Mr. Read preached at Millstone until the year 177o,
Jan. 18, 177H, he was l.crcaved by the death of his
wife, Mary, aged thirty-eight. She was buried in the

rear of the present church, and his remains were

placed by her side I \M-nl \ -I li ree years later. The

elders of the church in 1770 were Thomas McElworth,



Jonathan Smith, and Jacob Jennings; deacons,
Samuel Van Court, Benjamin Coon. Jeremiah field
was clerk.

Mr. Read labored until 179-'!. November 25th in
that year he was thrown from his carriage near Rari-
tan landing and fatally injured; he died three days
later, aged seventy-live. His funeral sermon was
preached by Rev. Walter Montcith. The Rev. A. E.
Baldwin, in a historical discourse delivered July 2,
1876, says,—

" It i< it wul fact — its loss especially felt in these yearn t.y all interested
— Unit nil records of the ohurcfa daring Mr. Bead's long pastorate are cer-
tainly now beyond the reach "f ttie church, and, although wo have lost
the record of the fruits, the record is DOl Lost really; God has it. It is
carefully laid away in the archives of his government for review by aH
concerned In the ages of eternity. Barely be must have strengthened the
f"iiii<liiti..n - i"!i. - mi th,. , IhuvIi, f„r its strength, heauty, and neefolneea
held their steady way onward in the years. Doubtless he pointed many
bo Christ, faithfully Instructed and helped them heavenward. Dnringhla

pastoral - the Revolutl irj wai worki I Its tremendous results. . . .

Then, too, the charter of the church (1784) wossecured, — a charter under
which Its present basinesfl i- transacted. In its: tbe building In which
I this church worshiped was enlarged, — a fact somewhat at least lemur-
aide to tin- pastor, ;i testimony to hi> faithful work. Let us rami d
thankfully, this man of Qod. Se must have toiled earnestly, w I
clently, nursing through the help of the Holy Spirit, with largo care and

faith, ti arly life of ilii- church; training it for the mighty work ii has

done for Christ in tbe generations tit

A little over a year after the death of le-v. Israel
Read the church called to the pastorate the Kev.
David Barclay, lie was licensed June 10, 1794. and
ordained December Mil of that year; he remained till
April, 1805. The ruling elders with him were Benja-
min Coon, David Kelly, David Ilotik. John Harriot,
Jonathan Smith, Isaac Fisher, and Daniel Bush.
Selah Strong Woodhull was ordained as pastor De-
cember 4th of that year. Prom this time the records
of the church arc kept. The Rev. Mr. Woodhull was
dismissed Nov. 25, 1806. Nearly three years passed
before another minister was called. James Patterson
was ordained Aug. !>, IXil'l, and dismissed ( let. 2U,
L818. TWO months later the Rev. William A. Mc-
Dowell was ordained [In-. L>'2, ISl.'ii, and dismissed

Oct 19, 1814. The records of the Presbytery of New
Brunswick state that Leverel F. Huntington was
ordained over the church of Bound Brook Dec. 6,
1816.

Whether the Rev. Mr. Huntington was pastor is not
certain ; if so, it was for a verj shorl time. The Rev.
John Hoggs became a member of this Presbytery
(from the Presbytery of Harmony 1, Oct. 17, 1815, and
-ell 1,-d over the church of Round Brook in the winter
of 1815-16. He remained until Feb. 5, 1828, having
been pastor about twelve J car-. His wife died during

hi- residence here, and is buried in the old burying-
ground. The church was without a pastor for two
years. I luring IsJ'.i the present church building was
erected. It was dedicated in November of that year
by the Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D. The next year the
Rev. Ravaud K. RodgerS eras Called. This Call was

made by Elders John Polhemns, Dennis Field, Al-
pheue < loon, Alfred J. Harriott, David Bmalley, John



676



SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.



