpit, and the open central space, we can see these ancestor, as they were seated for worship. On the east of the pulpit north side of the Church : No. I — ^John Reading 2, Lesla Bartran i, Thomas Reading Esq. 2. No. 2 — Jasper Smith Esq. 2, John R. Reading i, Dan- iel Reading i. No. 3 — Samuel Hill 2, Isaac Hill 2, Richard Hill i, Henry Kennady 2. No. 4 — Lewis Chamberlin 2, John Schenck 2, Rulofi Schenck 2. 112 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH No. 5— West of pulpit, north side : No. 1 — Captain Charles Reading 2, Henry Chapers 2, Titus Quick i. No. 2 — ^William Schenck 3, Dr. Gersham Craven i, John Runyan i. No. 3 — Mary Carmen 2, Cornelius Stout 2, Widow of John Stout, Jr., i. No. 4 — Jacob Williamson 2, Amos Haseland 2. No. 5— Southwest : No. I — ^Abram Prall 2, Derick Sutphin i, James An- derson I. No. 2 — Peter Prall 2, Abrm. Williamson 2, Tunis Quick 2. No. 3 — Samuel Furman 2, Widow Stout i, Garret Schenck 2. No. 4 — Jacob Sutphin 2, Ruloff Sutphin i, Samuel Williamson 2. No. 5— Southeast : No. I — Arthur Gray 2, John Findly i, George Clark i. No. 2 — ^Joachim Griggs 2, Samuel Griggs 2, Peter Clover 2. No. 3 — Jacob Mattison 2, David Bishop 2, Isaac Prall 2. No. 4 — John Williamson i, Zenos Lanning 2. No. 5 — John Hankinson i, Edward Cooper i. Following close upon these repeated struggles for main- taining the Church, there came to the parsonage and to congregation also, a day of great sadness. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 17^6-1 §20 itj August 7th, 1786, Hannah, daughter of Rev* Willianl dnd Margaret Kirkpatrick died in the nineteenth year of her age. She is described as a charming young woman, being possessed of great natural ability, personal beauty and most winning manners. Her funeral was attended by almost as large a number of people as gathered at the bur- ial of her distinguished father. Her grave is covered with a horizontal slab, similar to that over her father's grave, and the inscription narrating her life and character, occu- pies, as does that of her father, a large part of this me- morial slab, and bears evidence of having been written by the same person, who wrote that to his memory.* These graves deserve from this Church sacred regard, and should ever be cared for with the same affectionate in- terest that children would give to the grave of a parent. And I wish to add the same care is due to those of Rev. and Mrs. Byram, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Hull, and that of the benefactor of the Church, Mr. Joseph Reed. And although the resting place of Gov. Reading has been looked after by descendants, there are other members of that distinguished family, and the same is true of many other graves marking the resting place of those who were interested and faithful members of this Church, who have no living kindred near at hand to do this service. I think it would be an honor to the living to recognize the claim and give that care that will keep in respectful condition the graves of those who preceded us in this Church, and *For many of these facts concerning Rev. William Kirkpatrick excepting the memorial slab, I am indebted to Dr. John Hall's "Early Settlers near Trenton." 114 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH who gave liberal and faithful service to keep in prosperous condition the Church, for those who should follow them, in the membership of this Church. We have inherited it from them. Let us honor their memory by caring for their graves. Of the son, William Kirkpatrick, born November 7th, 1769, we learn from the catalogue of Princeton College that he graduated from that college in 1788. He studied medicine afterward with the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia. But he was of so sensitive a nature as to be unfitted for the practice of his profession. It is said that he was eminently literary in his tastes and pursuits. He was of a joyous and pleasant temperament, dignified, easy and graceful in manner. I am describing, you will no- tice, an cultured Aniwell boy and young man of the olden time. It is thus we have him in the traditions pre- served by Dr. Hall, of Trenton. But the time was now at hand for Mr. and Mrs. Warford to leave Amwell. A call was presented to Mr. Warford by the Presbyterian Church at Salem, New York, September 27th, 1787, in pursuance of which his pastoral relation to the Amwell Churches was dissolved by the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, October i6th, 1787. The Churches of Amwell, as the records of the Presbytery show, expressed great unwillingness to part with their pastor. It was only be- cause the people of Amwell were unable to provide suita- bly for his support, that they consented to his leaving them. Three unusual facts here present themselves, one, that while accepting the call to Salem, Mr. Warford did not enter on his labors there until 1 788, and was not installed INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1920 115 until July, 1789, and this because of another fact, viz., the scarcity of ministers of the Presbyterian faith in that part of New York, to perform the service Because of this state of things, Mr. Warford did not leave Amwell for many months after he ceased to be pas- tor. During this time, he served the Amwell Church as a supply for twelve Sabbaths. As the time approached for Mr. Warford to leave Am- well, Jasper Smith called the officers of the Church to- gether and made arrangement for final settlement with the retiring pastor. It will be seen from this settlement with Mr. Warford that for the first two years of his pastorate he had been paid in full, as payments became due. This is in accord with the condition of the Church and its finances, as we have surveyed the difficulty of the Church in meeting its obligations. The statement then made for settlement by Jasper Smith is as follows: Dr. — The first English Presbyterian Church in Am- well, to Rev. John Warford. To salary from October 23rd, 1778, to the 23 of October, 1787, being nine years at fifty pounds per year £450.00.0 Charged by Mr. Warford for supplies for Oc- tober 23, 1787, to October, 1788, — 12 Sabbaths 24.00.0 474.00.0 Cr. to payment 408.15.2 October 14, bal. due £65.4.10 ii6 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH For this settlement the whole amount paid for each pew-holder is credited, summing up the total amount paid as above. October 15th, 1788, just before Mr. Warford left for Salem, a number of the pew-holders agreed to advance the money to pay Mr. Warford in full. The effort was only partially successful, the sum subscribed for this purpose amounting £20.13.1, still leaving a balance of £44.11.9. Subsequently other payments were made until January 29th, 1790, when Mr. Warford gives his receipt to Jas- per Smith for £7 15s lod in full. Two facts appear in our informal records, which have to do with the inability of the Church to support Mr. Warford as desired, — one of these is, the great decrease in the number of those who took pews in the Church, the other, the people were in a measure wearied and ex- hausted under the financial conditions of the country and by the condition of the Church and the parsonage. Sub- scriptions were solicited for these repairs very often dur- ing the pastorate. The papers would be headed with the statement "Whereas, the parsonage in which Mr. War- ford now resides is in a wretched condition, the congrega- tion is solicited to subscribe liberally to repair the same." Then again it would be "both Church and parsonage." Such subscriptions were taken in 1779 in 1782, in 1783, in 1784, an 1786, and again in 1789 after Mr. Warford had been dismissed. The location of the Church was also unsatisfactory, especially to that part of the congregation about Flem- ington. While various remedies were attempted for the relief of the difficulty, no one of them proved satisfactory enough to secure its adoption. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 117 At length Mr. Warford took his departure to his new- field of labor, and William, son of Rev. Wm. Kirk- patrick, evidently accompanied the family thither. How he was occupied, for a number of year, we do not know, but in 1806, he was appointed superintendent of the Salt Springs, and moved to Salina, now the first ward of Syra- cuse. In 1808 he was elected to the House of Representa- tives, this being the last Congress under Jefferson's ad- ministration. So this sensitive, but scholarly boy of the Amwell parsonage, at last reached a place of honor and responsibility. He died from cholera in 1823. Of Mr. Warford himself a closing word is also fitting. In addition to what has been said, he was the first pastor of the Church at Salem. His heart was enlisted in the cause of Christian philanthropy and missions. Quoting from a letter furnished me in 1898 by the late Edward P. Sprague, Ph.D., D. D., at that time pastor of the Church at Salem, he says from investigations he had made, it was believed he was born at Martha's vineyard in 1745. His graduation from Princeton in 1774, licensure by Presbytery of New Brunswick, October loth, 1775, and ordination and installation at Amwell July 31st, 1776, have already been given. Dr. Sprague continues "He died May 19th, 1802, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. Of his pastorate here, there remains little formal record, but it seems to have been everyv(ray successful. He ap- pears to have been a man of earnest devotion, scholarly and able. He took a deep interest in the foundation here of Washington Academy (which still continues) and he was one of its first Board of Trustees. Perhaps no more ii8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH correct estimate can be given him than the inscription on his tombstone here. He was an affectionate pastor, hus- band, parent and friend. An evangelical preacher, meek in his disposition, and grave in his address." Of Mrs. Warford we regret that all records have perished- We feel sure, however, that she has an imperishable record on high. Appendix No. i. As a fitting appendix to this history of the Church dur- ing the Revolution, we insert here a description of what is called A Roll for Swearing the Trustees. This roll is on a parchment seven inches wide and two feet long, and is to-day in excellent condition. The contents of the Roll are as follows: A Roll for Swearing the Trustees of the First English Presbyterian Church in the Township of Amwell, in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey, being chosen pur- suant to a Law of the said State, made and passed the sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six. I do sincerely profess and swear that I do not hold myself bound to bear allegiance to the King of Great Britain, So help me God. I do sincerely profess and swear that I do, and will bear true faith and allegiance to the Government es- tablished in this State under the authority of the people. So help me God. Jasper Smith, Derrick Sutphin, Abrm. Williamson, Lewis Chamberlin, Thos. Reading, Arthur Gray, Tunis Quick. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1820 119 Sworn the twenty-fifth day of December, Anno Domini 1786, before me, Jos. Reading, one of ye Justices of ye peace for ye county of Hunterdon. State of New Jersey, Hunterdon County, ss. : Be it remembered that on the twenty-fifth day of De- cember in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and eighty-six personally came and appeared before me Joseph Reading, Esq., one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in and for the county afds. Jasper Smith and Thomas Reading, Esquires, Messrs. Arthur Gray, Tunis Quick, Sen., son of Tunis, Derrick Sutphin, Abraham Williamson and Lewis Chamberlin, having been chosen Trustees of and for the first English Presby- terian Church in the Township of Amwell in the County of Hunterdon afds., who being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, do severally depose that they would execute the Trust reposed in them during their continuance in office, with fidelity and according to the best of their understanding. Here the several names are given as above. Sworn the day and year above. Jos. Reading. Abraham Prall, Tunis Quick, John Schenck, Enos Laning, Derrick Sutphin, Amos Hoagland, Henry Kan- nedy. Sworn before me the 19th day of March, 1792. Joseph Reading. Jacob Schenck, Titus Quick, Ralph Schenck. Sworn before me the 21st day of March, 1803. David Bishop, Justice of Peace. Interesting as the above oath is, as giving the state of feeling at the close of the war, it becomes more interesting I20 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH to us now, in view of the contrast, as shown by the mu- tual good feeling and friendship between these two na tions giving us a prophecy of lasting peace and mutual helpfulness. So may it be. This has illustration in the Appendix No. 2. Appendix No. 2 — Captain Schenck. Our scanty records make absolutely no allusion to the struggle for independence, in progress at this time, except the phrase, "Whereas, since prices are much risen because of the war," which occurs in the subscription papers of 1779, as already given, and excepting also, military titles, born by many active members of the Church. But from other sources we have learned and* also made record of such service rendered by members of this congregation for the country's cause, particularly of members of the Reading family. To this list of the patriots of the con- gregation it is proper, at this stage of the Church's his- tory, that the name of Captain John Schenck should be added. Captain Schenck was born in 1750 and died in 1823. His grave is in our cemetery with the title and dates above given, and the statement added that it was he who shot the British officer Cornet Geary. This took place on the 14th of December, 1776. It is believed that Cor- net Geary is the only British oflScer killed within the pres- ent limits of Hunterdon Co. Cornet Geary was a mem- ber of the 1 6th (the Queen's Light Dragoons) under command of Col. Harcourt. Cornet Geary was ordered to proceed from Penning- ton, where his Regiment was quartered, to Flemington to INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 121 learn, if possible, the location of the Continental Army, which under Washington, was marching through the northern part of New Jersey, after the evacuating of Fort Lee. Failing in this, Geary and his men destroyed a lot of arms and ammunition found in the Old Lowrey Store, near the present site of the Presbyterian Church. After this they started on their return. Captain Schenck had seen them as they marched through Ringoes early in the morning. Hurriedly gathering a few citizens with such arms as they could find, Captain Schenck, one of Washington's soldiers home on furlough, marched his lit- tle band toward Flemington to a thick wood opposite what is now known as Kimball's crossing. As the enemy approached. Captain Schenck ordered his men to fire. Cornet Geary formed his men in the road, and returned the fire. Captain Schenck ordered his men to fire again. Cornet Geary fell to the ground dead. His men Hed. The Americans buried the body near where it fell. It was reported subsequently that the British soldiers had re- turned and carried off the body. Many believed this, al- though through all the years the grave had been known by people of the neighborhood. It lies on the northern line of the farm now belonging to John Ent, and his son- in-law, Howard Sutphin. Theodore Bellis, now of Flem- ington, the best posted man in this part of Hunterdon Co. in local affairs, determined to settle the question about the remains of the British officer. For this purpose on the 1 8th of May, 1891, he conducted certain members of the Hunterdon Co. Historical Society to this grave and opened it in their presence. This resulted in finding a human skeleton, and four silver buttons marked Q. L. D, 122 AM WELL FIRST CHURCH 1 6, or Queen's Light Dragoons. This established the fact that this was the grave of Cornet Geary. The fam- ily of Lieut. Geary have been informed of this fact. Re- cently a lady in Utica, acting for the family, ordered a monument to be placed at the grave. This w^as recently done by Reardon and son of Flemington. The monu- ment is of boulder design and of rock taken from the vicinity of the grave. The inscription is as follows: In Memory of Cornet Francis Geary i6 (The Queen's) Light Dragoons, Born 1752. Killed in action here in the service of King George III, December 14, 1776. Eldest son of Admiral Sir Francis Geary, Baronet. Erected in 1907 by his great nephew Sir William Navil M. Geary, Baronet. Now, the struggle long ago ended, we join in tributes of esteem for each other's noble sons. Captain Schenck, belonging to a very numerous family in the early history of our Church, has an honored place in our country's history, and in the history of our Church as well. Our records show him to have been exceeding- ly active and liberal for the Church's welfare and the Master's honor. THE FIFTH PASTOR WAS REV. THOMAS GRANT, 179I-1809. Although the reason assigned by the Amwell Churches for consenting to the removal of Mr. Warford from them was their inability to give him proper support, we find INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 123 these Churches very soon realized their need of a pastor, and that they must, in some way meet the demand. Here again we discover the efficient leadership of Jasper Smith, president of the corporation of Amwell First. In April, 1789, Mr. Smith makes a report to Presbytery, saying, however, in the introduction of the same, that this duty belongs to Elder Mr. Abraham Prall. He then adds "of late years a number have fallen oil from our Church, and many others are very cool about supporting the Gos- pel. This no doubt will greatly encourage the enemy. What then? Are we to give up? No. I hope the Rev- erend Presbytery will supply us more cheerfully with their ablest preachers, that in the use of powerful means, we may regain what we have lost, and turn the zeal in favor of the Church." Surely a Church is favored, that has among her members a man so fully awake to her interest as Mr. Smith shows himself to be; and who lays empha- sis on the able and faithful preaching of the Gospel in or- der to arouse men to a sense of their duty. It is not al- ways so. As a result of this request we find that the sup- plies for the vacant Churches besides Mr. Warford, while still residing among them, were Dr. Witherspoon, Mr. Hannah, Mr. Armstrong, of Trenton, Mr. Clark, father of Rev. John F. Clark, subsequently a pastor of our Church and others. Dr. John Witherspoon supplied the Amwell pulpit on different occasions, during the time the Church was with- out a pastor. June 21st, 1789, he preached and adminis- tered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The Treasur- er is credited with paying him £3 for this service. Again November ist, of the same year he preached at Amwell 124 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH and received £i.ios. These were the sums paid at this period to any preacher rendering these respective services. In our day it would be deemed a distinguished honor to any Church to have a man so noted as Dr. Witherspoon, president of Princeton College, and a signer of the Declar- ation of Independence fill its pulpit. Notwithstanding the increased difficulty of caring for the Church without a pastor, we find the members of the congregation or of the corporation as they call themselves, show their old-time determination to sustain the Church. The salary list circulated for collecting salary for the six months ending October 23rd, 1790, has the following heading, Whereas the salary ordered to be levied and raised every six months for paying supplies sent by Presbytery for the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell was due October 23rd, 1790. They add to be paid in Gold or Silver money. You will notice this improved condition of currency is in the second year of Washington's admin- istration. This paper is sent out with substantially the same names as were on the lists all through the war, but it is evident many of the persons so listed, do not pay. This paper is arranged as former ones, by having three spaces ruled in which the subscribers may insert as they choose pounds, shillings and pence. In addition to these spaces for current expenses, there are adjoining these, three other spaces, ruled off for arrearages. And these ar- rearages, generally much larger than the half yearly salary are almost uniformly paid, even by those who have sur- rendered their seats in the Church, and are not paying for current expenses. If they decline to pay up the arrears Jasper Smith adds a note to the collector's paper saying iNTiERMEDlATE PERIOD— 1 776-1 820 125 "Mr. signed Mr. Warlord's call and he must pay" so that the money may be refunded to those who advanced it. As a result of insisting on their obligation to the cor- poration, the arrearage collected on this paper of 1790 is £41,7.8, while for the current expenses it is only £13.16.2. Under this efficient management of the affairs of the Church, and the co-operation of the Presbytery, the pul- pit was supplied with preachers during the time the Church was without a pastor. Among these supplies for the pulpit, we find the name of Mr. Grant in 1790, who supplied the Churches for nine Sabbaths previous to his installation April ist, 1791. Jasper Smith and many others in and about Flemington, sent a statement to Mr. Grant, and a request that should he be settled over the Amwell Churches, to preach one fourth of his time at Flemington, either in the Court House or in the Baptist Church, which could be secured when not in use by the people of that Church, or else in private houses. For such service they agree to pay him their proportionate part. For some unknown reason this failed also. Our subscription papers, hitherto circulated have revealed to us the fact, that the part of the congre- gation north of the Neshanic, or the Flemington branch was stronger numerically and financially, than the part south of the Neshanic. It is not surprising that it was next proposed to tear down the old House (Amwell First), and that a new Church be erected at Flemington, which was more central. This proposition failed to se- cure a sufficient number of supporters and was aband- oned. June 23rd, 1 79 1, a paper was circulated and signed by J 26 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH fifty-five persons, residing in and about Flemington, re- questing Presbytery to form them into a church. Very many of these signers were members of the Amwell First Church and congregation. Three of these signers, viz. Jasper Smith, Thomas Reading and Arthur Gray, were Trustees of Amwell First. These trustees informed the members of the Amwell First Corporation, August 27th, that this application would be laid before Presbytery at its next meeting in October at Pennington. Jasper Smith appeared before Presbytery in behalf of the petitioners, re- questing Presbytery to form them into a new Church. This request was opposed by the Churches of First and Second Amwell through their representative Mr. John Prall, Jr. The Presbytery, after hearing both parties resolved that it would be imprudent to decide at present. Presbytery adjourned to meet at Amwell First on the first Tuesday of November at eleven o'clock. Dr. Smith of Princeton College was appointed to preach at Amwell First, on the preceding Sabbath. Great interest was taken in the object to come before Presbytery, as shown by the persons who attended the meeting. Among others, were Dr. Smith, Dr. Witherspoon, Mr. Armstrong of Trenton and Mr. Clark of AUentown. At this meeting, as at the previous one, the parties had a full and satisfactory hearing. It will be of interest, to all to have the chief reasons which were presented for re- moval of the Church or eventually for a new organiza- tion at Flemington. They were presented by Jasper Smith, and we have the manuscript containing the points INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 n7 of his argument. He gives some disadvantages of the present situation, and advantages of a charge. (i) The number of members have for many years been decreasing, as shown by the book. The reason why, the Old Church is ex-central. It was built fifty-two years ago for the people between the Delaware river and the Dutch Church at Reading Town. (This statement is very . important as giving the age of the Old Church- building, fifty-two years before 1791). (2) A new Church (Second Amwell) taking off a part, is erected between this and the Delaware. (3) Reading Town Dutch Church, having all its ser- vices in English, has taken off many over South Branch and is likely to draw off others. (4) This Church is unfinished, and ever likely to be. When people come, there is not a house with fire to warm by, or any victuals or drink to be had for the hungry and thirsty. Some of the advantages. (i) This (Flemington) is a village containing a num- ber of houses, where a minister coming to preach, cold and hungry, may be refreshed before he goes into the pulpit, which cannot be done here (at the old Church). There are important facts to be read between the lines in this and the previous reason. (2) Because Flemington is nearly central to the peo- ple, who would naturally join (or attend) the Church when erected. This appears from the several subscrip- tions of April 1st, 1791, and October 15th. Also the association of the 23rd of June last. (3) There is a considerable sum of money already sub- 128 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH scribed for building a Church, which, with what may rea- sonably be expected, will go far to build a comfortable house at Flemington. (4) The removal of the Church will be more con- venient, and not so far from any member as the old Church now is, for John M. Reading and Charles Read- ing, who have always attended here. (5) In and about Flemington there are now upward of forty pounds subscribed for salary to be paid annually. (6) There would always be a full house at Fleming- ton (?) which is very desirable. (7) Flemington is an increasing place and the body of the people Presbyterian. In answer to the petitioners. Presbytery resolved unan- imously that in the present circumstances, matters do not appear ripe for forming them into a new congregation, that Presbytery would cheerfully form them into a new congregation at Flemington, if it had no appearance of weakening the congregations of Amwell. They earnestly advise all parties to unite in prosecuting the call to Mr. Grant, and to pursue such measure as would tend to peace. Resolved also, that Mr. Grant (provided he accept the calls prepared for him by said congregations) preach one- fourth part of his time at Amwell First, one-fourth at Flemington, and the remaining half at Amwell Second Church, and that the salary be apportioned to the time at each place." And in order to promote the union and interests of these congregations ordered that Dr. Witherspoon preach at Amwell First Church the first Sabbath of November, and that Dr. Smith preach at Flemington the first Sab- INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1820 129 bath of December. The parties having heard the minutes read, agreed to stand by the decision oi Presbytery, and to prosecute the call to Mr. Grant agreeably to the meaning and intent of this decision. The annual provision for salary was £130 gold or silver, besides the free use of a parsonage of £700 or £800 value. At this meeting of Presbytery the call w^as tendered to Mr. Grant and he signified his acceptance of the same. The second Tuesday of December at eleven o'clock, was appointed for his ordination and installation. This service was held December 13th, 1791. The Moderator of Presbytery Rev. Joseph Clark, preached, and Rev. John Hannah presided and proposed the constitutional ques- tions. Mr. Clark also gave the charge to the "newly or- dained bishop." Much as the members of this Church regretted and op- posed the action of the Flemington people, and naturally, for they could see that it must result in a separate Church and greatly weaken the old Church. Yet it was inevita- ble, and in view of the history of that movement, we of Amwell First must admit that for the greater honor of the Master and the saving of men, it was wise. And while the Presbytery hesitated to grant their re- quest, saying "matters do not appear ripe for forming a new congregation," their action in recommending a call to Mr. Grant, and that one-fourth of his time be given to Flemington, practically accomplished what they de- clined to do. For on the 9th of January, 1792, these same petitioners met after due notice, in the Baptist Church as a Society under the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, and according to the laws of the State for Religious I30 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH bodies, did form themselves into a body corporate, and did then and there choose Trustees. And these Trustees being duly sworn in, on the 28th of January inst. that they might be distinguished in Law from other incorpor- ated bodies, styled themselves Trustees of Flemington English Presbyterian Church in Amwell in the County of Hunterdon and state of New Jersey. The document recording this incorporation, and all its particulars, is on file, among the unengrossed papers from which we have drawn at first hand so many of the original facts of this history. This act of incorporation of the Church at Flemington, occurring at the very opening of Mr. Grant's pastorate is doubtless the most significant event of that pastorate, both to the mother Church, and the new organization. For the event that follows close after this, and the first on record, we have the satisfaction of going to the min- ute book of the Trustees of the Old Church Corporation. The first entry of this old book of the Trustees is as fol- lows: Amwell, April, 1792, Trustees of the First and Second English Presbyterian Churches in Amwell pur- chased a plantation of Jacob Williamson for a parsonage containing 120 acres of land for £650 to be paid in three equal payments, £216 13s 4d down — or on the first day of May next — and the same amount the first day of May, 1793 and 1794, requiring of each congregation for each , payment £108.6.8. At the same time the Trustees sold to Henry Kanaday (Kenedy) 40}^ acres off the old plan- tation leaving 34 acres to be united with the new planta- tion for £126.2 to be paid in three payments, £85.7.4 down, and £20.7.4 on the first of May, 1793, and the INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776- 1820 131 same May first, 1794. The money arising from this sale was to be equally divided between the First and Second Amwell Churches. Now that the contributors of the Flemington district, are no longer among the supporters of Amwell First, it will be of interest to see who are the men in Amwell First who are ready to take up the financial burden. They are given as follows: Collection list for the first payment on the purchase of a parsonage: £ s. d. John Schenck, Capt 400 o Peter Prall 210 o Ralph Schenck, Sen 3 6 8 Enos Lanning i 3 4 Derrick Sutphin 3 00 o John Williamson I 6 8 Ralph Sutphin i 00 o Jacob Williamson 2 00 o Garret Schenck 4 00 o Jacob Schenck i 00 o Gersham Cravan 2 00 o Henry Kannady 4 13 4 David Bishop 4 00 o Abraham Prall 5 00 o Tunis Quick, Sen 5 00 o Hite Runyan 1 10 o Lewis Chamberlin 5 00 o Joshua Kershaw 5 00 o Abraham Williamson 5 00 o Amos Hoagland 3 6 8 132 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Jacob Mattison i 13 4 William Schenck 5 00 o 70 10 o John Schenck, collector, received £68.17.6. This with the half of £85 7s 4d from the sale of the old plantation was more than enough for the first payment, but the list for the next two- payments was much smaller, and the amount collected insufficient for the payments. But in 1 796 the Trustees borrowed money and paid off the debt. The third event which characterized Mr. Grant's pas- torate, was the sale of this plantation. This took place April 1st, 1806, Nathaniel Wilson was the purchaser. The price paid was six thousand four hundred and twen- ty-nine dollars and thirty-three cents ($6,429.33). And although, as stated, the Trustees of Amwell First had a book of records, which is in existence, and dates back to 1792, when it records the purchase of this property, the sale of it is not recorded in that book. However, we have the date, price and particulars of the same preserved in the parchment Deed on file among the papers of the Church. The names of the Trustees making this sale, are from the First English Presbyterian Church of Am- well, John Schenck, Amos Hoagland, Derrick Sutphin, Enos Lanning, Ralph Schenck, Jacob Schenck and Titus Quick, and from the Second Church, John Reading, John Prall, Jr., John Wilson, Samuel Holcombe, Jr., Jo- siah Holcombe, Amos Wilson and John T. Skillman. After the sale of this property, Mr. Grant received a consideration from the Trustees as rent, for which he gives his receipts. INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 133 Turning from the material to the spiritual interests of the Church, we have during Mr. Grant's pastorate, as we have from that of his predecessors, very little definite information. And we do not have even in the minutes of the Presbytery of New Brunswick a record of the communicants of the Church, nor any regular statement of its beneficence. The health of Mr. Grant during the closing years of his ministry was such, that he frequently failed to meet his appointments to preach. The Flem- ington Church met this condition by appointing some one to read a sermon, and two of the Trustees were appointed to keep order at the same time. The Second Amwell Church felt his failure to preach so keenly, that many of the supporters refused to pay their salary. These facts were sent with manifest reluctance in a memorial to the Revd. Presbytery of New Brunswick April I, 1809. In the same communications the Presby- tery was informed that a joint committee from the First and Second Churches have waited on Mr. Grant, and invited him to meet the corporation of these Churches, and talk over the situation and in a friendly manner they requested him to agree to an application for the dissolu- tion of the pastoral relation between them and himself. This he declined to do. The committee, however, re- quests of Presbytery, the dissolution of the relation. The report is signed by Amwell, April ist, 1809. Jonathan Borroughs, Moderator. Samuel Holcombe, Jr., Clerk. We are not informed what steps the Presbytery took in this matter, but it is stated that Rev. Thomas Grant pre- 134 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH sented a request for the dissolution of the pastoral relation between himself and the Churches which he served, and Presbytery granted his request. After his withdrawal from the Amwell Churches, Mr. Grant moved to Mill Hill, near Trenton. Here he ex- perienced a new affliction in the death of his second wife, which occurred August 9th, 1809. Mrs. Bryan Grant was buried in the old Amwell burying ground in a grave adjoining that of her sister, and her sister's husband, Hon. George C. Maxwell, M. C, of Flemington, and who had been esteemed one of the ablest lawyers of Hunter- don Co. Mr. Grant and Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Bryan, Esq., of Somerset County, had been married December 6th, 1805. The issue of this union was one child, Elizabeth, as shown in her father's will. Mr. Grant himself died in March, 181 1, and was buried according to the True American in the Presbyter- ian Church yard, Trenton, and that paper added "Rarely has the Church been called upon to mourn the departure of a more solid, judicious and evangelical divine." Further obituary notice of Mr. Grant seems to be called for. Especially so, because up to the present time no account of his life and work has been published. Even Dr. Mott, in his day the historian of Hunterdon Co., felt compelled to say, when he published his history of the Church at Flemington, of which Mr. Grant was the first pastor, that he had no facts of Mr. Grant's life excepting his graduation and the statement of his pastorate of the Amwell and Flemington Churches. After the publication of that history there came into his hands the manuscript copy of the sermon which had been preached at Mr. Intermediate period— 1776-1820 135 Grant's funeral. By whom this sermon had been written he did not know. Dr. Mott kindly sent that manuscript to me. The preacher claims to have been a co-presbyter with Mr. Grant, and to speak from personal knowledge. We gladly cull the few facts thus furnished. In the mat- ter of the difficulty between Mr. Grant and the Amwell Churches, he views the case from the other side. He in- forms us that Mr. Grant's parents had moved from New York to New Brunswick during his early childhood, and that he lived there until he entered the ministry excepting the period of his studies at Princeton. After his gradua- tion in 1786, he applied himself to the study of divinity, and received an early call from one of the largest and most respectable congregations of the State. This was to the Amwell ist and 2nd and Flemington Churches. "Dur- ing the first and longest part of his ministry in these Churches he met with but little apparent success. It pleased the Great Head of the Church, however, to give him abundant success in the latter years of his ministry, in the congregations of Amwell and Flemington. Then dis- cord arose and the pastor's health failed, which finally drove him from his pulpit." Mr. Grant, as the minutes of General Assembly show, represented the Presbytery of New Brunswick in the General Assembly in 1802. I can supplement the information furnished by the manuscript, by adding some interesting facts sent me by Mr. Granville Leach of Philadelphia, which he discovered in some of the Archives of New Jersey, while searching for the date of the marriage of Theodosia, daughter of Captain Daniel Reading and Rev. Thomas Grant. We thus learn that Rev. Thomas Grant was the son of Thomas Grant, and 13b AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Catherine Stevens, his wife, and that he was born in New York city, i6th of March, 1763. He was baptized at the Presbyterian Church of that city 31st of March of the same year. Then it gives his graduation and settle- ment in Amwell as already stated." He resigned the pastorate of these United Churches at the meeting of Presbytery in April, 1809. His pas- torate extending from 1 79 1 to 1 809, makes his the longest pastorate in the history of Amwell First. Both Amwell Second and Flemington have had pastorates much longer than this. Early in this pastorate occurred the marriage of Theo- dosia Reading and Mr. Grant, date of which has not been discovered. The children of this union were Catherine Stevens Grant, bom 16 August, 1793. She was married June 6th, 1815, to Abraham Schuyler Neilson, Esq., of New Brunswick. And Theodosia Grant who married Rev. William Whitehead. Also Thomas and John Grant. Mr. Grant's second marriage has already been given. Mr. Leach adds — The inventory of his property, filed at Tren- ton, among the Burlington Co. probate files, is most in- teresting, showing a degree of affluence which I should think rather uncommon among clergy of small parishes of that period. Of this statement he gives the following illustration: His will was proved at Burlington, N. J., 9 April, 181 1, which showed him to be possessed of considerable real estate in Virginia and that his personal property was in- ventoried at twenty-five thousand dollars. Archives, N. J. David Bishop was one of the active elders during Mr. Grant's pastorate. He represented the Presbytery of New INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 137 Brunswick in the General Assembly in 1803. Abraham Prall was another. Also Joseph Reading was a member of the session. He was a member of the Amwell Second Church and an elder in the same. THE REV. JACOB KIRKPATRICK, 181O-1818. In continuing our "walk about Zion to tell her towers and mark her bulwarks" we come now to a name en- deared