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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. 
 
^t ^pis0pl €\nm\i m i\n ^wmitm €akm. 
 
 THE HISTORY 
 
 ST. JOHN'S CHUECH, 
 
 ELIZABETH TOWN, NEW JERSEY, 
 
 FROM THE YEAR 1703 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 COMPILED FROM 
 
 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, THE MANUSCRIPT RECORDS AND LETTERS OF 
 
 THE MISSIONARIES OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING 
 
 THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS, AND 
 
 FROM OTHER SOURCES. 
 
 BY y^ 
 
 V 
 
 SAMUEL A. CLARK, 
 
 RECTOR OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT AND CO 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 THOMAS N. STANFORD. 
 
 185t. 
 
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by 
 
 J. B. LIPriNCOTT AND CO., 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
J UN 20 1997 
 
 A 
 
 ^fOtOGICAL SE^"^ 
 
 #. 
 
 A 
 
 TO THE 
 
 TENERABLE SENIOR WARDEN 
 
 SAINT JOHN'S PARISH, 
 
 HONORABLE WILLIAM CHETWOOD, 
 
 WHO THROUGH A LONG PERIOD OF YEARS 
 
 HAS PROVED A 
 
 FAITHFUL SERVANT OF THE CHURCH, 
 
 ®^is il30himt 
 
 MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 
 
Seal of the Corporation. 
 
NOTE. 
 
 The editor of this little work, soon after becoming the 
 Rector of St. John's Church, a year ago, discovered that it 
 was about one hundred and fifty years since the first church 
 edifice was erected, and sought information in reference to 
 its early history, with the intention of preparing a tri-semi- 
 centennial discourse. The results of his investigations are 
 here embodied. 
 
 Some of the documents referred to are of rare interest. 
 Larger extracts might have been made from them, but it was 
 thought inexpedient to insert more than will here be found. 
 The Lambeth and Fulham manuscripts, relating to New 
 Jersey, would form an exceedingly valuable contribution to 
 our ecclesiastical history. It is to be hoped they may ere 
 long be published. 
 
 Parsonage of St. John's Church, 
 
 Elizabeth, New Jersey, April \st, 1857. 
 
 1* 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Formation of Society for the Propagation of the Gospel — Col. Morris' 
 memorial — Tour of Rer. Messrs. Talbot and Keith — Mr. Brooke's 
 arrival in Jersey, 1705 — Proposed to build churches at Elizabeth 
 Town and Amboy — Foundation laid of St. John's Church — Neces- 
 sity therefor — Services held in Presbyterian Church — General 
 condition of the Church — Exjienses of living — Imprisonment of 
 Rev. Mr. Moore — Mr. Brooke's and Mr. Moore's departure for 
 England — Letter from Mr. Talbot — Death of Messrs. Brooke and 
 Moore — Mr. B.'s character — Letter from Monsieur Neau, justify- 
 ing the missionaries — Singular facts in reference to Lord Corn- 
 bury — His improper conduct — How Mr. Moore escaped from Fort 
 Anne — Orders to arrest Mr. Brooke, &c. .... 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 1707 — Rectorship of St. John's vacant — Appointment of the Rev. 
 Edward Vaughan — Letter from Mr. Yaughan from Amboy — Desires 
 to change his position — Xo provision for support of clergy — Estab- 
 lishment of packets between York and Bristol — Mr. Halliday 
 shares Mr. Yaughan's labors — Converts from Quakerism baptized 
 — Congregations at Amboy and Piscataway — Services in Rahway 
 
Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 — Difficulties in reference to title of land in Elizabeth Town — Ser- 
 vices at Woodbridge — Need of Bibles and tracts — Settlement of 
 controversy in reference to land — Marriage of Mr. Vaughan — 
 Residence at Amboy — Character of settlers of Newark, Wood- 
 bridge, Elizabeth Town, &c.- ^Proposal to the society to procure a 
 donation of land, and send negroes from Barbadoes to clear it, 
 cultivate it, build houses and churches — Large auditory in Eliza- 
 beth Town — Character and services of Mr. Vaughan — Services in 
 Newark, Whippany, and the mountains — People of Amwell and 
 Hopewell desire a missionary — Memorial to the bishop of London 
 from Newark and the province of New Jersey — Visit of Rev. Mr. 
 Beach — Promises to accept a call — The widow Arskin's legacy of 
 nine acres to St. John's Church — Whitfield's visit — Mr. Vaughan 's 
 death ........... 33 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 1747 — Letter from Church Wardens — Mr. Chandler invited to be- 
 come Catechist — Agree to raise £50 for his support, and to 
 build or buy a house — Purchase of present parsonage and glebe 
 — Enlargement of the house — Church built at New Brunswick — 
 That mission united with Elizabeth Town — Letter from Mr. Chan 
 dler — Services at Rahway, at Westfield, &c. — Mr. Wood officiates 
 at Elizabeth Town and New Brunswick — Bell procured for St. 
 John's — Efforts to obtain ordination for Mr. Chandler — Need of 
 a resident minister — Leave given to Mr. Chandler to visit Eng- 
 land for orders — Church register and some of the records in it — 
 Mr. Chandler's ordination — nine weeks' jiassage home — Preaches 
 at Woodbridge — Expects to be invited to Whippany — Journey of 
 200 miles into New England — Preaches at Woodstock — Needs 
 better provision for his support — Interesting facts in relation to 
 Elizabeth Town — Erection of a church in Woodbridge contem- 
 plated — Chime of bells — Library— Communion plate sent by 
 George II. for St. John's taken by the French ... 57 
 
CONTENTS. IX 
 
 CHAPTER I Y. 
 
 1760 — Wallingford Controversy — Prevalence of smallpox — Good 
 feeling between Dissenters and Churchmen — Mr. Hardy appointed 
 Governor — Money raised by lottery for repairing church and par- 
 sonage at Amboy — Proposal to annex Woodbridge to that Mission 
 — Need of tracts — Mr. Chandler's views adverse to preaching 
 much about the Church — Charter granted to St. John's Church — 
 Charter — Letter from Perth Amboy in reference to the progress 
 of the church in Piscataway, Mount Holly and Trenton — Pros- 
 pect of a Bishop for America — St. John's vestry vote to enlarge 
 the church — Determined to rebuild — ^Foundation laid — Progress 
 of the work arrested by the Eevolution .... 81 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 1764 — Whitfield revisits Elizabeth Town — Mr. Chandler refuses him 
 the use of his pulpit — Reasons therefor — Desires to avoid contro- 
 versy in the pulpit — Diligence and popularity of the Dissenting 
 Clergyman at Elizabeth Town — Zeal of his x)eople — Some account 
 of the condition of St. John's Church — Addition to the parsonage 
 house — Allusions to Mr. Whitfield and to the Clergy of Philadel- 
 phia — Efforts to obtain a Bishop for the American Colonies — House 
 purchased for an Episcopal Residence — Discontent in consequence 
 of acts of the British Parliament — Sensible remarks upon their 
 probable effect — Dr. Chandler receives degree of D. D. from Ox- 
 ford — Letter to the Lord Bishop of London — Refers to need of a 
 Bishop— Anxiety on the subject . . . . . .101 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 1766 — Letter from the clergy — Object of their conventions — Mode 
 of conducting them — Xames of Clergy present at Shrewsbury — 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Desires for an American Episcopate — Apology for a former ad- 
 dress — Allusion to disturbances in the Colonies — Disadvantages 
 under ■which Episcopalians laboured — Objections to appointment 
 of commissioners — Important measures projected — Convention 
 meets at Elizabeth Town Nov. 1776 — "Plan of Union" formed — 
 Articles adopted — Dr. Chandler's publication of appeal to the 
 public — Extracts from Dr. Hawks on American Episcopate — Op- 
 position to the appeal — Violent attacks — American Whig, Sen- 
 tinel, <fec. — Appeal Defended — Appeal Further Defended — Re- 
 markable circvimstances connected with Church at Hebron, Conn. 
 — Dr. Chandler's letter mpon the Controversy . . . 117 
 
 CHAPTER YII, 
 
 1768 — Convention at New Brunswick — Plan for relief of widows 
 and orphans of clergymen — Condition of St. John's Church in 
 1769 — Dr. Chandler's missionary labours — Visits Sussex County 
 — Account of Mr. Frazer's mission — Character of the settlers — 
 Need of the Gospel — Parish formed — Dr. Chandler's letter in 
 reference to his Appeal &c. — Mr. Whitfield revisits Elizabeth 
 Town — Petition to Council of Proprietors of East Jersey — Grant 
 of land — Anxiety for conversion of the Indians — Plan proposed 
 to the Venerable Society in relation thereto — Missions in the 
 Colonies — Importance of sustaining them — Progress of the me- 
 morial in behalf of the Indians — Republicanism — Trenton mis- 
 sion — Resolution to build a new church at Elizabeth Town — 
 Condition of the missions at Burlington, Shrewsbury, New 
 Brunswick and Newark 139 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 1775 — Dr. Chandler leaves for England — Revolutionary war — De- 
 plorable state of the Parish of St. John's — Church a Stable — 
 Cemetery desecrated — Organ pipes converted into bullets — Im- 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 position on the congregation — Letters from Rev. Abraham Beach 
 — From New Brunswick — Services at E. Town — Mr. Ogden sup- 
 plies St. John's — Dr. Chandler's return — Estimation in which he 
 was held — Dr. Murray's account — Dr. Chandler's death, in 1790 
 — Church repaired, gallery re-built — Mr. Spraggs called to the 
 Rectorship — Collection of scattered property of the church — Cor- 
 respondence with Mr. Ogden — Salary of Rector increased — Mr. 
 Rayner's ministry — Sale of Kyte lot — Mr. Beasley's election — 
 New vestry room — Rev. Samuel Lilly's ministry — Dr. Rudd's 
 rectorship — Mrs. Spraggs' legacy — Rev. Smith Pyne — Rev. B. G. 
 Noble — Rev. R. C. Moore — Enlargement of church — Zeal of the 
 ladies of the congregation — Grace Church, Elizabeth Port, its 
 formation, &c. — Christ Church organised, buildings erected, &c. 
 — Mr. Moore's resignation — Church as at present . . 154 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 A. — Copy of the deed of the Parsonage and Lot be- 
 longing TO St. John's Church, Elizabeth Town . . 185 
 
 B. — Note in reference to Dr. Chandler, from Bishop 
 Hobart's Memoir, by the Rev. Dr. Berrian . . 190 
 
 C. — Letter from Dr. Chandler to the Rev. Abram Beach 198 
 
 D.— Epitaphs 201 
 
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 IN THE 
 
 AMERICAN COLONIES 
 
 HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Formation of Society for the Propagation of the Gospel — Col. Morris' 
 memorial — Tour of Rev. Messrs. Talbot and Keith — Mr. Brooke's 
 arrival in Jersey, 1705 — Proposed to build churches at Elizabeth 
 Town and Amboy — Foundation laid of St. John's Church — Neces- 
 sity therefor — Services held in Presbyterian Church — General 
 condition of the Church — Expenses of living — Imprisonment of 
 Rev. Mr. Moore — Mr. Brooke's and Mr. Moore's departure for 
 England — Letter from Mr. Talbot — Death of Messrs. Brooke and 
 Moore — Mr. B.'s character — Letter from Monsieur Neau, justify- 
 ing the missionaries — Singular facts in reference to Lord Corn- 
 bury — His improper conduct — How Mr. Moore escaped from Fort 
 Anne — Orders to arrest Mr. Brooke, &c. 
 
 In the year 1661, King Charles the Second incorpo- 
 rated a company for the propagation of the Gospel 
 amongst the heathen natives of Neio England^ and the 
 parts adjacent in America. 
 
 For many years, the work of colonial missions was 
 carried on by means of the zeal and liberality of a few 
 2 
 
14 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 public and private persons in England, and upon the 
 continent of Europe. Archbishop Tenison was ex- 
 ceedingly interested in the religious wants of the plan- 
 tations, and exerted himself in their behalf. He so 
 represented their condition to King William the Third, 
 that, on the 16th of June, HOI, the " Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" was in- 
 corporated by royal charter. To this venerable Society 
 the Episcopal Church in America owes a debt, which 
 she can never repay but by activity and liberality in 
 the work of missions. Under the fostering care of this 
 Institution, the early Colonial Church took deep root in 
 this land, and laid the foundation for many blessings 
 which we are now enjoying. 
 
 In the year 1700, Col. Morris wrote a memorial con- 
 cerning the state of religion in the Jerseys. *' The 
 Province of East Jersey has in it Ten Towns, vizt : 
 Middletown, Freehold, Amboy, Piscataway, and Wood- 
 bridge, Elizabeth Town, Newark, Aquechenonch, and 
 Bergen, and I judge, in the whole Province, there may 
 be about Eight thousand souls. These Towns are not 
 like the towns in England — the houses built close to- 
 gether on a small spot of ground — but they include 
 large portions of the Country, of four, five, eight, ten, 
 twelve, fifteen miles in length, and as much in breadth. 
 * * * * These towns and the whole Province, 
 were peopled mostly from the adjacent colonies of New 
 York and New England, and generally by persons of 
 very narrow fortunes, and such as could not well sub- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 15 
 
 sist in the places they left. And if such people could 
 bring any religion with them, it was that of the Coun- 
 try they came from, and the State of them is as fol- 
 lows : — * * H< 
 
 "Elizabeth Town and Newark were peopled from 
 New England; are generally Independants; they have 
 a meeting-house in each town for their public worship. 
 There are some few Churchmen, Presbiterians, Ana- 
 baptists, and Quakers, settled among them." * * 
 
 The memorial closes with this suggestion : "Let the 
 King, the Archbishop, ye Bishops and great men, admit 
 no man for so many years to any great Benefice, but 
 such as shall oblige themselves to preach three years 
 gratis in America, with part of the living let him main- 
 tain a Curate, and the other part let him apply to his 
 own use. By this means, we shall have the greatest 
 and best men, and, in human probability, such men 
 must in a short time make a wonderful progress in the 
 Conversion of those Countries, especially when it is per- 
 ceived the good of Souls is the only Motive to this 
 undertaking." 
 
 In n02-3, the Rev. George Keith and the Rev. 
 John Talbot made a missionary tour here, and the for- 
 mer published, in HOG, A Journal of Travels from 
 New Hampshire to (laratnck on the Continent of North 
 America. Under date of November 3, 1703, he says : 
 "I preached at Andrew Craig's, in the township of 
 Elizabeth Town, on 2 Pet. i. 5, and baptized his four 
 children." His journal also contains this entry : — 
 
1 6 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES, 
 
 ^^ December 19, Sunday. — I preached at the house of 
 Col. Towuley, in Elizabeth Town, both forenoon and 
 afternoon, on 1 Pet. ii. 9. Many of that town having 
 been formerly a sort of Independents, are become well 
 affected to the Church of England, and desire to have 
 a minister of the Church of England sent to them. 
 There I baptized a child of Mr. Shakmaple." 
 
 It is presumed that these were the first Episcopal 
 services that were held here. At this time, Elizabeth 
 Town was the largest place in the Province of East 
 Jersey, containing about three hundred families. 
 
 The Rev. John Brooke, who w^as sent here by the 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign 
 Parts, in a letter to the Secretary, dated Elizabeth 
 Town, Aug. 20, It 05, writes thus : — 
 
 " Worthy Sir — 
 
 This comes to acquaint you and the rest of the 
 Rt. Rev. and Honorable Society, erected for the Pro- 
 pagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, that I arrived 
 safe in East New Jersey July 15, and thence went to 
 my Lord Cornbury — our Governor — who, after he had 
 perused your letter, advised me to settle at Elizabeth 
 Town and Perth Amboy. Shrewsbury, Freehold, and 
 Middletown, are already supplied by Dr. Innes, a 
 very goode Man, &c." * * ''There are five Inde- 
 pendant Ministers in and about the places I preach at, 
 and the greatest part of the people are followers of 
 them. But I question not (thro : God's blessing), 
 
HISTORY or ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. lY 
 
 but if yoa please to permit me to have only Elizabeth 
 Town, Amboy, and the adjacent Towns under my care 
 and to allow me enough to subsist upon without de- 
 pending upon the People, that I shall gain a consider- 
 able Congregation in a very few years. As for those 
 that are of the Church of England already, their Num- 
 ber is very inconsiderable, and I expect nothing from 
 them for some years, seeing they are like to be at an 
 extraordinary charge in building of a Church at each 
 place." 
 
 The success which attended Mr. Brooke's labors, is 
 shown by the following letter to the Secretary : — 
 
 Elizabeth Town, Nov. 23,1705. 
 Honored Sir — 
 
 Last August, I sent you a letter per Mr. Dimstar, 
 wherein I gave you an account of my safe arrival at 
 New Jersey, and the state of my parishes, and the 
 books that are here wanted, aud my very Reverend 
 and worthy brother, Mr. Talbot, will give you a full 
 account how successful I have been in my Ministry 
 hitherto, and what books I have greatest occasion for. 
 We design (God willing), next spring, to begin to 
 build two churches — one at Elizabeth Town, the other 
 at Amboy. I must expect no subscriptions before they 
 be finished. I have gathered a large congregation at 
 Piscataway, about twenty miles from Elizabeth Town ; 
 an Independent minister has left them since I came, 
 and now they are very desirous that the Rt. Rev. and 
 
 2* 
 
18 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Honorable Society would be pleased to send one of the 
 Church of England who is not a Scotchman. If a 
 missionary of temper was sent hither, he might do 
 more service than in any other place I know. One of 
 the Council, who was an Anabaptist when I came, will 
 give a minister his board (if qualified as before), and 
 keep him a horse. I need not enlarge, being Mr. 
 Talbot has obliged himself to give you a full Account 
 of all my proceedings. What I have further to desire 
 .is, that you and the rest of the Society would be pleased 
 to pray for me, and to direct me how I may best pro- 
 mote the interest of Religion and the good of Souls, 
 which shall ever be the hearty endeavor of, good sir. 
 
 Your obliged servant, 
 
 JOHN BROOKE. 
 
 Mr. Brooke writes, under date of 11th of October, 
 1706, to the Secretary (the following are only extracts 
 from the letter) : — 
 
 '' The people, in general, in all the places where I 
 officiate, were either Dissenters or of no religion at all, 
 when I came ; but now (through the blessing of God) 
 you'll find, by the letter sent by Mr. Evans, that many 
 are come into the Fold. There are about ten communi- 
 cants added since I wrote last. I laid the Foundation 
 of a Brick church, at Elizabeth Town, on St. John the 
 Baptist's day, whose name it bears. It is fifty foot 
 long, thirty wide, and twenty-one high, — it hath nine 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 19 
 
 windows — one in the East End, ten foot wide and fifteen 
 high, two in each side, six foot wide and ten high, and 
 four ovals — one of the East window, one in the West 
 end, and one over each door, which are near the west 
 end. The church is now covering, and I hope to preach 
 in it in six weeks or two months. Col. Townley's house 
 (wherein I preacht at first), in half a year's time, grew 
 too little for my congregation, and the best place we 
 could get to meet in was a barn, which, in Harvest, we 
 were obliged to relinquish, whereupon the Dissenters, 
 who, presently after I came, were destitute of their old 
 Teachers (one of them being struck with death, in their 
 meeting-house, as he was railing against the Church, and 
 the other being at Boston), would not suffer me upon 
 my request to officiate in their meeting-house unless I 
 would promise not to read any of the prayers of the 
 Church, which I complied with upon condition I might 
 read the Psalms, Lessons, Epistle, and Gospel, appointed 
 for the day, which I did and said all the rest of the 
 service by heart, the doing of which brought a great 
 many to hear me who otherwise, probably, would never 
 have heard the service of the Church, and (through 
 God's blessing) hath taken away their prejudice to such 
 a degree as that they have invited me to preach in their 
 meeting-house till our church be built. Their Teacher 
 begins at eight in the morning, and ends at ten, and 
 then our service begins and in the afternoon we begin 
 at two. The greatest part of the Dissenters generally 
 stay to hear all our service. Wee shall only gett the 
 
20 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 outside of our church up this year, and I'me afraid t'will 
 be a year or two more before we can finish the in- 
 side, for I find these hard times a great many are 
 very backward to pay their subscriptions. At Amboy, 
 we've got a great many of the materialls ready to build 
 a stone church with, fifty-four foot long and thirty wide, 
 next spring." * * * 
 
 " I need not tell you how often I preach, catechize, 
 and expound, or administer the sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper, at each of my Places, seeing I continue to do 
 as I did when I writ last. 
 
 " The Books you acquaint me that you are allowed 
 by your good Society to be added to my library, will 
 be acceptable when they come to hand, — when I re- 
 ceive them, I will send you an account of all that I 
 have had from you (which Mr. Hodges has already), 
 and hereby I oblige myself to leave them all to my 
 successor, but those I'm to give away. * * * * 
 
 "Upon my arrival here, instead of churches, which 
 I expected, I mett only with private rooms except at 
 Amboy, where there's an old, little court-house that 
 serves for one. Insted of a body of church people to 
 maintain me, I only met with a small handfull, the most 
 of which could hardly maintain themselves, much less 
 build churches or maintain me. Upon which, being 
 allmost discouraged to find the Church had got so little 
 footing in these parts, I resolved heartily and sincerely 
 to endeavor to promote her, so much as in ray power, 
 in order to which I began to preach, catechize, and 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 21 
 
 expound, twelve, fourteen, sometimes fifteen days per 
 month (which I still do), and on other days to visit 
 the people, through which means, by the blessing of 
 God, my congregations increased everywhere so that I 
 found very great necessity for churches. I used all the 
 arguments I could think of to persuade my people to 
 contribute according to their ability to so noble a 
 work and though I could not well afford it myself, 
 for their encouragement, and to promote the Glory of 
 God, 1 drew a bill of £50 upon my sister, who receives 
 my money of Mr. Hodges, which I've distributed 
 amongst these poor churches ; £10 I've given to Eliza- 
 beth Town, £10 to Piscataway, £10 to Amboy, £5 to 
 the church that is to be at Freehold, and £2 to that at 
 Cheesequakes ; £3 towards printing Dr. Ashton's piece 
 against the Anabaptists, and for catechisms to give 
 away ; and it hath cost me above £10 in riding about 
 the Provinces of New York and Pennsylvania, and 
 this to get subscriptions. I should never have men- 
 tioned this, had not my circumstances obliged me to it. 
 I could not have given near so much out of your £100 
 per annum, had not I been very well stocked with 
 cl oaths I brought from England, and had had some 
 money of my own. For I ride so much, I'm obliged 
 to keep two horses, which cost me £20, and one horse 
 cannot be kept well under £10 or £11 per annum. 
 'Twill cost a man near £30 per annum to board here, 
 and sure 'twill cost me much more who. Pilgrim-like, 
 can scarce ever be three days together at a place. All 
 
22 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 cloathing here is twice as clear, at least, as 'tis in Eng- 
 land, and riding so much makes me wear ont many 
 more than I ever did before. The Ferries which I've 
 frequently to cross, and everything else I've occasion 
 for here, are very chargeable, and I've nothing to de- 
 fray all my charges but what I receive from your So- 
 ciety ; neither can I expect anything from my people 
 before their churches be finished, so that I hope you'll 
 allow me what was plainly promised (I think) at St. 
 Martin's Library ; if not, I shall be much more capa- 
 ble, I believe, of promoting the glory of God in Eng- 
 land than here, with a narrow, precarious allowance, 
 where to ask anything yet, would be a means to deter 
 people from joyning with me, and would be looked 
 upon as offensive. I humbly hope you'll pardon me if 
 I've spoke anything amiss. The straits I'm brought 
 into through the disappointment of the Society, oblige 
 me write may be what does not become me. 
 
 " My Parishioners of Amboy have desired my Lord of 
 London to address Her Majesty in their behalf, and de- 
 sire her to allow something for the maintenance of a mi- 
 nister there (which is one of her posts), as she's done for 
 Boston and Philadelphia, which will be an ease to the 
 Society, if she be pleased to grant their request, and a 
 great benefit to the poor people. I've so many places 
 to take care of, that I've scarce any time to study ; 
 neither can I supply any of them so well as they should 
 be. I humbly beg, therefore, you'll be pleased to send 
 a minister to take the charge of Elizabeth Town and 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 23 
 
 Rawway upon him, and I'll take all the care I can of 
 the rest. 
 
 " Pray, sir, be pleased to communicate the contents 
 of this letter to the rest of your most Reverend and 
 Right Honorable Society, and let me hear their resolu- 
 tion as soon as you can, which will oblige Your most 
 humble, Distressed servant, 
 
 JOHN BROOKE." 
 
 In the year IT 01, it appears that the Rev. Thomas 
 Moore was involved in difficulty by Lord Cornbury, the 
 Governor, and was imprisoned by him in Fort Anne. 
 Mr. Moore's letters show that the missionaries received 
 unkind treatment at His Excellency's hands, and that 
 such was the effect of this, that Mr. Moore and the 
 Rev. Mr. Brooke made up their minds to return to 
 England. The offence of the latter seems to have 
 been that he sustained Mr. Moore, and deeply sympa- 
 thized with him in his troubles. Lord Cornbury gives, 
 in a letter to the Secretary of the Society, an account 
 of Mr. M.'s escape from confinement by the aid of Mr. 
 Brooke, and complains of their want of submission to 
 his authority, claiming as they did that they were re- 
 sponsible only to the Bishop of London. And this 
 seems to constitute the burden of Lord Cornbury's 
 charge. A letter from Monsieur Neau, which w^e shall 
 soon give, will explain this whole matter. 
 
 Mr. Moore, in a letter to the Secretary, dated August, 
 ITOt, speaking of having intrusted a letter to Mr. 
 
24 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Brooke, says : ''He is going towards Boston, in order 
 for England, if he be not confined before he leaves this 
 place, which I am something fearful of, and am w^ell 
 satisfied he would be if His Excellency, my Lord Corn- 
 bury, knew of his design of going home. Mr. Brooke's 
 general concern for the honor and welfare of the Church, 
 with some apprehensions he has of being confined him- 
 self (for he has much the same share of his Lordship's 
 favor with myself, and for much the same reason), puts 
 him upon undertaking a winter's voyage to England, 
 which, I am well satisfied, no worldly consideration 
 would tempt him to, even at any season of the year ; 
 for he has (as he has abundantly shown) an uncommon 
 concern for the good of his flock, which nothing, I am 
 well assured, but the prospect of doing more good, 
 does now, or will, make him ever hereafter leave." 
 
 Mr. Moore, having escaped from Fort Anne, started 
 for England with Mr. Brooke ; and the Rev. John 
 Talbot, in a letter to the Secretary, dated Philadelphia, 
 20th of August, lt08, says :— 
 
 " Honorable Sm — 
 
 I have written several letters to you from Boston 
 and New York, by Brothers Brooke and Moore, but I 
 am afraid they are all lost together ; they have been 
 nine months gone, and we saw them not since, nor any 
 news of them. I met them at Boston, and would per- 
 suade them to return, but all in vain ; they had been 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 25 
 
 SO dragooned, that they had rather be taken into France 
 than into the Fort at New York. I have carried on 
 ever since at Burlington, as well as I could, and, I 
 thank God, with success wherever I am ; but I cannot 
 stay long at any place, because there are so many that 
 want. Certainly, the present state of that Province is 
 worse than the first. We have lost our labour, and the 
 Society their cost, there being several churches and no 
 ministers in all East Jersey to supply them, so that 
 they fall away apace to Heathenism, Quakerism, and 
 Atheism, purely for lack of looking after. Mr. Brooke 
 and Mr. Moore are much lamented, being the most 
 pious and industrious Missioners that ever the Honor- 
 able Society sent over. Let the adversaries say what 
 they will, they can prove no evil thing against these 
 men. I have heard all sides and parties — what can be 
 said pro or co?^." * * 
 
 Extract from a letter from Mr. Talbot to the Secre- 
 tary, dated Burlington, 24th of August, 1*108 : — 
 
 " It is now nine months ago since I parted with Mr. 
 Brooke and Mr. Moore at Boston. I sent letters by 
 them, but we are much afraid all are miscarried. I 
 was always glad to see them, but much surprised to 
 meet them there. They told me what hardship they 
 met with from the Governors of New York and Jersey, 
 and how they escaped out of their hands. I was for 
 converting them back again, telling them the dangers of 
 
26 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES, 
 
 the Sea and the Enemy, but poor Thorowgood [Moore] 
 said he had rather be taken into France than into the 
 Fort at New York ; and if they were sunk in the Sea, 
 they did not doubt but God would receive them, since 
 they were persecuted for righteousness — that is, for 
 Christ's sake and His Gospel and doing their duty to 
 the best of their knowledge." Farther on in this letter, 
 he says : " I preached till the Winter broke up, 
 \^hen I got to Amboy and Elizabeth Town, where had 
 been nobody since Mr. Brooke left them, who was an 
 able and diligent Missioner as ever came over." 
 
 Jeremiah Bass, Esq., Her Majesty's Secretary of the 
 Province of Jersey, in a history of the Church at Bur- 
 lington, thus mentions Mr. Moore and Mr. Brooke : — 
 
 " Our Church for some time found no considerable 
 alterations by the absence of our worthy Bector [Mr. 
 Moore], but that enemy of our happiness, who had 
 been many times heretofore sowing the seeds of Division 
 and Dissension amongst us (which, through the care 
 and prudence of our Rector, were not suffered to grow 
 and increase), took advantage of his absence, and stir- 
 red up such a flame that had almost broken us to pieces, 
 and occasioned the unhappy removal of Mr. Moore and 
 the Bev. Mr. Brooke, Bector of the church in Eliza- 
 beth Town (erected chiefly by the care and diligence of 
 Colonel Bichard Townley, who has given the ground it 
 stands on, and a place for a burying-ground), who have 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN's CIIUPtCIT. 27 
 
 not been heard of since their departure from Marble- 
 head, in the year 170T." 
 
 From all that can be gathered, it is plain that Mr. 
 Brooke was an earnest, zealous, self-sacrificing mission- 
 ary, and that he possessed, in an eminent degree, the 
 faculty of arousing the people to a sense of their duty. 
 Under God, to him does St. John's Church owe its 
 early prosperous existence ; and the foundations which 
 he laid were so well cemented, and so strong, that they 
 have never been removed or shaken. The influence of 
 his piety and devotion is still alive and felt here, and 
 the character which he gave to his church, it has never 
 lost. The monuments which his labor has erected are 
 enduring. The two years which he spent in Jersey, 
 were fruitful to the church, and show what one right- 
 minded and faithful man can do for his Master's cause. 
 Humphrey, in his History of the Propagation Society, 
 makes this honorable mention of him : ''Mr. Brooke 
 used exceeding diligence in his cure, and was pleased 
 to find the best of all sorts of people coming over to 
 the Church of England. He exerted himself, and at 
 times used to perform Divine service at seven places, 
 fifty miles in extent, namely : at Elizabeth Town, Rah- 
 way, Perth Amboy, Cheesequakes, Piscataway, Rock 
 Hill, and in a congregation at Page's. This duty was 
 very difficult and laborious. Besides preaching, he 
 used to catechize and expound fourteen times in a 
 month ; this obliged him to be on horseback almost 
 
28 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 every day, which was expensive as well as very toilsome 
 to him. However, this diligence raised a very zealous 
 spirit in many of the people. The inhabitants of Perth 
 Amboy presently set about giving materials for building 
 a stone church. The inhabitants of Pi§cataway repaired 
 an old Dissenting meeting-house for present use, and 
 collected among themselves an hundred pounds towards 
 building a stone church. While these things w^ere 
 going on, Mr. Brooke dies, in the year 1*707, very 
 much lamented by the people there, and remembered 
 with much honor, several years after his death, in a 
 letter wrote by the church members there to the Society, 
 thanking them for sending another missionary to suc- 
 ceed a worthy and never to be forgotten Pastor, Mr. 
 Brooke, whose labors afforded universal satisfaction to 
 us." 
 