A. Smalley, and Trustees Peres Bonney, Jonathan
Smith, John H. Voorhees, Jacob Vandeventer, Jr.,
Gerardus Stryker, and Henry Tunison. The mem-
bership of the church at that time was 280 ; in 1838
it reached 425. July 19, 1851, the present edifice was
struck by lightning; it was soon after enlarged, com-
pleted in June, 1852, and reopened for divine service
June 24, 1852. Rev. Mr. Rodgers was dismissed No-
â–  vember, 1874. Rev. Dr. George Sheldon, in a memo-
rial sermon delivered May 15th at Newark, before the
New Jersey Historical Society, says of him, —



" Here he lived and labored with great success, beloved and revered by
his people, for nearly forty-five years. His pastoral labors were con-
stantly and eminently successful, and his influence, both within and
beyond the bounds of his parish, was widely extended and beneficial."

The Rev. A. E. Baldwin began the present pastorate
on March 3, 1875. The church has a present mem-
bership of 318. A Sunday-school connected with
the church has 55 pupils, with a library of 250 vol-
umes. The superintendent is A. S. Coriell ; librarian,
Jacob Kline. There has been raised for congrega-
tional purposes the past year, $2489 ; for religious and
benevolent purposes, $339.

Congregational Church. — This church was composed
mostly of members from the Presbyterian Church of
Bound Brook. The first meeting having reference
to organization was held at the residence of J. P.
Skillman, Feb. 16, 1876. It was resolved to form a
church under the name of "The Congregational
Church of Bound Brook." Messrs. J. W. Roundey,
John Smalley, and R. V. Lindabury were appointed a
committee to prepare a manual and present the names
of officers. February 23d, the committee reported a
manual, which was adopted, and the names of the
following persons as officers : Deacons, Wilber F.
Hammond, Thomas Winsor, Lewis D. Cook, Richard
F. Giles; Clerk, Benjamin W. Dunning; Treasurer,
James M. Thompson. The church was duly organ-
ized March 17, 1876, with 40 constituent members,



A. A. Boyle, Aaron Rougher, Mrs. A. Julia Bougher, A. G. Breck, Lewis
D. Cook, Mrs. Ellen P. Cook, Emma S. Cook, Ella P. Cook, B. W.
Dunning, Mrs. Jane P. Dunning, Mary Dunning, Mary C. Gano,
Richard F. Giles, Ellon A. Giles, Theodore GileB, Mrs. Theodosia
Giles, Mrs. Mary E. Giles, Emma S. Grant, Wilbur F. Hammond,
Mrs. Cornelia Hammond, Mrs. Caroline Hemmer, James Jones, Mrs.
Aristena A. Judd, Charles B. Judd, Richard V. Lindabury, Susie L.
Ramsey, Mrs. A. S. Roundey, Mrs. Mary E. Skillman, Harry S. Skill-
man, Susie Emma Skillman, Lizzie S. Skillman, John Smalley,
Mrs. Elizabeth W. Smalley, William W. Smalley, Aggie M. Smalley,
Carrie Smith, Rachol A. Smith, Mary Stryker, Robert H. Swayzo,
James M. Thompson, Mrs. Sarah A. Thompson, B. Frank Thompson,
Walter Thompson, Timothy D. Vaill, Mrs. Isabella M. B. Vail], Mary
II. Vaill, Anna I. Valll, Annie E. Vaill, Mary K. Vaill, Thomas Win-
sor, Mrs. Cordelia A. Winsor, Cora Winsor, George W. Winsor, Mrs.
Mary E. Winsor, William F. Winsor.

The Rev. Edward Beecher acted for a short time as
pastor of the new church. The Rev. James D. Eaton
then preached as a supply, and Sept. 25, 1876, was
called to assume pastoral charge. He entered upon
his duties at once, preaching his first sermon October
15th.



The following-named persons are the present officers
of the church : Pastor, James D. Eaton ; Deacons, B.
W. Dunning, R. H. Swayze, Peter S. Van Duyn, John
Smalley ; Clerk and Treasurer, George A. West. The
present officers of the society are : Trustees, John W.
Roundey, R. Lamb, R. V. Lindabury, T. D. Vaill,
Gideon R. Giles, John Talmage, and George W. Win-
sor ; Clerk, R. Lamb ; Treasurer, Gideon R. Giles.
The officers of the Sunday-school are : Superintendent,
R. Lamb ; Assistant Superintendent, W. W. Smalley ;
Secretary, Dennis Bergen ; Treasurer, George A. West ;
Librarian, George Stryker. The church has a present
membership of 108. A building was erected in 1876,
and dedicated on February, 1877. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. George Hepworth, of New
York. The total cost of building and grounds was
$13,000.