among the older members of this Church more than that of any other pastor. The Rev. Jacob Kirkpat- rick, the sixth pastor of Amwell First, is really the con- necting link between the past and the present. No pre- vious pastor of this Church was personally known by any of our members now living, and he not perhaps by his pastorate over this Church, but because he continued to reside and labor in a neighboring congregation. The resignation of the Rev. Thomas Grant occurred as stated in 1809. Mr. Kirkpatrick together with his friend and fellow student, Jacob T. Field, was taken under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, October 7th, 1807. Their next appearance in Presbytery, was on April 26th, 1809, when each read a lecture. They were both li- censed to preach the gospel August 8th, 1809. Mr. Kirk- patrick preached for the first time in this Church, the Old Meeting House, as it was then called in September, 1809. Afterwards, by appointment of Presbytery he preached in Amwell five Sabbaths in December, 1809, and in February and April, 1810. It is to be presumed that during this appointment of Presbytery, he preached in all the Amwell Churches, though he does not so state 138 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH in his semi-centennial sermon, nor do his biographers. From the Records of Presbytery, it appears he was called to take the pastoral charge of the Amwell Churches. This call was presented at the meeting of Presbytery at Trenton April 24th, 1810. The call was made out in due form except that it was for five years, and the phase "for five years" was underscored. Dr. Kirkpatrick in re- ferring to this time limit, in his semi-centennial discourse says Dr. S. Stanhope Smith casting his keen eye upon me remarked, "I would throw it back in their teeth." The reason for adding this limitation in their call, as explained by Dr. Kirkpatrick, was because of the trouble that had existed between the Church, and the previous pastor. Dur- ing the latter part of Mr. Grant's pastorate, his health became very much impaired, so that he often failed to meet his appointments, and yet declined to resign the charge at the suggestion of the people. Because of this difficulty, the Church had unwisely decided not to call another man for life as they put it, the fact being that a call in due form is without a time limit. Mr. Kirkpatrick however, signified his willingness to take charge of the Churches. But the Presbytery, being unwilling to place the call in his hands, and install him for five years, ap- pointed him as a stated supply to the Amwell Churches for that period and so the young preacher began his labors. On the 19th of June, 18 10, the Presbytery met in the Amwell First Church and heard the candidate's trial ser- mon for ordination from Col. 3 14 and on the next day June 20th, Mr. Kirkpatrick was ordained, but not in- stalled. Dr. John Woodhull, of Freehold, with whom he had studied for the ministry, preached the sermon, and INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1 820 139 made the ordaining prayer. The Rev. Holloway W. Hunt gave the charge to the minister, and delivered a suitable address to the people. Originally, you will re- member, our own Church, Amwell First, was the only Church on the territory from the Delaware to Somerset Co. and the Readington Reformed Church. In 1754 Amwell Second was organized, and the two Churches formed but one pastoral charge up to 1809 and they con- tinued to have the same pastor until i8i8. Between these two Churches was the German Church at Larison's Corner, or formerly Pleasant Comer. The time of the organization of the German Church can not now be defi- nitely stated. The pe'ople who worshipped there came originally from Germany and Holland. The Church be- longed to the Coetus or German Reformed Synod of Pennsylvania. They worshipped, in what was known as "The Old Stone House," which stood in the graveyard, on the opposite side of the road from the present Church. The deed for the land on which this "Old Stone Church" stood, is dated the twenty-first day of January in the twenty-second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George, the Second, over Great Britain, etc. King, Anno Dom. One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty- nine." The Church was dedicated December ist, 1749. In the erection of the building, the Church received aid from the Old Dutch Church in New York City, whose records state that "it was resolved to pay £15 to the High Dutch Reformed congregation which meets at Amwell for Christian help in building a Church for divine ser- vice. Since their own means fall short. John Ritzema, pastor." (Rev. C. S. Converse, p. 7). To this may be I40 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH added Dr. Kirkpatrick's statement that the deed by which the German Church held their graveyard is dated 1740 (p. 8). This shows them to have been on the ground very near- ly as early as the founders of our own Church. This German Church was served by pastors from both Ger- many and Holland. The first of these preachers, of whom we have any record, though he was never settled as pastor in Amwell, was the Rev. Michael Schlatter. He visited Amwell as early as 1747, and administered the Sacrament. He found thirty communicants on the ground at that time. From Rev. C. C. Converse's historical discourse I add the following: "The next supply to the German Church was Rev. John Conrad Wertz. He also supplied Rocka- way and Fox Hill. The next was the Rev. Johann Cas- per Lapp, preaching in 1755, and 6. We then have the Rev. William Kails 1757-59. The Rev. George Alsentz is mentioned as preaching in Amwell in 1760. He was followed by the Rev. Caspar Michael Stabel or Stapfel. He preached also at Rockaway and Fox Hill. The Rev. Frederick Dallicker was Mr. Sapfel's successor, 1763- 1770. Then we have Rev. John Wesley Gilbert Nevel- ing, 1 770-1 783, covering the period of the Revolution. After the war there appears to have been a vacancy for about fifteen years, yet doubtless some pastor or pastors visited the Church from time to time during this vacancy, of whom all trace has been lost." The last of these German pastors was the Rev. John Ja- cob Mack. He preached also in the two Dutch Churches of Knowlton, and Hardwick at the same time he was pas- INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 141 tor here. The date of his pastorate is differently stated by different authorities, from 1798 to 1805, or 1809. He was a man of commanding appearance, and a ready and fluent speaker, in both German and English. He was the first pastor who preached in the English language in that Church (Converse, p. 12). This statement shows the trend of the times. The German language was giving way to the English, even in the German families. The children must be supplied with English preaching, or they will go where they can get it. This granted, it re- quires but a generation to supplant the German altogeth- er. On the same principle, they must withdraw from the distant German Synod, and become identified with an ec- clesiastical body near at hand, and more in touch with their surroundings. Such a movement was favored by the fact that the Rev. Thomas Grant had in April, 1809, resigned the pastorate of Amwell First, Amwell Second and Flemington Churches. The four neighboring Churches were thus without a pastor at the same time. Flemington was the youngest, and the weakest of these Churches. The Flemington people came to the German Church offering to unite with it in calling and supporting a pastor. The overture was favorably considered, and would, in all probability have been accepted had not Am- well First approached the German Church with a similar proposition. All the three Amwell Churches had funds in hand for repairs and supporting the gospel at this time together yielding an income of about six hundred dollars annually. Flemington was without funds. Not only for this reason as it appears, but because union with 142 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Amwell First was the more natural and wiser, the pro- posal to unite with Amwell First was accepted. Concerning this movement Dr. Jacob Kirkpatrick makes this every significant statement. "In the early part of the year 1810, the people of the First Presbyterian Church and the German Church came together. They elected their trustees, and were incorporated according to law, assuming the name of The United First Presbyterian Church of Amwell. They became by this act one organic Church, having two branches or places of service. The funds of the First Church and the German Church, though managed by one board of Trustees, were kept sep- arate. And the whole charge was under the care of one session (Converse, p. 14). The call presented to Presby- tery April 24th, 1810, for Mr. Kirkpatrick's service "for five years," was for what are now the three Amwell Churches. At the expiration of this period, the Amwell people came to Presbytery April 25th, 181 5, and presented a call in due form for Mr. Kirkpatrick to take the pastoral charge of their Churches. On the 15 th of June follow- ing in the Old Stone Church, the Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick was installed, and thus became the pastor of these Churches. In this service, his cousin, the Rev. William B. Sloan, of Greenwich, N. J., preached the sermon, and the Rev. George S. Woodhull gave the charge to the pas- tor and the people. The relation between these Churches was not changed by this act, nor was that of Dr. Kirkpatrick's relation to them changed as to the time of service. The act, however, consummated the relation and gave him the authority of INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 143 the office and the seal of the Presbytery. This is really very much. Dr. Kirkpatrick informs us that he preached eight years in these houses of worship, commonly called the Old House, the New House and the Stone House. The Old House was our Church, Amwell First, the New House, Amwell Second and the Stone House that at Larison's Corner. These were the local names by which they were known at the time. While speaking of the names of these Churches, it will clear up, what has long been obscure, to add other names by which these Churches have been known, and state the relation they have, or have had to each other. First, be it remembered that they are all situated along the "Old York Road," which runs in practically a direct line east and west from Lambertville to Reaville, where the road turns northward to Three Bridges. Amwell First is at Reaville since 1839. Previous to that date it or its pre- decessor was located in the Cemetery a mile to the west. At first, when it was the only Church it was called the Amwell Church or the Presbyterian Church in Amwell. Shortly afterward when the German Church was estab- lished at Pleasant Corner (now Larison's Corner) our Church was called the English Presbyterian Church in Amwell. Then in 1754 we have the Church at Mount Airy, as an offspring of the First Church. Our Church is known as the Eastern Presbyterian Church in Amwell or the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell and Mt. Airy the Second. The old Trustee book calls ours The Amwell First Church and sometimes the First Eng- lish Presbyterian Church in Amwell, which name is so 144 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH used as late as 1865, when building the parsonage, and still belongs to it. The Presbytery in the olden time uses the terms Old House and New House. Thus Dr. With- erspoon was appointed to preach in the Old House and administer the Sacrament the third Sabbath in June, 1779, and to preach the third Sabbath in July. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith was appointed to preach on the first Sabbath in August and the first Sabbath in September at the New House, i. e. ( Mount Airy, which is farthest to the West). Between these two Churches was the German Church, having no connection with either un- til 1 8 10. And then the interesting fact, given by Dr. Kirkpatrick in his historical discourse, that the Church at the "Corn- er" and our Church during the time our Church was un- der his pastoral care, bore in common, the name of The United First Presbyterian Church in Amwell. Dr. Kirkpatrick considered this fact of so much import- ance, that when starting a new minute book in 1863, he states on the first page, and over his own signature, the fact as I have quoted it from his discourse delivered in i860. He evidently desired to have the origin of this name preserved, as an interesting fact in the history of the two Churches. As the origin of the name has either been overlooked or erroneously applied, I further state, as "true to the truth of things," that the people considered themselves as con- stituting at the time of the union but one Church. As evidence, I quote the following from the old congrega- tional and Trustee book, page 84: "At a meeting of the United First Congregation of Amwell, held at the Old INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1 776-1820 145 Presbyterian meeting house, this Second day of February, 1818, agreeably to lawful notice by advertisement, and also publication from the pulpit, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety and necessity of building a new house in place of the Old House and Stone House (local name of the German Church). Said congregation proceeded to the choice of a Clerk and Moderator, when Jeremiah Kershaw was chosen Moderator, and John Kee, Clerk. A motion was made and seconded — Are we one con- gregation or two congregations united? Carried unani- mously that we are one congregation." "A motion was made and seconded, That we build a new house in place of the Old and Stone Houses. Carried in favor of a new house 42 to 26. On motion it was then decided to open subscription im- mediately to raise money necessary for building a new house. The meeting then adjourned to the sixteenth in- stant. The congregation met February i6th, and after transacting some unimportant business adjourned sine die. Jeremiah Kershaw, Moderator. John Kee, Clerk. With this adjournment the matter was next taken in hand by the Trustees, but no further steps were taken to build one house which would serve as a place of worship for both the Old House and the Stone House people. A meeting of the Trustees of the United First Presby- terian Congregation convened at the house of Joseph Kug- ler, February 28th, 1818. A majority of the Trustees be- ing present, it was moved that the funds originating from that branch of the said united congregation, formerly wor- 10 146 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH shipping at the Old House, be appropriated for the use of that branch. And that the funds originating from that branch of the said united congregation formerly worship- ing at the Stone House be appropriated for the use of that branch, to enable them to build a new house of worship in place of the Stone House, and for supporting the Gos- pel at that place as heretofore, in union with the Old House people. On this question the yeas and nays were called, and were as follows: Yeas — George Dilts, Jacob Case and William Fisher. Nays — Titus Quick, Tunis Quick and Abraham Frail. There being a tie vote the Trustees adjourned to meet at the same place March the 5th, for the further consid- eration of the matter. On the 5 th of March they met ac- cording to adjournment at the house of Joseph Kugler and adjourned to meet the next day at the same place. Though no reason for this adjournment is stated the rec- ords show that March the 4th, notice was given in writ- ing by Tunis Quick and Abraham Frail, to George Dilts, Fresident of the Trustees of the United First Congrega- tion, that they declined acting as Trustees of said cor- poration. The remaining Trustees of the United First Congrega- tion of Amwell, met at the home of Joseph Kugler, March 6th, agreeable to adjournment. A majority being present, to wit, George Dilts, Jacob Case, John A. Kendry and William Fisher, they proceeded to business. "The motion which was before them February 28th, 1 8 18, for appropriating the two funds of the two branches was called for and considered." "When that part of the motion" (so reads the record) INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 147 "for appropriating the funds originating from the branch worshipping at the Old House was taken up and consid- ered, and the question put, shall said funds be appropri- ated? the vote stood, Yeas — none; Nays — Jacob Case, John A. Kendry, William Fisher and George Dilts. Then that part of the motion appropriating the funds of the Stone House was taken up and considered. It was moved to appropriate these funds to the use of said branch, to enable them to build a new house of worship, in place of the Stone House, and for supporting the gospel at that place as heretofore, in union with those worshipping at the Old House. Yeas — ^Jacob Case, John A. Kendry, William Fisher and George Dilts. Nays — None. Paul Kuhl was, at this meeting of the Trustees ap- pointed manager of the funds in hand and such money as should be raised by subscription and to pay the sums ex- pended in building. At the request of Tunis Quick and Abraham Prall a meeting of the United Congregation was called to meet at the Stone House March 19th, 18 18. At this meeting Captain John Schenck was chosen Moderator and John Kee, Clerk. A motion was made by Jacob Young and seconded. That this United Congregation dissolve their present con- nection in order that each branch may choose Trustees for itself. Carried 34 to 6. John Schenck, Moderator. John Kee, Clerk. April 24th, 1818. The Trustees of the First English Presbyterian Church of Amwell met at their Church and received from George Dilts, late president of the First 148 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH United Congregation of Amwell, the sum of four thou- sand four hundred and seventy-six dollars and seventv- cents, the funds belonging to the said First English Pres- byterian Church of Amwell. Also the books and papers belonging thereto and receipt given. These funds and books and papers were taken by Titus Quick, as presi- dent of the Trustees of the First Church. Signed Titus Quick, President. It will be noticed that our Church, here resumes its old name, as First Church of Amwell, which we now for convenience write Amwell First. The Amwell Churches had been transferred to the Presbytery of Newton at its organization in 1817, in which connection they remained until 1839. When the separation took place between Amwell First, and the Stone House people, the latter assumed the corporate ti- tle of The United First Church of Amwell. This is stated on the authority of the minutes of the Presbytery of Newton. The Trustees of this United First Church went on with their building according to their previous action. The lot of ground on which their present Church build- ing was erected, was given by Joseph Kugler. He was al- so made a member of the building committee. So says Rev. C. C. Converse. The whole board of Trustees as given by Mr. Con- verse was Nathan Price, George Dilts, R. M. William- son, Jere Kershaw, Jacob Dilts, Joseph Kugler, William Fisher and Paul Kuhl, Treasurer. The collectors were Joseph Bishop and Elijah Wilson. This Joseph Kugler who gave the lot and at whose house the Trustees held INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 149 frequent meetings, was a great uncle of mine, my father Joseph Kugler having been named for him. He kept the tavern at the time at the Corner. And w^hile I here re- cord his name in connection w^ith the erection of the Church, I v\rould be doing violence to my feelings were I not to add that building a Church and carrying on the liquor business seem to me to be directly opposed to each other, and I am thankful that society, as well as the Church, are now agreed in this opinion. Both branches of the Old United First endeavored to secure Dr. Kirkpatrick's services as pastor. This speaks more than words to his honor. But the United First claimed that as Amwell Firsthad failed to make the neces- sary arrangements for his support the succession belonged to them by right. And he accepted their call for his ser- vices in connection with Amwell Second, agreeing to preach alternately in their respective Churches. This relation continued until his death May 2nd, 1866. Ac- cordingly, Amwell United First made application to the Presbytery of Newton held at Greenwich October 6th, 1818, to be taken under their care as a district Church, and on the next day the call for Dr. Kirkpatrick's services was presented to him and accepted. The parties were cited to appear at the United First Church November 3rd, 1818, when the pastoral relation between Dr. Kirkpat- rick and Amwell First was dissolved. The salary due him, however, was not paid until six months later, as ap- pears from a receipt given by Dr. Kirkpatrick May ist, 18 19, as follows. Received of Titus Quick, president of the Trustees of the First Presbyterian Congregation of Amwell, the sum of two hundred and twenty-five dol- ISO AMWELL FIRST CHURCH lars for six months salary, due the 1st of November, 1818, together with seven dollars eighty-seven and a half cents, being six months interest on the same — $232.87^4. J. KiRKPATRICK. This closes Dr. Kirkpatrick's official connection writh our Church. Yet during the long period of his pastorate in the neighboring Churches he was a frequent visitor to this Church, and greatly beloved by our people. So close- ly are these Churches related by location, ties of kindred and intermarriage ; and so winning was the fatherly kind- ness of Dr. Kirkpatrick that such mutual regard and es- teem were as natural as they were delightful. A few words about Dr. Kirkpatrick are here in place as an in- tegral part of this history; but inasmuch as a memorial sermon and sketch of himself and ancestors have been published, my statement will be very brief. Jacob Kirkpatrick, son of Alexander Kirkpatrick and Sarah Carle, his wife, was born August 8th, 1785. His birthplace was in the Valley of the Passaic, about six miles southeast of Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., N. J. His grandfather, David, son of Alexander Kirkpatrick, was born at Watties Dumfries Shore, Scotland, February 17th, 1724, and died at Mine Brook, Somerset Co. This great grandfather, Alexander, moved with his family from Scotland to Belfast, Ireland, after the birth of his son, David, in the latter part of the reign of George I, proba- bly about the year 1725 (Kirkpatrick memorial). In the year, 1799, Jacob Kirkpatrick and Samuel L. Southard commenced the study of Latin in the School of Robert Finley, then pastor of the Church at Basking Ridge. They were soon joined in their class by Philip INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 151 Lindsley and Theodore Frelinghuysen. These four con- stituted the first class in the Academy. They entered the Junior Class in the College of New Jersey in 1802. The president of the college at this time was the Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, D. D., LL.D.. John Maclean, M. D., was Vice-President. Besides these, there were only two tutors. The College had been burned the previous spring, and rebuilt during the summer. The walls were not yet sufEciently dry for occupancy when they entered and the students were obliged to room for a time with private families in the town. The class graduated in 1804. On graduation young Kirkpatrick entered his name as a stu- dent of law in the office of George C. Maxwell, Esq., of Flemington, at the same time teaching in the Academy at Somerville, N. J. In the year 1807 he visited his home at Basking Ridge. There was a revival of religion in the Church at the time his former preceptor. Dr. Findley still being the pastor. Under the influence of this awakening and the influences of the Spirit, young Kirkpatrick's views and feelings be- came so changed, on the subject of religion, and his own duty, that he relinquished the study of law which he had pursued for three years and devoted himself to the work of the Gospel ministry. This was certainly no easy task to a man with Kirkpatrick's gifts from the temporal view of the subject. But he heard the call of the Master, and he obeyed. In order to prepare himself for the ministry he went to Freehold and became a student of Theology under Rev. John Woodhull, D. D. He remained here for two years. On the 13th of December, 1909, he was united in holy wedlock with Mary Sutfin with whose 152 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH father John Sutfin, who resided near the Old Tenant Church, he took lodgings, while pursuing his studies for the ministry. This united couple were blessed with a large family of children, and they were spared to each other to celebrate their golden wedding and to look into the years beyond. The licensure of Mr. Kirkpatrick and the steps which led to his settlement over the Amwell Churches, have already been stated. How this venerable man of God, like Paul, was in la- bors more abundant during his long pastorate of nearly fifty-six years, is known throughout the Church. During this period, extending from 1810 to the time of his death May 2nd, 1866, he preached more than 10,000 times, at- tended 900 funerals and married 705 couples. When he came to this charge, he informs us in his semi-centennial discourse, there were but 94 communicants in the whole charge. He also remarks that the first five years of his ministry appeared to produce but little fruit. During the first year the cloud seemed to be gathering over our politi- cal horizon, which burst upon us "in the declaration of War with Great Britain in 1812." The public mind was absorbed with the events of the day up to the Treaty of Peace at Ghent in 18 15. During this period the public ear was open to news of Perry's victory on the Lake, or the saying of Lawrence "Don't give up the ship," in the attack on Baltimore or the "Burning of the Capitol at Washington." This state of things was followed with the period of revivals and the large and rapid increase in the membership of the Churches, receiving forty, sixty and over a hundred in a single year. In all, there were ten seasons of refreshing during his long and honored pastor- INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776- 1820 153 ate. Statistics furnished by Rev. William J. Wright, pastor of Amwell United First, and Rev. John Burrows, pastor of Amwell Second at the time of the publication of the memorial volume, show that six hundred and twen- ty-one were received into these Churches on profession during his ministry. It will be interesting to follow these numbers with statistics covering nearly the entire period of Dr. Kirkpat- rick's connection with our Church. I am indebted to Mr. Armstrong, stated clerk of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, for these statistics, and it will be remembered they embrace the whole charge. They are as follows: 181 1. Total communicants at last report 112 Died 2, added 15, total now 125 Adults baptized 9, infants 16. 1812. Died I, removed i, added 11, total 134 Adults baptized 3, infants 13. 1813. Died 4, removed 2, added i, total 129 Infants baptized 13. 1 8 14. No report. 1815. Died I, added 4, total 132 Adults baptized 3, infants 10. 1816. Died 3, removed 2, added 6, total 133 Adults baptized 3, infants 11. 18 1 7. Which was the last report to the Presby- tery of New Brunswick — Removed i, added 5> total 137 Infants baptized 9. This gives us the interesting statement that in six years 72 infants were baptized, while in the whole charge only 154 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 42 members were added both by certificate and on profes- sion, which is three less than were added in this single Church with its greatly limited territory and numbers, during the first six years of my pastorate here, while we received in addition thirty-two by certificate. But soon after this the blessing came under Dr. Kirkpatrick's pas- torate in precious fulness, which through ten seasons of revival resulted in the ingathering of six hundred and twenty-one (621) for the whole pastorate. In addition to the abundant labors of Dr. Kirkpatrick in his extended charge, he rendered most valued assistance to a large num- ber of Churches and clergymen in different parts of the State, and also in Pennsylvania and New York. He was always a welcome preacher in these Churches, and con- tributed in this way largely to their growth. He was also an ardent friend and able advocate of the cause of Tem- perance. I remember him both as an evangelist, and as a lecturer on Temperance in the days of my boyhood in the old Kingwood Church. At these services his earnest pathos and tearful pleading made impressions that are lasting and beneficent. Dr. Kirkpatrick was likewise largely instrumental in the organization of the Hunterdon Co. Bible Society, and always until his death, deeply interested and active mem- ber of the same. This Society was organized October i6th, 1816, at the Old Stone Church of Amwell, then under his pastoral care. At its organization General John Beatty, of Tren- ton, a descendant, if not a member of this Church (Am- well First) being a son of Rev. Charles Beatty, and grandson of Gov. Reading, was made temporary chair- INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 155 man. Hon. Samuel L. Southard was chosen President. General John Beatty, First Vice President. Dr. Jacob Kirkpatrick, Second Vice-President. Rev. J. F. Clark, our next pastor, Third Vice-President. Rev. Joseph Boggs, Fourth Vice-President. Peter I. Clark, Corres- ponding Secretary. Joseph Bishop, Recording Secretary, and John Q. Blackwell, Treasurer. Perhaps no work in which Dr. Kirkpatrick ever en- gaged, will, in the end, prove to be so grand and far- reaching for the saving of men, as the part he took in connection with the Bible Society. But his labors are ended and he has long been at rest and his works do fol- low him. Let us pause a moment by the grave of this venerable man. I think the sublimest act of his life, was, when, having nearly completed his studies for the practice of the law, in which honor and wealth awaited him, he turned aside, at the call of the Master, and gave himself to the Gospel ministry. Here equal if not more intense toil and hardship confronted him, with poverty, instead of riches as the sure result, although the honor that is his, could not have been greater in any other calling. But when once convinced that he was called to this service, he yield- ed himself with joyful obedience to preach the everlasting Gospel of Christ. In this work he was faithful to the end. The burden of his soul was to persuade men to believe in Jesus Christ. To this he gave his time and his strength, and for this he used all the powers of his being. He preached to the con- science of his hearers. He pressed upon them the require- ments of the law. He held up before them the matchless 156 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH love of our gracious Saviour. He yearned for their sal- vation and would plead with sinners with the truest, tenderest emotion. When they yielded, he was happy. This was his joy and crown of rejoicing. I requested Dr. Samuel M. Osmond for many years a colleague, to give me his impressions of Dr. Kirkpatrick as a man, and a preacher of the Gospel. He wrote me, "It is now more than forty years since I was the colleague of Dr. Kirk- patrick. You will see in the Memorial Volume, pp. 65- 71, my views and impressions of him as they were penned many years ago. I can now only say that these impres- sions remain unchanged, unless it be that the favorable es- timate which I then sought to convey has been more and more confirmed and intensified with my wider experience and my observation of other men, ministers especially, with whom I have had occasion to compare him or invol- untarily to measure his rare excellence, goodness, purity of life, devotedness to his work, generosity, and nobility of character." I am confident that this estimate of the blessed man of God who gave his long life to the service of his Redeemer and ours, in these Amwell Churches, will receive from all who knew him and especially from those who listened to his earnest and tender appeals, a very hearty concurrence. Servant of God, Well done. We loved thee when living, and we love thy memory still. A list of the supporters of Mr. Kirkpatrick at the commencement of his pastorate over this United Con- gregation is here given. It is headed: Half year salary due May 1st, 1810: William Bellis, Sen., Cornelius Wyckoff, Jacob Sutfin, Sen., Jonathan Hill, INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776-1820 157 John Finley, Sally Schenck, Jacob Young, Wid. Wm. Mary Schenck, Isaiah Stout, Garret Schenck, Richard Williamson, John Smith, Peter Dilts, Andrew Bearder, Henry Young, John P. Young, Abraham Williamson, Jacob Kershaw, Jacob J. Johnson, William Young Weaver, Isaac Hill, Isaac Prall, Enos Lanning, Jeremiah Kershaw, Tunis Quick, Jr., Paul Kuhl, Sen., John Schenck, Captn. Leonard Cool, Jacob Sedam, George Dilts, Jacob Dilts, Widow John R. Schenck, Peter Risler, Esq., Leonard Cool, Sen., Ralph G. Schenck, Dr. John Brown, James Rowlin (Rowland?) Daniel Carrol, Abraham R. Sutfin, Henry Williamson, Christopher Kuhl, Peter Young, Sen., Jacob Case, Esq., William P. Young, William W. Young, Jonathan Hoagland, Mathias Housel, Peter Prall, John P. Quick, Jacob Case, Polly Van Hise, Jacob Fisher, Abraham Prall, Nathaniel Wilson, Joseph Higgins, Abraham Gulick, William Prall, John Skillman, John Young, John Key, Derrick D. Sutfin, Morcah Probasco, David Bishop, Titus Quick, Doctor Craven, Joseph Craven, iS8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Jacob Schenck, Isaac Taylor, William G. Schenck, Nathan Price, William Fisher, Tunis Quick, Sen. Jacob Young, Sen., Jacob J. A. Young, Collectors — John J. A. Young, George Dilt's list. $38.69 Lewis Chamberlin, Jacob Case's " 38.28 Widow Rebecca Schenck, Wm. Fisher's " 30.71 Peter H. Young, Paul Kuhl, Jr., $107.68 The subscriptions in the above run very low, caused doubtless in part by the large amount of funds held by the Church. These are Semi-annual subscriptions. The largest one is by David Bishop $3.00. The smallest is .33 of which there are several. Prevailing amount runs from $1.17 to $1.75 with five above $2.00 besides David Bishop's. There are 80 in all. To complete the list as time went on, November, 18 10, add John Kee and Jeremiah Geary. In 1812, Amos Hartley; November, 18 12, Widow of Nathaniel Wilson; 18 1 3, James Sutphin, Polly Williamson and Elizabeth Young. Collectors for 181 3 were Captain John Schenck, salary $3.13, also David Schenck, Titus Quick. 1814 collectors, Jacob Case, George Dilts, William Fisher and add Widow Henry Williamson. 1815, we have Dr. John Kendry. November, 1815, is the last time the Church has the subscription of David Bishop. February 5th, 1816, Trustees met at the house of Joseph Kugler and settled with the executors of David Bishop, deceased, late President, and received all the books belonging to the INTERMEDIATE PERIOD— 1776- 1820 159 First United Congregations of Amwell, and also received from the executors $1,424.25, being the balance due said United Congregation (Old Book, p. 73). PERIOD III. The Modern Period, i 820-1 900. n PERIOD III. THE SEVENTH PASTOR, THE REV. JOHN FLAVEL CLARK, 1820 — 1836. As Stated heretofore at a meeting of the United First Church March 19th, 1818, at the Stone House, it was decided to dissolve the connection existing between the German Church and the First Church, in order that each branch might elect Trustees for itself. We have no record of the trustees chosen, as the result of this motion. It is only stated that the Trustees of the First English Presbyterian Church of Amwell met at their meeting house April 24th, 1818, and that Titus Quick, President of the Trustees, received from George Dilts, late Presi- dent of the United Church, the money and books belong- ing to the First Church. Also that John P. Quick, Thomas Wilson and Tunis Quick were collectors of the salary to pay Mr. Kirkpatrick, who continued to serve the First Church as pastor, as heretofore until November. This implies that these three persons, together with Titus Quick, were four of said Trustees. The congregation of the First Church met October 1 2th, 181 8, with Jacob Young as President and John Kee as Clerk, in order to make arrangements to meet the Presbytery of Newton in conformity with their citation. The meeting then adjourned to meet October 26th. The following commissioners were then appointed to attend the meeting of the Presbytery of Newton the first Tues- day of November next, viz. : Tunis Quick, Enos Lanning, Abraham R. Sutphin, Jacob J. Young and John Kee. 1 64 AM WELL FIRST CHURCH The commissioners were instructed to use their endeavors to perpetuate the connection with the Second Church of Amwell in support of a minister of the gospel. This was an adjourned meeting of Presbytery and was held No- vember 3d at what was then the United First Church, which was the corporate title assumed by that Church after it severed its connection with Amwell First. As you know, the effort to continue the connection with the Second Church for the support of a pastor did not suc- ceed. Amwell First was thus left alone and without a pastor. 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- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 165 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 1 00). The clergymen who supplied the pulpit during the two years in which the church was without a pastor were 1 66 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 i6th, 18 19, 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 1 8th, 1 8 19, 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- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 167 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 1 68 AM WELL 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. * « * j 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 * * * [^ the appointment of a committee from your congregation ; of whom it may consist, the time THE MODERN PERIOD— i^ao-igoo 169 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 1st, 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 1 2th, 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 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 171 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 wll 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 1 81 6 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 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 173 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 1 8th, 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 AM WELL 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 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 175 show that John P. Quick filled that office from 1826 to April, 1 83 1, and George F. Wilson from November, 1 83 1, 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 AM WELL 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. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 177 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. tsaac 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 loth, 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 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 179 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 i8th, 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. November gth, 1826, Session again met at the home of Mrs. Sarah Wilson and spent the time in prayer and free conversation about the state of the church. November 3d, 1827, the Session met at the house of Mrs. Wilson near the church (this is Mrs. Mary Wil- son). Elders all present. Mrs. Lanning, wife of John i8o AMWELL FIRST CHURCH G. Lanning, produced a certificate from the Presbyterian Church at Chenango Point, New York, which being found in order, she was admitted to the membership of the church. April 15th, 1828, Mrs. Margaret Blue was received on examination. At a meeting of Session in 1828 it was resolved that pastoral visitation by the Session should have attention in efforts to promote the spiritual welfare of the church. Similar duties and observances were recommended on two or three other occasions while Mr. Clark was with the church. These endeavors show very deep concern and great faithfulness on the part of the pastor, and it is note- worthy that he secured the co-operation of the Elders. On the other hand the misdemeanors recorded and the several cases of discipline exercised at time for the most flagrant conduct, make it evident that there was reason for these measures. It is gratifying to know that such faithfulness had its reward. May I St, 1829, the Session received Mrs. Catharine Quick, wife of Samuel Quick, into church membership by letter from the Reformed Dutch Church of Millstone. October loth, 1829, we have a minute which shows how rigid the Session was in the administration of dis- cipline. We copy it as a part of the history and an ex- ample of the course pursued by the Session. A female member evidently of good social standing was charged by public rumor of having violated the seventh command- ment. At this meeting she voluntarily sent a letter to the Session ackncFwledging the guilt of which she was thus charged. Whereupon it was unanimously resolved that THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 i8i she be cut off from all the privileges of the church and her name be erased from the list of its members. Ordered further that the pastor address her a letter suitable to her case and informing her of the punishment inflicted on her. Usually it was added in cases of discipline, as our book requires, until the person gives satisfactory evidence of re- pentance. And it may be remarked that the many cases of discipline recorded, many of them for most flagrant conduct, make it evident that there was need of discipline. It is gratifying to know that the faithfulness on the part of pastor and elders had its reward. , In 1829 and 1830 the church was favored with precious seasons of revival. October 17th, 1829, the Session received on examina- tion ■ George F. Wilson and Lucretia, his wife, Gideon Quick and Sarah Fisher (first teacher in Sunday School) his wife, Jacob Schenck and Jane, his wife, Sarah, the wife of Lewis Labaw, and Ann, the wife of Jonathan Hoagland. November 28th, 1829, Session received on examination Lewis Labaw and Eliza Skillman to the sacrament of baptism and the Lord's Supper. December 1 2th, 1829, Alpheus Chamberlin and Cath- arine, his wife, Peter Young and Elizabeth, his wife, Jo- seph Sutphin and Mary, his wife, and Polhemus Higgins were received on examination. January 9th, 1830, John Holcomb, Alexander Mc- Gaw, Mrs. Margaret Stryker, Miss Julia Ann Case and Samuel, a man of color, were received to church member- ship after due examination. This is the last meeting at- tended by Elder Titus Quick. He acted as Clerk of Ses- i82 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH sion from the beginning of Mr. Clark's pastorate to the present time, the period of eight years and a few months. There is no record of his death in the minutes, but we find in the Trustee book that November 19th, 1832, Ger- shom Quick, his executor, had settled with the Treasurer of the church and paid over from his estate the balance due the church on his subscription. January 23d, 1830, William G. Schenck, Henry Schenck and Eliza, his wife, Peter Quick and Ann, his wife, and Abraham Prall, after careful examination, were received into church membership. The minute is signed by Elder John Hageman, who appears as the Clerk of Session. November 26th, 1 83 1, at the meeting of Session we find Peter Young and John R. Quick and George F. Wilson enrolled among the Elders, but we have no record of their election and ordination to this office. At this meeting the Session received on examination Joseph Van Marter, Jacob Polhemus, Eliza Prall, Charity Meldrum, Peggy Schenck, Debora Van Ness, Gabriel and Caleb Farley, men of color, and Caty, a woman of color. May 9th, 1832, Miss Margaret Bowman was received on examination. November 1 6th, 1832, the Session, after examination, received Miss Harriet Schenck, Miss Jane Schenck, Hart Wilson and Amelia, his wife, Mrs. Nathaniel Wilson, and Nean, a man of color. May 17th, 1833, in this minute we find that applicants for church membership were examined as to their views of docti-ine, and their experimental piety. At this meet- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 183 ing the Session received Mrs. Mary, wife of John Young, and Keziah, a woman of color. November 13th, 1833, received to sealing ordinance of the church, after examination, Jonathan Conover, John Young and Betty, a woman of color. Under this date of May 17th, 1833, there is an addi- tional minute stating that Elder Tunis Quick, charged with frequent litigation and detention of property after he had sold it, was by unanimous vote of Session sus- pended from the communion of the church. May 7th, 1834, the Session received on examination Frank, a man of color, belonging to Gideon Quick, and Miss Margaret Bowman. November 9th, 1834, Mrs. Sarah Ann Wilson, wife of Nathaniel Wilson, was received on examination into the membership of the church. May, 1836, Miss Gertrude Edwards was received on examination to church membership. This meeting was the last at which Mr. Clark was present. The whole number received by Mr. Clark on examina- tion was seventy-two and on certificate nine. The total membership of the church at the time of his leaving was eighty-eight. The church had reached the point of being able to support a pastor alone, and the steps had been taken for its accomplishment. A few facts must here be recorded not found in the Sessional records. For these we are indebted to Dr. Mott. "For almost sixteen years the union between Flemington Church and the Amwell First Church had existed harmoniously. Then on March 4th, 1836, a com- munication was received from the mother church express- 1 84 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH ing the kindest feelings and grateful remembrances of the pleasant associations of the past, but stating in their judg- ment the time had come when the interests of each con- gregation would be best served by a discontinuance of this relation; it added that they desired the entire services of a pastor. They requested that the union might be dis- solved at the approaching meeting of Presbytery in April. This feeling had been forming for four years previous. Hence it was not a sudden impulse, nor did it grow out of any friction between these churches. On the gth of April the Flemington congregation formerly concurred in the request. On the 2ist of April the Flemington con- gregation met and made out a call to Mr. Clark asking for his whole time and offering as salary $500. A similar call wia sextended to Mr. Clark by the mother church. The Presbytery of Newton met at Harmony, Warren County, on the 26th of April. These calls each for Mr. Clark's whole time were placed in his hands on the 27th. Thereupon he signified his acceptance of the call from Amwell First, and requested that the pastoral relation between himself and the Flemington Church might be dis- solved. The request was granted. For these acts of Presbytery I am indebted to Rev. E. Clark Cline, Stated Clerk. The hopes inspired by Mr. Clark's acceptance of the call from Amwell were soon disappointed, since Mr. Clark remained as sole pastor of our church for only a few months. The relation terminated December 27th, 1836. The only reference to this in the minutes is the following, viz., that "the Session met January 15th, 1837, at the house of John P. Quick, and was opened with THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 185 prayer; and then the minutes add that our former pastor, Rev. Mr. Clark, having left us to labor in Paterson, N. J., Elder George Fisher Wilson was unanimously chosen Chairman of the Session." To return to Mr. Clark he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Pater- son. He remained at Paterson for six years. He then accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of Oyster Bay, L. I., recently become famous as the summer home of President Roosevelt. The pastorate at Oyster Bay con- tinued for only one year. His next settlement was as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Fishkill village, Duchess County, N. Y., vrhere he labored for eight years. He died in this charge in 1853 at the age of sixty-nine years. The Rev. John Flavel Clark came to this church at a time of great difficulty in the church and great depression in the country. The life of the church was at a low ebb. Having previously had the services and support of a pas- tor for only one-fourth of his time for many years the financial ability of the church was almost wholly unde- veloped. The large funds in the hands of the church doubtless led to this indifference, creating a tendency to depend on the funds in hand, rather than to give them- selves to work in hand. By God's blessing on the pas- tor's labors the church was eventually much revived and felt the thrill of a new spiritual life. As a conse- quence, the church began to realize her ability and be- come willing to perform her duty. By degrees the desire was begotten for a pastor's whole time and the church was ready to assume his support. In addition to this the congregation was getting ready to undertake the building 1 86 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH of a new church. Further, to Mr. Clark belongs the honor of having organized our Sabbath School. The date of the organization has not been preserved, but we have been able, with the help of the late Mr. Jacob Quick, to assign its origin to the year 1828, with the assurance that this date is substantially, if not absolutely correct. The statement of Mr. Quick was this: That he attended the Sabbath School when first organized and that his mother, Mrs. Sarah Fisher Quick (wife of Gideon), and Paul Kuhl were teachers. It was his recollection that he was ten years of age at the time. This gave us the date as aboye. George Fisher Wilson and John Hageman were also teachers at this early period. This opinion of Jacob was concurred in by his brother, Elder Caleb Farley Quick. Also it is to be remembered that Mr. Clark (at the time pastor of the Flemington Church alone) was present at and > delivered an address at the organization of the Hunterdon County Bible Society in 18 16. Mr. Clark was also the first pastor of this church to secure regular contributions to the cause of missions. Be- fore this time there had, in fact, been collections for mis- sions, and the first pastors of the church, at times, left the church for months at a time and did missionary work in destitute places under the appointment of Presbytery. The work then was largely among the Indians of our own and neighboring states. Contributions were also secured for the education of young men for the ministry. But the work was more or less irregular. Mr. Clark gave to this effort a degree of system and regularity. The collections at first were indeed small, being as low as two dollars a THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 187 year, then up to ten. But in 1832, soon after the revival Amwell and Flemington each gave $25 to missions. Col- lections were also taken for the Bible Society, for the education of young men to the ministry, and for the Theological Seminary at Princeton. The great achieve- ment, however, was to get the movement fairly started. Having said so much of the pastor, a few statements con- cerning Mr. Clark's personal history will certainly be appropriate. John Flavel Clark was the eldest of the three sons of Dr. Joseph Clark, who was pastor of the First Presby- terian Church of New Brunswick from 1796 to 18 13. John graduated from Princeton College in 1807, holding rank among the first scholars in his class. After gradua- tion, he was engaged in teaching for some time in Georgia. He began the study of divinity at Andover in 18 10, and there became acquainted with Newell, Mills and Judson, the pioneers in the cause of foreign missions. Before his course of study was completed, he was chosen tutor at Princeton College and held the position for three years. He pursued his theological studies in the meantime under Dr. Ashbel Green, President of the College. From this position he was called to Flemington as a Stated Supply for three months, beginning in November, 18 14, at the rate of $600 a year. This resulted in his being called to become pastor, and he was ordained and installed over that church June 14th, 1815. He became Supply for Amwell First in 1820. His connection with this church for the next sixteen years has been described. Of the sev- enty-three persons received into the membership of the church on examination and six on certificate, not one is i88 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH now with us. But many of our older people who sat under his ministry in their youth well remember him and his wife. It was my privilege to attend the semi-centennial anni- versary of the Presbytery of Newton in 1867. Rev. D. X. Junkin, D. D., delivered the historical discourse on that occasion. Of his friend, John Flavel Clark, he said: "Many here will remember his large, portly frame, his pleasant beaming countenance, his genial companionship, his exhaustless fund of anecdote, his kindly, generous heart, his clear, loud and commanding voice, his impres- sive appearance and solemn manner in the pulpit. He was a good preacher and a good man. Some were of opinion that his wonderful powers of wit and anecdotal conversation impaired his usefulness, but as far as my ob- servation extended this power was kept under the restraint of good taste and piety, and whilst it made him the life of the social circle, I never saw it interfere with the graver duties of his ministry." I deem it appropriate to add a word concerning Mrs. Clark, since the wife of the pastor has often a difficult position to fill and upon her faithfulness in the home duties, as well as those which pertain to her as a member of the church very much of her husband's standing and usefulness depends. Mrs. Clark was a sister to the late Mrs. Jane Maxwell Green, of Easton, to whose daughter I was married in i860. She was also a sister of the late John Maxwell Sherrerd, for years a leader of the bar in Belvidere, and also a most useful and highly honored Elder in the Presbyterian Church there. While I did not have the privilege of an acquaintance with this uncle and THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 189 aunt, I have naturally come to know something of them personally. Mary Sherrerd, wife of Rev. John F. Clark, was the daughter of Samuel Sherrerd and Ann Maxwell, his wife, of Pleasant Valley, Warren County, N. J. She was the granddaughter of Captain John Maxwell, of the Revolutionary Army. Captain Maxwell, though of in- ferior rank, was not inferior in his patriotism to his more distinguished brother. General William Maxwell, a mem- ber of Washington's staff. In the darkest hour of the conflict, when Washington was retreating through the Jerseys, Captain Maxwell raised a company of one hun- dred men in and around Greenwich, and with these, ten- dered his services to the great chieftain. He was present at and had a part in the battles of Trenton, Princeton Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Springfield. The Rev. Joseph Clark, D. D., father of John Flavel Clark, served on Washington's staff during the Revolu- tion. This gives you a glimpse of the patriotic blood in the veins of this honored pastor and his wife. And if the piety and good judgment of Mrs. Clark were like that of her sisters and her brother, of which I have no doubt, then she was as true to her Saviour as grandparents were to their country. Her son. Dr. Samuel Clark, late of Belvidere, was an honor to these godly parents, and their grandson. Judge Flavel Magee, of Jersey City, and an Elder in the First Church there, is also continuing in the ways of his pious ancestors.* Those who have inherited the labors, the faithfulness and the prayers of such a pas- tor as Rev. John F. Clark, have reason for gratitude to *Written in 1898. Judge Magee has since died. I90 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH God, and surely have a strong incentive to unswerving fidelity to the Saviour. THE EIGHTH PASTOR, REV. DAVID HULL, 1837— 1844- The pastoral relation betw^een Amwell First Church and the Rev. John Flavel Clark having been dissolved December 27th, 1836, the Session met January 15th, 1837, when Elder George F. Wilson was elected Chair- man of Session, and John Hageman, Clerk. March 14th, 1837, at a meeting of the Session, the Chairman was directed to invite the Rev. David Hull to preach for this church as a candidate. Mr. Hull was a young man who had been ordained as, an evangelist the previous year by the Presbytery of Northumberland. At a meeting of the Session, held April 12th, 1837, the record of which states that Mr. Hull having preached several times for us it was decided to receive him as a supply for six months, and George F. Wilson, the delegate to Presby- tery, was instructed to ask Presbytery to appoint him to this service. Mr. Hull was received by the Presbytery of Newton April 25th, 1837, from the Presbytery of North- umberland, and the above request was granted. The Amwell First Church presented a call for the pas- toral services of the Rev. David Hull to the Presbytery of Newton, in session at Flemington, October 4th, 1837, and arrangements were made for his installation Novem- ber 23d following. At this service the Rev. John Mc- Nalr, of Milford, was appointed to preside and preach the sermon. Rev. D. X. Junkin, of Greenwich, to charge THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 191 the pastor, and the Rev. James M. Olmstead, of Flem- ington to charge the people. The installation took place as thus arranged and once more the church was equipped for action. The congregation met at the church April 26th, 1838, with George F. Wilson as Moderator and John Hage- man as Clerk. The following persons were then elected to the ofBce of Trustees, viz.: Peter P. Quick, Joseph Van Marter, Gideon Quick, Jonathan H. Conover, Lewis Labaw, Jacob W. Schenck and George P. Rex, M. D. The President of the Board, Peter P. Quick, reported on the funds of the church as follows: Principal, $2,800, and interest due May ist, 1838, $195.60. At a meeting of the congregation held at the church November 4th, 1837, with John Hageman as Moderator and Peter Prall Secretary, a motion was made to build a new meeting house at or near Greenville. After discussion, the meeting adjourned to meet the first Staurday in January, 1838. The congregation as- sembled, accordingly, and chose Jonathan H. Conover Moderator, and Peter Prall Secretary. The subject was again discussed and the meeting adjourned to the lOth day of February. At this meeting John Hageman was chosen Moderator and George B. Smith Secretary. The original motion was called up, when it was unanimously decided to be expedient to build a meeting house at or near Greenville. The following committee was appointed to secure sub- scriptions, viz: George F. Wilson, Gideon Quick, Jacob F. Prall, Jacob W. Schenck, and George P. Rex., M. D. 192 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH The congregation met June 2nd following, when the committee reported having secured subscriptions amount- ing to $1,629.00. It was also stated by the committee that the uncertainty about the location was assigned by many persons as a reason for not subscribing. At the same time the committee expressed great satisfaction with the liberal subscriptions received, and the promise of further help as the work progressed. As the matter then stood eleven of those who had subscribed resided west of the church, and sixty-one on the east side. If the new church should be located at Greenville, twenty-seven would reside on the west and forty-four on the east side. This indicated Greenville as the more central location. It was then resolved that, inasmuch as only about one- half the sum needed for a new church had been sub- scribed, and that as there was great inequality in the subscriptions, that we appropriate so much of the prin- cipal of the church funds as may be necessary to erect a new house of worship, at or near Greenville. This mo- tion was unanimously adopted. An adjourned meeting of the congregation was held June gth, at the schoolhouse in Greenville, at which John P. Quick was chosen Mod- erator and George F. Wilson Secretary. David S. Man- ners, Daniel Johnson and George P. Rex, M. D., were appointed a committee to ascertain whether it would be cheaper to build a brick or a frame building. And John Hageman and Peter P. Young were appointed to wait upon Jacob Williamson, Esq., and Mrs. Mary Manners to see if land could be procured for the church, and at what price. This committee reported that a half acre ;-. " THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 193 could be procured from the former for $100, and from the latter it could be obtained gratuitously. The congregation again met, August i8th, 1838, with John Hageman Moderator, and George P. Rex. Sec- retary. It was decided at this meeting to erect a build- ing 42 feet by 56, and that it be put up by contract. John Hageman, George F. Wilson, Gideon Quick, Ja- cob W. Schenck, and George P. Rex., M. D., were ap- pointed a committee to make the contract. The congregation met April 6th, 1839, in the old meeting house, wihen Jonathan H. Conover was chosen Moderator, and George P. Rex Secertary. Peter P. Quick, Joseph Van Marter and Jonathan H. Conover tendered their resignation as Trustees for the congrega- tion. Their resignation was accepted, and Anthony L. Case, Jacob F. Prall and Ralph Young were elected to supply the vacancy. Abraham Prall, Sr., John P. Quick and Gfeorge F. Wilson were appointed a committee to select the location for the church from the lots already reported on. While their choice is not recorded, we know that the church was erected on the land purchased from Jacob Williamson, Esq. We know also from the receipts preserved that the contract for building the church was given to Jacob Voorhees. A meeting of the Trustees was held April 13th, 1839, when Anthony L. Case, Jacob F. Prall and Ralph Young were sworn in as Trustees according to law, by James S. Manners, Esq. The Trustees then chose Anthony L. Case as president of the Board. We do not have a minute stating the amount for which the erection of the building was contracted, but 13 194 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH from tradition we learn that it included the free use of all avaifable material from the old church. The con- tractors evidently agreed to pay for the work in three equal payments. For one of these we have the following receipt : July 15 th, 1839. Rec'd from Anthony L. Case, one of the Trustees of the First English Presbyterian Church of Amwell, by order of the Contracting Committee, sev- en hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, be- ing the second payment in full for building the church at Greenville. Jacob Voorhees. This would give $2,300 as the cash payment for build- ing the church. The last receipt is as follows: Received from Anthony L. Case one hundred and sev- enty-five dollars, in full for painting the meeting house in Greenville; also three dollars and fifty cents for put- ting the numbers on the seats, and painting around the drum, being in full of all claims and demands whatso- ever against said congregation, from the beginning of the world to the present time. Dec. 25th, 1839. Jacob Voorhees. Having a new church and all paid for should have made a merry Christmas for the fathers and mothers of that day. It is worthy of notice that the old church had stood for just one hundred years, having been erected, as we have shown, in 1739. Changing the location and building a new church was also an event of great importance in the early years of THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 195 Mr. Hull's pastorate. Yet it does not appear that any notice was taken by him and the congregation of this contennial in the church's history. It was in this same year, 1839, that the Synod of New Jersey, October i6th, set off certain churches from the Presbytery of Newton, and directed these churches to meet, by their representatives, on the first Thursday in November at Flemington, and organize themselves into a separate Presbytery. This meeting took place accord- ingly, when the following pastors were present, viz: Jo- seph Campbell, Jacob Kirkpatrick, Peter O. Studiford, Holloway W. Hunt, Jr., James W. Almstead, James Scott, David Hull, Albert Williams, William Mc Jimp- sey and Joseph Wood. 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 196 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 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 a.«sembly had existed as an organization for fifty years, our church had just taken dow)n 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 1 8th, 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- am an. John R. Young, Moderator, George P. Rex, Secretary. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 197 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 Amwiell 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- 198 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 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 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 t^^ 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 ofBce, viz : Anthony L. Case, 200 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 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, givert 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, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 201 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 loth, 1842, when it was decided to make an effort immediately to raise by subscription the amount due the pastor since May 1st. This shows us that even in that day of "the 202 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 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 esttra 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. C. P. Brokaw, Secretary. And yet it was found necessary at the next annual THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 203 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, ^ 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 2ist, 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, 204 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 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 oiBcers 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 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 205 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 i6th, 1844. The membership of the church when Mr. Hull began his ministry, was eighty-eight. The following persons were 2o6 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH received into the membership of the Church during, his pastorate : June 1st, 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 BelHs, 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. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 207 August 1st, 1840, on certificate, Ralph Sutphin and Catharine, his wife. December loth, 1840, on examination, Miss Elizabeth Hagaman. June 5th, 1841, on examination, Mrs. Elizabeth Young. June 5th, 1 84 1, on certificate, Mrs. Wilelmina Schenck. November nth, 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 i6th, 1842, on examination, Harriet Phillips and Gertrude Nevius. October 1 6th, 1842, on certificate, Mrs. Jane Hull, wife of the pastor from the Warior Run Church. February nth, 1843, on examination, Miss Nancy C. Schenck, Kuhl Dilts, Jacob W. Nevius and Mary D. Hudnut. March gth, 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. But- 2o8 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 1st, 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 1st, 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 i6th, 1844. During the pastorate of Mr. Hull sixty-nine persons were received on examination, and six on certificate. This THE MODERN PERIOD— 1 820-1900 209 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 2IO 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 i6th, 1844. He was stated supply at Nippenose, Pa., from THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 211 '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 i860; 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 1 868 to 1872; resided at Williamsport in poor health for several years and died at Alexander, Arkansas, August 1 2th, 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 ofKce 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, 3nd was moderated by the Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, 212 AM WELL 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. The Session held its first meeting with Mr. Carrell as Moderator, November 30th, 1844. A singular thing for a first meeting then occurred. A charge of unchris- tian conduct was laid against a member of the church. He was brought before the Session, acknowledged his offence, professed repentance, and promised to be more on his guard in the future. He was admonished by the Moderator, and thus the case was dropped. We now call attention to some matters of interest per- taining to the congregation, though it may here be re- marked that during Mr. Carrell's pastorate very little beyond regular routine business was transacted, either by THE) MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 213 the congregation or the Session. The Trustees elected in February, 1844, chose John E. Holcombe as President and Treasurer, which office he held continuously by re- election, of course, until 1856. The Trustees during this period, as far as the rec- ords show, were in 1 847 ; three new ones elected, viz ; Jacob Y. Quick, Zebulon Stout and Reading Smith; March 24th, 1851, the Board elected was John E. Hol- combe, Paul K. Dilts, Zebulon Stout, John Quick, Rob- ert R. Smith, N. Wilson Young and John L. Bellis; March 27th, 1852, the Board was John E. Holcombe, John Sharp, Zebulon Stout, John Quick, Robert R. Smith, David Y. Bellis and William Sheppard; March loth, 1853, we have John E. Holcombe, John Sharp, John Quick, John Y. Bellis, Jacob F. Prall, Ketenus Young and David Bellis; March 8th, 1855, the Trus- tees elected were John E. Holcombe, Jacob Van Derveer, Gideon Quick, John W. Phillips, P. Prall Quick, John Schenck and Derrick Sutphin; in 1856 we have as the Board, Ralph Sutphin, Gideon Quick, Jacob K. Van Der- veer, John W. Phillips, P. P. Quick, Dr. Simeon S. Dana and Derrick Sutphin. Of the meeting that chose this Board Peter C. Schenck was Chairman and John E. Holcombe Secretary. Peter P. Quick was elected President of the Board and Treasurer; March i8th, 1857, the Board chosen was Gideon Quick, Jacob K. Van Der- veer, Caleb F. Quick, James P. Chamberlin, Zebulon Stout, Derrick Sutphin and John Y. Bellis. Of this Board Jacob K. Van Derveer was made President and Treasurer; March 20th, 1858, the Trustees elected were Gideon Quick, Jacob K. Van Derveer, Zebulon Stout, 214 AM WELL FIRST CHURCH Derrick Sutphin, John Y. Bellis, Jacob W. Nevius and William B. Prall; March 26th, 1859, the Board of the previous year was re-elected, with Mr. Van Derveer Pres- ident and Treasurer in both cases. Returning now to the records of the Session we gather the following facts February 15th, 1845. The Session received into the membership of the church on certificate Edward L. and Rachel S. Reed, Mrs. Mary S. Carrell, wife of pastor, and Mrs. Rhoda Quick. May 31st. On certificate: Garret Schenck and Ann, his wife, Dr. George P. Rex and Gertrude, his wife, were received on certificate from the North Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia; on examination, Ketenus Young and Mrs. Ellen Jane Case, wife of John Case. September 17th, 1845. On certificate: Miss Maria Nevius, wife of Gilbert Van Camp, and Mrs. Catharine Schomp, wife of Jacob Nevius, Jr. January loth, 1846. On examination: Mrs. Ann Schenck, wife of Peter C. Schenck, Mrs. Anna Maria Van Marter, wife of William Van Marter, and Mrs. Hannah Nevius, wife of Lanning Nevius, and Miss Sa- rah Hagaman. At this meeting the following action was taken: "The Session feels called upon, in the Providence of God, to record the death of Elder John P. Quick, who departed this life December 30th, 1845, in the 76th year of his age, and adds, he was a good man of humble piety. By his death the Session and the whole church have sustained a serious loss." April 9th, 1846. Received on examination: Jacob THE MODERN PERIOD— 18201900 215 Q. Spadin, William Sheppard, Nelson Warner, Hannah Prall, Susan Stout, Rebecca Young, Mary Waldron, Leah Hoagland, John Y. Bellis, Elizabeth Ann Bellis, Thomas Wilson, Susanah Wilson, Josiah Young and Mary Young. Six of these had not been baptized. April nth, 1846. John Phillips, Martha M. Phillips, Nathaniel Wilson Young, John Van Ess, Jacob F. Quick, Christianna Quick, John Quick, Fran- ces Quick, Albertus Bird, Lucretia Bird, Sarah Ann Bird, Catharine Griggs, Ellen Schenck, Theo- dosia Schenck, Mary Nevius, Catharine Holcombe, Sarah Catharine Norman and Elizabeth Myers. Thirteen of these were admitted to both sacraments. Also the fol- lowing persons of color, viz : James Williamson, Charles Wilson, Catharine Hagaman and Catharine William- son. September 19th, 1846. Miss Hannah Bowman, and on certificate, Mrs. Jane Sheppard, wife of William Shep- pard, and Mrs. Eleanor Knouse. April, 1847. On examination: Isaac Young and Sarah Kinney, wife of Hankinson Kinney. August 29th, 1847. On certificate from the Baptist Church in Ovid, N. Y. : Mr. Waterman Thomas. Al- so on certificate: Mrs. Maria Johnson and Mrs. Ann Quick, wife of Abraham Quick. April 8th, 1848. On examination: John Brown and Mrs. Sarah Jane Wyckoff, wife of John WyckofI; on certificate: Mrs. Ann Brewster. August 19th, 1849. On certificate: Miss Elizabeth Young. November 19th, 1849. On examination: Mrs. Cath- 2i6 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH arine D. Stryker, wife of Alexander Stryker, and Miss Elizabeth Little. April 14th, 1849. Mrs. Elizabeth Young, wife of Ketenus Young; on certificate: Garret Schenck and Ann, his wife, and their daughters, Ellen and Theodosia; also Mrs. Maria Lanning, Mrs. Peter Case and Dinah, a woman of color. August nth, 1849. On certificate: Obadiah Howell Hayard. April 3rd, 1852. On examination: Abram Young and Clarinda, his wife, Mary Wood, Harriet Atkinson, Mary West, Anna Higgins, Sarah D. Young, Sarah Holcombe and Mary Graff, and on certificate, Mrs. Eliz- abeth Chamberlin, wife of Prall Chamberlin. September 25th, 1852. On examination: Miss Le- titia Wilson. October 29th, 1852. Elder George F. Wilson who had served the church as elder since 1831, and Clerk of the Session since 1836, requested for himself and his wife, a letter of dismission to the Amwell United First Church. March 21st, 1853. The Session decided, after fre- quent deliberation, to call a meeting of the church at Reaville, April 14th, 1853, in order, if the way be clear, to elect additional persons to the eldership of the church. In this minute we have the first mention in our records of the name Reaville. The previous minutes for many years had been headed Greenville, and before that simply Amwell. On account of severe storm April 14th, the meeting appointed adjourned without further action to the 30th of April for the election of elders. But the Session met THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 217 April 1 6th, when ^drew Alpaugh, and Mrs. Julia Dana were received on certificate. The church met April 30th at the call of the Ses- sion and elected the following persons - to the office of Ruling Elder, viz: John E. Holcombe, William Wal- dron and Ralph Sutphin. These persons were set apart and ordained to this sacred office May 29th, 1853. September 24th, 1853. Received on certificate: Jo- seph C. Huff and Margaret Ann, his wife. Peter C. Schenck, Clerk. May 13th, 1854. On examination: Jacob K. Van Derveer, Peter Case, Clarinda Labaw and Sarah Labaw. October 20th, 1854. Miss Ellen Young, daughter of Josiah Young. April 14th, 1855. Horace Nelson, and on certificate, Cornelius Wyckoff and Sarah V., his wife. The Session at this date records the death of John W. Bellis, one of the deacons of this church, who de- parted this life in March, 1855, in the 73rd year of his age, in whose death the church has sustained a serious loss. September, 1855. On examination: Martha Ellen Nevius, wife of Christian Nevius. February 17th, 1856. Elder John Hagaman, who had served the church as elder since 1822, requested a certifi- cate of dismission, as he was about to remove to the State of Illinois. June 6th, 1857. Received on certificate: Mrs. Mary Hudnut and Mrs. Alpaugh. 2i8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH April 20th, 1858. On certificate: Mr. John Soms and wife. The Session "records the death of Jacob Nevius, Sr., one of the elders of this church, who departed this life (day not given) in 1857, at the advanced age of 86. He died, calmly trusting in his Redeemer." October loth, 1858. Received on examination: Mrs. Sarah Parker, wife of William Parker. January 28th, 1859. On examination: Jacob S. Prall and Rebecca, his wife, James P. Foote and Miss Hannah Soms, and on certificate, Miss Lewis Chamber- lin, Mrs. Elizabeth Stout and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Dun- gan. April 3rd, 1859. The pastor announced to the Ses- sion his intention to apply to Presbytery on the 12th of April, to dissolve the pastoral relation between himself and the Church, and requested the Session to call a meet- ing of the congregation to hear his statement and appoint commissoiners. The Session met the afternoon of the same day at Reaville and took the following action, viz: "The Session is called upon in the Providence of God to record the death of Elder John E. Holcombe, who de- parted this life on the 17th day of February, 1859, in the 51st year of his age. The deceased was eminently a good man. As a leader of song in the church, as Super- intendent of the Sabbath School, as a regular attendant on the prayer meetings, as a useful member of the church and society where his example was always on the side of virtue and religion, he will be greatly missed." Well might they exclaim at the death of such a man, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 219 "Help, Lord, for the Godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from the children of men." "The Session also records with gratitude the fact that the contributions to missionary purposes have, for the last two years, doubled those of former years, and we believe this is owing to the faithfulness and increased energy with which the pastor has urged the duty of beneficence upon all the professed followers of Christ." I am sure any pastor would prefer a testimony of the faithfulness to duty like that to the formal resolutions of compliment and regret, which are often passed by congre- gations under similar circumstances. The congregation assembled at Reaville on the 5 th of April, 1859, at the call of the Session; heard the pas- tor's statement of his purpose to tender his resignation, and requested the appointment of commissioners to join him in the request to Presbytery in this matter. Peter P. Young and William Waldron were appointed as com- missioners to Presbytery. The Presbytery of Raritan on hearing the request of the pastor and commissioners, did on the I2th day of April, 1859, at Frenchtown, dissolve the pastoral relation existing between the Rev. Benjamin Carrell and the First English Presbyterian Church of Amwell. As we have gathered from the records of Session, there were received into the membership of the church during Mr. Carrell's pastorate, extending from 1844 to 1859: On examination 70 On certificate 38 Making a total of 108 220 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH There was on the roll, when Mr. Carrell came. Making 276 Dismissed to other churches 29 Leaving as the actual roll 247 The church reported to Presbytery, however, only. 150 To account for the difference, several were removed by discipline, there being eleven cases of discipline during this pastoral; many others were removed by death, but not recorded. To these is to be added that from year to year members move away without taking their letters, and so lose their membership. This doubtless occurred here. The church reported for 1850 a total membership of 180. In 1853, 168, in 1855 160, and in 1856 and 1857, each 150. Other statistics are as follows In 1853 Domestic Missions $17, Foreign Missions $18, education $28, and congregational expenses $2,000. In 1856 Domestic Missions $28, Foreign Missions $30, education $30, congregational $550. In 1857 Domestic Missions $24, Foreign Mission $24, education $20, congregational $700. In 1858 Domestic Missions $50, Foreign Missions $40, congregational $650. During these years the miscellaneous contributions, which included gifts to the Hunterdon County Bible So- ciety, and other undenominational work, were $70, $100, $50 and $40. It is worthy of remark that the mention of Elder Hoi- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 221 combe as Superintendent of the Sabbath School is the first time the word "Sabbath School" is found on the rec- ords of the church. The report to Presbytery, however, state the number of the children, which implies the ex- istence of the Sabbath School. In 1857 the number was 120, and in 1858, 125. Benjamin Carrell was born at Tinicum, Bucks County, Pa., January i6th, 1810. He began his studies in prep- aration for college with the Rev. P. O. Studdiford, D. D., at Lambertville, N. J. He entered Union College in 1832, graduated in 1834, entered Princeton Theological Seminary in the fall of 1834, graduated in 1837. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Second Presby- tery of Philadelphia in April, 1837; w^^ transferred to the Presbytery of Huntingdon and installed pastor of Waynesburg and Newton Hamilton, October, 1838. Dur- ing his pastorate of these churches, there was a most precious revival of religion, as a result of which 120 per- sons united with the churches, and this gracious work con- tinued until the church at Newton Hamilton was filled to overflowing. He was installed pastor of Amwell First Church, November, 1844, and resigned April, 1859. Health failing he removed to Lambertville. In 1864 he became stated supply of Rosemont and Stockton, in which he remained until 1870; was stated supply at Plumstead- ville, Pa., from '70 to '72; pastor of Kingwood, N. J., from 1873 to 1877. In infirm health he removed again to Lambertville, where he died August 26th, 1881. It was my privilege to be acquainted with Mr. Carrell. He was a godly man. Sound in the faith, and devoted to the Master's cause. His voice was loud, but metalic 222 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH rather than melodious, and his manner almost oppres- sively solemn. Here again in our walk about Zion we have seen another of the workmen, now laboring in the vineyard, and now going home to rest, after abundant labors and a large ingathering. THE TENTH PASTOR, REV. GEORGE P. VAN VVTfCK, i860— 1862. Once more the Church was without a pastor and, as usual, the pulpit was filled by supplies who were members of the Presbytery. This state of things continued from April to the end of the year. During this period two or three candidates were heard. One of these was Rev. George P. Van Wyck. He was chosen as the next pas- tor. A special meeting of the Presbytery of Raritan was held at Lambertville, N. J., January 17th, i860, when the Rev. George P. Van Wyck was received as a mem- ber of Presbytery from the Presbytery of Carlisle, and the call of the Amwell First Church was placed in his hands by the Presbytery. The call being accepted, ar- rangements were made for his installation at Reaville, Tuesday, January 31st, i860. This service took place, as thus appointed. At this service the Rev.- Edwin Town preached the sermon from n. Cor. 4:1, 2. The Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick presided, proposed the constitutional questions, and delivered the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. John L. Janeway the charge to the people. On the 27th of March ensuing, the annual meeting of the congregation was held. Of this meeting Peter C. Schenck was Chairman, and Jacob S. Prall Secretary. The Trustees chosen at this meeting THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 223 were John Quick, John L. Case, Zebulon Stout, William Sutphin, John H. Phillips, Jacob W. Nevius and Wil- liam B. Prall. John L. Case was chosen President and Treasurer. We have noticed the large number received into the membership of the Church during the pastorate of Mr. Carrell. But when the Session came to gather up the statistics of the Church for the year and report to Pres- bytery in April, only two months after Mr. Van Wyck's installation, the report shows there had been a very large falling away from the membership of the Church. In 1859 the Church reported 150 members, and now, in i860, it reports only 106, with 100 children in the Sabbath School. Very few of the collections had been taken during the year in which there was no pastor. At the first meeting of Session under Mr. Van Wyck, held February nth, it was decided to observe the Sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper three times in the year, and secondly, "that on those Sabbaths on which the pastor might be absent for recreation, personal business or church duties," the Session would furnish supplies for the pul- pit. The Session received into Church membership March lOth, i860, on certificate Mr. Edwin Bartow and Mary, his wife, and Mr. Nathan Solomon. September 21st, i860. Session received, on examina- tion, Christopher J. Dillon and Catharine, his wife. Miss Catharine Sutphin, Thomas Hall and Jacob Hall, his brother, and on certificate, Mrs. William Bellis, and on the 22nd, Mrs. Jane Y. White, widow. 224 amweLl first church February 6th, 1861. Session received, on examination, Miss Elizabeth Young. The Church reported in April, 112 members; 120 in Sabbath School; congregational expenses, $835; contri- butions to Domestic Missions, $25, to Foreign Missions, $26, and miscellaneous, $65. March 28th, 1862. Received on certificate: William S. Higgins and Ellen M. Wolverton. Peter C. Schenck, Clerk. September nth, 1862. Session convened at the pas- tor's study. Clover Hill. The pastor stated that in con- sequence of long continued sickness during the Summer he felt unfitted to perform the duties of his office. The Session thereupon resolved to request supplies from the Presbytery that the pastor might obtain rest and resto- ration to health. October 13th, The pastor informed the Session that as there had been no improvement in his health during his vacation, that after prayerful consideration of the mat- ter, he thought best not to ask Presbytery for supplies, but to dissolve the pastoral relation, and requested Ses- sion to call a congregational meeting at Clover Hill at an early day, and take action on this matter. The congregation was called to meet accordingly Oc- tober 20th, 1862. The pastor laid before the meeting a communication in which he expressed the strongest at- tachment to the congregation and the delight he had ex- perienced in his labors among them, but that he felt con- strained because of his impaired health to ask the Church THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 225 to unite with him in a request to Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relation existing between them. The con- gregation replied by expressing very warm affection for the pastor, and regret for the necessity which leads the pastor to seek to be released from the pastorate of this Church. But in view of the facts the congregation agreed to concur in this request, and Messrs. John Quick and Ralph Sutphin were appointed commissioners to lay this action before Presbytery. Pursuant to this action the Presbytery of Raritan, dur- ing the intervals of Synod at Rahway, did, on the 22nd of October, 1862, dissolve the pastoral relation existing between George P. Van Wyck and the First English Presbyterian Church in Amwell. The Rev. George P. Van Wyck was bom at Bloom- ingburg, Sullivan County, New York, June 24th, 1821. He was prepared for college at the academy in his na- tive town. He graduated at Rutgers College in 1840, and from the Theological Seminary of the same place in 1843. He was pastor at Port Jervis for nine years. Health failing he went South, settled in Berlin, Md., where he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church for two years. His next field of labor was Gettysburg, Pa., where he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church. He was received by the Presbytery of Raritan, January 17th, i860, and installed pastor of Amwell First Pres- byterian Church January 31st, i860. The pastoral re- lation was dissolved October 20th, 1862. After leaving Amwell he entered the army as chaplain in the loth Legion, or 56th, N. Y. Regiment, and con- tinued in the service until October, 1865. He was after- 16 226 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH ward called to take charge of the Church in Jamestown, N. Y., but declined. He accepted an appointment as chaplain in the Regular Army in 1867, and continued in the same until retired. As a retired officer of the Army he now resides at Washington, D. C. I had the pleas- ure of meeting Mr. Van Wyck, his wife and son, then a young man, at Milford, Pa., during our vacation in 1896. He was then in poor health, but upon learning of my residence he was very courteous towards us, and mani- fested very great interest in the people of Amwell among whom he had labored in the years gone by. While the Church was yet vacant the Session met Oc- tober 25th, 1862, and received, on examination, George Young. At a meeting of the First English Presbyterian con- gregation of Amwell, held December i8th, 1862, it was agreed to dissolve the union that had existed since 1840 be- tween what had been the Reformed Church at Clover Hill, and the Amwell First Church. Of this meeting our rec- ords are not very complete. But, as we learn from the minutes of the Presbytery of Raritan, a meeting of that Presbytery wa sheld at Reaville, at the call of the Mod- erator, duly made, on the second Tuesday of January, 1863, at II o'clock. The object of this meeting, as stated in the call, was to receive and act on the applica- tion of certain members in full communion of the First Presbyterian Church of Amwell, praying that they, with ruling elders, Peter C. Schenck and Ralph Sutphin, be set off and constituted a distinct Church, to be called the Presbyterian Church of Clover Hill. The chair was THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 227 taken at this meeting of Presbytery by the Moderator, the Rev. Joseph Rogers, of Frenchtown, and constituted with prayer. The Moderator stated the object of the meeting as set forth in the call. A petition, signed by thirty-four (34) members in full communion of the First Presbyterian Church of Amwell, praying the Presbytery to constitute them into a distinct Church as above des- cribed, was then presented. Satisfying evidence was given to Presbytery that at the meeting of the First English Congregation of Amwell, held December i8th, 1862, it was voted unanimously to acquiesce in this application for division so as to secure the stated services of a pastor in each house of worship, whereupon the Presbytery resolved that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and that they are herby constituted a separate Church to be called the Presbyterian Church of Clover Hill, and that Ruling Elders Peter C. Schenck and Ralph Sutphin be transferred to said Church at its Session. Resolved, Secondly, That the name of the Church of Clover Hill be added to the roll of Presbytery. That this Church thus constituted return almost immediately to the Reformed Classis of Philadelphia, is what it had a right to do, and what was expected. Thus is brought to a close a union that had been formed with the best of motives, and which, while it lasted, was harmonious and mutually beneficial. And now that we are 'separated, there is, and has been, so far as I know, only the best and kindest Christian feeling toward each other. So may it ever be! 228 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH THE ELEVENTH PASTOR, REV. JOSHUA B. H. JANEWAY, 1863— 1864. The union of the congregations of Clover Hill and Reaville having been dissolved in January, 1863, the Am- well First Church was for the third time alone in the support of a pastor and for its appointed work. The Presbytery of Raritan met April 14th, 1863, at the United First Church of Amwell, and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. William R. Glen. In the absence of the Moderator the chair was taken by the Rev. Ben- jamin Carrell. William Waldron was the elder present from Amwell First. At this meeting Mr. Joshua H. Janeway, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, presented a certfi- cate of dismission from that Presbytery, and was received and taken under the care of the Presbytery of Raritan as a licentiate for the gospel ministry. Mr. William Wal- dron and Mr. Gideon Quick being present as commis- sioners from Amwell First Church, presented a call for the pastoral services of Mr. Janeway. The salary prom- ised Mr. Janeway was five hundred dollars per annum. The call was found in order and placed in Mr. Janeway's hands. He signified his willingness to accept the same. The Presbytery then proceeded to his examination with a view to his ordination. His examination being sustained Presbytery made arrangemnts for his ordination, and for his installation as pastor of Amwell First Church, to take place May 7th, 1863. On the day appointed for this service. Presbytery met at Reaville. The Moderator being absent the chair was THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 229 taken by the Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, D. D. The elder present from Amwell First was Peter P. Young. Pres- bytery then proceeded to ordain Mr. Janeway and in- stall him pastor of the Amwell First Church. In this service the Rev. Thomas L. Janeway, D. D., father of the candidate, for installation, preached the sermon. Dr. Kirkpatrick presided and proposed the constitutional ques- tions. The Rev. James Lewers gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. John Burrows the charge to the people. The elders of the Church when Mr. Janeway began his labors, were William Waldron and Peter P. Young. The Trustees were John Quick, Zebulon Stout, John H. Phillips, John H. Williamson, William B. Prall, William Sutphin and Jacob S. Prall. Of the con- gregational meeting held March 21st, 1863, electing these officers: Peter P. Young was Chairman, and Jacob S. Prall, Secretary. Jacob S. Prall was also elected Presi- dent and Treasurer of the Board. At the congregational meeting held March, 1864, Mr. Anthony L. Case was chosen Chairman and Dr. Prall Secretary. The Trustees elected were the same as in 1863, excepting that Caleb F. Quick and James P. Cham- berlin were chosen in place of Dr. Jacob S. Prall and William B. Prall. Caleb F. Quick was elected President and Treasurer of the Board, to which office he was annually re-elected until 1875. Turning to the membership of the Church at this time we find that Rev. Mr. Van Wyck had reported to Pres- bytery, in April, 1862, only one hundred and twenty-two members in the United Church. This is given in the 230 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH minutes of the General Assembly, and shows a most mar- vellous disappearance of members as received and reported by Mr. Carrell. Their dismissal, either by letter or discipline, is not recorded, except in a itw cases. Hence a large number of members recently received must have been dropped in order to purge the roll of unfaithful or non-attending members. This forces on us the conclu- sion that the revival of previous years had been followed with a painful reaction, resulting in a low state of piety. In keeping with this the Assembly's minutes show that during the year ending April, 1862, only thirty dollars were contributed to the Boards of the Church by Am- well First, and fifty dollars to miscellaneous causes, pre- sumably to the American Bible Society. When the union between Clover Hill and Amwell First was dissolved, thirty-four members were dismissed to the reorganized Church of Clover Hill, leaving for this Church eighty-eight. In April, 1863, and previous to Mr. Janeway's instal- lation, this Church reports one hundred and twenty mem- bers, which is a larger number than the thirteen, whose names are recorded on our minutes, as received, will make. This was a year, during which the Church was largely without a, pastor. The contributions of the Church to benevolence for the year was only seven dollars, which was given to the Fund for Disabled Ministers. These two years were at the time when prices of produce were high and money was plenty, and yet the beneficence of the Church fell to its lowest ebb. Our rec- ords do not show what service- Mr. Janeway rendered the Church before he formally accepted the call, April 14th, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 231 1863, but they show that as pastor-elect he moderated the meeting of Session, April 4th, when twelve of the thirteen members referred to above were received on ex- amination. The names of these twelve persons are Mrs. Ellen Rea, Martin J. Bellis, Mrs. Martha R. Holcombe, Mrs. Ann Sutphin, Mrs. Mary E. Schenck, Mrs. Mary Conover, Mrs. Sarah Ann Hall, Mrs. Sarah Conover, Mrs. Mary M. Williamson, Lewis Sutphin, Joseph C. Harrison and Levi Holcombe. From April 14th, 1863, when reports were presented to Presbytery to April, 1864, the following persons were received into the membership of the Church. July nth. On examination: Mrs. Van Horn, Mrs. Eliza Young, Miss Sallie A. Quick, Mrs. Jenny Quick, Joseph Brown, Joseph Titus, Mrs. Rachel Foot, Mrs. Henrietta Priestly, Mrs. Caroline Williamson, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Miss Delilah Martindale, Miss Rebecca Voor- hees. Miss Isabella Wood, Miss Cornelia Cortelyou, Mrs. Madelin Brown, Miss Farnces Drake. On certificate: Thomas Reeder Snook, and Sarah E., his wife, and Mr. Abraham S. Stone and Mrs. Lydia A. Stone. November 14th. Received on examination: Oliver Phillips, Miss Anna Augusta Cortelyou, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Jonathan B. Higgins, Mrs. Mariah Higgins. Re- ceived on certificate: John H. Johnson, Mrs. Mary Johnson, his wife, and Miss Sarah Johnson. February 27th, 1864. Received on examination: Mrs. Ann Higgins and Miss Mariah V. Higgins. And on cer- tificate, Levi C. Littell. March 5th. Received on examination: Miss Mar- 232 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH garet Young, Jacob Dilts, Mrs. Jane Ann Dilts, Miss Mary Ann Dilts. March I2th. Received on examination: Mrs. Re- becca Stout, Mrs. Matilda Robins, Mrs. Mary Brown, Mrs. Mary Chamberlain, Mrs. Eleanor LaRue, Mrs. Jamima Johnson, Miss Debora LaRue, Miss Mary Jane Voorhees, Miss Georgiana Haight. And on certificate: Robert W. Hunt and Mrs. Ellen S. Hunt, Gideon Stout and Mrs. Eliza Stout. March 20th. Received on certificate: John Wyckoff and Mary, his wife, and Mrs. Mary Ball, their daughter. July the gth. Received on examination: Mrs. Sarah Mariah Todd, Mrs. Louisa Waldron, Mrs. Anna E. Hudnut and Miss Rebecca E. Mattison. This is the last minute in our records entered by Mr. Janeway. The pas- torate of Mr. Janeway, which began so auspicously and continued up to this time so full of blessing to the Church, terminated in sorrow. During this summer Mrs. Janeway sickened and died. Under this bereavemnt Mr. Janeway felt that he could not remain and continue his labors alone, where he had enjoyed the help and companionship of his endeared wife. He tendered his resignation and his action being laid be- fore Presbytery, the pastoral relation between himself and this Church was dissolved September 6th, 1864. During this brief pastorate fifty-two persons were received into the Church on examination and fifteen on certificate. It is pleasant also to add to these unusually large ad- ditions to the membership of the Church, a very decided advance in the benevolent contributions of the Church, yet the fibres show that the Church after doing almost THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 233 nothing for some years, could not be brought up, at once, to a fair standard of its duty. Total membership re- ported was 133; membership of Sabbath School, 120; total benevolent contributions for the year, $96. I have gone over these records of Mr. Janeway's pas- torate here with especial interest, because he and I were friends and classmates at Princeton College, graduating in 1857. We were also in the Seminary together, though not in the same class, as he did not enter the Seminary until one year after leaving college. He came of a min- isterial family, his father and grandfather, both being clergymen, and both men of prominence in their day. Mr. Janeway seems to have inherited gifts which fitted him for the ministry, and his connection with this Church shows how well he applied himself to the work in hand. His genial manner, his faithful work and his deep afflic- tion all combined to endear his memory to this Church. A brief record of his career will be heard, I am sure, with interest to this Church. Mr. Janeway was born at Rahway, N. J., in 1837. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1857. He received the title of Ph.D. from Princeton in i860, and graduated from the Seminary in 186 1. He was or- dained by the Presbytery of Raritan, May 7th, 1863, and on the same day installed pastor of Amwell First Church. The pastoral relation was dissolved September 6th, 1864. After leaving Reaville he went under appointment of the Christian Commission to the Army of the Potomac, and later, he entered the service of the arm yas chaplain of the 85th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. When he left the service his health was greatly im- 234 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH paired by a severe attack of malarial fever. Recovering his health in some measure, he accepted a call, condi- tionally, to the Presbyterian Church of Chambersburg, Pa., which he served as pastor-elect for about a year. When he returned the call because his health did not al- lowr him to continue in the work. In 1868 he received a call to the Second Church of Cranberry, N. J., but the state of his health again required him to tender his resig- nation within a year. In 1875 he became the Secretary and Actuary of the Presbyterian Annuity and Life Insurance Company at Philadelphia. Leaving Philadelphia in 1880 he went to Colorado in another business capacity, while at the same time seeking the restoration of his heatlh. He resided at Denver, Col., at Emporia, Kansas, and San Diego, California, for several years. In 1889 he Was teaching in New York City. Since that time he has studied medicine rather to gratify a taste than to change his profession, nevertheless he still resides in New York and is practicing medicine as opportunity presents. It is evident from the facts stated that Mr. Janeway's most important ministerial work was done in the short time that he was pastor of this Church. THE TWELFTH PASTOR, REV. N. L. UPHAM, 1865— 1871. The Rev. Nathan L. Upham, who married Miss An- nie Howell Janeway, sister of Rev. Joshua H. Janeway, was the next pastor of this Church. Mr. Upham was installed pastor of this Church the second Tuesday of THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 235 June, 1865. He began his labors, however, much earlier, as we find him moderating a meeting of Session, March I2th, 1865, when Mr. Levi C. Littell was granted a let- ter of dismission. In the call given to Mr. Uphamf, the congregation engaged to pay him seven hundred and fifty dollars, payable in two equal payments. The elders of the Church at the time of Mr. Upham's call were Peter P. Young and William V. Waldron, the same as served the Church while Mr. Janeway was pas- tor. The congregational meeting held March, 1865, with Mr. Zebulon Stout as Chairman, and Mr. C. F. Quick Secretary, elected as Trustees John Quick, Zebulon Stout, John H. Phillips, John H. Williamson, James P. Cham- berlin, William Sutphin and Caleb F. Quick. These Trustees were re-elected in 1866 and in 1867. In 1866 Mr. A. L. Case was Chairman of the con- gregational meeting, and in 1867 Mr. Gideon Quick was chosen to that office. In 1868 Mr. John H. Williamson was made Chairman of the congregational meeting, and the Trustees elected were John H. Williamson, Asher Higgins, John Y. Bellis, Abraham J. Prall, William Sutphin, John Quick and Caleb F. Quick. March, 1869, Mr. Anthony L. Case was chosen to preside over the congregational meeting. The following persons were elected Trustees, viz: Robert R. Smith, Asher Higgins, John Y. Bellis, Abraham J. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, John Quick and Caleb F. Quick. The same Board was chosen in 1870, excepting the election of Jacob F. Quick in place of John Quick. 236 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH In 1 87 1, John Y. Bellis was chosen to preside over the congregational meeting. The Trustees elected were John Y. Bellis, Wiliam B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis C. Case, Robert R. Smith, John T. Hudnet, and Caleb F. Quick. Mr. Upham's pastorate began under the most favora- ble financial conditions the church had ever known, and these continued until its close. Many changes and im- provements took place during this period. Some of which were of lasting benefit to the Church. Steps were taken to enlarge the eldership as early as September i8th. October 7th due notice haying been given, John H. Johnson, Jacob S. Prall and Jacob Voor- hees were elected to the office of Ruling Elder, and Oc- tober 22nd was appointed for their ordination and instal- lation, which appointment was carried out. Monday, January ist, 1866. The Session met and dis- tricted the congregation, assigning a part to each elder, and agreed to make a general visitation from house to house for religious conversation and prayer. May 5 th. The Session met to take action on the death of Elder William Waldron, which occurred April 3rd, 1866. In this action, the Session expresses a sense of its own bereavement, and that of the Church, by the death of Elder Waldron. It extends its sympathy to his fam- ily and friends, and testify to his faithful Christian life for more than twenty years. November 17th, 1867. The Session met to take sim- ilar action in regard to Elder Young. That action is as follows: "Peter P. Young united with this Church in 1829, when thirty-five years of age. He left us for the THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 237 'fellowship' above on the 30th of October, 1867, making thirty-eight years of consistent Christian life, thirty-six of which were spent in the eldership, with good results to us and the Church." February 23rd, 1868. Elder Jacob S. Prall was granted a certificate to the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, to which place he had moved. These losses in the eldership were followed with a con- ference by the Session January 26th, 1870, with refer- ence to securing additional members to the Session, and also the propriety of choosing a board of deacons. The Session decided to recommend both measures to the Church, but before they were carried out the death of Elder Jacob Voorhees occurred. The precise day of the death of Mr. Voorhees is not given, but it was announced on Sabbath, February 13th, 1870, at which notice was given of his funeral. The election of elders and deacons took place accord- ing to previous arrangement, and the expressed desire of Mr. Voorhees during his sickness, on the 26th day of February. The following persons were on this day nom- inated and unanimously elected, viz: To the office of elder, Zebulon Stout, William Hill and Irenaeus R. Glen, M. D. To the office of deacon, Abraham J. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, John Quick, Martin J. Bellis, Jonathan Hig- gins and Joseph C. Harrison. These persons were set apart by ordination, and installation to their respective offices, March 20th, 1870. The Session met March 24th and passed the following tribute to the life and character of Elder Voorhees: "We desire to express our sense of loss sustained by the 238 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Church and by the Session in the death of Elder Jacob Voorhees. This loss is the more keenly felt because lat- terly his health had improved, and he had become more than ever useful. And yet we cannot but rejoice with the family and the Church, that he was spared to us so long, being over three score and ten years of age, of wrhich more than forty years virere given to us in the faith and work of Christ. We remember, too, with special thankfulness that he could die in sleep. It must have been a great relief to him who had known so much of suf- fering, 'to sleep in Jesus and be blessed.' " The Session received the following persons into the membership of the Church during Mr. Upham's pastor- ate: April and, 1865. On examination: Miss Pauline Meyers. April 8th. Mrs. Augustus Young. May 1st. Irenaeus R. Glen, M. D., was received by certificate. July 29th. Edward I. Smith was received on exam- mation, and on certificate Mrs. Martha W. Voorhees, Mrs. Annie H. Upham, Mrs; Mary Elizabeth WyckofI, Mrs. Martha Smith, Mrs. Christiana Hiner and Wil- liam Q. Hiner. October 28th. On examination: John Emilie Hol- corabe and Mrs. Holcombe, his wife. January 28th, 1866. Session received William H. Lan- ning and Mrs. Elizabeth Lanning. May 6th. On examination: Mrs. Harrison Sutphin and Miss Amanda Quick. July 28th. Miss Catherine Quick and Miss Caroline THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 239 Johnson, and on certificate, Mrs. William J. Huffman and Mrs. E. Rynearson. November loth. Mrs. Sarah Pyatt, on examination. February 3rd, 1867. Mrs. Margaret B. Van Bleet, Miss Sarah Housel. On certificate. Col. John H. Sut- phin, Mrs. Dr. Irenaeus R. Glen, Miss Augusta Case. May 4th. On examination, Mrs. Mahlon Higgins, Mrs. Stout Servis, Abram J. Prall and his wife, Mrs. Prall. August 17th. On certificate, John Wilson and his wife, Charles Wilson and his wife, William G. Hill and Mrs. Rebecca Ann Hill. August 18. On examination. Miss Mary Dalrymple. November 17th. Mrs. Miller R. Reading, Miss Mary Catherine Hartsel, Miss Susan Anna Packer and Wil- liam C. Ball, and on certificate, J. T. Hudnut. February 23rd, 1868. On examination, William B. Prall and his w'.it, Mrs. Elizabeth Prall, and Miss Car- oline Rodenbaugh. May 24th. Miss Anna Housel, Mrs. Mary Crouse, Mrs. Mary Conover, Levi Housel and Edward Lanson. On certificate, John J. Marsh and Mrs. Mariah Marsh. December 26th. Miss Rebecca Huffman. June 26th, 1869. On certificate, Mrs. Martha Skill- man Holcombe. September 25th. On examination, Miss Louisa Cole. October 31st. Jerry Bristow (colored). January 30th, 1870. On examination. Miss Jane Hagins, Miss Mary Ann Thomson, and on certificate, Mrs. Rebecca B. Hageman. April 9th. On examination, Henry H. Hageman, 240 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Miss Carrie Hill, Miss Mary C. Reed, and on certifi- cate, Mrs. John Williamson. June 19th. Jacob H. Wessels, Albert Case, and Mrs. Mary Jennings Crocker from Wesleyan Methodist Church near Plymouth, England. April 8th, 1871. On certificate, Mrs. John P. Quick. October 14th. Dr. George P. Rex and Mrs. Ger- trude Rex from Presbyterian Church, Selma, Alabama. Summing these up we have thirty-seven persons re- ceived into the membership of the Church on examination, and twenty-nine on certificate, or sixty-six additions to the Church during the six and one-half years of Mr. Up- ham's pastorate. And yet so great had been the numl^er of removals from the Church by death and dismission on certificate that Mr. Upham reported the membership of the Church less by four at the close of his pastorate than when he began. And even this number (134) was larger than the ac- tual membership on the ground, as we notice at the open- ing of the next pastorate the roll was still further re- duced. The pastorate of Mr. Upham is remarkable for the bap- tism of thirty-one infant children. Also for the death of three ruling elders and for the election of six elders and six deacons. One elder. Dr. I. R. Glen, was dismissed to the Church at Pluckemin at the close of Mr. Upham's pastorate. But no one thing distinguished this short pastorate more than the fact that under Mr. Upham the very com- fortable parsonage was built. In the Spring of 1865 a lot was purchased of Robert o W o i-r to o M O < O THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 241 R. Smith on which this building was erected during the Summer. The cost of the parsonage was about $5,000, exclusive of a large amount of work gratuitously ren- dered by the congregation. I quote with full concurrence a remark by Dr. Blatten- berger, that the building reflects credit upon the liber- ality of this congregation. It would be an ornament to any rural village. It has been a comfortable home for five of your pastors before my coming, and I can testify to having enjoyed this home very greatly during these years of my ministry. I am also informed that the trees on the lawn were selected by Mr. Stout and Mr. Robbins, and that Mr. Robbins had the selection of the maples; he took great pains to have them perfectly straight. This accounts for their handsome appearance. "These, with the evergreens, make the lawn a thing of beauty." It is apparent that Mr. Upham's pastorate had an auspicious beginning. The people "had a mind to work," and also a mind to give. This is evident from the liberal way in which the improvements of the Church were made, and from their generosity to the pastor himself. It was also shown by their wider Christian beneficence. Mr. Upham succeeded beyond any former pastor of the Church in developing this grace of Christian beneficence, and bringing the Church into full accord and co-operation in the work as appointed by the General Assembly. This shows him to have been loyal to the Presbyterian Church, though his education had been in another denomination. In the minutes, as kept by him, we find for the first time a full and orderly record of the benevolent work of 16 H2 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the Church. He not only secured contributions to the several objects specified by the Assembly, but also much for outside causes. It is true that the gifts to objects under the care of the Boards of the Church, did not reach the amounts of later years, yet, if we include the sums given to miscellaneous causes, and the large amounts to the American Bible Society, the total sum given will nearly equal the best efforts of the Church in Christian beneficence in later years. And this was accomplished, too, before the days in which the Christian women came forward in personal effort and consecrated means, by which the funds of the Church, for benevolent work, have been so largely in- creased. The sum total of contributions to the Boards of the Church during the six years of Mr. Upham's pastorate, is $595.79 being a yearly average of $99.30. The largest of the single contributions was $32, twice given to For- eign Missions, and the next highest to Home Missions, $25.69. These are much below our present gifts. But the contributions to education and ministerial relief had a much higher average than they do now. Contributions for the same six years to the American Bible Society were $361, averaging $60 a year, and the highest for any one year being $73. This is far beyond what the Church is doing to-day for this blessed cause. The gifts to miscellaneous causes, including such objects as Howard Mission American Sunday School Union Fund for Sea- men and the like amounted to $113.87, making a sum total of benevolence of $1,070.83, or a yearly average of $178.44. This large advance in beneficence by this THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 243 Church is all the more commendable, because it was at the time when it had made its largest gifts for its own sup- port and improvement. The exact amount of money expended on the parson- age, as shown by the records, was in 1866, being $4,500, and in 1869, for the debt on parsonage, $360, making a cash cost of the same $4,860. Then we have in 1868, for Church repairs, $400, and in 1869, for Session Room and Sunday School Library, $137. The congregational expenses, including pastor's salary, ($750), and incident- als for the same period were just $6,000. To this was added for four of these years cash donation to the pas- tor in simis ranging from $175 to $317, and the fifth year, to the pastor's wife, $125, making in all $1,119. There was also a contribution for Sunday School Library and a poor fund of $51. This brings the amount ex- pended by the Church for its own work during these six years up to $11,448, and to benevolence, $1,070.83. This is the best showing, financially, in the Church's history. Mr. Upham remained in charge until October 15th, or six months after his last report. The report presented by his successors, for the year in which, each had been in charge for a part of the year, shows that the beneficence of the Church kept well up to the standard of former years. The total for the year is for beneficence, about $175, and for Church expenses $1,152. This will bring the Church's beneficence for the seven years up to $1,250, and for its own work and improvements to $12,593. This account of Mr. Upham's pastorate may well be followed with a brief sketch of his life. The Rev. Na- thaniel L. Upham was born of Christian parents at Con- 244 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH cord, New Hampshire, in 1833. He prepared for col- lege at Phillips' Academy, Andover, Mass. He graduted at Dartmouth College, N. H., in 1853, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1858. He was ordained by the Bennington Congregational Association of Vermont to the gospel ministry at Manchester, in 1859, and installed pastor of the Congregational Church in that place at the same date. After serving that Church for two years he came to Flemington, N. J., and took charge of the Pres- byterian Church there during the absence of pastor Rev. John L. Janeway, who was chaplain of the 30th N. J. Volunteers during the nine months' service. Mr. Upham was mustered into the service October, 1863, and made chaplain of the 35th N. J. Volunteers. He was received as a member of the Presbytery of Raritan before leaving for the army. He remained in the service until he came to Reaville early in 1865. He was installed pastor of this Church the second Tuesday of June, 1865, and re- mained as pastor until October 15th, 1871. It was during his pastorate in 1869 that the union between the old and new school branches of the Pres- byterian Church occurred, and that the special meeting of the Synod of New Jersey, June 21st, was held. At this Synod the Presbytery of Raritan was dissolved, and the churches comprising it divided between the Pres- byteries of Elizabeth, of Newton and New Brunswick. Amwell First was returned to New Brunswick, in which it had been a member from the time of its organization in 1738 until 1817, when the Church was one of the num- ber constituting the Presbytery of Newton. Mr. Upham was led to tender his resignation as pas- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 245 tor of this Church because of impaired health, resulting from sunstroke, which he suffered while in the army. After a brief rest he took charge of a new enterprise at Merchantville, N. J., remaining there for ten years, but able to preach but one sermon each Sabbath. He then be- came Secretary of the Presbyterian Ministers' Annuity Fund in Philadelphia. He left this position after several years service, and accepted the position of Secretary of the Philadelphia Tract and Mission Society, which po- sition he now holds. His residence is in Germantown, Pa. In connection with his service in the army it may be remarked that four of the pastors of this Churph have been army chaplains. Rev. William Kirkpatrick in the Indian wars in colonial times, and Revs. Van Wyck, Janeway and Upham in the late war for the Union. THE THIRTEENTH PASTOR, REV. JOHN H. SCOFIELD, 1872 1874. The Rev. John H. Scofield of the Presbytery of New Brunswick was the thirteenth pastor of this Church. He moderated a meeting of the Session as pastor-elect as early as January 13th, 1872. He was residing at French- town at his wife's home at the time of his call. He had been for some time without charge on account of impaired health. Mr. Scofield was installed pastor of this Church by a committee of the Presbytery, February 20th, 1872. The Rev. Daniel R. Foster preached the sermon, pre- sided and proposed the constitutional questions. The Rev. George S. Mott gave the charge to the pastor and the Rev. John D. Hewitt gave the charge to the people. The Rev. Samuel Harrison was present and assisted in these services. 