 The following extract from a letter to the Secretary, 
 from Monsieur Neau, seems to contain a full justifica- 
 tion of the course of Messrs. Moore and Brooke, and 
 shows what were some of the difficulties wdth which 
 they had to contend in the discharge of their duty. 
 
 New Yokk, 29tli Feby., 1708-9. 
 Most Honored Sir : 
 
 * * * Now Sir I must answer you to what you ask 
 me in relation to Messieurs Moore and Brooke. Those 
 gentlemen were assuredly an honor to the mission, and 
 labored with much vigor for the enlargement of the 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 29 
 
 Kingdom of our glorious Redeemer, and we may say, 
 without prejudice to the rest, that they were the Glory 
 of all the Missionaries the Illustrious Society has sent 
 over hither. The purity and candor of their manners 
 preached as efficaciously as their mouths, insomuch 
 that we cannot safificiently lament the loss of these two 
 good servants of God, the occasion of whose disgrace 
 was as follows : My Lord Cornbury has and does still 
 make use of an unfortunate custom of dressing himself 
 in women's clothes, and of exposing himself in that 
 garb upon the ramparts to the view of the public ; in 
 that dress he draws a world of spectators about him, 
 and, consequently, as many censures, especially for ex- 
 posing himself in such a manner all the great Holidays, 
 and even in an hour or two after going to the Com- 
 munion, this turned the heart of such as fear God 
 against him ; Mr. Moore knew all this though he was 
 at Burlington, and this made him censure the Ministers 
 of those parts, who according to him, were guilty of 
 a neglect of their duty in taking no notice thereof, and 
 he made no scruple to say publicly that his lordship 
 deserved to be excommunicated, whereupon my Lord 
 Cornbury, who knew all that was said of him, (and who 
 had been informed that Mr. Moore had suspended from, 
 or, at least, refused to give the communion to the Lieut. 
 Governor upon the account of some Debauch and 
 abominable swearing, to which that gentleman is un- 
 fortunately addicted,) writ to Mr. Moore to come 
 hither, to the end that he might send him to Albany, 
 
30 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 but lie refused to come, saying that the gentlemen of 
 the Society had allowed him to reside at Burlington 
 till the arrival of Mr. Talbot ; this refusal exasperated 
 my Lord, who went to Burlington where the Lieut. 
 Governor heartily joined with him to take a public 
 revenge upon Mr. Moore ; my Lord, who intended to 
 take the sacrament at Burlington, was surprised to find 
 nobody there on the Sunday following but his own 
 chaplain to give it him, for Mr. Moore was gone about 
 12 miles from thence to administer the same to some 
 poor people, and this action of his furnished the design 
 they had to ruin him, but because they would not dis- 
 cover the motives of oppressing this good man they ac- 
 cused him of intermeddling with the affairs of the 
 Assembly because he was seen often in the company of 
 Colonel Lewis Morris, but they could never produce 
 against him any evidence worthy of credit. Mr. 
 Brooke was looked upon to be no less criminal because 
 he said amen to all that Mr. Moore did ; in fine. Sir 
 (for I observe that I grow tedious, but it would require 
 a volume to relate every particular of this unfortunate 
 story), my Lord brought thither with him Mr. Moore, 
 and, without any form of trial, imprisoned him in his 
 Fort to the end that his friends might not see him, how- 
 ever, I was there every day; afterwards, my Lord went 
 to Albany, leaving him under a guard of soldiers, who 
 let him go out, since which time we have never seen 
 him more. He was not treated so favorably as the 
 Presbyterian ministers, who, having given security. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 31 
 
 were suffered to go where they would. Mr. Brook 
 was here the day that Mr. Moore made his escape 
 from the Fort, and was diligently sought for by the 
 OflScers, who intended to have imprisoned him in the 
 stead of Mr. Moore ; all that night I had two sentinels 
 before my door, but Mr. Brooke was not in my house ; 
 I caused him to be hid by one of my friends, since 
 which time I have not seen him, neither for which I 
 am very sorry; I protest I had no share in the escape 
 of Mr. Moore, though I was accused of it, as well as 
 Mr. Yesey. Orders were given to stop Mr. Brooke at 
 Amboy in case he were found there, of which he hav- 
 ing had notice was of the opinion (and so were his 
 friends there too), that it would be better to take a 
 journey to London than to expose himself to the fury 
 of a powerful enemy. This, in substance, was the 
 cause of the disgrace and ruin of those two Illustrious 
 servants of God, whose crime was for opposing and 
 condemning boldly vice and immorality; but the friends 
 of Debauchery and corruption of Manners affirm that 
 these ministers exceeded their power, and that it did 
 belong only to the Diocesan to suspend or exclude 
 from the Communion persons in authority; so that, 
 since we have no Bishop, anybody may metamorphize 
 themselves into Devils without fear of punishment. 
 You see, Sir, what a condition we are reduced to. 
 Judge, therefore, Sir, whether we can labor effectually 
 in the reformation of manners whilst those who govern 
 us are our chiefest opposcrs; I make no doubt but you 
 
32 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 will have heard that my Lord Cornbury is under arrest 
 for debts he has contracted here : he is sellino: his 
 household goods, but there are several warrants against 
 him ; I have been to see him once since he was arrested, 
 but I did not find him like Mr. Moore ; I am assured 
 that he continues to dress himself in women's cloths, 
 but now 'tis after the Dutch manner. I beg you to 
 excuse this long letter, and take leave to salute you 
 with a profound respect as being, most honorable Sir, 
 Your most humble and most 
 
 Obedient servant, 
 
 ELIAS NEAU. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 33 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 1707 — Rectorship of St. John's vacant — Appointment of the Rev- 
 Edward Vaughan — Letter from Mr. Vaughanfrom Amboy — Desires 
 to change his position — No provision for support of clergy — Estab- 
 lishment of packets between York and Bristol — Mr. Halliday 
 shares Mr. Vaughan 's labors — Converts from Quakerism baptized 
 — Congregations at Amboy and Piscataway — Services in Rahway 
 — Difficulties in reference to title of land in Elizabeth Town — Ser- 
 vices at Woodbridge — Need of Bibles and tracts — Settlement of 
 controversy in reference to land — Marriage of Mr. Vaughan — ■ 
 Residence at Amboy — Character of settlers of Newark, AYood- 
 bridge, Elizabeth Town, &q. — Proposal to the society to procure a 
 donation of land, and send negroes from Barbadoes to clear it, 
 cultivate it, build houses and churches — Large auditory in Eliza- 
 beth Town — Character and services of Mr. Vaughan — Services in 
 Newark, Whippany, and the mountains — People of Amwell and 
 Hopewell desire a missionary — Memorial to the bishop of London 
 from Newark and the province of New Jersey — Visit of Rev. Mr. 
 Beach — Promises to accept a call — The widow Arskin's legacy of 
 nine acres to St. John's Church — Whitfield's visit — Mr. Vaughan's 
 death. 
 
 From lYOt, to September, n09, St. John's Church 
 was without a Rector, though letters had been written 
 to England deploring the lack of ministers, and setting 
 forth the pressing need which existed of schoolmasters 
 
34 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 and a Bishop. Indeed, the churchmen of the provinces 
 urge with great frequency and power the importance 
 of having the Episcopal Church fairly and fully repre- 
 sented in this country, and it cannot but be a matter 
 of great surprise to us, that the petitions which went 
 hence to England were so long disregarded, and that 
 not until lt84 had we a Bishop of our own. In lt09, 
 the Keverend Edward Yaughan was appointed the 
 missionary for this region, and Mr. Talbot writes, in a 
 letter to the Secretary, dated Burlington, 27th Sep- 
 tember, It 09: "I hear Mr. Vaughan is arrived at 
 Boston, but is not yet come into this Province ; he will 
 have enough to do to supply Mr. Brooke's charge at 
 Elizabeth Town, Amboy, Piscataway, who have had 
 none since he left them ; but I have done for them, maybe 
 once in a quarter, or somebody occasionally passing by 
 that way ; but poor Hopewell has built a church, and 
 have had no minister yet ; and he had need be a good 
 one that comes after Mr. Moore ; there be many more 
 in England, but none so good as to come over and 
 help us that I can see or hear of." 
 
 The first letter of Mr. Yaughan, of which we have 
 a copy, bears date " Amboy, in New Jersey, December 
 4th, lt09," and says : " I shall carefully and faithfully 
 distribute those small tracts according to the honorable 
 Society's directions, viz : to those persons whom I find 
 most inclinable and ready to make good use of them, 
 and with such I do assure you this country doth not 
 superabound that I believe that the most inveterate 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 35 
 
 enemies of our mother church would recant their per- 
 nicious notions were there a faithful pastor in every 
 town to instil better principles into their minds ; here 
 are a vast number of Deists, Sabbatarians, and Euty- 
 chians, as also of Independants, Anabaptists, and 
 Quakers, from which absurdities Mr. Brooke brought 
 a considerable number of them to embrace our most 
 pure and holy Religion, and I hope that my labors also 
 will be attended with no less success, and observe that 
 those late converts are much more zealous for promot- 
 ing the interests of our church, and more constant in 
 the public worship of God, than those who sucked 
 their milk in their infancy. This is great encourage- 
 ment to the Honorable Society to continue their charity 
 to the souls of these poor people, and to send them 
 fresh supplies of the dispensers of the mysteries of 
 Salvation, to repair that great loss which they have 
 sustained by the death of Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Nichols, 
 and Mr. TJrquhart, of Jamaica, in the province of New 
 York, whose cure I have been solicited to supply, but 
 declined it in obedience to the Society's instructions, 
 whose leave and approbation for my removal to that 
 cure I must humbly beg for these following reasons : 
 1st. That there is not one family in Elizabeth Town that 
 can accommodate me with an ordinary lodging except- 
 ing Colonel Townly, who, upon the account of some 
 difference with Mr. Brooke (though a gentleman of an 
 unblemished character), hath declared never to enter- 
 tain any missionary after him. Secondly, That my 
 
36 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 salary of £50 per annum will not afford me a com- 
 petent subsistence in this dear place where no contri- 
 butions are given by the people towards my support, 
 and where I am continually obliged to be itinerant and 
 consequently at great expenses, especially in crossing 
 Ferries." The third reason assigned by Mr. Yaughan 
 for desiring to change his position is that he fears his 
 health will be impaired by long journeys in cold and 
 heat, and the exposure consequent thereupon. 
 
 His request was not granted by the Society, for he 
 writes from Elizabeth Town, December 4th, 1110, com- 
 plaining that he had not heard from the Secretary, and 
 urging an augmentation of his stipend, alluding to these 
 facts that, " in the province of New Jersey there is no 
 provision made for the support of ministers as in the 
 government in New York, and that the people have 
 not contributed anything towards my subsistence since 
 I came amongst them, and, indeed, to desire it from 
 them, or to show an inclination for it, would very much 
 tend to the dis-service of the Church, in causing our 
 proselytes to start from us rather than bear the weight 
 of such burthens, which, to their weak shoulders and 
 poverty, would seem intolerable. I frequently visit the 
 Dissenters of all sorts in their houses, and I experi- 
 mentally find that an affable even temper with the force 
 of arguments is very prevalent to engage their affec- 
 tions and conformity to holy mother, the church, 
 which I do assure you is considerably increased by late 
 converts from Quakerism and Anabaptism." * * * ''j 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 3t 
 
 beg leave to let you know that there are Packet Boats 
 established between Bristol and York for the benefit of 
 Trade, and as I shall embrace every opportunity of 
 representing to you the affairs of our poor Infant 
 churches in these parts, so I desire you would com- 
 municate the instructions and pleasure of the most 
 honorable Society to" &c. 
 
 In the abstract of the records of the proceedings of 
 the Propagation Society for lY 10-11, it is said : ''Upon 
 a representation to them from Mr. Yaughan, minister 
 of Elizabeth Town and several other Parishes in Xew 
 Jersey, that he could not possibly supply so many 
 places in that province to which he was appointed, the 
 Society were so kind as to divide the burden between 
 the said Mr. Yaughan and Mr. Thomas Halliday, 
 whom they lately sent over to that country." To show 
 the interest which was felt in missions to America, a 
 single quotation from the Society's records of 1*711 
 will suffice. *' At this last Anniversary meeting a poor 
 Body laid at the Yestry door a small parcel of the 
 Church Catechisms with a note, desiring that they might 
 be accepted and sent to the Plantations, and an order 
 of the Board was made for sending them by the first 
 opportunity." 
 
 Mr. Yaughan's letters written this year give infor- 
 mation of much importance relative to the history 
 of the Church, as the subjoined extracts from them 
 show : — 
 4 
 
88 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 " Elizabeth Town in New Jersey, 
 America, 12tli Sept., 1711. 
 Sir : 
 
 In obedience to the Honorable Society's Instruc- 
 tions to their missionaries I here present you with the 
 following account after the arrival of Mr. Halliday to 
 this Province." * * * 
 
 ''I preach to them in tlie fore and afternoon of 
 every Lord's day and administer the blessed Sacra- 
 ment monthly to twenty-eight or thirty communicants. 
 I have baptized since my arrival to this government 
 seventy-two children, besides eleven adult persons, un- 
 fortunately brought up in dark Quakerism and Ana- 
 baptism, and are now so happy as to be members of 
 the Church of Christ, whose worship they constantly 
 frequent with great devotion and seeming delight." 
 
 Mr. Halliday, whose arrival relieved Mr. Yaughan 
 of a part of his labors, reports to the Society from 
 Amboy, Aug. 5, 1711, that he officiates in "two 
 places, Amboy and Piscatoqua. Amboy is a place 
 pitched on by the Jerseys as most commodious for 
 their Trade in the country, in good hopes that some 
 time or other it will appear a well peopled ally." * * * 
 "Piscatoqua makes a much greater congregation, and 
 there are some pious and well-disposed people among 
 them, some come from good distances to this meeting, 
 but there is nothing among us like the face of a church 
 of England, no surplice, no Bible, no Communion 
 Table, an old broken house, insufficient to keep us 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 39 
 
 from injuries of the weather, and wliere likewise the 
 Anabaptists which swarm in this place do sometimes 
 preach, and we cannot hinder, the house belonging to 
 the Town." 
 
 Mr. Yaughan writes from Elizabeth Town, February 
 28th, February nil-12, to the Secretary: — 
 
 " Sir— 
 
 Having in my last informed the Honorable So- 
 ciety how after the arrival of Mr. Halliday my labours 
 were divided between Elizabeth Town and Raway and 
 that, in the former there was a goodly structure built 
 for the performance of divine worship but not inwardly 
 fitted according to the rules of decency and order for 
 want of a clear title to the ground on which it was 
 erected and having then given a particular account in 
 relation to that matter, I can't omit this opportunity of 
 acquainting the Honorable and Yenerable Society the 
 Honorable Colonel Townly's son and heir has" * * * 
 "thought fit to confirm our pretensions to that land in 
 controversy between us, by granting us a late convey- 
 ance for it which has been acknowledged before one of 
 the judges of the supreme court of Judicature, and I 
 shall take care to have it enrolled in the Registry of the 
 Province and to do everything else that may be neces- 
 sary to prevent farther disputes and trouble concerning 
 it, so that I hope nothing will occur to delay the finish- 
 ing that edifice in which I exercise my ministerial duties 
 
40 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 to a large Auditory and administer the blessed Sacra- 
 ment of the Lord's Supper monthly to thirty Communi- 
 cants. I have baptized in this government near eighty 
 children, besides twelve adult persons, my monthly 
 lecture at Raway where I preach to a small congrega- 
 tion and catechised their children hath encouraged 
 several families in Woodbridge an adjacent town to 
 address me to officiate among them which I gladly and 
 readily complied to, having so evident a demonstration 
 of their good disposition to receive the doctrine of the 
 gospel from my mouth and to embrace the Christian 
 faith instead of the erroneous opinions of the Quakers 
 and Independants who are very numerous in that place 
 in which I hope in a short time to see a fabrick erected 
 for the worship of God, for my auditors there and other 
 well disposed persons are willing and ready to encourage 
 the building of it by their contributions, which I re- 
 ceive and apply to promote that laudable and pious 
 design which I have communicated to the Honorable 
 Col. Hunter our governor, who has also been pleased 
 to promise us his license and bounty to enable us to 
 accomplish that good work for the comfort and edifica- 
 tion of those poor people who have all along been des- 
 titute of the means of salvation and who have hitherto 
 lived as without God in the World. Though I reside 
 at Elizabeth Town, whose distance is ten miles from 
 Woodbridge yet I promise through God's blessing to 
 supply both cures by officiating on every Lord's day, 
 in the forenoon in the former and once a fortnight in 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 41 
 
 tlie afternoon in the latter, which I hope to perform in 
 the summer-time when the clays are long, but in the 
 winter season I shall, as I now do divide my service 
 between both congregations- by preaching alternately. 
 This is the method I intend to pursue in the discharge 
 of my sacredotal Function which God has been pleased 
 to crown with success and thereby to magnify his power 
 in my weakness, and as large Bibles and common 
 prayer-books are much wanted for the use of both 
 churches, so I humbly pray that the Honorable Society 
 would be pleased according to their usual charity to 
 supply them with the said books with some dozens of 
 small common prayer-books, expositions on the church's 
 catechism and other practical and devotional Tracts 
 which are a great benefit in this colony, where the in- 
 habitants are (as upon the account of their ignorance 
 in the doctrines of Christianity so by reason of their 
 poverty) really objects of that true charity and benevo- 
 lence of the venerable society whose continual care is 
 to do good to the souls of ignorant men, if that Honor- 
 able body will vouchsafe me a parcel of ^ such books I 
 shall with all imaginable care and fidelity distribute 
 them as I have done those I have already received to 
 my great satisfaction. 
 
 I am with the utmost respect 
 
 May it please the Honorable Society, 
 
 Their most faithful and devoted servant, 
 
 EDWARD VAUGHAN." 
 
 4* 
 
42 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 The Records of the Society contain this entry : — 
 
 Itll. — " 100 small Common Prayer Books, and 
 5 pounds worth of Devotional Tracts to Kev. Mr. 
 Yaughan, Elizabeth Town, N. J.'' Under the same date 
 alluding to several acknowledgements due from the 
 Society, it is mentioned, '' Such Mr. Townly of New 
 Jersey has already received for his goodness in settling 
 and confirming the land, on which the church is built at 
 Elizabeth Town, when there was a controversy about it. 
 He has been acquainted that the Society esteem it a 
 pious and good act, not doubting but what he hath so 
 done will redound to the glory of God and the satis- 
 faction of his own mind." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Halliday writes from New York, 
 April 20th, 1114 : " Mr. Yaughan is now settled and 
 married a fortune of £2000 and has taken up his resi- 
 dence at Amboy and intends to serve it and Elizabeth 
 Town." 
 
 The following is an extract from one of Mr. Yaughan's 
 letters, dated Amboy, August 28th, 1714 : — 
 
 " I most humbly take leave to own the receipt of the 
 Books ordered by the Honorable Society for the Churches 
 I supply and to acknowledge with the deepest grati- 
 tude to the Honorable Society great piety in their ac- 
 ceptable present to the Churches, as well as favor in 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 43 
 
 their augmentation of my yearly allowance for my com- 
 fortable support and encouragement." He refers to 
 his care of the church in Amboy (in the absence of Mr. 
 Halliday), and speaks of the advantage of his residence 
 there to his health, ''which was much impaired during 
 my abode in Elizabeth Town where I still do and shall 
 continue to officiate in the fore and afternoon three 
 Lord's days successively in every month." 
 
 The Secretary of the Society, in the year IT 15, re- 
 ports "that Mr. Yaughan, Minister at Elizabeth Town 
 has used his utmost endeavors to promote the interests 
 of religion and the good of souls, both there and at 
 Amboy." 
 
 Mr. Yaughan writes from Amboy, September 28th, 
 IT 16, touching his desire to be restored to his former 
 charge at Elizabeth Town (from which it would appear 
 that the Society had removed him), and giving informa- 
 tion of trouble between the people of Woodbridge and 
 their congregational minister. Mr. Y. was invited to 
 hold service there after the forms of the Church of 
 England, and a " large and convenient timber frame" 
 church was erected. " Its situation is upon a piece or 
 lot of ground appropriated in the first settlement of 
 the town for that use and purpose, by the very prudent 
 and pious care of Philip Carteret Esq. and then Gov- 
 ernor of the Province of New Jersey, under the then 
 Lords Proprietors John, Ld. Barclay and Sir George 
 
44 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Carteret aforesaid, &c." The interior of the building 
 was unfinished at this' time. 
 
 There is an extract from a letter from Mr. Halliday 
 to the Secretary, dated Elizabeth Town, 8th Nov., 1U6, 
 in which it is said, " In this part of East Jersey there 
 are three large Townships, Newark, Elizabeth Town and 
 Woodbridge which consist of upwards of a thousand 
 families the chief settlers of which were New England 
 Independents, who are now old and confirmed in their 
 erroneous way. In each of those towns there is a 
 large Independent Congregation who support their 
 preachers with the allowance of £80 per annum, be- 
 sides House, Glebe and perquisites of Marriages. The 
 church are only one handful of People from England 
 and Scotland not passing sixty families in 'any Con- 
 gregation in this Division. By which it appears that the 
 generality of the Country being bound to their Preach- 
 ers by the prejudices of their Education leave but a 
 small number of the people to us, who considering 
 that we are under the protection of so powerful a body 
 as the Society, think that we need but very little from 
 them ; and indeed less than also nothing at all do we 
 receive." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Yaughan, writing from Piscataqua, 
 July 8th, Itn, says: "I fully purpose to divide my 
 care and pains equally between those towns and 
 together with Piscataqua take upon me the supply of 
 the Church at Elizabeth Town. Elizabeth Town itself is 
 a considerable village and equals if not exceeds any 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 45 
 
 in the Province as well in bigness as in number of 
 Inliabitants, custom and education has engaged them 
 for the most part in the Congregational way, but not- 
 withstanding they are not so very rigid in that persua- 
 sion as altogether to deny their attendance on my 
 ministry and to resist the force of reason and argu- 
 ment by which many of them have been and will 
 questionless be gained upon and persuaded to leave 
 their errors and to join in Worship and Communion 
 with the Established Church ; there being a large and 
 well-compacted Brick Church built some years ago in 
 that town by the Charitable Contributions of well- 
 disposed persons and dedicated to Saint John the 
 Evangelist." 
 
 Mr. Halliday gives this information in reference to 
 the cost of St. John's Church in a letter from Eliza- 
 bethtown, August 1st, ItlY. "I am likewise ordered 
 by your Secretary to give an account of the Building 
 of the Churches in the places where I serve. As to 
 Elizabeth Town, I know nothing but by accounts from 
 others that there was £400 raised by subscription of 
 Charitable People. Mr. Brooks received most of the 
 money and as Mr. Townly informs me he went to 
 England before he made up his accounts, several sub- 
 scriptions remaining in his hands unpaid, but as his 
 father being engaged for the payment of the workmen, 
 he had made up the deficiencies and given bond for 
 £20 to Elizabeth Town Church however this is, the 
 Bond is now in Mr. Willock's hands but I think ought 
 
46 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 rather to be employed for the use of the Church, there 
 being only the shell of Brick, no pews. Pulpit, notwith- 
 standing so much money has been raised for it." * * * 
 
 " All over the Province there is neither Glebe Par- 
 sonage House, nor salary for a minister, (except at 
 Elizabeth Town £30) nor anything else belonging to 
 the church." 
 
 A letter from Mr. Halliday, dated Amboy, Oct. 9th, 
 IHt, makes the following suggestion, which would be 
 considered rather peculiar if made at the present day. 
 
 " May it please the Honorable Society" 
 
 * * * That if the Society would procure a dona- 
 tion of 200 acres of land from the Proprietors of the 
 soil for the use of the Church in each place where they 
 send a Missionary and if the Society could spare for 
 some time a dozen of good negroes from Barbadoes, 
 who might clear that Land, fence, dung, plant, orchard, 
 make Clover, pasture, burn brick-kilns, build parsonage 
 houses, and not only so, but with a little expense they 
 might *build churches. This Plantation so improved 
 would afford a Missionary a more plentiful subsistence 
 than the remission of 10 or £100 sterling from England 
 from this with labor by his servants he might be sup- 
 plied with what is necessary for the maintenance and 
 support of a family and such a Plantation would be a 
 freehold in property of the church in the presentation 
 of the Society or on whomsoever they should devolve 
 it, to which the Missionary should be legally instituted 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 4T 
 
 and inducted and this would remain to the memory of 
 the pious endeavors of the Honorable Society in all 
 
 future ages." 
 
 " Ao-reed between the Rev. Mr. Yauorhan and 
 
 myself that we should jointly write to this purpose, 
 viz : That Elizabeth Town, Piscataqua, Woodbridge, 
 Amboy, and Freehold should be served by a circular 
 turn and should have liberty to reside in any of the 
 places as should be most for our convenience and com- 
 fort all this with the greatest submission I humbly 
 offer to your venerable Body and crave the honor to 
 submit myself, may it please your Lordships and 
 Honors, 
 
 Your humble and most obedient servant and 
 missionary, 
 
 J. HALLIDAY." 
 
 Humphrey, in his History of the Propagation So- 
 ciety, says: "The members of the Church of England 
 wrote a letter to the Society in the year IT IT, return- 
 ing thanks for the settling of Mr. Yaughan among 
 them, expressing themselves further thus: 'We esteem 
 ourselves happy under his pastoral care, and have a 
 thorough persuasion of mind that the Church of Christ 
 is now planted among us in its purity. Mr. Yaughan 
 hath to the great comfort and edification of our fami- 
 lies, in these dark and distant regions of the world, 
 prosecuted the duties of his holy calling with the 
 utmost application and diligence ; adorned his be- 
 
48 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 liaviour with an exemplary life and conversation ; and 
 so behaved himself with all due prudence and fidelity ; 
 showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, and sound 
 speech; that they who are of the contrary part have no 
 evil thing to say of him.' The Society received several 
 other accounts to the same purport." 
 
 In the year 1*721, Mr. Yaughan, after giving much 
 interesting information in reference to Amboy, writes 
 to the Secretary: ''My auditory in Elizabeth Town 
 where I reside consists of two hundred souls and 
 upwards of which I have more than forty communi- 
 cants and make no doubt but that their numbers will 
 through God's blessing on my labors and endeavours 
 increase and multiply more and more and that there 
 will be daily added to the Church such as shall be 
 saved." 
 
 The next letter from Mr. Yaughan, of which we 
 have a copy, is addressed to the Secretary, and dated, 
 
 "Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, Oct. 6tli, 1731. 
 Rev'd Sir : 
 
 I have long ago taken an opportunity to send you 
 an account of the state of my Parish in answer to your 
 inquiry, but upon the perusal of your Book which I 
 lately had the pleasure and satisfaction to see and 
 which I would have been glad to have received imme- 
 diately from you I perceive it came not into your 
 hands however I design (through God's help) to 
 make you amends for it. For I am now preparing 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 49 
 
 the Memorial of the state of Religion in general 
 throughout the whole Province of Xew Jersey and 
 shall present you with it by the first ships sailing in 
 the spring. In the meanwhile I humbly take the 
 liberty to tell you that my congregation encreaseth not 
 only in this Town, but in the neighbouring Towns of 
 Newark, Whippany and the Mountains where I visit 
 and preach to a numerous assembly occasionally and 
 in the wilderness and dispense the Sacrament to them. 
 I have Baptized here and elsewhere within the compass 
 of two years last past 556 children besides 64 adults, 
 and find in the people a general disposition to receive 
 the Gospel according to the way and manner taught 
 and established in the Church of England, which 
 gains ground through all the Northern Continent even 
 New England not excepted. Glory be to God who 
 hath opened a door to these Gentiles and I am 
 
 Rev. Sir &c. 
 
 EDWARD VAUGHAN." 
 
 June 20th, 1*132 the Inhabitants of Amwell and 
 Hopewell write to Mr. Yaughan requesting him to 
 use his influence to procure for them a missionary from 
 the Society. 
 
 He writes again to the Secretary from 
 
50 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 "Elizabeth Town, Dec. 18tli, 1733. 
 Rev'd Sir : 
 
 Since my last account transmitted to you I have 
 
 instituted into the faith of Christ by baptism 88 
 
 children and five adults within the compass of this 
 
 year and am now giving particular instructions to 
 
 sundry grown persons to fit them for that ordinance 
 
 and to qualify them for the Lord's Supper, an holy 
 
 institution shamefully neglected before my coming into 
 
 the country to the great decay of piety and religion, 
 
 books of devotion, practicall pieces of divinity and 
 
 common prayer-books are much wanting for directing 
 
 the people in their duty to God, instructing them in 
 
 the right way of religion and relieving aiding and 
 
 assisting them in a regular conformity to our liturgy 
 
 and worship : the congregations under my care in 
 
 the several parts of the country are so very large 
 
 and numerous that 100 common prayer-books would 
 
 not supply half the number that stand in need of them 
 
 and are not of ability to procure them. 
 
 If the Honorable Societv would vouchsafe to bestow 
 their charity upon them I am persuaded it would have 
 a good effect namely to confirm multitudes in their 
 conformity and affection and lead them into the right 
 way. 
 
 The ship is ready to sail, so that I only say that I 
 am &c. &c. 
 
 EDWARD VAUGHAN." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 51 
 
 la a letter dated December 16, 1734, Mr. Yaiighan 
 acquaints the Society "that he had received the Com- 
 mon Prayer Books and small tracts sent him and dis- 
 tributed them among the people who professed a great 
 esteem for them and were not of ability to purchase 
 them. He had baptized the last year 13 Adults 6 
 of which were negroes, and 162 children and the num- 
 ber of his communicants is 70 persons at least." 
 
 In 1736 the subjoined memorial was sent to Eng- 
 land and is of value in connection with the history of 
 St. John's Church, as showing the estimation in which 
 the Rev. Mr. Yaughan was held. 
 
 "To the Right Reverend Father in Cod, Edmond of 
 Divine Permission Lord Bishop of London, and To 
 the Honorable Society for Propagating the Gospel 
 in Foreign Parts. 
 