Methodist Episcopal Church. — This church was or-
ganized in 1849, mainly through the influence of
George Winsor, Sr., and Caleb Morton. About
20 united in June and July of that year. The pres-
ent church lot was obtained and building erected,
at a cost of about $3000, during 1848, and dedicated in
January, 1849, by Bishop Janes. It was enlarged in
1874. Services were held during repairs in the Pres-
byterian church on Sunday evenings. The first trus-
tees of the church were George Winsor, Sr., Caleb
Morton, and Richard Brokaw.

The pastors from organization have been John
I. Morrow, Henry B. Beagle, Charles Larue, G. R.
Snyder, J. Cowen, E. A. Day, James F. Dodd,
Thomas F. Everett, J. R. t Daniels, Cornelius Clark,
Sr., William N. Searles, William Nelson, John A.
Kingsberry, Enoch V. King, Robert B. Collins, L.
Parsons, J. I. Boswell, Samuel J. Morris, and David
Walters, the present incumbent. The church has at
present 135 members. A Sunday-school with 112
pupils is under the charge of George Lamont as
superintendent. The library contains about 250 vol-
umes.

St. Joseph Catholic Church. — Father William, of
Newark, first ministered, about 1863, to the adherents
of the Roman Catholic faith living at Bound Brook
and vicinity. Services were held in the second story
of the building owned by Francis Brehm, on Main
Street. A lot was purchased on Mountain Avenue,
south of Front Street, of Elias Milliken, for $800,
and soon after an edifice was erected at a cost of
$1200. The church was under the pastoral charge of
the St. Bernard's Church, of Raritan, from that time
until 1876, when Bound Brook and Millstone became
a separate charge, and Father M. A. Bogaard be-
came the first resident priest; he is still in charge.
In 1875 a lot was purchased south of the church
property, and adjoining it, of Lewis D. Cook, for
$1000, and in 1877 the present brick parsonage and
farm were erected, at a cost of $3500. The church has
a present membership of 600, with a Sunday-school
of about 50 pupils.



buiih.kwatkr.



077



TIIK rill Bl BBS "I l:\IMTAX VILLAGE.

The Third Church. — The organization of this church

grew out of the increase of population in the village

of Raritan. A chapel was built principally through

i rtions of Frederick J. Frelinghuysen, and

services maintained in it by the ministers of the First

and Second ( 'bundles. 1 11 tin' -pring of I s |s appli-
catipn was made to the Classis for a special organiza-
tion ; this being granted, a committee was appointed,
consisting of the Rev. Dr. A. Messier, T. W. Cham-
bers, and D. D. Demorest. They met .May 16, 18 18,
and after a sermon by Dr. Messier, organized a
Church by ordaining a Consistory composed of John
A. Btaats, Thomas S. Whitenaek, IVter V. Staats, and

David T. Bunyon as elders, and John Freeh, Garret
.1. Quick, Isaac V. Porter, and Richard Provost as
deacons.

Peter Stryker, a student from the seminary, being
called as pastor, he was ordained and installed Oct.
10, 1848. He preached at first in the chapel. Sept.
18, 1850, the corner-stone of the new edifice was laid
with appropriate ceremonies by the pastor. The
house was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Hutton, id' New-
York, July 30, 1851.

In 1851, Mr. Stryker resigned, and was succeeded
the same year by the Rev. James A. H. Cornell, who
was installed .March 4, 1852, and served for four years,
when lie accepted the position of secretary to the
Hoard of Education, and removed to his own resi-
dence, at New Baltimore, N. Y. In 1867, James Lc
lYvrc, a student from the seminary at New Bruns-
wick, was called; he was ordained and installed on
the 25th of June. He labored about eighteen years,

resigning in December, 1874, to take charge of the

Reformed ( Ihurcb Of Middlebush. The l!ev. Charles
H. Pool was installed July 15, 1875, and is still the
pastor.