246 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH The elders of the Church at this time were John H. Johnson, Zebulon Stout and William G. Hill. The annual congregational meeting was held March nth, 1872. Lewis Sutphin was Chairman of this meet- ing, and Caleb F. Quick, Secretary. The Trustees elected were John Y. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis C. Case, Jacob Quick, Caleb F. Quick and Robert W. Hunt. The annual congregational meeting held March lOth, 1873, was presided over by Clinton B. Blackwell, with C. F. Quick as Secretary. The Trustees elected were the same as in 1872, with the exception that Clinton B. Blackwell was chosen in the place of John Y. Bellis. At this meeting a vote of thanks was given to Joseph W. Wood for presenting and securing the passage of a bill by the Legislature, by which the parsonage lot and buildings thereon were exempt from taxation, and for paying the necessary expenses of the same. The Session met at the parsonage April 13th, 1872, and decided to take action for adding to their number. For this purpose they placed in nomination for the office of Ruling Elder, John Y. Bellis, George P. Rex. M. D., and Abraham J. Prall. April 27th was appointed for this election. Notice of this action was given from the pulpit on the following Sabbath, and also that the Church would have the privilege of adding to the num- bers, and also of nominating persons for the office of dea- con. The Church assembled accordingly on the 27th. No additional nominations for Ruling Elder being made. It was resolved to take the vote, "viva voce," when John Y. Bellis, George P. Rex, M. D., and Abraham THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 247 J. Prall were unanimously elected to the office of Ruling Elder. The Board of Deacons then, through the Moderator, placed in nomination for the office of deacon, Samuel V. Conover, William B. Prall and John E. Holcombe. These persons were at the same time and in the same manner unanimously elected to the office of deacon. After the sermon these persons were ordained to their respective of- fices, by prayer, and the laying on of hands. The Ses- sion at once convened, and the newly-ordained elders took their seats in the Session. The deacons were in- vited to confer with them. The subject under consider- ation was a plan of collections, with a view to encourage systematic beneficence. This matter was deferred to a future time for action. July 6th, the plan presented and adopted was to take a collection for each cause recom- mended by the General Assembly, and on the days sug- gested by the Assembly. On all other Sabbaths the col- lections taken were to supplement the deficiency of sub- scriptions for incidental expenses, and the balance to be used by Session for beneficence. But there was friction in the working of the plan, and in November it was decided to divide the collections taken on other days than those devoted expressly to the causes of the Boards, equally be- tween the Trustees and the Session. The subject was up for further consideration and improvement of the plan at the April meeting following. But with all this conference and plan there was no advance in the benefi- cence of the Church, except to Foreign Missions, during the last year of this pastorate, while the gifts to other causes were decidedly less than under the previous pastor. 248 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH This effort shows that the subject of beneficence is not an easy one to handle in this congregation. The following persons were received into the membership of the Church while Mr. Scofield was pastor March 30th, 1872. On examination: Miss Hannah M. Rex, Mrs. Sarah L. Waters. On certificate: Har- rison Sutphin and Caroline Sutphin, his wife. March ist, 1873. On examination: Rachel W. Con- over, John Waters, Peter Quick Holcombe, Emma So- phia Bellis, Abraham Prall, Jr., Mrs. Anna Cornelia Prall, Mrs. Ara Hill Blackwell, Mrs. Catherine Louisa McPherson and Miss Hannah M. Sutphin. May 31st. On certificate: Miss Jeannette McPher- son, Mrs. Annie E. Crouse, Samuel H. Hageman, Mary C, his wife, John N. Giles, Sarah C, his wife, Aaron Auten and Sarah M., his wife. September 5th. On examination: Miss Caroline V. D. Case. October 4th. Miss Catherine C. Case. December 6th. Mrs. Susan Hageman. January 31st, 1874. Elizabeth Ann Hilyer. At a meeting of Session, December 27th, 1873, the pastor informed the Session that he had received a call to the Presbyterian Church of Kingston, N. J. After consideration by Session the pastor was advised to lay the matter before the congregation on the next Sabbath. This was done, and at the meeting of Session, January 31st, 1874, it was decided to call a congregational meeting "next Monday," "to take such action as may be deemed wise." The result was that William G. Hill and Dr. George P. Rex. were appointed commissioners to repre- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 249 sent the Church at the meeting of Presbytery, to be held at Princeton, February 3rd, 1874. The pastor and the commissioners were heard at this meeting and the pastoral relation between Rev. John H. Scofield and the Amwell First Church was dissolved. The Session obtained leave to supply their own pulpit until the next stated meeting of Presbytery. The Session met February 28th, 1874, with the Rev. Robert S. Manning as Moderator. Dr. Rex was ap- pointed Clerk of Session. It appears that fifteen persons were received into the membership of the Church on ex- amination, and ten on certificate during Mr. Scofield's pastorate. The records also show that during this pastorate there were frequent meetings of the Session for conference and prayer, seeking thereby to promote the spiritual condition of the Church. It is also evident that the pastor was zealous in labor, and in counsel to increase the benefi- cence of the Church. Earnest efforts of his, in the cause of temperance are also on record. The Session likewise united in a strong yet tender testimony against dancing, and counseled the members of the Church "to abstain from this practice so as to avoid the very appearance of evil." During this pastorate, as already stated, three new mem- bers were added to the Session. But at its first meeting, after this increase, the Session was called upon to give a letter of dismission to Elder John H. Johnson, who had removed from the congregation. Mr. Upham, at his last report, had stated the mem- bership of the Church at 134. Within two months after Mr. Scofield, his successor became pastor, the annual re- 250 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH port was called for. The Session revised the roll for this purpose, and found the membership on the ground to be only 112, which shows the usual removals and losses to have taken place. And two of these had been received by Mr. Scofield before this report was made. In the fol- lowing year, though eleven (11) new members had been received, so large had been the removals by death and by letter, that the Church could report but 109 mem- bers. And in the following year, 1874, the report made out, but a short time after Mr. Scofield had left, though twelve had been received, such had been the losses that the membership was 1 08. The statistical reports for the two years of Mr. Sco- field's pastorate show that this Church contributed to the Boards of the Church for 1873, $142, and $60 to the Bible Society, being a total of $202. cx), and in 1874 the contributions to the Boards were $130, and $55 to the Bible Society, being a total for beneficence of $185.00. With this very creditable showing the Church contri- buted for its own work $1,970 in 1873, of which $1,000 was for the pastor's salary, being the highest as yet paid by the Church, and this was a year of "hard times, too.'' The pastor also received $150 as donation. The esti- mated rent of the parsonage was $350, and $268 the in- cidental expenses. The membership of the Sabbath School was $150. In 1874 the salary continuing to be $1,000, the do- nation was $300, rent of parsonage rated at $350, and expenses of Sabbath School $137, and incidental expenses $160, making a total of the Church for its own work $1,947 for the year. It was during Mr. Scofield's pas- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 251 torate that the Church began to report an estimated rent of the parsonage as a part of its money raised annually for its own expenses. This custom is continued to the pres- ent time. I believe this to be unwise, and even without right; without right because the cost of the parsonage was reported, and the Church had credit for the money paid when the parsonage was built, and also in 1869, when a small balance of the expense on the same was paid. Having thus been given to the Lord, the Church has no more right to credit itself with interest on this money than it has to credit interest on any other money given for Church or benevolent purposes. It is entirely right for the Church to say it pays its pastor the stated salary, and gives him the free use of the parsonage, which increases his salary to that amount. This is doubtless what is aimed at. The unwisdom of it, beyond the fact stated, is this, that it represents the ability of the Church for benevo- lent work to be greater than it actually is, for it is a recognized principle that what a Church is able to do annually for its own work becomes a safe standard of its ability to do for work outside its own borders. It now remains for me to give a brief sketch of Mr. Scp- field's life. John Henry Scofield was born at Schuyler- ville, N. Y., 1833. He graduated at Princeton from the College in i860, and from the Seminary in 1863. He was licensed to preach the gospel June loth, 1862, by the Presbytery of Stillwater, and ordained to the gospel min- istry July 28th, 1863, by the Presbytery of North River. He was pastor of the Church at New Hamburg, N. Y., from 1863 to 1868; pastor-elect at Dayton, N. J., '69- 252 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH '70; pastor of Amwell First from 1872 to 1874, and at Kingston, N. J., from 1874 to 1880. In this pastorate at Kingston Mr. Scofield did his most important work, both in gathering persons into the membership of the Church, and in promoting the cause of Christian benefi- cence. One hundred persons united with the Church at Kingston, while he was pastor there, of whom two-thirds were received on examination. From Kingston Mr. Scofield went to East Hampton, Mass., where he resided from '80 to '84, at which time his sons were preparing for college. He was not engaged in pastoral work at this time. He was installed pastor of the Mt. Olive Church, in the Presbytery of Morris and Orange, May 29th, 1884. He continues in that field at the present time, his residence being at Budd's Lake, N. J. As already stated, Mr. Scofield married Miss Ann Elizabeth Hedges, a descendant of Governor Reading. This relationship has been sufficiently spoken of in con- nection with that distinguished family. THE FOURTEENTH PASTOR, REV. JOHN S. BEEKMAN, 1875— 1878. After the pastoral relation between Rev. John H. Scofield and the Amwell First Church was dissolved, the Presbytery appointed the Rev. R. S. Manning to declare the pulpit vacant February 15th, 1874. The Session met February 28th, presided over by Mr. Manning. Dr. George P. Rex was again elected Clerk of Session. Dr. Rex made out the report to Presbytery April following. At this meeting of Presbytery Dr. George S. Mott was appointed Moderator of your Session. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 253 At the meeting of the congregation April 27th, 1874, Caleb F. Quick was elected Chairman, and Clinton B. Blackwell, Secretary. The Trustees elected were Wil- liam Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis Case, Peter Q. Holcombe, Caleb F. Quick and John H. Williamson. The congregation engaged the Rev. William C. Mac- beth as a stated supply for the pulpit for the next six months. Mr. Macbeth occupied this pulpit a few Sabbaths af- ter this engagement expired. His last service was No- vember 8th. The Rev. John S. Beekman preached here as a candidate November 29th, and continuously until January 3rd. The next day — January 4th, 1875 — a call was made for the pastoral services of Mr. Beekman, which call he accepted. The salary named in the call was $900. He was installed as your pastpr February i6th, 1875, by a committee from the Presbytery of New Brunswick. This committee consisted of Rev. John D. Hewitt, who presided, preached the sermon, and proposed the consti- titutional questions. The Rev. C. H. Asay gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., gave the charge to the people. The elders at this time were Zebulon Stout, William G. Hill, John Y. Bellis, Abraham J. Prall and George P. Rex, M. D. March 6th the Session met and re- ceived the following persons into the membership of the Church. On examination: Mrs. Hannah Wood, widow of James W. Wood, and Catherine Van Est Sutphin, wife of William Sutphin. On certificate: Mrs. Helen B. Beekman from the Reformed Church of Metuchen, and 254 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Harriet Mary Williams (colored), from the same place Received April 19th. On examination: Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Wortman and Miss Selina Bonnell Wortman. October 23. The Session arranged for a series of meetings to be held "previous to our next communion," and to begin Wednesday, December ist. November 8th. The Session, by a unanimous vote, adopted as the book of song the Presbyterian Hymnal, which is still in use. The Session met December 4th and received into the membership of the Church on examination: Miss Eliza- beth C. Sutphin, and Sunday morning, December 5th, John K. Shurts and Miss Sallie A. Waters. February 4th, 1876. The Session met and received into the communion of the Church, on examination : Wil- liam Deats, George S. Davis, William Osborn and Moses Lapsley; also Miss H,annah M. Hill, Miss Catherine Quick, Miss Cassie Rex and Miss Mary Fink. February nth. The following persons were received on examination: John S. Hoagland, Jacob Osborn, Miss Juliette Blanche W. Beekman, Miss Addie H. Prall, Miss Mary Quick, Miss Mary D. Hoagland, Mrs. Eliza Hill, Mrs. Martha H. Young and Mrs. Esther Ann Osborn. February 19th, Miss Luella Stryker and John W. Dalrymple. March 4th. The Session received the following per- sons into Church membership on examination, viz: Bar- ton Huffman, David B. Huffman, Lewis Getherd and Miss Maggie K. Smith. And on certificate: Nathaniel THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 255 G. Wilson and Mrs. Caroline A. Wilson, his wife, and Mrs. Sarah V. Pierce. At the communion service held March 5th, twenty- three persons who had been received on examination since February 4th, made a public profession of their faith in Christ, of which number twelve were baptized. These, with the three received on certificate, gave an addition of twenty-six (26) to the membership of the Church. While having this large accession to the membership of the Church, the Session at its meeting March 4th took action against two of the members of the Church, re- quiring them to abstain from the communion on the fol- lowing Sabbath. The reason assigned in one case for allowing gambling on his premises, against which he had been counseled previously, and the other for misconduct, for which there had been as yet no previous action taken. November 12th, 1876. By the unanimous action of the Session, it was agreed that this Church would be among the number of associated and adjacent churches to contribute annually to the support of any missionary that might be employed either by the Classis of Philadelphia, or members of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, to la- bor among the people living on Sourland Mountain. This endeavor was put into successful operation, and it is a matter of history, effected a marvellous change for the better in that field. March 13th, 1877. The Session received, on examina- tion, Millard Farrow and Theodore Todd. These were the only persons received into the Church for the year ending April ist, 1877. June 2nd, 1877. The Session received, on certificate, 256 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Mrs. Magdalene Waldron, Mrs. Joanna Farrow and her daughters, the Misses Naomi, Helen and Emma. These four came from the Methodist Church in New- ark, and the five were the only ones received during the year ending April, 1878. During the first year of Mr. Beekman's pastorate, if we extend it back to the time of his installation in Febru- ary, instead of beginning with April, thirty persons were received into the Church on examination and ten on cer- tificate. During the second year two persons were re- ceived on examination and none on certificate, and in the third year five were received on certificate and none on examination. The total number received during this pastorate was thirty-two on examination and ten on certificate, or forty-two in all, which gives a higher yearly average of additions than has occurred in most of the pas- torates. And Mr. Beekman's first year ranks among the most prosperous in the Church's history, while the addi- tions during the second and third years place the record among the lowest. We should remember, however, that it is a very common experience to have a year of large ingathering, followed by a period of very small ingather- ing. This has been true here, in the time of other pas- tors, and true in many other churches. It is at the samt time evident that these last two years of Mr. Beekman's pastorate were years of trouble and dissatisfaction. The Session had on its hands an unusual number of cases of discipline. In some of these the persons dealt with were suspended, in others, explanations were accepted as sat- isfactory. Finally, however, there was an outbreak of THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 257 unpleasant feeling between members of the Session and the pastor. The "records of the congregation," to which we shall refer in speaking of their action, show the same state of feeling to have existed between some of the Trustees and the pastor. This trouble had the usual result, viz: to diminish the receipts of the treasury. Justly or unjustly this uniformally follows. I mention these things, not to take sides with or against either par- ty, but in giving the history, to be true to "the truth of things." The "difficulty" was before the Session for de- liberation, where it properly belongs, if it must be at all, as early as September 14th, 1877. At this time the pastor stated his willingness to tender his resignation, to take effect not later than the first of April next, on condition that the salary due him be paid, and that he may have the use of the parsonage until needed by his successor. This proposal was finally concurred in by the congrega- tion. This was stated to the pastor at a meeting of the Session held April 6th, 1878, and all salary due him up to April 1st was paid at this time, and receipt given. Mr. Beekman then requested the Session to call a meeting of the congregation to appoint commissioners to Presbytery to unite with him in a request for a dissolution of the pastoral relation existing between himself and the Am- well First Church. This was done and the relation was dissolved by Presbytery at its meeting held a few days after this action. The following is a brief record of the meetings of the congregation while Mr. Beekman was pastor: The first annual meeting of the congregation following 17 258 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the installation of Mr. Beekman was held May lOth, 1875. Of this meeting William G. Hill was elected Chairman and Caleb F. Quick, Secretary. The report of the Trustees was read and approved. The following persons were chosen Trustees for the ensuing year, viz: William W. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Jonathan B. Higgins, Peter Q. Holcombe, John H. Wil- liamson and Martin J. Bellis. Martin J. Bellis was chosen President and Treasurer of the Board. The annual meeting for 1876 was held on the loth of March. Clinton B. Blackwell was elected Chairman and C. F. Quick, Secretary of this meeting. After two adjourned meetings the congregation met and elected the following Trustees: William W. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis C. Case, Peter Q. Holcombe, Halloway Streeter and Martin J. Bellis. Martin J. Bellis was again elected President and Treasurer of the Board. A special meeting of the congregation was called for February 6th, 1877. The purpose of this meeting was stated in the call "to consider what should be done in order to raise the money to pay the salary then in ar- rears." William G. Hill was elected Chairman of this meeting and Clinton B. Blackwell, Secretary. The Treas- urer reported that the deficiency in salary on April ist next would be $216, and for incidentals $53.99. Expla- nations were called for, but only partially given. It was then moved that the chair appoint a committee to wait on the pastor and inform him that the congregation could pay him only $700 yearly. The chair decided the motion was out of order, and THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 259 refused to put it. It was then moved to appeal from the chair, which motion also he refused to entertain, saying he would leave the chair if the attempt was made to com- pel him to put the motion before the meeting, declaring the motions contrary to the rules of Presbytery. The motions were withdrawn and the meeting ad- journed. The annual meeting of the congregation was held April 7th, 1877. William G. Hill was again elected Chairman, Calab F. Quids: was chosen Secretary. Af- ter deliberation the meeting adjourned to April 23rd. The Treasurer read his report, which showed there was yet due Mr. Beekman $258.55, and for incidental ex- penses $34-73- The following persons were chosen Trustees, viz : Wil- liam B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Thomas Miller, Peter Q. Holcombe, Robert R. Smith, Holloway Streeter and John Quick. John Quick was elected President and Treasurer of the Board. A meeting of the congregation was called January 14th, 1878. Of this meeting George P. Rex, M. D., was chosen President, and M. J. Bellis, Secretary. The Treas- urer, Mr. John Quick, stated that the object of the meet- ing was to consider the raising of $400, the sum then due the pastor and some current expenses. A committee was appointed, consisting of A. J. Prall and Zebulon Stout, and as the records show the money was secured. There was again a very large number of removals from the congregation while Mr. Beekman was pastor, as there had been in previous years. When he came to the Church the report to Presbytery showed 108 mem- 26o AMWELL FIRST CHURCH bers in connection with the Church. Though he re- ceived 39, yet when he left the membership was 105. We regret to add that there was also a falling off in the benevolent contributions of the Church, during the same period. During the first year 1876 the total con- tributions to the causes under the care of the Boards of the Church was $99.46. Of this amount $56.00 were for Foreign Missions, contributions to miscellaneous causes and for incidentals, amounted to $210.50. As the Church had uniformly given to the American Bible So- ciety, it is to be presumed a part of the "miscellaneous" went to this cause. In 1877 the total contribution to beneficence is $117, with a probable contribution of $59 to the Bible Society, as that is the amount found under the head of "miscel- laneous." In 1878 the sum total was $94, with a pos- sible $50 to the Bible Society. The total amount of congregational expenses for the congregation for these three years is $3,541. It is one of the pleasant thing to be stated of Mr. Beekman' pastorate, that to him and Mrs. Beekman be- longs the credit of having organized the Woman's For- eign Missionary Society of this Church. We have no record of this organization in any of our books. And all the early minutes of the Society are lost. But I learned the fact, in my researches in Philadelphia in behalf of the Church. The books of the Woman's Foreign Mis- sionary Society of the Presbyterian Church, kept in that city, and to which our Society reports through its Pres- byterial officers, show that the first contribution from the Society of Amwell First Church was sent in 1877. This THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 261 implies that our society was organized in 1876. Mrs. Beekman was the first Secretary, and so far as we know the late Mrs. Caleb F. Quick was the first Treasurer. The amount raised the first year by this society was $28.25. Mr. Beekman, as well as Mr. Janeway, was a class- mate of mine at Princeton College, and though I have not met him since he was pastor of this Church, I have had some correspondence with him about matters of our class. We have noticed the evidence of no little trouble during his connection with this Church. And yet he was not without friends, at the time of his leaving, nor without enjoyment while here. In a letter received from him a few years ago, he remarked in closing, "it seems strange that you are in the old parsonage where I spent many a happy day." The Rev. John Stottoff Beekman was born at Middle- bush, N. J., Oct. 19th, 1833. He entered Rutgers Col- lege in 1853 and passed Freshman and Sophomore years in that institution. In the fall of '55 he went to Prince- ton, entering the junior class, and graduated with the class in 1857. He spent some time in Union Seminary, then entered Princeton Theological Seminary, middlr year, class of 1858, and remained two years. He was stated supply at Livingston, Alabama, from '60 to '61. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Peoria, 111., June loth, 1863. He became stated supply at Farmington, 111., in 1862, and in 1863 was installed pastor of the Church at that place, remaining until 1866. He was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church of French Grove, 111., in 1866, and served the Church until 1869. His minis- 262 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH try here was marked with success, both in the growth of the Church and the increase of beneficence. He next went to Paola, Kansas, where he labored as a Home Mis- sionary from 1869 to 1870. He came East and was stated supply to the First Reformed Dutch Church of Somerset from 1871 to 1874. He preached as a candi- date here in Reaville from November 29th, 1874, until January 3rd, 1875. He received a call to the pas- torate of this Church January 4th, and was installed pas- tor February i6th, 1875. The pastoral relation was dis- solved by the Presbytery of New Brunswick at the City of New Brunswick, April 9th, 1878. From Reaville Mr. Beekman moved during the Sum- mer to Princeton and engaged in teaching and acting as a supply to vacant pulpits. While in Princeton he en- tered the Episcopal Church as a "candidate for orders" in that Church. From Princeton he went to Florida and received ordination at Federal Point, Florida, in 1887. He served the Church at that place as rector from 1886 to 1888. He was rector at Green Cove Springs in 1888 and 1889. I lost sight of him then for a short time. In 1896 he was at Datona, and in 1897, when I last heard from him he was rector at Sea Breeze, Florida. Mr. Beekman remained at this place until his work was done. A local paper made the announcement that the Rev. John Stotoff Beekman, at one time pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Reaville, died at Sea Breeze, Florida, July nth, 1901, aged about sixty-eight years. I never had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Beekman preach, but he was a good scholar, ranking well among his class- mates. And while it is true that he experienced many THE MODERN PERIOD— igao-igoo 263 difficulties the record as here given also shows gratifying achievement for the Church and the Master. THE FIFTEENTH PASTOR, REV. J. W. P. BLATTENBERGER, 1878— 1887. When the pastoral relation between Mr. Beekman and this Church had been dissolved, the Presbytery appointed the Rev. J. T. Osier tp preach here April 14th, and de- clare the pulpit vacant. During the Summer the Church had numerous supplies and candidates. Among the can- didates was the Rev. J. W. P. Blattenberger who preached for the first time in the Church November 8th. Mr. Blat- tenberger filled the pulpit again on the 15 th, the 22nd and the 29th of December. A congregational meeting was called November 25th, 1878, in order to elect a pastor, if the way be clear. The Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., moderated this meeting. Clinton B. Blackwell, Esq., was chosen Secretary. The meeting decided to proceed. The Rev. J. W. P. Blat- tenberger of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Newark, N. J., was nominated. Tellers were appointed who re- ported, on counting the vote, that the Rev. Mr. Blatten- berger was unanimously elected pastor of this Church. It was then decided to make the salary seven hundred dollars yearly, to be paid semi-annually, together with the free use of the parsonage, while he should be the pastor of this Church. Mr. Blattenberger, at the time of this call, was a member of the Newark Conference of the M. E. Church and pastor of the Bergen St. Church in New- ark. It was therefore decided at the congregational meeting making the call, that "this call should be placed 264 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH in Mr. Blattenberger's hands if he unites with the Pres- byterian Church; if not this call will be null and void." Mr. Blattenberger was received by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, December 15th, 1878. The call of Am- well First Church was tendered to Mr. Blattenberger, and accepted by him. Arrangements were made for his installation by a committee from Presbytery. The day named for this service was December 31st, 1878. On the day appointed the committee met at this Church and performed the duty assigned them. In this service the Rev. Alexander Miller, of Ringoes, presided and pro- posed the constitutional questions. The Rev. Peter A. Studdiford, D. D., of Lambertville, preached the sermon. The Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. Cornelius Conklin, of Frenchtown, gave the charge to the people. The elders at this time were Zebulon Stout, William G. Hill, John Y. Bellis, Abraham J. Prall and George P. Rex. M. D. Dr. Rex had been appointed Clerk of the Session at a meeting held June 8th. The annual meeting of the congregation was held March and, 1879. C. F. Quick was chosen Chairman, and George P. Rex. M. D., Secretary. The report of the Treasurer showed a deficiency of $113.74. The elec- tion of Trustees resulted as follows: James P. Cham- berlin, Lewis Sutphin, Thomas Miller, Peter Q. Hol- combe, Robert R. Smith; Martin J. Bellis and John Quick. John Quick was again elected President and Treasurer of the Board. At the annual congregational meeting held March 8th, 1880, Zebulon Stout was elected Chairman and George THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 265 P. Rex, M. D., Secretary. The Treasurer's report was presented and approved. The shortage was now but $41.47, and this, while the pastor's salary had been ad- vanced to $800, and the parsonage had been painted. The Board of Trustees was re-elected. At this meeting Ca- leb F. Quick was appointed to rent the pews, and if the rent on any pew was not paid, power was given him to rent the same to those who would pay. The annual meeting held March 7th, 1881, again chose Zebulon Stout as Chairman, and elected C. F. Quick, Secretary. The old Board of Trustees was once more re-elected, and John Quick was retained as Treasurer. At the congregational meeting held March 13th, 1882, William G. Hill was made President and H. S. Peter- son, Secretary. For the fourth time the same Board of Trustees was elected, with the same President and Treasurer of the Board. The healthy condition of the finances is shown from the fact that during these years, there was only a small annual deficiency in the Treasury, and with the co-operation of the people the Treasurer paid the $400 due the pastor, promptly on the first of April and the first of October. This year of 1882 showed in the October payment that the money was com- ing in with less promptness, and at the close of the year the indebtedness due the Treasurer was $174.43, or more than three times what it had previously been under this pastor. At the meeting held March 12th, 1883, William G. Hill was chosen President and C. F. Quick, Secretary. In the election of Trustees there was a slight change. John B. Lowe and David Weart having been chosen in the 266 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH place of Lewis Sutphin and Peter Q. Holcombe. A new committee, viz: John W. Priestly, Asher Higgins and Wil- liam G. Hill was appointed to rent the pews, with au- thority to add 25 per cent, to the last six months' pay- ment, in order to pay the indebtedness to the Treasurer. This was the year in which the Church was remod- eled and enlarged. But the only statement concerning this step recorded in the congregational book, is that the congregation hereby authorizes John W. Pristly, Treas- urer of the Building Committee, to borrow the money needed for the work on the Church. We have no means of knowing the result of the ad- ditional assessment on the pews, but at the close of the Treasurer's report "Mrs. John Quick is credited for subscription of $100." With this help the pastor was paid on time, and the books balanced, except a shortage of $5.47. The congregational meeting held March 17th, 1884, had for its President John Quick, and Peter Q. Holcombe, Secretary. The Trustees elected were Thomas Miller, Martin J. Bellis, David S. Wert, James P. Chamberlin, John B. Lowe, Arthur Sutphin and John Quick. The salary was increased this year by $100. Martin J. Bellis was chosen Chairman and C. F. Quick, Secretary, of the meeting held March 9th, 1885. The Trustees elected were Thomas Miller, David S. Wert, James P. Chamberlin, John B. Lowe, William Pierce, Theodore F. Swarer and Arthur Sutphin. The Board elected Theodore F. Swarer as their President and Treasurer. At this meeting of the congregation it was decided to pay the salary monthly, and to use the envelope sys- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 267 tern in collecting it. These envelopes yielded to the pas- tor almost $1,000 in cash. This experiment proved the use of the envelope to be the best system for this Church, as it has been proved to be for many other churches, but it will not run itself. The annual meeting held March 15th, 1886, chose C. F. Quick, Chairman, and Peter Q. Holcombe, Secretary. The Board of Trustees was re-elected and Mr. Swarer was again made President and Treasurer of the Board. A special meeting of the congregation was called by the Session April 26th, 1886. William G. Hill was ap- pointed Chairman of this meeting, and C. F. Quick, Sec- retary. The object of the meeting was stated by the Chairman to be to appoint commissioners to unite with the pastor in asking Presbytery to dissolve the relation existing between himself and this Church. The action taken by the meeting was most complimentary to the pas- tor. It was expressed as follows: Resolved, That we are opposed to the dissolution of the pastoral relation existing between Rev. J. W. P. Blattenberger and this Church. This motion was unani- mously adopted. Secondly. It was decided to make the salary of the pas- tor $1,000 per annum. Thirdly. That we appoint as commissioners to Pres- bytery, to meet at Princeton to-morrow, George P. Rex, M. D., Caleb F. Quick and Theodore F. Swarer and instruct them to oppose the dissolution of the pastoral re- lation. In this effort the Church was successful, and Mr. Blattenberger remained. The annual meeting held March 28th, 1887, chose C. 268 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH F. Quick as Chairman, and Peter Q. Holcombe as Sec- retary. The old Board of Trustees was once more re- elected and Mr. Swarer was again made their President and Treasurer. A special meeting of the congregation was called for October 3rd, 1887, which elected William G. Hill, Chairman, and C. F. Quick, Secretary. The pastor stated the object of the meeting to be to ask the congregation to appoint commissioners to Presbytery to-morrow at Dayton to unite with him in requesting a dissolution of the pastoral relation existing between himself and this Church. The congregation concurred in this request, but expressed their high appreciation of Mr. Blattenberger and regret that he was about to be separated from them. Elder William G. Hill and George Lunger were the ap- pointed commissioners to represent the congregation at Presbytery. Presbytery met October the 4th. The commissioners were present and concurred with the pastor in request- ing the dissolution of the pastoral relation between him- self and the Amwell First Church. Presbytery granted the request, and the pastoral relation was this day dis- solved. The first meeting of the Session after the installation of Mr. Blattenberger was held January 25th, 1879. The numbers received by the Session at this time show a most auspicious beginning of Mr. Blattenberger's pastorate. He entered upon the work with the new year, and with the observance of the Week of Prayer. This was followed with evangelistic services, which were continued for sev- eral weeks. At this first meeting of the Session the fol- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 269 lowing persons were received into the membership of the Church: On certificate, Mrs. Mattie Blattenberger, from the Bergen St. M. E. Church, Newark. On examination, James P. Chamberlin, Thomas Miller, William Hill, Mrs. Mary Ann Hill, his wife, William F. Chamberlin, Arthur Sutphin, Miss Julia Sutphin, Miss Ella L. Smith, Leonard D. Wilson, John J. Hall, David S. Prall, John K. Agens, Brogun B. Van Nuys Lowe, Calvin Hoagland, Miss Sallie Dilts, Miss Mary E. Prall, Miss Hannah Prall. February ist. The Session received on certificate from the Baptist Church at Wertsville, Mrs. Rebecca M. Chamberlin, wife of William F. Chamberlin and Aaron T. Agens from the Reformed Church of Readington. On examination, Mrs. Ann E. Strimple and Miss Lizzie P. Hill. March 1st. The Session met and received on certifi- cate, Mrs. Mary J. Fisher from the Reformed Church of Plainfield; Miss Anna W. Bowlby from the M. E. Church of Quakertown; Mr. and Mrs. John B. Lowe from the Reformed Church of East Millstone; George W. Dilts from the M. E. Church of Mt. Zion; Mrs. Ann Dilts from the United First Church of Amwell; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Swarer from the M. E. Church of Stanton; Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Apgar from the M. E. Church of Annandale; Mrs. Theo- dosia Hall from the Reformed Church of Three Bridges; Mrs. M. Elizabeth Higgins, and Mrs. Hannah M. Hoag- land from the Reformed Church of Clover Hill, and Mrs. Rachel Lowe from the Reformed Church of Ne- shanic. And on examination, Mrs. Ellen A. Smith, Mrs, 270 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Sarah L. Hagaman, Mrs. Sarah M. Haines, Mrs. Sarah Louisa Fisher, Mrs. Lucretia H. Dilts, Isaac S. Lowe, William E. J. Huffman, Caleb F. Quick, Mrs. Cathar- ine B. Quick, his wife, Miss Fannie Quick, Jacob Hoag- land, John E. Hoagland and Mrs. Ellen Hoagland, Mrs. Ellen Hill, Mrs. Ada V. Hill, Miss Julia H. Smith, Miss Georgiana Dilts, Miss Kate C. Holcombe, Miss Mary Chamberlin, Miss Belle Hill, Miss Hannah B. Hockenbury, Miss Ann Rebecca Deats, Miss Cora L. Bowlby, Miss Mary Prall, William Boughner and Wal- ter M. Risender. And Sabbath morning, March and. Miss Wilhelmina Sipler and William Dilts. On this Sabbath morning, March 2nd, these new mem- bers, 17 in all, received by letter from other churches, were welcomed into the fellowship of this Church; and 47, received on examination, made a public profession of their faith in Christ, of which number 33 were admitted to the Sacrament of baptism, and the whole number to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This ingathering belongs really to one series of meet- ings begun with the Week of Prayer, and constitutes the largest addition at any one period to the membership of the Church during her history. April 5th the Session met, and received Mrs. Rachel B. Boughner to the membership of the Church on certifi- cate, from the Reformed Church of Rocky Hill. May 31st. The Session received into the membership of the Church on certificate, Miss Abigail A. Marsh from the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, and Mi^ Mary P. Quick from the Reformed Church at Clo- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 271 ver Hill. And on examination, Mrs. Rachel Trimmer and Mrs. Elizabeth D. A. Servis. September 6th. The Session received, on certificate, from the Reformed Church of Raritan, Mrs. Kitty W. D., wife of David Bartron. December 6th. The Session received William Servis on certificate, from the Baptist Church of Wertsville, and Mrs. Emma, his wife, on examination. December 7th. The Session received on examination, David Chamberlin and Mrs. Clarinda C, his wife, and Miss Kate Jones. March 6th, 1880. The Session received on certificate from the Amwell United First Church, Miss Mary A. Wilson and Stephen A. Staats and Mrs. Martha V. Gu- lick, his wife, from the Reformed Church at Harlingen. On examination, Mrs. Fanny Griggs and Miss Sarah E. Van Horn. June 5 th. The Session received on certificate from Amwell United First, Jonathan E. Haines and Miss Re- becca Fink from the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. December 4th. The Session received on certificate from the Reformed Church, Clover Hill, William S. Schenck and Mrs. Mary Young, his wife. March 5th, 1881. Received on certificate from Am- well Second Church, Mrs. Jennie Smith. Received on examination, Ralph Y. Smith, Mrs. Mary Ann Sipler, Miss Kate C. Griggs, Miss Mary J. Housel and Miss Sarah Agens. August 27th. Mrs. Emeline Laubaugh was received by letter from the Bethlehem M. E. Church. December 3rd. The Session received on examination. 