 The Memorial of the Members and well-wishers of 
 the Church of England in Newark in the Province of 
 New Jersey in America Humbly Sheweth 
 
 That since by the Dispensation of Divine Provi- 
 dence we are now so happy as to be blest with the 
 light of the Gospel in its native purity and truth as it 
 is in Jesus, and as taught in and by the Church of 
 England as by law established inferior or second to 
 none in the world, either for excellency of Doctrine or 
 purity of Worship, We can do no less than acknow- 
 ledge with hearts full of joy, love and gratitude our 
 great obligations and express our real thankfulness 
 
52 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 next to God to your most venerable body for voucli- 
 safing so questionable a favor to and making us par- 
 takers of such an invaluable a blessing by the Ministry 
 of your Missionaries. The Reverend Messrs. Edward 
 Yaughan Minister of Elizabeth Town in our neigh- 
 bourhood and William Harrison of Staten Island, 
 the former was directed well-nigh 20 years ago by 
 your Honorable Body to extend his ministerial labours 
 to us besides serving St. John's Church in that place and 
 as he has been always ready and willing to do his Duty 
 and to preach the Gospel of Christ among us, but we 
 were not for many years well affected, inclined or 
 disposed, to hear or receive him or any Church of 
 England Divine on account of the strong prejudices 
 or prepossessions which we were bred and trained up 
 in by the respective Pastors and Teachers in the 
 Congregational and Presbyterian way, who all along 
 represented the Church of England and her Worship 
 as superstitious, popish and idolatrous, raised such 
 clamours and outcries against her, as terrified us from 
 examining into her Articles of faith or mode of worship, 
 until we at length took courage and inquired into the 
 matters in controversy betwixt the then Dissenters and 
 the Church of England and were aided and assisted by 
 the help of good Books and the public preaching and 
 private teaching of Mr. Yaughan who has done much 
 good amongst us the latter was called by him, and he 
 was called by him {sic MSS.) and he was so good as 
 to officiate for several years and be a fellow labourer 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 53 
 
 with him in the work of the Gospel and in preaching 
 to us a lecture on the second Wednesday of every 
 month and in visiting the people from house to house 
 for their information and instruction in the way of 
 Godliness and virtue whereby a great door was opened 
 for enlarging the Kingdom of Christ and advancing 
 the interest of the Church of England. To forward 
 which to the utmost of our power we desired that as 
 Mr. Yaughan and Mr. Harrison could not possibly 
 attend us with that constancy and frequency as our 
 zeal for the honour of God and the salvation of our 
 Souls could wish or desire we applied ourselves to Mr. 
 Yaughan and entreated he would join with us in 
 giving an invitation to the Reverend Beach of New- 
 town in Connecticut Colony to give us a visit and he 
 did accordingly write to him with us to come amongst 
 us. This he highly gratified us in, visited the people, 
 had several conferences and disputations, preached 
 several excellent sermons and discourses, administered 
 the Sacraments of Baptisms and the Lord's Supper, 
 and added to the Church such as should be saved ; and 
 gave such universal satisfaction by his sweet behaviour, 
 agreeable conversation and great humanity that we 
 with one consent gave him an invitation to be our 
 Pastor and no less than one hundred and twenty-eight 
 persons declared themselves to be well affected to the 
 Church of England, which from a small beginning like 
 a grain of mustard-seed is now grown to a large tree, 
 wanting nothing but a due cultivation. Mr. Beach 
 
 5* 
 
54 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 has promised to accept of our call and Invitation pro- 
 vided the Honorable Society will approve of it.. And 
 inasmuch as the harvest is great and the labourers are 
 few, we humbly pray that your Honorable Body will 
 according to your wonted zeal and piety for advancing 
 the honor of God and the Salvation of souls, indulge 
 us in this request and transplant him from his charge 
 in Newtown to this our vineyard to be our constant 
 guide and Instructor in Holy things and to show us 
 the way to eternall happiness, to confirm the weak, 
 settle the wavering and strengthening his brethren ; 
 for the great affection, personal respect and the near 
 relation that many of us bear to him, render him more 
 acceptable and his labors more acceptable and success- 
 ful in all probability, than any Stranger from Europe 
 can be under the same Character. We shall only add 
 that we are now preparing proper material of stone 
 lime and wood for the building of a large and decent 
 house for God according to the model of the Church 
 of England and shall contribute towards its support 
 according: to our ability and always demean ourselves 
 towards the Divine Being and our worthy superiors as 
 becomes May it please your Lordships Honours 
 Your most obliged obedient and 
 
 Humble Servants, &c. &c." 
 
 In 4he published abstracts of the annual reports of 
 the Propagation Society, appended to the Annual 
 Sermon before that Institution it is stated under the 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 55 
 
 head of Is^ew Jersey (1739) that; ''The Rev. Mr. 
 Yaughan the Society's Missionary at Elizabeth Town 
 acquaints the Society by a letter dated the 29th of 
 May 1739 that his Church hath lately received a 
 Benefaction of 9 acres of good land, with a fine 
 orchard thereon, for a glebe for the minister there 
 forever, by the Piety and favor of a very worthy 
 widow Mrs. Anne Arskins of Elizabeth Town. And 
 that he had baptized in the last year 129 Infants and 3 
 adults and that the number of communicants is 84." 
 
 In 1140 Mr. Yaughan writes to the Secretary giving 
 some account of the preaching of Whitfield and making 
 some strictures upon his doctrine, and in 1143 unites 
 with Mr. Skinner in sending a letter to the Society in 
 behalf of the family of one of their brethren whose 
 conduct had been reprehensible. 
 
 The death of the Rev. Edward Yaughan occurred 
 in the latter part of the year 1747 and Dr. Rudd in 
 his Historical Sketches of the church, says : " From 
 the information I have received from one who recol- 
 lected this valuable man, it would appear that he was 
 happily constituted for the times in which he lived, 
 and the sphere of his labors. He was sprightly and 
 engaging as a companion ; as a friend and neighbor, 
 kind and liberal ; and his public ministrations were 
 marked by great solemnity and tenderness, especially 
 the administration of the holy Supper:" In ''Notes 
 on Elizabeth Town" by the Rev. Nicholas Murray D. D., 
 it is stated that "The news of the death of Mr. Dick- 
 
66 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 inson [the clergyman of the first Presbyterian Church 
 with whom Mr. Yaughan's ' personal relations were 
 always of the most pleasant character'] was carried to 
 Mr. Yaughan just as he was dying, and, amongst the 
 last audible words that he was heard to utter were 
 these, ' O that I had hold of the skirts of brother 
 Jonathan.' " 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CIIURCn. 5t 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 1747 — Letter from Church Wardens — Mr. Chandler invited to be- 
 come Catechist — Agree to raise £50 for his support, and to 
 build or buy a house — Purchase of present parsonage and glebe 
 — Enlargement of the house — Church built at New Brunswick— 
 That mission united with Elizabeth Town — Letter from Mr. Chan- 
 dler—Services at Rahway, at Westfield, &c.— Mr. Wood officiates 
 at Elizabeth Town and New Brunswick — Bell procured for St. 
 John's— Efforts to obtain ordination for Mr. Chandler — Need of 
 a resident minister— Leave given to Mr. Chandler to visit Eng- 
 land for orders — Church register and some of the records in it — 
 Mr. Chandler's ordination — nine weeks' passage home — Preaches 
 at Woodbridge— Expects to be invited to Whippany— Journey of 
 200 miles into New England — Preaches at Woodstock — Needs 
 better provision for his support — Interesting facts in relation to 
 Elizabeth Town — Erection of a church in Woodbridge contem- 
 plated — Chime of bells — Library — Communion plate sent by 
 George II. for St. John's taken by the French. 
 
 After the deatli of Mr. Vaughan the Church wardens 
 wrote to the Secretary of the Propagation Society the 
 following letter. 
 
 Elizabeth Town, Dec. 26tli, 1747. 
 We the Church Wardens and Yestry of St. John's 
 Church in Elizabeth Town in the Province of New 
 Jersey do humbly beg leave to address the Yen'ble 
 
58 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Society upon the death of our late Pastor the Rev'd 
 Mr. Yaughan. We have to our great misfortune 
 owing to the Indisposition of Mr. Yaughan, since last 
 Whitsunday been almost deprived of the ordinances 
 of our Holy Church ; and had not the goodness of the 
 neighboring clergy prevailed upon them though with 
 difficulty to visit us we might have been as sheep with- 
 out a shepherd. In these circumstances it is that in 
 our own and in behalf of a numerous and dispersed 
 people [we] implore the assistance of the truly charitable 
 Society under whose happy influence by the grace of 
 God a Church has been collected here. A few days 
 before the death of Mr. Yaughan, Mr. Dickinson late 
 Dissenting Teacher in this place departed this life. * * 
 The Dissenters can with great ease be supplyed with 
 a Teacher ; but alas ! our infilicity is such that we 
 must have recourse to a distant aid ; yet how thankful 
 ought we to be that it hath pleased God to raise up 
 such pious men as compose that Yenerable Society for 
 our support 1 Upon a mature consideration of these 
 things and upon the advice of the Rev'd Mr. Seabury, 
 the Rev'd Mr. Brown and the Rev'd Mr. Charlton we 
 have given an invitation to Mr. Thomas Bradbury 
 Chandler, educated at Yale College in Connecticut to 
 reside amongst us till he be of age for Holy Orders, at 
 which time if his conduct shall answer his present cha- 
 racter, we humbly hope the Society may be pleased to 
 grant him leave to go for England, and if found 
 worthy, that they may continue to him the usual 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 59 
 
 bounty allowed by them to the s'cl church at Eliza- 
 beth Town, for the present he may be the means of 
 keeping the congregation together by Catechising and 
 Instructing our youth, and by reading some of the 
 Prayers of our excellent Liturgy, with a Sermon at 
 such times as we can't have the assistance of the 
 Clergy. And we the Church Wardens and Yestry in 
 behalf of ourselves and the rest of the members of 
 St. John's Church, do promise and oblige ourselves to 
 raise the sum of £50 Current Money of the Province 
 aforesaid pr. Annum during the space of seven years 
 payable half-yearly, as an additional sum to the Yen'ble 
 Society's Bounty towards the decent support and main- 
 tenance of their Missionary ; and to build and provide 
 a convenient dwelling-house for his comfortable Resi- 
 dence upon a certain Tract of land of about 9 acres, 
 which our church enjoys by the charitable donation of 
 one widow Arskins deceased, a late pious member of 
 the same ; or elsewhere as shall be found most com- 
 modious and further to do and provide everything to 
 the utmost of our slender abilities from time to time 
 that may contribute to his good ease and happiness 
 during his ministration and to the increase and emolu- 
 ment of our destitute Church. 
 
 And we do further beg leave humbly to implore and 
 supplicate that Yen'ble and Charitable Body that they 
 would be pleased in their great goodness to appoint 
 the s'd Mr. Chandler their catechist amongst us with 
 an allowance of such a Salary as the Yen'ble Society 
 
60 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 shall think fit, that our Children and Servants may 
 have the benefit of public catechizing and farther 
 instruction in the first principles of the Christian 
 Religion and the Salutary doctrines of our Holy 
 Church. 
 
 Kev'd Sir, under a just and grateful sense of the 
 long and many benefactions of that truly venerable 
 Body to us and our Fathers ; and in a humble confi- 
 dence and expectation of the continuance of their 
 gracious dispensations and offices of Charity to us and 
 our Church we beg leave to subscribe ourselves the 
 Yen'ble Society's and 
 
 your most obedient and 
 
 most humble servants 
 
 JOHN HOLSTEAD •» Church 
 HENRY GARTHWAITi Wardens 
 and several others. 
 
 On the 11th day of December 1*749 Messrs. John 
 Halstead, Jacob DeHart, Henry Garthwait and Mat- 
 thias Williamson in behalf of the Church, purchased 
 the property now occupied by its Kector for "the sum 
 of one hundred and sixty-two pounds New Jersey 
 "money at eight shillings the ounce" and thus conveyed 
 it to the Church. ( Vide Appendix A.) 
 
 " To all to whom these presents shall come, Know yea 
 that wee the within named Grantees for and in con- 
 sideration of the sum of five shillings to us in hand 
 paid by the Rector Church Wardens and Vestrymen 
 
« 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 
 
 61 
 
 of St. Joliu's Cliurcli ill Elizabeth Town, Have 
 granted, bargained, sold, assigned and set over and 
 by these presents do grant, bargain sell assign and set 
 over unto the said Rector, Church Wardens and Yes- 
 trymen of St. John's Church and to their successors — 
 All our estate, interest, right, title, property claim and 
 demand of in and to the within mentioned dwelling 
 House, Lott of ground and premises, To Have and 
 to Hold the said Lott of ground. Messuage and dw^el- 
 ling House with the appurtenances unto the said 
 Rector Church "Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's 
 Church and to their Successors to their proper use 
 and behoof forever : In witness whereof we have here- 
 unto set our hands and seals this eighteenth day of 
 February one thousand seven hundred and sixty-five." 
 The glebe contains about four acres of land plea- 
 santly located upon Elizabethtown Creek, near the 
 centre of the city, and the first house, as appears from 
 the corner stones in the foundation wall of the present 
 Parsonage, was built 1696-*!. There are two stones 
 
 one marked thus 
 
 — H— — 
 
 A 1696 M 
 
 and the other thus 
 
 1697 
 
 ANDREW 
 
 HAMTON 
 
 AND 
 
 MARGRET, 
 
62 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 from which it appears that the house was erected by 
 Sir Andrew Hampton and Margarett his wife. 
 
 This house was enlarged in the year 1165 and an 
 addition made which contains the present Study, Din- 
 ing Room &c. In 1811 the Parsonage was re-built 
 (with the exception of the addition made in 1165) and 
 is now a commodious and substantial brick edifice, 
 having recently, by the liberality of the congregation, 
 undergone extensive and complete repairs. 
 
 In the records of the Society for the Propagation of 
 the Gospel for the years 1148-9 it is said; "The in- 
 habitants of New Brunswick having built a large and 
 handsome church : raised 300 pounds towards pur- 
 chasing a house and glebe &c. desired Mr. Wood ' a 
 gentleman of a very good life and conversation, bred 
 to Physick and Surgery might, if he should be found 
 worthy of Holy Orders and be admitted into them be 
 appointed their Missionary,' the Society have so far 
 granted their request upon Mr. Wood's admission into 
 Deacons' and Priests' orders by the Lord Bishop of 
 London as to join the Churches of New Brunswick 
 and Elizabeth Town, lately a mission of itself, into one 
 mission under the care of Mr. Wood," 
 
 The following extract from a letter from Mr. Chan- 
 dler is found in the MSS. of the Propagation Society 
 (Letter Book Yol. 10). 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 63 
 
 " Elizabeth Town Dec. 20tli 1749. 
 
 Keyerend Sir, 
 
 Ever since I have been in this place I have made 
 it my business to answer the ends of the Venerable 
 Society in appointing me their Catechist to the utmost 
 of ray ability, with that view I have not only read 
 Divine Service, and catechized the children, but have 
 constantly visited all Ranks of People in the congre- 
 gation — Particularly that part of the congregation 
 which lives in Raway, a place four or five miles distant 
 from the Church, and am fully convinced of the great 
 usefulness of this Practice. I have occasionally read 
 divine service at a Private House in Raway, and have 
 been surprised at seeing the great concourse of People 
 on that occasion. There are several Families there 
 that make a part of our congregation, one Family in 
 particular of good Repute has in the summer past 
 deliberately and heartily conformed to our Holy 
 Church and behaves with a Zeal very becoming. I 
 find there numbers of the Dissenters well affected 
 towards the Church ; and I doubt not by the Industry 
 of a faithful Clergyman in Elizabeth Town a consider- 
 able part of the Presbyterian meeting iu that place 
 might be gained over to the Church. 
 
 About 3 miles to the northwest of Raway at a place 
 called Westfield, are a number of Families that con- 
 stantly meet together on Sundays when one of them 
 reads a Sermon and the Common Prayers of the 
 Church. Turkey is a Place about 12 or 14 miles to 
 
64 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES, 
 
 the west of us ; there are some Families there of 
 professed conformists to the Church " 
 
 The Church wardens &c. write to the Secretary 
 (extract). , 
 
 "Elizabeth Town Decembr. ye 25tli 1749. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 And as our Congregation is ah'eadj larger 
 
 than most in this Province we dare almost engage for 
 its greatly increasing if the Yenerable Society in their 
 great Charity will be pleased to grant us a Missionary. 
 But on the other hand if they should see fit to neglect 
 us we can have but a melancholy prospect before us, 
 and can foresee nothing but Ruin of our Church being 
 unable of ourselves to maintain a minister. We have 
 already been deprived for above two years of the Ordi- 
 nances of our Holy Church unless occasionally ad- 
 ministered by the Neighboring Clergy as it could 
 consist with their duty to their respective Parishes. 
 But we have not been discouraged as Mr. Chandler 
 has been with us altho' but in a lay capacity, and as 
 we had hopes of his being appointed our minister as 
 soon as he should be of sufficient age " 
 
 The earnest desire of the vestry of St. John's Church 
 for the constant services of a clergyman will appear 
 from the letter they wrote May 29th 1750. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 65 
 
 "We the Church Wardens and Yestry of St. John's 
 Church in behalf of ourselves and congregation return 
 the Yen'ble Society our humble thanks for their great 
 goodness to us in ordering the Rev. Mr. Wood to offi- 
 ciate in this place once or twice a month ; we had 
 before his arrival been intirely destitute of a minister 
 for almost three years, the unhappiness of which situa- 
 tion we were sadly sensible of, so sensible as has learnt 
 us to have a proper esteem for this great favor w'ch 
 the "Venerable Society have charitably conferred on us. 
 Mr. Wood has made us two Visits ; we honor him as 
 ye Yen'ble Society's Missionary and hope he will never 
 have reason to complain that we treat him otherwise 
 than with suitable respect — and was it in our power 
 we should readily contribute towards his better support 
 as the Yen'ble Society expects; But that Rev'd Sir 
 we have been at such an expense in purchasing a 
 Parsonage House (whereof we have given an account 
 in our late address) and in getting new Bell, besides 
 the constant expense we are at in maintaining Mr. 
 Chandler, that we fear we shall be able to do but 
 little towards Mr. Wood's Support : and we beg the 
 Yen'ble Society to consider our inability to undergo 
 any greater expenses than we have been at. What we 
 can do, we have done already and we who have been 
 chosen to act for the Congregation have prosecuted 
 the affairs of the Church to the great detriment of our 
 own private aflfairs. But all this we have done with 
 great cheerfulness being animated with the hopes of 
 
66 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 having a Missionary as soon as we should qualify our- 
 selves for the Yen'ble Society's further favors. We 
 have been constantly told by the Clergy that we might 
 expect Mr. Chandler would have liberty to go home 
 for Holy Orders last Fall. By last Fall we provided 
 him a Parsonage House and he was to enter upon his 
 Yoyage waiting for nothing but the Yen'ble Society's 
 permission — some time after that we had a rumour we 
 were to be annexed to a new Mission the Yen. Society 
 were about to open at New Brunswick. Then it was 
 that we first began to be disheartened, but to encour- 
 age us we were told that probably the foundation of 
 the Story might be, that the New Brunswick mission- 
 ary was ordered to officiate here till Mr. Chandler 
 should return in Holy Orders. In this perplexity we 
 sent an address to the Yen. Society, in which we gave 
 a short representation of the necessities and circum- 
 stances of our congregation and earnestly entreated 
 for leave for Mr. Chandler to go home, not without 
 hopes that liberty might be sent him by Mr. Wood. 
 At length after a tedious passage Mr. Wood arrived, 
 by him we had the honor to receive a letter from you, 
 wherein you informed us that Mr. Wood was appointed 
 Missionary for the Yenerable Society for Brunswick 
 and for us, to reside at Brunswick and to officiate here 
 once or twice a month and that Mr. Chandler was 
 continued Catechist. This we receive as a further 
 argument of the Yen'ble Society's being still charita- 
 bly disposed towards us and acknowledge it as a great 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 6T 
 
 obligation. But may we be permitted Rev'd Sir to 
 express ourselves freely in this affair ? The situation 
 of our circumstances is still such that unless we have a 
 Minister constantly to officiate and reside amongst us, 
 we can have but a melancholy prospect before us — 
 Our congregation will decrease and we have too great 
 reason to fear that in time it will hardly deserve that 
 name. For as long as the Dissenters in this town 
 have five Ministers settled, constantly to officiate in 
 publick, to visit them in private, ready to serve on any 
 particular occasion and in a word that are always with 
 and among them, and we can have none with us but 
 once in three weeks, or a month, who resides at the 
 same time at 20 miles distant with a Ferry between 
 him and us which makes our dependence upon him at 
 any particular time more uncertain ; as long as this is 
 the case without a prospect of being better provided 
 for, the difference is so great in their favour that most 
 of our People might be persuaded to think it their 
 duty in that condition to join with the Dissenters. A 
 Minister's success in this place depends not so much 
 upon his publick performances as on his private con- 
 versation and example. Mr. Wood has orders to offi- 
 ciate here once or twice a month in publick and has 
 but little opportunity for private conversation. Altho' 
 this might content many other congregations, such as 
 are lately gathered, or have never had it otherwise ; 
 yet ours which is one of the oldest in this Province and 
 have always been used to have a Missionary to them- 
 
68 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 selves are most of them possessed of other sentiments 
 and it will go very near their hearts to be deprived of 
 what they have always injoyed. On the other hand 
 should the Yen. Society grant us a constant Mission- 
 ary there is no doubt but our Congregation would 
 greatly increase and our people would not regret the 
 heavy expence and trouble they have been at. Mr. 
 Chandler is the person we have all along had in view 
 and from an acquaintance of between 2 and 3 years we 
 are convinced that he is well qualified to serve us in 
 the character of a Minister, and as he is agreeable to 
 our People universally, it is particularly in his power 
 to be an useful Missionary in these parts. We there- 
 fore most earnestly and humbly renew our request to 
 the truly charitable Society that he may have leave to 
 go home for Holy Orders as soon as possible and that 
 he may be appointed Missionary to this place with 
 such a salary as the Yenerable Society shall think fit 
 to grant him. We humbly apprehend the interest of 
 the Church in this place depends much on the success 
 of this our request ; we therefore throw ourselves once 
 more on the charity of the Yen. Society and are with 
 the greatest submission their humble supplicants and 
 Kev'd Sir &c. 
 
 ^, , „^ , ( PETER TRANBLES 
 
 Church Wardens < 
 
 \ HENRY GARTHWAIT 
 
 f JOHN HALSTEAD MATTHIAS WILLIAMSON 
 Vestry \ JACOB DeHART JONA. HAMPTON 
 
 [ MATT. DeHART. 
 Elizabeth Town May 29tli 1750." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 69 
 
 The abstract of tlie Society's report for 1149-50 
 contains this entry : 
 
 "Xew Jersey." 
 
 "The Rev. Mr. Wood whom the Society in the last 
 year appointed their Missionary to the Churches of 
 jSTew Brunswick and Elizabeth Town hath been some 
 time arrived and is very fully employed, insomuch that 
 upon the earnest petition of the inhabitants of Eliza- 
 beth Town, to whom Mr. Wood's duty at New Bruns- 
 wick will permit him to officiate only on every fourth 
 Sunday, the Society hath consented to appoint Mr. 
 Chandler, who is at present their Catechist and much 
 approved by them to be their Missionary at Elizabeth 
 Town, if upon his arrival in England, he shall be found 
 worthy to be ordained a deacon and priest in our 
 Church." 
 
 In the year 1150 "A Register for the use of the 
 Missionary at St. John's Church Elizabeth Town New 
 Jersey" (which Register is still in use for the entry of 
 Baptisms, Marriages &c.) was commenced and con- 
 tains the record of services performed by Mr. Ogilvie, 
 Mr. Wood, Mr. Auchmuty and Mr. Chandler, whose 
 first entry seems to have been made November 3d 
 1151. 
 
 Baptisms. — "Matthias, Son of Matthias and Susan- 
 nah Williamson (Maiden name Halsted.") 
 
 "Jane daughter of James and Jane Bruff." 
 
TO THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Some of the earlier records in this book are pecu- 
 liarly interesting such as: "llli June 23, Married 
 Joseph, a free Negro, to Mary Matthews, a White, by 
 me &c," 
 
 "June 14th 1*761 "Christened" "Ami, a wench of 
 Mr. W. Euen, Adult." 
 
 Zeb. Son of a Wench of Jos. Magie. 
 
 Dinah, Daughter of Do. 
 
 Cato, Son of Do." 
 
 ''Sep. 30th. Mindwell, daughter of &c." 
 
 Mr. Chandler's ordination is thus alluded to in the 
 published records of the Propagation Society. 
 
 "The Society having given leave to Mr. Chandler 
 their Catechist at Elizabeth Town to come to England 
 for Holy Orders upon the united testimony of their 
 most worthy Missionaries concerning his Qualifications 
 he arrived in England in the Summer: and after being 
 admitted into Holy Orders, and appointed Missionary 
 to Elizabeth Town, he went back and writes thence 
 Nov. 11th 1*751, that after a passage of nine weeks, he 
 was got safe home, joyfully received and entered upon 
 the duties of his Mission." 
 
 An extract from one of Mr. Chandler's letters to the 
 Secretary (though not specially relating to St. John's 
 Church) is interesting as showing his zeal for the 
 extension of the Episcopal Church. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 11 
 
 ''Elizabeth Towx Maj 1st 1752. 
 
 Rev'd Sir. 
 
 Among other places I had an early invitation 
 
 to preach at Woodbriclge, which is ten miles distant 
 situated on the Public Road from hence to Philadel- 
 phia. I was glad to accept of it accordingly. I have 
 Preached there 6 times already, and have promised 
 them a lecture every 4 weeks, which I have hitherto 
 and design hereafter punctually to discharge. It is a 
 Country Town, large and populous as most in these 
 parts, but the number of the Families I have not yet 
 learnt. There were formerly a few families there, that 
 professed themselves of the Church of England ; but 
 they had not been visited by any of our Clergy for 
 upwards of 20 years, there are two Congregations 
 there, one of Presbyterians and the other of Quakers, 
 tlie latter of which has very much increased of late 
 years ; appearances now are much in favour of the 
 Church there, and I have seldom had less than 200 
 Hearers. 
 
 I expect soon an invitation to preach at Whippany 
 which is the chief town in Morris County and lies 20 
 miles West from this place, it is one of the last settled 
 places of this Province but is now become very popu- 
 lous ; I cannot learn that they have ever been visited 
 by any of our Clergy, but if I can prevail on them to 
 accept of a monthly lecture, on a week day, I shall 
 attend it thro' all the seasons of the year, altho' the 
 Roads for 6 months are extremely bad. I shall spend 
 
t2 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 as much of my time at these places as I can, consist- 
 ently with my duty at home which I must regard in 
 
 the first place" 
 
 " Some of the Dissenters at Woodbridore won- 
 
 der that I take so much pains to come there, and think 
 I have no right, imagining that I am limited by the 
 Society to Elizabeth Town, and I believe it would be 
 best upon the whole, if they would set me down in 
 their abstracts for Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge. 
 It will give a greater sanction to my endeavours and 
 may in time be of service upon several accounts" 
 
 IN'ovember 6th of the same year Mr. Chandler in a 
 letter to the Secretary, says: ''As to Woodbridge I 
 still continue to give them a monthly lecture, whereby 
 I have greatly succeeded. I believe about 200 con- 
 stantly attend them, among which about 15 families 
 may now be called hearty conformists to the Church." 
 In the same letter he states ; I have lately been a 
 journey of more than 200 miles into N. Engld. and am 
 surprised at the great increase of the Church in many 
 places there. I preached at Woodstock, an inland 
 Town, 35 miles distant from any place where the 
 service of the Church had ever been performed. And 
 by the numbers that attended my lectures and by the 
 desires many of them expressed of farther opportuni- 
 ties of attending on and being acquainted with the 
 service of the Church I am convinced that it is for 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. '[3 
 
 want of opportunity that there is not a large Congre- 
 gation of Conformists." 
 Mr. Chandler writes from 
 
 " Elizabetk Town Dec. 10 1754. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 I now set myself down to a task which I can no 
 longer defer : and it is with extreme reluctance I enter 
 upon it. I am not forward to communicate to others 
 any unhappiness that may fall to my portion ; and least 
 of all to trouble my greatest benefactors and nothing 
 but pure necessity could prevail upon me to make an 
 application of this nature to the Hon'ble Society could 
 I find any other way to be freed from perpetual anxiety 
 in providing for my Family what they shall eat, and 
 wherewithal they shall be cloathed. I would make 
 myself easy — For when I devoted myself to the service 
 of the Church I renounced every thought of making 
 myself a Fortune and I think I have no greater ambi- 
 tion than to arrive to the free use of my own thoughts 
 and the power of prosecuting the business to which I 
 am devoted with a proper spirit and without distrac- 
 tion. Even had I a fortune of my own I would choose 
 annually to expend part of that rather than to make 
 my complaints to the Society at a time when their ex- 
 pences are increasing and they are engaged in settling 
 a number of new Missions in an Infant Colony. But 
 as this is not my case and they still retain a kind atten- 
 tion to the state of these Provinces — I beg that I may 
 
174 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 be heard while I offer a few things in relation to this 
 mission, the great importance of it and the necessity 
 (as matters now stand) of a better provision for its 
 support. These two points I hope will appear from 
 the following account, which may be depended on as 
 true without any exaggeration. 
 
 Elizabeth Town is situated on a very Public Koad 
 in the most populous and thriving part of the Province. 
 There is to the Northward of it but one Mission in the 
 Province where the Missionary has full employ and 
 officiates at different Places 6 or 9 miles distant. To 
 the Southward there is no Mission within 14 miles and 
 to the Eastward and Westward there is none at all, so 
 that the Mission here must include an extent of 15 
 miles on the Post Road from New York to Philadel- 
 phia and extend as far Westward as the Missionary 
 can serve and as there have always been many Families 
 of Church People in these parts interspersed amongst 
 the other Inhabitants (about 85 Families now living at 
 such a distance as to attend public worship at Eliza. 
 Town when Poads and Weather permit) the support- 
 ing a Mission here is allowed to be as necessary as in 
 any part of the Province. Accordingly the Society 
 was pleased to make it one of the earliest Missions in 
 the Province with a Salary of £60 sterl. By the in- 
 dustry and prudence of the first Missionary there was 
 soon a very flourishing Congregation and by what I 
 can learn at that time the professors of the Church 
 were superiour in numbers to the Dissenters. But God 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. *l5 
 
 was pleased in his providence to take him to himself. 
 Another Missionary was sent over to succeed him ; and 
 about the same time a person was settled in the dis- 
 senting Meeting ; they both continued for almost 40 
 years and died in the same month of the year — 47." 
 * * * * " In this vacancy I was applied to who was 
 then a Reader and not of sufficient age for H. orders ; 
 I came and serv'd it in that capacity and as a Cate- 
 chist ; and for my encouragement the Society was 
 pleased to grant me a Salary of £10 sterling. I soon 
 found that a Missionary here was much wanted ; and 
 as the people were desirous that I might serve them in 
 that character I readily engaged on condition that the 
 Society should see fit to dispose of me in that manner. 
 An earnest address to that purpose was sent home by 
 the people with a joint recommendation of the neigh- 
 boring clergy. But the Society's fund was then low — 
 and we had reason to fear that some particular persons 
 from partial views had made unfavorable representa- 
 tions of the state of this place. For it was annexed 
 to a new Mission 20 miles distant and no encourage- 
 ment given to expect an alteration in their Favor. In 
 the meantime I had invitations to other places but the 
 inclination and wants of the people made too strong an 
 impression on me and I consented still not to leave 
 them. In this situation I continued upwards of three 
 years encouraging the people all that I could and 
 using my Interest with the Clergy to engage them if 
 
T6 THE CnURCII TX TFIE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 possible to x^revail with the Society to reverse their 
 determination. 
 
 At last we succeeded and I had leave to go home 
 for Orders for this place with a Salary of £30 sterl. 
 which was half of what had been granted to former 
 Missionaries here. We were all then filled with high 
 spirits and £30 sterling to those who almost dispaired 
 of anything seemed a large sum. The People also had 
 engaged to the Society £60 this currency (equal to 
 little more than £30 Sterling) towards my support, and 
 upon this footing I went home and returned in Holy 
 Orders. 
 
 And altho' my expectations of success were too san- 
 guine yet I have the pleasure to see my Congregation 
 increase and some instances of a visible reformation in 
 morals as well as in principle and I doubt not but it 
 would continue to encrease perhaps much faster than 
 at present were I under better advantages to serve 
 them, when I first came to this place Y years ago the 
 number of communicants was something above 40. 
 Three years after when I went to England they were 
 well nigh 60 and at present they amount to almost 90. 
 But the pains I have taken in order to this are con- 
 siderable both in visiting and in preaching Lectures in 
 the distant parts of my Mission. By means of a 
 monthly lecture at Woodbridge 10 miles distant which 
 I voluntarily undertook (and a regular attendance upon 
 which thro' all the seasons has cost me much fatigue 
 and many hardships) there are now 20 Families Pro- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. *l*l 
 
 fessors of the Church of England and several com- 
 municants where three years past there was but one 
 family. I have also had invitations to preach periodi- 
 cal lectures at other distant places, but not being able 
 to undergo the expence I am for the present obliged 
 to refuse them and when so many doors are open for 
 my being more useful it is a great unhappiness to me 
 to be under any restraint — that when my duty calls me 
 abroad my necessities should confine me at home and 
 to attend upon a School. 
 