The church has at present lln families and 2.s:i

communicants, also a Sunday-scl 1 containing 260

pupils. There has been raised the past year 11786.57
for congregational and ss|:;.7i; f,, r religion- and be-
nevolent purposes. The chapel was rebuilt in 1872,
at a cost of about s:;ono.

Methodist Church. Services bad been held by peo-
ple Of this denomination for several year-, but no or-
ganization was perfected until April 26, 1872, when
r> persons united as a Methodist ( Ihurch. In Decem-
ber- previous Beveral interested parties purchased the

scl l-house grounds and lot for S2 ', fitted the

upper room- for a chapel, and rented the lower rooms.

In 1878 they remodeled the building, making both

stories into one, ami again improved the building in
1880.

The pastors have been (he lievs. John \. I>a\i-. J.
M. Meeker, and l.oui- F. Burgess, present incumbent.
The membership of the church i- 160. The Sunday-
school has lL'o pupils, with a library of about 150
volumes. The pastor i- -uperintendeiit. and B. K.
1 loppoek i- librarian.



ST. BERNARD'S CHUi' II

The parish of this church embraces White House,
Neshanic, and Pluckamin, and originally Bound
Brook and Mill-tone, which were set off in 1876 and
formed a separate parish. The first meetings in this
region were held in private houses. Father John
Rogers, of New Brunswick, officiated, succeeded by
Father James McDonald. A church was erected,
but burned down in 1S.»:S. A lot was purchased on
Somerset Street, and the present brick structure was
erected about 1854. Additions have been made from
time to time. The first priest after the new house
was built was Father D. J. Fisher ; he was succeeded
in 1855 by Father Terence Kiernan, who resided in
Plainfield. Father \V. W. Kaeder succeeded him
in 1868, Father J. A. Marshall in 1878, and upon the
division of the parish, in 187(3, Father Joseph Zim-
mer was placed in charge, and is the present pastor.
About 260 families are under his care. A cemetery
containing 8 acres was purchased in 1876, and conse-
crated the last Sunday of June in that year. It is
situated between Raritan and North Branch, on the
road to White House.

Tin: REFORMED cm BOH OF WORTH RRANCH.
This 'church was organized Sept. 10, 1825, at the
house of James Ten Eyck, by a committee from the
Classis of New Brunswick, from families mostly be-
longing to the old church, — Raritan. During the
great revival in 1821 and 1822 religious services had
been held frequently in the vicinity of Bayley's
Mills, on the North Branch. One large concourse,
consisting of more than loon people, is especially re-
membered, in the barn of Mr. Abraham Dumont, at
which Rev. Messrs. Schultz, Fisher, Btuddiford, and
Osborn took part in the services. The great awaken-
ing of attention to religion, no doubt, occasioned the

want of Church Services to be felt, and brought about

tin- organization of the church, after an application
duly mad.- to the Classis of New Brunswick, and at
once a church edifice was begun. George EL Ki-h.r.
a licentiate of the seminary, was called, and settled
Nov. 26, 1826, as soon a-^ the structure, finished that
year, was prepared for service. He preached to the

people for four year-, and proved a BUCCeSsful pastor.

The Rev. Abraham D. Wilson was called Sept. 17,

1881, and remained until 18:{S, when be removed to

Illinois as a missionary. IB was succeeded in Octo-
ber of the same year by Uev. Jain.- K. Campbell,

who ministered until L864. In 1866, Philip M. Doo-
little was -ettled. and -till continues the bui
pastor of a prosperous church.

The tir-t Consistory was composed of Jacob Ten
Eyck, John Van Derveer, John Bunk, and Abraham
Quick, Sr., as elder-, and Ralph Van Pelt, Matthew
Van Belt, .lame- Staats, and Jam.- Ten Eyck, dea-
cons. The first church edifice was built in 1826, of
brick, after the pattern ..f the Somerville church, and
in dimensions was 10 bj 62 feet The corner-stone



€78



SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JEESEY.



was laid without ceremonies, and whether the build-
ing was ever formally dedicated is not known. It
continued to he the place of worship until 1863, when
it gave place to the present commodious edifice. The
church was almost entirely rebuilt in 1874, at a cost
of $5575, and was rededicated March 9, 1875. It has
at present 120 families, 221 communicants, and a
Sunday-school containing 125 pupils. The contribu-
tions the present year have been $325.57 for re-
ligious and benevolent purposes, $1496.74 for con-
gregational purposes.*

METHODIST CHURCH OF SOMEKVILLE.