272 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Daniel R. Housel, George T. Bacon and Emma C, his wife. February 25th, 1882. The Session received on exami- nation, Samuel Haines. June 3rd. The Session received on certificate from the Presbyterian Church of Liberty Corner, Mrs. Jennie Hoagland. August 26th. Richard B. McPherson was received on certificate from the M. E. Church of Stanton, N. J. March 3rd, 1883. B. B. Voorhees and Marietta Pit- tenger, his wife, were received on certificate from the Reformed Church of Branchville. August 25th. Isaac N. and Elizabeth A. Brokaw, his wife, were received by letter from the First M. E. Church of Somerville. December ist. Received on examination, Miss Kate R. Holcombe, Miss Bessie Smith, Miss Georgie Hol- combe, Miss Lydia Teaman, Miss Mattie E. McPher- son and Rettie R. Higgins. And on Sabbath morning, the 2nd, Mrs. Cora E. Wil- son from the St. George's M. E. Church, Philadelphia. And on examination. Miss Carrie E. Boyce, Miss Mag- gie Hunt and Miss Mary Etta Van Horn. December 9th. J. Jacob Kisz on certificate, from the Lutheran Church in Germany. On examination, Schenck Smith and Hannah M. Smith, his wife, Samuel Peters (colored), Miss Lizzie Kisz, Miss Maggie M. Kisz, John J. Kisz, Miss Annie E. Miller, Miss Minnie L. Hoagland and Alexander R. Griggs. January 6th, 1884. Received on examination. Miss Cornelia Hill, Mrs. Sarah M. Lyman (colored), Andrew THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 273 M. Dilts, Charles M. Sipler, Jr., and Mrs. Martha T. Todd. And on certificate from the Baptist Church of Flemington, Mrs. Gertrude V. M. Peterson. At this time the Session decided to take measures for adding three more persons to their number, and also decided on the persons they would place in nomination. They appointed March 23rd as the day for this action. Sabbath morning, March 23rd, the Session placed in nomination for the office of Ruling Elder, Caleb Farlee Quick, Martin J. Bellis and James Prall, Chamberlin. The congregation was invited to place others in nomina- tion, if it so desired. There being no other nominations the vote was taken, and the persons nominated were unanimously elected. The persons thus elected were or- dained and installed to the office of Ruling Elder im- mediately after their election. May 31st. Lemuel Hoagland and Mary, his wife, were received by letter from the M. E. Church of Ser- geantville, N. J., and Dora, their daughter, was received on examination. December 7th. The Session passed a vote of thanks to Mrs. John Quick for her kindness in presenting to the Church a silver tankard for the use of the Church at the communion services. January 1 8th, 1885. The Session received on exami- nation. Miss Laura B. White, Miss Emma F. Hall and Miss Susie K. Cronce. February 28th. Frederick Dirking and Miss Cora M. Sutphin were received on examination to the membership of this Church. Mrs. Mary R. Everitt was received by letter from the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and IS 274 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Mrs. Rhoda F. Quick from the Presbyterian Church of Titusville. At this meeting Dr. Rex handed in his resignation as Clerk of Session, on account of the infirmity of age, and Elder C. F. Quick was elected to fill his place. June 6th. Mrs. Martha Stothoff was received by let- ter from the Presbyterian Church of Flemington. December 5th. Mr. F. Rusham and Johanna, his wife, were received by letter from the M. E. Church of Flem- ington. Elder George P. Rex, who had been appointed to pre- pare a minute on the death of Elder Zebulon Stout, be- ing prevented by sickness from attending this meeting, sent the following resolutions which were approved by Session and ordered to be placed on our records, viz : Whereas, Zebulon Stout, the senior member of this Session, departed this life August nth, 1885, we, the surviving members of the Session, desire to place on rec- ord our appreciation of his character as a citizen and as a Christian; therefore. Resolved, That we express our profound sorrow at, the death of our brother, who had lived beyond four score years, and "has come to the grave like a shock of corn Cometh in his season." Resolved, That in Brother Stout we had a man of prayer, and one who, while "fervent in spirit," was dili- gent in doing the things his hands found to do in the service of the Master. In this he has left an example worthy of imitation by all the members of this Church. Resolved, That this testimonial be sent to William B. Stout, executor of his estate. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 275 March 6th, 1886. The Session received, on examina- tion, Mrs. Robert R. Smith, Jr., into the membership of the Church. June 5 th. Received by letter from the Presbyterian Church of Pluckemin, Frederick Powelson and Emma B., his wife, and Mrs. Ann R. Swietzer. At the same time Lemuel White and Mary F., his wife, being mem- bers of the German Baptist Church, but not having cer- tificates, were received on examination. March 5th, 1887. Mrs. Rose Young Prall was re- ceived by letter from the Baptist Church of Flemington. June 4th. John W. Lebler and Augusta F., his wife. Miss Cornelia A. Case and Frederick V. D. Durham were received on examination. Henry Lunger was re- ceived by letter from the M. E. Church at Norton, and Mrs. Sarah R. R. Hoffman from the Reformed Church at Clover Hill. The last meeting of Session, moderated by Mr. Blat- tenberger, was held October 3rd, 1887. During his pas- torate one hundred (lOO) persons were received into the Church on examination, and fifty-two (52) by letter from other churches. This large accession gives Dr. Blat- tenberger a distinguished place among the pastors of this Church. And yet, without detracting from his faithful- ness and genuine success, it is evident that the conditions then were much more favorable than they have been since. This is shown by the larger numbers received by letter, by the larger number in the Sabbath School, as well as the much larger number of children enrolled in the day school then than at the present time. To state this definitely while the Reaville school dis- 276 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH trict has the same boundary lines now, as then, and with the same teacher in the school, Miss Anna Park, now, that had charge of the school at the beginning of Mr. Blat- tenberger's pastorate, the school enrollment then was over eighty, while for these last two years it has been under thirty. With corresponding changes in the congregation the enrollment of eighty-four in the Sabbath School is really a higher ratio to the whole than one hundred and fifty was at the earlier date. Mr. Blattenberger saw these changes coming, as he has stated to me, and the records themselves confirm the fact of their approach. The total membership reported the year before Mr. Blattenberger came was 105. With the large revival at the beginning of his pastorate, adding 64 in all, he was enabled to put the number at 146 in his first report. With 15 additions the second year, he reported the membership at 156. In 1881, with eleven additions he reported 157, and the same number for each of the next two years, with five additions in 1882, and four in 1883. In 1884 there was the large addition of 28, and the membership reached 166. In 1885 it was 174, which is doubtless too high, as there were only nine additions. In 1886, with only one added on examination and three by letter, the report gives the membership as 171. In 1887 the membership is reported at 165. This was the last report made by Mr. Blattenberger. But it is evident the membership was stated too high, that is the loss from death and removals was not accurately de- ducted. This is shown by the fact that the first report THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 277 made to Presbytery after Mr. Blattenberger left, gives the membership of the Church as 123. These figures are given to show howr changeable this Church has been even in its most prosperous days. There is another very important fact in this pastorate which reflects great credit, both upon the pastor and the people. The people saw that the Church was needing repairs. The question then arose, "shall we simply repair, or shall we enlarge and repair." Subscription papers were circulated with this question before the people. This was early in 1883, or perhaps in 1882. The subscriptions were on so liberal a scale that more money was sub- scribed than needed for repairs. This was understood to be the expression on part of the people of their wish to enlarge. This measure was decided on by the Trustees, and the work commenced. It consisted in raising the Church and putting in our very comfortable basement room, with session room and kitchen. Also lengthening the main building so as to add one window on each side at the north, and putting in the recess for the pul- pit. The whole was frescoed and fitted with heaters, and the building painted and thoroughly renewed. As a result we have a very pleasant audience room, duly pro- portioned and suitably furnished. Besides this our base- ment is a convenience of the utmost importance, and sur- passing any provision for its purpose among our neigh- boring churches. The whole cost of this improvement was about $5,000. Three-fourths of this money was raised the first year. The debt remaining to the next year was $1,400. After a little consultation between a few members of the con- 278 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH gregation and the pastor, it was decided to present the matter one Sabbath at the close of the morning service. After a statement of the subject by the pastor, and the encouragement he was authorized to give, that if the con- gregation would take hold of it so as to wipe out the debt, two or three large subscriptions were ready to be named, such as $500 from Mr. J. W. Priestly, who had previously given $500, and two or three subscriptions of $200 would also be made, Mr. Blattenberger then and there called for subscriptions asking who would give $200, $100, $75, $50, $25, $15 and $iaThe response was such that the whole amount was pledged before the congregation adjourned. I here name Mr. Priestly, and I presume with the ap- proval of all. I would name the others if I had the list. It is all the more commendable, both to pastor and people, to find that while this large amount was con- tributed by the congregation for its own purposes, the ob- jects of Christian beneficence were receiving, from year to year, increased support. To illustrate, in 1884, the year in which the debt for enlarging the Church was cancelled, the Church raised for Home Missions $44, and for For- eign Missions $78. The largest amount, up to this date, contributed by the Church in any one year for these ob- jects. In the following year the amount for Foreign Missions reached $100. This is the index of a healthy condition of the Church. I submit, as I have done in case of other pastorates, a more complete statement of the financial and benevolent work of the Church for this period, as an important part of the Church's history. In April, 1879, the report for the year in which Mr. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 279 Beekman left, and that in which Mr. Blattenberger set- tled, nearly always a poor year for benevolent work, the church gave to Home Missions $7.15, to Foreign Mis- sions $8.70. While to all the Boards of the Church, in- cluding the assessment for Presbyterial and General As- sembly expenses, only $42.50, and to miscellaneous causes $82.65. This largely to the Hunterdon County Bible So- ciety, or a total for beneficence $135. To tabulate the results of this pastorate we have: For the Total Congre- Boards. Miscellaneous. Beneficence. gational. 1879 •• $42 50 $82 65 $135 15 $1,330 1880 .. 118 22 27 00 145 00 1,574 I88I .. 144 92 25 00 169 92 1,495 1882 .. 147 20 69 00 216 20 1,402 1883 .. 144 99 41 00 185 99 5,150 1884 .. ■ 170 99 10 00 180 99 2,873 1885 .. 197 77 16 00 213 77 1,338 1886 .. 185 40 16 00 201 40 1,420 1887 .. . 147 81 9 00 156 81 1,500 $1,299 80 $295 65 $1,605 23 $18,082 This is a very good showing for these nine years of the Church's history. Of Dr. Blattenberger personally we know less than we should be glad to know. Like the wise man that he is, he has not put his age on public record. He was grad- uated, however, in college and theological departments of Drew Seminary in 1873. When called November 25th, 1878, to become pastor of this Church, it was from 28o AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the pastorate of the Bergen Street Methodist Episcopal Church in the City of Newark. He was installed over Amwell First Church, December 31st, 1878. The pas- toral relation was dissolved October 4th, 1887, making his pastorate here a little less than nine years. Near the close of his pastorate here he received a call to the Presbyterian Church at Bridesburg, Pa. He con- tinues in the pastorate of that church at the present time, 1899. In the meanwhile he has received calls to other churches, but has seen fit to decline them. His pastorate at Bridesburg has been characterized with great activity and with yearly additions to the membership of the Church, the number ranging from ten to thirty on examination. But in no one year so large a number as came into this Church the first year of his pastorate here. The Church of Bridesburg had in 1888, the time of Dr. Blattenberger's first report, 250 members, or about 100 more than this Church. Some years it has reported less, but generally more. The last report states the membership at 317. His address before the Woman's Home and Foreign Mission- ary Societies at the time of our one hundred and sixtieth anniversary, showed that his bow abides in strength, and that his zeal for the extension of the Master's Kingdom over the earth is still intense and impelling. You, as a church owe thanks to your Divine Lord for the ministry of such a man among you. Dr. Blattenberger continued to minister to the Church at Bridesburg with untiring devotion until September, 1905, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis. He re- mained pastor of the Church until June 16, 1906, when he was called to his heavenly home by the Master, whom THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 281 he loved to serve. He was in the nineteenth year of his pastorate when his death occurred. The Presbytery (Phil- adelphia North) at the time of his death, expressed a high appreciation of his faithfulness as a minister of the Gos- pel, and its deep sympathy with his family and the Church of which he was the honored pastor. APPENDIX NO. I ELDER JOHN Y. BELLIS. The death of Elder Bellis occurred on the nth of March, 1888, and only a few weeks before the call of Rev. Thomas C. Potter to be your pastor. Because, it was in the interval between pastors is perhaps the rea- son that no memorial of his service to the Church is to be found in the minutes of the Church. Although I did not have the privilege of a personal acquaintance with Elder Bellis, I have learned so much of his service to this Church, that I cannot omit his name and a record of his service from the pages of this his- tory. Elder Bellis belonged to one of the old families which in Colonial times settled in the Amwell Valley. The ancestors of Elder Bellis came from Germany and from the first were identified with the German or Old Stone Church at the Corner. This is our nearest neighbor to the West. When the German Church be- came Presbyteryian in 1810, and formed an organic union with our Church, under the corporate name of the United First Presbyterian Church in Amwell, under the pastorate of Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick, the family was a part of this congregation. The original name was Boellesfelt. The first of the name was J.ohann Adam^ Boellesfelt, who came to America, previous to 1740, 282 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH shown by the fact that a son was born in Amwell that year. The family came from Neuwid, in Rhenish Prussia. Johann was born in 1710, and died 1761. He located near Copper Hill. He assisted in building the Old Stone German Church in 1749. His oldest son was Wilhelm^, born December i8th, 1840. We men- tion only his son William^, bom December 15th, 1776, and Mathias^, grandfather of Theodore Bellis, to whom we are indebted for this family history. Another grand- son of William^, is William^ Bellis, who is an Elder in the Old Stone Church, or rather its successor, the Am- well United First Church. A son of William^, was John Y. Bellis*, the subject of this article. He was one of our Elders in the Am- well First. He was born January 2nd, 1809. He and Elizabeth Ann Brewer were united in marriage Janu- ary 19th, 1837. He was chosen to preside over the Con- gregational meeting in 1871. He frequently served the Church as trustee. He united with the Church on ex- amination in 1846, Rev. Benjamin Carrell being pastor. He was ordained to the office of Ruling Elder April 27, 1872, under Rev. John H. Scofield, pastor. I requested Elder C. F. Quick to give me his estimate of Elder Bellis, as a man and an officer. He wrote me that "Elder Bellis was a man of peaceable disposition, and irreproachable character. He was slow in forming an opinion, but firm when once he had come to a deci- sion. He was faithful in the discharge of the duties of his office, and liberal in supporting the Church, and con- tributing to. her objects of beneficence." He departed this life March nth, 1888. During the later years of THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 283 his life, it was his privilege to see his son, Martin^, Jr., chosen to the same office with himself. This son of his, was one of the Elders of the Church, during my pas- torate. In this office he, Martin, Jr., served the Church with a faithfulness I have never seen surpassed. A simi- lar statement may be made concerning his cousin, Wil- liam°, above mentioned, of his faithfulness to the United First Church. He is the fifth in the line of descent of this family to hold this office in that Church. A rare history truly of a family serving two neighboring churches in the Eldership. THE SIXTEENTH PASTOR, REV. THOMAS CHALMERS POTTER, 1888— 1889. At the annual meeting of the Congregation held March 27th, 1888, William G. Hill was made Chair- man, and Barton Huffman Secretary. It was decided at this meeting that the old Board of Trustees should be re-elected. This was followed by choosing Theodore F. Swarer as President of the Board. On the same day a unanimous call was given to Rev. George Scarlet to become pastor of this Church. This call he subsequently declined. This date of March 27th, 1888, is the first, in which there is any record of employing an organist, at a fixed salary. A Committee was appointed, consisting of Thomas Miller and William Pierce to wait on Mrs. Pe- terson, to ascertain if she would continue to act as or- ganist. The Committee reported before the meeting adjourned that they had secured her agreement to ren- der this service for $80 per annum, and the privilege of 284 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH giving a concert in the Church. This matter is men- tioned with no reflection on the requirement of a salary for this service, but as a matter of history, and to ex- press the appreciation of the Church to those members of the Congregation who for years rendered this service gratuitously. The session called a meeting of the congregation again May 14th, 1888, in order, if the way was clear, to call a pastor. The Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., moderated this meet- ing. Barton Huffman was appointed Secretary. The Rev. Thomas Chalmers Potter was nominated and unanimously elected to the pastorate of this Church. The salary promised Mr. Potter was $800 per annum, to be paid in two equal payments, together with the free use of the parsonage and three weeks' vacation. At the close of the preparatory service held June 2nd, Mr. Potter being present, was invited to act as modera- tor of the Session. Mr. Potter signified his willingness, at this time, to accept the call of the congregation. Dr. George P. Rex, and Elder A. J. Prall were ap- pointed commissioners to prosecute this call before Pres- bytery, to be held at Titusville, June the 26th. Mrs. Rebecca Case, wife of Winfield Case, was received at this meeting of the Session, on examination into the membership of the Church. Mr. Frederick Powelson and his wife, Emma Powel- son, were dismissed to the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, N. J. Also Mrs. Anna Sweitzer to the same Church. Mr. David S. Prall and his wife, Rosa, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 285 to the Congregational Church of Albion, Nebraska. Mrs. Susie Hoagland nee Cronce to the Reformed Church of East Millstone, N. J. The Commissioners appeared before Presbytery June 26th, at Titusville, and laid the call before Presbytery. Presbytery placed the call in the hands of Mr. Potter, which was accepted by him. Arrangements were then made for his installation. July 17th was the day named for this service. The Committee of Presbytery, being present, performed the respective duties assigned them. In this service Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, D. D., of the Third Church, Trenton, preached the sermon, presided, and proposed the constitutional questions. The Rev. Wm. H. Wolverton, of the Second Church of Trenton, gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. J. P. W. Blattenberger, of Bridesburg, Pa., on invitation, gave the charge to the people. The Elders of the Church at this time were William G. Hill, James P. Chamberlin, Abraham J. Prall, Martin J. Bellis, Caleb F. Quick and George P. Rex, M. D. The first meeting of Session, after the installation of Mr. Potter, was held September 2nd, 1888. At this time Mr. Jonathan T. Conover was received on examination, and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Potter, Mrs. Lizzie Higgins, and Mrs. Isaac Wyckoff, by letter. December ist, 1888, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Hors- fall were received by letter from the Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, N. J., and Mr. Asher Higgins, Charles F. Creveling, M. D., and Malvina Baird (colored) were received on examination. The Session convened March 2nd, 1889, and received on examination Messrs. Alvin 286 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Hill, Lewis C. Sutphin and John V. M. Wyckoff, Mrs. Mary E. Carkhuff, Mrs. N. M. Resch; also the Misses Anna M. Williamson, Hannah R. Swarer and Hannah E. Hoagland; and by letter from the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church, Mr. John C. Williamson. This closed the first year of Mr. Potter's pastorate, which proved to be one of prosperity for the Church. He had one thing of great advantage both to himself and the Church, which was a goodly number of young peo- ple in the congregation at the time, ready to be gathered in. The like of it has not existed since. But it is great- ly to his credit that he succeeded in winning these for the Church and the Master. In all, the additions for this first year numbered thirteen, as received on ex- amination, and six by certificate, which is exactly the num- ber dismissed to other churches. In the minute for June ist, 1889, it is stated: that it was decided to conform to the usual custom, and dis- continue the evening service of the Church during the busy season. November 24th, 1889, the pastor gave notice of his intention to resign the pastorate of the Church, that he might accept a call to the Presbyterian Church at Cedar Falls, Iowa. This call, he stated, had been made two months previous, and had been declined. It was re- newed, and he had decided to accept it. A meeting of the Congregation was called by the Ses- sion to be held November 25th. At this meeting William G. Hill was made Chairman, and C. F. Quick Secretary. At this meeting it was decided to accede to the pastor's request, and unite with him in asking Presbytery to dis- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 287 solve the relation between himself and the Amwell First Church, to take effect December 22nd. The commissioners appointed to represent the Church at the meeting of Presbytery were Elders Wm. G. Hill and Martin J. Bellis, and Trustee Theodore F. Swarer. It was not until November 30th, 1889, that there were any additions to the Church, during the second year of Mr. Potter's pastorate. At this time the Session re- ceived on examination to the membership of the Church Miss Mary HofEman, Miss Laura E. Dilts, Miss Mary L. Dilts, Johnson B. Pierce, William L. Van Syckle and Robert M. Conover. This was the last meeting of Ses- sion of which Mr. Potter was Moderator. Mr. Potter's pastorate closed by action of Presbytery, December 22nd, 1889, having continued one year and six months, or dating from the time he signified his ac- ceptance of your call, at which time he moderated the meeting of Session on invitation, when one person was received into the membership of the Church, its dura- tion was one year and seven months. This is the short- est pastorate in the history of the Church. But though brief, it w'as characterized by marked prosperity in the Church, and in this short period he impressed the Church with his faithfulness, and he and his excellent wife greatly endeared themselves to the people of the con- gregation. To Mr. Potter belongs the credit of having organized the Christian Endeavor Society, which under the inspira- tion of his leadership and with the goodly number of young people at the time in the Church, became a great blessing to the Church. 288 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Mr. Potter was also faithful in promoting the cause of benevolence, so that creditable contributions were made to all the Boards of the Church. The statistics of the Church for the first year are as follows: Received on examination thirteen; and the second year six, and six by letter, making twenty-five in all. Total membership one hundred and forty-seven. There were six Elders and five Deacons. Sabbath School members one hundred. The contributions to the Boards of the Church for the first year were $201, of which $72 were for For- eign Missions. To General Assembly $12, and Mis- cellaneous Causes, the unusual sum of $206, making a total of $419 to causes of benevolence. The salary was $800, and for other expenses of the Church, $700 were contributed. The second year is only partly covered by his pastor- ate. The total contributions for the year are: to the Boards $157, of which $53 were for Foreign Missions; $15 for General Assembly, and $20 to Miscellaneous Causes. Or to outside causes $177, and for Congrega- tional expenses $1420. Mr. Potter, in making request for the dissolution of the pastoral relation, gratefully acknowledged the uni- form kindness shown him by the congregation. The Church recriprocated by expressing their deep regret that he was about to leave them. At a meeting of the Session held November 30th, the commissioners were instructed to ask permission of Pres- bytery to supply their own pulpit until the next stated meeting of the same. Also to request Presbytery to ap- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 289 point Rev. Charles W. Pitcher, pastor of the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church, to act as Moderator of the Session for the same period. Following the record of Mr. Potter's pastorate a few- facts of his personal history will be of interest to this congregation. Mr. Potter's father was Rev. L. D. Potter, D. D., born at New Providence, New Jersey, and at the time Mr. Potter was with you and long afterwards Dr. Potter, the father, was President of Glendale Female College, Glendale, Ohio, over which institution he pre- sided over forty years. The mother of Rev. Thomas Chalmers Potter was Henrietta M. Ketcham, of Penn- ington, N. J. Mr. Potter, Sr., graduated at Princeton College in 1841, having as classmates Drs. Duffield, Cuy- ler and Schenck. He graduated from Princeton Theo- logical Seminary in 1844. Rev. Thomas C. Potter was born at Dunlapsville, In- diana. He prepared for College at South Salem, Ohio, and graduated at Hanover College, Indiana, in 1874, and was a post-graduate of Princeton College in 1877, in the department of Philosophy. He graduated at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1880. He married Miss Eliz- abeth H. McMuUin, at Circleville, Ohio, in April, 1 88 1. Her father was Rev. S. H. McMuUin, D. D., professor of Greek at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and afterward a professor in the Danville Theological Seminary, Kentucky. The pastorates held by Mr. Potter up to the time of the anniversary exercises of the Church were Denison, 19 290 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Iowa, Reaville, New Jersey, and Cedar Falls, Iowa. Losing his hearing, he retired from the pastorate for a while. At present (the time of revising this history) he is pastor of the Presbyteryian Church at Glasgow, Dela- ware. During his pastorate at Glasgow, he has been a very frequent contributor to the Presbyterian of Phila- delphia. In his last communication to me, which re- lated to this history, he repeated his expression of his pleasant memories of the uniform kindness of this con- gregation to himself and Mrs. Potter, and I personally know that this feeling continues to be reciprocated. APPENDIX NO. 1 ELDER GEORGE P. REX, M. D. The death of Elder Dr. George P. Rex occurred July 1 2th, 1889, and only three months before Rev. Thomas C. Potter was released from the pastorate of this Church. By an oversight or neglect on the part of the Session, no record was made of his death in the minutes. This is regretted by myself, because, as in the case of Elder Bellis, I had no personal acquaintance with Dr. Rex. But notwithstanding the disadvantages under which I write. Dr. Rex's services were too important to this Church for me to allow his name, and some men- tion of what he did in behalf of the Church to be omit- ted from this history. George P. Rex was bom in Philadelphia, September 2nd, 1 813. After leaving a Classical School in Phila- delphia, he placed himself under the instruction of Dr. George McClellan, father of Gen. George B. McClcl- lan, as a medical student, and soon after entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 1834, be- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 291 ing, as you will see, not quite twenty-one years of age. In that same year Dr. Rex settled in Clover Hill, and began the practice of Medicine. In 1836 he married Gertrude V., daughter of Jacob Williamson, Esq. In 1837 lie moved to Reaville, or Greenville, as it then was called, where he remained until 1856. During this period of nineteen years, his skill and faithfulness se- cured for him a large practice, and won for him the es- teem of the medical profession of the county, of whose organization he became a member as early as May 3rd, 1836, and was made its Treasurer in 1850, and one of the board of censors from 1848 to 1853. "Dr. Rex, and his wife," so stands the record, "pre- sented themselves before the Session of this Church Sep- tember 6th, 1838, and were received into the fellowship of this church on profession of their faith in Christ." The pastor at the time was the Rev. David Hull. Mrs. Rex being still with us, she heads the list of the living members of this church, and precedes the next living member by a period of eight years. She has now en- tered upon the sixty-third year of her Church mem- bership, though it should be added, that for a portion of this time she has lived in other communities, and held membership in other churches. March lOth, 1838, Dr. Rex was made a member of the "Committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for erecting a new meeting house, which was to be located at or near Greenville. It was subsequently decided to build by contract, and the Committee to contract for the building was appointed August i8th, 1838, consist- ing of John Hagaman, George F. Wilson, Gideon Quick, 292 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Jacob W. Schenck and George P. Rex. At the same time a Committee of three was appointed to revise and file all the proceedings of this congregation regarding the erection of the Church, John Hagaman, Peter P. Quick and George P. Rex wrt-e the Committee thus appointed. This Committee had the disposal of the Old Meeting House, and was the Building Committee of the new. Dr. Rex was at the same time a member of the Board of Trustees, and the whole proceedings concerning the building of the New Church were recorded by him. Thus early in life, he became intimately identified with the interests of this Church. In 1856 he removed to Perry, 111. While there he be- came identified with the educational interests of the State. In 1861 he entered the service of the Government as Surgeon of the 33rd Illinois Infantry, and served throughout the conflict as Division Surgeon and Medi- cal Director. After the war, he resided in Selma, Ala- bama, where he held positions of great responsibility un- der Government appointment during the presidency of General Grant. We have to do, however, with his connection with this Church, rather than in other departments of usefulness. In 1871, his health failing, he returned to Reaville, where he resumed his connection with this Church, October 14th, 1 87 1, by certificate from Presbyterian Church of Selma, Alabama, as well as the practice of medicine. April 27th, 1872, he was ordained to the office of Ruling Elder, together with John Y. Bellis and Abra- ham J. Prall, during the pastorate of Rev. John H. Scofield. Dr. Rex was chosen Clerk of the Session Feb- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 293 ruary 28th, 1874, and the minutes of the Session were written by him for many years. February 28th, 1885, Dr. Rex, "on account of increasing years and imfirmity," handed in his resignation as Clerk of Session. His last meeting with the Session was March ist, 1884. But on the 5th of September, 1885, he was requested to prepare a minute on the death of Elder Zebulon Stout. He complied with this request, but being too feeble to at- tend the Session, December 5th, 1885, he sent in the minute, containing expressions of high appreciation for the Christian character of Brother Stout, and deep sor- row on account of his death. This appears to have been the last service he performed for the Session. Dr. Rex had the honor of being chosen President of the Hunter- don County Bible Society, August 15th, 1876, to preside over its meeting the following year. Dr. Rex departed this life July 12th, 1889, having been a member of this or some other Church for upwards of fifty-one years, and a Ruling Elder upwards of seven- teen year. Honorable as such a record is, I am per- suaded that the most beneficent and lasting service which he rendered the Church and the Master, was either as teacher in, or Superintendent of the Sabbath School. It is deeply to be regretted that the records of our Sabbath School, except for a few recent years, are not to be found. For this reason we cannot State with accuracy, the years of service he rendered our School, but it is known that he was thus actively engaged for many years before leaving for the west, and again after his return in 1 87 1. From that date, up to the time he was en- 294 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH feebled by age, I believe he was the Superintendent of the School. After such a career, we may with propriety close this tribute by quoting a sentence from' a local paper, pub- lished at the time of the Doctor's death. It is this: "After a long and useful life, Dr. George P. Rex goes down to the grave, leaving behind him the memory of an honored career, and a record that is bright vdth good deeds." THE SEVENTEENTH PASTOR, REV. JOHN R. KUGLER, 1890 1900. After the resignation of Mr. Potter, the Church was without a pastor from December 22nd, 1889, to April 1st, 1890, when. I took charge of the Church as pastor- elect. During the interval between pastors, the usual method of supplies and candidates was adopted for fill- ing the pulpit, the supply most frequently called upon was my college professor. Rev. Henry C. Cameron, D. D., of Princeton. Among the candidates were Rev. Theo. E. Montgomery, and myself, at the time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hoboken, N. J. I first occupied the pulpit January 12th, 1890. By order of the Session, a congregational meeting was held February 4th, 1890, for the purpose, if the way be clear, of calling a pastor. At this meeting the Rev. Charles W. Pitcher of the Kirk- patrick Memorial Church, being Moderator of the Ses- sion, presided. Theodore F. Swarer was chosen Secre- tary. The only nomination made was myself, and the nomination