 It may be thought by persons who are strangers to 
 these parts that £30 together with £60 currency en- 
 gaged by subscription might answer tolerably well in 
 a Country place. Indeed I am of the opinion that 
 there are some Inland places in which it would be a 
 comfortable support, but in this Town provisions of all 
 kinds are as dear as in our most populous Cities. For 
 we are here a Sea Port but 16 miles by water from 
 New York and equally handy to foreign markets and 
 meat of all sorts is in fact dearer here than in the Xew 
 York market. But of what was engaged by subscrip- 
 tion £28 has dropt by deaths and Removals and altho 
 many Families have been added to the Church, yet 
 they are utterly unable to repair to me that loss. We 
 have some Families in our congregation in good cir- 
 cumstances ; but the greater part are poor and many 
 of them the proper objects of every kind of Charity 
 and as most of my principal Parishioners are either 
 dead or moved off, so no more can be expected of 
 
IS THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 those that remain, tlian that they make good their pro- 
 portion of the engagement, especially after the heavy 
 expences they have been at of late years in repairing 
 the Church and purchasing a parsonage House and 
 Glebe. As I have received nothing for my trouble 
 from ray new congregation at Woodbridge, so I can 
 expect nothing considerable from them as they are 
 small and poor and are about erecting a small Church 
 for the conveniency of public worship. 
 
 After all were my people generally backward to 
 exert themselves according to their abilities I should 
 not think they deserved farther Favor from the Society. 
 But I cannot be their accuser in this respect, for I 
 verily believe their chief fault is their poverty. But 
 for this they must not be deserted, nay this very cir- 
 cumstance must strongly recommend them to so chari- 
 table a Society, whose general and iirst design con- 
 spires with that of our Bedeemer that to the poor the 
 gospel should be preached. And I humbly hope (from 
 my regard and affection to them and not only with a 
 view to my own interest) that the Society after this 
 Information will be graciously pleased, to put it in the 
 power of their Missionary to do them a great service 
 by making the Salary equal to the least in the Pro- 
 vince and that they will be pleased to make one of the 
 most important and laborious of their Missions a 
 comfortable living. 
 
 I am conscious of my own unworthiness and do not 
 pretend to plead any services I have already done : In 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. T9 
 
 many instances I know that I have fallen short of my 
 duty; however I hope that my earnest and constant 
 endeavors will meet with a favorable interpretation. I 
 have always received from the Society far beyond my 
 deserts, and may God reward all my Hon'ble Bene- 
 factors more than seven fold into their own bosoms. 
 But still I will venture to plead the greater services I 
 might do ; and since they have done me the Honor to 
 intrust me with the immediate care of this Mission my 
 humble and earnest request is that I may not be under 
 greater disadvantages to answer the ends of my ap- 
 pointment than any other Missionary in these parts 
 and I beg that any former unfruitfulness of this people 
 may not be imputed to them so far as to exclude them 
 from their share in this favor. For my part I have 
 but a bad opinion in general of removals in the Church 
 in this country; and I should rejoice to spend my 
 strength and my days here. But if I should be so 
 unhappy as not to succeed in my Petition in favor of* 
 this place ; I find that I shall necessarily be obliged in 
 the next place to beg leave of the Society to suit my- 
 self with some vacancy when opportunity offers. 
 
 I humbly beg pardon for the length of this letter 
 and for the great freedom I have made use of, with the 
 greatest duty and submission to the Society I beg 
 liberty to subscribe myself their and also 
 
 Reverend Sir, your most obedient, faithful and 
 
 humble Servant 
 THOS. BRADBURY CHANDLER." 
 
80 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 The Society's Records for the years 1^54-5 state 
 that; "The Rev. Mr. Chandler the Society's Mission- 
 ary to Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge, doth great 
 good in his Station : when he went to Elizabeth Town 
 about 1 years ago, the number of his Communicants 
 was only 40, but they are encreased to 90 and many 
 families interspersed in the Country, to the number of 
 about 85 attend Public Worship at the Church in 
 Elizabeth Town, when the Roads and weather will 
 permit ; and by means of a monthly lecture at Wood- 
 bridge, 10 miles distant, there are 20 families become 
 members of the Church there, where but three years 
 before there was but one family of our Communion ; 
 and they are about erecting a Church." 
 
 April 10th 1156 Mr. Chandler informs the Society 
 " That the Church in his Mission maintains its ground, 
 and that was the most that could be said of it, as the 
 people were much more attentive to their civil than 
 religious concerns in that critical juncture." 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Rudd in his " Sketches" mentions 
 that; "About the year lT5t the Church here was 
 favored by the notice of George II., who ordered a 
 chime of bells, and a valuable library, for the use of 
 the congregation, with some plate for the altar ; these 
 were taken by the French, and of course we lost the 
 benefit and pleasure of the gift." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 81 
 
 CHAPTEK lY. 
 
 1760 — Wallingford Controversy — Prevalence of smallpox — Good 
 feeling between Dissenters and Churchmen — Mr. Hardy appointed 
 Governor — Money raised by lottery for repairing church and par- 
 sonage at Amboy — Proposal to annex Woodbridge to that Mission 
 — Xeed of tracts — Mr. Chandler's views adverse to preaching 
 much about the Church — Charter granted to St. John's Church — 
 Charter — Letter from Perth Amboy in reference to the progress 
 of the church in Piscataway, Mount Holly and Trenton — Pros- 
 pect of a Bishop for America — St. John's vestry vote to enlarge 
 the church — Determined to rebuild — Foundation laid — Progress 
 of the work arrested by the Revolution. 
 
 Mr. Chandler writes to the Secretary from 
 
 "Elizabeth Towx July 5tli 1760. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 My last letter was of the 12th of Xoveraber which 
 was intrusted to the care of Mr. Milner ; and as I have 
 heard of his arrival I hope it came safe to hand. I 
 then enclosed two Pamphlets relating to the Walling- 
 ford controversy there have .since beeli published seve- 
 ral others on that subject, which I have accidentally 
 seen. I have sent to New England for a copy of each 
 and if I succeed in my endeavours to procure them I 
 shall take the liberty also to transmit them. As I ex- 
 
82 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 pect that will be soon I will not trouble you at present 
 with anything farther than the necessary account of my 
 own Mission. My congregations both here and in 
 Woodbridge have suffered much by the loss of many 
 useful and reputable persons who have died of the 
 Small Pox ; which distemper was never so epidemical 
 in these parts, nor attended with such ill effects to the 
 unhappy patients. To much more than half those who 
 had it here in the natural way it has proved fatal. 
 I^othing else material has happened in my Mission. I 
 continue to do my duty here and at Woodbridge in the 
 best manner I am able and have reason to hope that I 
 am not altogether unsuccessful. From Michaelmas last 
 (for I find that my last account comes down no later) 
 until Midsummer I have christened one adult and 23 
 Infants and have had four new Communicants. 
 
 Many persons otherwise of unblameable lives con- 
 tinue to be backward in coming to the H. Communion ; 
 notwithstanding my utmost endeavours to convince them 
 of their duty herein, and to persuade them to practise 
 it. For which reason I must renew my application to 
 the Society, for a number of the Reasonable Communi- 
 cant or some such book, if they are not ordered 
 already ; and I shall be careful to distribute them in 
 the most proper manner. I have only to add that I 
 have drawn for my Salary until Midsummer, and that 
 I am with the greatest respect 
 
 Reverend Sir &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 83 
 
 The followiDg is an extract from one of Mr. C's 
 letters. 
 
 "Elizabeth Town April 6tli 1761. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 The Church seems to be in a state neither of 
 
 encreasing nor of losing ground in regard to its 
 numbers. This appears to me to be in some measure 
 owing to that general harmony and good understand- 
 ing which subsists between ye Church and the Dis- 
 senters. The points in controversy between us, some 
 years ago were disputed with warmth and some degree 
 of animosity. Then ye Church visibly gained ground. 
 But those disputes have for some time subsided and 
 Charity, candor and moderation seem to have been 
 studied, or at least affected on both sides. The Dis- 
 senters have become so charitable as to think there is 
 no material difference between ye Church and them- 
 selves ; and consequently that no material advantage is 
 to be had by conforming to ye Church and under the 
 influence of this opinion, custom and a false notion of 
 honor will be an effectual bar against conformity. 
 
 On the other hand I fear that such is ye moderation 
 of ye Church, as to return ye compliment in their 
 opinion of ye Dissenters and possibly in time we may 
 come to think that ye unity of Christ's body is a 
 chimerical doctrine — that Schism is an Ecclesiastical 
 Scarecrow — and that Episcopal is no better than ye 
 leathern mitten ordination ; or in other words, that ye 
 authority derived from Christ, is no better than that 
 
84 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 which is given by ye mob. I hope the Clergy do not 
 countenance these notions ; but if they are suffered to 
 prevail amongst our own people, ye Clergy must in 
 
 some measure be accountable for it 
 
 Reverend Sir &c. 
 
 T. B. CHANDLER." 
 
 The Society's abstract of reports for 1761 states 
 that; ''Mr. Chandler continues to do duty at Wood- 
 bridge so far as is consistent with his obligations at 
 Elizabeth Town and administers the Holy Communion 
 there three times a year, viz : On the Sundays succeed- 
 ing the three great Festivals. In the preceding half 
 year he had baptized 1 adult and 29 Infants. He has 
 had 6 new Communicants this year." * * * * ''He 
 begs a number of The Reasonable Communicant^ which 
 were sent him accordingly." 
 
 Mr. Chandler writes to the Secretary (extract). 
 
 "Elizabeth Town Jany. 5tli 1762. 
 
 Reverend Sir 
 
 My last letter was of July 5th since which time 
 nothing material hath happened in this Province, ex- 
 cepting ye succession of Mr. Hardy to ye government. 
 The poor destitute Church of Amboy where his Ex- 
 cellency resides seems already to have experienced 
 some happy effects of his presence ; for partly in con- 
 sequence thereof they are now raising money by a 
 lottery for repairing their Church Parsonage House 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN's CHURCH. 85 
 
 &c., and I am informed have renewed their application 
 to ye Society for a Missionary many of them having of 
 length become sensible of their want of one. Should 
 one be granted them I beg leave that Woodbridge 
 may be annexed to that Mission. The Churches of 
 those two places are but four miles distant and may 
 easily be served by the same Missionary. 
 
 Of ye rise and progress of that Church, I have from 
 time to time informed the Society ye substance of 
 which it may not be improper on this occasion briefly 
 to recapitulate. 
 
 As soon as I entered into ye Society's service as 
 Missionary in the year 1T51 I made it my practice to 
 preach Lectures on week-days in ye most distant parts 
 of my Mission, as often as I had invitation and oppor- 
 tunity. I soon was invited by some of ye Woodbridge 
 people who had casually been at my Lectures to 
 preach there ; and considering that there had formerly 
 been a Church in that Place, which had gone to ruin, 
 and ye congregation mixed with ye mass of Dissenters 
 for want of having ye Church service performed 
 amongst them I ye more readily accepted of ye Invita- 
 tion. I found but one family in ye Place that still 
 adhered to ye Church which attended its worship at 
 Amboy ; but several which had no aversion to it, and 
 some which were much disgusted at ye proceedings of 
 ye Presbyterian Meeting. My Lecture was much 
 crowded and I was importuned to visit them again. 
 I soon met with such encouragement that I engaged 
 8 
 
86 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 to give them a raontLly lecture which I continued for 
 several years. The event was that about twenty Fami- 
 lies conformed to the Church. They built a small but 
 decent Church in the year It 54, from which time I 
 have made it a Rule to preach in it every 6th Sunday 
 and to administer ye H. Communion thrice a year. 
 The severe manner in which I had ye Small Pox in 
 1*751 and ye ill effects whereof it was three years 
 before I perfectly recovered greatly interrupted ye 
 course of my services, especially at Woodbridge which 
 is ten miles distant : but for some time past I have 
 gone on in my wonted course and ye Congregation 
 hath been kept tolerably together. What I have done 
 hath been full as much as was consistent with my duty 
 to ye first and immediate object of my care ; but more 
 than I have hitherto done seems now to be necessary ; 
 and yet the circumstances of my Congregation here 
 are such, that I can be less spared than ever. 
 
 The Society will be pleased to remember, that I was 
 appointed their Missionary at Woodbridge on my own 
 request with a discretionary power to serve them in 
 such a manner and proportion as ye circumstances of 
 that Place and this might render expedient. An en- 
 largement of my Salary on that account, was neither 
 asked nor desired, nor were any promises of pay made 
 me by the people, nor have I ever received any pay or 
 gratuities to ye amount of more than Five Guineas in 
 ye whole time of my serving them altho' in that service 
 I have rode more than 3000 miles and preached near 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 87 
 
 200 sermons besides doing other duties. This I men- 
 tion to show that I have been a Volunteer in this 
 service, having received ye Society's permission rather 
 than their orders relating thereto and having been 
 under no obligations to ye people who consequently 
 have no reason to complain that I now decline it ; 
 which yet I should not do without some prospect of 
 their being better provided for in ye manner I have 
 
 proposed , 
 
 I am with great respect Kev'd Sir &c. 
 
 T. B. CHANDLER." 
 
 The following extract bears date 
 
 "Elizabeth Town, July 5th, 1762. 
 
 Reverend Sir 
 
 As to Roman Catholics, we have none in 
 
 this Province. The Chief Enemies of ye Church are 
 ye English Dissenters of different denominations who 
 are thrice as numerous as its Professors and more 
 active against us than our friends are for us. Of their 
 open opposition indeed for some years past we have 
 no great reason to complain ; but the secret arts 
 whereby they are endeavouring to undermine ye prin- 
 ciples of ye Church amidst ye fairest professions of 
 Friendship, and perhaps many of them without a con- 
 sciousness of any bad intentions unless we are well 
 guarded may be of infinitely worse consequences than 
 any open attacks. 
 
88 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 In order to prevent this evil, it would be of great 
 use to distribute or at least to circulate some tract 
 upon ye nature and constitution of ye Christian 
 Church — ye necessity of authority derived from Christ 
 in ye Ministers of it — ye nature and guilt of Schism 
 &c. These points have been well handled by many of 
 our writers ; but I could wish to see them brought 
 together in a moderate compass and treated in a 
 manner that is very plain and pathetic. I know of no 
 piece at present which is executed altogether on this 
 plan. The Englishman directed &c. is a good thing a 
 few copies of which would be very useful in my 
 Mission. It is undoubtedly ye duty of ye Clergy to 
 instruct their hearers in all necessary and needful 
 Truths. But to dwell much on ye foregoing subjects 
 in ye Pulpit might have had a bad effect upon some 
 and not so good an effect upon others as a well written 
 Tract on ye same subjects which they can examine at 
 leisure and of which they can attend to the force of 
 every argument besides many of our own people are 
 always absent from Church and some others would be 
 willing to read a Pamphlet or small Book who never 
 
 vouchsafe to attend our service at all . 
 
 Rev'd Sir &c. 
 
 T. B. CHANDLER." 
 
 The following is a copy of the Charter obtained in 
 July n62, preserved in the records of the Yestry, and 
 still governing the Church. Dr. Kudd in his Sketches 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 89 
 
 says, it was coufirmed by the Legislature after the 
 Revolutionary war. The acts of the vestry have been 
 recorded in the same book from 1762 to the present 
 time. 
 
 Charter. 
 
 George the Third by the Grace of God of Great 
 Brittain France and Ireland, King Defender of the 
 Faith &c. To All Persons to whom these Presents 
 shall come Greeting : Whereas our Loving Subjects 
 the Reverend Thomas Bradbury Chandler and John 
 Halstead, Jacob DeHart Henry Garthwait, Jonathan 
 Hampton, Amos Morss, Ephraim Terrill Matthais 
 Williamson, John DeHart, John Ogden, Cavalier 
 Jouet and John Chetwood Members of the Church 
 of England at Elizabeth Town in New Jersey in 
 Behalf of themselves and the rest of the members of 
 the said Church by their humble Petition presented 
 to our trusty and well beloved Josiah Hardy Es- 
 quire Captain General and Governor in Chief of 
 our said Province of New Jersey have humbly 
 prayed for our Royal Grant by Letters Patent 
 under our Great Seal of our said Province to incor- 
 porate them into a Body Corporate and Politick 
 with perpetual succession by the name of the 
 Rector, Church Wardens and Yestry of St. John's 
 Church in Elizabeth Town while there shall be a 
 rector of said Church Resident at Elizabeth Town 
 and in case of a vacancy of a Rector Then during 
 
 8* 
 
90 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 such Vacancy, by the name of the Church Wardens 
 and Yestry of St. John's Church in Elizabeth Town 
 with such Powers, Privileges, Libertys and Immuni- 
 ties as are necessary for the well ordering and regu- 
 lating the affairs of the said Church. And we being 
 willing to grant the reasonable Request of the said 
 Petitioners in that Behalf, 
 
 Now know ye That we of our Especial Grace 
 Certain Knowledge and Meere Motion Have given 
 granted constituted, appointed ratifyed and con- 
 firmed And by these Presents for us and our suc- 
 cessors Do give grant constitute appoint ratify and 
 confirm unto the said Thomas Bradbury Chandler 
 John Halsted Jacob DeHart Henry Garthwait Jona- 
 than Hampton, Amos Morss Ephraim Terrill Mat- 
 thais Williamson John DeHart John Ogden Cava- 
 lier Jouet and John Chetwood and the rest of the 
 members of the said Church and their successors 
 forever That they now are and from henceforth 
 shall be one body Corporate and Politick in 
 Name Deed and in Fact at all times hereafter to be 
 known and Distinguished by the name of the Rector 
 Church Wardens and Yestry of St. John's Church 
 in Elizabeth Town except when there shall be a 
 vacancy of a Rector of said Church and then during 
 such vacancy by the name of the Church Wardens 
 and Yestry of St. John's Church in Elizabeth Town 
 which body Corporate and Politick shall consist of 
 one Clergyman a Presbyter of the Church of Eng- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 91 
 
 land now as by Law established daely qualified for 
 the Cure of souls Two Church Wardens and Nine 
 Yestrymen Members of the said Church. The said 
 Church Wardens and Yestrymen hereafter to be 
 elected and Chosen annually at said Church by the 
 Plurality of Yoices of the Members of the said 
 Church who shall be present on Monday in Easter 
 week Which said Church Wardens and Yestrymen 
 shall have a perpetual Succession and the like 
 Power and Authority to act and perform all Things 
 relating to their offices as Church Wardens and 
 Yestrymen in England Do act and Perform there. 
 And upon any vacancy of a Rector of said Church 
 Misbehaviour, Non-residence in the said Town or 
 neglect of his Duty, Do give grant, ratify and con- 
 firm unto the Church Wardens and Yestrymen of 
 St. John's Church in Elizabeth Town and to their 
 successors to be hereafter annually elected and 
 chosen as aforesaid from henceforth forever the 
 nomination and appointment of a Presbyter of the 
 Church of England as now by Law established (but 
 of none other) to be the Rector of said St. John's 
 Church in Elizabeth Town which Right of Nomina- 
 tion and appointment of such a Rector so Qualifyed 
 to serve the Cure of the said Church shall forever 
 to them belong and Appertain or to the Major part 
 of them. And we do give ratify and confirm unto 
 the said body Corporate and Politick that by one 
 or either of the names aforesaid as the said body 
 
92 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Corporate shall then happen to be circumstanced 
 shall be able and in Law capable to sue and be sued 
 plead and be impleaded, appear and be answered, 
 defend and be Defended in all and singular Suits, 
 Actions, Controversies and all other things of what 
 nature or kind soever in all or any of our Courts of 
 Judicature Law and Equity as also by one of the 
 names aforesaid as the said Body Corporate shall 
 then happen to be circumstanced to ask, demand 
 take Possess receive hold possess in fee simple enjoy 
 Purchase and acquire Lands Tenements, Heredite- 
 ments Goods and Chatties and them or any of them 
 to use let set grant demise Bargain or sell not ex- 
 ceeding the yearly value of Five Hundred Pounds 
 Lawful money of England Yearly Income. Pro- 
 vided Always Notwithstanding the Power and 
 Authority herein before given and granted to the 
 Rector Church Wardens and Yestry or all or any of 
 them. Nothing in these Presents is meant or in- 
 tended to authorize or impower all or any of them 
 to Bargain, sell Dispose, change or alter any Lands 
 Tenements Goods or Chatties given or granted to 
 the said body Corporate from the use End or Pur- 
 pose for which the Donation was made given or 
 granted contrary to the true Intent and meaning of 
 the Donor or Donors ; But that all such Alienations 
 and Misapplications shall be Yoid and of none 
 Effect and that the Rector, Church Wardens and 
 Yestrymen that shall hereafter make such Alienation 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOIIN'S CHURCH. 93 
 
 or Missapplication of such Donations contrary to 
 the true Intent and meaning of the Donor or Donors. 
 They and every of them and every of their Heirs 
 Executors and Administrators shall be accountable 
 for and Liable to make satisfaction for the same to 
 the succeeding Church Wardens and Vestrymen of 
 the said Church. 
 
 And we do hereby give grant ratify and confirm 
 unto the said Body Corporate and Politick and 
 to their successors forever that it shall and may be 
 Lawful for them to make or cause to have made 
 have and use a Common Seal and the same to alter 
 break or new make at their Discretion. And that 
 it shall and may be Lawful to and for the said 
 Church Wardens and Vestrymen so often as shall 
 be thought needful for the ordering and disposing 
 the affairs of their said Church and Corporation to 
 assemble and meet together being thereunto called 
 by the Hector and one of the Church Wardens or 
 by one of the Church Wardens and two of the Ves- 
 trymen or by one of the Vestrymen and that the 
 Major Number of them the Rector Church Wardens 
 and Vestrymen for the time being while there is a 
 Rector or in case of a vacancy of a Rector the 
 Major Number of the Church Wardens and Vestry- 
 men shall make a Vestry which Vestry so met 
 shall have full Power and Authority at all times 
 hereafter to make ordain and Constitute such Rules 
 and Ordinances for the good order and Regulation 
 
94 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 of the said Church or Corporation as they or 
 the Major Part of them Present shall think fitt 
 which shall be entered in a Book or Register 
 kept for that purpose and be as good valid and 
 effectual as if made or consented to by every Indi- 
 vidual of the whole Body. 
 
 And we do give and grant unto the said Yestry 
 of St. John's Church in Elizabeth Town Power and 
 Authority to nominate choose and appoint such 
 Person and Persons as to them shall be thought 
 meet and convenient to be Clerk Sexton and other 
 officers of the said Church and to admit accept and 
 receive such and so many People as they shall think 
 fitt to be members of the said Church and Corpora- 
 tion. And we Do further by these Presents nomi- 
 nate constitute and appoint the aforesaid Thomas 
 Bradbury Chandler to be the first and Present 
 Rector of the said Church and the aforesaid John 
 Halsted and Jacob DeHart to be the first and 
 Present Church Wardens of the said Church and 
 Henry Garthwait, Jonathan Hampton Amos Morss 
 Ephraim Terrill Matthias Williamson John DeHart, 
 John Ogden, Cavalier Jouet and John Chetwood to 
 be the first and Present Yestrymen of said Church 
 which Church Wardens and Yestrymen are to Con- 
 tinue in the said several ofiQces respectively untill the 
 time appointed for the Annual Election of Church 
 Wardens and Yestrymen. And further our will 
 and pleasure is And we do for us our Heirs and 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 95 
 
 Successors ordain and grant that if it shall happen 
 that any of the said Church Wardens and Yestrymen 
 nominated and appointed as aforesaid shall Dye or 
 be removed before the said Yearly Day of Election, 
 That then and in every such case it shall and may be 
 Lawfull for the Members of the said Church to pro- 
 ceed to a new Election of one or more of their 
 Members in the Room or Place of such officer or 
 officers so dying or removing according to their 
 Discretion. 
 
 To Have and to Hold all and singular the 
 Liberties Priviledges Franchizes, Immunities and 
 all other the Premises herein and hereby given and 
 granted unto the said Rector Church Wardens and 
 Yestrymen of St. John's Church in Elizabeth Town 
 and to their successors forever. Yielding and 
 Paying therefor yearly and every year forever here- 
 after unto us our Heirs and Successors at the 
 Church in said Town on Easter Monday one Pepper 
 Corn if the same be Legally Demanded. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof we have caused these 
 our letters to be made Patent and the great Seal of 
 our said Province of New Jersev to be hereunto 
 affixed. 
 
 Witness our trusty and well beloved Josiah 
 Hardy Esquire our Captain Generall and Governor 
 Commander in Chief in and over our said Province 
 of Xew Jersey this Twentieth day of July in the 
 
96 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Second Year of our Reign and in the Year of our 
 Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and sixty two. 
 
 READ. 
 
 The following letter, though not relating to the 
 history of St. John's Church, is inserted to show the 
 progress of the Episcopal Church in the Province 
 nearly a hundred years ago. 
 
 " Mr. Charlton and others to the Secretary 
 
 Perth Ambot New Jeesey Dec. 6th 1762. 
 Rev'd Sir : 
 
 The Clergy of this Province together with the 
 Rev'd Mr. Charlton of New York having occasionally 
 met together in Amboy beg leave to address the Vene- 
 rable Society and to represent several particulars which 
 are apprehended to be of some importance to the 
 Church in this Province. 
 
 As the small congregation of Piscataqua have within 
 a few years been at the expence of building a new 
 Church and appear to be willing to contribute to the 
 support of a Minister in proportion to their abilities, 
 they have repeatedly desired us to request of the 
 Society that some neighbouring Missionary might be 
 requested to take them under his care. Of this we 
 gave an account in one of our former addresses and 
 desired the Rev'd Mr. McKean to oSiciate among 
 them as often as he could until the Society's Pleasure 
 should be known ; with which advice he has been so 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 97 
 
 good as to comply and as we still judge them worthy 
 of the favour they request we take this opportunity 
 again to recommend them to the Society and also to 
 transmit a copy of their last application to us. 
 
 While we were lately together at Burlington appli- 
 cation was also made to us in behalf of a large body of 
 people living in Mountholly who profess themselves 
 Members of the Church of England and have been 
 under the care of the Rev'd Mr. Campbell. They 
 represent that such services as Mr. Campbell is able to 
 do therein consistent with his duty to the other parts 
 of his Mission are inadequate to their wants. They 
 set forth their spiritual necessities in the most earnest 
 and moving manner and beg us for Christ's sake to 
 make known their case to the Honorable Society. As 
 nothing less seems to be sufficient than a new Mission- 
 ary in that quarter we informed them what qualifica- 
 tions would be expected by the Society previous to 
 such a request and promised that when they should be 
 thus qualified we would recommend them as they de- 
 sired of which in the mean time we think it our duty 
 to inform the Society. 
 
 The good people of Trenton having desired us to 
 join with them in requesting a Missionary as we 
 found them willing to exert themselves in contributing 
 towards his support and to give proper security for 
 their so doing we approved of their request and had 
 determined to recommend them, but in the mean time 
 we had the pleasure to hear of the appointment of Mr. 
 9 
 
98 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Tread well to that Mission, a young gentleman of a 
 very amiable character whose arrival we still im- 
 patiently expect as we understand it is more than 
 three months since his embarkation." * * * * 
 
 " These are the several particulars we thought need- 
 ful to mention. As we have no Ecclesiastical Super- 
 intendent here we endeavour to give all the attention 
 to the affairs of the Church in this Province in general 
 which our obligations to particular Missions will admit 
 of, in which we hope we shall have the honor to meet 
 with the Yenerable Society's approbation. We beg 
 leave to subscribe ourselves most dutifully their and 
 very respectfully Rev'd Sir &c. 
 
 RICHD. CHARLTON ISAAC BROWNE 
 • COLIN CAMPBELL SAML. COOK 
 
 T. B. CHANDLER ROBT. McKEAN." 
 
 In a letter from Mr. Campbell to the Secretary 
 dated Burlington June 25th n63 he says, "We hear 
 with joy that amongst other blessings on the confirma- 
 tion of the late peace that God hath put it into the 
 hearts of his Majesty and those in authority under him 
 to see the expediency of appointing a Bishop for the 
 superintending of the Churches and Clergy of the 
 Episcopal Churches here." 
 
 The abstract of the published records of the Society 
 for Propagating the Gospel mention that Mr. Chandler 
 writes January 24th 1T63 ; " That the vestry of Eliza- 
 beth Town have passed a vote for enlarging the 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 99 
 
 Church, and that he had baptized in the preceding- 
 half year IT infants, one of which was a Black and 
 had had 3 new Communicants." Dr. Rudd refers to 
 this resolution in his Sketches, and says; ''But it does 
 not appear that any effort was made for accomplishing 
 the object, and we hear nothing more on the subject 
 until the year 1774 when instead of enlarging it was 
 determined to build a new Church. The foundation 
 of a building, 85 feet in length by 50 in breadth, was 
 laid around the present building. The materials for 
 the building were collected, and money raised to de- 
 fray the expense. The troubles of the Revolution 
 were in a few months so great as to put a stop to the 
 work. During that long and agitating period, most 
 unfortunate to the immediate, if not ultimate pros- 
 perity of the Church, all the money was spent in other 
 ways, the materials were either removed or destroyed, 
 and no vestige of this pious work remained but a part 
 of the foundation, just even with the surface of the 
 earth, traces of which are still to be seen." 
 
 Mr. Chandler writes to the Secretary (Extract) from 
 
 "Elizabeth Town, Jan'y 5tli, 1764. 
 Rev'd Sir : 
 
 The whole number of Communicants in this place 
 
 altho' it sometimes has been upwards of 90 at present 
 
 is reduced by deaths and removals to about 75, of these 
 
 we have seldom more than 50 together at a time which 
 
 is owing to their dispersed situation. I still find it 
 
100 THE CHURCH TN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 extremely difficult to remove the unreasonable prejudice 
 which prevents men's obedience to this divine Ordi- 
 nance which I believe is also the case of many of ye 
 Clergy as they generally prevail throughout ye Ame- 
 rican Colonies, altho' not equally in all places. 
 
 Rev'd Sir &c., 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 101 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 1764 — "Whitfield revisits Elizabeth Town — Mr. Chandler refuses him 
 the use of his pulpit — Reasons therefor — Desires to avoid contro- 
 versy in the pulpit — Diligence and popularity of the Dissenting 
 Clergyman at Elizabeth Town — Zeal of his people — Some account 
 of the condition of St. John's Church — Addition to the parsonage 
 house — Allusions to Mr. Whitfield and to the Clergy of Philadel- 
 phia — Efi'orts to obtain a Bishop for the American Colonies — House 
 purchased for an Episcopal Residence — Discontent in consequence 
 of acts of the British Parliament — Sensible remarks upon their 
 probable effect — Dr. Chandler receives degree of D. D. from Ox- 
 ford — Letter to the Lord Bishop of London — Refers to need of a 
 Bishop — Anxiety on the subject. 
 
 The Kev. George Whitfield who was in Elizabeth 
 Town in the year 1740 revisits the place twenty-four 
 years after, as appears from an extract from one of Mr. 
 Chandler's letters bearing date, 
 
 " Elizabeth Town July 5tli 1764. 
 Keverend Sir : 
 
 Some things have lately happened in my Mission 
 
 of which I think it my duty to inform the Society. My 
 
 Tranquility which never before was interrupted was 
 
 somewhat disturbed in ye Winter past by reason of my 
 
 refusing my pulpit to Mr. Whitfield, who signified his 
 
 9* 
 
102 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 desire of preaching in my Church. This unluckily was 
 at a time when no Clergyman had yet refused him since 
 his last coming into the country and after his having 
 had ye free use of ye Churches in Philadelphia, which 
 last consideration was what led my people to expect 
 and desire that I should receive him into mine. But 
 knowing ye very exceptionable point of light in which 
 he formerly stood with my superiors at home thro' his 
 undutiful and schismatical behaviour and having no evi- 
 dence of his reformation in those respects much less of 
 his having made any due submission to the Governor of 
 ye Church and obtained ye Bishop of London's Licence, 
 I could not think ye example of ye Clergy in Philadel- 
 phia sufficient to justify a conduct in my opinion so 
 absurd or so inconsistent with ye Rules of our Eccle- 
 siastical Policy. These reasons I offered but a great 
 part of my people remained unsatisfied and appeared 
 to be much offended at my incompliance. I was not 
 without some degree of anxiety about the event of it ; 
 but ye tumult has gradually subsided and matters have 
 for some time returned to their former level excepting 
 that two or three persons of no consequence have left 
 ye Church. 
 