No very long or detailed history of this society can
be given, for the records have not been properly kept,
as this charge for some time was a part of a circuit
in connection with Bound Brook, and afterwards
with Baritan. The Methodist Episcopal Church of
Somerville was organized as an independent body in
1832, and the same year a lot was purchased of Col.
Isaac Southard, on the west side of Bridge Street,
south of Main. An edifice was erected on the site,
and occupied till the spring of 1880. To the present
day the organization, though small, has enjoyed its
share of prosperity. The membership has slowly but
steadily increased.

During the latter part of 1879, under the ministry
of the Bev. P. G. Blyht, measures were taken for the
building of the present new edifice, on High Street.
In March, 1880, it was dedicated. Services were held
by the presiding elder, Bev. B. S. Arndt. Eloquent
sermons were preached by the Bevs. H. H. Buttz and
Henry Spellmeyer. The edifice is a handsome struc-
ture, of Gothic style, having one of the most conve-
nient and pleasant audience-rooms of any church in
the State. Its cost was about $8000. Much credit is
â– due to the Bev. P. G. Blyht, who by his untiring
energy succeeded in pushing the enterprise to a suc-
cessful completion; William Boss, Jr., of Somerville,
also rendered praiseworthy assistance in raising funds
to meet the expense of the building. The society,
since worshiping in the new edifice, has received a
powerful impulse for future prosperity. The present
pastor is the Bev. John Krantz, Jr., of the Newark
Conference, appointed to this charge in the spring of
1880. The following are the names of some of the
distinguished men who have been pastors of this
society : Bev. William P. Corbit, Bev. Dr. Charles
Laren, Bev. Dr. Whitney (at present president of
Hackettstown Institute), Bev. Solomon Parsons, J.
B. Daniels, Father Searle, J. J. Boswcll, J. O. Bod-
gers, and Canfield.

The present officials of the church comprise a board
of trustees, a board of stewards, and a local preacher.
James B. Brown, C. W. Ennis, Jacob Thompson,
Hiram Bockafellow, Stephen D. Winner, William
Boss, Jr., William Hardgrove, Louis Ayers, and Bev.
Calvin Lathrop (local elder) comprise the joint board.



" Dr. McBslor'a historical notes and other



The membership of the society is 116 full members,
with one probationer. A flourishing Sunday-school
is connected with the church. It numbers 104 schol-
ars. An excellent corps of officers and teachers carry
on the work.

CEMETERIES.

The early burial-places were usually small plats of
ground on the different farms. The earliest of these
of which any knowledge is obtained was on the Coeje-
man farm, now in Baritan village. It was located on
the bank of the river, where Kenyon Brothers' ma-
chine-shops now stand. Stones were found some
years ago in preparing to build. One is preserved,
and bears the inscription, —

" Here lyes ye body of Sarah, daughter of John and AlidaBroughton,
aged 2 years and 8 months. Died Sept. 1, 1740."

Another was also found at the same time, bearing
the date of 1738, and of the same family. The John
Broughton mentioned was the first town clerk of
Bridgewater. His wife, Alida, is said to have been a
daughter of Andreas Coejeman, and they probably
lived in the Coejeman mansion.

Burial-places were also attached to the church-
grounds. The old church built in 1721 on the bank of
the river was surrounded by a graveyard, and many
were buried there. But three stones are now standing,
the oldest of which is that of Derrick Van Veghten,
and the inscription upon it is as follows :

" In memory of Mr. Derrick Van Veghten, who died on the 29th day
of November, 1781, aged 82 years, 4 months, and 14 days.

" Many were his friends and few Ilia enemies ;
Great was his soul and good his faculties.
Fair health on him her blessings did bestow,
And in his cheeks her ruddy charms did show
Till age the hand of Death did deputize,
Which neither spares the Great, the Good, nor wise.
His tranquil mind composedly reclined,
And to his God his Breath and soul resigned."

The others are of Margaret Van Veghten, wife of
Joseph Crane, died May 27, 1812, and Catharine
Taylor, who died Feb. 17, 1829.