was followed by a unanimous vote to the pastorate of the Church. The call thus made named THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 295 $800 as the salary to be paid semi-annually, together with the free use of the parsonage during my pastorate, and a yearly vacation of three weeks. The call was thus made out and signed as directed by the congregation, by William G. Hill, Caleb F. Quick, Eders. John E. Holcombe, Lewis Sutphin, Deacons. John B. Lowe, Theodore F. Swarer, Trustees. Elders Hill and Quick were appointed Commissioners to prosecute the call before Presbytery. • On being officially notified of the call, I expressed will- ingness to accept it. The Rev. T. E. Montgomery supplied the pulpit March ist. At this date, on invitation of Session, he acted as Moderator of the same, at which time Eugene Latourette was received, on examination to the mem- bership of the Church. On invitation I occupied the pulpit March i6th, and took charge of the Church from April 1st as pastor-elect. The Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, in session at the Third Church Trenton, April 8th, received me on letter from the Presbytery of Jer- sey City, and on examination as to my reception of the standards of the Church. At this time the Presbytery placed in my hands the call from the Amwell First Church, which being accepted by me, arrangements were 296 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH made for my installation. This was ordered to take place May the 27th, 1890, and the following persons were appointed to perform the service: The Moderator of Session, Rev. Charles W. Pitcher, to preside and pro- pose the constitutional questions; the Rev. George S. Mott, D. D., of Flemington, to preach the sermon ; Rev. William M. Wells, of Amwell United First, to give the charge to the pastor, and Rev. William W. Wolverton, of the Second Church of Trenton, to give the charge to the people. On the day appointed, the Committee performed the duty assigned, except that the Rev. George Ingram, of Trenton Fifth, as alternate, gave the charge to the people. The day was auspicious, the audience large, and the service full of interest to all. The first meeting of Session after my installation was held May 31st. At this meeting all the Elders were present, viz: Caleb F. Quick, William G. Hill, Abra- ham J. Prall, James P. Chamberlin and Martin J. Bel- lis. At this time the following persons presented them- selves before Session, and after examination, were re- ceived into the membership of the Church, viz: Alfred Reasinger, Ira Hill, Joseph Higgins, Bessie Hill, Lena Wyckoff and Jennie V. C. Staats. The following day, June 1st, these persons made a public profession of their faith and promise of new obedience, and baptism was ad- ministered to all except Miss Staats, who had received this rite in infancy. The pastor's wife, Mrs. Annie Cramer Kugler, was received by letter from the Presbyterian Church of Ho- boken, on Saturday. At the same time Elder Martin J. Bellis reported that Mrs. Margaret, wife of Jacob Case, of THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820 1900 297 Three Bridges, who had long been confined to her home by sickness, was desirous of being received into the mem- bership of the Church, whereupon, the Session decided to meet with her at her home on Sabbath afternoon, and if the way be clear, receive her to the Church and the Sacrament of the Lord's supper. At the time designated, the Session, with members of their families, met with Mrs. Case, and after examination admitted her to Church membership, and the sacrament of the Lord's supper being duly administered for her especial benefit. Annie Higgins Case, daughter of Mrs. Margaret Case, being unable to meet with the Session on Saturday, was received Sabbath morning, June ist, and the Sacrament of baptism was administered to her along with others received on Saturday. At a meeting of Session held December 6th, 1890, the pastor laid before the Session the cause of Foreign Missions. The members of Session were urged to give this great cause prayerful considera- tion, and appealed to them to increase their own gifts to this and the other causes of beneficence, and likewise to make an effort to enlist the co-operation of the members of the Church to take a deeper interest in the causes represented by the various Boards of the Church. This action is deserving of mention here at the begin- ning of my pastorate, because I had decided to lay stress on this department of usefulness and growth during my pastorate. In this endeavor I had the most cordial and constant co-operation of Mrs. Kugler. And the records show that what growth in beneficence was secured by the Church, was rather with the Christian women of the Church, in and through their missionary societies, 298 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH than by the whole Church as a part of its organic work. And here, "it was rather by securing a larger number of contributors, than by larger contributions from any indi- vidual members. At the same meeting of Session, it was decided to observe the Week of Prayer by the Church, and to follow this service with evangelistic ser- vices. The regular quarterly meeting of Session was held February 28th, previous to preparatory service. To avoid lengthening this history, already much longer than designed, the following meetings of Session will be stated with less detail of organization, than has been given under the preceding pastorates. At the meeting of Session Robert Boyd and Elizabeth P., his wife, was re- ceived by letter from the Reformed Church of Clover Hill. At the same time Mrs. Josephine, wife of Henry Daniels, Miss Florence A. Boyd and Howard C. Sutphin were admitted to Church membership on examination. George H. Hoesfall and wife were at their own re- quest dismissed to the Presbyterian Church of Franklin, Pa. As the result of the effort for increased beneficence our first report to Presbytery showed a total of $244 for the work of the various Boards of the Church, of which $112 was for Foreign Missions. Of this sum the Wo- men's Society contributed $75. While the money they raised for the Home Board, was divided, so as to aid the Church in making up its allotment for Synodical Home Missions. The other Boards were all aided. The Congregational expenses were for salary $800, and in- cidentals $401. THE MODERN PERIOD— 18201900 299 The total membership reported was 157, which was greater than the number on the grounds. Received dur- ing the first year, 1 1 on examination and three by letter ; and two were dismissed by letter to other churches. June 6th, 1891, Session received Cornelius Miller and Mary Whitenack, his wife, by letter, from the Reformed Church of Three Bridges, and at the same time dismissed Mrs. Abbie G. Wyckoff and John, her son, to the Re- formed Church of Raritan, and Mrs. Mary Prall Phillips to the Amwell Second Church. The pastor reminded the Session of the fact that at the Congregational meet- ing March 30, he had obtained leave of absence for four or five months, that he and Mrs. Kugler might visit Europe. This was asked and granted on condition that he supply the pulpit at his own expense during his ab- sence, excepting for the three weeks granted for his vacation. He now informed the Session that he had engaged for this service the Rev. Alexander McWil- liam of the Reformed Church, residing at Somerville, and at present without charge. The selection met with the approval of Session. The first meeting of Session after this period of absence was held December 5 th, at which time Charles H. Snook (colored) was received on examination to Church membership; and by letter Session received from the Reformed Church of Queens, L. I., John L. Burke, and Sarah, his wife, and Pearl, their daughter; also Morris W. Robinson and Lizzie J. Stiger, his wife. The pastor reminded Session of the death of Elder Wm. G. Hill, which had occurred during his absence in Europe. The pastor and Elder Quick were appointed a 360 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Committee to bring in a minute in the near future, on the death of Mr. Hill. Sabbath morning Elmer White was admitted, after examination, to Church membership. Both he and Charles Snook received baptism previous to the adminis- tration of the Lord's supper. January 31st, 1892, a letter of dismission was given to Jonathan T. Conover to the First Presbyterian Church of Washington, N. J. March 5th Charles T. Hocken- bury, Ellen Cora Young and James Woodburn Wilson were received on examination to the membership of this Church. At their public profession, Sabbath morning, Mr. Hockenbury and Miss Young received the rite of baptism. Mrs. Sarah Catherine Hill, wife of Lewis Huff, was received on certificate from the Reformed Church at Clover Hill, and Mrs. Anna Munson, wife of Wood- burn Wilson, from the Reformed Church of Three Bridges. The Committee appointed to bring in a minute on the death of Elder Hill reported at this meeting, substan- tially, as follows: Resolved, That in the death of Elder Wm. G. Hill, which took place August 21st, 1891, this Church has lost a most worthy member and faithful office-bearer. This faithfulness was shown during the entire period of his official life, extending over more than twenty-one years, from March 20th, 1870, to the date of his death. Second. We regarded him as a man wise in counsel, strong in faith, with an exalted sense of the responsibil- ity of his office and unswerving in his devotion to duty. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 301 (As illustration: See his action in refusing to put a motion when out of order, in case of Rev. Beekman). Third. We, the surviving members of Session, have been deeply impressed by the sincerity of his piety, shown by his zeal for the Church and the Master. We shall deeply miss his godly example and encouraging presence. The report was adopted. Closing the second year we reported to General As- sembly, a small increase in membership and also in the sum paid for congregational expenses, caused chiefly by putting a new furnace in the parsonage, which was granted when the pastor and his wife agreed to pay fifty dollars on the same; fifty-seven was the sum paid by them. It is regretted that there was a small decrease in the beneficence of the Church as compared with the previous year. At the beginning of our third year with the Church the Session granted, April 4th, 1892, the fol- lowing letters: to Theodore F. Swarer, dismissing him to the Presbyterian Church of Clinton, N. J.; to Joseph S. Higgins and Lizzie, his wife, to the Reformed Church of Branchville, N. J.; May 25th, to Miss Hannah Swarer to the Presbyterian Church of Clinton, and to the Misses Caroline V. D. and Catherine Case to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington. June 4th, Session received on examination Augustus Lebler and Augusta, his wife, and on certificate, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kane from the First Presbyterian Church of Roselle, and June 5th, Mrs. V. D. S. Hill, wife of Horace Herder, from the Presbyterian Church of Pennington. July 24th a letter was granted Mrs. Mary 302 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH L. Karkuff, wife of Jacob, dismissing her to the Re- formed Church of Annandale, N. J. September 3rd, Robert R. Smith was received on ex- amination to Church membership. September nth, the Session convened at the residence of Mrs. Low, and sit- ting at the bedside of her very sick grandson, received him, on examination, into the Church and to both Sac- raments, which were then administered. November and, certificates were granted Mrs. Anna Munson, widow of the late Woodburn Wilson, dis- missing her to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church, and to John L. Burke, Sarah E., his wife, and Pearl, their daughter, to the Williams Avenue M. E. Church, Brook- lyn, N. Y. December 3rd, Mrs. Julia E., wife of Charles F. Creveling, M. D., was received by letter from the M. E. Church of Phillipsburg, N. J., and Mrs. Jane Ann Quick and Jesse B. Conover were received on examina- tion to membership of this Church. March 3, 1893, a letter was granted Mrs. Hannah M. Smith to St. Paul's M. E. Church, Trenton, N. J. At the same time William B. Prall, Jr., was received into this Church on examination, and John Young by letter from the Reformed Church of Branchville, N. J. March 12th, Mrs. Edward H. Stout, nee Susie E. Hoagland, was dismissed by letter to the Presbyterian Church of Lambertville, N. J. March 31st, for the year, the record is six received on examination and four by letter, while thirteen were dis- piissed to other churches, and three died, leaving a total THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 303 of 150. At the same time the Church made decided gains in beneficence in all departments. The Session granted a certificate July 23rd, 1893, to Mrs. Gertrude V. M. Peterson, dismissing her to the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, N. J. Mrs. Peterson had left the Church in 1891, but did not call for her certificate until this time. It should be added that Mrs. Peterson had served the Church as organist and leading soprano for many years, with great faithful- ness and efficiency, and her removal from us has been felt as a severe loss to the Church. August 19th, letters were granted to Deacon John Emilie Holcombe and his wife, Emma A. Skillman, to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington. August 23rd, Mrs. Rhoda F., widow of Paul Quick, was dismissed to the Presbyterian Church of Hopewell. On the 30th, Henry ,C. Kline and his wife, Jennie C. Young, from the Reformed Church of Branchville. At the same time the pastor informed Session that Miss Bessie Smith, who had been organist since the removal of Mrs. Peterson, was about to leave the community, and asked Session to appoint a Committee to secure some one to fill her place. Elder Wm. J. Bellis and I. S. Lowe were made such Committee. December 22nd, Mrs. Cora L. Smith, wife of D. Whitney Smith, was dismissed to the Second Presbyter- ian Church of Princeton. The Music Committee re- ported that they had engaged Miss Bessie Hill to take the place of organist in the Church. At this meeting of Session it was decided to observe the week of prayer as has been our uniform custom, and 304 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH to follow this with such evangelistic services as may seem advisable. January 28th, 1894, the Session granted certificates to Abraham W. Prall and Mary Elizabeth, his wife, to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. February i8th, the same to Miss Bessie Smith to the Presbyterian Church of Flem- ington, and March 3rd to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kane to the Church of Roselle, N. J. At this time Elder C. F. Quick was reappointed to act with the pastor in the cause of Foreign Missions. The year closed with only two received, while eleven were dismissed to other churches and four had died, giv- ing a total of 139 members. Over against this painful fact was the cheering one, that there was a small increase all around in offerings for the spread of the gospel. July and, 1894, the Session received from the M. E. Church of Flemington Samuel Griggs, Georgianna, his wife, and Belle C, their daughter; also Margaret Hill Polhemus, wife of Isaac Lowe, and Alice Van Marter Polhemus, wife of Johnson B. Pierce, from the Reformed . Church of Clover Hill. Anna A. Sutphen was received September 1st, on examination, and December gth, Mrs. Mary C. Karkuff, from the Reformed Church of An- nandale. At the same time the Session determined to observe the week of prayer, and follow with evangelistic service, as called for. The pastor convened Session December 16, and re- minded the members of the serious illness of Rev. Wm. M. Wells, of Amwell United First Church, and asked the privilege of rendering that Church a voluntary ser- vice for one Sabbath, as was being done by other churches THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 305 and pastors in the Presbytery. This was cheerfully granted by the Session, at the same time agreeing to hold a prayer service in the absence of the pastor. This service was rendered for Brother Wells the first Sab- bath of January, 1895. A similar arrangement was made for Rev. W. H. Filson and the Church at Frenchtown, during the following summer. According to the decision of Session, the week of prayer at the beginning of the year was followed by evan- gelistic services for seven weeks. These services resulted in a quickened interest among the members of the Church, and the addition, March and, 1895, on examina- tion and to both sacraments, John H. Swarer, Wil- mina Rounsaville, wife of J. K. Rounsaville, Robert Smith, Charles Cronce, Samuel Gano, Samuel Hall, Elizabeth E. Walker and John V. Hoagland; and to the Lord's supper only Elizabeth H. Conover, wife of John H. Swarer, John Q. Williamson, Mary Ann Sloff, his wife, and William H. Housel, and by letter, Eme- line Conover, wife of Peter, from the Reformed Church of Clover Hill, Emily V. Conover, wife of Charles D. Wyckoff, from the Reformed Church of Readington; and March 3rd, Peter H. Conover and William H., his son, and Sarah Taylor to both sacraments. These per- sons made a public profession of their faith in Christ and entered covenant to serve him, before the administra- tion of the sacraments, Sabbath morning. The yearly report to Presbytery showed our largest increase in membership and again an increase in the offer- ings of the Church for the spread of the gospel, especially in the foreign field. The sum reached for Foreign Mis- 20 3o6 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH sions was $119, the largest sum for this cause in the his- tory of the Church. For all these blessings, the Church, and especially the pastor and his wife Were very grate- ful. And while our Sabbath School reported only 102 members, there were in the School thirty scholars who were Church members. The Session received April 20, 1895, on examination, Cora B. Rounsaville and Mrs. Cornelia R. Smith, wife of Mahlon Smith, Jr., and by letter, Mrs. Mary Ella Holt, wife of W. Y. Holt, from the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and William B. Dungan and Phoebe, his wife, from the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. At the same time Barton HufEman and Sarah R. R., his wife, were dismissed to the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. As the pastor had obtained leave of absence, in order that he and his wife might again visit Europe, on terms simi- lar to those of his first visit, he informed the Session that there would be uncertainty about his reaching home by the first of September, the Session, by unanimous vote, agreed that the communion service be deferred from the first to the Second Sabbath of that month, so that, if spared, he might be with them. The Session was in- formed that the Rev. Mr. Todd, of Cranford, N. J., an unemployed minister of the Reformed Church, had been engaged to take charge of the pulpit, during the pastor's absence, and this was approved. At the meeting of Ses- sion, October 6th, a letter was given Mrs. Mary A. Wil- son, wife of Aurthur Hoagland, to the Reformed Church of Long Branch, and to Stephen A. Staats and Martha V. Gulick, his wife, to the Reformed Church of New Brunswick. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 307 October 27, certificates were granted Mrs. Ada Hill and Lizzie Hill, her daughter, to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and to Samuel Hall, to the Reformed Church of Neshanic, and Florence Boyd, to the Kirk- patrick Memorial Church, while at the same time we received Mrs. Elizabeth Dungan frohi that Church. Mrs. Jennie C. V. Staats was dismissed to the Pres- byterian Church of Doylestown, Pa. The week of prayer and all other means of grace were observed and used with conscious faithfulness, unless it be while the pastor was absent. But with all this, the year has been one of decrease, rather than increase, in all departments, so far as numbers may express the conditions. July 5th, 1896, Mrs. Hannah Hoagland Wiggins was dismissed to the Presbyterian Church of Doylestown; December 5th, Mrs. Horace Herder was dismissed to the Reformed Church of Readington. The conditions of this Church above expressed, ex- tended to the neighboring Churches, the Amwell United First, and the Kirkpatrick Memorial Church. The pastors of the same, the Rev. Samuel H. Potter and the Rev. George W. S. Wenrick and myself agreed to unite in an effort for more aggressive work. In this we had the cordial co-operation of our respective Ses- sions, and of our people as well. The plan was for all to unite in a service at one of these churches one night, and at another the next, thus keeping up a continuous inter- church service. This was commenced November 8th, and was continued for four weeks, at which all the pastors were present with one or two exceptions, and preached for each other. The audiences were large, the 3o8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH people were deeply interested, and blessed results followed immediately in the Memorial Church and in the others the good influences were abiding, and the ingathering came following the week of prayer. The Session gave a certificate, February 7th, to Mrs. Anna, wife of George R. Hill, dismissing her to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington, and to J. Jacob Kisz, to the German Evangelical Church of Paterson, N. J. March 6, 1897, ^^^ following persons appeared before Session, and after examination, were admitted to the sealing ordinance of baptism and the Lord's supper, viz: Mrs. Nancy Crouce, wife of William, Sarah Mowry, Eleanor Griggs and Alexander Stryker; and the follow- ing having received baptism in infancy, were admitted to the Lord's supper, viz: Myrta Bellis and Anna W. Sutphin. It seems to the writer worthy of mention that one of the above number, Mr. Alexander Stryker, was at the time of his reception into the Church seventy-five years of age. During my entire pastorate, of over forty years, this is the only person received into the Church of so great age, and only one other as old as seventy. And it may be added that both these aged disciples were blessed with godly, faithful and praying wives. During the year now closing a new organization in the church was constituted, which has already occom- plished much and has the promise of greater things. Mrs. Kugler having enlisted the assistance of Mrs. M. J. Bellis and Miss Fulper, a teacher in the public school, gave notice for the children to meet in the after- THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 309 noon of November 21st, 1896, at the home of Mrs. Wil- liam Cronce, in order to organize a Children's Mission Band. On the day appointed, owing to the inclement weather, Mrs. Kugler found herself alone with a small number of children. However, she proceeded to effect the organization, acting herself as President, and ap- pointed Mrs. Bellis as Treasurer, and Miss Fulper as Secretary. The ten children present were so delighted with the exercises of this first meeting that the numbers increased rapidly and by close of the Church year at the end of March following, the Band numbered twenty- eight members. And the contributions up to this date amounted to three dollars. It was enjoined upon the Children from the start to earn the money they contri- buted, and at each meeting a time was set apart for these little ones to tell how they had earned their money. This awakened so much interest among the children, that at length it reached the parents and extended beyond the Church. Some one related this to Miss Petrie, Editor of the Children's Department, in the Home Mission Monthly of the Woman's Board, who wrote, asking for an account of the method and its working, and published the same at length in that magazine. It was decided, by the Band at the beginning, to send their money for the School at Juneau, Alaska, to aid in securing educa- tion, and especially religious instruction, for these be- nighted American children. The Band was invited, each year, during the summer, to hold a meeting at the par- sonage. Here, after the exercises, refreshments were served under the green trees on the spacious lawn. Their enjoyment from this, and the exuberance of childish glee 3IO AMWELL FIRST CHURCH showed plainly that a Mission Band was a thing of life and joy. After the first year Miss Fulper took a school elsewhere ; Miss Anna Everitt was selected to fill her place. She continued the faithful and efficient Secretary until the close of my pastorate. In 1898 Mrs. Kugler organized a Baby Band, which by the end of the year had twelve members, and made a contribution toward reducing the debt on the Board of Home Missions. At the close of the same year, March 31st, 1898, the Band honored the pastor, by taking his name, being after this known as the Kugler Mission Band. The contribution of the Band to the work at Juneau at this time was eight dollars. In 1899 and 1900, the contribution was for each year $10, making in all up to this time, the time of my last report, $31 to the Mission Work in Alaska. The Band continued its meetings and exercises with unflagging interest to the close of my pas- torate. Mrs. Kugler has looked upon the Band as her crowning joy, and small as the sum is in the aggregate, let me remind you that $10 a year is a larger sum than the entire Church gave to Home Missions in the early sixties. Evidently organized, faithful and persistent ef- forts are needed; and such efforts will secure the funds for the spread of the gospel. The death of Deacon Lewis Sutphin occurred during the year. Upon his death the Session took the following action : Lewis Sutphin united with this Church April 4th, 1863, during the pastorate of Rev. J. H. Janeway. He was ordained to the office of Deacon, March 2nd, 1870, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 311 Rev. N. L. Upham being the pastor. He died after a painful and protracted illness, July and, 1898. He was sustained during that sickness through an unwavering faith in his Redeemer, and a blessed hope of immortality. And further; be it Resolved, That we bear testimony to his faithfulness as a member and office-bearer in this Church, which in his death has sustained a serious loss. And further, by his departure we are called to increased devotion to his Saviour and ours. Ordered that a copy of these resolu- tions be handed to his afflicted family, with assurances of our sympathy, and that this minute be placed on our records. Instead of growth, there was decrease during the year in the total membership of the Church, and also in the sum given to support the Church, as well as the offerings for the use of the Boards of the Church. The Presbytery of New Brunswick was invited, at its Spring meeting this year, 1898, by the Church, to join in celebrating its One Hundred and Sixtieth An- niversary. The Rev. Samuel M. Studdiford, D. D., of the Third Church, Trenton, a college and seminary friend of the pastor, was appointed to represent the Pres- bytery at this celebration. The pastor must confess that at the time very little preparation had been made for this service, which was set for June ist. In fact, it was contemplated as more of a commemoration service, with a brief statement of the pastorates and their accompany- ing dates, than an occasion of commensurate historical importance. But when once he began to search for these facts, so many unrecorded and forgotten things in the 312 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Church's history were discovered, that he was led to go on with his investigation and to the best of his ability produce a history of the Church. The result has been told in the preceding pages. Even the date itself must be changed. The minutes of the Presbytery had re- corded, time without number, the organization of the Church as taking place in 1738. But as has already been stated, the Church, as organized, was found on the rec- ords of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in 1737. How much earlier, we do not know, because for several years the records of that Presbytery are no longer in exist- ence. But when June ist, 1898, came, we had a charming day, and the attendance of a large congregation and many invited guests. Among these were several former pastors and former members of the Church. According to the programme, the pastor opened the exercises with an historical sermon. Then our invited guests and a large number of the church people partook of a very excellent luncheon, prepared by our ladies for the occasion. After this we had a delightful hour of after-dinner speeches. We listened to these with great pleasure. Among them were Dr. Studdiford, from the Presbytery, former pastors. Rev. N. L. Upham, Rev. John H. Sco- field and Rev. J. W. P. Blattenberger, D. D.; also Oliver P. Rex, M. D., one of our boys, and a former member of the Church. In the afternoon visiting clergymen took possession of the exercises, and insisted on another discourse from the pastor. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1906 313 In the evening the programme was delightfully car- ried out. John L. Connet, Esq., of Flemington, gave us a most stimulating address on the Mission of the C. E. Society. Dr. Blattenberger delighted and helped the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Societies by an address full of fact and force on the great work in which they are engaged. The history of the Church was thus very auspiciously placed before the public, but its work was really only well begun. Not until the close of his pastorate in 1900 could the pastor feel he had been over the field. Since that day, while engaged as he has been able in revising what he had already written, he has made many additional discoveries, which have enlarged, and he hopes, greatly im- proved the whole. To go back to the work itself — the Session decided June 19th, 1898, to return to the cus- tom of former pastorates, and suspend the evening ser- vice until in September. September 3rd, Emma J. John- son, wife of William B. Prall, Jr., was received from the M. E. Church of Linvale, N. J. December 3rd, Elizabeth S. Hall was received on examination to Church membership. In making out the report, April, 1899, while there had been losses in other respects, the pastor was de- lighted in being able to report the largest gift to Home Missions, and the largest total sum for the work of the Boards in the history of the Church, viz: $70 in the former and $260 for all causes. June 3rd, 1899, Laura Ent, wife of Howard Sut- phin, was received to the membership of the Church by 314 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH letter from the Baptist Church of Flemington, N. J. June 1 6th, letters were given to John J. Hall, Theo- dosia, his wife, and Elizabeth, their daughter, dismiss- ing them to the Presbyterian Church of Flemington. During the early fall, a number of clergymen and Chris- tian workers met at the Baptist Church of Flemington, of which the Rev. Mr. Sagebeer was pastor, and or- ganized what was called an Evangelistic Campaign in Himterdon County. The plan contemplated holding interdenominational cottage prayer meetings in every available center through- out the county, every Monday evening. It asked for the appointment of two managers for each locality, whose duty should be to secure a house for the meetings, and api>oint a leader. The pastor brought this move- ment to the attention of the Session October 15 th, and it received their sanction. With the approval of the Ses- sion it was set on foot in this Church. The people throughout the congregation responded heartily and sus- tained their respective meetings for many weeks. Men took hold and worked with great faithfulness who had hardly done any work of the kind before. This was a uniform experience among our people, and a similar testi- mony was given elsewhere to the interest with which these meetings were sustained. There was thus awak- ened a truer sense of personal responsibility, and a re- vival of interest delightful to. behold. It cannot be said that the immediate result was any large increase in mem- bership, but an awakened Church with increased activ- ity are blessings to be thankful for. A similar move- ment was organized by the Presbytery. However, when THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 315 the year closed, it was with a small decrease in our work of beneficence, and no increase in our membership. Yet we are persuaded that all honest efforts that secure the co-operation of the whole Church, work for the estab- lishment of the Kingdom. December and, 1899, the Session received by letter from the Baptist Church Mrs. John Ent. The Session having felt the importance of adding to its number, gave official attention to this matter March 3rd, 1900, and on the 31st of March, appointed Sabbath, April the 8th, as the day when nominations would be made, and if the way was clear, hold the election on that day. The Session also agreed, March 31st, on three per- sons with whom they would hold conversation, and en- deavor to secure their consent to allow their names to be placed in nomination. On the 8th of April the pas- tor laid the action thus far taken before the congrega- tion, and at the same time gave a brief statement of the essential qualifications for the office of Ruling Elder. After prayer Elder C. F. Quick placed in nomination the following names, already agreed upon by the Ses- sion, viz: Alvin Hill, Isaac S. Lowe and Johnson B. Pierce. Elder A. J. Prall seconded the nominations. Mr. Pierce declined the nomination, but yielded to the request to allow his name to stand for the present. Opportunity was given to the members of the Church to make additional nominations. No other nomination was made. The Moderator then presented each nominee separ- ately, and called for a vote, by the holding up of the 3i6 AM WELL FIRST CHURCH right hand by the members of the Church. Each nomi- nee was unanimously elected. The Moderator then announced that if the way be clear the ordination and installation of the Elders-elect would take place next Sabbath morning. After sermon, April 15 th, the pastor reminded the Church of its action on last Sabbath and stated that we would now proceed to the ordination and installa- tion of the Elders-elect, if there be no objection. Whereupon, Johnson B. Pierce renewed his request to be allowed to withdraw his name, which request was granted with regret by the members of the Church. Alvin Hill and Isaac S. Lowe then presenting them- selves before the Congregation, and answering affirma- tively the constitutional questions, and the Church also answering affirmatively, by holding up the right hand, Alvin Hill and Isaac S. Lowe were set apart by prayer and the laying on of hands by the pastor to the office of Ruling Elder. During the ordination prayer the Eld- ers, with the pastor, stood aroimd the candidates, and at its close, each one extended to the newly ordained Elders the right hand, saying: "We give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part with us in this office." In the very month in which the first steps were taken for enlarging the Session, the Church lost by death its Senior Deacon, Mr. John Quick. Deacon Quick's death was a great shock to the Church, it having occurred without previous sickness, and dur- ing sleep on the 14th of March, 1900. His dying moans were heard only by his wife, who was alone with him in their home. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 317 The action of the Session, on his death, was delayed until July by the pastor's sickness. The essential state- ments of that action were as follows: John Quick was the son of Gideon Quick and Sarah Fisher, his wife, his mother being one the two first teachers in our Sab- bath School. His grandfather was John P. Quick, an Elder in this Church. Mr. Quick was born July 17th, 1820, therefore being nearly eighty years of age when he died. He and Frances Holcombe were united in marriage at Mount Airy, November 30th, 1842. He and Mrs. Quick united with this Church April nth, 1846, under the pastor- ate of Rev. Benjamin Carrell. He was ordained to the office of Deacon March 20th, 1870, Rev. N. L. Upham being pastor. This venerable couple celebrated their golden wedding November 30th, 1892. Mr. Quick was a warm and generous friend of his pastor, and a liberal supporter of the church, not only in its annual expenses, but always ready to join, and of- ten to lead in movements for improving the Church property. The Session bore hearty testimony to his liberality as shown throughout his life; also to his de- voted interest in all her service; as also to his faithful discharge of the duties of Trustee from 185 1, and for many terms afterward; to his fidelity as Treasurer of the board from 1877 to 1888, during which period he was often called to bear heavy burdens for the Church, and finally for his gift of $500 to the Church, to become available at the death of Mrs. Quick. In behalf of Session, John B. Kugler, Modr. 3i8 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH On the Sabbath following the ordination of these Eld- ers the pastor's sickness began, which resulted in his breakdown and withdrawing from the pastorate of the Church. For this reason I may be pardoned for its men- tion here. I preached at the morning service April 22nd, 1900, with unusual earnestness and conscious ease. Not until evening did I realize my approaching sickness. Be- fore the hour of service I was constrained to send word to the Church that I Would be unable to serve them, but then thinking it only a cold that disabled me, and in a few days I could return to the work. It was otherwise ordered. The cold developed in grippe, and grippe was accompanied with pneumonia. Then came a long strug- gle for life. While others were more than anxious I never lost hope of final recovery. Yet when two neighbors sat through an entire night on the piazza unknown to my family, expecting every hour would announce my death, to be on hand to render help to Mrs. Kugler, I must admit my case to have as- sumed a critical stage. I am grateful to Almighty God that He was pleased to extend His hand of mercy. I fully believe He often, if not always, disposes the hearts and hands of His people to do His service. The Church truly did what it could for my recovery. The skilled Dr. Leidy, of Flemington, and Dr. Oliver P. Rex, of Philadelphia, who was spending a few days at his mother's home for needed rest, also most kindly and efficiently exercised in my behalf his healing art. A trained nurse did what she could. Johnson B. Pierce, David Huffman and Morris W. Robinson watched be- side my bed many a night. Mrs. William Pierce came 1 THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 319 after the nurse left and served me faithfully and wisely. Above all, and I think best of all, vvras the exhaustless care and aWays timely and loving helpfulness of my devoted wiie. My son and his wife did what they could, while home duties were calling them away from me. So to the joy and gratitude of us all the relief came. This sickness began the 22nd of April; not until the first Sabbath in July was I able to return to my pulpit. My physicians had advised me of the necessity of resign- ing my charge and quitting the work. This was more than, at the time, I could accept. To gain the health needed for continuing in the service of my Master, we spent many weeks at the Clifton Springs Sanitarium. The strength acquired was only temporary. It would not endure the strain of daily service. A few weeks made this evident. Sabbath morning, October 7th, I gave notice of my purpose to request Presbytery to release me from my charge. The usual steps were taken. The Congregation with manifest regret appointed Com- missioners to unite with me at the Presbytery meeting at the intervals of Synod at Atlantic City to ask for the dissolution of my pastoral relation with the First Church of Amwell. This took place October 17th, the action to go into effect November nth, 1900. Soon came the sad day on which was broken the official bond. We held a communion service in the morning, when we broke bread together and partook of the cup. The older people had in the former part of this service received an especial message. Then we sang "Blest be the tie that binds." In the evening the message and the whole service were 320 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH for the young people. The Church was completely filled. During this service the unwavering attention, the intense interest, the enthusiasm, the manifest kind- ness were all so abounding that it was not in nature to allow the emotion of sadness to prevent emotions of joy and gratitude for the kindness showed at this parting service. Following these closing services, there remain a few facts to be gathered and stated. When I took charge of this Church, one aim I set before myself was to do my very best to reach the com- paratively small number not in Church fellowship. The record of this endeavor has already been given. I am free to say the result was not up to my desire. Stated in figures, we received into the Church on examination 50, and by letter 40. And yet the number who died during my pastorate, the number dismissed to other churches, and the number put on the list of absent members re- duced the membership of 157 to 114 when I left. This is to me sad, although it follows a long existing example. It may be added that new churches on territory formerly under this Church are ever reducing our membership. Yet I believe there is a better day coming for this venerable Church. Another aim set before myself was to lead the people to closer fellowship with the Master, and to a more lib- eral consecration of their means to the spread of the gospel. The gain was gratifying and gave reason for gratitude to the blessed Master. In this department of Christian activity and liberality, Mrs. Kugler co-oper- ated with me to the fullest extent. It is impossible to THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 321 express Christian activity by tabulated statements. These however may be indexes of efforts for the Master, and sometimes are useful. In this work collections were annually taken for all the eight Boards of the Church, and for the Bible So- ciety also. Only the Boards of Home and Foreign Mis- sions are here tabulated, together with what the Church did in its own behalf. While the importance of all these Boards is recognized, it has been the custom of the Church to do mare liberally for the two boards men- tioned than for the others. It is deemed sufficient for the other boards to state the sum contributed to the in- terests they represent in the column of total beneficence. The cause standing next in interest to the two mission boards so-called (they are all equally mission causes), is what we designate Synodical Home Missions. In the advocacy of this, we experienced the greatest difficulty in making headway with the people. But understanding its importance, as the people did not, or would not, and as in this case, there was a specified sum indicated by the Synod for each Church to work up to. Mrs. Kugler arid myself resolving to reach it if possible, offered to the Church people, if they would give one-half, we would contribute the other half. In this way we succeeded from year to year in reaching the sum asked. The tabulated statement of the beneficence of the Church, and what it contributed to its own needs is here given. The variation in congregational expenses arises from the fact that in 1 891 a new furnace was put in the parsonage. The congregation consented to do this, 21 322 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH when Mrs. Kugler and myself offered to contribute $50 on the expense. The whole cost was $149, and we gave more than we promised. In 1891 and 1892 the Church was painted at a cost of $155. A new roof was put on in 1894, at a cost of $281. The columns for Home and Foreign Missions first state what the whole Church contributed. The next two columns show what part of this was given by the Women's Societies. Then we have the total beneficence of the Church, including these and all other objects. Year. H.M. F. M. W. H. M. 1891 $39 $112 $45 1892 42 93 56(a) 1893 54 III 51 1894 50 112 38 1895 54 119 54 1896 48 98 49 1897 50 III 47 1898 47 98 39 1899 70 107 52 1900 56 lOI 50 $502 $1062 $481 Note (a) — Here the Women's Home Mission gives more than is set to the whole Church. The explanation is this Society handed over a part of their funds to the cause of Freedmen Sunday School or any other cause that came out very low. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 323 Total Congregational ^'ear. W. F. M. Beneficence. Expenses. 1891 $75 $244 $1401 1892 64 206 1594 1893 73 253 1315 1894 75 256 1355 1895 91 247 1222 1896 68 220 1242 1897 77 245 1495 1898 62 330 1022 1899 71 260 938 1900 67 235 1030 $723 $2496 $12605 My third object on which to lay stress, was the cause of temperance. I determined to present this cause to the consciences of the Church people, in the sanest, most forcible manner in my power. It is a real pleasure to me to see that now, twelve years after this toil and ad- vocacy, the influence of this effort abides as a living fac- tor in creating a healthy sentiment, which at times has been translated into telling action. Another labor of love of mine, a real pet it was and one never spoiled as pets often are, was a Bible Class in connection with the Sabbath School. There was of- ten evidence of interest and study that showed plainly that the class fully shared with me my enthusiasm and pleasure in this effort to know more of the blessed book. The sexton of a Church, to do his best, will get as much blame as praise, for the reason that too hot for 324 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH one is too cold for another. Be it so, I can not bring this record to a close, without saying that during my ministry there has never been any more faithfully served than has this old Church during my pastorate by Mr. Wil- liam Cronce. In keeping it thoroughly clean, he had the efficient help of Mrs. Cronce. Wisely heated, well and wisely ventilated is the verdict I gladly place to his credit. In addition to this Mr. and Mrs. Cronce made Mrs. Kugler and myself their debtors by the many help- ful things they did for us at the parsonage. With this I close the record, excepting the usual personal statement, as I have given of other pastors, and a word about two funerals I was called back to attend after leaving the Church. The very last was that of Mrs. Christianna Wert, widow of the late Jacob Quick. This service was in igio. Mrs. Quick, with her husband, united with the Church in 1846. This makes her Church member- ship sixty-four years. As she was a member of the Wo- man's Missionary Society, I asked Mrs. Kugler about her, as I was getting ready for these sad services. Her an- swer was: "She was a woman who made the world better for having lived in it." This is her tribute. May the Master help us all to do likewise. The other fu- neral was that of Elder Quick, the account of which is given in an appendix. Having given a personal sketch of former pastors, it seems fitting that I should do the same for myself. My great-grandfather, John Kugler, came to America from Germany in 1753, being a lad of about 13 years of age. He died at the age of 73 years. My grandfather, also John, lived, when I knew him, in my boyhood, near THE MODERN PERIOD— 1 820-1 900 325 Barbertown. He died at the age of 71 years. My father was Joseph Kugler, born in 1804, and died in 1864. My mother was Sarah M. Backer, of the Reformed Church of Lebanon. I was born at Lebanon, N. J., March 5th, 1832, and from the age of 5 years, lived on a farm at Frenchtown until I entered the ministry. I united with the Presbyterian Church of that place October, 1850, being the first person received into that Church on examination. My parents were charter members of the same and my father was its first elder. During my preparation for College I taught school, public, or classical, at different times, entering Princeton College Sophomore Class in 1854, ^nd graduating in 1857. Leaving College I entered the Seminary at Princeton the same year and graduated in i860. The first church of which I was pastor was that of Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pa. I took charge of this Church the first Sabbath, May 5th, after leaving the Seminary. I was ordained and installed by the Presby- tery of Donegal (now Westminster) June 12th, i860, and remained until the fall of 1865. Then became pas- tor of the Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church, at that time in the Presbytery of Raritan, N. J., transferred to Newton Presbytery in 1870. I remained until 1883. Then settled in Hoboken, which I left March 30th, 1890. Was called to Amwell First, settled April ist, was installed May 27th. Pastoral relation dissolved October 17th, to take effect November nth, igoo. I was chosen three times as Commissioner to the Gen- eral Assembly, viz.: To represent the Presbytery of Donegal to the Assembly at Pittsburg, 1865; to represent 326 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH the Presbytery of Newton at the Assembly at Saratoga, N. Y., 1879, and the Presbytery of Jersey City at Omaha in 1887. I was united in marriage July 3rd, i860, with Sarah Sherrerd, daughter of William and Jane M. Green, of Easton, Pa. Mrs. Kugler bore me a daughter and son. Her ancestry is the same as that of her aunt, Mrs. Clark (p. 188). Through her father it leads from John Green, back to his people in Trenton. I fondly remember her as always a faithful and affection- ate wife. My second wife was Ann Elizabeth, daugh- ter of the late Senator Peter Cramer and Sarah Skin- ner, his wife, of Warren County. Our marriage took place June i8th, 1873, in the Valley Church, of which she was a member, and I was pastor. It is to my great happiness that she is spared to me, and my sinqerest desire that she may ever be. With this personal sketch the story of this Old Mother Church has been told. We are thankful for the part we have had in ministering together for her life and vigor, and more so for what we have been able to accomplish in her and through her, for the honor of our blessed Lord, and the extension of his Kingdom. May the divine bless- ing be upon her, for her deeper Spiritual life, and speedi- ly for her enlargement. APPENDIX I ELDER CALEB FARLEE QUICK. The service rendered the Church by Elder Quick seems to make it appropriate to connect his name with this history, although his death occurred after I had ceased to be the pastor of the Church. As in many THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 327 other cases, I was called back to have a principal part in the funeral services. Elder C. F. Quick, and his brothers Jacob and John, were born within scarcely more than a mile from the Church; and excepting a short time spent by John in business in New York, they all settled and lived within sight of the Church, all being farmers. They were the sons of Gideon Quick and Sarah Fisher, his wife, and grandsons of Elder John P. Quick. John and Jacob each celebrated their golden wedding anniversary dur- ing my pastorate. And while Mrs. Caleb Quick died five years before the occurance of that event with herself and husband, Mr. Quick lived eight years beyond it, as he and Catharine B. Holcombe were united in mar- riage, November 24th, 1847. He was born July 25th, 1825. He was chosen trustee of the Church in 1859, and again in 1864, and from that date re-elected and served until 1875. He also served the Church for the same period as President of its Board of Trustees, and also Treasurer. Very frequently during his long life, he was either President or Secretary for the meetings of the Congregation. He united with the Church on ex- amination March the nth, 1879, under the pastorate of Dr. Blattenberger. In 1884 he was chosen and ordained to the Elder- ship under the same pastor. The year following he was appointed Clerk of the Session, and so continued throughout his life. In 1888, he was one of the lay commissioners elected to represent the Presbytery of New Brunswick at the 328 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH General Assembly at Omaha. During my pastorate he was a member with myself of the Committee of the Church on Foreign Missions. His death occurred Feb- ruary 9th, 1905. In addition to these honors by the Church, he frequently held positions of responsibility and trust in civic affairs. He was called upon by many neighbors to settle estates. Often he was selected as guardian for minors. Other trust money was also com- mitted to his care. It was to his honor and credit that he closed up this business, extending over many years, with the record that he had never lost a dollar of other peoples' money. He had an abiding interest in the Church, and gave time and money, and his ripened experience, and sound judgment to her wellfare. The passing away of such a man is indeed a sore be- reavement to the Church and his family. But both must soon realize that in his memory they have a rich inheritance and in his life a stimulus to fuller devotion to the blessed Saviour in whom he trusted, and whom he delighted to serve. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1 820-1 900 329 THE PASTORS. 1 75 1 Rev. Eliab Byram. 1755 Rev. Benjamin Hait. 1766 Rev. William Kirkpatrick. 1776 Rev. John Warford. 1 79 1 Rev. Thomas Grant. 1 8 10 Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick. 1820 Rev. John Flavel Clark. 1837 Rev. David Hull. 1844 Rev. Benjamin Carroll. i860 Rev. George P. Van Wyck. 1863 Rev. Joshua B. H. Janeway. 1865 Rev. N. L. Upham. 1872 Rev. John H. Scofield. 1875 Rev. John S. Beekman. 1878 Rev. J. P. W. Blattenberger. 1888 Rev. Thomas Chalmers Potter. 1890 to 1900 Rev. John B. Kugler. 330 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH ROXl, OF ELDERS. 1837- Derick Hoagland, Michael Heniy, Abraham La Rue, Jacob Ruder, Peter Wilson, William Norcross, Alexander White, Abraham Prall, Joseph Reading,* John Frail, Jonathan Burrows, David Bishop, d. 181 5, Titus Quick. The Records of Session begin with the pastorate of Rev. John Flavel Clark, 1820, Titus Quick being the only Elder in the Church. John Hageman, 1822, moved away 1856, Tunis Quick, 1822, Feter P. Young, 1831, d. 1867, George F. Wilson, 1831, moved away 1852, John F. Quick, 1831, d. 1845, Elders received from Clover Hill: Henry Van Derveer, 1840, John Nevius, 1840, d. 1857, Feter C. Schenck, 1840, John E. Holcombe, 1853, d. 1859, William Waldron, 1853, d. 1866, Ralph Sutphin, 1853, John H. Johnson, 1865 moved away 1874, Jacob S. Prall, 1865, moved away 1868, Zebulon Stout, 1870, d. 1885, William Hill, 1870, d. 1891, *Joseph Reading was a member of Amwell Second Church. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1 820-1 900 331 Irenaeus R. Glen, M. D., 1870, moved away 1871, John Y. Bellis, 1872, d. 1888, George P. Rex, M. D., 1872, d. 1889, Abraham J. Prall, 1872, Caleb F. Quick, 1884, d. 1905, Martin J. Bellis, 1884, James P. Chamberlin, 1884, Alvin Hill, 1899, Isaac S. Lowe, 1899. ROLL OF TRUSTEES. FROM 1820. Titus Quick, Jacob J. Young, Wm. W. Schenck, Aaron Prall, John P. Quick, Abraham Sutphin, Peter P. Quick. 1826. John P. Quick, John Kee, George F. Wilson, Peter P. Quick, William R. Prall, Titus Quick, Jonathan Hoagland. 1838. Peter Quick, Joseph Van Marter, Gideon Quick, Jonathan H. Conover, Lewis Labaw, Jacob W. Schenck, George P. Rex, M. D. 1839. Anthony L. Case, Gideon Quick, George P. Rex, M. D., Jacob W. Schenck, Lewis Labaw, Jacob F. Prall, Ralph Young. To these Trustees, the lot for the new Church was deeded. Recorded at Flemington, May 7th, 1839, Vol. 71, fol. 354-5. 1840. Anthony L. Case, After the union with Gideon Quick, Clover Hill: Abraham V. Polhemus, 332 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Jacob W. Schenck, C. P. Brokaw, Henry Van Derveer, Jr., Joseph Van Marten 1842. Jacob Voorhees, Gideon Quick, John Y. Bellis, Theodore Young, Cornelius P. Brokaw, Joseph C. Sutphin, Joseph Van Marter. 1844. Jacob W. Nevius, Jacob Voorhees, Paul K. Dilts, William Waldron, John E. Holcombe, Gideon Quick, Joseph C. Sutphin. 1847. Jacob Y. Quick, Zebulon Stout, Reading Smith. 1851. John E. Holcombe, Paul K. Dilts, Zebulon Stout, John Quick, Robert R. Smith, N. Wilson Young, John L. Bellis. 1852. John E. Holcombe, John Sharp, Zebulon Stout, John Quick, Robert R. Smith, David Y. Bellis, William Sheppard. 1853. John E. Holcombe, John Sharp, John Quick, John Y. Bellis, Jacob F. Prall, Ketenus Young, David Bellis. 1855- John E. Holcombe, Jacob K. Van Derveer, Gideon Quick, John W. Phillips, P. Prall Quick, John Schenck, Derrick Sutphin. 1856. Ralph Sutphin, Gideon Quick, Jacob K. Van Derveer, John W. Phillips, P. Prall Quick, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 333 Dr. Simeon S. Dana, Derrick Sutphin. 1857. Jacob K. Van Derveer, Gideon Quick, Caleb F. Quick, James P. Chamberlin, Zebulon Stout, Derrick Sutphin, John Y. Bellis. 1858. Jacob K. Van Derveer, Gideon Quick, Zebulon Stout, Derrick Sutphin, John Y. Bellis, Jacob W. Nevius, William B. Prall. 1859. • Board re-elected. i860. John Quick, John L. Case, Zebulon Stout, William Sutphin, John H. Phillips, Jacob W. Nevius, William B. Prall. 1863. Jacob S. Prall, John Quick, Zebulon Stout, John H. Phillips, John W. Williamson, William B. Prall, William Sutphin. 1864. Anthony L. Case, Caleb F. Quick, James P. Chamberlin, Zebulon Stout, John Phillips, John W. Williamson, William Sutphin. 1865. Caleb F. Quick, John Quick, Zebulon Stout, John H. Phillips, John H. Williamson, James P. Chamberlin, William Sutphin. 1866, 1867. Re-elected the same. 1868. Caleb F. Quick, John H. Williamson, Asher Higgins, John Y. Bellis, Abraham J. Prall, William Sutphin, John Quick, 334 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 1869. Caleb F. Quick, Robert R. Smith, Asher Higgins, John Y. Bellis, Abraham J. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, John Quick. 1870. Board re-elected, except- ing Jacob F. Quick, in place of John Quick. 1871. Caleb F. Quick, John Y. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis C. Case, Robert R. Smith, John T. Hudnut. 1872. Caleb F. Quick, Robert W. Hunt, John Y. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis C. Case, Jacob Quick. 1873. Clinton B. Blackwell, in place of John Y. Bellis. 1874. Caleb F. Quick, William Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis Case, Peter Q. Holcombe, John H. Williamson. 1875. Martin J. Bellis, William W. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Jonathan B. Higgins, Peter Q. Holcombe, John H. Williamson. 1876. Martin J. Bellis, William W. Bellis, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Lewis C. Case, Peter Q. Holcombe, Holloway Streeter. 1877. John Quick, William B. Prall, Lewis Sutphin, Thomas Miller, Peter Q. Holcombe, Robert R. Smith, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 335 Holloway Streeter. 1878. John Quick, James P. Chamberlin, Lewis Sutphin, Thomas Miller, Peter Q. Holcombe, Robert R. Smith, Martin J. Bellis. 1879— 1882. Board re-elected. 1883. John Quick, James P. Chamberlin, John B. Lowe, Thomas Miller, David S. Weart, Robert R. Smith, Martin J. Bellis. 1884. John Quick, Thomas Miller, Martin J. Bellis, David S. Weart, James P. Chamberlin, John B. Lowe, Arthur Shipman. 1885. Theodore F. Swarer, Thomas Miller, David S. Weart, James P. Chamberlin, John B. Lowe, William Pierce, Arthiir Sutphin, 1886— 1888. Board re-elected. 1890. Isaac S. Lowe, Thomas Miller, David S. Weart, James P. Chamberlin, John B. Lowe, William Pierce, Theodore F. Swarer. 1891 — 1892. Isaac S. Lowe, James P. Chamberlin, Thomas Miller, David S. Weart, William E. Huffman, William Pierce, John B. Lowe. 1893 — 1894. Isaac S. Lowe, William Pierce, David Hill, John B. Lowe, William E. Huffman, G. R. Hill, Lewis Sutphin, Jr. 336 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 1895—1897- Isaac S. Lowe, Henry Kline, David Hill, M. W. Robinson, Lewis Sutphin, Jr., James Shepherd, Charles Crdnce. 1898 — 1900. Isaac S. Lowe, H. B. Kline, David Hill, James Shepherd, Lewis Sutphin, Jr., Johnson Pierce, Charles Cronce. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 337 ROLL OF MEMBERS. We have no roll of the members of the Church until we reach the modern period. PERIOD III REV. JOHN FLAVEL CLARK, 1820 1900. Among the old papers in a box handed to Dr. Mott by Mr. Wm. P. Emery, I found a single sheet of paper w^ritten by Rev. John Flavel Clark, on which he states he had first preached as a supply at Amwell, October 28th, 1820. On this paper he gives a list of communi- cant members of Amwell First Church at that time, which is as follows: Mr. Titus Quick, Elder, Mrs. Sarah Prall, wife of Mrs. Hannah Quick, Abm. Prall, Mrs. Mary Prall, wife of Mrs. Ann Sutphin, wife Dr. Wra. Prall, of Derick Sutphin, Mrs. Mary Hoagland, Mrs. Lucretia Prall, wife Mrs. Mary Wilson, of Theo. Prall, Mr. Isaac '^nylor, Mr. Tunis Quick, Mrs. Margai Taylor, Mrs. Rhoda Quick, Mr. John Ke. Mrs. Mary Schenck, wid- Mrs. Mary ...chenck, wife ow, of Wm. G. Schenck, Mr. Enos Lanning, Mrs. Enos Lanning. Seventeen in all, and not a young person among them. 22 338 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Received by Rev. John Flavel Clark: 1821 confession. Mrs. Mary Sutphin, Mrs. Martha Foster. 1822. William Hall, Mrs. Sarah Sutphin, Mrs. Mary Tenbrook, Mrs. Mary Prall. ON CERTIFICATE. Miss Catalina Horlinger, Miss Rebecca Van Pelt, Miss Lena Mattison, John Hageman, Mrs. Leucretia, his wife. 1 823 CONFESSION. Peter Prall, Mrs. Catharine Stout, Mrs. Frances Higgins, 1 824 CONFESSION. Derick Sutphin. CERTIFICATE. Sophia Hageman, Parmela Hageman. 1 825 — CONFESSION. John P. Quick, Mrs. Ann Blackwell, Mrs. Mary Bellis, Miss Betsy Ann Mattison. 1 826 CERTIFICATE. Mrs. John G. Lanning. 1 828 CONFESSION. Mrs. Margaret Blue. CERTIFICATE. Miss Catherine Quick. 1 829 CONFESSION. George F.- Wilson, Mrs. Lucretia, his wife, Gideon Quick, Sarah Fisher, his wife, Jacob Schenck, Mrs. Jane, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Labaw, Mrs. Jonathan Hoagland, Lewis Labaw, Eliza Skillman, Alpheus Chamberlin, Mrs. Catherine, his wife, Peter Young, Mrs. Eliza, his wife, Joseph Sutphin, Mrs. Mary, his wife, Polhemus Higgins. 1 830 CONFESSION. Mr. John Holcombe, Alexander McGaw, Mrs. Margaret Stryker, Miss Julia Ann Case, Samuel, a man of color, William G. Schenck, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 339 Henry Schenck, Mrs. Eliza, his wife, Peter Quick, Mrs. Ann, his wife, Abraham Prall, Arthur Sutphin, Mrs. Mary, his wife, Stephen Stryker, Mary Edward, Abraham, a colored boy. 1 83 1 CONFESSION. Joseph Van Marter, Jacob Polhemus, Eliza Prall, Charity Meldrum, Peggy Schenck, Debora Vanniss, Gabriel Vanniss, Caleb Farley, and Caty, persons of color. 1 832 CONFESSION. Miss Margaret Bowman, Miss Harriet Schenck, Miss Jane Schenck, Hart Wilson, and Amelia, his wife, Nathaniel Wilson, Nan, a man of color, 1833 CONFESSION. John Young, Keziah, a woman of color. Jonathan Conover, John Young, Betty, a woman of color. 1 834 CONFESSION. Frank, a man of color, Miss Margaret Bowman, Mrs. Sarah Ann, wife of Nathaniel Wilson. 1836 CONFESSION. Miss Gertrude Edwards. In all 73 on examination, 9 by letter. Received by Rev. Mr. Hull: 1837 confession. Jane, a woman of color, Harriet, a woman of color, certificate. Miss Mary Ann Wilson. 1 838 — ^CONFESSION. Elder Tunis Quick, George P. Rex, M. D., Gertrude, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Sutphin. 1840 ENROLLED FROM CLOVER HILL. Jacob Nevius, Hannah, his wife, Jacob Williamson, Martha, his wife. 340 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Henry Van Derveer, Charity, his wife, Peter C. Schenck, Catharine, his daughter, John W. Bellis, Zebulon Stout, Letitia, his wife, Mrs. Anna Case, Mrs. Clorinda Case, Mrs. Theodosia Dilts, Mrs. Sarah Bellis, Mrs. Anna Nevius, Mrs. Alletta Kearney, Sampson M. Smith, John Wortman, Jacob Voorhees, Susan, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Dilts, Mrs. Ann Young, Mrs. Margaret Newal, Cornelius P. Brokaw, Catharine S., his wife. 1 840 — CERTIFICATE. Ralph Sutphin, Catharine, his wife. CONFESSION. Miss Elizabeth Hageman. 1 841— CONFESSION. Mrs. Elizabeth Young, Mrs. Peter D. Young, Mrs. Theodore Young, CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Wilhelmina Schenck. 1 842 CONFESSION. Mrs. Peter C. Rea, Mrs. Joseph D. Moon, Miss Harriet Phillips, Miss Gertrude Nevius, Molly Rea, a girl of color. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Jane Hull. 1 843 CONFESSION. Miss Nancy C. Schenck, Kuhl Dilts, Jacob W. Nevius, Mary D. Hudnut, Mary Voorhees, Mrs. George Nevius, Derick Sutphin, Elizabeth, his wife, Theodore J. Young, Margaret K. Wert, Jacob J. Schenck, Elnathan D. Van Kirk, Abraham Polhemus, Eleanor, his wife, Alice Ann W. Polhemus, Rachel C. Polhemus, Mary Young, Mrs. Jacob Prall, David J. Bellis, John L. Bellis, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 341 Susan F. Prall, William V. Waldron, Laura, his wife, Mrs. Mary Sutphin, Abraham P. Sutphin, Sarah Ann, his wife. CONFESSION. Ann Sharp, Sarah M. Dilts, Mary Sutphin, Elizabeth Wortman, Clara L. Quick, William Van Marter, Jacob Prall, Katharine Prall, George B. Smith, Joseph Chamberlin Sut- phin, Cornelia Ann, his wife, John Sharp, Mary Bellis, Margaret Deats, Katharine Higglns, Peter Q. Nevius, Betty Wilson, a woman of color, Caleb T. Prall, Hester, his wife, John J. Young, Mrs. Ketenus Young, Miss Mary Case, Miss Anna Labaw, Miss Bella Labaw, Miss Rose Ann, a person of color. 1844. Stephen L. Mershon. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Jacob Van Derveer. Being loi in all. Received by Rev. Mr. Carrell : 1 845 — certificate. Edward L. Reed, Rachel S. Reed, Mrs. Mary S. Carrell, Miss Rhoda Quick, Garret Schenck, Ann, his wife, George P. Rex, M. D., Gertrude, his wife, Mrs. Gilbert Van Camp, Mrs. Jacob Nevius, Jr. CONFESSION. Ketenus Young, Mrs. John Case. 1 846 CONFESSION. Mrs. Peter C. Schenck, Mrs. William Van Mar- ter, Mrs. Lanning Nevius, 342 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Miss Sarah Hagaman. CONFESSION. Jacob Q. Spadin, William Sheppard, Nelson Warner, Hannah Prall, Susan Stout, Rebecca Young, Mary Waldron, Leah Hoagland, John Y. Bellis, Elizabeth Ann Bellis, Thomas Wilson, Susanah Wilson, Josiah Young, Mary Young, John Phillips, Martha M. Phillips, Nathaniel Wilson Young, John Van Ess, Jacob F. Quick, Christianna Quick, John Quick, Frances Quick, Alburtus Bird, Lucretia Bird, Sarah Ann Bird, Catharine Griggs, Ellen Schenck, Theodosia Schenck, Mary Nevius, Catharine Holcombe, Sarah Catharine Worman, Elizabeth Myers, Miss Hanna Bowman. Also these persons of color : James Williamson, Charles Wilson, Catharine Hagaman, Catharine Williamson. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. William Sheppard, Mrs. Eleanor Knouse. 1 847 CONFESSION. Isaac Young, Mrs. Hankinson Kinney. CERTIFICATE. Waterman Thomas, Mrs. Maria Johnson, Mrs. Abraham Quick. 1 848 CONFESSION. John Brown, Mrs. John Wyckoff. Mrs. Alexander Stryker, Miss Elizabeth Little. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Ann Brewster, Miss Elizabeth Young. 1 849 CONFESSION. Mrs. Ketenus Young. CERTIFICATE. Garret Schenck, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 Ann, his wife, Miss Ellen Schenck, Miss Theodosia Schenck, Miss Maria Lanning, Mrs. Peter Case, Dinah, a woman of color, Obedia Howell Hazard. 1852 CONFESSION. Abraham Young, Clarinda, his wife, Mary Wood, Harriet Atkinson, Mary West, Anna Higgins, Sarah D. Young, Sarah Holcombe, Mary GrafE, Miss Letitia Wilson. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Prall Chamberlin. 1853. Andrew Alpaugh, Mrs. Julia Dana, Joseph C. Huff, Margaret Ann, his wife. 1854 CONFESSION. Jacob K. Van Derveer, Peter Case, Clarinda Labaw, Sarah Labaw, Miss Ellen Young. 1855- Horace Nelson, Mrs. Christian Nevius. CERTIFICATE. Cornelius Wyckoff, Sarah, his wife. 1 857 CERTIFICATE. Miss Mary Hudnut, Mrs. Alpaugh. 1858. Mrs. John Soms, Mrs. Soms. CONFESSION. Mrs. William Parker, 1859. Jacob S. Prall, Rebecca, his wife, James P. Foote, Miss Hannah Soms. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Lewis Chamberlin, Mrs. Elizabeth Stout, Mrs. Elizabeth Dungan. Received on Confession 72 By Certificate 34 In all 106 344 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Received by Rev. Mr. Van Wyck : 1 860 — certificate. Mr. Edwin Bartow, Mary, his wife, Nathan Solomon, Mrs. William Bellis, Mrs. Jane Y. White. CONFESSION. Christopher J. Dillon. Catharine, his wife. Miss Catharine Sutphin, Thomas Hall, Jacob Hall. 1 861 CONFESSION. Miss Elizabeth Young. 1 862 CERTIFICATE. William S. Higgins, Ellen M. Wolverton. CONFESSION. George Young. Received by Rev. Mr. Janeway : 1 863 confession. Mrs. Ellen Rea, Martin J. Bellis, Mrs. Martha R. Hol- combe, Mrs. Ann Sutphin, Mrs. Mary E. Schenck, Mrs. Mary Conover, Mrs. Sarah Ann Hall, Mrs. Sarah Conover, Mrs. Mary M. William- son, Lewis Sutphin, Joseph C. Harrison, Levi Holcombe, Mrs. Van Horn, Mrs. Eliza Young, Miss Sallie A. Quick, Miss Jenny Quick, Joseph Brown, Joseph Titus, Mrs. Rachel Foot, Mrs. Henrietta Priestly, Mrs. Caroline William- son, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Miss Delilah Martingale, Miss Rebecca Voorhees, Miss Isabella Wood, Mrs. Madelin Brown, Miss Cornelia Cortelyou, Miss Frances Drake, Miss Ann Augusta Cor- telyou, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Mrs. Maria Higgins, Oliver Phillips, Jonathan B. Higgins. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820- 1900 345 CERTIFICATE. Thomas Reeder Snook, Sarah, his wife, Abraham S. Stone, Mrs. Lydia Stone, John H. Johnson, Mrs. Mary, his wife, Miss Sarah Johnson. 1 864 CONFESSION. Mrs. Ann Higgins, Miss Maria V. Higgins, Miss Margaret Young, Miss Mary Ann Dilts, Jacob Dilts, Mrs. Jane Ann Dilts, Mrs. Rebecca Stout, Mrs. Matilda Robins, Mrs. Mary Brown, Mrs. Mary Chamberlain, Mrs. Eleanor La Rue, Mrs. Jemima Johnson, Mrs. Ellen S. Hunt, Miss Debora La Rue, Miss Mary Jane Voorhees, Miss Georgiana Height, Gideon Stout, Mrs. Eliza Stout, Mrs. Sarah Maria Todd, Mrs. Louisa Waldron, Mrs. Anna E. Hudnut, Miss Rebecca E. Matti- son. CERTIFICATE. Levi C. Little, Robert W. Hunt, John Wyckoff, Mary, his wife, Miss Mary Ball. Received by Mr. Up- ham: 1 865 — confession. Miss Pauline Meyers, Miss Augusta Young, Edward L Smith, John Emilie Holcombe, Mrs. Holcombe, his wife, certificate. Irenaeus R. Glen, M. D., Mrs. Annie H. Upham, Mrs. Martha W. Voor- hees, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Wyckoff, Mrs. Martha Smith, Mrs. Christianna Hiner, Mrs. William Q. Hiner. 1 866 — confession. William Lanning, Elizabeth, his wife, Mrs. Harrison Sutphin, 346 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Miss Amanda Quick, Miss Catharine Quick, Miss Caroline Johnson, Miss Sarah Pyatt. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. William J. Huff- man, Mrs. E. Rynearson. 1867 CONFESSION. Mrs. Margaret B. Van Fleet, Miss Sarah Housel, Mrs. Mahlon Higgins, Mrs. Stout Servis, Abraham J. Prall, Mrs. Prall, Miss Mary Dalrymple, Miss Mary. Catherine Hartsel, Mrs. Miller K. Reading, Miss Susan Anna Packer, William C. Ball. CERTIFICATE. Col. John H. Sutphin, Mrs. Dr. Irenaeus R. Glen, Miss Augusta Case, John Wilson, Mrs. John Wilson, William G. Hill, Rebecca Ann, his wife, J. T. Hudnut. 1868^ — CONFESSION. William B. Prall, Elizabeth, his wife, Miss Caroline R o d e n - baugh, Miss Anna Housel, Miss Mary Cronce, Levi Housel, Edward Larison. CERTIFICATE. John J. Marsh, Mrs. Maria Marsh, Miss Rebecca Huffman. 1869. Mrs. Martha Skillman Holcombe, CONFESSION. Miss Louisa Cole, Jerry Bristow, colored. 1870. Miss Jane Hagens, Miss Mary Ann Thomson, Henry H. Hageman, Miss Carrie Hill, Miss Mary C. Reed, CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Rebecca B. Hage- man, Mrs. John Williamson, Jacob H. Wessels, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 347 Albert Case, Miss Mary Jennings Crocicer. 1 871 CERTIFICATE. Mrs. John P. Quick, George P. Rex, M. D., Mrs. Gertrude, his wife. In all on Confession. . 37 In all on Certificate. . 29 Total 66 Received by Rev. John H. Scofield: 1 872 — confession. Miss Hannah Rex, Miss Sarah L. Waters. certificate. Harrison Sutphin, Caroline, his wife. 187 3 — confession. Rachel W. Conover, John Waters, Peter Quick Holcombe, Emma Sophia Bellis, Abraham J. Prall, Jr. Mrs. Anna Cornelia, his wife, Mrs. Ara Hill Blackwell, Mrs. Catharine Louisa McPherson, Miss Hannah M. Sut- phin, Miss Caroline V. D. Case, Miss Catharine C. Case, Miss Elizabeth Ann Hilyer. certificate. Miss Jeannetta McPher- son, Mrs. Annie E. Cronce, Samuel H. Hageman, Mary C, his wife, John N. Giles, Sarah C, his wife, Aaron Auten, Sarah M., his wife. Twenty-four in all. Received by Rev. Mr. Beekman : 1875 — confession. Mrs. Hannah Wood, Catharine Van Est Sut- phin, Mrs.. Mary Wortman, Miss Selina Wortman, Miss Elizabeth C. Sut- phin, John K. Shurts, Miss Sallie A. Waters. 348 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Helen B. Beekman, Harriet Mary Williams, colored. 1876 CONFESSION. William Deats, George S. Davis, William Osborn, Moses Lapsley, Miss Hannah M. Hill, Miss Catherine Quick, Cassie Rex, colored. Miss Mary Fink, John S. Hoagland, Jacob Osborn, Miss Juliette Blanch Belk- man, Miss Addie H. Prall, Miss Mary Quick, Miss Mary D. Hoagland, Mrs. Eliza Hill, Mrs. Martha H. Young, Mrs. Esther Ann Osborn, Miss Luella Stryker, John W. Dalrymple, Barton Huffman, David B. Huffman, Lewis Getherd, Miss Maggie K. Smith. CERTIFICATE. Nathaniel G. Wilson, Caroline A., his wife, Mrs. Sarah V. Pierce. 1877 CONFESSION. Millard Farrow, Theodore Todd. 1 878 CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Magdalene Wal- dron, Mrs. Joanna Farrow, Miss Naomi Farrow, Miss Emma Farrow, Miss Helen Farrow. Received by Rev. Mr. Blattenberger : 1 879 — confession. James P. Chamberlin, Thomas Miller, William Hill, Mary Ann, his wife, William F. Chamberlin, Arthur Sutphin, Leonard D. Wilson, John J. Hall, David S. Prall, John K. Agans, Brogun B. V. N. Lowe, Calvin Hoagland, Mrs. Ann E. Strimple, Mrs. Ellen A. Smith, Miss Sarah Q. Hagaman, THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 349 Miss Sarah M. Haines, Mrs. Sarah Louisa Fish- er, Mrs. Lucretia H. Dilts, Isaac S. Lowe, William E. J. Huffman, Caleb F. Quick, Catharine B., his wife, Jacob Hoagland, John E. Hoagland, Mrs. Ellen Hoagland, Mrs. Ada V. Hill, Mrs. Ellen Hill, Miss Julia Sutphin, Miss Ella L. Smith, Miss Sallie Dilts, Miss Mary E. Prall, Miss Hannah Prall, Miss Lizzie P. Hill, Miss Fannie Quick, Miss Julia H. Smith, Miss Georgiana Dilts, Miss Mary Chamberlin, Miss Kate C. Holcombe, Miss Bell Hill, Miss Hannah B. Hocken- bury. Miss Ann Rebecca Deats, Miss Cora L. Bowlby, Miss Mary Prall, Miss Wilhelmina Sipler, Miss Kate Jones, Mrs. William Servis, Mrs. Rachel Trimmer, Mrs. Elizabeth D. A. Ser- vis, David Chamberlin, Clarinda, his wife, William Boughner, Walter M. Risler, William Dilts. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Mattie Blattenber- ger, Mrs. Rebecca M. Cham- berlin, John B. Lowe, Mrs. John B. Lowe, George W. Deats, Mrs. Ann Dilts, Theodore F. Swarer, Mrs. T. F. Swarer, Henry F. Apgar, Mrs. H. F. Apgar, Mrs. Theodosia Hall, Mrs. M. Elizabeth Hig- gins, Mrs. Hannah M. Hoag- land, Mrs. Rachel Lowe, Mrs. Rachel B. Bough- ner, 350 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Mrs. David Bartson, Mrs. William Servis, Mrs. Elizabeth D. A. Ser- vis, Mrs. Rachel Trimmer, Miss Abigail Marsh, Miss Mary P. Quick, Miss Anna W. Bovv^lby. 1 880 CONFESSION. Mrs. Fanny Griggs, Miss Sarah E. Van Horn. CERTIFICATE. Miss Mary A. Wilson, Stephen A. Staats, M. V. Gulick, his w^ife, Jonathan E. Haines, Miss Rebecca Fink, William S. Schenck, Mary Young, his wife. 1 881 CONFESSION. Ralph Y. Smith, Miss Mary Ann Sipler, Miss Kate C. Griggs, Miss Mary J. Housel, Miss Sarah Agans, David R. Housel, George F. Bacon, Emma C, his w^ife, CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Jennie Smith, Mrs. Emeline Laubach. 1 882 CONFESSION. Samuel Haines. CERTIFICATE. Miss Jennie Hoagland, Richard B. McPherson. 1883 CONFESSION. Miss Kate R. Holcombe, Miss Bessie Smith, Miss Georgie Holcombe, Miss Lydia Zeaman, Miss Mattie E. McPher- son, Miss Rettie R. Higgins, Miss Carrie Boyce, Miss Maggie Hunt, Miss Mary Etta Van Horn, Schenck Smith, Hannah M., his wife, Miss Lizzie Kisz, Miss Maggie M. Kisz, Miss Annie E. Mitter, Miss Minnie L. Hoag- land, John J. Kisz, Alexander R. Griggs, Samuel Peters, colored. CERTIFICATE. B. B. Voorhees, Martha Pittenger, his wife. THE MODERN PERIOD— 1820-1900 351 Isaac N. Brokaw, Elizabeth A., his wife, Mrs. Cora E. Wilson, J. Jacob Kisz. 1884 CONFESSION. Miss Cornelia Hill, Andrew M. Dilts, Charles M. Sipler, Jr., Mrs. Martha T. Todd, Miss Sarah M. Lyman, Dora Hoagland. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. _ Gertrude V. M. Pe- terson, Lemuel Hoagland, Mary, his wife. 1 885 CONFESSION. Miss Laura B. White, Miss Emma F. Hall, Miss Susie K. Cronce, Miss Co?a M. Sutphin, Frederick Dirking. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Mary Everett, Mrs. Rhoda F. Quick. 1 886 CONFESSION. Mrs. Robert R. Smith, Jr., Lemuel White, Mary F., his wife. CERTIFICATE. Frederick Powelson, Emma B., his wife, Mrs. Ann R. Sweitzer. 1 887 CONFESSION. John W. Lebler, Augusta, his wife. Miss Cornelia A. Case, Frederick V. D. Durham. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Rose Young Prall, Henry Lunger, Mrs. Sarah R. R. Hoff- man. Received by Rev. T. C. Potter: 1 888 confession. Mrs. Winfield Case, Jonathan T. Conover, Asher Higgins, Charles F. Creveling, M. D., Malvina Baird, colored. certificate. Mrs. Elizabeth M. Pot- ter, Mrs. Lizzie Higgins, Mrs. Isaac Wyckoff, Mr. George H. Horsfall, Mrs. George Horsfall. 352 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH 1 889 CONFESSION. Alvin Hill, Lewis C. Sutphin, John V. M. Wyckoff, Mrs. Mary E. Carkhuff, Mrs. N. M. Resch, Miss Anna M. William- son, Miss Hannah R. Swarer, Miss Hannah E. Hoag- land, Mrs. Mary Hoffman, Miss Laura E. Dilts, Miss Mary L. Dilts, Johnson B. Pierce, William L. Van Syckle, Robert M. Conover. CERTIFICATE. John C. Williamson. Received by Rev. J. B. KUGLER : 1 890 — confession. Eugene La Tourette, Alfred Reasinger, Ira Hill, Joseph Higgins, Bessie Hill, Lena Wyckoff, Jennie V. C. Staats, Mrs. Margaret Case, Miss Annie Higgins Case. certificate. Mrs. Annie Cramer Kug- ler. 1891 — confession. Mrs. Henry Daniels, Miss Florence A. Boyd, Howard C. Sutphin, Charles H. Snook, colored, Elmer White. certificate. Robert Boyd, Elizabeth P., his wife, Cornelius Miller, Mary Whitenack, his wife, John L. Burke, Sarah, his wife, Miss Pearl Burk, Morris W. Robinson, Lizzie J. Stiger, his wife. 1 892 — confession. Charles T. Hockenbury, Miss Ellen C. Young, James Woodburn Wilson, Augustus Lebler, Mrs. Augustus Lebler, Robert R. Smith, Brokaw Quick, Mrs. Jane Ann Quick, Jesse B. Conover. The modern period— 1820- 1900 353 CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Lewis Huff, Mrs. Woodburn Wilson, Mrs. Mary E. Kane, Mrs. Horace Herder, Mrs. Charles F. Crevel- ing. 1 893 CONFESSION. William B. Prall, Jr. CERTIFICATE. John Young, Heniy C. Kline, Jennie C. Young, his wife. 1 894 CONFESSION. Anna A. Sutphin. CERTIFICATE. Samuel Griggs, Georgianna, his wife. Belle C. Griggs, Mrs. Isaac Lowe, Mrs. Johnson B. Pierce, Mrs. Mary C. KarkhufE. 1 895 CONFESSION. John H. Swarer, Wilhelmina Rounsaville, Robert Smith, Charles Cronce, 23 Samuel Gano, Samuel Hall, Miss Elizabeth E. Walk- er, John V. Hoagland, Mrs. John Swarer, John Q. Williamson, Mary Ann, his wife, William H. Housel, Peter H. Conover, William H. Conover, Sarah Taylor, Cora B. Rounsaville, Cornelia R. Smith. CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Peter H. Conover, Mrs. Charles D. Wyck- off, Mrs. W. Y. Holt, William B. Dungan, Mrs. William B. Dun- gan, Elizabeth Dungan. 1896. None. 1897 CONFESSION. Mrs. William Cronce, Sarah Mowry, 354 AMWELL FIRST CHURCH Eleanor Griggs, Alexander Stryker, E. Myrta Bellis, Anna W. Sutphin. 1 898 CONFESSION. Elizabeth S. Hall. 1 898 CERTIFICATE. Mrs. William B. Prall, Jr. 1 899 CERTIFICATE. Mrs. Howard Sutphin, Mrs. John Ent.