 However whether this has been altogether owing to 
 the above refusal or to another cause I cannot pointedly 
 say ; yet I suspect ye latter viz : that they have been 
 seduced by ye arts of the Dissenters who are at this 
 time in this part of the world using all their dexterity 
 and address to gain proselytes from ye Church. 
 
niSTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 103 
 
 It is a great hardship upou ye Church in these Colo- 
 nies that its friends must act only on the defensive, ye 
 times being such as to render it imprudent and unsafe 
 to venture into ye Territories of its Enemies. If ye 
 Clergy say a word even to their own people concerning 
 ye unity of Christ's body, ye nature of schism or ye ne- 
 cessity of authority derived from Christ in ye Ministers 
 of his religion ye alarm is immediately sounded, we are 
 stigmatized as factions and not only so but ye Yen'ble 
 Society is abused on our account. If we are altogether 
 silent on these heads our own people grow indifferent 
 and in time may think it immaterial whether they are 
 in communion with ye Church or join with a conventi- 
 cle. This I fear is beginning to be ye case of my own 
 congregation in particular. I have always made it a 
 Rule to preach chiefly on practical subjects and to 
 bring as little as possible of controversy into ye Pulpit. 
 I have always lived upon good terms with my Dissent- 
 ing Neighbours and with some of them I have cultivated 
 a considerable degree of Friendship. This has been 
 my manner for some 13 years that I have been in this 
 Mission in consequence of which while I have been 
 generally esteemed by my own congregation I have had 
 no ill report amongst them and this I take to be much 
 the case even at present. But while they have no ob- 
 jections to my private character and behaviour and 
 many of them pretend to esteem it I know that I am 
 maligned as a Clergyman of ye Church — and with the 
 fairest pretences to Catholicism and moderation and 
 
104 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 respect for ye Church to prove ye sincerity of which 
 they will occasionally attend upon our service, they are 
 perpetually aiming to bring it into disrepute ; in order 
 whereto misrepresentations and scurvy insinuations are 
 sometimes found to be of excellent service. 
 
 The Dissenting Teacher of this place is a man of 
 some parts and of a popular address and has ye appear- 
 ance of great Zeal and Piety. He preaches frequently 
 thrice on Sundays gives an Evening Lecture every 
 Thursday in the Meeting-house besides praying and 
 exhorting from house to house, many of my people of 
 course fall in with his Evening lectures, and it is na- 
 tural to suppose that some of them are captivated with 
 ye appearance of so much Zeal and Piety. At ye same 
 time ye Dissenters almost to a man are watching every 
 opportunity to promote ye cause and not so much as a 
 negro can fall in their way but some of them will try to 
 proselyte him and they are now provided with a very 
 strong argument for that purpose taken from those 
 sudden and instantaneous conversions which within 6 
 months have frequently happened in this and ye adja- 
 cent Towns amongst ye Dissenters whereas there have 
 been none in ye Church. 
 
 In this situation I think it almost impossible but 
 some impressions must be made upon ye weaker part 
 of my congregation unless methods can be taken to 
 counteract them and what methods are left to be taken 
 I find it very difficult to determine, directly to attack 
 these notions would probably in our present circum- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 105 
 
 stances produce more mischief than service and to do 
 it obliquely will hardly be effectual. To say anything 
 even against this kind of conversion, whose conversion 
 is known to be so greatly needed would be shocking to 
 ye multitude ; and yet to say much in favour of them 
 is to contradict both reason and experience. If ye 
 Clergy are governed altogether by a Principle of giv- 
 ing no offence perhaps it is most agreeable to worldly 
 prudence ; yet to act with spirit in ye defence as well 
 as cultivation of our Lord's Vineyard seems most con- 
 sistent with our Christian duty. Extremely happy 
 should I think myself in this case as well as in many 
 other difficulties which frequently arise, was there a 
 Bishop in these parts to whom I could apply for advice 
 and direction! But if this is still judged to be too 
 great a happiness for ye Church in America so long 
 persecuted by its enemies and deserted by many of its 
 pretended friends we must submit. I hope ye Clergy 
 will continue in the regular discharge of their duty with 
 as much prudence and Patience as possible and leave 
 ye event to providence. 
 
 Reverend Sir &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
 Mr. Chandler writes to the Secretary (Extract) from 
 "Elizabeth Town Feb'y 12tli 1765. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 1 was in hopes that by this time I sliould have 
 
 been able to tell of ye flourishing state of my Mission, 
 
106 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 but that is a pleasure of which I am still deprived, and 
 yet I cannot say that it greatly declines or that I am 
 much discouraged. Altho' some few persons, none of 
 whom are of any influence have been seduced from ye 
 Church in ye year past, by those acts mentioned in my 
 Letter of July 5th, and notwithstanding that several 
 Families of my Congregation have moved to other parts 
 of the Province I have still under my care 9t Families 
 who profess themselves of ye Church and whom I believe 
 in general to be as good Christians as their Neighbours 
 
 "whatever may be pretended 
 
 Reverend Sir 
 
 Your very respectful and obedient serv't 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
 The following extract from one of Mr. Chandler's 
 letters to the Secretary contains information of peculiar 
 Interest. The addition to the Parsonage House to 
 which he alludes, still stands forming a wing to the 
 present building, and one of the rooms retains its ori- 
 ginal form and somewhat of its original appearance. 
 
 " Elizabeth Town July 5th 1765. 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 The state of my own Mission has of late, 
 
 altered considerably for ye better ; and those disagree- 
 able prospects I formerly mentioned are at present 
 changed for a more pleasing appearance. My Church 
 was never more crowded than it has been for some 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. lOt 
 
 months past ; and I have upwards of 50 Catechumens 
 whom I regularly attend every Sunday. As a proof 
 of ye good temper to which my People have returned, 
 and are returning they have lately rais'd a Subscription 
 for enlarging the Parsonage House, in which they have 
 been as generous as I could well desire considering their 
 abilities. Since the 5th of Jan'y last I have baptized 
 It Infants, but I have had only one new Communicant. 
 I can recollect no other particulars needful to trouble 
 you with at present, excepting that I have this day 
 drawn for ray last half years salary, which Bill I hope 
 ye Society's Treasurer will honor. 
 
 I have this moment had ye pleasure of receiving your 
 Favor of Feb'y 28th forwarded by Dr. Smith of Phila- 
 delphia. I think myself extremely happy in ye So- 
 ciety's and your approbation of my conduct in a late 
 difficulty ; which as in all cases, it will be my constant 
 endeavour to deserve, so it will be one of ye greatest 
 pleasures of my life to obtain. It has been and by ye 
 Grace of God ever shall be my aim to discharge the 
 various duties of my station, as with steadiness and 
 firmness on ye one hand, so with prudence and temper 
 on ye other. I am liable to mistake thro' defect of 
 judgment but I trust I never shall err greatly from 
 badness of principle or disposition. The duties of a 
 Clergyman cannot be duly discharged in any Country 
 without vigilance, care and prudence; and the Society 
 need not be informed that these things arc peculiarly 
 necessary to their Missionaries in this — where with re- 
 
108 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 gard to ye Church and ye Clergy ye Laws are neither 
 favorable, nor explicit rights are not defined, ye gene- 
 ral disposition of ye people not friendly, and where we 
 have no superiors near to direct us in difficult and 
 doubtful cases. 
 
 The favorable construction you put upon the con- 
 duct of my Brethren in Philadelphia is a proof of that 
 candor and tenderness with which ye behaviour of ye 
 American Clejgy in general is considered by our supe- 
 riors at home. Nor did I mean to accuse them of 
 more than a mistake of judgment and if I expressed 
 myself with some warmth in my Letter, it was because 
 I was then smarting under ye ill effects of their com- 
 pliances. Those compliances I cannot still but think 
 were ill judged and that all Mr. Whitfield's bitterness 
 and rage against ye Church would have availed but 
 little, had he been able only to attack it openly and 
 from without. But what gives him an opportunity of 
 really hunting ye Church, is his pretended friendship 
 for her, his wearing ye Garb of her Children, his 
 frequently quoting our excellent Liturgy, Articles, 
 Homilies &c., with solemn declarations of his esteem 
 and admiration. I will say no more of him as he has 
 at length left us ; but my greatest fear is that he will 
 soon begin to hanker after his dear America, few 
 people choosing to continue long in a state of Insig- 
 nificance, when they have it in their power to aj3pear 
 with more than Apostolic importance. 
 
 It is no secret at home that ye people in this 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 109 
 
 country are greatly dissatisfied with some late proceed- 
 ings of ye British Parliament. How such a general 
 discontent may operate is impossible to foresee : how- 
 ever I do not apprehend any considerable effects from 
 it in this Province. But should the worst happen I 
 think I can answer for my Brethren, at least I can 
 promise for myself, that I will exert myself to the 
 utmost to allay the ferment and to promote a peace- 
 able submission to ye Higher Powers not only for 
 
 wrath, but for conscience sake 
 
 I am Reverend Sir &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
 EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A BISHOP FOR THi: AMERICAN 
 COLONIES. 
 
 The importance of the appointment of a Bishop for 
 America was most deeply felt by the Colonial Church 
 for generations before its ardent desire was fulfilled. 
 The most earnest representations had been made to 
 those in authority in England of the wants of the Pro- 
 vinces in respect to resident Bishops and Mr. Chandler 
 was deeply interested in the subject. The design of 
 this Record forbids entering at length upon a matter 
 concerning which so many addresses and appeals were 
 sent forth, and so much has been written. The Clergy 
 of New Jersey in Convention (under date Perth 
 Amboy Octr. 3d 1*765) write a long and fervent letter 
 to the Secretary in reference to an American Epis- 
 copate, in which they mention, that at an early date ; 
 10 
 
110 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 "A Standing Committee was appointed to find out 
 ways and means for the support of it, and a place was 
 purchased in this Province at a great expence for the 
 Bishop's Residence, but when the matter was in a fair 
 way of being speedily accomplished the death of that 
 excellent Princess alone prevented it." This address 
 which is preserved in the Lambeth Manuscripts eon- 
 tains much that is valuable and interesting and is 
 signed by Myles Cooper ''President of ye Convention" 
 Richard Charlton, Samuel Seabury, Isaac Browne, 
 Robt. McKean, Colin Campbell, Andw. Morton, Sam- 
 uel Auchmuty, Leo Cutting, Saml. Cooke, John Ogil- 
 vie, Thos. B. Chandler. 
 
 Mr. Chandler writes to the Secretary (extract) from 
 "Elizabeth Town Jany. 15 1766. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 The duty of a Missionary in this Country is 
 
 now become more difficult than ever. It is hard to 
 dissemble any truths or precepts of the Gospel, and 
 some of them relating to Civil Society it is now 
 become dangerous to declare. Such an universal 
 spirit of clamour and discontent, little short of mad- 
 ness and such an opinion of oppression prevails 
 throughout the Colonies as I believe was scarcely ever 
 seen on any occasion in any country on Earth. And 
 it seems to be the determined inflexible resolution of 
 most People from Halifax to Georgia, never to submit 
 to what they esteem so great an infringement of their 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. Ill 
 
 essential rights as some of the late acts of the British 
 Parliament. 
 
 Every friend therefore to the Happiness of the 
 Colonies or even of Great Britain who is acquainted 
 with the case as it really is, must wish that the Parlia- 
 ment would relax of its severity ; which yet, it must be 
 confessed is no easy thing, after such Provocations as 
 have been lately oflfered on the part of the Colonies. 
 But good policy I humbly conceive will rather put up 
 with almost anything than drive matters to a danger- 
 ous extremity. Most probably the Parliament are 
 able (altho' most people here pretend not to believe 
 that they are) to enforce the Stamp Act ; yet should 
 they resolve to do it, a disaffection of the Colonies of 
 which there have been no visible symptoms before, will 
 be undoubtedly established — the government must be 
 put to a great expence — and the commerce of the 
 Colonies, so beneficial to England heretofore, will sink, 
 comparatively to a mere trifle. Eor none will dare 
 import anything but the bare necessaries of life ; and 
 upon ye examination that has been made, it has been 
 found that almost every real want can be supplied from 
 ourselves. England has always been benefited nearly 
 in proportion to the wealth and commerce of her 
 Colonies. Whether therefore any measures that tend 
 to lessen that wealth and commerce can finally be of 
 service to Great Britain is a question which may not 
 be unworthy the attention even of those who are the 
 Guardians of her Interests. The Parliament has un- 
 
112 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 cloubteclly been misinformed, for that the Colonies in 
 general abound in Wealth and are able to pay any 
 considerable Tax to the government will upon proper 
 enquiry found to be as true (and indeed the assertion 
 is founded on the same testimony) as that an American 
 Episcopate would be utterly disagreeable to more than 
 19-20ths of all the People in America. However we 
 
 thank Mr. H k that he did not insist on 20-1 9ths 
 
 which he might have done with equal veracity. 
 
 I do not mean by what I have said to excuse the 
 conduct of my countrymen : for I really detest it and 
 do endeavour to traverse and counteract it to the 
 utmost of my ability. And yet this apology they are 
 intitled to, y't the government has not taken much 
 pains to instruct them better. If ye Interest of the 
 Church of England in America had been made a 
 National concern from the beginning, by this time a 
 general Submission in ye Colonies to ye Mother 
 Country, in everything not sinful, might have been 
 expected, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake. 
 And who can be certain but ye present rebellious dis- 
 position of ye Colonies is not intended by providence 
 as a punishment for that neglect ? Indeed many wise 
 and good persons at home have had ye cause of 
 Keligion and ye Church here sincerely at heart, and ye 
 Nation whether sensible of it or not is under great 
 obligations to that very worthy Society, who by their 
 indefatigable endeavours to propagate the Gospel and 
 assist the Church, have at the same time and thereby 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 1 1 3 
 
 secured to ye State, as far as their influence could be 
 extended ye Loyalty and Fidelity of her American 
 children. For notwithstanding ye general character, 
 there are many persons among us governed by these 
 principles, which so far as my observation can reach, 
 are owing chiefly if not altogether to ye Instructions 
 afforded by this Yen'ble Society. That ye Govt, may 
 become more sensible of their services and at length 
 co-operate with them, as it appears to be ye most 
 probable means of restoring the mutual happiness of 
 Great Britain and her Colonies is the dayly prayer of 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Your very obedient humble servant 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
 Dr. Chandler writes to the Lord Bishop of London 
 from 
 
 " Elizabeth Town New Jersey July 10th 1766. 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have lately received a Diploma from the Uni- 
 versity of Oxford for a Doctor's Degree, and by a 
 letter from Dr. Burton Secretary to the Society for 
 propagating the Gospel, I understand that I am in- 
 debted to your Lordship for joining in a recommenda- 
 tion of me to the University. I trust I have a true 
 sense of the obligations I am under to that Illustrious 
 body, but the Honor done me by your Lordship and 
 the other great prelates who were pleased to recom- 
 mend me I esteem to be much greater than the degree 
 
 10* 
 
114 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 immediately confers and I will make it the business of 
 my life to prove as far as possible that so distinguish- 
 ing a favour is not altogether improperly bestowed. 
 
 I have been favoured with a sight of your Lord- 
 ship's kind letter of March 10th in answer to an 
 address from the Clergy of New Jersey and New York 
 on the subject of American Bishops. 
 
 It gives me inexpressible concern as it must give to 
 every friend of the Church especially to those who are 
 witnesses of its suffering state in America to find that 
 there is so little prospect of Relief and that little, so 
 very remote. The present situation of affairs appears 
 to be unfavourable to sending of Bishops to America 
 and would really he so if this country in general was 
 as greatly disaffected towards it, as has been pretended 
 by some. However your Lordship will be pleased to 
 recollect that our addresses were signed before the 
 disturbances which have so universally prevailed 
 throughout the Colonies and if we had been able to 
 foresee them or had even suspected them, we should 
 not have chosen such a time for an application of this 
 nature. I can declare for myself and I believe that 
 I express the sentiments of my brethren that I do not 
 wish that any fresh matter of contention should arise 
 to encrease the flame which we have of late so sensibly 
 felt. But notwithstanding my Lord, I humbly appre- 
 hend that the disposition of this Country has been 
 grossly misrepresented and that Bishops might be 
 introduced even at this time without any considerable 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 115 
 
 opposition, or clamour. The Presbyterians and Inde- 
 pendants who amount to not one-half of the Inhabi- 
 tants in the North American Colonies, are the only- 
 people who would be disobliged thereby; and even 
 their prejudices and objections I take not to be invin- 
 cible. On the other hand I fully believe, from such 
 trials and experiments as have been already made with 
 many individuals that if a pamphlet was published and 
 carefully spread throughout this Country fairly repre- 
 senting the only plan upon which American Bishops 
 have been requested, assigning the reasons for it and 
 confuting the objections against it without any reflec- 
 tions or severity of language that could give offence the 
 affair might be carried without any open opposition. 
 
 When we addressed the Throne and requested your 
 Lordship's interest to support our petition, whatever 
 suspicions of the weakness of our judgements may 
 have been incurred, we hope we did not betray any 
 badness of heart, or perverseness of disposition. We 
 thought it our duty to represent, but we had no desire 
 to dictate to our superiors, who only have a right to 
 judge of the Fitness of times and other circumstances. 
 We were conscious of our inability and more especially 
 at this distance to comprehend all those reasons and 
 arguments which ought to govern the Court and our 
 addresses were founded on the state of things in this 
 Country only and as it appeared to us. Indeed we 
 were warmed with the subject as we always are and 
 must be whenever we consider it, which it is humbly 
 
116 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 hoped will excuse our strongest expressions ; but we 
 had no desire that Governmt. should be pressed to 
 pursue any Plan which the particular circumstances of 
 the times might be thought to render inexpedient in 
 any degree, or of throwing difficulties in the way of it 
 at this critical season, and we have been very unfor- 
 tunate in our language, if we are even suspected of 
 such an intention. The Clergy who joined in those 
 addresses acted from an opinion of indispensable Duty. 
 They thought it incumbent on them to represent the 
 suffering state of the Church and to implore relief for 
 it. But having done this which is all that can be 
 required of them they have discharged their con- 
 sciences and they humbly submit to divine providence 
 and the wisdom of their superiours, being prepared I 
 trust at all hazards both to do and to suffer as their 
 duty shall direct. 
 
 In the mean time if it is judged that they can be 
 any way instrumental in this Country in facilitating so 
 great a work and in bringing about an event in which 
 the Church is in such a perishing necessity, altho I am 
 not authorized to speak for them yet from the know^- 
 ledge I have of their sentiments in this and some of 
 the neighbouring Colonies I am very certain that they 
 will think themselves extremely happy in receiving 
 your Lordship's commands and directions. I am with 
 due submission and with the highest gratitude, 
 
 Your Lordship's most Dutiful Son and 
 humble servant 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, 117 
 
 CHAPTER YI. 
 
 1766 — Letter from the clergy — Object of their conventions — Mode 
 of conducting them — Names of Clergy present at Shrewsbury — 
 Desires for an American Episcopate — Apology for a former ad- 
 dress — Allusion to disturbances in the Colonies — Disadvantages 
 under which Episcopalians laboured — Objections to appointment 
 of commissioners — Important measures projected — Convention 
 meets at Elizabeth Town Nov, 1776 — "Plan of Union" formed — 
 Articles adopted — Dr. Chandler's publication of appeal to the 
 public — Extracts from Dr. Hawks on American Episcopate — Op- 
 position to the appeal — Violent attacks — American Whig, Sen- 
 tinel, &c. — Appeal Defended — Appeal Further Defended — Re- 
 markable circumstances connected with Church at Hebron, Conn. 
 — Dr. Chandler's letter upon the Controversy. 
 
 Though the following letter (as is the ease with 
 some others which have been inserted in this notice of 
 St. John's Church) bears no special relation to its 
 Individual history, it is thought to possess sufficient of 
 interest to entitle it to a more general circulation than 
 it can obtain without publication. Everything con- 
 nected with the early history of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in this Country is of value and especially 
 the original records, which have been preserved by the 
 Propagation Society and by the several ancient pa- 
 rishes. They throw much light, not only upon the 
 
118 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 ecclesiastical condition of the Colonies, but upon their 
 social and political state. This letter is in Dr. Chan- 
 dler's own handwriting and is contained in the Manu- 
 script Volume, from which a large part of the mate- 
 rials for this little work have been drawn. 
 
 " May it please your Lordship, 
 
 About Eight years ago the Clergy of New Jersey, 
 taking into Consideration the deplorable State of the 
 Church of England in America through the Want of 
 Bishops and a regular Discipline and fearing, unless 
 that Relief should be granted which had been so often 
 and earnestly requested, that it would soon be born 
 down in this Part of the Country by the Weight of 
 its Adversaries — entered into a Resolution, after the 
 maturest Deliberation, to meet together annually, or 
 oftener as Occasions should require, in Order to exert 
 their united Efforts for the Prevention, if possible, or 
 at least for the Retarding of the impending Evil. 
 This Apprehension and Disposition in the Clergy 
 gave Rise to those Conventions in this and some of 
 the neighboring Colonies, of which your Lordship 
 must have frequently heard : and the many Advan- 
 tages that have been found to attend them have occa- 
 sioned their Continuance. 
 
 Our first Convention was in November lt58 : and 
 from that time our Annual Conventions, attended by 
 some of our Brethren from the adjacent Provinces, 
 have been regularly held with considerable Solemnity, 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 119 
 
 a Sermon having always been preached at the Opening 
 of them, and our occasional Conventions have some- 
 times amounted to several in the Course of a year. 
 As the Members meet together on Terms of Equality, 
 it is a standing Rule that a President be chosen 
 annually to act for the year, and that no Person be 
 chosen President Two years successively. It is only 
 needful farther to inform your Lordship on this Head 
 at present, that as the Duties of our respective Mis- 
 sions will seldom allow us to continue together more 
 than Two Days, whatever Business we are unable to 
 finish in that Time, is either adjourned to another 
 general Meeting, or, if it requires Dispatch, is left to 
 Committees, who are to act in the name of the Con- 
 vention, and agreeably to their Instructions. 
 
 What has been hitherto said is intended partly as an 
 Apology for the unusual Form of this Address, in 
 which, we wiio have subscribed it, being a Committee 
 for writing to your Lordship on the Points we shall 
 mention, are directed to insert the names of those who 
 were present at our late Convention held at Shrewsbury 
 on ye 1st instant, and whom we have the Honor to re- 
 present, which are as follows, viz 
 
 The Rev'd Mr. COOPER The Rev'd Dr. CHANDLER, Prest. 
 Mr. M'KEAN Mr. PETERS 
 
 Mr. INGLIS Mr. CHARLTON 
 
 Mr. CUTTING Mr. STURGEON 
 
 Mr. JARVIS Mr. LEAMING 
 
 Mr. BENNETT. Mr. NEIL 
 
 Mr. AVERY ]\Iu. COOKE 
 
 Mr. EVANS Mr. SEABURY 
 
120 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 In Pursuance of the Trust reposed in us by the above 
 Gentlemen, we beg leave to proceed — 
 
 Your Lordship's very obliging letter of March 10th 
 to the Clergy of New Jersey and New York in Answer 
 to their joint Address of last year on the subject of an 
 American Episcopate, being read in Convention, the 
 Thanks of that Body were unanimously voted to your 
 Lordship, for your Attention to the Interests of the 
 Church in this Country, and for the fresh Declarations 
 you are pleased to make of your Desire and Disposition 
 to relieve it; the Clergy who were present looking upon 
 the Patronage of a Person of your Lordship's Abilities 
 and Influence as a happy Omen of the future Success 
 of the Cause, which they have so greatly at Heart. 
 Accordingly we now, with great Pleasure, present to 
 your Lordship the sincere and unfeigned Thanks of the 
 Convention, which, in their names, and particularly in 
 our own, we beg You will accept with your usual Good- 
 ness and Condescension. 
 
 And whereas your Lordship is of the Opinion that 
 the above mentioned Address was unseasonable, and 
 from the peculiar Circumstances of the Times, tended 
 to throw difficulties in the way of Government; we are 
 intrusted to offer the following Apology. At the Time 
 of our making the Application in Question, it was im- 
 possible to foresee that the Disturbances which followed, 
 would arise to so great a Height ; and although we 
 were sensible that there was a great and general Un- 
 easiness in the Minds of Americans, on Account of 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 121 
 
 some Proceedings of tbe British Parliament, yet we 
 were not apprehensive that the Discontent would be 
 considerably inflamed by the granting us Bishops — 
 provided care should be taken to have the Design and 
 the Powers with which they were to come, properly 
 explained. The plan upon which they were requested 
 to be sent, must, in that case have appeared to the Dis- 
 senters themselves so unexceptionable in all Respects, 
 and so manifestly calculated to oblige them^ that no 
 Opposition from that Quarter was greatly to be 
 dreaded. 
 
 It was farther considered, that should the disturbed 
 state of the Colonies be allowed, upon the whole to be 
 unfavorable to our Application, yet other circumstances 
 concurred to render it, as we conceived, expedient. 
 We had a Prince on the Throne, as we thank God we 
 still have, of whose favorable Disposition we had the 
 strongest evidence — and several avowed Patrons of our 
 Cause, whose eminent Abilities and Stations gave them 
 a Right to be heard on the subject. These were con- 
 sidered as great and present Advantages, but necessa- 
 rily precarious as the Breath of Man ; for which Reason 
 we could not answer it to our Consciences to disregard 
 or neglect them. And altho' with these Advantages, 
 we have not succeeded in our Application, yet we trust 
 in God that much has been done to prepare the Way 
 for it — and, that the Time is not far distant, wherein 
 the great and good work will be happily accomplished. 
 
 Our Superiors at Home have an undoubted Right to 
 11 
 
122 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 judge lolien, as well as whether, it is proper to grant our 
 Request : But it was the Belief of the Convention, that 
 should they be altogether mistaken with Regard to the 
 Propriety of the Time for sending us Bishops, yet the 
 friends of an American Episcopate would not dislike, 
 at any Time, to see Petitions from this Country in Favor 
 of it. Por we Mattered ourselves that our Petitions 
 would be thought always to conduce something to the 
 Success of our Cause, on supposition that our Desire 
 of Bishops would be considered by our Superiors as 
 One Motive for granting them — and, that our Desires 
 are to be best known by our expressing them. For 
 these and the like Reasons, and not from any inclina- 
 tion to embarras the State of public Affairs, nor with 
 any Suspicions that what they were doing had a Ten- 
 dency towards it ; the Clergy of our Convention re- 
 solved upon their Addresses : And they humbly en- 
 treat that their conduct therein may be ascribed to its 
 true Motives, and not to any sinister Intentions. 
 
 We have never heard that our Application was judged 
 to be improper in itself, or unreasonable on any other 
 Account than of the Disturbances and Confusion which, 
 about that Time, prevailed in the Colonies. Those 
 Disturbances, at Length, have happily subsided; we 
 hope therefore that it is not unreasonable noiv, at this 
 Time of public Tranquility, to renew our Request. Ac- 
 cordingly, by the Direction and in the name of our last 
 Convention we take the Liberty to address your Lord- 
 ship again on the Subject, most humbly but earnestly 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 123 
 
 imploring your Mediation and Influence, that One or 
 more Bishops may be speedily sent us. The Dissenters 
 in this Country, of every Denomination, have the full 
 Enjoyment of all they can desire towards rendering 
 their respective Forms of Ecclesiastical Government 
 and Discipline compleat — the Moravians in our neigh- 
 bourhood are allowed a Bishop — and the Papists in 
 Canada have the same Indulgence — and these various 
 sects must all see, and the world sees, that if we had 
 been Dissenters, or Moravians, or Papists, we should not 
 have been so long laboring for an Episcopate to so little 
 Purpose. And yet the only Crime we are conscious 
 of, with Regard to the Public, is, that we belong to the 
 national Church ; to which may be added, that of all 
 his Majesty's American Subjects we are the most firmly 
 attached to his sacred Person and Government, and to 
 the Civil Constitution. But these Things we need not 
 enlarge on, as we doubt not that they have long ap- 
 peared to your Lordship in a much more forceable light, 
 than any Language or Representation of ours can place 
 them. Upon the whole, the more we consider the sub- 
 ject, the stronger does the necessity appear and the 
 more unreasonable the Opposition we meet with, on 
 all Principles, whether political or religious. And al- 
 though we have the highest Veneration for the wisdom 
 of our Superiors, yet as Members and Clergymen of 
 the Church of England in America, we are very un- 
 happy, and we know not how to be silent, while it con- 
 tinues to suffer in such an unprecedented manner. 
 
124 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 It has been thought by some of our Friends at Home, 
 that if the Application for Bishops should fail of suc- 
 cess, or should not speedily succeed. Your Lordship's 
 taking out a Commission to act for the Plantations and 
 appointment of Commissaries, would be some Com- 
 pensation for the Miscarriage. As Your Lordship, in 
 the most condescending manner, has encouraged us to 
 give any Information, which we may conceive to con- 
 cern the Interests of Religion and the Church, the 
 Clergy of our Convention, thought it their Duty to lay 
 before your Lordship their Opinion on the Case of 
 American Commissaries, which we will endeavor to 
 express as briefly as possible. But previously thereto, 
 it is but Justice to mention, that the Reverend Messrs. 
 Peters and Sturgeon did not concur in the general 
 opinion. What we are directed to say is to the follow- 
 ing Purpose — 
 
 It is the opinion of our Convention, that Commissa- 
 ries cannot be of any considerable Service in this Part 
 of the Country, nor supply the Want of Bishops in any 
 Degree. Unalienable Episcopal Power, and not Com- 
 missariat Power, is the Thing that is wanted. Trial 
 has been made by some of your Lordships Predecessors, 
 what could be done by Commissaries ; and it has never 
 appeared in this Country, that their Usefulness has been 
 great. Most of us are too young to have known much 
 from our immediate Observation; but those who re- 
 member them and were concerned with them generally 
 agree, that the Affairs of the Church here were never 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 125 
 
 SO well conducted by Commissaries, as they have been, 
 of late years by our voluntary Conventions — and some 
 of them insist, that the two cases will hardly admit of 
 a Comparison. One good consequence of these Con- 
 ventions has been, the Establishment of Harmony, 
 Unanimity and Affection amongst ourselves ; and we 
 need not say how much this must necessarily conduce 
 to the Interest of the Church. But in this Respect 
 Commissaries, whatever has been their Intention and 
 Disposition, have almost universally, in this Part of the 
 Country, instead thereof, been unfortunately the Occa- 
 sion of much Contention and Discord. And as to other 
 Advantages expected from them, it is generally thought 
 that they can never be better secured by Commissaries 
 than they are at present without them — and, unless they 
 should be Persons of great Abilities, Application and 
 Prudence at the same time, not so well. And as to 
 the single case of Suspension, for which a Commissariat 
 Power may be thought necessary, it has but seldom_ 
 happened in these Northern Colonies ; and yet should 
 there arise any Instance, in which immediate suspension 
 should be requisite, a public Declaration of the Con- 
 vention would amount to a suspension, and it would 
 effectually prevent the Ministration of the Delinquent, 
 in any regular Congregation. To this may be added, 
 that the Appointment of Commissaries at this Time, 
 will tend greatly to dishearten our Friends and encour- 
 age our Enemies, whose Eyes are all turned on the 
 Event of our Application for an Episcopate j for it will 
 
 11* 
 
126 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 be generally thought to imply that the Sollicitation for 
 Bishops is given over as fruitless. Our application has 
 been for Bishops ; but instead of Bishops if Commissa- 
 ries are appointed, which always argue the Absence of 
 Bishops — it will not wholly be inferred that Bishops 
 could not, and the Reasoning will not stop untill it 
 forms the Conclusion, that they never will, be obtained. 
 For it appears improbable to us, in the present Course 
 of Things, as the Dissenters are dayly improving and 
 gaining Strength in almost every Part of the British 
 Dominions, that the Enemies to our American Episco- 
 pate will ever be less powerful, or the Friends of it be 
 more able to procure it or have stronger motives to 
 exert themselves, or, in other Words, that any future 
 time will be more favorable than the present for obtain- 
 ing it. 
 