On the place now owned by John C. Garretson is the
old Tunison burial-place. Several hundred people
have been buried, but few headstones are left ; the
oldest bears an inscription as follows :

" Here liee the body of Itebckah, the wife of John Comptou, who de-
parted this life March ye 13, 1700, aged 20 years, G months, 17 days."

Near this is where the son of John Beekman and
" Aunt Yauney," as she was called, lies buried. He
died April 25, 1777. John Beekman is also buried
here, but no stone marks the spot. " Aunt Yauney"
lived many years after, married Bichard Compton,
and at her death was buried in the same grave with
her first husband. Other inscriptions are as follows :

" In memory of Abraham Tunison, who died May 23, 1797, aged 09
years, 11 mo., 20 days."

"In memory of Anna, the wife of Abraham Tunison, who died Nov. 1,
1800, aged 72 yrs., mo., 8 ds."

"In memory of Philip Tunison, who died April 1, 1813, aged 30 yrs.
11 mo., 17 ds."



i;kiih;i:\vati:k.



679



By his side lies a son and a grandson of Joseph
and .Mary Ann Van Derveer. Numerous graves are
marked by stones, some with initial, but more with-
out. This burial-place is on the second bank of the
river, hut on the west bank of Peter's Brook, south-
east from the residence of John < '. < larretson.

What is known as tin' C.'iiinpton burial-place is at
the fool of the mountain, north of Sumerville ; many
interments were made there years ago. It is now
used almost entirely by the colored people.

On the old parsonage lot burials were made. Five
headstones are all that now remain, the inscriptions
of which are here given :

" In memory of Ann, wifo of Jolm riardenbiirgh, who departed this
life Nov. 20, 1793, agod 36 yni., mo."

"In memory of John llaph'iil.iirgli, Ks.j., who departed this life July
23, 1798, agod 39 years, 3 month l

"In memory of Ann Doty, wifo of Joseph Doty, who departed this

hi i the 21«t Of April, 1804, aged 33 years, 7 months, days."

In me \ of Elizabeth Doty, wifo of Joseph Doty, who departed

this Ilfo Nov. 20, 18H0, aged 2! yeai -, 12 days."

In mi in.. ry of Joseph Doty, who departed this life March 20,1811,
agod 40 years, months, 20 days."

There are other plots in different parts of the town-
ship, neglected and uncared for, where, in days gone
by, many were buried. Cultivation has encroached
upon their borders year by year, as the ruthless hand
of time has leveled the little mounds iiver the sleepers,
ami the humble slab that marked the spot has fallen
prone to the ground.

About 1 SI :: an acre of ground on Bridge Street was
purchased for $100 of John Whitenack by the Con-
sistory of the first Dutch I Ihurcb of Baritan. Burials
were first made on the south side. The earliest is
said to have been a child of William llartwick.
About 1847, by an agreement between the Consistory
and John C. Garretson, about an acre was added to
the ground on three sides; later, as necessity de-
manded it, more was added, until it contained be-
tween three and four acres. This burial-place is
known as the " Karitan t 'enictcn ."

vug. 26, 1.S67, an association was formed, under
the name of the Somen ille ( 'cmctery Association, by
the election of the following persons as trustees:
.lames Ii. Brown, Samuel S. llartwell, John T. Conk-
lin, John V. Voorhei â– -, Jaci|iics Van ll.rbeek, Peter

De Win, Pethuel Mason, Edwin E. Brown, James P.

Davis, David I'. Kenyon, John Freeh, David K.
Craig. Pethuel Mason was chosen president, J. V.
Voorhees secretary, S. S. Hartwell treasurer, Sixty-
eighl acres opposite the Karitan Cemetery were pur-
chased for $14,600 of William Boss, Jr. Later,
15.68 acres were sold for $7292.50, leaving 22.42.
This was tastefully laid oul with walks, drives, and

;il i 1000 lots.

Aug. 20. 1S7!I, a slock company was organized
under ihe name of "The Cemetery Association of
Somerville," and purchased the Cemetery grounds
mentioned above for sll.onn. Hugh M. CaMmi was
chosen president, and I.. I!. Vredenburg secretary and