 While we are on the Subject, it may not be improper 
 to mention another Consideration, which must have 
 some Weight with many of the Clergy. It has been 
 the Custom, and it is natural it should be, to appoint 
 Clergymen for Commissaries, who reside in our Capital 
 Cities. And it has been proposed lately, that Penn- 
 sylvania and New Jersey should be united in one Com- 
 missariat District, and New York and Connecticut in 
 another. Should this be the Case and Commissaries 
 appointed. One would probably reside in Philadelphia 
 and another in New York. In Consequence of this, 
 Conventions, if peradventure they should think it need- 
 ful to hold any, would be called to meet where it should 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 127 
 
 be most convenient to the Commissaries ; i. e. gene- 
 rally in New York and Philadelphia, and the Clergy 
 must assemble, not only from the remote Parts of the 
 same Province, but from all the Parts of another Pro- 
 vince, as often as the Commissaries shall please, and, 
 after a long journey, continue as long as they please, 
 at a great Expence, in these Capitals. This, where 
 the Clergy are very hardly able to support themselves, 
 will necessarily be considered as a great Grievance. 
 
 What has been said shews, that it is the general 
 Opinion of the Clergy here, that the Appointment of 
 Commissaries would not be attended with many real 
 Advantages to the Church ; and, on the other Hand, 
 that some ill Consequences would probably follow it. 
 But the Case is submitted, with all due Deference, to 
 your Lordship's better judgement ; and all that has 
 been said on the Subject is with particular Reference 
 to these Colonies, with which we are acquainted. 
 What the State of Maryland, Virginia and the South- 
 ern Colonies is, we know not, and we pretend not to 
 judge, whether Commissaries there would be useful or 
 not. 
 
 Thus we have endeavoured with all Faithfulness, to 
 represent the Sentiments of our late Convention ; and 
 we rely on Your Lordship's known Goodness to 
 excuse the Length of this Address, and the great 
 Freedom we have taken in it. The Integrity of our 
 Intentions we can truly plead ; and this, together with 
 the Importance of the Matter, we trust, will in some 
 
128 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Measure, atone for any Failure in the Manner, of 
 which we may have been guilty. "Without any farther 
 Apology, we beg Leave to subscribe ourselves, as we 
 are with the utmost Gratitude and Respect, 
 May it please your Lordship, 
 
 your Lordship's most dutiful sons, 
 
 and obliged humble Servants, 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER. 
 Prest. of the Convention 
 SAML. COOKE. 
 MYLES COOPER. 
 
 The Lord Bishop of London. 
 
 Elizabeth Town Oct. 10th 1766." 
 
 Soon after the date of this letter important measures 
 were projected by the Episcopal Clergy of several of 
 the Colonies and one of their meetings is thus alluded 
 to by a writer in the Church Review (Art. American 
 Episcopate before the Revolution) Vol. 4 p. 572 ; ''The 
 first meeting of the Convention was held at Elizabeth- 
 town N. J. in Nov. 1766 ; and was attended by nine 
 Clergymen from Connecticut, and twenty-two from 
 New York and Philadelphia. A glance at the pub- 
 lished list of names shows that no ordinary purpose 
 summoned that body of men together. A ' Plan of 
 Union' was formed, and ' Articles' were adopted. The 
 ' design' of this Convention was declared to be (in part) 
 ' defending the religious liberties of our Churches, to 
 diffuse union and harmony, and to keep up a corres- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 129 
 
 pondence throughout this united body, and with our 
 friends abroad.'' At the same meeting, a letter was 
 formally adopted, to be sent 'to the Brethren of the 
 Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Khode Island 
 Governments and the Dutch Churches.'" 
 
 In the year 166t Dr. Chandler published and dedi- 
 cated to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, "An 
 Appeal to the Public in behalf of the Church of Eng- 
 land in America : Wherein the Origin and Nature of 
 the Episcopal Office are briefly considered, Reasons 
 for sending Bishops to America are assigned, the plan 
 on which it is proposed to send them is stated, and the 
 objections against sending them are obviated and con- 
 futed : With an Appendix, wherein is given some 
 account of an Anonymous Pamphlet." The origin of 
 this work is alluded to by the Rev. Francis L. Hawks 
 D. D. L. L. D. in an article entitled " Efforts to obtain 
 the Episcopate before the Revolution" republished in 
 " Collections of the Protestant Episcopal Historical 
 Society, for the year 1851." Dr. H. says; "Early in 
 166Y, the Rev. Dr. Johnson"^ of Stratford, in Connec- 
 ticut suggested to Dr. Chandler of Elizabethtown, in 
 New Jersey, the propriety of addressing the public on 
 the subject of an American Episcopate. It has indeed 
 been intimated that the suggestion came from a higher 
 
 * The life of Dr. Johnson was written by Dr. Chandler 
 before the Revolution and was published in New York in 
 1805. 
 
130 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 source, and that the measure originated with the Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury. Of this, however, no proof has 
 been met with, and as it was positively contradicted by 
 Dr. Chandler, the insinuation was probably without 
 foundation. Yery soon after the proposition by Dr. 
 Johnson, a voluntary association of the Episcopal 
 Clergy of New York and New Jersey,* at which were 
 present some of their brethren from the neighbouring 
 provinces, after discussion of the subject, were unani- 
 mous in the opinion ''that fairly to explain the plan 
 on which American Bishops had been requested to lay 
 before the public the reasons of this request, to answer 
 the objections that had been made, and to obviate 
 those that might otherwise be conceived against it, 
 was not only proper and expedient, but a matter of 
 necessity and duty. 
 
 The performance of this duty devolved on Dr. 
 Chandler, and gave birth to "an Appeal to the 
 Public in behalf of the Church of England in Ame- 
 rica," published in June 176t. This production con- 
 sisted substantially of a short, but perspicuous view of 
 the evidence in favour of Episcopacy, the hardships of 
 the case of the Church, deprived of an officer deemed 
 
 * Among the names of tlie Clergy then assembled are to be 
 found those of Dr. Auchmuty, Dr. Chandler, Dr. Myles 
 Cooper, Dr. Ogilvie, Mr. Charlton, Mr. Seabury (afterwards 
 Bishop of Connecticut) Mr. Ingles (afterwards Bishop of 
 Nova Scotia) and Mr. Abraham Beach. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 131 
 
 essential to its existence, the plan proi)osed, with an 
 answer to the fears and objections of those who op- 
 posed it. It was not to be expected after the previous 
 discussion of the subject, that the author could present 
 much of novelty to attract his readers. The object of 
 Dr. Chandler was to satisfy the American public, that 
 the apprehensions which were entertained by many 
 were groundless — that the claim of Episcopalians was 
 founded in most obvious justice, and that their peculiar 
 opinions on the subject of Church government were 
 built upon apostolic and primitive usage. The work 
 is marked by a sound judgement and lucid argument, 
 and upon its first appearance was treated by many, 
 even of those who were not Episcopalians, with the 
 respect which was due to the talents and standing of 
 the author. The more candid acknowledged that to 
 resist such claims as were there presented, upon the 
 ground of apprehended evils, which were all guarded 
 against by the plan proposed, savoured more of in- 
 tolerance than of Christianity. 
 
 The first opposition to the " appeal," there is reason 
 to think had its origin in disappointed feelings. An 
 application for a Charter by the Presbyterians of New 
 York had been rejected by the authorities of the 
 mother country, and the Bishop of London was sup- 
 posed to have been active in defeating the application. 
 These facts are stated repeatedly in the subsequent 
 newspaper publications on the part of the Church, 
 and are not contradicted in the replies of its advcr- 
 
132 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 saries ; but of the precise nature of the application or 
 of its merits, we have no evidence on which to speak. 
 
 The attack on the Appeal commenced simultaneously 
 from various quarters, thus giving rise to a very natural 
 suspicion, that a combination had been entered into for 
 the purpose of effectually crushing the plan of an 
 American bishop. A series of essays appeared in the 
 New York Gazette, under the name of the "American 
 Whig ;"* while the Pennsylvania Journal in Philadel- 
 phia gave to the world the lucubrations of the " Sen- 
 tinel" and Dr. Chauncy of Boston (in his proper 
 name) published the '' Appeal to the Public Answer- 
 ed." The violent invectives of the Whig were re- 
 published in the papers of Philadelphia and Boston, 
 while the alarm sounded in Philadelphia by the Sen- 
 tinel was instantly echoed from the presses of the 
 sister cities ; and thus was concentrated the opposition 
 of the three principal cities into an attack more fierce 
 than any which had preceded it. 
 
 It is impossible to read many of these publications 
 without a humiliating sense of the infirmity of our 
 nature. If in some, the questions fairly involved are 
 discussed in the spirit of manly argument, in the 
 greater part abusive personalities supply the place of 
 facts, and railing is substituted for reasoning. Nor is 
 it intended to exempt from this censure many of the 
 publications on the part of Episcopalians. The Ame- 
 
 * These were attributed to Mr. Williajn Livingston. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 133 
 
 rican Whig soon found an antagonist under the as- 
 sumed name of " Timothy Tickler," who followed its 
 successive numbers with what he termed "A Whip for 
 the American Whig," and it must be confessed that 
 his lash is often laid on with merciless severity. There 
 runs through his writings a bitterness of spirit not to 
 be commended, and both these essayists will be laid 
 aside by the candid reader with the feeling that the 
 contest between the?n was, which could call the hardest 
 names. 
 
 The Sentinel was met in Philadelphia by a gentle- 
 man whose talents have seldom been surpassed. Dr. 
 William Smith, who for years had been an attentive 
 observer and a prominent actor in the concerns of the 
 American Episcopal Church, came before the public in 
 a series of essays under the title of " The Anatomist." 
 Of all the newspaper productions of that time, this 
 will probably be read with most interest ; for though 
 not entirely free from bitterness, it is yet, for the most 
 part, made up of facts and reasoning. There are ex- 
 hibited a calm self-possession and coolness of mind 
 which it is obvious were the result of the author's con- 
 viction that his cause was good. He is never roused 
 to unbecoming anger, and but seldom stoops to retort 
 abuse. Still these essays are severe, but their severity 
 consists principally in the unanswerable nature of their 
 arguments. 
 
 The newspaper essays already mentioned were the 
 12 
 
134 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 most prominent in the controversy ; but they were not 
 all. There were ''Remonstrants" and "Anti-Sen- 
 tinels," not remarkable for ability : but for scurrility 
 and vulgar humour the meed of superiority is justly 
 due to a "Kick for the Whipper, by Sir Isaac Foot.'''' 
 The author aims at wit, and reaches blackguardism. 
 
 It is due to Dr. Chandler to say that in all his writings 
 on this subject he preserved his dignity. In reply to Dr. 
 Chauncy, he published " The Appeal Defended," and 
 subsequently, in 17*11, "The Appeal Further Defended," 
 in answer to a second production of Dr. Chauncy.''^ 
 " Shortly before the appeal was written, two mission- 
 aries perished in one ship upon the coast of New 
 Jersey, almost in sight of their port, one of whom left 
 a family in N. York dependent upon Charity. But 
 one of the most remarkable instances of the incon- 
 venience and risk of obtaining orders in England was 
 furnished in the history of the parish of Hebron in 
 Connecticut. For nearly twenty years that congrega- 
 tion exerted themselves, and without success, to obtain 
 a minister at their own expense. They first sent over 
 Mr. Dean, in 1145, who was admitted to holy orders 
 and appointed their missionary, but in returning he is 
 supposed to have perished, as the ship was never heard 
 of. The next was Mr. Colton, who in 1752 died on 
 his passage from London. The third candidate sent 
 to England by this unfortunate people, was Mr. Usher, 
 who, on his passage in 1757, was taken by the French, 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 135 
 
 aud died a prisoner iu the castle of Bayonne. The 
 fourth was Mr. Peters, who in 1759, very soon after 
 his arrival in England, was taken with the small pox, 
 and narrowly escaping with his life, to the great joy of 
 his people, at length reached them and officiated as 
 their missionary. — The Appeal Further Defended, p. 
 127-128." About one-fifth of all who ever went for 
 orders never saw their homes again."* 
 
 There are several letters of Dr. Chandler's bearing 
 date 1767, in relation to matters not connected with 
 his own Church, preserved in the Records of the Pro- 
 pagation Society, which it is not thought needful to 
 insert. They principally concern the affairs of other 
 missionaries and their congregations. The following 
 extract from a letter to the Secretary of the Propaga- 
 tion Society dated Elizabeth Town June 24 1768, 
 gives Dr. C.'s impression in reference to the contro- 
 versy just alluded to. 
 
 " Yery Reverend Sir 
 
 The Friends of the Church here seem to 
 
 have been universally pleased with my publication, 
 and for a while the Dissenters appeared to be not un- 
 satisfied. But at length i. e. when they found that 
 their application for a Charter of Incorporation in 
 New York had been rejected by His Majesty in Coun- 
 cil, they resolved upon a general Attack to be made 
 
 * Note — Vide, Dr. Hawks' Essay. 
 
136 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 from cliifereiit Quarters. Doctor Chauncy of Boston 
 one of their smartest writers was engaged to undertake 
 an open formal Confutation of the Appeal; and about 
 the time of his being ready to publish, a Weekly paper 
 made its appearance in New York under the Title of 
 the American Whig — and another came forward the 
 week following in Philadelphia, with the Title of the 
 Centinel. Dr. Chauncy's is a long piece amounting to 
 more than 200 pages, virulent against the Church, but 
 more free from personal abuse than I expected and in 
 my opinion it deserves the singular character of being 
 very artful and blundering. The American Whig is 
 an outrageous Attack upon the Church, upon Bishops, 
 the American Clergy and the Appeal; and its charac- 
 teristicks are Buffoonry Yenom and Scurrility. The 
 Authors make a figure in their way being the very 
 persons who are so famed in this Country for having 
 formerly produced the Independant Reflector and 
 Watchtoicer. The Centinel is not less virulent but 
 abounds more in that kind of Sophistry which the 
 ignorant are apt to mistake for solid reasoning. The 
 Authors of it are supposed to be Dr. Alliston, Yice 
 Provost of the college in Philadelphia assisted by a 
 
 Number of his Presbyterian Brethren and Mr. D n 
 
 the very popular author of the Farmer''s Letters which 
 were published last Winter in Philadelphia and re- 
 printed from Week to Week in every Gazette on this 
 Continent. The American Whig is reprinted in Phila- 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 137 
 
 delphia and the Centinel in New York and both in 
 Boston ; and are circulated thro' the Country with the 
 greatest zeal and industry. 
 
 Immediately upon the appearance of the Atnerican 
 Whiff I drew up a long advertizement to the Public, 
 which I caused to be printed in all the papers in New 
 York and Philadelphia remarking upon such a method 
 of attacking a serious publication, assigning the rea- 
 sons for my not choosing to engage with such an 
 Antagonist in a weekly altercation — but at the same 
 time assuring the Public that if God should continue 
 my Health every argument and objection of my various 
 opponents which should have any appearance of reason 
 to support it should be considered in due time, in a 
 general defence of the Appeal. But the Clergy in this 
 Neighbourhood thinking it necessary to skirmish with 
 the American Whig in a Weekly Paper, set forward 
 an Answer under the Title of A Whip for the Ame- 
 rican Whig of which 12 Nos. have been already pub- 
 lished. It was expected that our Friends in and 
 about Philadelphia would also engage with the Cen- 
 tinel in the same way ; but nothing material has 
 hitherto appeared from that Quarter in favor of the 
 Appeal. 
 
 Amidst this general outcry I am perfectly easy, and 
 am not under the least anxiety with regard to the 
 issue. These Assailants have injured themselves by 
 overcharging and their attack has been conducted in 
 
 12* 
 
138 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 such a manner that many of their Friends are ashamed 
 of them. When I come to reply I am determined to 
 proceed in the manner and temper of the Appeal, not 
 disconcerted by any personal abuse — nor paying any 
 regard to what every innocent and honest man ought 
 
 to despise . 
 
 Reverend Sir &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 139 
 
 CHAPTER YII. 
 
 1768 — Convention at New Brunswick — Plan for relief of widows 
 and orphans of clergymen — Condition of St. John's Church in 
 1769 — Dr. Chandler's missionary labours — Visits Sussex County 
 — Account of Mr. Frazer's mission — Character of the settlers — 
 Need of the Gospel — Parish formed — Dr. Chandler's letter in 
 reference to his Appeal &c. — Mr. Whitfield revisits Elizabeth 
 Town — Petition to Council of Proprietors of East Jersey — Grant 
 of land — Anxiety for conversion of the Indians — Plan proposed 
 to the Venerable Society in relation thereto — Missions in the 
 Colonies — Importance of sustaining them — Progress of the me- 
 morial in behalf of the Indians — Republicanism — Trenton mis- 
 sion — Resolution to build a new church at Elizabeth Town — 
 Condition of the missions at Burlington, Shrewsbury, New 
 Brunswick and Newark. 
 
 A Voluntary Convention was held in New Bruns- 
 wick Oct. 12th 1^68 at which were present the Rev'd 
 Dr. Chandler, President, and the Rev'd Drs. Smith, 
 Auchmuty and Cooper, and the Rev'd Messrs. Thomp- 
 son, Inglis, Cutting, Yiets, Odell, Beardsley, Beach, 
 Ayres, Prazer, Charlton, Browne, Preston, Cooke, 
 Seabury and Barton, who, "considering maturely the 
 distressed situation of many of the widows and chil- 
 dren of the Episcopal Clergy in America, who by 
 
140 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 reason of the smallness of their income are not only 
 disabled from making any future provision for their 
 families, but are scarcely able with the greatest Econ- 
 omy to support them with a decency becoming their 
 characters even during their lives," agreed upon a 
 scheme for their relief which they submitted to the 
 Venerable Society. The document containing the 
 plan is quite an elaborate one, with sixteen articles. 
 
 Some further account of this will be found in a 
 letter of Dr. Chandler's to the Secretary of which the 
 following is an extract. 
 
 "Elizabeth Town August 10 1769. 
 
 Very Reverend Sir, 
 
 Before our Convention in May last I had 
 
 received your favour of March 4th preceding, inform- 
 ing me that some particulars of our scheme were not 
 finally determined by the Society; in consequence of 
 which no farther steps were .taken by the Convention. 
 Indeed as obtaining the Powers to act, from our re- 
 spective Governors, was considered in the light of not 
 interfering with the total submission of the plan to the 
 Society, some progress was made with the Charter. 
 It had passed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey through 
 all the offices, and the several Persons in New York 
 who were concerned in passing it were willing to pro- 
 ceed ; but Mr. Kemp the Attorney General proposed 
 some Amendments, which he thought would be for our 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 141 
 
 Advantage, declaring that if we chose not to adopt 
 them, he was willing to pass it as it was. The pro- 
 posed amendments were generally approved of, and it 
 was left to a Committee to settle the matter. Whether 
 it is yet finished I have not heard ; we were in no 
 great hurry, as we were in expectation of hearing the 
 Society's final determination. 
 
 Yesterday and not before I received the Letter with 
 which you have honor'd me of the Society's Resolu- 
 tions relating to this affair. We have always expe- 
 rienced in the Members of that Yen'ble Body, the 
 kindness and affection of Parents ; and we have par- 
 ticular reason to be thankful to them for their good- 
 ness to us on this occasion. Altho' they have not 
 exactly complied with our request they have done that 
 which is much more for our advantage, and at the 
 same time have not restrained any of us from con- 
 tributing in what proportion he pleases. I am im- 
 patient for an opportunity of communicating to my 
 Brethren this agreeable intelligence and of joining 
 with them in returning thanks for such a signal mark 
 of the Society's Affection for their Missionaries. Our 
 Convention will meet on the 1st of October ; in the 
 meanwhile I beg leave in my own name to present my 
 most grateful acknowledgements to that Charitable 
 Body. 
 
 With the greatest respect &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLEE." 
 
142 THE CIIURCFI IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Dr. C. writes to the Secretary in reference to bis 
 Church from 
 
 "Elizabeth Toavn March 27tli 1769. 
 
 Very Keverend Sir, 
 
 My congregation I believe is one of the 
 
 largest in this Province belonging to the Church ; it 
 contains not less than 100 Families, of which about 
 80 Persons are Communicants, but they are scattered 
 at such distances and many are so careless in attending 
 that it seldom happens that we see more than two- 
 thirds of them together. In good Weather however 
 the Church is well filled, and the appearance of the 
 Congregation is more than commonly decent and 
 orderly. I have always endeavored to discharge my , 
 duty towards them regularly and faithfully. My suc- 
 cess has by no means answered my wishes ; but I have 
 not more reason to complain than most of my Brethren. 
 I have hitherto had the happiness of living in the * 
 greatest peace with them, and I have no reason to 
 
 suspect but it will still continue . 
 
 Rev'd Sir &c. 
 
 THOS. B. CHANDLER." 
 
 No one can have become familiar with the History 
 of St. John's Church in Dr. Chandler's time without 
 being convinced of his ability, earnestness and zeal, 
 but his labours were by no means confined to the 
 people of his immediate charge. His letters and the 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 143 
 
 Society's Reports show that his preaching and in- 
 fluence extended over a wide field. While extremely 
 anxious that the Episcopal Church should appear 
 before the people in all its completeness, while labour- 
 ing to convince Episcopalians at home and abroad of 
 the importance of immediate action for the good of the 
 Church, in view of the state of the Colonies, he was 
 not unmindful of the wants of destitute regions around 
 him, or unwilling to aid them in their endeavours to 
 secure the ministrations of the Gospel. 
 He writes to the Secretary from 
 
 " Elizabeth Town Jany. 5 1770. 
 Yery Reverend Sir, 
 
 Upon a representation of the Religious State 
 
 of the N"ew County of Sussex on the North Western 
 
 part of this Province at the distance of about 50 miles 
 
 from hence I thought it my Duty to make that People 
 
 a Yisit. I went up in November last, and spent a 
 
 week there preaching daily from place to place. The 
 
 County excepting one Corner which is included in Mr. 
 
 Frazer's Mission, was a perfect wilderness in the time 
 
 of the last War. There were indeed a few straggling 
 
 Settlers in the Neighbourhood of the River Delaware, 
 
 which divides it from Pennsylvania ; but some of them 
 
 were killed and the rest driven away by the Savages. 
 
 Those that were driven off have since returned, and 
 
 many new Settlers have since been added, and the 
 
 number of Familys now in the County is about 1500. 
 
144 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Of these there are 50 families belonging to the Church 
 exclusively of those which are in Mr. Frazer's Mission; 
 and they frequently assemble together in private houses 
 on Sundays, where and when the Liturgy is read. The 
 other inhabitants are a mixture of Presbyterians, Ana- 
 baptists and Quakers, with a few low Dutch; and 
 many People of these different denominations appear 
 to be well affected towards the Church. They are all 
 very poor, as the first Settlers of a new Country gene- 
 rally are ; and as they are unable to support the Public 
 Worship in their different forms there is not a settled 
 Minister of any denomination in the whole Country. 
 They have many strolling illiterate Preachers among 
 them, particularly the Baptists, and they are frequently 
 visited by the Presbyterian ministers of the Neighbor- 
 ing Counties. But no Clergyman of the Church of 
 England had ever been in those parts when I went 
 thither. 
 
 I am persuaded that no good Christian, no person 
 of common humanity, could be upon the spot, and be 
 a witness of their poverty, and their earnest desires to 
 have the Gospel regularly preached among them, and 
 not be moved with concern and compassion for them. 
 I speak particularly of the professed members of the 
 Church. I believe there is not a Presbyterian or In- 
 dependent on this Continent but would think them 
 proper objects even of the Societyh charity, and look 
 upon them as coming within the Oriyinal Intention of 
 their Charter. A view of their condition made such 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOUN'S CHURCH. 145 
 
 an impression upon me, that I could not avoid pro- 
 mising to recommend them to the Yen'ble Society, 
 and encouraging them to hope for a Mission after the 
 proper steps should have been taken on their part. 
 
 As they were ignorant in what manner to proceed, 
 they put themselves under my direction in this matter; 
 and the plan which I have proposed to them is as fol- 
 lows, Viz ; that there shall be a general meeting of 
 the professed members of the Church at which some 
 particular persons should be chosen to represent and 
 act for the whole body, with the Title of Church 
 Wardens and Vestrymen (which has been already 
 done) : that a Subscription Paper should be put for- 
 ward and trial made what money can be raised, or 
 what Contribution of Labor &c. may be expected from 
 among themselves, towards the settlement of a Minis- 
 ter : and as they have a large Court House, which may 
 serve for some years as a place for public worship, that 
 instead of exhausting themselves in building a Church, 
 their whole strength should be exerted in providing a 
 Parsonage House and Glebe, especially a Glebe, as 
 Land is now cheap, and with such assistance as may 
 be hoped for from other places there is a prospect of 
 their being able to acquire such a Landed Estate as 
 may in the course of 20 or 30 years of itself be a suf- 
 ficient support for a Clergyman . 
 
 Reverend Sir &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CPIANDLER." 
 13 
 
14G THE CIIURCPI IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 The Society's Records for lYtO-1 contain the fol- 
 lowing entry : 
 
 " The Society have received in the course of the 
 year two very satisfactory letters from the Rev'd Dr. 
 Chandler at Elizabeth Town in which among other 
 things, they are informed that his congregation con- 
 tinues to be large, orderly and respectable ; that there 
 are 100 families and 70 or 80 communicants: that the 
 dissenters are more friendly than ever; and their pre- 
 judices against our church do abate. That he has 
 frequently gone back into the country and preached 
 on week days, and more than once four days success- 
 ively at different places." 
 
 One of the letters to which allusion has. been made 
 in the foregoing extract bears date 
 
 "Elizabeth Town July 5 1770. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 It affords me very great satisfaction to find by 
 
 your letter that the Appeal Defended meets with the 
 approbation of so able and candid a Judge The 
 Task I had to perform was very difficult in one re- 
 spect; for the provocations and trials of Temper I had 
 met with were so many and great that I found it no 
 easy thing to keep myself within the compass of 
 decency, and to avoid rendering railing for railing. 
 Notwithstanding that I was upon my guard, there are 
 some few passages in which I could wish the expres- 
 sions had been softened, altho' most of my Friends 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 141 
 
 here think they are full soft enoagh. lu my last of 
 Jan'y 5th I informed you that Dr. Chauncy had pre- 
 pared a Reply : It was printed in January but I was 
 not able to procure a copy of it until within a few 
 weeks. It contains near 200 pages and is filled with 
 Blunders and Sophistry as I expected. The Doctor 
 does not recede one Inch from his former ground, and 
 will not allow that I have established a single point 
 which I attempted to defend, or abated the Force of 
 any ejection that I attempted to answer, and his 
 brethren in and about Boston have again presented 
 him with their formal thanks in Convention for this 
 last notable exploit. It is difficult to deal with such 
 an Antagonist supported by such a party, who resolve 
 that he shall have a public Ovation as often as he 
 attacks the author of the Appeal. Enough I think 
 has been said in defence of it ; yet as matters are situ- 
 ated it seems necessary to rejoin, and the most judi- 
 cious of my Friends say that I absolutely must. I 
 shall however not undertake the Task immediately 
 thinking it best to put off so hot a piece of work to a 
 cooler season of the year. If I should bring on ano- 
 ther Reply my subsequent Rejoinder shall be in the 
 form of an admonition to Dr. Chauncy and his ad- 
 herents. 
 
 Mr. Whitfield has again come into the Country and 
 again has been received into the Philadelphia Churches. 
 He has lately been also in this Town ; but as there 
 was no expection that I would give him the use of my 
 
148 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 Pulpit, it was not requested, and no kind of disturb- 
 ance has been created by him. My congregation is as 
 regular and respectable as ever it was, consisting of 
 about 100 Families of which there are between tO and 
 80 Communicants ; and the Dissenters of late have 
 become more friendly in appearance than ever. Some 
 years ago but very few of them were to be seen in 
 Church upon any occasion, but now they sometimes 
 crowd thither in such numbers as to be more numerous 
 than our own People that are present. This is an in- 
 dication that their prejudices against the Church abate 
 in this Place, as I believe they do throughout the 
 Country in general, notwithstanding all the Arts that 
 are used to keep them up and increase them. I have 
 since my last baptised two Adults of which one was a 
 Black and 20 Infants in my Mission and 6 in the County 
 of Sussex, but I am sorry to say that in so long a time 
 I have had but one new Communicant. 
 
 In April last at the Annual Meeting of the Council 
 of Proprietors of East Jersey at Amboy, I waited 
 upon that Board and presented a Memorial of the 
 Religious State of the Country and a Bequest in be- 
 half of the members of the Church & obtained an 
 unanimous vote for granting them 200 Acres to be 
 located on such undivided Land as we should choose. 
 I have also applied to some other gentlemen who have 
 large tracts of Land in the Country and have from 
 them the promise of further grants. Thus there is a 
 fair prospect of securing to the Church a considerable 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 149 
 
 Landed Estate, which in the course of 20 or 30 years 
 with good management will probably afford a comfort- 
 able support for a Clergyman, altho' for the present no 
 material benefit can be expected from it. 
 
 I know not how to conclude without saying a few 
 words on the subject of converting our Indians. The 
 necessity of some more general attempts for this pur- 
 pose becomes every day more evident, whether the 
 case be viewed in a religious or political light. Dr. 
 Cooper and Mr. Inglis lately took a Journey to Sir 
 W. Johnson in order to have an opportunity of a full 
 and free conversation with him on the subject, the 
 result of which they have transmitted to the Society. 
 It will undoubtedly be difficult at first to find proper 
 persons to engage in such a service ; but the greatest 
 difficulty of all I apprehend will be to support them. 
 If the nation will not contribute to so good a work I 
 beg leave humbly to suggest whether it might not be 
 proper for the Society to erect a separate Fund for 
 this use : whether a Brief might not be obtained for a 
 General Collection throughout the Kingdom, the In- 
 come of which, when put out upon Interest shall be 
 appropriated to the use of converting the American 
 Heathens : and whether it is not probable that this with 
 such benefactions as might be annually expected would 
 be sufficient to support as many Missionaries, Catechists 
 and School Teachers as the Society now maintains 
 in Nova Scotia. If such a number could be employed 
 much success might be expected ; at least a fair Trial 
 
 13* 
 
150 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 would be made of what can be done; and a very great 
 National reproach would in some measure be removed. 
 Whether & how far such a scheme would impoverish 
 the Society's General Fund, for "the maintenance of a 
 learned and Orthodox Clergy" in His Majesty's "Plan- 
 tations and Colonies" deserves to be well considered. 
 These brief intimations are offered with the greatest 
 deference by 
 
 Keverend Sir &c 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
 Dr. Chandler in a letter from Elizabeth Town dated 
 June 24 ItH after alluding to Missions in general as 
 conducted by the Society and to the importance of 
 sustaining their posts, says; 
 
 "As to my own Mission it has afforded nothing 
 worthy of particular notice since my last account. 
 The Church here is as respectable as in any Town in 
 this Province. If its members do not encrease by the 
 Conformity of Dissenters, yet it may be truly said, that 
 many of the latter discover a more favorable disposi- 
 tion than formerly, and come much more frequently to 
 Church on particular occasions. In the course of the 
 last half year I have Christened 18 Infants and 1 
 Adult after previous instruction and have admitted 3 
 new Communicants. 
 
 Mr. Inglis is now in great forwardness with the 
 Memorial in behalf of the Indians, which Sir William 
 Johnson is to sign and send to the Lords of Trade 
 
HISTORY OP ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 151 
 
 and Plantations, in the manner which you have been 
 so kind as to recommend. The motives that are urged 
 in favor of the plan are chiefly of a political kind, as 
 considerations of a Keligious nature, it is feared will 
 have little weight, at this day, with those who direct 
 our public affairs ; although the latter were thought to 
 be not unworthy of the attention of Politicians in 
 former ages. Enough has already appeared to con- 
 vince unprejudiced persons, that it would have been 
 true and sound policy with regard to America at least, 
 if the Nation had paid greater attention to the Interest 
 of Religion and the Church of England in the Colonies 
 than it has hitherto done ; and perhaps proofs still 
 more strong and convincing may in time, be seen. 
 The Dissenters in this Country in general to say no- 
 thing of their principles have evidently too much of a 
 Republican Spirit, which is always infectious and in 
 proportion as this prevails. Loyalty, as a ihatter of 
 duty must and will fail. The present dangerous Re- 
 bellion in North Carolina could never have happened 
 but in a part of the Country where the principles of 
 the Church of England were but little known and 
 never properly taught." 
 
 May 20th 1774, Dr. Chandler, in connexion with the 
 Rev. Messrs. Preston and Beach, addresses the Society 
 in behalf of the ''Mission of Trenton" accompanying 
 the letter with a statement from the Church Wardens 
 of the condition of the field, and urging a continuance 
 of the Society's bounty to that place. 
 
152 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 The Records of the Propagation Society for n*73-4 
 state, '^The Congregation at Elizabeth Town one of 
 the largest and most respectable in the Province con- 
 tinues to flourish under the instruction of their most 
 able pastor. And there is now a fair prospect of its. 
 farther increase from an enlargement of the Church, 
 which hath long been wished and projected and is on 
 the eve of accomplishment." The number of Com- 
 municants at this time was TS, and there were 8 added 
 within the year. 
 
 In ltt4 Dr. Chandler informs the Society, ''that 
 instead of enlarging the old Church at Elizabeth Town, 
 his congregation have begun to build a new one of 85 
 feet by 50 with an expectation of its being completed 
 before the end of 1*7*74. The number of Communi- 
 cants is about 80." (Abstract of Society's Report for 
 in4-5). 
 
 Dr. Chandler writes to the Society from 
 
 " Elizabeth Town Jan'y 28 1774. 
 Yery Reverend and Worthy Sir, 
 
 I am honored with your favor of Sept'r. 17 by Mr. 
 Ogden ; and am much obliged to the Society for the 
 kindness they have shown him, as I am also to you for 
 the many good offices, which he acknowledges himself 
 to be under great obligation to you for. Upon his 
 arrival he soon hasted to his Mission ; where I doubt 
 not but he will deserve and receive every mark of re- 
 spect and gratitude which it is in the power of that 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHUECH. 153 
 
 poor people to bestow. I cannot but look upon his 
 establishment in Sussex County as a considerable ac- 
 quisition to the Church in this Province, and am happy 
 in the reflection that I have been instrumental in 
 bringing him forward, when he was but little known by 
 our clergy and when his want of a regular Education 
 was an obstacle, which required the greatest care and 
 resolution to surmount. I was at first diffident of the 
 attempt, but every step opened a fairer prospect of 
 success, and now I have that confidence in him, that I 
 would almost venture to become a Sponsor, for his 
 being as useful a Clergyman as any in New Jersey. 
 
 The Church in this Province makes a more respect- 
 able appearance than it ever did, 'till very lately: 
 Thanks to the Venerable Society ! without whose 
 charitable interposition there would not have been one 
 Episcopal Congregation among us. They -have now 
 no less than Eleven Missionaries in this District; none 
 of whom are blameable in their conduct, and some of 
 them are eminently useful. Instead of the small build- 
 ings out of repair in which our Congregations used to 
 assemble 20 years ago, we have now several that make 
 a handsome appearance, both for size and decent orna- 
 ment; particularly at Burlington, Shrewsbury, New 
 Brunswick and Newark and all the rest are in good 
 repair: and the Congregations in general appear to 
 me to be as much improved as the Churches they as- 
 semble in . 
 
 Rev'd Sir &c. 
 
 THOMAS B. CHANDLER." 
 
154 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 CHAPTER, YIII. 
 
 1775 — Dr. Chandler leaves for England — Revolutionary war — De- 
 plorable state of the Parish of St. John's — Church a Stable — 
 Cemetery desecrated — Organ pipes converted into bullets — Im- 
 position on the congregation — Letters from Rev. Abraham Beach 
 — From New Brunswick — Services at E. Town — Mr. Ogden sup- 
 plies St. John's — Dr. Chandler's return — Estimation in which he 
 was held — Dr. Murray's account — Dr. Chandler's death, in 1790 
 — Church repaired, gallery re-built — Mr. Spraggs called to the 
 Rectorship — Collection of scattered property of the church — Cor- 
 respondence with Mr. Ogden — Salary of Rector increased — Mr. 
 Rayner's ministry — Sale of Kyte lot — Mr. Beasely's election — 
 New vestry room — Rev. Samuel Lilly's ministry — Dr. Rudd's 
 rectorship — Mrs. Spraggs' legacy — Rev. Smith Pyne — Rev. B. S. 
 Noble — Rev. R. C. Moore — Enlargement of church — Zeal of the 
 ladies of the congregation — Grace Church, Elizabeth Port, its 
 formation, &c. — Christ Church organised, buildings erected, &g. 
 — Mr. Moore's resignation — Church as at present. 
 
 The Abstract of the Propagation Society's records 
 for IttS-G states that, "Dr. Chandler their worthy 
 Missionary at Elizabeth Town found it prudent to 
 withdraw from the surrounding troubles and to seek 
 refuge in England." The Parish Register contains 
 this note; "The Revolutionary War commencing in 
 1115, and Dr. Chandler being greatly indisposed and 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOUN'S CHURCH. 155 
 
 desirous of obtaining medical Assistance the Church 
 of St. John in Elizabeth Town was destitute of a 
 regular Minister till Dr. Chandler's return after the 
 peace." Dr. Rudd in his Historical IS'otice of the 
 Church (1824) makes these interesting records, 
 
 "In n75, the affairs of the Revolution became the 
 general subject of interest and feeling. All eyes were 
 looking to the event with solicitude, and all hearts 
 w^ere engaged in the agonizing concern. Dr. Chandler 
 found his situation painful and unpleasant, as well 
 from the active part which he deemed it his duty to 
 take, as from the violent feeling generally entertained 
 ao-ainst the Church of which he was a minister. These 
 considerations induced him to leave the colonies and 
 go to England ; where he remained during the whole 
 of that painful struggle, and for several years after.* 
 
 " The war of the Revolution had a melancholy and 
 ruinous effect upon the concerns of our communion. 
 The Church of England being connected with the 
 State government of that country, and the circum- 
 stance that the Clergy of that Church were bound by 
 the oath of conformity and allegiance, to support and 
 defend the measures of the crown, led all the common 
 people to believe, and all the prejudiced partizans of 
 popular government to maintain, that a Churchman, 
 and a foe to American liberty, were synonymous 
 terms. This, of course, produced a strong feeling 
 
 * See Appendix C. 
 
156 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 wherever tlie Church was known, the effect of which 
 was to bring odium on our communion, and to induce 
 many to believe that they were doing God service by 
 promoting her ruin. This idea was carried so far at 
 the time this building was erected, that it was neces- 
 sary for the friends of the Church, with swords in their 
 hands, to watch the walls by night, in order to prevent 
 the work of the preceding day from being destroyed ; 
 a circumstance which occurred several times."* 
 
 ^c ?te jk jk jjj ili 
 
 " During the Revolution the state of the parish was 
 truly deplorable. These walls resounded not with the 
 voice of prayer or praise. For many years, no servant 
 of the altar uttered the language of the Liturgy ; no 
 exposition of the terms of salvation was heard from 
 the pulpit ; no consecrated bread was broken at the 
 altar ; no cup of blessing was offered to the people. 
 Of the members of the congregation that remained, 
 some kept up their attachments and their sense of 
 duty, by meeting at the parsonage, and perhaps at 
 other places, where the service was read by some suit- 
 able person on Sundays, when the state of things 
 would permit sufficient quietness. As the town was 
 sometimes occupied by the troops of- England, and at 
 others by the colonial forces, it was naturally to be 
 
 * " This information was received from Gen. Williamson, 
 and from Mrs. Hylton, a lady of distinguislied piety, who 
 died in 1810, at the age of 92 years." 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 15T 
 
 expected that every thing would be exposed to depre- 
 dation and violence. This little Church had its full 
 share of the evil. The fences of the grave yard, like 
 many others, were demolished, removed and burnt. 
 Thus the enclosure for protecting the repository of the 
 dead, lay open to the range of beasts, and the unhal- 
 lowed movements of men little better than they. The 
 head-stones of graves became fire places at which the 
 soldier dressed his homely meal, while larger monu- 
 ments served as tables at which he partook of his 
 frugal fare. While all around this edifice were marks 
 of wasting and destruction, the interior exhibited a 
 scene of ruin not less distressing, to those who loved 
 the courts of the Lord's house, and delighted in the 
 worship of his temple. Almost the whole of the in- 
 side work was destroyed ; the seats and floor were all 
 torn up and burned, and two attempts to burn the 
 building by putting fire under the pulpit, were provi- 
 dentially defeated. The organ then in the Church 
 was demolished, and the metal pipes were converted 
 into balls for the work of death. The bell was saved 
 from similar treatment by the circumstance that no 
 mode of easy access to it could be had. The dragoon 
 who tethered his horse by day upon the graves of the 
 dead, led him by night within these walls, for a shelter 
 from the storm. Such was the melancholy aspect of 
 the temporal affairs of this parish at the termination 
 of the war. 
 
 "When the violence of the revolutionary struggle 
 14 
 
158 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 was somewhat abated in this vicinity, and the people 
 began to think of resuming their accustomed pursuits, 
 they attempted to revive their ecclesiastical concerns. 
 -About the year 1719 or 1780, the congregation began 
 to assemble in a private house, the Church being unfit 
 for public worship. At this time they were imposed 
 on by an artful man, who pretended to hold the sacred 
 office, and for a time acted as a Clergyman here. Be- 
 fore his fraud and hypocrisy were detected, the people 
 of the congregation had in some measure repaired the 
 s^ats of the Church ; but the precise time when it was 
 re-opened for divine service does not appear. The 
 impostor was soon after exposed, and fled from the 
 odium which he had brought upon himself, and the 
 punishment which his offence deserved. The Church 
 for some time had occasional services by the neighbor- 
 ing Clergy, especially by the Rev. Mr. Ogden." 
 
 A letter from the Rev. Abraham Beach to the 
 Secretary of the Propagation Society gives some infor- 
 mation in reference to the Church. The following is 
 an extract dated, 
 
 " New Brunswick 24 March 1780. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 By a flag of Truce going to New York I have an 
 opportunity just to acquaint the Society that I still 
 remain at this place and continue to perform my duty 
 as their Missionary in the same manner I did when I 
 wrote last, which was on the 4th July 1778. Since 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 159 
 
 which time I have baptized in my own Mission 23 and 
 buried 4. At Shrewsbury baptized 6 and buried one. 
 At Spotswood baptized 18. At Elizabeth Town bap- 
 tized 10 and buried 8. At Woodbridge baptized 2 
 and at Chatham 3. /wish it was in my power to be 
 more regular and more particular in my correspond- 
 ence with the Society, but that the present unhappy 
 contest effectually prevents ; however they may be 
 assured that I shall always endeavour not to disgrace 
 the character of a Clergyman of the Church of Eng- 
 land, and as the Society''s Missionary to visit every 
 vacant Parish however remote from my own, where I 
 may be invited to baptize their children and bury their 
 dead." 
 
 Under date of New Brunswick Oct. 1st, 1*782 Mr. 
 Beach again alludes to services held by him in St. 
 John's Church, and speaks of the manner in which the 
 Congregation was kept together in the absence of their 
 minister. 
 
 "Rev. Sir, 
 
 In my letter of the 4th of Jan'y last I acquainted 
 the Society that I opened the Church at this place on 
 Christmas day and gave my reasons for doing it : I 
 have now the pleasure to assure them that the measure 
 hath fully answered my expectation. The Members of 
 our Church throughout the Province express the 
 highest satisfaction in seeing the service again intro- 
 
IGO THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 duced amongst them. From almost all the Yestries I 
 have received pressing Invitations to officiate amongst 
 them as often as my duty in my own Mission vi^ould 
 permit ; I have accordingly preached 3 times at Eliza- 
 hetlt Toivn, baptized there 11 children and Adminis- 
 tered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to near 40 
 Communicants. At this place the Congregation meet 
 regularly on Sundays and one of them reads Prayers 
 and a Sermon. I cannot but think this practice ad- 
 visable in other Congregations which are at present 
 destitute of a Minister ; especially in these times of 
 uncommon and general depravity, when our Church as 
 well as Religion in general labours under so many 
 difficulties and discouragements ; I propose therefore 
 to recommend their example to those other Congrega- 
 tions which are vacant and where a person of suitable 
 character can be procured amongst them. 
 
 I am &c. 
 
 ABRAHAM BEACH." 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Rudd says; ''After the conclusion of 
 peace, in 1183, the Wardens and Vestry addressed Dr. 
 Chandler, then in England, on the subject of his re- 
 turn, and requested him to resume the duties of the 
 rectorship. To this request the answer was, that he 
 had not been able to make up his mind as to the 
 course he should ultimately find it his duty to pursue ; 
 but from the state of his health it was not at all pro- 
 bable that he could discharge the duties required by 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 161 
 
 the parish. Still the Yestry did not think proper to 
 appoint another Rector, though they made arrange- 
 ments with Mr. Ogden for his services half the time. 
 In this way the Church was supplied until the year 
 1789. 
 
 " Dr. Chandler returned to his residence here in 
 1Y85, having been absent from his family and congre- 
 gation ten years ; and though his health was so much 
 impaired as to preclude the possibility of his perform- 
 ing the duties of his office, the Yestry requested him 
 to hold the rectorship as long as he lived. This was 
 not only highly gratifying to him, but substantial evi- 
 dence of their high opinion. In 1790, the labours and 
 sufferings of this able divine and scholar were closed 
 by death ; and his grave is here in the body of this 
 Church, to which he had devoted his time and his 
 talents.* In reference to the latter, it was said by the 
 
 * A mural tablet placed on the East wall of tlie Church 
 bears this inscription 
 
 COMMEMORATIVE. 
 
 The Rev. T. B. Chandler D. D 
 
 who was 38 years Rector of this Church, 
 
 died June 17 1790; aged 64 years. 
 
 Jane Chandler, his wife 
 died Sept. 20, 1801 ; aged 68 years. 
 
 Their Children 
 
 William Chandler 
 
 died in England Oct. 22 1784 aged 28 years. 
 
 14* 
 
162 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 first Bishop ever consecrated for America, that ' no 
 man in this country could mend his pen.' As an evi- 
 dence of the high opinion entertained of him in Eng- 
 land, the society of which frequent mention has been 
 made, contrary to their usual practice, but through 
 powerful influence, headed by his warm personal friend, 
 Arch-Bishop Moore, allowed an honorable stipend to 
 his family."* 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Murray in his Notes concerning Eliza- 
 beth Town thus speaks of Dr. Chandler's ministry &c. 
 " Dr. Chandler, on the commencement of the war of 
 the Revolution, felt it his duty to oppose the measures 
 necessary to secure our independence. From the 
 active part which he and some members of his family 
 took, he soon found his situation very uncomfortable, 
 and he retired to England, where he remained until 
 
 Mary R. Chandler 
 
 died June 28 1784 aged 22 years. 
 
 Elizabeth C. Dayton, wife of E. B. Dayton ; 
 
 died Nov. 6 1806 : aged 41 years. 
 
 Mary G. Hobart, relict of tlie Rt. Rev. J. H. Hobart 
 
 died April 4 1847 ; aged 72 years. 
 
 * " Dr. Chandler, at liis death, left three daughters, one of 
 whom was the wife of Gen. E. B. Dayton. She died in 1806. 
 Another is the wife of William Dayton, Esq. The youngest 
 married the Rt. Rev. Bp. Hobart, who presides with great 
 advantage to the Church, and honor to himself, over the ex- 
 tensive diocese of New York." Mrs. Wm. Dayton still sur- 
 vives. 
 
HISTORY OF ST, JOIIN's CHURCH. 163 
 
 the close of the war, and for some years after. He 
 returned here in 1785 and died in 1790. His was a 
 protracted and very able ministry, and Dr. Chandler's 
 name will long be known and revered as one of the 
 fathers of the Episcopal Church in New Jersey.* 
 During the war of the Revolution this Congregation 
 was greatly scattered, and became much enfeebled. 
 The interior of the Church was all destroyed, the pews 
 and floors were torn up and burned, and the building 
 was converted into a stable by the enemy. It was, 
 however, soon repaired after the close of the war, and 
 was for some time the only Church for the worship of 
 God in the town. And after its repair, and before the 
 return of Dr. Chandler and for some time afterwards. 
 Dr. Ogden preached in it with great power and effect. 
 Dr. Ogden subsequently became a Minister of the 
 Presbyterian Church." 
 
 The Yestry March 9th 1786 passed the following 
 resolutions, as appears from their Record, 
 
 Agreed that the Seats below stairs be built up and 
 repaired at the Expence of the Church, and be by the 
 Church disposed of in the best manner for the peace 
 advantage and good order of the Church. 
 
 Agreed that William Townley do build up and re- 
 pair the seats below stairs and such other small repairs 
 as may be necessary, — as soon as may be. 
 
 That on Easter Monday next the Seats of the 
 Church be regulated and disposed of. And on the 
 
 * See Appendix, B. 
 
164 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 same day Deputies to attend the State Convention 
 should be appointed- 
 April 9th lt87 " The Congregation agreed that the 
 Steeple should be immediately repaired. That the 
 Seats in the Gallery be rebuilt and the whole put in 
 good repair ; and that the seats below should be 
 painted and numbered." {Vestry Records.) 
 
 On the 30th of December ItSt, the term for which 
 the Reverend Mr. Ogden was engaged to preach and 
 perform divine service, being near expiring, a Commit- 
 tee was appointed to confer with him on the terms of 
 a further continuance of his services to the Church. 
 It was subsequently arranged that Mr. Ogden should 
 officiate every other Sunday in St. John's Church, and 
 receive for his services one hundred and twenty pounds 
 for the term of one year. On Easter Monday April 
 13 nSQ it is recorded that ; " The Congregation find- 
 ing by Experience that the Church does not flourish in 
 that degree they could wish, under a Minister who 
 does not reside in the Town, and whose appointment 
 for the performance of Divine Service is only for one 
 half of his time ; have therefore unanimously agreed 
 to Call the Reverend Mr. Spraggs to become a 
 Resident Minister of our Church, and constantly to 
 officiate therein — and therefore Messrs Williamson, 
 Thomas and Jno. Burrows, were appointed to corres- 
 pond with him on this Subject. 
 
 The Yestry met in the afternoon at the House of 
 Mr. D'Hart. Present, Matthias Williamson, Edward 
 Thomas, Wardens ; Vestrymen John Hendricks, Jno. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 165 
 
 D'Hart, Wm. Garlhwait, Wm. Townlcy, Edward 
 Townley, Danl. Terrill. 
 
 Messrs. Williamson, Chetwood, D'Hart, Ricketts, 
 Thomas and John Hunt, or any of them, were ap- 
 pointed to meet the Convention of the Church of this 
 State to be held in this Town in June next. 
 
 On motion resolved unanimously, that it is the 
 opinion of this Board, that the Union of the Protest- 
 ant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
 is necessary for its prosperity, and ought to be pro- 
 moted by all Episcopalians. And that the delegates 
 appointed to represent this Church in the next State 
 Convention, be instructed to propose and move, that 
 the Delegates of this State to the next General Con- 
 vention, be instructed to move for and promote a 
 Coalition and Union of all Protestant Bishops in said 
 States, and that the Government, Rules and Orders of 
 the Church throughout the same, may be continued 
 similar and consonant as near as may be, to the 
 Government, Rules and Orders of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in Great Britain. 
 
 Agreed that Mr. Hendricks be requested to call on 
 Mr. Shute for the Marble Font belonging to the 
 Church, said to be in his possession, and that he take 
 the same under his care and charge. 
 
 That Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Dennis, do wait on 
 Mr. Justice Ballard, and agree with him on the Terms 
 of his holding a part of the Church Ground, lying 
 contiguous to his House, and make report thereof to 
 
166 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 the Secretary of this Board, who is requested to pre- 
 pare proper Writings to be enter'd into on that occa- 
 sion. 
 
 The Secretary of this Board is requested to collect 
 all Deeds, Records, Books and Papers whatsoever 
 respecting the Freehold Estate of this Church, and 
 take the same under his charge. 
 
 Intimation having been given unto the Reverend 
 Mr. Ogden, of the desire of the Congregation to call 
 a Minister to reside in this Town, — who shall devote 
 the whole of his time to the Service of our Church, 
 he was pleased to favor the Yestry with the following 
 Letter, 
 
 Newark lltli April 1789. 
 Gentlemen 
 
 If an opportunity offers to obtain a Clergyman of 
 Sincere Piety, who will devote the whole of his time 
 to the Service of your Church, I desire the Congrega- 
 tion may be informed, that it is my wish, that no 
 Member whatever of the Congregation, in any part, 
 on my account, should refuse to concur in any measure 
 that you shall think will promote the prosperity of 
 your Church. 
 
 That Unity, peace and true Religion may dwell 
 among you, is the sincere and ardent Prayer 
 of Gentlemen, your Friend 
 
 and very humble Servant 
 
 UZAL OGDEN. 
 To THE Wardens and Vestrymen of 
 
 St. John's Church in Elizabeth Town. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 161 
 
 Tbe Wardens and vestrymen of the church met on 
 the first day of January, 1191 and "appointed the 
 Reverend Samuel Spraggs, Rector of the said Church 
 in the room and stead of the Reverend Doctor Thomas 
 Bradbury Chandler deceased, And a Testimonial of 
 said Appointment (being drawn up) was signed by the 
 Wardens and Vestrymen and the Secretary was order- 
 ed to affix the Seal of the Corporation thereto, record 
 and deliver the same to the Rev'd Mr. Spraggs." A 
 certified copy of this document is contained in the 
 Records of the Yestry. 
 
 "At a meeting of the Wardens and Yestry, on St. 
 Stephen's day 1191, Ordered that the monies arising 
 from the charitable Contributions of the Church be 
 always hereafter paid into the hands of the Rector, to 
 be distributed among such objects belonging to the 
 Church, as he shall think proper." 
 
 In 1193, ''The Congregation taking into considera- 
 tion the present Salary of the Rector, and being 
 unanimously of opinion that the present Salary of One 
 hundred and twenty pounds, is not sufficient for the 
 decent support of the Rector of this Church — There- 
 fore it is unanimously voted and agreed that the Salary 
 be augmented to One hundred and fifty pounds." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Spraggs died in the Rectorship of St. 
 John's Church in the year 1194.* Dr. Rudd says; 
 
 * A tablet on the East Wall of the Church has been erected 
 to his memory, bearing this inscription 
 
168 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 '' Mr. Spraggs was an affectionate and useful pastor, 
 and enjoyed the confidence and regard of his flock, 
 with whom he was on terms of affable and cordial in- 
 tercourse. His death was severe, as it was unexpected, 
 and the paucity of Clergy in our Church rendered the 
 filling of his place well, an object of no easy attain- 
 ment. The pious and amiable widow of this worthy 
 Clergyman, who died in the city of New York, in 
 1821, cherished for this parish a strong regard, and in 
 her will left a legacy of one hundred and fifty dollars 
 to the parish." 
 
 Mr. Rayner was solicited to become Kector of the 
 Church in 1195; he resigned the Rectorship in 1801 
 and removed from the State. In the year 1824 he 
 was the Rector of a parish in Connecticut. 
 
 At a meeting of the Wardens and Yestry Sept. 5th 
 1801 ; "It was stated that as the Rev'd Mr. Rayner 
 is about to leave this Town and Church it is necessary 
 that proper measures should be taken to supply his 
 
 Sacred 
 
 to the Memory 
 
 of tlie Rev. Samuel Spraggs 
 
 wlio succeeded to tlie Rectorsliiji of tliis 
 
 Cliurch in 1790, died Sept. 7, 1794 : 
 
 Aged 47 years. 
 
 Mary Spraggs 
 
 Lis wife 
 
 died June 27, 1821 ; 
 
 Aged 86 years. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 169 
 
 place as Rector. It was also stated that the Rev'd 
 Mr. Beasley a young ClergymaQ who had just taken 
 orders in the Church and is highly recommended by 
 the friends of this Congregation is now in Town, that 
 in all probability he is disengaged and would accept 
 a call from this Congregation, if immediate application 
 is made. 
 
 Whereupon on motion, It was Resolved that Messrs. 
 Matthias Williamson, James Ricketts, Matthias Wil- 
 liamson Junr. Richardson Gray and Robinson Thomas 
 be appointed a Committee to wait on the Rev'd Mr. 
 Beasley and offer him the sum of Two hundred and 
 fifty pounds a year Salary so long as he shall ofiRciate 
 as minister provided he will accept the call of the 
 Congregation. 
 
 On motion resolved that the Corporation of this 
 Church do dispose of and sell the Kite lot situate on 
 the Road leading to Rahway and that Messrs. Robin- 
 son Thomas and Richardson Gray be a committee to 
 sell the same. In February 1802 a Committee was 
 appointed " to wait on the Rev'd Mr. Beasley and 
 make the necessary arrangements with him, in order to 
 his being regularly settled as the Minister of this 
 Church." On the ITth of August of the same year it 
 was ; " Ordered and Resolved that a Yestry Room 
 shall be erected in the place where such room formerly 
 was, and that Mr. Williamson the Church Warden do 
 appropriate so much money as is necessary from the 
 15 
 
no THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 fuDcl ill bis hands arising from the Collections, in order 
 to carry the said resolution into effect." 
 
 In 1803 on Easter Monday Committees were ap- 
 pointed to raise funds for repairing the Church. June 
 5th 1803 the Rev'd Frederick Beasley having accepted 
 a call to the rectorship of St. Peter's Church Albany, 
 resigned that of St. John's. Mr. B. was subsequently 
 Rector of St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, and Provost of 
 the University of Pennsylvania. He closed his useful 
 life on earth, at Elizabethtown in 1845. 
 
 August 28th 1803 the Rev. Samuel Lilly was elected 
 to the Rectorship, which he resigned April 30th 1805, 
 serving the Congregation somewhat less than two 
 years. 
 
 In December 1805 the Rev. John Churchill Rudd 
 took charge of the Parish and was instituted in the 
 month of May following. In the Sermon which Dr. 
 Rudd preached November 21st 1824, to which allusion 
 has frequently been made he says; "When he who 
 addresses you became your Minister, the number of 
 attendants upon public worship, for a considerable 
 time, seldom amounted to 100. The present number 
 of souls within the parish is more than 350, and the 
 ordinary congregation may be stated at 200, though 
 we frequently see here a quarter more. In 1805 the 
 number of communicants was 60. The present num- 
 ber is 100, who actually belong to this altar, though 
 the number present at any celebration of the eucharist 
 does not very often exceed 80. During the time of 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOIIN'S CHURCH. HI 
 
 the present rectorship, there have been 3t9 baptisms 
 and 96 marriages. The number of burials has been 
 225 : and if from this amount we deduct at least one 
 third for those who have been interred here, not con- 
 sidered as members of the congregation, it will give 
 less than 8 as the average annual number of deaths ; a 
 proof of the general health of this vicinity. Of the 
 communicants found here in 1805, there are about 
 twenty remaining ; some of the rest have removed, but 
 the most have died. 
 
 The Church, at the time just referred to, was in a 
 state demanding much repair, and in 1814 it was re- 
 solved to undertake the work. A new steeple was 
 erected, and other improvements were made ; but the 
 funds raised not being adequate, the plan for enlarging 
 the Church was abandoned till the next year, when IT 
 feet were added to the east end of the building, and an 
 entire change was effected in the internal structure. 
 These repairs, which cost upwards of $4000, were 
 cheerfully paid for, with few exceptions, in a short 
 time, almost entirely by the members of the congrega- 
 tion. A subsequent alteration in the desk and pulpit, 
 giving them their present position, was made in 1818, 
 at very considerable expense. In the spring of the 
 same year, a new and commodious parsonage house 
 was completed at an expense of about $3000. It 
 would seem that it had been fortunate that these ex- 
 pensive operations were closed as they were ; for such 
 has been the subsequent state of things, that no time 
 
112 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 could have been found, when, humanly speaking, it 
 would have been practicable to have done so much. 
 The only material improvement of the congregation 
 since, was the purchase of an organ more than two 
 years ago, to which many of us have often been in- 
 debted for great enjoyment ; may we not say, for inte- 
 resting aids to devotion, and holiness of heart." 
 
 In the records of the Yestry May 12th 1822 it is 
 stated; ''The Rector informed the Corporation that 
 the legacy of the late Mrs, Spraggs, amounting to one 
 hundred and fifty dollars had been received and was 
 deposited in the Savings Bank of New York on the 
 20th of April, to be re-invested every three months." 
 May 26th 1826 the Corporation met and passed among 
 others, the following resolutions, 
 
 " Resolved that the Rector be authorized to draw 
 from the Savings Bank in the city of New York the 
 legacy left to this Church by Mrs Mary Spraggs by 
 drawing therefor an order in favour of the treasurer — 
 and that the treasurer be directed to deposit the same 
 in the Eliz'bth State Bank to the credit of the Church. 
 
 " Resolved that the monies expended by the Rector 
 in furnishing the organ for said Church be repaid him 
 out of the said legacy together with the interest for 
 three years on the balance that may be found due. 
 
 " Resolved that the Resignation of Doctor Rudd as 
 Rector of this Church be accepted to take effect from 
 the first day of June next." Dr. R. died in 1848, and 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 113 
 
 his remains lie in St. John's Churchyard.'^ The Rev. 
 Smith Pyne (now Rector of St. John's Church, Wash- 
 ington D. C) succeeded Dr. Rudd in the Rectorship 
 and resigned the same December 31st 1828. The cor- 
 respondence which occurred between Mr. Pyne and 
 the Yestry is highly interesting, indicating between 
 them great affection. During Mr. Pyne's rectorship 
 the ladies raised the funds for the erection of a new 
 vestry room. 
 
 The next Rector of this Church was the Rev. B. G. 
 Noble, who was elected on the 8th day of March 1829. 
 In his letter of resignation dated Sept. 20th 1883, he 
 alludes to the great exertions of the Congregation 
 during his ministry, to the liquidation of all the debts 
 of the corporation ; the large sums expended upon the 
 Church and parsonage and glebe, the present iourish- 
 ing state of all the temporalities of the Church ; the 
 uniform punctuality with which they have fulfilled their 
 pecuniary engagements," and "the large disposable 
 fund secured by the zealous efforts of the Ladies As- 
 sociation." 
 
 * A mural tablet has been erected in the Church to his 
 memory ui^on which is inscribed, 
 
 Sacred 
 
 To the Memory of 
 
 the Rev. Johx CHrRCiiiLL Rudd D. D 
 
 who was 21 years Rector of this Church, 
 
 Died Nov'r 15th 1848 ; 
 
 Aged 68 years. 
 
 15* 
 
174 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 The Reverend Kichard Channing Moore Jr. was 
 elected Rector in 1834 and entered upon his duties on 
 the 16th of February. At a meeting of the Congre- 
 gation holden on the 20th of April 1840 it was, 
 " Resolved, That the Rector, William Chetwood, J. 
 J. Chetwood, F. B. Chetwood, Anthony Morss, Charles 
 King and Nathaniel Leavenworth be a Committee to 
 examine into the expediency of building a new church 
 or enlarging the present building, to procure plans for 
 the proposed improvements and estimates of the cost, 
 and also to devise the best method of accomplishing 
 the object and that they report within ten days here- 
 after to the Congregation." 
 
 In accordance with the above on the 11th of May 
 " J. J. Chetwood Esq. from the Committee made a 
 verbal report, recommending the enlarging of the 
 present building, by taking down the present side 
 walls of the Church, and extending the width ten feet 
 on each side. 
 
 F. B. Chetwood Esq. from same Committee reported 
 the specifications of the builders and estimate of costs, 
 and that the Messrs. Thompson proposed to furnish 
 the materials and complete the work agreeable to the 
 said specifications, for the sum of Thirty-five hundred 
 dollars, of which sum they proposed to take two 
 hundred and fifty dollars in pews of the Church. 
 Drafts of the plan were laid before the meeting. 
 
 Whereupon the following resolutions were offered 
 and passed unanimously. 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. HS 
 
 Resolved That it is expedient to enlarge the present 
 Church edifice according to the plan recommended by 
 the Committee and that the same shall be done without 
 delay. 
 
 Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be 
 laid before the Wardens and Yestry of the Church, 
 and that it be recommended to them as the earnest 
 desire of this Congregation, that they should take 
 immediate steps to carry into effect the contemplated 
 improvement." 
 
 The Yestry met the same evening and cordially ap- 
 proving of the plan recommended of enlarging the 
 Church, resolved to proceed without delay to accom- 
 plish the object. They also "Resolved that the fol- 
 lowing gentlemen constitute a Committee for the pur- 
 pose of carrying into effect the foregoing resolution of 
 the Yestry. Thomas Salter, Charles King, William 
 Chetwood, Isaac H. Williamson, Anthony Morss, 
 Nathaniel Leavenworth, Elias Darby, Capt. Wm. Sal- 
 ter, Elihu Mitchell, Henry Geiger, M. W. Richards, 
 Dr. G. R. Chetwood, J. J. Chetwood, F. B. Chet- 
 wood, Benjamin Williamson, B. R. Seaman, Isaac H. 
 Williamson Jr., Henry Kiggins, Moses Hetfield, M. 
 0. Dayton, Maj. Woodruff, Capt. DeHart, John 
 Schweitzer, Orlando Chandler, James Moore, Geu'l 
 Scott, Capt. Anderson, Lieut. Pegram, David Clum, 
 Capt. Casey, Smith Scudder, Isaac W. Scudder, John 
 Chetwood, Mr. Orton, Ogden Brown, John Kean. 
 
 A. Morss, F. B. Chetwood, J. J. Chetwood, and 
 
It 6 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 B. Williamson were appointed a Committee to procure 
 from the pew holders, a relinquishment of their claims 
 to their respective pews." 
 
 In his parochial report for 1840 the Kev. Mr. 
 Moore says. " The plan for enlarging the Church 
 which was talked of a year since, is now adopted. On 
 Easter Monday, a committee was appointed to take 
 the subject into consideration, which has resulted in a 
 determination on the part of the congregation and 
 Yestry to make an addition to the width of the build- 
 ing, of 8 feet, on each side, which will give us a 
 Church 45 feet front by 66 feet deep. The whole 
 interior of the building is to be entirely new and 
 handsomely finished, and will be completed by con- 
 tract, the 1st of December next. It is due to the 
 congregation to mention, that they have entered most 
 cheerfully and unitedly upon the enterprise, and have 
 come forward with commendable liberality to carry it 
 on. It is also due to the two Presbyterian congrega- 
 tions to state that they have kindly offered us the use 
 of their respective lecture rooms, during the time that 
 we shall be out of the Church." 
 
 The next year, 1841, Mr. Moore reports, and the 
 facts show the estimation in which he was held and 
 how greatly the church had increased under his minis- 
 try, that, in addition to the offerings ; 'Hhere has been 
 raised in the Congregation and by members of it 
 during the past year about the sum of $4000 for the 
 purpose of enlarging the Church and building a Sun- 
 
HIwSTORY OF ST. JOIIN's CHURCH. Ht 
 
 day school room. Both of these objects have been 
 happily completed, and through the favor of Provi- 
 dence we were permitted on the 31st of December 
 last, to return again to the Church, which we had left 
 on the first of June previously. At this time, the 
 building enlarged and beautified into a new church, 
 though standing in part under the roof and upon the 
 ground of the former edifice was consecrated by the 
 Bishop of the diocese, this office having never before 
 been performed. The improvement has operated very 
 favorably upon the Congregation, and we have at 
 present every prospect of having soon the additional 
 seats occupied. It is due to the zeal of the ladies of 
 the Congregation to mention the liberal pledge given 
 by them, to raise for this purpose $500, which they 
 have already redeemed. To their perseverance alone, 
 we are also indebted for a very fine Sunday school 
 room, built of brick and finished in handsome style at 
 an expense of $1200. To the same source are we 
 indebted for the very extensive enlargement of our 
 church organ, at a cost of $260, and for furnishing the 
 Church with hangings for the pulpit, together with 
 other furniture of the desk and chancel, and for a 
 handsome set of lights, at an aggregate expense of 
 more than $300. Thus the ladies of St. John's 
 Church have undertaken a pecuniary responsibility in 
 this movement of more than $2000, the great propor- 
 tion of which they have already paid, and the balance, 
 we have reason to believe will be raised in time to 
 
nS THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 meet the terms of the payment. It gives the Rector 
 great satisfaction to state, that entire unanimity has 
 prevailed in the whole transaction, and that all appear 
 greatly pleased that the improvement has been made, 
 though the burden of it has not been light." 
 
 In the year 1846 services were held at Elizabeth 
 port, and a congregation was formed, composed of 
 some of the members of St. John's Church. On the 
 18th of September 1849 the corner stone of Grace 
 Church was laid, and in 1850 Mr. Moore reports; '' It 
 is with unfeigned satisfaction I report the successful 
 result of the missionary effort at Elizabeth Port, in the 
 building of a most beautiful church ; and it gives me 
 pleasure to record the liberality of my own Congrega- 
 tion in contributing about $600 towards that object." 
 
 In the year 1853 it being thought by some that the 
 time had come for the establishment of another Epis- 
 copal parish in Elizabeth Town, a new congregation 
 was formed, principally by members of St. John's 
 Church, under the name of Christ Church. A hand- 
 some stone (gothic) Chapel and Kectory have been 
 erected, and a building for the parochial schools. 
 Over thirty thousand dollars have been expended, in- 
 cluding the cost of the land. 
 
 The Rev. E. A. Hoffman, the zealous Rector of the 
 Church in his first annual address delivered on Easter 
 Monday 1854, says; "I desire to-day to trace in a 
 few brief words the history of the parish, for the year 
 which has just so happily ended ; that we may thank 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOIIN'S CHURCH. 179 
 
 Him to Whom the praise of this success is justly due, 
 and thence take courage for the future. 
 
 The parish was duly organized in the Sunday School 
 Room of St. John's Church, on the evening of Easter 
 Day, 1853, by the election of two Wardens and seven 
 "Vestrymen. The first service was held on the second 
 Sunday after Easter, 10th April, by your present Rec- 
 tor elect, in the Lecture Room of the first Presbyterian 
 congregation, which was generously offered for our use 
 by the Pastor and the Session : and I cannot in this 
 place refrain from acknowledging the courtesy which 
 has since left it at our disposal, through a period much 
 longer than either they or we probably at first sup- 
 posed we should need it. 
 
 On the 23d of April, at a public meeting held in 
 the same place, of which the ten days legal notice had 
 been given, the parish was duly incorporated under the 
 name of "The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of 
 Christ Church, in Elizabeth Town." The Wardens 
 and Vestrymen, previously chosen at the orgauization, 
 were re-elected ; and Monday in Easter Week desig- 
 nated as the day for the annual election of the ofiicers 
 of the parish. 
 
 Considerable difficulty was experienced in the choice 
 and purchase of a lot for building, of suitable size and 
 sufficiently central in position. On the 4th of July, a 
 favorable purchase was made, for the sum of $4500, 
 from M. M. Williams, of a lot on the corner of Jersey 
 and Bridge streets, extending 234 feet on the former. 
 
180 THE CHURCH IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. 
 
 and 155 feet on the latter street. The services of Mr. 
 Upjohn, Architect, were obtained, and plans compris- 
 ing a Church, capable of seating between 500 and GOO 
 persons, a Chapel or School-house, which might be 
 used for some time as a Church, and afterwards for 
 various purposes of the parish, and a house for the 
 Kector of the Church, were procured. 
 
 The Chapel or School-house was immediately put 
 under contract, and the corner-stone laid with oppro- 
 priate religious rites, on the 23d of August, by the 
 Bishop of the Diocese, in presence of a number of the 
 clergy and a large concourse of people." 
 
 The pews in Christ Chapel are free and will seat 
 about 300 persons. 
 
 On the 24th of February 1855 the Rev. Mr. Moore 
 resigned the Rectorship of St. John's Church and is 
 now the Rector of Christ Church, Williamsport, Penn- 
 vSylvania. His was a long and fruitful ministry here, 
 during which the Church was almost rebuilt, and large 
 numbers were added to the Communion. 
 
 The present Rector of St. John's entered upon his 
 duties on the first Sunday in April 1856. 
 
 The Church is peaceful and prosperous and may 
 ever continue thus with God's blessing upon the faith- 
 ful presentation of the simple, practical, life giving 
 truths of the Gospel, and upon a people whose earnest 
 endeavours center in seeking the glory of God and the 
 salvation of souls. Many have been the changes and 
 vicissitudes through which this ancient Church has 
 
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 181 
 
 passed, but out of all her trials God may perfect praise 
 for his own name. 
 
 The edifice itself has undergone so many alterations 
 that it bears little resemblance to the original struc- 
 ture, and, as has appeared in these researches, every 
 few years has assumed a new form. It stands at pre- 
 sent as enlarged and improved in the year 1840. 
 There seems to be an increasing necessity for its 
 enlargement, or renewal, and the Yestry and Congre- 
 gation are contemplating making provision for a much 
 larger number of persons, than the Church will now 
 accommodate. 
 
 Whatever may be done, or left undone, may Christ 
 crucified be the theme upon which the ministers of old 
 St. John's most delight to dwell, and the image of 
 Jesus be formed in the hearts of all who worship within 
 its w^alls. 
 
 Note. — Within a few weeks a Parisli Library has been 
 formed, to which a former member of the congregation gene- 
 rously contributed the sum of one hundred dollars. 
 
 16 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 A. 
 
 Copy of the Deed of the Parsonage and lot, helonging 
 to St. John's Church, Elizabeth Town. 
 
 This Indenture made the Eleventh Day of Decem- 
 ber, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- 
 dred and forty-nine, Between John Emmott of Eliza- 
 beth Town in the County of Essex, in the Province of 
 New Jersey and Mary his wife on the one part and 
 John Halsted, Henry Garthwait, William Kicketts, 
 Jacob DeHart, Peter Trombly, Matthias DeHart, 
 Jonathan Hampton and Matthias Williamson, all of 
 the same Place on the other Part, Witnesseth That 
 the said John Emmott by and with the Consent of 
 Mary his wife signified by her being made a Party to 
 these Presents and sealing and executing the same for 
 and in Consideration of the sum of one hundred and 
 sixty-two pounds New Jersey money, at Eight shil- 
 lings the Ounce to him the said John Emmott in hand 
 
 16* 
 
186 APPENDIX. 
 
 paid by the said John Halsted, Henry Garthwait, 
 William Kicketts, Jacob DeHart, Peter Trombly, 
 Matthias DeHart, Jonathan Hampton, and Matthias 
 Williamson at and before the ensealing and Delivery 
 of these Presents, the receipt whereof he the said 
 John Emmott Doth hereby acknowledge and thereof 
 and therefrom, and of and from every Part and Parcel 
 and thereof Doth hereby acquit release exonirate and 
 discharge them the said John Halsted, [here follow the 
 names'] and Each and every of them, their and each of 
 their heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns by 
 these presents Hath granted, bargained sold aliened 
 and released and confirmed and by these presents doth 
 grant bargain sell alien release and confirm unto the 
 said John Halsted \_here follow the 7iames] and to 
 their heirs and assigns forever All that house and lott 
 of Ground situate, lying and being in Elizabeth Town 
 aforesaid on the South side of the said Elizabeth 
 Town Creek opposite to a Large white house now or 
 late belonging to Mr. Peter Schuyler Beginning at a 
 Stake planted on the said Creek thence running South 
 South East a quarter of a point Southerly two Rod to 
 another Stake thence West three Quarters of a point 
 Northerly six Kods and a half to another Stake thence 
 South South West a Quarter of a point Westerly nine 
 Rod six feet nine Inches and a half to another Stake, 
 thence along a Street or highway forty Roods twelve 
 feet nine Inches and a half as the Street runs to 
 another street or highway which leads down to the 
 
APPENDIX. 18 t 
 
 said Creek between the said Lot of land and the land 
 now or late of John Hinds thence by the last men- 
 tioned Street or highway North and by West Eight 
 Roods to said Elizabeth Town Creek or River and 
 thence as the said Creek or River runs to the first 
 mentioned Stake Containing by affirmation three acres 
 to the same more or less Bounded on the East by the 
 Land now or late of Samuel Whitehead on the South 
 and West by two Streets or highways on the North by 
 the aforesaid Creek or River Together will all and 
 singular the houses Edefices and buildings thereon 
 and all Rights and Hereditaments and Appurtenances 
 to the said Premises belonging or in any wise apper- 
 taining and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder 
 and Remainders thereof and also all the Estate Right 
 Title Interest Property Possession Claim and demand 
 whatsoever of him the John Emmott of in and to 
 the same and every part and parcel thereof, To have 
 and to hold the said house and Lot of ground and 
 premises with their and every of their Rights members 
 and appurtenances unto the said John Halsted &c. — 
 their heirs and assigns to the only proper use benefit 
 and behoof of the said John Halsted &c. their heirs 
 and assigns forever and the said John Emmott and his 
 heirs all and singular the said house and lot of ground 
 and premises with their and every of their Rights 
 members and appurtenances hereby granted and re- 
 leased and every part and parcel thereof unto them the 
 said John Halsted &c. their heirs and assigns against 
 
188 APPENDIX. 
 
 him the said John Emmott and his heirs and assigns 
 and against all and every other Person or Persons 
 whatsoever shall and will warrant forever and defined 
 by these Presents. And the said John Emmott for 
 himself, his heirs Executors and Administrators and 
 each and every of them doth hereby covenant grant 
 and agree to and with the said John Halsted &c. 
 their and assigns in manner and form following That 
 is to say they the said John Halsted &c. their heirs 
 and assigns and every of them shall and may from time 
 to time and at all times for ever hereafter peaceably 
 and quietly have hold occupy possess and enjoy all and 
 singular the premises herein before mentioned or in- 
 tended to be hereby released and were parts and 
 parcels thereof with their and every of their Appurte- 
 nances without any lawful let just trouble denial evic- 
 tion ejection or Interruption whatsoever of or by them 
 or their or either of their heirs or Assigns or of or by 
 any other Person or Persons and that free and clear 
 and fully and clearly acquited exonerated and Dis- 
 charged of and from all and all manner of former and 
 other bargains Sales Gifts grants feoffments devises 
 Dowers Rights and Title of Dower issues uses fines 
 annuities — Debts Duties Judgements Executions Re- 
 cognizances and all other Estates Rights Titles troubles 
 Charges and Incumbrances whatsoever had made com- 
 mitted done or suffered or to be had made Committed 
 done or suffered in any wise whatsoever by them the 
 said John Emmott and Mary his wife or either of them 
 
APPENDIX. 189 
 
 or by any other Person or Persons whatsoever having 
 or lawfully claiming any Estate Right Title or Interest 
 of in and to the same or any Part or Parcel thereof. 
 In Witness whereof the Parties to these Presents have 
 interchangeably set their hands and seals the Day and 
 year first above written. 
 
 MARY [L. s.] EMMOTT. JNO. [l. s.] EMMOTT. 
 
 Sealed and delivered in the presence of Sarah Jelfe, 
 Thomas Bradbury Chandler, David Oliver. 
 
 Keceived of the within mentioned Grantees the 
 within mentioned sum of one hundred and sixty-two 
 pounds in full for the consideration within mentioned 
 the day and year within contained — 162. 
 
 Witness JNO. EMMOTT. 
 
 For the form of conveyance of the above named 
 property to the Rector, Church Wardens and Yestry- 
 men of St. John's Church on the 18th of February 
 1765, see Chapter Y. 
 
190 APPENDIX. 
 
 B. 
 
 In a note accompanying the Memoir of the life of 
 Bishop Hobart, (who married a daughter of Dr. 
 Chandler May 6th 1800) by the Rev. William Berrian 
 D. D. Kector of Trinity Church, New York, the fol- 
 lowing interesting facts are stated, pp. 11-5. 
 
 "He" Dr. Chandler ''was born at Woodstock, 
 Massachusetts, on the 26th of April, 1126, and was 
 educated at Yale College, New Haven. In lt51, he 
 went to England for holy orders, and, as his family 
 think, received them from the Bishop of London. On 
 his return he was made Kector of St. John's Church, 
 Elizabeth Town, New-Jersey. In that humble and 
 quiet retreat he was enabled to indulge his passionate 
 fondness for study, and to make such large acquisi- 
 tions both to his professional and general knowledge, 
 as to give him a very high rank among his classical 
 brethren. A question of deep interest to the Episco- 
 pal church in America had been much discussed among 
 her friends, and it was at length thought expedient 
 that it should be presented to the consideration of the 
 civil and ecclesiastical authorities in England. The 
 want of Bishops in the colonies was found, on many 
 accounts, to be a serious evil. The rite of confirma- 
 
APPENDIX. 191 
 
 tion, established by primitive usage and regarded as a 
 matter of Christian duty, could never be administered. 
 The Clergy, independent of each other, had no eccle- 
 siastical superiors to unite or control them. Discip- 
 line could not be exercised without so many diflBculties 
 as would often afford an opportunity to the unworthy 
 to escape from the punishment which they deserved. 
 The expense and dangers of a voyage to England, for 
 the purpose of obtaining orders, deterred many from 
 entering into the ministry, who would have adorned 
 it ; and the impossibility that a Bishop, residing at 
 that distance, should procure accurate information, in 
 all cases, of the characters of the candidates for 
 orders, was the cause of many being admitted into it, 
 by whom the Church was dishonored. All these 
 things tended to alienate from her the affections of her 
 members, and to retard her growth. 
 
 At the request, therefore, of his brethren Dr. Chan- 
 dler wrote a work on the subject of American Episco- 
 pacy, in which he showed, with great force and reason- 
 ing the expediency and advantage of having Bishops 
 consecrated for the colonies. From his decided at- 
 tachment to the Church and State, and from his strong 
 desire to promote the welfare of both, he treated the 
 subject with that judgment and temper which entitled 
 it to consideration at home but which, it appears, 
 however, from the neglect of his counsel, it did not 
 receive. He also wrote another interesting work, the 
 Life of Dr. Johnson, first President of King's College, 
 
192 APPENDIX. 
 
 New-York, which, though merely intended as a bio- 
 graphical sketch, is, nevertheless, a history of the 
 early state of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut 
 and of the difficulties which she encountered, from 
 prejudice and ignorance, in her establishment and pro- 
 gress. 
 
 The salary of Dr. Chandler as a Missionary of the 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, was £50 
 sterling a year, on which with some slight contribu- 
 tions from the congregation, a parsonage, and small 
 glebe, he lived with such a degree of ease and comfort, 
 and with such a free and unlimited hospitality as are 
 remembered by many who are still living, both with 
 wonder and pleasure. I have scarcely ever met with 
 any aged person belonging to our Church who had 
 visited Elizabeth Town, that did not delight in recall- 
 ing the many happy hours which he had spent in that 
 agreeable family, and at that hospitable board. Ex- 
 tensively as Dr. Chandler was known and respected by 
 strangers, he was still more beloved by his parishioners 
 and friends. Cheerful in his temper, easy and accessi- 
 ble in his intercourse with others — fond of study, of 
 retirement and all rural pursuits, but yet of blending 
 and sweetening them with social enjoyment, remaining 
 much at home, and, from an aversion to preaching 
 elsewhere, never out of his own pulpit, it was natural 
 that his affability, his kindness, his constant presence 
 and unintermitted labours should greatly endear him 
 to his people. He was exceedingly intimate with the 
 
APPENDIX. 193 
 
 Rev. Mr. Learning and with Dr. Wilkins, who was then 
 a lawyer, but who, at a later period of life, entered into 
 the Church, and with Dr. Seabury, who was afterwards 
 Bishop of Connecticut. When the storm of the revo- 
 lution was gathering and so many important interests 
 were at stake, they frequently met at each other's 
 houses, and in the discussion of the agitating questions 
 of the times, and in intellectual and social enjoyment, 
 made dearer to them by their union of sentiments, and 
 the uncertainty how long it might be continued, they 
 never knew when to part. I have heard it stated, that 
 they generally sat up till a very late hour at night, and 
 that the day has often dawned upon their conversa- 
 tions. Mr. Wilkins who was a man of ardent tempe- 
 rament and masculine mind and Dr. Chandler, who 
 held a ready and vigorous pen, warmly espoused the 
 loyal cause. They wrote a number of political pieces 
 and circulated them with great activity and diligence 
 in the hopes of checking the progress of what they 
 conscientiously believed a rash rebellion and a crying 
 sin. The current, however, soon set so strongly 
 against them, that they were compelled to yield to it ; 
 and political excitement was so violent, that they were 
 under the necessity of leaving the country. Mr. Wil- 
 kins went to Nova-Scotia and Dr. Chandler to Eng- 
 land. The loyalty, fidelity, and zeal of the latter were 
 there held in high estimation by government ; and his 
 attachment to the Church, his reputation as a scholar, 
 and his attainments as a divine, procured for him the 
 17 
 
194 APPENDIX. 
 
 most gratifying attentions from the Clergy. From a 
 brief diary, which he kept, it appears that he was 
 often consulted by those in authority on questions of 
 the greatest importance in relation to the colonies. 
 He was received with such a marked and universal 
 respect into the society of the most distinguished per- 
 sons as has very rarely been rendered to any one from 
 our country in private life. It is a mark both of his 
 literary reputation in England, and of the degree of 
 influence which he was supposed to have with persons 
 in power that he drew up a petition to the queen in 
 favor of Dr. Dodd, at the request of his friends ; but 
 considerations of public policy overpowering all pri- 
 vate feelings, this petition like every other, proved 
 unavailing, and answered no other purpose but that of 
 a new and soothing expression of sympathy and com- 
 miseration for his unhappy fate. 
 
 During the ten years which he passed in London, he 
 received in addition to his salary from the Society for 
 the Propagation of the Gospel, an annual allowance 
 from government of £200 sterling. He was made a 
 Doctor of Divinity at the University of Oxford. He 
 was appointed to the Bishoprick of Nova- Scotia, an 
 office which he was compelled to decline from the j^ro- 
 gress of a cancerous affection in his face ; and upon 
 his death a pension was allowed to his widow until the 
 day of her own. 
 
 When Dr. Chandler wq'ote to the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury that it would be impossible for him to take 
 
APPENDIX. 195 
 
 charge of the diocese of Xova- Scotia he received from 
 him a very kind and courteous reply, expressing his 
 respect for his character, and his regret for his afflic- 
 tion, and begging him to point out some suitable per- 
 son who might be appointed in his place. Upon his 
 recommendation the Bishoprick was conferred on Dr. 
 Inglis, who, previous to the peace, had been Rector of 
 Trinity Church, in New York. 
 
 While there were so many things to gratify him in 
 his protracted absence from his family, it was also a 
 delightful circumstance to him, that, amidst all the 
 troubles and distresses of the times, they met with 
 nothing but favor and kindness at home. He was 
 enabled to spare enough from his income for their 
 comfortable support. His people retaining a grateful 
 recollection of his services, and an undiminished respect 
 for his character, notwithstanding the difference of his 
 political course, exerted their influence to protect them 
 from the depredations and violence of the revolutionary 
 army, when any part of it happened to be quartered in 
 the town ; and the British soldiers treated them with 
 the courtesy and respect which were due to friends. 
 In the fluctuations, therefore, of success between the 
 contending parties, the parsonage was often made a 
 place of common refuge. Dr. Chandler returned to 
 Elizabeth Town in 1786, but the cancer in his face 
 continuing to increase, he was never able to resume his 
 pastoral duties, and finally died of it in 1790. 
 
 The different pamphlets and fugitive pieces which 
 
196 APPENDIX. 
 
 were written by him in tbis country before the revolu- 
 tion and during his residence in England — the innu- 
 merable letters which he received from eminent persons 
 abroad and from his friends a,t home, and those which 
 he himself sent to his family — would have formed a 
 valuable collection of papers for the illustration of our 
 civil and ecclesiastical history, and furnished ample 
 materials for an interesting account of his own life. 
 But some time after his death, when the fierce passions, 
 excited by civil broils, had in a great measure died 
 away; when those who had been separated in unhappy 
 times by difi"erent views of duty, once more met as 
 brethren and friends, and when no reasonable danger 
 could have been apprehended from retaining these 
 papers in the possession of the family — they were 
 alarmed by the timid and ill-timed advice of a person 
 whom they respected and loved and the whole collec- 
 tion with some few exceptions was entirely destroyed. 
 Thus the fullest memorial that will ever be given of 
 one of whom so much might have been said, will, per- 
 haps, be found in this brief and imperfect sketch." 
 
 In "The Early life and Professional years of 
 Bishop Hobart, by John McYicar, D. D. Professor 
 of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy and Political 
 Economy in Columbia College New York" published 
 at Oxford by D. A. Talboys and 113 Fleet Street 
 London 1838, there is an ''Extract from the Life of 
 the Rev. Hugh Peters, Chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, 
 London 1815," which is as follows (McYicar's life of 
 
APPENDIX. 191 
 
 Bp. Hobart p. Ii4) ''The second daughter of Wil- 
 liam (a brother of Hugh) married Col. John Chandler, 
 of Andover, one of whose descendants was the Kev. 
 Thomas Bradbury Chandler D. D. Kector of an Epis- 
 copal Church in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, a pious 
 and literary character of the first rate in America. 
 The Doctor left several daughters, one of whom is the 
 wife of the Rev. Dr. Hobart, an Episcopal Clergyman 
 in the city of New York, who is an author and 
 preacher of high fame. He is a descendant from the 
 younger brother of the Earl of Buckinghamshire in 
 England." 
 
 n* 
 
198 APPENDIX. 
 
 C. 
 
 The following pleasant letter to the Reverend Mr. 
 Beach at New Brunswick will be read with great in- 
 terest, and with regret that more of Dr. C.'s papers 
 have not been preserved. -It has been stated that 
 there were many relating to him destroyed by those 
 who were more timid than wise. 
 
 "My dear Sir 
 
 The only reason why I have denied myself the 
 pleasure of once in a while writing to you, was an 
 apprehension that you might be brought into trouble, 
 should it be known or suspected that you held any 
 correspondence with such an outcast as I am. The 
 same reason would still restrain my pen ; but my 
 daughter Polly assures me that you would be glad to 
 hear directly from me, on a certain point with regard 
 to which you formerly consulted me ; if therefore I do 
 wrong in thus writing, you must flog Polly. 
 
 I need not tell you how much I approve of your 
 conduct in shutting up yoftr Church, as soon as you 
 was not suffered to make use of the Liturgy in its full 
 dimensions. Your backwardness to open it, when 
 urged by your people, and pressed by other cogent 
 
APPENDIX. 199 
 
 reasons, untill you knew the mind of the Society &c., 
 is equally commendable. The state of your case and 
 that of the Connecticut Clergy, I presented to the 
 Society and to the Bishop of London. Though they 
 did not choose to give a formal answer in this kind of 
 casuistry, yet they authorized me to assure all parties 
 concerned that, under the present situation of affairs, 
 the use of the Liturgy, with omitting the prayers for 
 the King, provided others for the Congress were not 
 substituted in their place, would not meet with their 
 censure or disapprobation. Of this I desired Mr. 
 Cooke to inform you, as he tells me he did ; but as 
 you seem to be desirous of having it immediately from 
 me, I now give it to you under my own hand and seal. 
 
 The Canons of the Church must for the present, 
 give way to the Cannon of Congress ; and strict regu- 
 larity of conduct is the business of regular times. In 
 the meanwhile, an honest man will not give up his 
 principles ; and while he is not able to fulfill the letter 
 of the hiw, he will be careful not to counteract the 
 spirit of it. 
 
 Having ventured to put pen to paper, I must not 
 omit the opportunity of most cordially thanking you 
 for your kind and never failing attention to my forlorn 
 family. Of this I have most pleasing accounts from 
 time to time ; and I wish I were able to express, or 
 otherwise to convince you, how much I feel myself 
 obliged to you and Mrs. Beach for such exuberant 
 goodness. 
 
200 APPENDIX. 
 
 The late blow in Yirginia has given us a shock, but 
 has not overset us. Though the clouds at present are 
 rather thick about us, I am far, very far, from de- 
 sponding. I think matters will take a right turn and 
 then the event will be right. The English and Dutch, 
 as I have it from unquestionable information, have 
 actually and formally consented to accept of the me- 
 diation of Russia, towards an accomodation, which 
 will be the natural consequence. After being dis- 
 engaged from a Dutch war, we shall be able to bang 
 the French and Spaniards. I am sorry that I cannot 
 be more particular. I hate to write under such re- 
 straints. I will therefore conclude, with my best com- 
 pliments to good Mrs, Beach, consoling myself with 
 the reflection that I have brought you into no great 
 jeopardy, by thus stealing an opportunity to assure 
 you that I am, with the most cordial esteem and 
 gratitude 
 
 Yours ever afl'ectionately 
 
 T. B. CHANDLER. 
 
 London Peer. 3d 1*781. 
 Rev'd Mr. a. Beach. 
 
APPENDIX. 201 
 
 D. 
 
 ^pitauljs from same 0,f tire ^mbe SU\m in 
 
 Here 
 Lieth interr'd the Body 
 of Mr. Charles Townley, son 
 of Coll Richard Townley Esq^ 
 "Who departed this life Sep- 
 tember ye 2^ Anno Domini 
 1756 In the 70^^ Year of his 
 Age. 
 Likewise the Body of 
 Abigail his Widow who 
 deceas'd Decem^ the Sl^t 
 A^D 1759 aged 66 Years. 
 
 Remember us laid here in Dust 
 The grave shall rot off all our Rust 
 Till ye last Trump shall rend y® Skies 
 And Christ shall say, Ye Dead arise 
 
 In faith she liv'd in dust she lies 
 But faith forsees that dust shall rise 
 "When Jesus calls, while hope assumes 
 And boasts her joys among the tombs. 
 
202 APPENDIX. 
 
 How joyful will the Christian rise 
 And rub the dust from of his eyes 
 My soul my body I will trust 
 "With him that numbers every dust 
 My Saviour he will faithful keep 
 His own for death is but a sleep. 
 
 Behold the Place where we do lie 
 As you be now so once was w^e 
 As we be now so must you be, 
 Prepare for death and follow me. 
 
 Jesus to thy dear faithful hand 
 My naked soul I trust 
 And my flesh waits for thy command 
 To drop into my dust 
 
 Here lies beneath this stone repos'd 
 Patriot, Merit, straitly hous'd 
 His country call'd he lent an ear 
 Their battles fought and rested here. 
 
 The quivermg lips hang feebly dow^n 
 His pulse is faint and few- 
 Then speechless with a pleasant groan 
 He bids the world adieu. 
 
 Her aching head and fluttering heart 
 "With all their pains and sorrows part 
 And now w^e hope her soul doth rest 
 Upon her dear Redeemer's breast. 
 
APPENDIX. 20! 
 
 Here lie the remains of 
 
 Mrs Elizabeth Jones 
 
 Wife of John Jones 
 
 Schoolmaster 
 
 Decessit Nov^ I9 M D CC LX 
 
 Ann -SJtatis Suae XXXI. 
 
 She all the qualities possest 
 
 That render matrimony blest 
 
 And constantly did them exert 
 
 In Mothers, wifes and neighbours part. 
 
 In memory of 
 
 John De Hart Esquire, 
 
 Counsellor at law and Mayor of 
 
 this Borough, 
 
 Who departed this life June l^t 1795 
 
 Aged L XVI years 
 
 His worth in private life was 
 
 truly great; 
 
 Nor will his publick virtues 
 
 be forgotten : 
 
 his name being recorded on the list of 
 
 chosen Patriots 
 
 who composed the memorable 
 
 Congress of 1775. 
 
Princeton Theological Seminary Libraries 
 
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